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Twins Need Santana Momentum Tonight

Posted on June 20, 2017June 20, 2017 by David Shama

A Tuesday notes column with items about the Gophers, Timberwolves, Twins and Vikings.

Losers of four consecutive games and now out of first place in the American League Central Division, the Twins are yet again counting on Ervin Santana. He starts tonight’s game at Target Field against the White Sox and he has won almost 25 percent of Minnesota’s games so far this season.

The Twins were outscored 28-8 by the Indians in their four losses from last Friday through Sunday. The Indians now lead the Twins by 2.5 games in the division and the two teams play this coming weekend in Cleveland. Before going on the road, the 34-33 Twins have three games at home against the White Sox, who are 31-37 and in last place in the Central Division.

Santana is 8-4 with a 2:56 ERA. A win tonight will keep him near other major league pitchers for most victories this season. Santana could finish the season as a 20-game winner and the club MVP. The 34-year-old right hander has exceeded expectations and the Twins need one of his better efforts tonight to end their slide.

The Twins have lost 12 of their last 16 home games.

Six of the team’s games at Target Field have been impacted by weather this spring. Three games were delayed and three postponed.

It was 40 years ago that the Twins’ Rod Carew made his famous run to become baseball’s first .400 hitter since Ted Williams in 1941. Carew was a national story and appeared on the July 18, 1977 cover of Time magazine. Carew finished the season at .388, the highest of his Hall of Fame career.

Williams, who played for the Minneapolis Millers before joining the Red Sox, hit .406 in 1941 and is still the last man to average over .400 for a season. Williams, when he was 39 years old in 1957, led the American League in hitting with a .388 average.

When the Gophers play Miami at Williams Arena next November as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, they will see five-star shooting guard Lonnie Walker. The freshman is projected to be the No. 8 selection in the 2018 NBA Draft, according Nbadraft.net.

The website has former Apple Valley five-star shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. leaving Duke after one season and being the No. 9 player taken in the first round. J.P. Macura, the shooting guard from Lakeville North, will be a second round pick at No. 44 after completing his senior season at Xavier.

Nbadraft.net doesn’t project any Gophers being selected in either the first or second rounds in 2018. The Gophers, though, have a few players, including sophomore forward Amir Coffey, who might work their way on to hypothetical draft boards in the next nine months.

Florida State forward Jonathan Isaac, who led the Seminoles to a home win over the Gophers last season, seems like the right fit for the Timberwolves when they use the No. 7 selection in Thursday night’s NBA Draft—if he is still available. Isaac, 6-10, is a slender but versatile defender who reportedly could bring the kind of defense and toughness the Wolves need. He was a freshman All-American last season.

The Wolves, who would surprise no one if they trade their No. 7 pick, are hosting draft night parties from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday night at Kieran’s Irish Pub in Minneapolis, The Liffey in St. Paul, Bunny’s Bar and Grill in St. Louis Park, and Champps in Eden Prairie.

P.J. Fleck, the Gophers’ 36-year-old football coach, talking about all he has experienced at a young age: “It seems like I should be 67 by now and retiring. My high school gave me the lifetime achievement award in the hall of fame. I got that when I was 34.”

Former Gophers trainer Jim Marshall turns 87 on July 3, the same day ex-Minnesota and Minneapolis Lakers coach John Kundla has his 101st birthday.

Former two-time Gophers All-American tackle Bobby Bell was 77 last Saturday.

Sam Richter, a St. Louis Park native and former Gophers football letter winner, was inducted last week into the Minnesota Speaker Hall of Fame by the National Speakers Association. Richter is only the 28th person ever inducted into the Hall of Fame. Richter, who was an Academic All-American, is considered one of the world’s leading experts on sales intelligence and digital reputation management.

Nemer Fieger, the St. Louis Park-based marketing agency, is working with the Gophers athletic department to better communicate the successes of women’s sports, according to Julie Manning.

Manning, executive associate athletics director, also said the department has launched a campaign to raise $10 million over three years to provide additional resources for head coaches of women’s sports.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer will be in Dallas this weekend for a family wedding. After eight eye surgeries, there probably isn’t a player in the NFL who question’s Zimmer’s toughness.

After two rounds through yesterday, Minikahda Club teaching pro Jeff Sorenson was among the leaders in the PGA Professional Championship in Sunriver, Oregon, according to news from PGA.com. Sorenson finished third in the 2013 tournament at Sunriver Resort.

The Minnesota Youth Football Summit is a free event this Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium that will look at how young players can have a better experience. More information, including online registration, is available at myas.org/football.

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Signability Didn’t Dictate Twins Pick

Posted on June 13, 2017June 13, 2017 by David Shama

The Twins used the No. 1 overall pick in last night’s Major League Draft on a surprise choice, California high school shortstop Royce Lewis. Although management had dropped no hints, a lot of Twins followers probably predicted and hoped that another California prep, pitcher-shortstop Hunter Greene, would be the choice.

But Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners today that money and the likelihood of signing the club’s No. 1 pick didn’t dictate choosing Lewis who he said was at the top of Minnesota’s draft board. MLB policy allows a slot value of up to $7.7 million for the draft’s No. 1 selection. “We believe we can get a deal done with Royce for the allotted slot, but also maintain some flexibility deeper in the draft,” St. Peter said.

If Lewis signs for less than $7.7 million it will allow the Twins to potentially spend more on subsequent choices through the draft’s many rounds. But St. Peter said his club’s decision wasn’t based on saving money, and he talked enthusiastically about Lewis’ attributes including speed, potential power, leadership, charisma, and even describing Lewis as someone who “could evolve to be a face of our franchise.”

St. Peter referenced “a lot of different elements that we thought were separators for (drafting) Royce Lewis,” and that the club looked at many potential number one selections before deciding in the last 48 hours prior to Monday night’s draft to take Lewis, despite an acknowledged need for pitching in the organization. “We considered him the best player for the Minnesota Twins,” St. Peter said. “Time will tell. We are really comfortable that we have a great fit for the Twins in Royce Lewis.”

Greene was the glamour guy of the draft, playing two positions, throwing 100 miles per hour fast balls and landing this spring on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The Reds took him in the draft right after the Twins chose Lewis.

Greene was the top ranked player by Baseballamerica.com. Lewis, was ranked No. 5. It’s interesting that the Twins used their first choice on a prospect who plays the same position as 21-year- old Nick Gordon. Gordon was the team’s No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft. Some authorities consider the young shortstop the No. 1 prospect in the Twins farm system. He is hitting .340 with the Double A Chattanooga Outlooks.

St. Peter said the Twins project Lewis as a player who can reach the majors as a shortstop. What about a potential competition some day between Gordon and Lewis to be Minnesota’s starting shortstop? “I put that in the category of a really good problem to have,” St. Peter said.

Lewis was a player Twins evaluators have been watching for a long while and St. Peter said it was an “incredibly collaborative” decision by the club’s talent evaluators to choose Lewis. He also said that even “more voices’ than in the past were involved in the decision of what to do in the first round. That leadership is led by new baseball executives Derek Falvey and Thad Levine who St. Peter hired last fall.

Worth Noting

Twins’ 23-year-old pitcher Jose Berrios is 5-1 with a 2.84 ERA since being recalled from Triple A Rochester. He won his first Twins game May 13 and he has five of the club’s 13 wins since that date.

Lou Nanne’s left hip replacement went well last Friday and he arrived home from the hospital on Saturday, a day early. The Minnesota hockey legend has had two knee replacements, plus rotator cuff and prostate surgeries over the years following a career of playing in the NHL with the North Stars, the organization he also coached for and served as president.

Now a senior managing director for RBC, Nanne, 76, passionately follows the NHL. After watching the Stanley Cup Finals, he thinks the Wild could be close to making a deep playoff run next year.

Frank Ragnow, the Arkansas senior from Chanhassen High School, is the first team preseason All-American center choice by college football magazines Athlon and Lindy’s. Ragnow is a second team offensive line All-American by Street & Smith’s college football publication.

Athlon ranks the 21 major college coaching hires during the offseason and lists the Gophers’ P.J. Fleck as No. 2 in the country. Tom Herman, the new coach at Texas, is ranked No. 1.

Nothing has been announced but there is speculation the Gophers have extended the contract of men’s hockey coach Don Lucia beyond the 2018-2019 season. A year ago Lucia’s contract only went through the 2016-2017 season but was extended two years.

It likely won’t be long before an announcement regarding the Gophers’ opponent for a December 2018 basketball game in U.S. Bank Stadium, but one factor complicating a deal could be a return game. Minnesota may have to assure another school the Gophers will play a game on that foe’s home court at a later date.

Race Thompson, the highly recruited Armstrong basketball player, leaves today for the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Virginia. Thompson, who will be a senior at Armstrong next season, reportedly isn’t close to selecting a college from a list that includes the Gophers.

Minnesota war hero and motivational speaker John Kriesel shares his story on June 28 at the Capital Club breakfast gathering at Town and Country Club in St. Paul. Years ago a roadside bomb in Iraq blew away his legs and he lost two buddies in the explosion. Kriesel is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. In recent months Alan Page, Lou Nanne, P.J. Fleck and Patty Wetterling have spoken to club members. More information is available about the club by contacting Patrick Klinger, Patrick@thebrandenhancementgroup.com.

Dave and Linda Mona’s annual fundraiser assisting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is July 11 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. The Wright Brothers, a favorite of Minnesota music fans, will perform in concert, and a silent auction includes items targeting sports fans. Learn more about the Camden’s Concert evening by calling 952-979-1111.

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Not too Late for Grant Bobblehead

Posted on June 1, 2017June 1, 2017 by David Shama

A Thursday notes column leading off with—you never expected this—Bud Grant Bobblehead news, plus Gophers basketball, the Twins, and fishing.

Grant sold Bobbleheads at his annual garage sale last month but those who missed out can still obtain the plastic statue through Joe Florenzano and Triple Crown Sports Collectibles. The former Vikings coach is depicted to reflect his football career and passion for the outdoors. The figurine shows him wearing a Vikings cap and jacket, holding a duck, and accompanied by his hunting dog Boom. The Bobblehead is a first for the 90-year-old Minnesota sports legend, and probably the last.

Mail orders are being accepted while limited supplies last, with the cost $55 for an unsigned Bobblehead and $90 for a signed. More information is available at Vikingstwinsman@gmail.com.

Grant will sign autographs at Florenzano’s collectibles show from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 30 at Southtown Shopping Center. Fees are charged for autographs and photos.

Sportingnews.com has the Gophers No. 10 in its top 25 national basketball rankings for 2017-2018. The rankings, posted online yesterday, listed Michigan State No. 2, with the Spartans the only Big Ten team ahead of Minnesota. The Gophers were a surprise last season finishing 11-7 in Big Ten regular season games, and they are losing only one key player. Ryan Fagan wrote the “Gophers will push for the Big Ten championship.”

The other ranked Big Ten teams are No. 23 Purdue and No. 24 Northwestern. Arizona is No. 1.

There is some speculation that when the ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchups are announced the Gophers will host Duke at Williams Arena. The Blue Devils are ranked No. 3 by Sportingsnews.com, and the Gophers have never played them in the Challenge. Minnesota is 1-2 historically (all neutral court games) against the famed program, with the last game coming in a 2013 Duke win in the Bahamas.

The Gophers are “drowning” in Challenge games against Florida State, having played the Seminoles three times in the last five years.

Christine Clifford (photo credit: Ephraim Moore)

Christine Clifford, a Golden Valley resident, won a tarpon invitational tournament in the Florida Keys last month where 127 tarpon were caught. She hauled in a record 14 tarpon in the 33rd annual tourney, breaking the previous record of 11.

The Twins have lost four straight but with a surprise 26-23 record still have the best winning percentage in the AL Central. Minnesota lost 8-6 to the Rays on Sunday in a 15 inning game that took 6 hours and 26 minutes—longest in club history. The Twins blew a late inning 8-2 lead on Memorial Day, losing 16-8 to the Astros. In losses to the Astros Tuesday and yesterday, the Twins were defeated 7-2 and 17-6. For the three game series the Astros scored 40 runs, the Twins 16.

“Building character right now, along with building a winning attitude,” said Jim Rantz. The now retired Twins front office executive spoke to Sports Headliners yesterday morning before another loss at Target Field.

The Twins can now show the defeats aren’t demoralizing to a team that was 59-103 last season. A strong June led by revived pitching would help. The club hasn’t played better than .500 baseball in June since a 14-13 record in 2012. Last year the Twins were 10-17 during the month, on their way to the worst record in the majors.

The June schedule has the Twins on the road for two-thirds of the month but Minnesota is 14-5 in away games so far, 12-18 in Minneapolis. The Twins play the Angels in Anaheim tonight and won’t have to face Angels superstar outfielder Mike Trout who was in the early running to win the AL Triple Crown before tearing a ligament in his left thumb.

The Twins had the opportunity to select Trout in the 2009 first-year player draft but took Kyle Gibson with the No. 22 choice. The Angels found Trout still available drafting at No. 25. Gibson has been inconsistent with the Twins during his career, and this season has been disappointing so far. His record is 1-4 with a 7.75 ERA.

In the Astros series the Twins faced star shortstop Carlos Correa who Houston chose with the No. 1 selection in the 2012 draft. The Twins, picking next at No. 2, drafted center fielder Byron Buxton. “I think we were leaning toward Buxton all along,” said Rantz who was involved with that draft.

Buxton has been sensational in the field and a major contributor to the improved Twins defense that has played a key role in the club’s early contention for a division title. After a miserable start at the plate, Buxton is contacting the ball with some consistency and he hit .254 in May. His average now is .201.

Rantz thinks Buxton might be the fastest player in baseball and refers to him as a hitter who eventually may average .250 to .280 each season, with double digit totals in home runs. “He’s going to get his hits and some of them won’t be pretty, but that’s what speed does,” said Rantz.

Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners he hasn’t been surprised how consistent the Twins outfield and infield defense has been. Minnesota has the second fewest errors among MLB teams, according to Espn.com. “Our outfield defense has been as good as any outfield defense in Major League Baseball,” St. Peter said. “All of the modern metrics demonstrate that.”

St. Peter said minor league performances by Buxton and fellow outfielders Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario indicated they would perform well in the majors. Early signs were also present with shortstop Jorge Polanco and third baseman Miguel Sano. “I think the other person that probably doesn’t get enough credit is Joe Mauer at first base,” St. Peter said. “Joe is having an incredible year defensively over there and certainly should be somebody who gets Gold Glove consideration.”

St. Peter talking about the club’s personnel: “We’re always open to discussions about how we make our team better. I don’t think there is a single player on our roster that is immune from those types of discussions. …”

ByungHo Park is playing again for Triple A Rochester. He had a hamstring injury earlier in the year and is hitting .228 in 92 at bats after an impressive spring with the Twins and almost making the big league roster. “But I certainly expect to see Byung in Minnesota at some point in 2017,” St. Peter said about the DH and first baseman.

The Twins sold about 1,500 of the new Spring Ballpark Pass, St. Peter said. The pass provided access inside Target Field but not a seat and cost $99 to watch Twins games in April and May. That type of product is something the Twins will consider in the future.

St. Peter said the club has sold more than 13,500 season tickets and could exceed 14,000 for 2017. The team’s season ticket total last year was about 14,000.

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