Author: David Shama

What’s next for Torii Hunter?  The 31-year-old outfielder has arguably been the Twins’ spring MVP and top newsmaker.  Yesterday he hit two home runs and batted in a career record seven base runners as the team stopped a four game losing streak with a 16-4 win over Detroit.  Last week he saw a career best 23 game hitting streak end. 

Hunter leads the team in RBI’s (29), is second in home runs (eight) and among the club leaders in batting average (.324) , and also courage. When he’s not producing hits, crashing into the fence making memorable catches in the outfield or shaking off a baseball colliding with his mouth, he’s been preaching patience to the media and public about the slow starting Twins season. 

Hunter’s 23 game hitting streak is eight behind the team record set by Ken Landreaux at 31.  Brian Harper, 25, and Lenny Green, 24, had longer streaks, too.  A streak of 30 games or more is privileged territory in major league baseball and season after season can roll by when no one reaches that level.  Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting record is one of sport’s most hallowed records. 

Manager Ron Gardenhire was asked about Hunter last Thursday morning, only hours before Hunter’s hitting streak ended.  He said Hunter’s ability, experience, and good health and fortune contributed to the streak. 

What happens to players when their hitting streaks reach 30 or more games?  “I know when I was in Little League and I had like a 25 game hitting streak my hands were around my collar all the time so I can only imagine what it would be at the big league level,” Gardenhire said.   “It’s obviously the pressure put on by the more attention you get…if it (Hunter’s streak) continues it’s gonna get hard. It’s already tough enough just trying to play the game and win ball games, and then you add that on top of it, a hitting streak. …” 

DiMaggio’s record?  “It’s incredible,” Gardenhire said.  “He was probably one of the greatest hitters of all time, if not the greatest hitter of all time, and to be able to have a streak like that…goodness, gracious.  Speed plays a part in it.  You gotta be able to leg out some hits but he had a great swing. Back in the day I don’t know how much press it got. … It’s probably tougher now in this day and age because of the press.” 

Gardenhire admires Hunter’s approach to baseball.  “He’s an old school baseball player,” he said.  “He’ll run around.  He’ll give up his body to make a play.  He was taught a long time ago about the importance of catching the ball and playing defense.  He loves it out there everyday playing defense.  He’s not afraid to dive.  He’s not afraid to hit the turf. He just plays.”

Twins outfielder Josh Rabe was asked if hitters start to press when they are not producing hits and runs. “Baseball is such a mental game.  It’s not like basketball or football where it’s more physical.  There’s a lot of down time.  All you do is think.  Sometimes your mind gets in the way, forces you to press and causes negative stuff to happen.  Guys get aggressive trying to force things to happen instead of letting it happen.” 

Baseball’s first-year player draft will be nationally televised for the first time ever when ESPN2 provides coverage from 3 to 7 p.m. Minneapolis time on Thursday, June 7.  ESPN2 will air each team’s first round draft choice and additional draft coverage during the four hours.  The total draft is 50 rounds. 

The Minnesota Vikings will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant being named the team’s head coach with an honorary lifetime achievement dinner on Tuesday, September 18. The Vikings have commissioned nationally-recognized artist Terrence Fogarty to create an art print recognizing Grant’s lifetime of achievement in athletics and the outdoors.   Proceeds from the event and print will benefit the Viking Children’s Fund.  Ticket information and event location will be announced later. 

Former Cretin-Derham Hall football player Rafael Eubanks, a sophomore next season at Iowa, is an early contender for the Rimington Award that goes to college football’s best center. 

A lot of fans and media have advice for highly regarded Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.  Among the suggestions is to send Jason Kubel to the minor leagues as a prescription to improve his hitting. 

The Twins need a left fielder and more punch at the plate.  Kubel, 24, has been admired for his ability and potential.  In the minors he 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. He missed the entire 2005 season recovering from left knee surgery.  Last season he had a .241 average, with eight home runs and 26 RBI’s. 

This season he’s hitting .250 with no home runs and 12 RBI’s in 96 at bats.  Yesterday he stopped a 0-11 streak by going two-for-three.   

Would Kubel benefit from playing every day with the AAA team in Rochester?  “We haven’t even gotten there yet,” Gardenhire told Sports Headliners in his office yesterday.  “We’re always evaluating…what’s going to be best for the players and the ball club.  Right now we’re just trying to figure out who can go out there, step it up, play left field for us and get it done.  He’s…probably one of the best projected hitters out there but you have to do it out on the field. Right now it’s just a little bit of a struggle, but he’s trying.” 

Gardenhire said the plan has been to use Kubel as a designated hitter or left fielder and he minimized the likelihood of sending Kubel to the minors.  Gardenhire wants to see Kubel improve his confidence and “trust himself more.” 

Gardenhire said Kubel is healthy and the knee doesn’t bother him.  “You gotta remember he was one of the best hitters in our (farm) system a few years ago before this knee injury,” Gardenhire said.  “He’s only 24 years old.  He’s got a lot to learn.  He missed a complete year of baseball.  He’s still battling back from that.  It doesn’t come back that easy.  He’s working hard.  … 

“His make-up is probably a little detrimental to him because he’s not one of these rah-rah, go-get-em guys.  He’s kind of a laid back kid and that probably doesn’t help him in trying to come back from this thing. …He’s a little tentative.  We gotta get that out.  We want him to be aggressive.  That’s what we’re working on right now, just being more aggressive as a player and a person. …” 

Gardenhire said younger players have emotional swings and Kubel can benefit from a steady approach, not be too hard on himself and “he’ll be a better player once he learns that.”