Author: David Shama

Despite five seasons in the major leagues, Alexi Casilla has yet to establish himself as more than a journeyman infielder.  His latest opportunity is this season as the Twins’ regular shortstop, and he’s responded with a .128 average, no home runs, one RBI and five runs scored.  He has two errors in 14 games and is capable of making spectacular plays in the field.

Twins’ minor league shortstop Trevor Plouffe has been praised as a prospect in the past by Bill Smith and Plouffe’s start at Triple-A Rochester has Minnesota’s general manager looking good.  Plouffe is hitting .303 with four home runs and eight RBI.  He has one error.

The easy guess is Plouffe might become the Twins’ everyday shortstop later this year or next.  However, it’s no certainty his big league career will work out.

Plouffe will be 25 in June and his career minor league numbers aren’t dazzling.  He had a career minor league average of .254 going into this spring, his eighth year in pro baseball.

He was steady in the field last year at Rochester, committing only 12 errors as the team’s regular shortstop.  The prior season, though, he had 26 errors, and during other minor league years he had totals of 35, 32 and 29.

Plouffe played in 22 games with the Twins last season.  He hit .146 with one error.

As for Casilla, he will be 27 in July and has split time between the Twins and the minor leagues every year since 2006.  Numbers tell of his inconsistency including his promising batting average of .276 last year in 69 games after hitting just .202 in 80 games in 2009.

His opportunity to show the Twins he can perform consistently at bat and in the field will last awhile longer.  But on a club last in the American League in runs scored, management may have limited patience.

Plouffe awaits his chance.

Jim Hoey, the right-handed reliever recalled by the Twins from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, might have the best fastball on the staff.  Manager Ron Gardenhire said on his KSTP radio show Sunday that Hoey can throw the ball “96-97” miles per hour.

Although he’s 28, Hoey has only pitched 35.2 innings in the major leagues including his no hit, no runs 1.1 innings debut for the Twins on Monday night.  In 2006 and 2007 he pitched for Baltimore, the club that traded him last December to the Twins.  He has a 7.82 career ERA in the majors.

Hoey, who entered pro baseball in 2003, has been a reliever since 2005.  He missed all of 2008 with an inflamed right shoulder.

The Twins are five games under .500 with their 6-11 record.  The worst April in franchise history is 8-16 in 1978.

Orlando Hudson, the Twins 2010 second baseman, is hitting .294 in his last 10 games and .278 for the season in San Diego.  Another former Twin, relief pitcher Pat Neshek, is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in six games for the Padres.  The Twins chose to part with both players since the end of last season.

Local baseball fan Dave Wright emailed that former Twins’ third baseman Reno Bertoia passed away last Friday in Windsor, Ontario at age 75.  Bertoia, one of the few natives of Italy to play in the majors, homered in the franchise’s first regular season game, the 1961 6-0 win in Yankee Stadium over New York.  He was Wright’s high school history teacher and baseball coach at Assumption High School in Windsor.  “A great man,” Wright said in his email.

St. Thomas second baseman Charles Bruchu, who hit .563 with a .668 slugging percentage in five games, is the MIAC Baseball Player of the Week for his play last week.  Pitcher-of-the-Week is Hamline’s Brett Bugielski for his impressive bullpen work (1-0, three saves) in four Piper wins.

Radio talk show host and public relations executive Dave Mona, who also has been working as a special assistant to Gophers’ athletics director Joel Maturi, told Sports Headliners his agreement with the University will end in June.

Former Gophers’ football player Tommy Watson emailed that he has a new website promoting his motivational speaking, life coaching and business consulting. https://tawatson.com/

Former University of Connecticut standout and current ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo on Lynx No. 1 draft choice Maya Moore:  “If Maya stays healthy, she will be the WNBA Rookie of the Year.  She is WNBA-ready now and proved that when she played with the National Team at the World Championships last summer.  She was the only college player on the team and held her own.  She has a WNBA body and a WNBA game.  I expect her to be an all-star and an All-WNBA performer her rookie year. … Again, she needs to stay healthy, but Maya could be the (league) MVP her rookie year.”

The Lynx are using a diverse marketing plan to sell tickets for the coming season including print, radio, cable TV, emails and automated phone calls, according to Conrad Smith, the club’s chief operating officer.  Coinciding with last week’s selection of Moore and in preparation for the regular season home opener on June 5 at Target Center, the marketing campaign may take the franchise well beyond last year’s season ticket total of 2,400.  Single game tickets start at $10 with other prices at $30, $45, $60, $110 and $175.

Roy Terwilliger, who is experienced with stadium issues including past service as chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, is upbeat about the legislature approving a bill this session for a new Vikings stadium.

“I am optimistic it will get done,” Terwilliger told Sports Headliners.  “There’s been a lot of ground work done by the commission, the Vikings, and a lot of different people have put time and effort into it.”

Terwilliger, who served for 11 sessions in the state Senate representing Edina and Eden Prairie, doesn’t agree with those who predict a stadium bill has to be passed this session because 2012 is an election year and politicians might not be willing then to take on this controversial legislation.  “People can say that, but I would call attention that 2006 was an election year, too, and the Twins and Gophers got stadiums approved,” he said.

The Vikings and their supporters have been pitching a new stadium for years, but now there’s more urgency to get something done with the franchise’s lease at the Metrodome expiring after this season.  In addition, new governor Mark Dayton is more proactive on the stadium issue than predecessor Tim Pawlenty.

Among the most important of elements for stadium legislation receiving approval is how much the Vikings and NFL are willing to contribute to a facility that could cost about $900 million, roof included.  If during an 11^th hour deal the Vikings and league pledge $400 million or more, perhaps Hennepin County will become a partner dedicating sales tax revenues to the new facility.

A three partner funding model with the Vikings-NFL, Hennepin County and state of Minnesota contributing might be the final outcome of legislation.  Minneapolis and county leaders do want the stadium and not just for the prestige of retaining the Vikings, but for the many other events that can benefit the city and area economy.

The site?  Probably either the Star Tribune property near the Metrodome, or a site close to Target Field.  Either option allows the Vikings to play in the dome until the new facility is built.

If the site were on the Metrodome property the Vikings would have to temporarily play at TCF Bank Stadium where game revenues will decline because of smaller seating capacity and other limitations.  It’s believed the Vikings will expect to be compensated for lost revenue, adding further to new stadium project expenses.