Author: David Shama

Spielman predicted the Vikings can have “one of the most explosive offenses” in the NFL with first round pick Percy Harvin, the fast wide receiver from Florida drafted 22^nd overall on Saturday.  Spielman is delighted with the choice, describing Harvin as a “top 10” pick who slipped lower despite his game breaking potential as a receiver, runner and punt-kickoff returner.

Spielman said the Vikings’ opportunity to take Harvin was “almost” like their luck in finding Adrian Peterson still available with the seventh overall pick in the 2007 draft.  Harvin is expected to provide a second deep receiving threat along with Bernard Berrian, improved punt or kickoff returns (perhaps both), and occasionally a touchdown making runner out of the backfield along with Peterson.

Character questions apparently discouraged teams from selecting Harvin earlier but coach Brad Childress sees someone who made mistakes but is a good person. Spielman suggested locker room leadership will set an example for Harvin, too.  Interestingly, though, the Vikings will be missing three of their better internal guys in 2009 that have left the team, quarterback Gus Frerotte, center Matt Birk and safety Darren Sharper.

The Harvin choice is popular with Vikings fans but it didn’t stop some from booing Childress when he came on stage at the Vikings draft party Saturday night to be interviewed by KFAN Radio.

Vikings director of college scouting Scott Studwell asked in fun if since his LASIK surgery he can identify prospects better:  “No.”

A weak pre-draft prediction on the Vikings’ choice at No. 22 on the first round was Peter King of Sports Illustrated projecting California center Alex Mack coming here.  The Vikings drafted Notre Dame’s John Sullivan last year as a possible replacement for  Birk, plus right tackle Ryan Cook can play center, too.  The Vikings went into the draft with bigger needs (right tackle, wide receiver and cornerback to name three).

The Twins have moved up from No. 25 to No. 22 in the 2009 Forbes.com valuations of major league baseball teams.  The Twins were valued at $328 million last year but now are at $356 million.  Their nine percent increase in value since last year is exceeded by only the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays.

The new Target Field ballpark, opening in 2010, is a major stimulus to the increase in value.  Forbes.com reported that the 30 major league teams are valued at $14.475 billion, an increase of 2.18 percent over last year, but the averages are skewed by the increases caused by new ballparks for the Yankees and Mets.  More at https://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3192:inside-the-2009-forbes-mlb-franchise-valuations&catid=26:editorials&Itemid=39

The Twins may face a dilemma with designated hitter Jason Kubel who leads the team in RBI with 15 and is hitting .328.  Kubel’s hitting might be even better if he played in left field, perhaps feeling more focused and into the game rather than sitting on the bench waiting to DH.  Problem is Delmon Young, hitting .255, can only play left field, too.

Because of the non-conference schedule that has the football Gophers playing better teams than during any time in recent memory, there’s opinion that even though Minnesota’s talent and experience will be better than last season the record won’t.  The Gophers were 7-6 last season.

Mitch Browning, the former Gophers offensive coordinator, is now a graduate assistant coach at Tennessee but is still being paid by Syracuse where he coached last year.

Former University of St. Thomas women’s hockey coach Kevin Gorg will again be a Canterbury Park and Star Tribune racing handicapper this year.

Tennis Festival of the North is being planned by the United States Tennis Association Northern Section for April 9-11, 2010.  The event will involve nine partners and showcase tennis in multiple locations including the Mall of America.  USTA Northern is planning the event to benefit people with various tennis interests and abilities.  Plans include bringing high profile tennis stars to town.

Mike Max, busy with weekly assignments on two TV stations and WCCO Radio, works seven days per week, often 12 hour days.

The Wild made the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2003, 2007 and 2008, the most years of any recent NHL expansion team.

Former Timberwolves head coach Randy Wittman has a good relationship with Flip Saunders and it wouldn’t be surprising if Wittman joined Saunders as an assistant in Washington next season.

Lynx player Renee Montgomery has been named a national spokesperson and “GUARDian of Dreams” for the Pajama Program.  She will work on national initiatives to help children in unsettled and vulnerable circumstances feel comforted and safe at bedtime. The Pajama Program provides new pajamas and books to children in need, many waiting and hoping to be adopted.

Johan Santana has the best ERA (0.46) in the National League and Jason Bartlett is hitting .373, eighth highest in the American League.  The season is less than three weeks old but the performance of these two former Twins makes a point about major moves by the local team in 2007, 2008 and 2009: Minnesota is looking for a better return than seen last year and this year.

After the 2007 season the Twins made two of their more significant trades in memory.  Cy Young award winner Santana went to the Mets in the winter of 2008 for center fielder Carlos Gomez, and pitchers Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Delois Guerra.  Santana was 16-7 with a 2.53 ERA last year and almost helped the Mets to the National League pennant.  Gomez is the only ex-Met to contribute to the Twins so far and his exciting but erratic play is what you might expect from a 23 year old.

Tampa Bay became a pennant winner last season in the American League, partially because of former Twins Bartlett and Matt Garza.  Some opinion is that Bartlett’s defense from his shortstop position (only 16 errors in 125 games) and hitting (.286 with 20 stolen bases) made him Tampa Bay’s MVP.  Garza won 11 games last season, the most in his big league pitching career and this year is 1-1, striking out almost as many batters as innings pitched.  Garza is a power pitcher, something the Twins don’t have and is 25 years old.  Last season he struck out 128 batters in 184.2 innings and those numbers figure to improve with experience.

Bartlett and Garza went to Tampa Bay in November of 2007 in a trade that brought outfielder Delmon Young and utility infielder Brendan Harris to the Twins.  The Twins have tried various players at shortstop since Bartlett went to Tampa Bay after being a regular here.  Among those players has been Harris who has played shortstop, second and third.  In limited play this season, Harris is hitting .355.

Young, with a reputation before coming here as one of baseball’s best young prospects, was considered the prize of the deals involving the Mets and Rays.  He’s yet to be dominant at bat or in the field, and sometimes far less than that.  While he hit .290 last season, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Young had only 10 home runs.  This season, unable so far to win an everyday spot in the lineup, he’s hitting .229 with one home run and looking awkward in left field.

Earlier this year the Twins acquired third baseman Joe Crede who so has sort of claimed the position starting more games there than anyone else.  During his career Crede has had three seasons where he’s hit 20 or more home runs.  Although he certainly may improve his numbers, so far he has hit one with a .167 batting average.

The Twins are 7-9 this season.  Their success hasn’t been produced by their major moves of the last 17 months.  And if the Twins needed any reminder of that, they’re playing in Boston this week where the Red Sox reportedly had such a strong interest in acquiring Santana they might have given up center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury as part of a deal.  Ellsbury hit .280 in his first full season last year and stole 50  bases.

For now, the Twins will wait to judge their big moves and hope for better results.