Author: David Shama

If the Twins don’t re-sign Torii Hunter for next season, they figure to miss more than his run producing bat and gold glove fielding.  Tell-it-like-it-is Torii is a major presence in the locker room and sometimes his words of leadership make it into the press, too. 

Hunter has been producing for the Twins who have won five straight games. In the team’s latest series, he homered twice and drove in seven runs to help the Twins sweep four games from Baltimore. The team is now four games over .500 and within 2.5 games of second place Detroit and 5.5 games of first place Cleveland. 

It was in mid-August that the Twins were on a five game losing streak when Hunter good-naturedly but directly scorned the team’s lousy performance. “I said forget that,” Hunter told Sports Headliners.  “You all suck. I suck. The manager sucks. Everybody sucks in this clubhouse. …We started winning. You kind of just joke around about it. It’s nothing serious. It’s just a little joke. At the same time just a little reverse psychology.” 

Hunter talks directly, knowing the truth can hurt and some people don’t want to hear it, but he avoids publicly saying things that could be offensive.  He’s confident about speaking the truth and said he doesn’t care what others think.  Earlier this year he talked about often injured teammate Joe Mauer who missed about a month of this season with a quadriceps injury.  

“All I was saying is that some people have to be 100 percent (to play) and that Joe Mauer might be one of those guys and there’s nothing wrong with that,” Hunter said. “You want to be 100 percent to perform, (then) I want you to be 100 percent to perform but I’ve just never been 100 percent. …” 

Some people told Mauer that Hunter was saying he was soft.  That wasn’t what Hunter said. “We talked about it,” Hunter explained.  “We cleaned the air and it was all gravy. He understood.  …” 

Hunter, who made his major league debut 10 years ago this month, has long exemplified leadership qualities.  “I was always ready for it,” Hunter said. “I’ve been the type player that tries to motivate the guys.  Not trying to be a leader, just trying to motivate. … I am very competitive.  I want to win.  So when I get going I’ve got that football mentality.  Going out there, getting guys pumped up and ready to go. …That’s probably how I became a leader because I was always getting guys pumped up.” 

Although the major league season is long with 162 games, he tries to motivate himself and others for every game.  His tactics range from drinking coffee to jumping up and down.  Injuries are not to be an obstacle to leadership and performance.  

“I get in the lineup every day, no matter if I am hurt or not…and just kind of lead by example,” Hunter said.  “When you lead by example people tend to follow.  If I can go out there every day hurt, no matter what, maybe the other guys will too.”

Manager Ron Gardenhire praised Hunter’s leadership when asked if the veteran centerfielder was the team leader. “He should be,” Gardenhire said. “He’s a guy that’s been here. He’s grown up in this organization.  He understands what it takes to win and how hard it is to maintain any kind of consistency at this level.  I think what people forget is that there’s a lot of good baseball players on all teams.  When you’re facing good pitching, sometimes it makes it look like you can’t hit. So…you have to stay on the even keel and not get too high and too low and I think that’s one of the things Torii tries to make our younger players understand. …”

What’s wrong with the Twins compared to last season’s team that a year ago was 22 games over .500?  Hunter said the weaknesses of some teammates have been identified by other teams and adjustments must be made to respond.   “The league catches up with you,” Hunter said.

Among the home town stories to follow when the Minnesota Wild start training camp next month is whether former Gopher Danny Irmen can earn a place on the roster.  With 22 players on the 23 man roster having NHL contracts, Irmen’s opportunity is far less than it could be.

Irmen, who turns 23 next week, must compete with some talented and more experienced forwards for a roster spot.  Last year, playing for the Wild farm team in Houston, he finished third on the Aeros in goals with 37.  In stops in Houston and with the Gophers he’s shown goal scoring ability, but conversations about Irmen usually include something more— his determination and competitiveness.

Former Minnesota North Stars coach Glen Sonmor provided color commentary on Gopher games when Irmen played for the University from 2003-2006.  What does Sonmor think of Irmen’s chances to make the team?

“I think they’re very good,” he said.  “But it’s a lot tougher than it was earlier because they’ve got some real depth at forward now finally. If he had come along three years ago at the stage he is now I am sure he would have been playing right away. And…I am sure he will play.  He’s eventually going to show them and he is showing them now that he’s got an ingredient they really need.  He’s got an edge to him.  He’s a fearless, tough competitor.  Everybody needs more of those guys. …”

Sonmor can foresee a journey that brings Irmen to the Wild later in the season, not the start.  “Something is going to happen and he may make it,” Sonmor said.  “I know they’re going to give him a real good look. …”

The Fargo native played in 80 games last season with Houston, the most in his career.   Sonmor described Irmen’s season as a “very good year” and said the young forward’s “fiercely competitive” style and talent gets him noticed.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said today at a news conference that Kenechi Udeze will be the Vikings starting defensive left end in the season opener against Atlanta on September 9.  Frazier also said his defensive starters will play only the opening series in Thursday night’s final pre-season game against Dallas at the Metrodome.

It’s a solid guess that how many games the Twins win in this week’s three game series in Cleveland against the Indians will go a long way toward deciding Minnesota’s fate in pursuit of the Central Division title.  The Twins may need to sweep the Indians, or at least win two of three.

One reason the Twins are winning is Jason Kubel is hitting .357 and has driven in six runs in his last 10 games. Kubel, 25, entered this season with a .254 career batting average but he has the ability to be a much better run producer for the Twins and perhaps fill the minimal offense left field position.

Texas Tech basketball coach Bob Knight will be among those attending a dinner on Tuesday, September 18 at the McNamara Alumni Center at the University of Minnesota to honor the 40^th anniversary of Bud Grant’s first season as Minnesota Vikings coach.  Proceeds from the event will benefit the Viking Children’s Fund.  More information is available by calling 952-828-6577, or www.vikings.com

Wild goalie Josh Harding will be signing autographs at the team’s State Fair booth from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday.  Wild and Minnesota Swarm players are among those making celebrity appearances during the fair at the booth, located on the second level of the main grandstand.

In pre-season MIAC coaches polls, the following were voted the favorites to win the conference in football, volleyball, and men’s and women’s soccer:  Saint John’s, Concordia, Gustavus and Macalester.  Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own with points assigned for each vote.

Seven MIAC men’s basketball student-athletes have been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Academic Honors Court. The honor recognizes college basketball student-athletes who excel in their academic pursuits. The seven are: St. Olaf junior Bob Hunter, Augsburg juniors Justin Kozlowski and Darren Nelson, and four seniors from Saint John’s, Chase Lenz, Matt Ohme, Craig Schafer and Scott Schafer.

Local sports fan Ken Lien, who for years chaired the Minnesota Mr. Basketball Committee, saw his first game at historic Lambeau Field last week and wrote the following via e-mail: “It truly puts the plastic Metrodome to shame!”