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Author: David Shama

David Shama is a former sports editor and columnist with local publications. His writing and reporting experiences include covering the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Gophers. Shama’s career experiences also include sports marketing. He is the former Marketing Director of the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL. He is also the former Marketing Director of the United States Tennis Association’s Northern Section. A native of Minneapolis, Shama has been part of the community his entire life. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where he majored in journalism. He also has a Master’s degree in education from the University of St. Thomas. He was a member of the Governor’s NBA’s Task Force to help create interest in bringing pro basketball to town in the 1980s.

Twins Prez: Little Merit in ‘Standing Still’

Posted on July 18, 2021July 18, 2021 by David Shama

 

The Minnesota Twins, prior to the season considered a World Series favorite, were 11 games under .500 during last week’s MLB All-Star game break in the schedule. “I don’t think there’s a lot of merit in standing still when your team is in the position we’re in,” club president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners Friday.

The MLB trade deadline is 3 p.m. Minneapolis time on July 30. St. Peter said as the deadline nears front office leaders are obligated to assess their personnel and listen to what rival clubs are offering. “There’s no mandate from ownership around moving players for the sake of moving players, or saving money. That said, we also want to look for ways to improve our club.”

St. Peter isn’t predicting a fire sale by Minnesota but it sounds like there will be at least minimal change to the roster. “I guess I would be surprised if we didn’t see some movement considering where we’re at and considering the number of good players that we believe we have that other teams certainly have interest in. But it ultimately comes down to what you’re getting in return—so hard to predict how that market will evolve over time.”

Trading high potential young players always prompts anguish for organizations but St. Peter believes it’s wise to consider trades involving all personnel. “I think every player is on the table for discussion,” he said about the Twins.

Speculation is 41-year-old DH Nelson Cruz should keep his suitcase nearby, with a possible landing spot in Tampa Bay with the Rays. Wherever Cruz might go, he is unlikely because of his age to command much in trade return other than lower level prospects with promising potential.

Several other Twins players are part of trade chatter across the country, including pitcher Joe Berrios and center fielder Byron Buxton. Both are cornerstones for having a winning team during the next several seasons but they will be free agents in 2023 and it’s uncertain how long they will be in Minneapolis. Rumors are the Twins are trying to secure them long term but St. Peter declined to talk about contracts. It might take deals of more than $100 million each to retain Berrios and Buxton.

While Berrios has emerged as the staff ace, Buxton has only played in 27 games because of injuries. He was one of baseball’s best hitters and complete players before his latest injury (left-hand fracture) sidelined him again. In only 103 at bats he is hitting .369 with 10 home runs and 19 RBI, along with a .767 slugging percentage and 1.176 OPS.

Dave St. Peter (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins)

At the time of his late June injury Buxton was playing in his third game back after being sidelined with a right hip strain. St. Peter said Buxton’s hand injury initially left him feeling down and frustrated, but the 27-year-old is resilient and a terrific teammate even when not playing.

“He’s a special person,” St. Peter said. “There’s no question he’s dealt with his share of adversity and it has made him stronger.”

From wisdom teeth to serious injuries, a lot of problems have kept Buxton sidelined over the years. St. Peter thinks Buxton’s goal for the remainder of 2021 will be to stay healthy and play as many games as he can.

What does St. Peter want to see from his club before the season ends? Play better and more consistent baseball, and move toward a .500 record.  He added that the attitude of players is the season isn’t over. “I think that’s step No. 1 (getting to .500),” St. Peter said. “We get there and start to think about what’s the next step.”

The Twins are third among MLB teams in home runs with 130. Their runs scored total of 425 ranks 12th. “Offense really has not been the problem,” St. Peter said. “We’ve struggled at times in clutch situations, runners in scoring position, but for the most part offensively we think we’re scoring enough runs. Where the regression has taken place is on the mound. So I am optimistic that we’re going to see improvement there.”

Berrios leads the starting rotation at 7-3 with a 3.48 ERA. No other starter has won more than five games for Minnesota and 2020 club ace Kenta Maeda has a 4-3 record with a 4.71 ERA. In 2019, when the Twins earned what would be the first of two consecutive AL Central championships, the team had five starters who won 10 games or more.

The Twins are among the MLB leaders in giving up the most earned runs. The bullpen has faltered too, including offseason acquisition Alex Colome. He was supposed to be a late inning lights out guy, maybe even the team’s ninth inning stopper. The 32-year-old had a resume of relief pitching success including as recently as 2020 with the Chicago White Sox when his ERA was 0.81 in 21 games during the pandemic shortened season.

“The Horse” has been more like a colt for the Twins, with shaky pitching and just two saves to go with his 4.83 ERA. St. Peter believes Colome’s “stuff” is as good as ever but the reliever’s confidence is off in locating his pitches.

“When you miss, particularly in the zone in this league, you’re going to get hit,” St. Peter said. “He also, I think, had some bad luck early on as well. But it hasn’t worked out. He’s pitched better of late. …”

The Twins started the season 5-2 but by late April weren’t even close to playing .500 baseball. The team had a difficult spring, losing a lot of close games and sometimes both strategy and execution was questioned. Rocco Baldelli, the 2019 AL Manager of the Year, became the target of unhappy fans.

St. Peter said Baldelli, 39, will be the team’s on-field leader for years to come. “We love Rocco Baldelli and everything he represents, and we believe he will be our manager for a long, long time.”

Baldelli, St. Peter said, is admired inside and outside the Minnesota organization. “Rocco Baldilli is one of the more respected managers in the game. Just talk to other managers, talk to other executives. This guy has done a tremendous job here in 2019, 2020.

“2021 hasn’t worked out as well. I think some of the adversity we’ve dealt with collectively…over time will certainly help Rocco. Make him an even better manager going forward.”

This has been a challenging year for the Twins at the box office, too. The club hasn’t fulfilled expectations and the social unrest that hit downtown in 2020, along with the alarming ongoing Minneapolis crime reports, has created an image of the city that keeps some fans away from the ballpark.

“We believe very strongly that Target Field is a safe place to come to,” said St. Peter, who has been with the organization since 1990. “We don’t buy into the premise that it is not. The statistics, the reality would show that our fans have been very safe attending games. There have been…no incidents of note that have taken place in our home schedule, this year or…in previous years.

“There’s a perception issue. We have a lot of work to do as a community to deal with that. We’ve taken strides locally to try to ensure that there is a heavier infusion of security measures but at the end of the day we believe in an urban ballpark. We believe in playing downtown Minneapolis and frankly that’s going to include a number of night games which…most of our fans prefer because of their ability to get to those games.”

Comments Welcome

RB Mo Ibrahim Gets Preseason Love

Posted on July 13, 2021July 13, 2021 by David Shama

 

Preseason college football authorities are on the Mohamed Ibrahim bandwagon. The fifth-year University of Minnesota running back is receiving All-American and All-Big Ten hype this summer.

Walter Camp Football Foundation has the 5-foot-10, 210-pound Ibrahim on its first-team All-American unit. Athlon Sports made him a second-team All-American and so did Phil Steele Publications. Athlon, College Football News, Lindy’s, Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus are part of the crowd who make Ibrahim an apparent unanimous pick for first-team All-Big Ten. Bleacher Report rated him the No. 3 senior (regardless of playing position) in the nation.

If Ibrahim is named a first-team All-American after the season, he will be the first U running back to achieve the honor since Laurence Maroney in 2005. Ibrahim was an Associated Press third-team All-American last season. He was also named Big Ten Running Back of the Year and, of course, made first team All-Big Ten.

The Baltimore native rushed 201 times for 1,076 yards and 15 touchdowns during an abbreviated seven-game schedule last season. He led the Big Ten in the following categories: rushing attempts (201), total rushing yards (1,076), rushing yards per game (153.7), rushing touchdowns (15), scoring (90), points per game (12.9) and all-purpose yards per game (168.4). His rushing average of 153.7 yards per game set a school record.

Ibrahim has rushed for 2,840 yards in just 28 games during his U career. With a big season in 2021 he could move past Rodney Smith (4,122 yards) on the all-time career rushing list at Minnesota. Smith is second on the list to Darrell Thompson’s 4,654 career yards.

Ibrahim is a powerful runner, consistently breaking tackles and able to lean forward with defenders on his body. While not having breakaway speed, he is among the best power runners in U history. He doesn’t have Maroney’s speed and explosiveness but his vision and stubborn running style is reminiscent of another former Gopher, Marion Barber III (played with Maroney and is second in career touchdowns with five less than Thompson’s 40).

Gophers Football Notes

Other Gophers are receiving preseason attention for being among the better players in the Big Ten. Guard-tackle Blaise Andries and center John Michael Schmitz are on Athlon’s All-Big Ten second team offense. Quarterback Tanner Morgan and defensive end Boye Mafe are third team selections by Athlon.

Tanner Morgan

Lindy’s has Mafe on its Big Ten second team defense and offensive tackle Daniel Faalele is also a second-teamer. Lindy’s ranks Ibrahim the No. 3 running back in the nation, Mafe the No. 14 defensive end and Morgan the No. 24 quarterback.

Phil Steele is among the most respected of authorities and he went heavy on props for the Gophers. He placed guard-center Connor Olson on his All-Big Ten first team with Ibrahim. Second teamers are Andries and Morgan. Third teamers are wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell, cornerback Coney Durr, defensive tackle Nyles Pinckney, and Faalele and Schmitz.

It was announced yesterday Andries made first team on the 2020-2021 Academic All-America Division I team selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The honor recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their performances on the field and in the classroom. Andries is majoring in mathematics and is an aspiring actuary.

Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck received recognition in Seth Galina’s Pro Football Focus story last week ranking the top 20 coaches in college football. Citing Fleck’s successes at Western Michigan and Minnesota, the Gopher leader was ranked No. 20. Among Big Ten West Division coaches, only Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald at No. 6 was ahead of Fleck.

The Gophers sagged in 2020 (3-4 record) after their impressive 2019 performance, 11-2 overall, 7-2 in the Big Ten and ranked No. 10 in the nation in the final Associated Press poll. With Fleck going into his fifth season at the U with an experienced roster, expectations are pretty high.

“This is a big year for P.J. (Fleck); a lot of problems they had last year you could attribute to personnel and coordinator changes; plus some key guys opting out and getting injured,” anonymous opposing coaches said in Athlon. “His brand and style never makes friends in the division; they want to be flashier and louder than the programs that have been successful in their area.  …”

Minnesota gave up 30.14 points per game last season and concerns about improvement lessen enthusiasm among media for 2021. The offense generates confidence but doubts about stopping the opposition has predictors thinking Minnesota will finish third or fourth in the seven-team West Division.

Most likely Wisconsin but maybe Iowa to win the West, is a trend seen this summer by crystal ball specialists. The Gophers and Northwestern draw support as the next best teams in the division.

Typical prediction on wins and losses has Minnesota at 7-5. Included in that camp is Cbssports.com’s Tom Fornelli who predicts one of the wins will be over border rival Wisconsin in the last game of the season. Athlon projects Minnesota playing Toledo in Detroit’s Quick Lane Bowl.

Ugh.

Among anticipated dates on the Minnesota schedule is the September 18 nonconference game against Colorado in Boulder. The Buffs aren’t a Pac-12 power but the Denver-Boulder area offers a lot to see and do. Steve Erban’s Creative Charters has filled two planes for the trip and is working on a third.

Steve and wife Dorothy are part of the 2021 Canterbury Park Hall of Fame class. The Stillwater couple will be recognized at Canterbury Saturday for their role in the state’s horse racing industry. Steve was an important advocate for Canterbury Park before it opened in 1985. He and Dorothy have owned and bred stakes winning horses, developed a national horseracing event and formed partnerships introducing new owners to the sport.

Other inductees in the class of 2021 are Mary Green of Eden Prairie, who is another pioneer in the development of Canterbury Park and long involved with the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association, and also two thoroughbreds, A P Is Loose and Honey’s Sox Appeal, that are among the all-time leaders in purse earnings at the Shakopee racetrack.

Former Gophers football and basketball public address announcer Dick Jonckowski will do standup comedy Friday at the Alpine Inn in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The appearance was facilitated by Jonckowski’s friendship with Jay Buckley, the La Crosse-based operator of Jay Buckley’s Baseball Tours.

Comments Welcome

Historic July for Local Pro Franchises

Posted on July 11, 2021July 11, 2021 by David Shama

 

Welcome to a Sunday notes column:

Because of the pandemic and disruption of schedules, MLB, the NHL and NBA hold player drafts this month. It’s unprecedented for fans of the Twins, Wild and Timberwolves to be following all three drafts in July.

The 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft starts today in Denver and continues through Tuesday. The Twins have the No. 26 selection in the first round and may take a college pitcher. This is the first time the MLB Draft has been part of events built around the All-Star Game (Tuesday night).

The Twins, with a 38-50 record, may earn a .500 record by season’s end. Regardless, they won’t finish with MLB’s worst record in 2021 and thereby qualify for the first pick in the 2022 draft. Twins draftniks have joked about a “tank for Elijah” campaign, referring to super prospect outfielder Elijah Green who is a favorite to go No. 1 in 2022.

The NHL Draft will be July 23-24 at the NHL Network Studio in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Wild draft position is late in the first round but Minnesota does have two picks at No. 21 and 25. The organization needs scoring and playmaking including at center, with that priority likely addressed on July 23.

The Wild will also target the center position in the offseason by looking for a veteran center. Buffalo Sabre Jack Eichel could be on the shopping list.

Gersson Rosas

The NBA Draft will be July 29 in New York and the Timberwolves don’t have a selection in either of the league’s two rounds. Put the odds, though, at 50-50 this will change between now and July 29, with basketball boss Gersson Rosas making a trade with another club for a choice or two in the draft.

The Golden State Warriors have the Wolves first round pick because of the 2020 trade that sent Andrew Wiggins to California and brought D’Angelo Russell to Minneapolis. Wiggins exceeded expectations for the Warriors last season, while an injured Russell missed 26 games because of knee surgery. The defensive limitations of Russell, the performance of Wiggins at both ends of the court in 2021, and having the Wolves’ No. 7 first round draft spot, prompted this opinion last month from NBCsports.com about Golden State executive Bob Myers:

“Myers robbed Gersson Rosas blind and simply left Russell in his office with a thank you card attached.”

Former Gophers star Max Meyer, now in the Miami Marlins organization, is scheduled to pitch in today’s Futures All-Star game in Denver. Meyer is among minor league baseball’s most promising prospects. Josh Winder, a right-hander like Meyer, will represent the Twins via the St. Paul Saints. Winder is 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA in two minor league stops this year.

Before the trade deadline it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Twins move shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Cincinnati Reds for prospects. The Reds are trying to win the NL Central and have a need at short. The Twins could call up MLB veteran JT Riddle from the St. Paul Saints and finish the season with him. Top prospect Royce Lewis is likely to be Minnesota’s long-term answer at shortstop.

The Twins rotate analysts on TV telecasts but no one compares with 82-year-old Jim Kaat who in recent weeks has been working the booth with play-by-play man Dick Bremer. Listening to Kaat’s insights and storytelling can be better than the game. Within moments his infallible baseball mind might be recalling the first game he ever saw (1946 Briggs Stadium, Tigers and Red Sox), and then advising Twins hitters to focus less on launch angles and more on “situational hitting.”

Word is now retired Mikko Koivu could become a coach with the Finnish national team, and an ambassador for the Minnesota Wild.

In members-only meetings (no guests) the Twin Cities Dunkers will hear from Gophers basketball coach Ben Johnson Tuesday and Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck August 3.

It’s been more than two months since Dave Lee signed off as host of WCCO Radio’s early morning show, with no replacement announced yet. Did a broadcaster from public radio turn down the job? The station should promote news reporter Adam Carter to fill the vacancy. The nephew of former Gophers football captain Jim Carter, Adam is smart, articulate, interesting and personable.

Baseball fan and Murray’s owner Tim Murray will visit Globe Life Field in early August to watch the Texas Rangers. The club’s new home is the only MLB stadium Murray hasn’t experienced.

Bill Robertson’s first day as president and commissioner of the United States Hockey League is Monday. He will headquarter in the same Bloomington office he used as commissioner of the men’s WCHA.

Former Viking Matt Birk will be master of ceremonies of the Taste Fore The Tour fundraiser at Interlachen Country Club July 19. The celebrity attended event and related activities raise funds for Volunteers Enlisted to Help People, the large Twin Cities food panty. A Taste Fore The Tour celebrity recipe collection booklet features 25 recipes, including from Birk, Lou Nanne, Mark Parrish and top local chefs. Each booklet costs $30 and is enough for VEAP to feed one person for a month. More at TasteForeTheTour.com, or HungerRelatedEvents.org.

The Minute Men Amateur Athletic Foundation 2021 scholarship was awarded to Henry Sibley scholar-athlete Brandon Morris.
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