Author: David Shama

Aroldis Chapman, a Cuban left-hander who defected earlier this summer, likely will be a coveted commodity on baseball’s free agent market during the coming off-season.  Under baseball rules he and his representatives are able to negotiate a contract with any major league team.

Not sure who all will be in pursuit of the 6-3 pitcher who supposedly has thrown his fast ball over 100 miles per hour, but Tony Oliva called him a “hot tamale.” Oliva defected from Cuba about 50 years ago, became an All-Star with the Twins and still works for the organization.  Oliva told Sports Headliners he doesn’t know if the Twins will be trying to sign Chapman, but he offered him some advice.

“If he wants to play in the big leagues, maybe he should take less money but go with the guy (team) that gives him the opportunity to play as soon as possible,” Oliva said.  “Like the Minnesota Twins…Tampa, those kind of places.”

An ESPN The Magazine article earlier this month speculated that Chapman could receive a deal exceeding the $32 million Cuban pitcher and defector Jose Contreras signed in 2002.  That’s a heady neighborhood for a guy who possibly throws harder than almost anyone on the planet, but baseball’s richer clubs most likely will be proactive. Angels’ scouting director Eddie Bane, the former Twins’ pitcher, told the Orange County Register his franchise is interested in Chapman.  https://headlines.ocregister.com/sports/selects-34244-defector-angels.html

Chapman might be ready for the bigs now but there are questions about his control, ability to develop pitches in addition to the fast ball and even his age.  Some reports have his age at 26, not 21.

Age discrepancies among Latin American ball players certainly aren’t unheard of.  Oliva said the “bottom line is if a guy can pitch and throw,” and Chapman’s age shouldn’t deter interest.

Oliva, who knows people in Cuba familiar with Chapman, is concerned, though, about giving so much money to an unproven product.  “This kid is supposed to be a great player, but it’s different pitching in Cuba,” he said.  “What if he don’t make it?”

A passionate stadium follower, knowledgeable about stadium building here and elsewhere, had this to say about the legislature and funding a new Vikings’ facility:  “I think a deal that’s good for the Vikings and good for Minnesota needs to be reached by the end of next year’s legislative session.  If not…they’ll be the L.A. Vikings in 2012.”

Cornerback Antoine Winfield, who recently signed a contract extension, has been a major contributor during the last three seasons to the Vikings’ NFL-high 15 defensive touchdowns, returning two interceptions and one fumble recovery for scores.  In 2008, he also became the first player in franchise history to return a blocked field goal for a touchdown.

The Wolves hired president of basketball operations David Kahn in late May and already there’s a fire Kahn website.

Seantrel Henderson is rated the No. 1 high school football recruit in the country but that doesn’t mean he will be the best offensive lineman to play for Cretin-Derham Hall.  Matt Birk, Corbin Lacina and Ryan Harris played for the Raiders and went on to the NFL.

Minneapolis native Tim Herron, who hasn’t qualified for next month’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club, had a disappointing 50^th place finish at the recent U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.  His earnings were $9,385.56, according to https://www.golf.co.uk/results/pga/us-bank-championship/2009/index.shtml.  Herron has been playing better at the Canadian Open which is still in play today.

Rick Reilly, perhaps the best sports columnist in America, suggests it’s time for Tiger Woods to nix the tamper tantrums.  A good place to start will be Hazeltine.  https://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?id=4347419.

Justin Morneau’s “Casino Night” will be from 6 to 10 p.m. on August 13 at International Market Square.  The event provides an opportunity for fans to interact with Twins players over a hand of cards, with proceeds benefiting the Arthritis Foundation North Central Chapter.  Other Twins players expected to attend are Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer.  Tickets are $100 each if purchased before July 31, and $125 after.  For more information, visit www.twinsbaseball.comor call 612-33-TWINS.

The finger pointing at Twins’ general manager Bill Smith is on the rise.  Frustrated Twins fans want a new player or two to strengthen a team that’s been focused on .500 baseball much of the season and lost yesterday to Oakland 16-1. They see baseball’s July 31 trading deadline coming and the clock ticking on the dream of a Central Division title and American League pennant.

In fairness to Smith, significant roster changes in July are only a bit easier to pull off than passing national health care legislation.  But it’s not just this summer that the “Blame Billy” crowd grumbles about.  They criticize the general manager’s work since he took over from Terry Ryan in 2007.

During Smith’s time, pitcher Johan Santana and outfielder Torii Hunter left via trade and free agency for the Mets and Angels.  His signature trade that sent shortstop Jason Bartlett (hitting .342) and pitcher Matt Garza (the Twins no longer have a power pitcher) to Tampa Bay is a flop so far. The deal with the Mets that brought outfielder Carlos Gomez and three pitchers to the Twins organization is not so good either, but the timeframe was tight and the pressure heavy to move Santana.

Reality is the Twins aren’t as good today without Bartlett and Garza.  They aren’t even close to the 2006 team that had Santana who didn’t want to stay here and Hunter who did.

Smith impressed, with the signing of free agent third baseman Joe Crede last off-season.  But Smith and the Twins haven’t been aggressive in personnel changes and part of it could be that the general manager is hesitant after the infamous Tampa Bay trade.

The Twins have three All-Stars in catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Justin Morneau and closer Joe Nathan.  Their roster has exceptional players, too, in Crede and outfielders Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel, and starting pitcher Nick Blackburn.  But the roster flaws, including better starting pitcher and a top of the order good hitting second baseman or shortstop, are obvious and have been for awhile.

Manager Ron Gardenhire probably wonders when the reinforcements are coming.  He’s an emotional guy and puts his heart into leading the club on the field.  Losses like the two late inning games that got away earlier this week in Texas and Oakland remind everyone that a little more help can make a difference.

The next nine months will either see a jump in criticism of the front office, or a retreat.  If the Twins win the division with their present roster, that will lessen the rhetoric, and so too will a popular player acquisition between now and next April.

Throw in the signing of Mauer to a new contract and things could be giddy.  The Mauer deal will cost a lot but the public believes that the Twins will spend more money because of increased revenues in the new ballpark opening next year.  That logic is supposed to apply to other personnel, too.

This much is for sure: Twins fans will still be keeping score during the off-season.