BYRON BUXTON – Page 6 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Twins Prez: Byron Buxton Doing Great

Posted on March 24, 2024March 24, 2024 by David Shama

Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners during an interview Friday management doesn’t have a targeted number of games for Byron Buxton to play center field, or number of at bats as the club’s center fielder.

“We do not. There is no number. Taking it one day at a time. One series at a time. One month at a time.”

St. Peter was asked how Buxton is physically with spring training ending Tuesday and the regular season starting Thursday in Kansas City against the Royals? “Great. He is doing great. Fantastic.”

Since 2017 when Buxton had a career high 140 games, the gifted 30-year-old has played in as few games as 28 and no more than 92. In 2023 injuries were problematic again and his role was only as a designated hitter.

Now the plan is a return to center field where Buxton’s skills and presence give the defense, per St. Peter, “a competitive advantage.”

Team fielding, including prowess up the middle, is one of multiple reasons the club president believes his team can improve on last year’s breakthrough season when the club won the American League Central Division championship and was victorious in a playoff series for the first time in 21 years. “

We feel really good about our club defensively,” St. Peter said.

Buxton and shortstop Carlos Correa are former Gold Glove winners. First baseman Carlos Santana was a Gold Glove finalist with the Pirates last season, while third baseman Royce Lewis is uber athletic and a former shortstop. Regarding the catching roster of Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez, St. Peter said “that’s as good a catching combo as there is in the American League.”

Dave St. Peter (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins)

In evaluating the outfield corner defense, St. Peter said Max Kepler is “elite in right field by every measure” and left fielder Matt Wallner is above average.

It’s second base where Twins fans may be most concerned about the defense. Edouard Julien, 24 and a terrific hitting prospect as he showed last season in his rookie debut, can struggle in the field but St. Peter is upbeat about him. “Eddie Julien was vastly improved by the end of last year at second base and I think that’s a big deal.”

The Twins scored the 10^th most runs in MLB last season and only two other clubs hit more home runs than Minnesota’s 233. That was accomplished with Buxton and Correa, potentially two of the most productive hitters on the roster, having subpar seasons.

Asked about team hitting, St. Peter said, “We think it’s exciting. We expect to score more runs (in 2024).”

Production, St. Peter predicted, will depend on having a healthy group starting with players who struggled with injuries in the recent past: Buxton, Correa, Lewis, Kepler and first baseman Alex Kirilloff.

Buxton, at .207 and Correa with a .230 average, were hampered with injuries last season. They’re capable of doing much better in 2024 including exceeding the combined 35 home runs and 107 RBI the two produced.

Lewis has the kind of offensive talent that can carry a team. The 24-year-old showed clutch hitting with four grand slam home runs during 2023 in only 236 at bats as injuries limited his availability.

Kepler, slowed by injuries in the spring, had an eye-catching second half of the season hitting .306 after the All-Star Game break, with 12 home runs and 36 RBI. “…I am expecting big things from Max in 2024,” St. Peter said.

St. Peter refers to Kirilloff “as an elite hitter.” The 26-year-old has been on the verge for a couple of seasons in making heroic headlines but injuries have slowed his progress. “We still believe in Alex,” St. Peter said. “We think he can be a critical guy for us. ..”

Julien, 24, hit 16 home runs last season in 338 at bats. While hitting .263, he showed the ability to hit the baseball to all fields.

Jeffers could also help make St. Peter’s expectation of scoring more runs come true. He leads the team in home runs this spring with four. “Ryan Jeffers has a lot of power,” St. Peter said. “We’ve seen that in Minnesota. Last year he had a great offensive year, one of the better offensive years any catcher had in our game. He hits the ball hard. ….”

St. Peter’s optimism about 2024 extends to the pitching staff. “Since (baseball boss) Derek Falvey has been here (Nov. 2016 hired) our pitching has improved each and every year. I expect our pitching this year again to be one of the strengths of our team.”

St. Peter described it as “challenging losing Sonny Gray.” He was a superb veteran starter, a stabilizer for the Twins but he signed as a free agent with the Cardinals during the offseason.

“He gave us a chance every night, but I am really confident that our group (of starters)—led by Pablo Lopez, Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan, Chris Paddack, Louie Varland—I think that group is plenty good in terms of it’s going to give us a chance to win a lot of games,” St. Peter said.

“I am also really excited about our bullpen. I think our bullpen is as deep as it’s been since Derek has been leading our baseball operation. Even with the loss of Jhoan Duran (oblique strain) to start the season, you know what we’ve seen out of Griffin Jax, what we’ve seen out of Brock Stewart, Jorge Alcala. We like our bullpen a lot. We think it will be again a strength of our club.”

St. Peter believes the players are “very determined to take another step toward a championship,” implying the club is targeting an American League Pennant. Minnesota’s record last season was 87-75. How many wins for the Twins in 2024?

“… I don’t forecast victories (number of wins),” St. Peter answered.
“I certainly expect our team to be better.”

At season’s end success will be directly tied to the health of the players. Adversity will come but in the club’s favor is its depth.

“Willi Castro was a critical player a year ago that can play all over the diamond, as can Kyle Farmer,” St. Peter said. “You add the addition of Carlos Santana (infield, outfield, catcher). He gives us additional depth there as well. …The depth we have with Jeffers and Vazquez. In our mind two starting catchers kind of sharing time there. So we like our depth a lot. We think…it will be one of the strengths of our club.”

By now, almost on the eve of the season opener, you have caught on that the longtime Twins president (named in 2022) is optimistic about 2024. Whether it’s individual players like Buxton, or the collective forecast, he can see success ahead.

Comments Welcome

Taylor: Equity Group Not in Place for Wolves Sale

Posted on March 19, 2024March 19, 2024 by David Shama

Finalizing the deal to sell the NBA Timberwolves and WNBA Lynx remains unclear with a deadline of March 27 looming.

In 2021 owner Glen Taylor struck a multi-phase payment plan with Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez to acquire the Minneapolis-based basketball franchises for $1.5 billion. The final payment to give Lore and Rodriguez majority control over the teams (Taylor becomes a minority owner) is due a week from Wednesday.

That deadline is an extension of a previous date and indicates the challenge the buyers have experienced in raising capital needed for the takeover. Taylor told Sports Headliners yesterday about $600 million is needed to make the final payment.

Doubters might be skeptical of the sale being completed. Taylor’s communications with the two buyers haven’t been frequent of late but he did offer important news about financing.

“They had an equity group that was going to come in and put in $300 million, and that equity group has either withdrawn or the NBA has denied them,” Taylor said. “They have to go out and find new revenue. That I do know. I don’t know if they found it or what they’re going to do. We haven’t seen the schedule of ownership yet.”

The NBA will have a final call on approving the sale even if the Lore and Rodriguez group meet their final payment obligation. That might not be a slam dunk. If the league isn’t convinced the new owners can meet operating obligations with their finances, approval won’t be granted.

It’s believed Lore and Rodriguez will want to replace Target Center to better serve customers while improving revenues and financial value of the two franchises. A source told Sports Headliners the Farmers Market near downtown is a site of interest to the potential new owners.

Taylor would neither confirm nor deny the speculation about the location at 312 East Lyndale Avenue North. “…I don’t think I am the one that should comment on that. I think you should ask that of those guys.”

Gophers Basketball Notes

Anticipating how a college basketball team will perform the next season has never been dicier than it is now. With players having “free agency” to change schools at a whim, it’s best not to go overboard about the Gophers who potentially could have all five starters return.

The possibility of having center Pharell Payne, forward Dawson Garcia and guards Cam Christie, Elijah Hawkins and Mike Mitchell Jr. returning has college basketball authorities upbeat about Minnesota’s future. School athletic director Mark Coyle says a preseason top 25 ranking could happen, with Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and Big Ten Network analyst Brian Butch seeing the Gophers as possible title contenders in the Big Ten Conference.

After consecutive last place finishes in the conference and a combined league record of 6-33, coach Ben Johnson had his best Big Ten regular season record going 9-11 and 18-14 overall. Minnesota has its first NIT invite since 2014 and opens play tonight at Butler.

Izzo: “…Ben’s done an unbelievable job with the program. They could be the No. 1 team in the league next year so hat’s off to them.”

Butch told Sports Headliners the Gophers could be “top four” in the league next year. He said his alma mater, Wisconsin, might be in that company, too.

Garcia, a junior, made second team All-Big Ten as chosen by the media. He is averaging 17.7 points per game and has an admirer in Izzo. “…He’s a very good player, and if he keeps getting better, watch out,” the legendary Michigan State coach said.

Hawkins, who ranks second nationally in assists with 7.5 per game, is Garcia’s roommate. “Me and him, we feel like it starts with us. We’re the older guys in the lineup.

“I feel like as we go, the team goes. Dawson is a great player for us. He’s our leading scorer here. We expect a lot out of him, and he gives it to us.”

Hawkins, the team’s point guard, transferred from Howard last year and expects to make a decision soon about returning for his senior season. “I love Minneapolis. It’s like my new home, I guess. I love my teammates and my coaches. They test me every day to get better.

“I feel like in the beginning of the season I was struggling a little bit with turnovers and stuff as far as that, so I feel like through the season I got better and better. Next year I definitely feel like we’ll be a good team, a better team.”

Guard Braeden Carrington played frequently as a sub this year and could be the first player off the bench next season. He said it’s not “too much to hope for” that the Gophers will be a nationally ranked team in the fall of 2024.

Carrington wants to see more consistency within games from the team. At times opponents went on scoring runs and the Gophers became “flustered,” he said. “I think if we can get that figured out (consistency through 40 minutes), I think we’ll be good for next year.”

Carrington, a sophomore defensive stopper, believes he can improve his agility and strength to become an even better defender. “My goal is to be an all-defensive player (in the Big Ten),” he said.

It seems likely Johnson will receive a contract extension and additional compensation in his contract. He is the Big Ten’s youngest head coach at 43 and believed to be the lowest paid.

The Badgers, who finished second in the Big Ten Tournament, might have all their starters return except for forward Tyler Wahl from Lakeville. Moving into Wahl’s spot could be Lakeville native Nolan Winter, who is the son of former Gopher center Trevor Winter.

Nolan showed considerable improvement during his freshman year and at 6-11 has exceptional skills including his outside shooting. “I think the future is so bright for Nolan,” said Butch. “He’s a great kid.”

Winter might team with 7-foot junior starter Steven Crowl from Eagan to give the Badgers two bigs in their lineup. They continue the legacy in Madison of exceptional players from Minnesota who became Badgers this millennium.

Wisconsin is in the NCAA Tournament for the 27^th time and is one of only five programs to participate 23 times in the last 25 years. Butch, who is the game radio analyst for Wisconsin, said the ongoing recruiting pipeline to Minnesota is because so many players have found success playing for the Badgers. Those players have bought into a culture of sacrificing for each other, and the Badgers have turned out Big Ten titles and NCAA Tournament runs under coach Bo Ryan and now Greg Gard.

“…They understand what exactly it is to be successful,” Butch said. “They buy into what Wisconsin is about.

“And you’ve seen changes (in style). This year Wisconsin is scoring the ball more than they have. Kids have seen that, too. Greg is willing to change. To adapt. I think that helps, too.”

Izzo said coming to Minneapolis for the Big Ten Tournament was a “tearful visit for me” because of his friendship with the late Flip Saunders, the former Gophers point guard, and Timberwolves executive and coach. “…Flip Saunders deserves to be even thought of more than he probably is here because he loved this city, he loved the Gophers, he loved the Timberwolves, and I love him. Sad to see him not with us right now.”

1 comment

Nanne Steps Away from Mic But Comeback Possible

Posted on March 10, 2024 by David Shama

In the “never say never” category put this down: Lou Nanne, 82, might not have worked his last State High School Boys Hockey Tournament on local TV.

Multitudes assume Nanne retired last night after 60 years of providing entertaining tournament commentary as viewers watched Edina win the Class 2A championship against Chanhassen. Except in 10 years or so, a great grandchild, or two or three, could be playing in the tournament and that could mean a comeback to the microphone.

“If they make it, I’ll come back and make a guest appearance,” Nanne told Sports Headliners.

And Dave Stead believes the man known as the Godfather of Minnesota hockey would be greeted with open arms. “That would be great, and I think that he’d be welcomed to make that comeback,” said Stead who was the Minnesota State High School League’s executive director for 32 years.

Now retired, Stead plans to suggest the MSHL invite Nanne back to next year’s tournament and those that follow. Encouraging the former Golden Gopher, Olympian and North Star to be in the press box and visible at the tournament is a winning idea. His name is synonymous with hockey including on the high school level where he has been an advocate for the ages.

“Minnesota hockey is fantastic and with Lou involved it just elevated it to a different level,” said Stead. “When you heard the voice, you knew exactly what was happening at the hockey tournament.”

When family members played in the tournament for Edina High School, they created special memories during Nanne’s 60 years behind a microphone. Son Marty scored the winning goal in the title game and years later his sons, Louie and Tyler, won championships. “Those are the favorites (tourney memories),” Nanne said.

Nanne (right) with well-wisher Bill McReavy.

Nanne is a senior managing director for RBC, working with companies and labor unions. He isn’t retiring from his position with the diversified financial services company, nor is he giving up his weekly guest appearances on KFAN Radio with drive time host Dan Barreiro, and he will continue into next season doing TV color work on a select number of Wild games.

Nanne won a battle with prostate cancer over 40 years ago. He goes to the gym multiple times per week, eats “what I want,” and is pleased with his health. “I got a great report from the Mayo (Clinic) last year. Every year I go. Been going every year since ’87.”

So why retire from the state tournament gig? “I just think it’s time to move on. Sixty is a nice round number.”

Asked several days ago what he anticipated his thoughts would be as he left the Xcel Energy Center last night, Nanne said: “Well, I feel sad that it’s over, but I am also happy that it’s over. I think it’s the right time to do it. I am going to treasure the moments that I had and think about all the good memories I had but know that it’s time to move on.”

Nanne was emotional last night as the crowd and even players paid tribute to his remarkable career including 60 years of analyzing tournament games. It was a retirement scene that Hollywood might have scripted.

Yes, change happens to everyone, even Nanne who for nearly 25 years was the face of the North Stars franchise as a player, coach, GM and president. Ironically, the man who grew up in Canada and lived most of his adult life in Minnesota never did like ice and cold. He has become a Florida resident while spending many days in Minnesota and Wisconsin where the family has a lake home.

Lou Nanne doesn’t make many changes but when the time is right, he pulls the trigger, even taking up residence in sunny Florida.

Worth Noting

It could be one of two veteran right handers, either Seth Lugo or Michael Wacha, who will be the Royals’ opening day pitcher March 28 in Kansas City. If so, left-handed hitting first baseman Alex Kirilloff is likely in the Twins’ lineup, with probably newly acquired switch hitting free agent Carlos Santana filling the DH spot.

Other probable Twins starters are left fielder Matt Wallner, center fielder Byron Buxton, right fielder Max Kepler, third baseman Royce Lewis, shortstop Carlos Correa, second baseman Eduardo Julien, catcher Ryan Jeffers and pitcher Pablo Lopez.

Do-Hyoung Park wrote a few days ago on MLB.com that Julien, who grew up speaking French in Quebec and went off to college at Auburn not knowing English, has become a popular player with teammates in his second season with the Twins.

If North St. Paul’s Louie Varland makes the Twins roster, he would be the third native Minnesotan on the 2024 roster along with Wallner and pitcher Caleb Thielbar. He could also be the St. Paul Saints opening day starting pitcher.

Renovations to Xcel Energy Center remain a priority for the Wild with word that St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter is supportive.

The International Hockey Federation World Junior Hockey Championship will stage games in December of 2025 and January of 2026 at 3M Arena at Mariucci and Xcel Energy Center. The event has been wildly popular on Canadian TV for years, annually drawing millions of viewers.

While the University of Minnesota basketball team has no certain NBA prospects, guard Cam Christie, a candidate for Freshman of the Year in the Big Ten, could inquire this spring if pro teams project him as draft worthy. The smooth shooting guard, who is remindful of U All-American and former first round draft pick Lou Hudson, has the potential to improve his draft status next season.

Among regulars in the crowd at Williams Arena for Gophers games is former MLB umpire Tim Tschida, the St. Paul native.

The March issue of Sports Illustrated, writing about fragile coaching security in the NFL, points out there is not one offensive coordinator in the league who was with the same team in 2021.

Legendary Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and former Gophers defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel, now head coach at Wyoming, will speak at next month’s Minnesota Football Coaches Association Clinic. Speakers also include Gophers’ head coach P.J. Fleck and his assistants. The April 4-6 clinic is held at the DoubleTree in St. Louis Park and on the U campus.

Comments Welcome