Author: David Shama

June was a special month for Twins left fielder Jason Kubel last season.  He had an eight game hitting streak where he was 14-36, a .389 batting average.  He hit .333 for the month with five home runs and 16 RBI.  With the Twins’ lack of hitting among the most popular sports topics in this town, it’s been difficult to see Kubel struggle of late, with three hits in his last 22 at-bats.  For the season Kubel is hitting .235, with five home runs and 22 RBI.

Kubel’s 2007 June problems include a minor injury to his right knee that caused him to miss a few days.  Talk about the 25-year-old’s career often includes the full year he missed in 2005 recovering from surgery on his left knee.  He also had a less serious right knee surgery following the 2006 season. 

Kubel told Sports Headliners his knees are okay and earlier this week he had an outstanding catch in the field, diving for a ball near the foul line, against the New York Mets.  Kubel said he stretches to minimize further knee problems.   

Kubel came into this season determined to be a success at the plate.  “Everything felt good so I was expecting a lot more,” he said. 

Admired for his ability and potential in the minors, Kubel hit .321 in 2002 and .298 in 2003.  In 60 at-bats with the Twins in 2004 he batted .300, and at two minor league stops that year compiled averages of .377 and .343.  Last season playing for the Twins, he had a .241 average, with eight home runs and 26 RBI.  

Manager Ron Gardenhire suggested last month that Kubel needs to hit with more confidence.  “Yeah, that’s all I need to get is confidence and then I will feel a lot better…,” Kubel said. 

Can he become a .300 hitter in the major leagues?  “Eventually, next year,” he said.  “It’d be kind of tough this year to do it now.” 

What about home runs?  “I hit 24 a couple of years ago, so hopefully (I’ll) get back to around there,” he answered.   (In 2004 he hit eight home runs in the minors and 16 with the Twins).

A good humored Bill Fitch talking about whether he ever regrets leaving college coaching, going from the Gophers in 1970 to take over the expansion Cleveland Cavs and beginning an NBA coaching career that ended in 1998:  “No, I never look back. … I stumble when I look forward.  I look back at my days there (Minnesota) and they were great days. …”

Fitch on the Wolves trading guard Mike James to Houston: “James was not a happy camper and I’ve always said, ‘get rid of unhappy campers.’  They’re not going to help you. …”

Look for the Timberwolves to make at least one more major roster move involving one of their veterans before next season.  

Two highly regarded NBA draft prospects, Georgetown University forward Jeff Green, Big East Conference Player of the Year, and University of Florida forward/center Al Horford, a third team All-American, were scheduled to work out for the Timberwolves earlier today. 

Michael Cuddyer has put runners on notice they need to be cautious about trying to take an extra base on him.  The Twins right fielder has used his strong and accurate right arm to cut down the daring or foolish.  Cuddyer never played the outfield until 2001 in the minor leagues. He played first base, second base and third base in the lower minors.  He told Sports Headliners playing the infield encourages habits like throwing accuracy and getting rid of the ball quickly that help when making the transition to the outfield.  “Also, you have to focus a little more in the infield,” Cuddyer said.  “I think that’s allowed me to take that focus level out to the outfield. …” 

Any guess about improvement from Viking players beginning their second season in the NFL could include defensive end Ray Edwards.  He showed exceptional pass rushing skill last season as a 21-year-old who had skipped his senior season at Purdue to enter the NFL draft. 

TCF Bank Stadium, scheduled to open in 2009 with a capacity of 50,000, could be expanded to approximately 80,000 based on future need, according to Tom Wistrcill, Gopher associate athletics director. 

Andrew Zimmern, local food critic and Travel Channel TV host, is now hosting an afternoon show on WFMP- FM107.1.   Canterbury Park jockey Lori Keith was a guest today.   

Saint Mary’s University’s Amanda Weinmann has been selected as the MIAC representative for the 2007 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The award honors senior student-athletes for their cumulative collegiate achievements in service, leadership, athletics and academics.  A national winner will be announced in October.  Weinmann was chosen by the MIAC Executive Committee after reviewing nominations from conference schools.

Tubby Smith has been on the job as Gopher basketball coach since late March.  Listening to Smith and others with knowledge of the program leaves an observer with early impressions. 

Smith is optimistic about his three returning starting seniors, forward Dan Coleman, center Spencer Tollackson and guard Lawrence McKenzie.   A change in coaching and the desire to improve could result in this trio being one of the more productive threesomes in the Big Ten Conference.  Last season the group scored 1,179 of the team’s 1,880 points.  The 63% total would have been higher except Tollackson missed eight of the team’s 31 games.  (The three players also had 410 of the Gophers’ 984 rebounds).  

Coleman’s off-season play has reportedly been impressive.  Duly noted is the added aggressiveness in his game.  Long and quick, the 6-foot-9 Coleman has been encouraged to be more assertive and consistent in the past.  He’s the team’s most talented player and capable of a superb senior season including an increase in his 14.2 points per game scoring average of last season. 

It’s puzzling to figure out where the help will come from to assist Coleman, Tollackson and McKenzie.  Former coach Jim Molinari said last year that freshman Bryce Webster was the most highly recruited Gopher coming out of high school.  The 6-foot-9 Webster, who averaged just 9.3 minutes and 1.2 points per game, appears passionate about the coming season.  His improvement could add much needed low post scoring, plus shot blocking and rebounding. 

McKenzie’s skills at shooting threes and occasionally slashing to the basket are better packaged as a shooting guard than a playmaker.  The Gophers need a point guard worse than the NBA finals longed for TV viewers.  Incoming freshman Blake Hoffarber is impressive with his decision making this spring, has a reputation for exceptional court sense and although known as a shooter could try out as the team’s point guard. 

Basketball sources are consistent in messaging that Smith is an exceptional practice and game coach.  He will produce more from his talent than many of his coaching peers.  Along the way he will push his players hard but will be fair. 

Personnel must obviously be improved in coming seasons for the Gophers to move way beyond the record of last season, 9-22 overall and 3-14 in Big Ten games, including a season ending nine game losing streak (includes the final loss in the conference post-season tournament).  

For now there are questions about upgrading the personnel.  How good are Smith and his assistants at recruiting?  Will they approach recruiting more nationally than regionally?  Certainly the Gophers will be more effective in keeping the state’s best players here, and Smith’s reputation as a former national championship coach opens opportunities to recruit here and elsewhere. 

Recruiting glitz is much more visible than in the past. A high school senior next season, 7-foot Ralph Sampson, Jr. of Duluth, Georgia has shown interest in the Gophers.  The son of former NBA great Ralph Sampson, Junior’s strengths include his outside shooting. 

Smith has frequently been out of town either recruiting or fulfilling commitments made prior to being hired at Minnesota.  While it’s been said Smith hasn’t been visible enough with the media and public, he has made friends and impressed locals with his personality and personal values. 

Paul Presthus and other members of the Golden Dunkers executive group met with Smith for the first time a few days ago.  Presthus was a Golden Dunkers founder and said that over 35 years the booster organization has provided about $3 million to Gopher basketball.  Recent support has included video equipment and locker room renovation. 

Presthus, a former Gopher captain, said people are even more excited about having Smith as coach after they meet him.  “What he brings is such credibility in the community and in the basketball world,” Presthus said.  “Now the opportunity is to build on that and I am confident it will happen.”