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May to Make or Break Twins’ Season?

Posted on May 3, 2016May 3, 2016 by David Shama

After a 7-17 start to the season in April—one of the worst beginnings in club history—the month of May will probably either make or break the Twins in 2016. Minnesota, 8-18 after last night’s win over the Astros in Houston, is 1-1 in May and the Twins’ goal has to be a record like 16-12 or better for the month.

The Twins won 20 of 27 games last May—the second best franchise record ever for Minnesota in that month. The 20-win success followed a 10-12 start to the season. May turned out to be the team’s best month of the year, helping make it possible for the Twins to finish 83-79, and end a streak of four consecutive 90-plus seasons.

Right now, though, this is a different team than in 2015. Last year’s club had veteran leadership and production. Right fielder Torii Hunter, now retired, was an inspirational leader who commanded the locker room. His 81 RBI were second on the team in 2015. He tied third baseman Trevor Plouffe for the second most home runs at 22 each. Plouffe, who led the Twins with 86 RBI, missed much of April but will be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list prior to tonight’s game in Houston.

All-Star closer Glen Perkins pitched just two innings in April and remains unavailable because of injury. Veteran reliever Kevin Jepsen, who has taken over for Perkins, had a 1.61 ERA last season but that has jumped to 3.86 this spring. Starters Phil Hughes, Kyle Gibson and Tommy Milone, who were the club’s three winningest pitchers last season, are a combined 1-8 in 2016. Gibson is sidelined with an injury.

Miguel Sano (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins).

A couple of days ago the Twins had lost more one-run games than any team in baseball. Their 4-7 record in such games certainly had something to do with missing veteran wisdom and production. Sunday, for example, second-year slugger Miguel Sano was thrown out at third base after foolishly trying to make a triple out of a double. A bad idea in any situation, but worse when your club trails by one run with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Twins’ make mistakes, sometimes can’t produce a timely hit and often see the bullpen fail late in games. It’s a formula for losing a lot of games and manager Paul Molitor is concerned about the psyche of his players. Last night, though, should have helped as 21-year-old starting pitcher Jose Berrios earned his first major league win ever in a 6-2 win over the Astros.

The Twins have a three-game series against the Astros that ends tomorrow night. Minnesota couldn’t have lobbied the commissioner’s office for a more desirable foe right now than the Astros, who are 8-18 and along with the Twins have the worst record in the American League.

The Twins will compete against nine clubs in May and four have losing records—the Astros, A’s (13-14), Blue Jays (12-15) and Indians (10-12). But the Twins can hardly feel cocky against any opponents after being swept five times by teams so far this season.

During May the Twins will play all of their Central Division rivals. So far this season Minnesota is 2-1 against the Indians but 0-3 versus the Royals, Tigers and White Sox.

If the Twins can achieve a winning record in May it will be impressive because 17 of the team’s games are on the road, with only 11 at home. The Twins’ road record this spring is 2-10.

This month should have the Twins worried. Maybe the players are well advised not to be biting their fingernails but they, Molitor, the coaches and baseball front office need to be working with a sense of urgency. By month’s end the Twins will have completed almost one-third of their 2016 schedule. A May with only a few “w’s” almost certainly means those optimistic preseason predictions about the Twins finishing over .500 again –or even making the playoffs—will look cooked before summer officially arrives.

A disappointment like that will be felt beyond the playing field. The fan base was re-energized by last year’s winning season and a roster of promising young players. The Twins seemed likely to stop a six-year slide at the Target Field box office in 2016. The franchise that opened state-of-the-art Target Field in 2010 and for two consecutive years saw attendance of more than 3 million might struggle to do much better than 2 million this season.

Disappointing customers is never good and the Twins know it. There are a lot of seats that aren’t going to be sold in the weeks ahead if the team doesn’t play much better. TV and radio audiences are in play, too. Just ask the NBA Timberwolves about low TV ratings during their many high-losses, low-wins seasons. Then, too, there are Twins’ revenue streams like advertising and corporate sponsorships that relate to the club having a competitive product.

Years ago the Twins routinely won division titles. Last year boosters celebrated finishing four games over .500. Boy, does that look good now—but first the club has to make the month of May an encore from 2015.

Worth Noting

Former Gopher and Twin Dave Winfield, who played much of his Major League Baseball career with the Padres, will be a celebrity spokesperson for this summer’s MLB All-Star Game in San Diego. Former Padre Trevor Hoffman will also join Winfield in that role helping to promote the game.

Ron Stolski has been coaching high school football for 54 years, including the last 40 at Brainerd. Until last week none of his players had ever been drafted by the NFL. Former Brainerd and North Dakota State offensive tackle Joe Haeg was drafted in the fifth round by the Colts last week.

Haeg, now 6-6, 305, became a weight room disciple at Brainerd. “I call it steel will,” Stolski said. “He was just driven.”

It will be interesting to see how many Minnesota prep basketball players still interest Tubby Smith now that he has left Texas Tech and is the new head coach at Memphis. Among Minnesota prospects in the class of 2017 is power forward Jericho Sims from Jesuit Rey High School in Minneapolis. Sims’ college offers include Tech and Minnesota. Sims is the son of former Gopher basketball player Charles Sims.

CORES will have Pete Najarian as its speaker Thursday, May 12 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. Najarian, the former Gopher who has made a national name as an options trader and CNBC personality, is a candidate for the Gophers’ athletic director vacancy. CORES reservations and more information are available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

The Gustavus Adolphus men’s tennis program continues to dominate the MIAC. The Gusties won their 28th-straight MIAC regular-season championship Sunday. The Gusties have won 260-straight regular-season conference matches. This season Gustavus is 9-0 in the MIAC and 22-7 overall.

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Don Lucia Expecting Contract Talks

Posted on March 16, 2016March 16, 2016 by David Shama

After this season Don Lucia has one year remaining on his contract as Gophers men’s hockey coach. He wants to continue indefinitely in the job he has held since 1999.

“Yeah, I would like to come back,” Lucia told Sports Headliners last week. “This is my 29th year as a head coach and I will be 58 this summer, but I still love what I do.”

If University of Minnesota officials don’t give Lucia a contract extension it will leave him in an awkward position this offseason and during the 2016-2017 schedule. Rival coaches can tell high school recruits the Gophers’ hockey future is in doubt. Minnesota’s assistant coaches and players will question the school’s commitment to the head coach.

Lucia doesn’t think that’s a direction he’s headed. “Yeah, I think after the season we’ll sit down and talk. We’ll see where the University is at and we’ll see where I am at, and what they want to do going forward.”

It’s not clear what direction University administrators will take. This is a time of transition in the athletic department with no permanent athletic director. Does University president Eric Kaler want interim athletic director Beth Goetz to make a recommendation soon on Lucia’s contract and future?

Maybe. Goetz was allowed an important hire last week when the Gophers named Ayo Taylor-Dixon a senior associate athletic director with responsibilities for department marketing, sales and service. Some observers find the hire curious believing such an important slot should be filled when a new AD is in place—but perhaps Kaler is already leaning toward naming Goetz for the position that has been open since last summer.

The Gophers entered this season with more wins (105) the last four seasons than any Division I men’s program. Minnesota also made program history by winning consecutive regular season league titles the last five years, with two championships in the WCHA and the last three in the Big Ten including in 2016.

The five straight titles ties Boston College (1994-1998) for the NCAA record for consecutive conference championships, but overall it’s been a somewhat mediocre season for Minnesota. The Big Ten record is 14-6 and for all games it’s 19-16, with inconsistency characterizing Minnesota’s play. Instead of being ranked among the nation’s elite in polls, the Gophers have struggled to be in the top 20.

Minnesota has a storied program with high expectations including national championships. Lucia’s teams won consecutive NCAA titles in 2002 and 2003 but none since. The Gophers did lose the national title game two years ago to Union. Lucia has long had his critics and the “chorus” has been loud this season.

Lucia can diminish criticism if his team qualifies for the NCAA Tournament and makes an impressive run toward the Frozen Four in April. The Gophers play in the Big Ten Tournament at Xcel Energy Center starting Friday night. The tourney winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers’ entry to the NCAA field will come only if they emerge as Big Ten Tournament champions on Saturday, because their overall resume isn’t worthy of an at-large selection based on the data used to select teams.

Lucia said “great goaltending” and defense are the most important elements in playoff hockey. He has one of the best NCAA freshman goalies in Eric Schierhorn. “We’ve proven that we can beat good teams, but we’re not a dominant team where we can play an average game and win,” Lucia said. “The guys understand that.”

Reality may well be the Gophers are better next season than now. Lucia is playing seven or eight freshmen most games, including Schierhorn. More experience will help younger players and so will becoming physically stronger. “Some of them need to make a step in the weight room and that can’t happen overnight,” Lucia said. “It’s gotta be in that offseason of physical training.”

There’s no doubt Lucia wants to coach next year’s team and others that follow. “I am at that point as long as you still enjoy what you’re doing, you want to continue to do it,” he said. “I think I am in good shape. I physically take care of myself. Some guys coach until they’re 70. I don’t think I’ll be doing that. I’d like to continue to do it for a few more years.”

No matter when the Gophers play their last game this season, Lucia will take a complete view of 2016-2017. “Do you want to try to win a national title? Sure you do. I am still disappointed we didn’t a couple years ago. Union did. I don’t judge any year on ‘did you win your last game?’ It’s difficult to win your last game. I judge more on did the kids get better? Did the kids have a positive experience and did we maximize our abilities?”

Academic achievement from his players is important, too. This year’s team has a cumulative GPA of 3.2. Lucia said that for many years only one player who stayed in the program four years hasn’t earned a degree.

Worth Noting

Lucia’s list of incentives with the University agreed to in 2012 rewards him with $30,000 for winning a regular season conference championship, $15,000 for a conference tournament title and the same amount for a Gophers’ invitation to the NCAA Tournament, plus $30,000 for an NCAA regional final, $50,000 for the Frozen Four and $75,000 for winning it.

The 10 candidates announced today for the 2016 Hobey Baker Memorial Award honoring college hockey’s top player are: JT Compher, Michigan; Kyle Connor, Michigan; Thatcher Demko, Boston College; Zac Lynch, Robert Morris; Alex Lyon, Yale; Tyler Motte, Michigan; Alex Petan, Michigan Tech; Andrew Poturalski, New Hampshire; Ethan Prow, St. Cloud State; Jimmy Vesey, Harvard. The 10 finalists were selected by voting from all 60 Division I college hockey head coaches and by online fan balloting.

As of yesterday Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith at No. 18 was Pro Football Talk’s highest ranked remaining NFL free agent without a contract or franchise tag. Smith is reportedly deciding between the Vikings and Cardinals.

Charles “Chip” Taylor, Jr. is the new Hamline head football coach replacing Chad Rogosheske who accepted the head job at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio to be nearer family. Taylor came to Hamline as defensive coordinator in 2013 when Rogosheske was named coach. Taylor’s resume includes summer internships with the NFL’s Cardinals and Chiefs.

The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame hosts its 9th annual Minnesota Football Honors event April 17 at the Hilton Minneapolis. Among those to be recognized for awards are: Jon Christenson, University of Minnesota, Stein-Fallon Scholar-Athlete; Casey O’Brien, Cretin-Derham Hall High School, Courage Award; Joshua Gordon, Minnesota State University, Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year Award; Mohamed Mahamud, Washburn High School, Stacy Robinson Leadership Award ($2,000 scholarship); Stan Nelson, Bud Grant Distinguished Minnesotan Award; Grady Rostberg, Hutchinson High School, John Gagliardi Legacy; Missy Strauch, Augsburg University, Fred Zamberletti Award; Gene McGivern, University of St. Thomas, Sid Hartman Media Award; Minnehaha Academy, Highlight of the Year Award; Caledonia Area High School, Minnesota Football Program of the Year Award; 1975 Stillwater High School state football champions, Murray Warmath Legendary Team Award.

The following high school scholar-athlete award winners receive $2,000 scholarships: Matthew Biegler, Underwood High School; Isaac Collins, Maple Grove High School; Cory Dixon, Patrick Henry High School; Andrew Haldeman, Harding High School; Ethan Ishaug, Barnesville High School; Kiefer Miller, Nevis High School; Conner Olson, Monticello High School; Elijah Rice, St. Michael-Albertville High School.

The event is open to the public and includes a social hour starting at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and the awards program. More at Minnesotafootballhonors.com.

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Here’s Help Forecasting NCAA Tourney

Posted on March 14, 2016March 14, 2016 by David Shama

Don’t overlook the University of Arkansas at Little Rock when filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket.

That’s the advice of former Gophers coach Jim Dutcher who has been studying tournament fields for 50 years. He predicts the Trojans, a No. 12 seed in the Midwest Region, will upset No. 5 seed Purdue in an opening round game this week. “They’re a real sleeper team,” Dutcher said about the 29-win Trojans.

Upsets are common during the first week of “March Madness” and there is a lot of parity in the field of 68 teams but only a handful are seen as potential Final Four entrants next month in Houston. Dutcher thinks the last four teams will be Kansas, Michigan State, North Carolina and Oklahoma. Kansas is the No. 1 overall tournament seed and Dutcher’s choice to win the national championship.

All four of his predicted finalists are either No. 1 or No. 2 seeds in their regions. “I really went out a limb,” he said.

North Carolina may have the most talented team in the tournament but Dutcher said there might be some glory coming for J.P. Macura and his Xavier teammates. The former Lakeville North guard is Xavier’s fifth leading scorer at 9.6 points per game. The Musketeers are the No. 2 seed in the East behind Carolina and if you’re looking for a mid-major to make a deep tournament run it could be the Musketeers. “Xavier is pretty good,” he said.

A problem for Macura and teammates, though, is the East Region is loaded with strong teams including Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. “I think the toughest route to the Final Four is out of the East,” Dutcher said.

California, the No. 4 seed in the South, has Dutcher’s attention. “Cal is playing really strong,” he said. “They have at least two No. 1 (NBA) draft choices.” Draftexpress.com predicts forward Jaylen Brown will be the third overall pick in the 2016 draft, with forward Ivan Rabb also a first rounder, and point guard Tyrone Wallace a second round choice.

Dutcher believes Iowa State has “got a chance” to be a surprise team in the Midwest but the Cyclones’ in-state rival Iowa isn’t likely to do much in the South. The Hawkeyes have lost five of their last six games and Dutcher said a problem is Iowa plays too many different defenses and doesn’t execute. “They don’t play great defense,” Dutcher said. “They just give up too many points.”

If pressed for a possible surprise team from the West Region, Dutcher goes with Texas A&M. The Aggies are a physical team and got a Final Four vote from college basketball authority Seth Davis on the CBS tournament selection show yesterday.

Worth Noting

The Gophers men’s basketball program has only qualified four times for the NCAA Tournament this century. Minnesota participated in 2013, 2010, 2009 and 2005, with a cumulative record of 1-4.

Coach Richard Pitino’s three-year Big Ten regular season record is 16-38. Minnesota was 2-16 this year, the most conference losses in school history.

The Gophers’ average attendance for the team’s 18 home games was 10,292. That’s the lowest since the 1970-1971 season, 8,395.

Ken Lien will announce the 2016 Mr. Basketball award winner at 5:15 p.m. on 1500 ESPN. The prediction here is the winner will be Amir Coffey from Hopkins High School.

The amazing Sid Hartman—who no longer drives a car but still writes multiple columns per week for the Star tribune and voices opinions six times weekly on WCCO Radio—has his 96th birthday tomorrow, March 15.

Does Jordan Schroeder sleep with a suitcase next to his bed? The 25-year-old forward and Lakeville, Minnesota native has been recalled from the Wild’s Iowa AHL team six times this season. The latest pack your bags notice came when Wild GM Chuck Fletcher announced Friday Schroeder was rejoining the team to fill a roster need. Schroeder, who has scored one goal in 16 games for the Wild, has been among the scoring leaders for Iowa where he has 34 points in 40 games.

P.J. Fleck, 35, is one of the most hyped young head football coaches in the country. Featured in Sports Illustrated last year, Fleck has impressed with his charisma while coaching at Western Michigan. He will be a headline speaker on March 31 at the annual Minnesota Football Coaches Association Clinic at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park.

While the clinic is annually attended mostly by high school coaches, new this year is the Youth Coaches Clinic April 1 and 2. Sessions on blocking and developing young quarterbacks will be among the offerings for coaches from youth football organizations. There will also be an opportunity to hear Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema speak to all MFCA Clinic attendees April 1. More at mnfootballcoaches.com.

Ron Stolski, executive director of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, is also head coach at Brainerd where this fall he will be in his 55th season of prep coaching.

Lovie Smith went to a Super Bowl and won NFC North Division championships coaching the Bears so the surprise announcement last week that he is the new Illinois head coach adds another prominent name to the Big Ten. With his NFL roots and known brand in Chicago, Smith can change Illini recruiting for the better but Ryan Burns thinks Notre Dame will still get “the cream of the crop.” Burns is publisher of Scout’s GopherDigest.com.

The Illini have fallen on hard times since a Rose Bowl appearance in 2008. Establishing a winning program will be needed to change recruiting, and that figures to take awhile. Still, Burns predicts improvement in Illinois recruiting for 2017.

“This (2017) will probably be Illinois’ best class in the last five years or so, just because Lovie is a big name,” Burns said. “But I don’t think they’ll be competing with the Penn States, the Michigan States of the world. Even the Minnesotas. If they were able to get on par with what Minnesota has been doing, I think that would be a pretty good jump for them, but I don’t think it will be dramatic.”

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