Author: David Shama

Any Twins fans interested in following the organization’s prospects have to be intrigued by Deolis Guerra.  The 20-year-old right handed pitcher has most recently been promoted to Double-A New Britain where his work has been described as “brilliant” and “inconsistent.”

Guerra’s performances have included a no-hit, nine strikeout six inning performance but his 5.19 ERA indicates inconsistency.  A recent online article in the New Britain Herald said Guerra’s out pitch is his changeup and described it as “devastating.”  https://www.newbritainherald.com/articles/2009/08/22/sports/doc4a8f559506754372078426.txt

Twins farm director Jim Rantz talked to the Herald about that pitch and Guerra’s development.  “Everything works off your fastball,” Rantz said. “If he can locate the fastball and throw strikes, that changeup is deadly. That’s a weapon. …

“This is only a 20-year-old kid and he’s already got about four years under his belt. I’m pleased with the advancement that he has made and how he’s come along.”

Guerra’s potential arrival some day as part of the Twins’ rotation has appeal beyond the obvious need that the big league club is struggling to find starters.  As part of the infamous Johan Santana trade in 2008, Guerra has been considered by some observers to be the gem of the four-man package that also brought center fielder Carlos Gomez and pitchers Phil Humber and Kevin Mulvey to the Twins organization from the New York Mets.  A productive career by Guerra would make those with a Twins bias feel a lot better about losing two-time Cy Young award winner Santana.

Guerra, who is 6-3 with New Britain and has struck out 45 batters in 52 innings, was once an eye candy kind of prospect in the Mets organization.  The Venezuelan was signed as a free agent for $700,000 by the Mets who viewed him as a pitcher loaded with potential.

Guerra’s performances have been inconsistent during his minor league career.            The velocity of his pitches has been questioned and his stamina, too.  But Guerra at other times has shown big league velocity and he has both the youth and the body frame, 6-5, 200 pounds, to develop more stamina.

Almost still a teenager, Guerra is two levels from the major leagues.  Since he’s already advanced from Class A to AA this year, the Twins might not call him up in September when their roster expands from 25 to 40, but it will be surprising if he doesn’t have the opportunity to make the team in the spring of 2010, or 2011.

Justin Morneaureturned to the Twins lineup on Monday night after not playing since August 17. The team was 5-2 without Morneau, the American League’s RBI leader with 95.  He homered last night for the first time since August 2 in the Twins’ comeback win over Baltimore.

If junior college transfer Trevor Mbakwe isn’t with the Gophers this fall, freshman Royce White is a likely replacement at power forward.  A woman alleges Mbakwe attacked her earlier this year in Florida.  A trial later this year regarding a felony aggravated battery charge will further address the allegation.  White has impressed associate head coach Ron Jirsa with his strength.

The Vikings’ defense has so many standouts that Madieu Williams doesn’t receive a lot of publicity but the 27-year-old safety is a solid player and a smart free agent signing in 2008.

That was 96-year-old former national championship coach Murray Warmath who made the effort to attend the Gophers scrimmage last Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.  Warmath, who lives in Bloomington and coached the Gophers to the 1960 national title, is confined to a wheelchair.

Announced attendance at the stadium open house and scrimmage was 15,103.  Official capacity is listed at 50,805.

The stadium’s M Club facility for Gopher letterwinners is expected to open on Thursday, September 10, two days before the season opener against Air Force on September 12.

Former Gopher linebacker and Sartell native Craig Sauer is an assistant coach at Augsburg as part of a National Football Players Association/NCAA coaching internship program for former NFL players. A former linebacker with the Falcons and Vikings, Sauer is a defensive/special teams assistant on Augsburg coach Frank Haege’s staff.  https://athletics.augsburg.edu/news/2009/7/8/fb070809.aspx?path=football

Saint John’s sophomore offensive lineman Cody Socher spent four hours each day this summer lifting, conditioning and practicing with UFC champion Brock Lesnar.

The Johnnies’ John Gagliardi will become the first known head coach in college football history to coach his own grandson, Joey Benson, this fall.

St. Thomas coach Glenn Caruso’s 50-plus freshman football recruiting class includes four players born in Africa who later grew up in the Twin Cities.

Local author Bob Showers has a new book, “The Twins at the Met,” debuting this week at the Minnesota State Fair (the Twins exhibit).  It will be available only at the fair and Twins Pro Shop locations until early September, and then in bookstores. The book is a history of Twins baseball at Metropolitan Stadium, the franchise’s home from 1961-81.  Showers interviewed many sources including team alumni like Bert Blyleven, Kent Hrbek, Tom Kelly, Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Jim Kaat, Paul Molitor, Jack Morris and Dave Winfield.

Wrestling fans can see the WWE at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday, September 5.

TCF Bank Stadium is opening to applause and the new facility almost makes Minnesota unique compared to other college football programs and their old facilities, yet short term the stadium is a challenge to the Gophers’ on field performance.

Coach Tim Brewster has been saying all summer the focus of his team is on one goal: prepare for the opening game at Syracuse on September 5.  There’s so much anticipation about the first game in TCF Bank Stadium on September 12 with Air Force, that Brewster welcomed last Saturday’s scrimmage and public open house in the new facility.  Those were “butterflies” of the figurative kind floating out of the stadium and across campus on Saturday.

Still, the build-up to the first game ever in the stadium presents a challenge of focus for team and staff.  The Gophers, 7-6 last season and 1-11 the year before, aren’t good enough to perform without their collective heads attached to their bodies.  The return to playing home games on campus should mean more student interest and attendance, a potential temporary distraction for players.  Then, too, there will be so much media and public conversation during game week that the players can’t help but notice.

Brewster told Sports Headliners earlier this summer that the focus challenge includes practice and the game on September 12.  He and his staff have to help ready the players so they’re not so excited to play that they can’t execute properly—not understanding plays, overthrowing receivers, jumping off side, taking poor angles on tackles and other similar problems.

Quarterback Adam Weber acknowledged at last Saturday’s news conference that opening stadium week will be a challenge.  He said the players will look to the coaches for help in staying on task.

Before kickoff on September 12, pre-game festivities (including fly-over jets and fireworks) will have the crowd rocking and players will be more nervous than usual.  Who wants to be known as the team that lost the first ever game at TCF Bank Stadium?

Brewster isn’t interested in that scene right now.  All that matters is preparing for Syracuse on September 5.  He’s encouraging competition for playing time among his players and that provides day-to-day focus.  He’s even told the Gophers the Wally Pipp tale, the New York Yankees first baseman that supposedly took a day off because of a headache and never got back in the line-up after Lou Gehrig won the job.

Today for the Gophers there’s likely no dwelling on the festive atmosphere that will surround the September 12 opener, or even the opening game at Syracuse.  The messages to the players: stay in the moment, learn your practice lessons, take a calm approach and carry the preparation over to game days, September 5, 12 and beyond.  The mantra is clear and the results will come soon enough.