Author: David Shama

Twins reliever Joe Nathan didn’t hold a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning of playoff game No. 2 against the Yankees on Friday night.  The Twins eventually lost 4-3 in 11 innings, sending Minnesota home trailing 2-0 instead of being in a 1-1 tie series with home field advantage in the dome for games three and four.  The Friday night loss was the key game as the Yankees closed out the best of five series with a win last night in the Metrodome.

Nathan didn’t produce on Friday night but he’s arguably the team’s most valuable player after catcher Joe Mauer, and the Twins are so out matched in personnel against the Yankees that this wasn’t a series Minnesota was likely to win.  During the season Nathan saved 47 of the team’s 87 wins.  His saves total was a career high and second highest in the American League as the Twins won the Central Division title by one game.

Late last week Nathan was recognized as Rolaids Co-Reliever of the Year in the American League along with the Yankees Mariano Rivera.  The Yankees reliever is 40 years old which should give inspiration to Nathan, 34, that he can continue to be outstanding for several more years.

In that ninth inning on Friday night Nathan gave up a single to American League Most Valuable Player candidate Mark Teixeira and then a home run to all-time slugger Alex Rodriguez.  That two-some is part of the best offense in baseball.

The Yankees had baseball’s best record this season, 103-59 and were 10-0 against the Twins during the regular season and playoffs.  The Yankees are a consensus choice to win their first World Series since 2000.  The Twins had the worst regular season record of the eight teams in the major league playoffs.  It could be argued that there are seven or eight teams better than the Twins.

The Twins competed against the Yankees and also late in the season without half of their regular infield, plus an in-season rebuilt pitching staff.  Would having third baseman Joe Crede and first baseman Justin Morneau, both power hitters, and pitchers like Kevin Slowey and Pat Neshek have positioned the Twins to beat the Yankees?  We will never know but you can throw in another question, too.  With a more complete roster would Nathan have even been in that situation on Friday night?

Gophers coach Tim Brewster looked at quarterback Adam Weber’s passing numbers from Saturday’s 35-20 win over Purdue and was enthused.  Weber attempted nine passes, and completed five for 74 yards.  He had no touchdowns and two interceptions.

“I have so much admiration for Adam,” Brewster told Sports Headliners yesterday.  “He’s such a great leader.  It’s so exciting for this program to have the quarterback go five-for-nine and win the football game.”

The Gophers rushed for a season high 207 yards, emphasizing the run and taking the focus off the pass (leading receiver Eric Decker didn’t catch a ball in the second half.  Brewster credited Weber with making the correct run calls to make the rushing game effective.

Weber participated in the run game early, carrying the ball the first two times the offense was on the field, and he also ran for a touchdown. “Adam is one of those kids who likes to get in the flow of the game,” Brewster said.  “He loves to get bumped around a little bit and it helps get him into the game.”

The Gophers, now 2-1 in the Big Ten and 4-2 overall, had lost to Wisconsin a week ago Saturday and play the next two weeks at Penn State and Ohio State, nationally ranked teams with a combined 10-2 record.  Weber said the win over Purdue “was crucial.”  It was the right step in answering questions about the kind of season the Gophers will have.

The victory was also an early birthday present for Brewster who turns 49 tomorrow.  Brewster’s mother, Ritter Trexler, came from out of town to surprise him on Friday and celebrate the birthday. This time of year, though, Brewster is mostly about business and on Saturday night was entertaining several out of state recruits at his home.

Major League Baseball is way “off base” by not having replay cameras for playoff games and at least using them for foul line calls.  The mistaken ruling that Joe Mauer’s fly ball landed in foul territory outside the left field line at Yankee Stadium on Friday night was embarrassing.

Vikings quarterback Brett Favre and kicker Ryan Longwell are golf buddies.  Longwell told Sports Headliners the two have played on area golf courses several times since Favre joined the team in August.  Weather permitting, the twosome hope to play more golf on Tuesdays, or Friday afternoons.

Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams, 36, has the rocking chair in front of his locker at Winter Park that previously was placed by Favre’s locker.  Williams likes the large wooden rocker and intends to use it.  Longwell said it’s still not known who placed the chair in front of Favre’s locker.

Williams is a car buff.  He has eight autos including a Rolls Royce.

In a Sports Illustrated player poll (compiled only through the first week of the season), Favre was voted the “most overrated player” in the NFL.  (Favre made his miracle last minute throw to Greg Lewis in game No. 3 to beat San Francisco.)  Finishing No. 2 and 3 in the poll were Tony Romo and Terrell Owens.

Here’s an attention grabbing quote in that same issue of Sports Illustrated (October 12) from Stanford running back Toby Gerhart who in his senior season has become a Heisman Trophy candidate:  “As a white running back you get stereotyped.  When I tell people I play football, they say, ‘Oh, you’re a fullback.’ ”

Former Bloomington Jefferson center Cole Aldrich, now preparing for his third season at Kansas, was selected as Pre-season Co-Player of the Year by Big 12 Conference basketball coaches.  Teammate Sherron Collins was the other player honored.