Miguel Sano – Page 4 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Twins Still in Win-Now Window

Posted on March 31, 2021March 31, 2021 by David Shama

The Minnesota Twins open their regular season tomorrow (Thursday) in Milwaukee against the Brewers with a roster assembled to compete now and probably for a few more seasons. This is a veteran team with players that should be entering their peak years, plus a couple of bell cows in 40-year-old Nelson Cruz and 35-year-old Josh Donaldson who are trying to make Father Time slow down. There are also nine pitchers who are 30 or older.

In addition to DH Cruz and third baseman Donaldson, here’s the early season projected lineup and ages of players: Mitch Garver, catcher, 30; Miguel Sano, first base, 27; Jorge Polanco, second base, 27; Andrelton Simmons, shortstop, 32; Kyle Garlick, left field, 29; Byron Buxton, center field, 27; Max Kepler, right field, 28.

Starting pitchers look like this: José Berríos, 26; J.A. Happ, 38; Kenta Maeda, 31; Michael Pineda, 32; Matt Shoemaker, 35. In the bullpen are Jorge Alcala, 25; Alex Colomé, 32; Randy Dobnak, 26; Tyler Duffey, 30; Hansel Robles, 30; Taylor Rogers 30; Cody Stashak, 26; and Caleb Thielbar, 34.

Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners his club has the talent, depth and experience to be one of baseball’s better teams. “I wouldn’t describe us as a young team. We certainly have some young players but the core of this team has been together for a long time. …”

That core has produced consecutive AL Central Division titles, and the win-now window continues. “There’s no question the focus now is on 2021 and we think we’re well positioned to win a lot of baseball games,” St. Peter said.

Dave St. Peter (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins)

After a lengthy rebuild with youth, the Chicago White Sox emerged as a division threat to the Twins last year. The White Sox might be a more popular choice in 2021 to win the division than Minnesota. MLB.com authorities are picking the White Sox and so is Sports Illustrated, offering a prediction Minnesota makes the playoffs as a Wild Card entry with a 92-70 record. “The White Sox get a lot of hype and deservedly so with some of the offseason moves they’ve had,” St. Peter said. “The players that they’ve accumulated there, they have a lot of talent.”

Among reasons for liking the White Sox is the bullpen. MLB.com says it’s the best in baseball, with the Twins checking in at No. 10 led by Colomé and Rogers.

The White Sox have not only arrived but there is more talent coming to Chicago. Andrew Vaughn, at DH or first base, and second baseman Nick Madrigal, are early favorites for AL Rookie of the Year. MLB.com ranks the White Sox No. 9 for top farm system pitching prospects, with two other AL Central rivals even higher—the Detroit Tigers at No. 1 and Kansas City Royals No. 5.

The Twins already have an advantage over the White Sox and the long season ahead. St. Peter said his team is collectively healthier coming out of spring training than any in years, while the White Sox will play most or all of the season without injured star outfielder Eloy Jiménez.

Worth Noting

Expected starters for the three-game series in Milwaukee Thursday, Saturday and Sunday are Twins right-handers Maeda, Berríos and Pineda against Brewers righties Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes and Adrian Houser.

When the Twins open at home April 8 against the Seattle Mariners, the 10,000 fans allowed at Target Field will represent the largest gathering in Minnesota since March of 2020. Former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire will throw out the ceremonial first pitch to son Toby Gardenhire, who will manage the Triple-A St. Paul Saints this season.

Gardenhire, 63, retired as the Tigers manager last year. The Twins expect to dialogue with Gardenhire about a future role in the organization. “To be determined, I think would be the answer there,” St. Peter said about rejoining his franchise.

Former Pioneer Press sportswriter Gregg Wong, local book author Stew Thornley and Mayo Clinic physician Kyle Traynor are returning as the official scorers for Twins games at Target Field. They will be back in the press box after scoring games at home in 2020 because of the pandemic.

Wong remembers Kirby Puckett and his big personality as the favorite athlete he ever covered with the newspaper. Before games Puckett would enter a quiet clubhouse and start agitating teammates. “He brought life to everybody,” Wong said.

On the road Wong would go to Puckett’s hotel room and the two ordered room service and played gin rummy. “We would talk about everything except baseball,” Wong said.

Former Twins pitcher and broadcaster Bert Blyleven turns 70 next Monday. He is now a special assistant with the organization, like other Twins greats such as Rod Carew and Tony Oliva.

Brian Cosgriff, who coached Hopkins to seven girls’ state titles in 21 years before retiring last year, is planning a return to coaching while sorting out options. “I definitely missed it,” the 60-year-old Cosgriff said.

Part of the appeal is to reunite with brother Barry Cosgriff who assisted him at Hopkins. “He’s the best assistant in the state,” Brian said.

The overhyped Big Ten not only didn’t place a team in the 2021 men’s Final Four but also has only one NCAA Tournament champion in the last 30 years, Michigan State in 2000.

Wishing the best for New York Times best selling author and former Gophers golfer Harvey Mackay while he continues his recovery from COVID-19. Mackay’s latest book came out in January, “Getting a Job is a Job.”

Gophers hockey forward and captain Sammy Walker talking about his team that almost qualified for the Frozen Four: “Especially the last couple years, we haven’t been where we want to be. I think after this year, we’re definitely taking the steps to getting back where we want to be as a program.”

With Barry Alvarez expected to soon announce his retirement as Wisconsin athletics director, it will be interesting to see if school leaders are savvy enough to let him name his successor.

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Twins’ Playoff Run Can “Mean the World”

Posted on September 30, 2020September 30, 2020 by David Shama

The Minnesota Twins won the World Series in 1987 and 1991. The championships captured the attention of Minneapolis-St. Paul and the entire state as Twins-mania was felt everywhere from dramatic moments on the field to Home Hankies to World Series parades to depiction of the 1987 team on Wheaties cereal boxes.

A similar impact could be even more welcome this fall than decades ago when the Twins’ success dominated the state’s focus and culture. Club president Dave St. Peter was with the Twins organization in 1991 and he spoke to Sports Headliners about the significance of a potential 2020 World Series winner in Minnesota.

“It would mean the world,” he said Monday. “It would be tremendously rewarding to see our club back in that position. But I think more important, it would be great for our community.

“I think about our city. I think about our state, and all the strife that we’ve dealt with during COVID, as well as the social unrest that we’ve experienced over the last several months. For major league baseball, specifically Twins baseball, to play a role in bringing people together, that’s a pretty awesome opportunity and something we know would happen in spades if we played in the World Series.”

The Twins won their two World Series titles under the ownership of the late Carl Pohlad. Now other generations of Pohlads, including executive chairman Jim Pohlad, are making decisions and following the club. “At the end of the day, I know Jim’s focus would be more…on how that World Series benefits our community over how it benefits the family,” St. Peter said.

A march to the World Series didn’t start well yesterday, with the Twins managing just four hits in an opening Wild Card 4-1 loss to the Houston Astros. The defeat dictates Minnesota must win today and tomorrow to take the best two out of three series, and move on in the postseason. Otherwise, the goal in spring training and during the season of qualifying for the World Series will go in the dumpster.

“No doubt in my mind, that not only can we get there, but we can win it,” St. Peter said. “We’re talented enough to do that. I think there are a lot of other clubs across the game that believe the same, but in reality there can only be one. Our goal is to go out and take this day-by-day, round by round, and hopefully put ourselves in that position to compete for it.”

The Twins have one of baseball’s deepest pitching staffs. Depth is also apparent among position players with several Twins having experience at multiple spots led by do-it-all Marwin Gonzalez, who on any day might show up at first base, second base, third base or in the outfield. “I think our depth is perhaps our greatest strength,” St. Peter said.

Max Kepler (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins).

St. Peter likes the mix of veterans and young players on the roster. The Twins built their success of recent seasons on young players up from the farm system like pitcher Jose Berrios, shortstop Jorge Polanco, first baseman Miguel Sano and outfielders Byron Buxton, Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario. Over time veterans have been added including last offseason with pitchers Kenta Maeda, Tyler Clippard and Rich Hill, and slugging third baseman Josh Donaldson.

“We think those additions can be difference makers for us as we head into the October run of baseball,” St. Peter said.

Appreciated, too, about this year’s Twins team is how they have handled the response to COVID-19. Players and staff have been accountable in their actions to benefit both themselves and others. “…Really, really proud of the way our group has handled that,” St. Peter said.

The Twins are playing their games against the Astros with only a couple hundred spectators in the Target Field stands. Watching are club employees and families of Twins and Astros players. “…Our players are excited to have their families and fellow-employees at the ballpark,” St. Peter said. “Everything that we can do to create a home field advantage we’re looking to try to create.”

MLB hasn’t allowed fans to attend games this season and won’t during the Wild Card games. After those games the next two rounds of the playoffs will be played at neutral sites including Los Angeles and San Diego for American League teams, but again without fans. MLB has announced fans will be allowed to attend World Series games in Arlington, Texas but not offered specifics on numbers.

Worth Noting

Minor league baseball is going through a reorganization and operating a Twins AAA farm club in St. Paul couldn’t be more convenient. St. Peter said in the future it’s “certainly a possibility” a deal could be made to base a Twins minor league team at CHS Field in St. Paul, but a lot of things will need to happen before it could be reality.

St. Peter also said Twins TV viewership hit “historic numbers” last year and he expects data from this season to be similar. TV watching across the country, with a glut of sports going on, is competitive. Front Office Sports reported Monday that for the first three games of the Stanley Cup Finals viewership “was down at least 60 % compared to last season.”

Nelson Cruz, the Twins’ 40-year-old DH, had a .992 OPS during the regular season—fourth best all-time among players age 39-or-older, trailing Barry Bonds (1.422 in 2004), Ted Williams (1.042 in 1958) and David Ortiz (1.021 in 2016).

Twenty-two of the 28 players on the Twins’ roster have playoff game experience. The roster includes four catchers.

Among questions that should come up at the University of Minnesota Board of Regents meeting in October to discuss the elimination of gymnastics, tennis and indoor and outdoor track, is what would happen to any endowed scholarship money in those men’s sports.

Gophers basketball fans are wondering about the possibility of attending home games this upcoming season. A fan reports season ticket renewals have been suspended since August.

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Hometowners Loom Big for P.J. Fleck

Posted on June 25, 2020June 25, 2020 by David Shama

The 2021 University of Minnesota football recruiting class is looking like the best of the internet era for the Gophers, but there is still more potential.

Totino-Grace’s Joe Alt and Davon Townley from Minneapolis North could join others who have already made verbal commitments to the Gophers—and the hometowners would be significant additions to the class of 2021 that 247Sports ranks No. 15 in the nation.

Recruiting authority Ryan Burns told Sports Headliners a decision regarding college choice may come from Alt within the next 30 to 60 days. Burns, publisher of GopherIllustrated.com, said a summer timeline has been in place for awhile for the high school tight end who projects as a big time college offensive lineman and could finish his prep career as a four-star player.

Joe’s father John Alt was a great offensive tackle for Iowa but Burns thinks interest in the Hawkeyes might be cooling given the program’s already high count of offensive line prospects. But Notre Dame, where the family also has ties, could be even more competition for the Gophers. With the COVID-19 pandemic, though, a visit to the South Bend campus and meeting with the Fighting Irish coaches hasn’t been possible and might not be in place for awhile.

How that plays out Burns isn’t predicting but he acknowledged the importance of Alt becoming a Gopher could potentially be a “significant milestone.” Fleck and his staff have frequently been frustrated in efforts to land top players from the state of Minnesota, particularly offensive linemen who have instead chosen Nebraska, Notre Dame and Wisconsin. “I think that would represent a very serious win for P.J. Fleck,” Burns said about Alt committing to Minnesota.

The Gophers have lost two defensive linemen who once made verbal commitments including D’Marion Alexander from Texas who backed out just this week. Burns said social justice issues happening in Minnesota this spring prompted the change in plans. The departures puts a focus on Townley, a four-star defensive end.

Quality defensive linemen might play the most prized of all the positions in college football, with Burns believing “supply never meets demand.” Townley is an athletic basketball player turned football star, and Burns praises his skills including a “great first step” that is so important to pass rushers. While Penn State has offered a scholarship, Burns said Minnesota is in the lead for Townley who is related to former Gophers All-Big Ten wide receiver Tyler Johnson.

In the back and forth world of teenagers, players can decommit and recommit again. But Burns doesn’t see that happening with Albert Regis, the other defensive lineman the Gophers lost. He said the four-star Texas native wants to stay closer to home and Minnesota is too far away for him.

Better news for the Gophers among defensive linemen could come with the eventual commitment for the class of 2022 by Trey Bixby, a four-star defensive end from Ohio. Michigan State is among interested schools but Burns said the Gophers could have an edge because the family is originally from Minnesota and Bixby has a strong interest in the program. “He grew up a Gopher fan,” Burns added.

247Sports lists 16 verbal commits for the 2021 class including four-star cornerback Steven Ortiz from Arizona. Not only is Ortiz a talented player, but he has been a vocal leader with the recruiting class. His leadership among fellow recruits reminds Burns of former Gopher Carter Coughlin who while in high school in Eden Prairie was so enthusiastic about Minnesota. “He (Ortiz) is the best recruiting leader Minnesota has had since Carter Coughlin’s class (2016),” Burns said.

Burns expects the 2021 recruiting class to eventually total in the low 20s. He predicted Fleck is in no hurry to use up all his scholarships. A winning 2020 season on the field is predicted, and Minnesota could leverage that success to be a factor with hyped recruits.

Speaking of wide receivers, Burns doesn’t believe Eden Prairie native JD Spielman, who left Nebraska this spring, will transfer to Minnesota. The Gophers have an opening for playing time with Tyler Johnson gone and Spielman was one of the Big Ten’s more explosive receivers at Nebraska. Spielman’s next stop is unknown.

The Gophers do have one of the nation’s best wide receivers in junior Rashod Bateman. CollegeFootballNews.com this week ranked Bateman the No. 7 player in the Big Ten in its listing of the conference’s top 30 players. Minnesota quarterback Tyler Morgan is No. 9. Ohio State QB Justin Fields is No. 1.

Asked about possible breakthrough players among true freshmen from the class of 2020, Burns likes Florida wide receiver Douglas Emilien on offense. Another Florida native, defensive back Jalen Glaze, is his choice on defense, with the possibility for playing time at the nickel position or another spot in the secondary.

No Delay for Miguel Sano Arrival

Club president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners this afternoon there is no anticipated problem in arranging for Minnesota Twins players to report for training in Minneapolis by July 1, including slugger Miguel Sano who is in the Dominican Republic where he encountered a personal issue earlier this month.

“There is no concern about getting Miguel in here,” St. Peter said. “His case (alleged kidnapping) was dismissed today so there is no personal problem.”

The 6-foot-4 Sano encountered off-field issues in the past including a weight problem. Team officials monitored his 2020 offseason training and like the reports. “We expect Miguel to report in shape and ready to go,” St. Peter said.

The 27-year-old had a career season in 2019 for home runs, 34, and RBI, 79. St. Peter said the club doesn’t talk about projected future numbers but clearly there is an expectation of high performance this season and beyond.

After emerging as one of baseball’s better teams last year and adding quality players in the offseason, the Twins talked in spring training about the goal of reaching the 2020 World Series. “That goal remains in front of us today,” St. Peter said.

MLB teams begin the 60-game regular season July 23 or 24. All the Twins games will be on radio and TV. For the first time in 60 seasons the game can be heard in the metro area on both AM (WCCO) and FM (102.9 The Wolf). The addition of FM is expected to help attract a larger listening audience among young fans.

The club’s radio network will be over 80 stations, the second or third largest in MLB, St. Peter said. The radio voices will be Cory Provus and Dan Gladden. Justin Morneau and Bert Blyleven will work a package of games on TV with Dick Bremer, with other analysts expected to join play-by-play man Bremer.

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