Joe Mauer – Page 5 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings QB Process: No Need to Panic

Posted on April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 by David Shama

There is endless speculation about when and how the Vikings will find their next quarterback to replace 34-year-old Kirk Cousins. No need to overthink the process.

The Vikings are highly likely to find their guy sometime in the next 12 months or so. They may acquire a quarterback via trade or free agency within that period. Of course, next week’s NFL Draft will be an opportunity, too, and so will the 2024 draft.

To find a coveted prospect in the opening round of the 2023 draft, the Vikings will have to move up from their No. 23 position in the first round. While that could happen, chances are more likely the Vikings will move down from No. 23, trading that selection to acquire more picks in draft. Minnesota has just two draft spots in the top 100 and only five total in the seven round draft that starts April 27 and continues through April 29.

GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, head coach Kevin O’Connell and others in the organization have spent a lot of time looking at quarterback prospects who will be in the draft, including those who will go in the later rounds. While Minnesota has been linked to likely first rounders Will Levis (Kentucky) and Hendon Hooker (Tennessee), the Vikings seem more likely to end up with second or third round quarterbacks. Possibilities could include Tanner McKee (Stanford) and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA), prospects the Vikings could develop during the coming season and not rush into game action.

Cousins, who turns 35 in August, is in the last year of his contract. If he and the Vikings push far into the playoffs, O’Connell and the front office are all but certain to want Cousins to return for the 2024 season. The Vikings, though, need a major upgrade to their defensive personnel to be a team that gets deep into the postseason.

The possibility is Minnesota could have a losing season and for next year’s draft have a top 15 or better draft position in the first round. Next year’s draft looks quarterback friendly, too, starting with big names Caleb Williams (USC) and Drake Maye (North Carolina)

Clearly there is time and options for the Viking quarterback scenario to play out.

Worth Noting

Minnesota sports hero Joe Mauer’s 40^th birthday is today. It’s a noteworthy year for the three-time American League batting champion who retired in 2018 and will be inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame August 5.

The Wild might be on a run of good fortune after winning Monday night’s two-overtime thriller in Dallas against the Stars, 3-2. The Wild haven’t won an opening round playoff series since 2015 and that was the last time Minnesota was victorious in the first game.

Hot goalies always weigh heavily in determining postseason success and Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson was superb Monday night and entered the game with an impressive regular season goals against average of 2.10 and 22-9-7 record. Marc-Andre Fleury, the Wild’s 38-year-old backup goalie, struggled as the starter in the team’s opening playoff series a year ago when the Blues eliminated Minnesota in six games, but Gustavsson was brilliant Monday night with a franchise record 51 saves.

The Wild likely caught a break, too, in facing the Stars instead of the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche. Colorado struggled with injuries and performance much of the season but came on late to win the Central Division, with the Stars finishing second and the Wild third. The Avalanche are gritty and talented.

Word is Wild GM Bill Guerin has a new contract, with an established hockey source telling Sports Headliners it’s probably worth $1.5 to $2 million per year.

The Wild announced this morning the club has recalled forward Sammy Walker from Iowa. The former Gopher led the Iowa Wild in goals with 27.

The Athletics’ poll results of NBA players have Wolves’ forward Jaden McDaniels voted the fifth most underrated player in the league, with teammate and guard Anthony Edwards No. 8. McDaniels is also No. 7 as the league’s best defender.

The poll, asking players questions in various categories while providing anonymity, has Wolves center Rudy Gobert ranked as the fifth most overrated player (tied with Jarren Jackson Jr. from the Grizzlies). Former Wolves’ head coach Tom Thibodeau, now leading the Knicks, is the No. 1 coach players don’t want to play for.

The Minnetonka girls’ basketball team could be the best girls prep team in the state next season. The Skippers will take on another power, Providence Academy, in a January 27 game at St. Michael-Albertville. Players to watch include Minnetonka guard Tori McKinney and Providence Academy’s Maddyn Greenway, daughter of former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, who as a freshman last winter gave notice she will be a special player.

McKinney, a senior next school year, is likely a recruiting target of new Gopher women’s head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. Word is the new coach has made a more than favorable impression on her players, displaying basketball leadership and likeability.

Minneapolis-based attorney and journalist Marshall Tanick wrote an informative article about Minnesota baseball-related litigation for Minnesota Lawyer. https://minnlawyer.com/2023/04/06/perspectives-new-saints-recall-old-

Congratulations to Ron Stolski, Jim Dotseth and other leaders of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association on the success of their recent clinic that registered 1,542 attendees. That’s the most ever for the popular annual clinic.

The MFCA will sponsor both a recruiting fair and combine for players May 6 at the Vikings’ complex in Eagan. High school coaches will meet with college coaches to discuss prospects at the fair. Players in eighth through 11^th grades will be tested for skills in a variety of categories. https://www.mnfootballcoaches.com/recruit

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Retirement Big Change for Terry Ryan

Posted on January 9, 2023January 9, 2023 by David Shama

Terry Ryan is about a year into retirement. When a sportswriter called to ask how the adjustment from a lifetime in baseball was going, the first question that came up was TV soap operas.

Ryan, the former Twins general manager, stepped down from that position after the 2007 season. Although he remained with the club as an advisor, he wanted a break from the high stress environment demanded of a GM leading a team positioned to win championships. It wasn’t long after finding himself at home, that Ryan joined wife Karilyn in watching soap operas.

These days? Ryan said he isn’t tuning into the soaps, although Karilyn remains a fan. “I have plenty to do without watching too much of that kind of stuff,” he told Sports Headliners.

The Ryans are settled in Eagan, not far from their son Tim, and daughter Kathleen, who are also Twin Cities residents. There are occasions when Terry and Karilyn take care of their two grandchildren. The pull of family had a lot to do with making Minnesota their retirement residence.

Ryan, of course, has friends here and occasionally he will see them on the golf course. He plays a couple of times per month when weather allows. “I am still trying to play golf the right way,” he said.

A proven scoring strategy for senior golfers is an efficient short game including on the green where Ryan admits he struggles. “If you can get that putting stroke down, you’re probably going to take five strokes off your round every time you play. …”

Ryan, 69, is a Janesville, Wisconsin native. The Twins drafted him in 1973 as a left-handed pitcher out of Parker High School. He pitched in the minor leagues for four seasons but never made the big show.

Ryan’s route to the majors came via scouting and administration. In the early 1980s he joined the Mets as a scout and worked several years for them. Then the Twins hired him as scouting director in 1986 and that saw him oversee drafts of players like Chuck Knoblauch, LaTroy Hawkins and Brad Radke. He was Minnesota’s VP of player personnel from 1992-1994 before his first stint as GM from 1994-2007. He returned as GM from 2012-2016 before the franchise parted ways with their longtime leader.

Then it didn’t take long for the Phillies to sign Ryan up as a special assignment scout. Phillies GM Matt Klentak gushed about his team’s good fortune. “I have known Terry for more than a decade and have enormous respect for all that he accomplished during his tenure with the Twins,” Klentak said via MLB.com. “Terry’s work ethic, loyalty and track record as a talent evaluator are simply unparalleled in our game.”

Ryan said that now he probably wouldn’t accept even a part-time offer to get back into baseball, although he admits to missing the game and the people. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made it clear over a year ago how he felt about Ryan. “He wanted me to stay, and I just told him it’s time, when you’ve been at it this long.”

Ryan’s connection to baseball now is as a board member of the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.). The nonprofit organization helps financially distressed former minor league players, scouts, and front office people. Ryan’s been involved for about five years.

“It’s a very worthwhile board to be on,” Ryan said. “I am proud to be a part of that.”

Ryan’s comfortable and flexible schedule now is in sharp contrast to the life he led for about 40 years. The pressure from responsibilities and travel are a lot different than being able to do about whatever he wants now.

Part of Ryan’s gratitude for his life includes being cancer free. About nine years ago he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in a lymph node in his neck. Ryan was told the cancer was curable, but treatment would change his life. He had to go through physical therapy to learn how to swallow (keeping water down was a huge challenge) and to this day he has a compromised sense of taste. “It took me about a year to get back to somewhat normalcy,” he said.

Over the years Ryan has experienced highs and lows in his personal life and on the baseball field. MLB voted to contract the franchise, along with the Montreal Expos, in the 2001 offseason. But the franchise survived and from 2002-2010 the club won six Central Division titles.

Some of those teams were among the most talented in franchise history. Perhaps no club teased the notion of winning a world championship more than the 2006 team that was 96-66 during the regular season. That was the breakout season of electrifying left-hander Francisco Liriano who for a stretch was probably the most dominant pitcher in baseball. And that is saying a lot because teammate Johan Santana won 19 games.

Ryan acquired Liriano in a 2003 trade with the Giants that sent catcher A.J. Pierzynski to San Francisco and also brought reliever Joe Nathan to Minneapolis. Liriano’s success was cut short here by arm problems, but Nathan became a Twins Hall of Famer and vital contributor for many seasons.

Twins talent was everywhere five years or so into the new millennium. The roster had a third pitching ace in Brad Radke, .347 hitting catcher Joe Mauer, slugging first baseman Justin Morneau, multi-tool center fielder Torii Hunter, versatile outfielder-infielder Michael Cuddyer and others. “We had tremendous personnel,” Ryan said.

The acquisition of players was aided by trades, but you can hear the satisfaction in Ryan’s voice when he talks about the roster Minnesota built in the 2000’s with player development and scouting. “…You gotta have luck, you gotta have skill. You have to do due diligence on character make up.

“Injuries weren’t a huge part of that crowd. They all played, most of them for a long time. Cripes, LaTroy Hawkins and Hunter and Pierzynski, and all those guys, are playing 20 years. I am not sure you could have even imagined that at the time (the 2000’s), but we had a lot of good things going. They’re athletic and they were accountable, and I am proud of most of those guys. …They were good human beings off the field.”

The frustration of not advancing far in the postseason will hang over those great Twins teams forever. The club had pitching, fielding, speed and power but only once advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs after winning division championships. “There’s no excuses,” Ryan said. “We just didn’t get that far, and unfortunately there were players there we thought we might be able to do it with.”

Mauer photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins.

As the years pass, the names of players fade in the public view but not so for Mauer. He will be eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame next year. The Twins great who Ryan saw play at Cretin-Derham Hall a dozen times or more and who scouting director Mike Radcliff insisted the Twins take with the No. 1 MLB overall pick in 2001 is not a lock for first-year induction.

“I am hoping like heck he does, but you know how that voting goes,” Ryan said. “You never know what some of those guys (voters) treasure. Obviously if Joe had stayed behind the plate he’d go in without any question. But he ended up over at first and now you’re going to decide how many years was the majority of his career behind the plate versus over at first.

“Obviously I am a Mauer fan. He did anything and everything you could ever hope for when you take a guy first in the country. Between the MVP and all-stars (All-Star games), and running a pitching staff, and then making the transition because of his health–concussions–he went over and played darn good at first. Batting titles, he’s got a strong case. I don’t know if he’s going to get in on the first ballot but eventually I suspect he’s going to get in.”

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Twins Need to Rethink Carlos Correa

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

Free agent shortstop Carlos Correa has the baseball world, including Twins fans, on notice about his future. The view here is Minnesota should tank efforts for signing him and target multiple players through free agency and trades that could collectively help them more.

This week it became more evident than ever it’s going to take a bank full of money over something like 10 years to give the Twins a reasonable chance to re-sign their 2022 MVP. Trea Turner and Xander Bogaerts are elite shortstops and peers of Correa who is arguably the best at his position in MLB. This week Turner and Bogaerts signed new deals of $300 million and $280 million respectively. Both contracts are for 11 years.

Power agent Scott Boras represents Bogaerts and Correa. Boras will be on task to top not only top Bogaerts’ deal for Correa, but also Turner’s.

It could require north of $325 million for at least a decade to sign Correa. Even if the Twins want to offer such numbers, it’s possible other teams (think Giants, Cubs) may back up a bigger armored truck to Correa’s door.

Another part of persuading Correa to sign a new deal will involve the caliber of players an organization can put around him. That can be existing talent, hot prospects and what the organization’s vision is for winning. The Twins, 78-84 last season, have a spotty record in the playoffs since winning the World Series in 1991. Their track record shows occasional willingness to spend big money (Joe Mauer, Josh Donaldson and Correa in 2022) but they don’t stretch the payroll like the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, Texas, Padres, Yankees and other clubs.

Correa is 28 and while it was exciting to have him on the roster last season his impact on winning games wasn’t that of a $35 million player. Even if his production was better, it requires more than a couple of elite players to have a great team. Look at the Angels and their stumbling ways despite having two of the greatest players of this generation in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.

The view here is the Twins can be better positioned to win by taking Correa money and spending it on a pitcher who could be a staff ace or close to it. Also, bolstering their bullpen and finding a catcher like free agent Christian Vazquez will be money well spent.

Those moves are more likely to make the Twins a postseason contender in 2023 and beyond. In a team game where it takes many to contribute the Twins don’t need to take on a lengthy obligation for a player who will be in his late 30s when he stops playing. Of interest, too, is Correa had back issues with the Astros prior to joining the Twins.

“These long-term contracts in baseball, they rarely work out for the best,” a source with MLB ties told Sports Headliners. “ …You’re paying guys for what they accomplished, not what they’re going to accomplish. It’s always a little bit risky when you tie up that kind of money in one player. I think you have to be ready to put talent around him.”

If the Twins are without Correa in 2023, they already have 32-year-old shortstop Kyle Farmer for the short-term, while awaiting the take over of top prospect Royce Lewis for potentially a longtime.

Worth Noting

The top seven rudest fans at stadiums in the NFL are in order: Eagles, Raiders, Cowboys, Patriots, Steelers, Packers and Bears, per a survey this fall by NJ.Bet. The Vikings rank No. 22 and the Lions, who host Minnesota Sunday, are No. 15. Brief comments on fans for each team include “get too drunk” for the Vikings and Packers, and “heckle too much” for the Bears and Lions. https://nj.bet/news/ranked-rudest-fans-in-the-nfl/

Legendary coach Bud Grant likes the 2022 Vikings team but said a single play going wrong in games could have resulted in a “1-9 record.” Grant made that comment while talking to KFAN’s Dan Barreiro for more than one hour earlier this week.

The former Vikings coach, who will be 96 next May, credits his longevity to family genes and good fortune, including experiences where he could have died. Grant told Barreiro he doesn’t “believe in God.”

Surprisingly, the 10-2 Vikings have been underdogs this week for their game Sunday in Detroit. The Lions, 5-7, want to become the first team since the NFL expanded the playoffs in 1990 to make the postseason after a 1-6 start. They have won four of their last five games.

“The arms race” in college football continues including in the Big Ten with media reports that Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck will now make $6 million after new hires at Nebraska and Wisconsin: Matt Ruhle for $9.25 million with the Cornhuskers and the Badgers paying Luke Fickell $7.5 million for next year.

Lasting memory in the Iowa-Minnesota football rivalry: After this fall’s 13-10 Iowa win at Huntington Bank Stadium controversial Hawkeyes offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz stood in front of his school’s fans and simulated rowing a boat, an observer told Sports Headliners.

Rob Gag and Derek Burns, co-founders of Dinkytown Athletes, aren’t taking salaries from their new startup. The collective facilitates Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and financial compensation for Gopher athletes. Fans, boosters and businesses can benefit athletes through activities such as endorsements and personal appearances. Burns told Sports Headliners paid interns are helping with “business development.” https://dinkytownathletes.com/

Stillwater-based Creative Charters has been taking Gophers football fans to bowl games for years and 2022 is no different. The itinerary for New York City and the December 29 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium has fans departing December 28 and back home for New Year’s Eve December 31. Details on the Creative Charters website. https://creativecharter.com/index.html

Contrary to what has been reported, new Timberwolves and Lynx owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez don’t have to make a December payment to Glen Taylor, a franchise source told Sports Headliners. The two need to execute paperwork this month, with payment required next year as part of their transition to majority ownership.

Don’t be surprised if new Wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly makes personnel moves in the coming weeks. Some NBA players, by stipulation in their contracts, can’t be traded until December 15.

Former Gopher men’s gymnastics coach Mike Burns and Michael Hsu, the former University of Minnesota regent with a strong interest in athletics, are applicants for the at-large opening on the 12-member Board of Regents next year. Former Gopher football player William Humphries is an applicant for District 3.

The Wild has recalled Edina native and former Gopher Sammy Walker from Iowa where he led the team in points, goals and power-goals. Walker signed a two-year, entry level contract with the Wild last August.

Old friends: Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, 38, is still friends with 72-year-old Gilles Meloche, the former North Stars goalie who coached Fleury years ago with the Penguins.

The Gopher men’s hockey team earned a 7-1 win at home last night against the Badgers, with three different lines scoring at least one goal. Minnesota had two infractions called in the first period, ending a streak of 218:06 (nearly four games) without a penalty.

Elite skater Mason Moe, a 10th grader on the Eden Prairie boys’ hockey team and grandson of former Gophers athletic director Tom Moe, is a prep forward to follow this winter. He was one of the metro’s top bantam players last winter.

The Gophers announced that four student-athletes earned a GPA of 4.0 this fall: Ava Hill (women’s cross country), Sydney Kretlow (women’s cross country), Elizabeth Overberg (soccer) and Matthew Trickett (football).

Early bird tickets go on sale December 12 for the Minnesota Golf Show February 24-26 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. https://minnesotagolfshow.com/

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