Author: David Shama

The Twins have hit 96 home runs going into tonight’s game in Texas after the All-Star break. That total puts them fifth among American League teams and is a major improvement over 2008 when the Twins hit 111 for the season, ranking last in the league.

Justin Morneau leads the team with 21 home runs, followed by Joe Mauer with 15, while Jason Kubel, Michael Cuddyer and Joe Crede all have 14.  Crede was a wise free agent acquisition during the off-season, ending a long search for a long ball hitting third baseman.

Crede, though, has a one year deal with the Twins, partially because of his age (31) and history of back problems.  Whether Crede and the Twins will want to agree on a deal for 2011 seems uncertain.

He’s played in 68 of the team’s 89 games so far. Crede and the Twins monitor his back.  With a past that includes major back surgery, his health is an ongoing concern.  His one year deal with the Twins is a $2.5 million contract, according to Cot’s baseball contracts.  It’s also believed that with incentives he can earn considerably more.

Even a first-time baseball card collecting kid knows the Twins can be frugal with their payroll.  The franchise might be more inclined to look within the farm system for Crede’s replacement.

Danny Valencia, 24, was recently promoted from double AA New Britain to AAA Rochester.  He’s batting .380 with three home runs and 14 RBI in 79 at bats.  He seems like one of the franchises’ top 10 prospects.

Luke Hughes, another 24 year old, was signed as a free agent out of Australia.  He’s playing third base at New Britain after being at Rochester earlier in the year.  At New Britain last season he hit 15 home runs in only 70 games and has a reputation for power.

The Twins also have some protection at third base with reserve Brian Buscher and Brendan Harris who despite a good bat probably isn’t the long term holder of the shortstop job because of limited range.  For sure, though, if Crede isn’t the third baseman next season it will be difficult to replace his power numbers (he’s hit more than 20 home runs three times in his major league career that began in 2000 with the White Sox and his fielding is outstanding).

The Crede watch for the balance of this season and into the off-season will be interesting.

Former Gopher Travis Busch, who is transferring to Colorado State, tore his right ACL playing summer basketball recently and will have surgery in Minneapolis next Tuesday.  He told Sports Headliners recovery time could be four and one-half to six months.  His goal is to play for the Rams by January.

Minnesotans Tom Lehman and Tim Herron are far down the PGA money list for 2009.  Lehman is 127^th with $399,587 and Herron 141^st at $317,958, according to www.golfweek.com.  Lehman has been given an exemption to play in the PGA Championship at Hazeltine but Herron is trying to play his way into the tournament.  Minnesotan Cam Beckman is 96^th in the standings with $620,036 in earnings on the tour and expected to play in the tournament.  Lehman has also been playing on the Champions Tour this year.

Casey Blake, with the Dodgers, and Garrett Atkins, from the Rockies, were mentioned as possible third basemen for the Twins before Crede was signed.  Blake is hitting .285 with 12 home runs and 55 RBI.  Atkins is hitting only .229 with six home runs and 28 RBI.

Jon Gruden was an assistant coach with Green Bay before he later won the Super Bowl as head coach of Tampa Bay.  In his book, “Do You Love Football?,” Gruden recalls how the Packers gave up a first round draft choice in a 1992 trade with Atlanta to bring unknown quarterback Brett Favre to Green Bay.

Gruden wrote: “I drove to the airport to pick up Brett.  I couldn’t believe how loose—and I do mean l-o-o-s-e—he was for a young guy who had just been traded for a first round draft pick.  He felt no pressure, no responsibility.  None.  Zero.  I think the first question he asked was, ‘Do they have any fried okra around here?’  I think the second thing he wanted to know was where he could get a beer.”

Vikings coach Brad Childress and Gophers coach Tim Brewster are both vacationing in Naples, Florida this week.  The two, along with their wives, have spent time together in Florida, Brewster said.

The Wild announced its schedule this week and among the “circle it” dates is October 30 when Marian Gaborik comes to town with his new team, the New York Rangers.  Former Wild coach Jacques Lemaire has his New Jersey team at the Xcel Energy Center on January 2.

It can’t hurt the Twins’ pursuit of a new contract for Minnesota native Joe Mauer if they improve their personnel but a source speaking on condition of anonymity told Sports Headliners that won’t be a deal breaker.  “He’ll sign here for anything reasonable,” the source said.

His heart may belong to Minnesota despite speculation that he might receive a 10 year, $160 million contract after 2011 to play elsewhere.  The Twins are likely to start working on a new contract with Mauer and his agent Ron Shapiro after this season.  Other clubs will have to wait until Mauer’s existing contract expires after the 2010 season.

The 26-year-old Mauer, who has won two batting titles and is moving toward a third, is one of baseball’s most attractive talents not only for his once in a generation hitting but also his ability to catch including handling pitchers and throwing out base runners.  While some superstars can be demanding, Mauer is shy and easy going.

The source said Mauer won’t become so frustrated with the Twins that he will try to tell ownership and management how to run the ball club.  The Twins, who have a 45-44 record after 89 games, haven’t played in a World Series since 1991, although they have won four Central Division titles this decade (the last in 2006).

The Twins are a team that’s formidable enough to win the mediocre Central after finishing just a game back last year.  But they need a few talented acquisitions to thump chests with the big boys of baseball (see their 6-19 record against the AL East).

General manager Bill Smith and others who make the personnel decisions need to improve the starting and relief pitching, plus find a couple better bats at the bottom of the order.  Give them credit during the off season for bringing in free agent third baseman Joe Crede who has hit 14 home runs so far.

But there are other holes to fill.  And wouldn’t it be something if in 2011 the needs list started with catcher?