Author: David Shama

Bert Blyeven, who won 287 games during his 22-year major league career, believes Francisco Liriano needs to modify his pitching delivery before he resumes his comeback from elbow surgery next season.  Blyleven, now the Twins TV analyst, described Liriano’s delivery as “violent,” noting that the 23-year-old left hander even had arm trouble as a minor league pitcher with the San Francisco Giants.  Liriano had a 12-3 record and 2.16 ERA last season as a rookie sensation before injuring his arm.  Blyleven suggested Liriano can improve his mechanics in a few ways including using more of his lower body and not placing so much strain on his left elbow. 

Just a sports columnist’s intuition but I don’t think Torii Hunter will re-sign with the Twins.  He can make too much money elsewhere on what will likely be the last and most mega contract of his career.  Hunter had an exceptional August hitting .325, with five homers, 21 RBI and 19 runs scored.

The Minnesota Wild will hold its media day on Thursday, September 13 and open training camp on Friday, September 14.  The first pre-season game is Wednesday, September 19 against Detroit at Xcel Energy Center.

Former Gopher women’s athletic director Chris Voelz and men’s hockey coach Glen Sonmor will be among 13 inductees into the M Club Hall of Fame on Thursday, September 27.  The event will be at the Ted Mann Concert Hall on the University’s west bank campus with a social hour from 6 to 7 p.m. followed by the program.  Ticket information is available by calling  612-624-4497, or 1-800-846-7437.

From the strange but true department: Former Gopher coach Glen Mason was at Maynard’s restaurant in Excelsior earlier this summer when he accepted a spontaneous invitation to join Dan Barreiro on-air.  For years Barriero was probably Mason’s No. 1 media critic but the twosome chatted away during a KFAN remote broadcast from Maynard’s.

The public can see the Viking football team tonight (Tuesday) at 6 p.m. in the Rotunda at the Mall of America.  Head coach Brad Childress will address the crowd following team introductions and designated players will speak. Coordinators Darrell Bevell, Leslie Frazier and Paul Ferraro will answer questions from team play-by-play man Paul Allen.  A few players will sign autographs later in the evening at mall locations to be announced at the Rotunda event.

Childress received an autographed copy last week of Murray Warmath’s biography, “The Autumn Warrior.”  The former Gopher head coach and Viking assistant, now 94, has an open invitation to attend a Viking practice.  

The guess here is the Vikings lost 8,000 to 12,000 season tickets during the off-season.

Gopher Athletic Director Joel Maturi said his department will receive $7.5 million from all TV revenue sources, including the new Big Ten Network.

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.