BYRON BUXTON – Page 11 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Wild Owner Praises “Special Team”

Posted on May 1, 2022 by David Shama

Craig Leipold has owned the Minnesota Wild since 2008. Before that he owned another NHL franchise, the Nashville Predators.

“This is the best team I’ve had in 22 years of owning an NHL (club),” he told Sports Headliners. “It is the full package; very few weaknesses on this team. …It’s a special team and I think special things are going to happen.”

The Wild finished the regular season Friday night with a 53-22-7 record and second place in the Central Division. That’s the franchise’s best record ever. When Leipold owned the Predators they had best seasons of 51 and 49 wins.

The Wild open the playoffs at home Monday night against the St. Louis Blues. Even a casual Wild fan wonders whether this Minnesota team can make a deep playoff run and perhaps win the league’s ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup. That would be a first for the Wild franchise that started as an expansion franchise in the 2000-2001 season.

“It’s a fine line,” Leipold said. “It takes a lot of luck, let’s be honest. It takes a healthy team. It takes a hot goal tender. It takes very opportunistic goals at the right time. And we have the ability to do all of that.

“We don’t have many weaknesses—and our power play and penalty killing I guess would be the two. But five-on-five we’re in the top of the league. You play five-on-five for 80 to 90 percent of the game so I like our chances.

“The first round against the St. Louis Blues is going to be a really good series. If you’re a hockey fan, you’re going to want to watch these two teams play.”

A developing worry since Leipold spoke to Sports Headliners is Friday night’s injury to forward Marcus Foligno. He left the game against the Colorado Avalanche after being kneed in the first period. Part of a shutdown line, his potential absence in the playoffs would be a setback for Minnesota.

Leipold watched his team practice late last week and he saw energized players enjoying themselves, not a group worn down by the grind of the 82-game regular season. “You can tell, they’re just having a great time.”

Leipold hired general manager Bill Guerin in August of 2019. He has renovated the roster and installed former assistant coach Dean Evason as head coach. Guerin, who came from the Pittsburgh Penguins as assistant GM, has shown a discerning eye for both evaluating player talent and character.

Guerin has earned the owner’s trust and confidence in making moves like adding defenseman Dmitri Kulikov last summer. The 31-year-old veteran’s experience and skills were a welcome addition to the roster, and presumably, too, is the Russian’s fit in the locker room where he joined countryman Kirill Kaprizov, last season’s NHL Rookie of the Year.

“Billy knows he’s got the green light to do any of those kinds of deals,” Leipold said. “He doesn’t need my approval for that. He’ll just do that deal. …I was very happy to get a player like Kulikov on our team.”

There is something else about Guerin that impresses Leipold a lot and it’s the GM’s will to win. “He wants to win a Stanley Cup where he is the general manager. Where this is his team. …It’s great to have a GM and a leader in that department that is driven that way.”

Kaprizov led the team in regular season goals, assists and points. He is in the first season of a five-year deal. Kevin Fiala was second in goals and points, and the Wild face a salary cap crunch trying to re-sign the restricted free agent in the off season. “I can tell you when we look at players we want to sign next year, Kevin Fiala is on top of the list,” Leipold said.

The owner can’t be sure he and Guerin will be able to retain Fiala. “If we were unencumbered by a cap system, we would spend whatever it takes to get him. But we live in a salary cap world and Kevin has played himself into a very good contract for next year, and we’ll see where it goes.”

The Wild and other NHL teams went through the worst of financial times at the height of the pandemic when fans weren’t allowed to attend games. Now the Wild are playing before sellout crowds and that’s significant in the NHL where gate receipts are vital to the bottom line.

Leipold said all the home playoff games will be sellouts and his expectation is the same for the 2022-2023 season. “The fans are spectacular. They see in this team a special team as well.”

Worth Noting

Anyone remember a Gopher player performing a song at halftime of a U spring football game? That’s what happened yesterday when sixth-year tight end Sam Pickerign sang on the field while a TV audience watched on the Big Ten Network.

Head coach P.J. Fleck also used his creativity showcasing wide receiver Michael Brown-Stephens who was targeted for numerous passes and also lined up in the backfield while his high school brother, Anthony Brown, watched from the sidelines. Brown is a four-star receiving prospect from Springfield, Ohio who has shown considerable interest in Minnesota.

Brown-Stephens was one of three spring game MVP’s along with defensive back Miles Fleming and kicker Matthew Trickett.

The maroon and gold defenses impressed in the intra-squad game, with defensive line redshirt freshman Austin Booker and Western Kentucky transfer cornerback Beanie Bishop among the standouts.

Byron Buxton apparently likes the month of April. Although the Twins center fielder missed some games with injuries, including yesterday, he played enough to lead the team in home runs and RBI (11). His six homers rank near the top among MLB leaders.

Buxton’s April a year ago was spectacular when he won the American League Player of the Month award. He hit .426, with eight home runs and 14 RBI. He scored 15 runs, with a .466 on-base percentage, an .897 slugging percentage and a 1.363 OPS. He set Twins records for March/April in batting average, slugging percentage and OPS. His OPS broke a Twins record for any month, surpassing Joe Mauer’s 1.338.

Hall of Fame-bound Tony Oliva has signed a partnership agreement with Dan Stoltz and locally based SPIRE Credit Union. Oliva will appear in TV commercials and other promotions for SPIRE.

The baseball Gophers will host Nebraska next weekend for a three-game series at Siebert Field. On Saturday Minnesota will honor past teams including the 1960 Big Ten and NCAA championship team. The Gophers also won national titles in 1956 and 1964. No Big Ten baseball team has won the NCAA championship since 1966.

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Wolves Need ‘Missing’ KAT for Memphis

Posted on April 13, 2022 by David Shama

The Timberwolves are in the playoffs for only the second time since 2004. Will their “missing” KAT be a major contributor in Saturday’s opening playoff game in Memphis against the Grizzlies?

Karl-Anthony Towns played 24 minutes last night in Minnesota’s play-in-tournament win at Target Center, qualifying the Wolves to meet the Grizzlies in a potential seven-game series. Metaphorically, the KAT was “MIA.”

Often labeled the team’s best player and a possible second or third team NBA All-Star when honor teams are announced this spring, the 6-11 veteran center was awful last evening and a non-contributor in a dramatic 109-104 win over the Clippers. He had a minus 14 rating when on the floor (by far the worst among his teammates) and he fouled out in the fourth quarter while playing only a couple of minutes in the game-determining last period.

The Clippers, instead of guarding Towns with another center, used mobile forwards to defend the Wolves’ season leading scorer. When Towns had the ball, he often was double teamed by the Clippers’ center. The strategy flustered Towns who forced shots, tried to move where there was no space and didn’t get rid of the basketball quick enough to open teammates.

Neither Towns nor head coach Chris Finch seemed to adjust. Instead of taking a position down near the basket, Towns either remained stationed near the top of the key or sometimes went to a corner where he was usually out of the offensive and rebounding action.

Before halftime Towns had four fouls. In the third quarter he played recklessly including bowling over opponents while picking up his fifth foul and going to the bench.

At 9:27 of the fourth quarter, Towns was back in the game. By 7:34 he was gone, committing his sixth and final foul while foolishly reaching over the back of a Clipper attempting to rebound the ball. He left the game without impacting it, scoring 11 points (five on free throws), grabbing five rebounds and committing a team high four turnovers.

The Clippers, although they boast a $39 million forward in Paul George, aren’t the talent equal of the Wolves. The going gets much tougher against the Grizzlies, who are the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs after earning an impressive 56-26 regular season record.

Maybe Towns and Finch can figure out Xs and Os to combat the defensive strategy the Grizzlies are likely to use after seeing the results by the Clippers. As for discombobulating, the 26-year-old Towns is an emotional player on an emotional team. Finch has experience working with excitable personalities but on the court it will ultimately be up to the big guy to figure out how a KAT can “purr” against Grizzlies.

Worth Noting

In The Athletic’s end of season NBA power rankings of 30 teams, the Wolves finished No. 15, the Clippers No. 16. The Wolves, with a 46-36 record after last year’s 23-49, received a final grade of A. The Clippers, playing much of the year without their two best players in George and Kawhi Leonard, received an A minus.

The Saints, Timberwolves, Twins and Wild all played home games last night. Total attendance estimated: near 60,000 (on a work and school evening).

The Timberwolves had tickets available Tuesday morning but announced a sellout last night.

Brothers Tyus and Tre Jones, former Minnesota Mr. Basketball winners now playing with the NBA Grizzlies and Spurs, finished No. 1 and 2 in assists-to-turnovers ratio among league players this season, per Teamrankings.com. Jordan McLaughlin of the Timberwolves was third.

The Twins announced today they have placed outfielder Alex Kirilloff on the 10-day Injured List with right wrist inflammation. Also, they designated right-handed pitcher Jharel Cotton for release or assignment.

To replace Kirilloff and Cotton, Minnesota has recalled outfielder Trevor Larnach and selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Dereck Rodríguez from Triple-A St. Paul.

It could be the Twins try to trade right fielder Max Kepler, 29, and first baseman Miguel Sano, 28. Both veterans have ongoing hitting issues, and while they aren’t alluring trade bait, they might bring pitching help with major leaguers or prospects. Trading Sano could allow the Twins to move Kirilloff from left field to first base, a position he is more effective at.

Hall of Famer Rod Carew writing in the latest issue of his newsletter: “There’s a saying that the most important ability is availability. Unfortunately, that’s the only ability missing from Byron Buxton’s game.

“This guy is so unbelievably talented in every aspect, yet only once has he played more than 92 games. That also was the year (2017) he won his only Gold Glove.

“Bux could win a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award if he can stay healthy. …”

Athleticsnation.com reports feral cats have invaded the Oakland Coliseum, home of the A’s. Good news is the rat population has declined and presumably the cats will be under control before the Twins play there starting May 16.

A’s ownership is tiring of its pursuit to make a deal with the city for a new stadium, with talk the MLB club could land in Las Vegas playing in a new small capacity covered stadium.

It will be a special Kentucky Derby for Minnesota thoroughbred racing fans next month. Local Derby authority Steve Erban believes 2022 will be the first time two of the 20 entrants in the “Run for the Roses” will have Minnesota owners.

Joni and Barry Butzow of Eden Prairie own Zozos, while Jeff Drown from St. Cloud owns Zandon. That means 10 percent of the field of three-year-olds May 7 will have Minnesota owners.

Remarkable, too, said Erban is that approximately 30,000 foals are born each year, so what are the odds of two with Minnesota connections being in the 2022 Derby? Or that both horses have names beginning with Z?

Erban’s Stillwater-based Creative Charters is running another Kentucky Derby trip this spring. To check on availability, contact him at 612-801-7141.

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Twins Boast 2 Potential MVP Candidates

Posted on April 10, 2022April 10, 2022 by David Shama

The Twins are only two games into the 2022 season but it’s clear they have two potential candidates for American League MVP. “I think we feel we have two of the game’s most elite players,” club president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners.

The off-season signings of shortstop Carlos Correa and center fielder Byron Buxton give the Twins their best potential MVP tandem since the roster was led by Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau years ago.

Playing for the Astros last season, Correa finished fifth in AL MVP voting. He hit .279 with 26 home runs and 92 RBI last season. He was No. 2 among MLB position players with a 7.2 WAR, per Baseball Reference (behind Marcus Semien’s 7.3). He also won the 2021 Rawlings American League Gold Glove at shortstop and the 2021 AL Platinum Glove Award, awarded to the best overall fielder in each league.

Correa, 27, enters this season on everyone’s AL MVP watch list, while Buxton is more of a dark horse because of his history with injuries. Both have similar abilities.

Despite being limited to 61 games last season, the 28-year-old Buxton hit .306 with 19 home runs, 32 RBI, 13 walks, 50 runs scored, nine stolen bases and a 1.005 OPS this past season. His OPS led league hitters with at least 200 at-bats and ranked second in MLB behind National League MVP Bryce Harper (1.044). His 4.5 WAR (per Baseball Reference) was the highest in AL/NL history by a player who appeared in 70 games or fewer. His 10 defensive runs saved (per The Fielding Bible) ranked fifth among all centerfielders.

“He (Buxton) makes us better in every way,” St. Peter said. “He impacts the game. Best defensive center fielder in the game. He runs the bases better than anyone else in the game. He obviously has tremendous power. Can spray the ball if necessary. If healthy, this guy is a top 10 player in baseball.”

St. Peter has similar praise for Correa, describing him as an elite defender and accomplished base runner. He praised him as a hitter who battles pitchers and hits with power. Correa won a World Series with the Astros (his previous team) and is known as a clubhouse leader. His resume, high character and leadership skills command respect from his new teammates. “When you have someone like that, it can be very powerful in a baseball clubhouse,” St. Peter said.

The Twins signed Buxton to a seven-year contract extension late last year. St. Peter said if the Twins hadn’t retained Buxton, they wouldn’t have been able to convince Correa to join the club. Together they help give the Twins a shot at what St. Peter hopes will be a “giant step forward” in 2022 (73-89 last season).

Worth Noting

Buxton hit a two-run homer yesterday to put the Twins up 3-2 in the eighth inning against the Mariners at Target Field. But in a repeat of last spring when the bullpen consistently faltered, Tyler Duffey blew the lead in the ninth inning as the Mariners won 4-3 and sent the Twins off to a 0-2 start in the new season.

It will be a surprise if the Gophers don’t add a running back before June from the transfer portal. P.J. Fleck and staff might well have been shopping even before Mar’Keise Irving announced last week he is leaving Minnesota.

Available running backs in the portal, per 247Sports, include Camar Wheaton, Alabama; Tharon Davis, Memphis; Joshia Davis, Colorado; Aidan Robbins, Louisville; and Peni Naulu, Washington State. Wheaton didn’t play for Alabama last season but coming out of high school he was the No. 1 RB in the nation, according to Rivals100. Minnesota recruits the Dallas area and Wheaton played in high school not far from Gophers high potential wide receiver Dylan Wright.

The Twins’ 28-man opening day roster Friday had only three pitchers (Jorge Alcala, Tyler Duffey, Caleb Thielbar) who were with the club a year ago for the first game. The 2022 Twins have 19 new players: 13 pitchers, three infielders, two outfielders and one catcher.

Pro Football Focus last week had former Eden Prairie defensive end Jermaine Johnson going at No. 13 to the Vikings in the first round of the April 28 NFL Draft. Edge rushers are coveted and Johnson has wowed scouts while at Florida State, in the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine.

Eden Prairie coach Mike Grant isn’t surprised at Johnson’s ascension. “He had all the measureables (in high school),” Grant told Sports Headliners, while also praising Johnson’s work ethic.

Jeremiah Johnson, Jermaine’s brother, will be a junior next season for the Eagles. While Jermaine is 6-4, his brother is 5-9 and might play fullback, linebacker or defensive end.

Mike’s father, Bud Grant, will speak April 19 at the Twin Cities Dunkers annual dinner that raises money for the sports programs at Minneapolis and St. Paul high schools. Mike isn’t sure if he will attend. “That’s right in the middle of turkey hunting season,” he quipped.

Mike turns 65 Thursday, Bud will be 95 on May 20.

Word is UConn’s Paige Bueckers rented a Target Center suite for former Hopkins teammates to watch the Women’s Final Four. Estimates are Bueckers is earning $500,000 to $1 million from Name, Image and Likeness sources.

As a player Lindsay Whalen won more WNBA games than anyone in history, and she will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September 10. But as Gopher women’s coach she has no winning seasons in the Big Ten. After four seasons she is 60-57 overall and 28-44 in conference games, while predecessor Marlene Stollings was 82-47 and 38-30, per records from Wikipedia.

With the Gophers, former men’s head coach Richard Pitino matched up against his dad in a November, 2014 loss to Louisville. Next December Richard’s New Mexico team will host Rick Pitino and Iona in Albuquerque.

It was 40 years ago last week the Metrodome opened for the first time with an exhibition game between the Twins and Phillies. That April 3, 1982 Twins’ win was followed by a regular season opening loss to the Mariners April 6.

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