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Jack Morris to Twins: Get It Right Now

Posted on May 6, 2018May 6, 2018 by David Shama

The Twins are 8-15 in their last 23 games. They are 4-12 since April 20 and have an overall record of 12-17.

Jack Morris, the former Twins pitcher who will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, is concerned about his old team. Talking to Sports Headliners last week before the Twins went to Chicago for their weekend series against the White Sox, he spoke about the danger of losing too many games too early in the season.

“You remember two years ago, they lost the season in April,” Morris said. “They were out. They were so far behind (in the division standings) they lost their season in April.

“You don’t win a season in April but you can lose one. If they continue this (tailspin) for another week or two, it’s going to be another lost season. They’ve got to get out of it right now.”

The 2016 Twins finished with a 59-103 record. Minnesota’s April record that year was 7-17, followed by 8-19 and 10-17 the next two months. The first winning month of the season came in July with a 15-11 record.

Morris acknowledged how losing can impact players psychologically. “I think you start thinking about it. It’s human nature to start dwelling on what’s wrong instead of what can work. …”

The Twins finish a four-game series with the White Sox today. Minnesota needs a win to avoid a series split in the games that are part of a 10-game, 11-day road trip.

Morris hopes the Twins are getting ready to start a long winning streak. He reminded an interviewer that during a 162-game season, teams experience weeks of both winning and losing streaks, while the rest of the time “they grind it out.”

“There’s an old saying,” Morris said. “You’re going to win 50 (games and) you’re going to lose 50. What you do with the other 62 is what matters.”

Miguel Sano (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins).

It’s been the Twins’ misfortune to have injuries sideline their best pitcher, Ervin Santana, center fielder Byron Buxton, catcher Jason Castro and third baseman Miguel Sano. Jorge Polanco, the team’s starting shortstop in 2017, is missing the first 80 games of the season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

Being without core players is a challenge but so, too, is lack of consistency from the pitching staff. That inconsistency is exemplified by 23-year-old potential ace Jose Berrios who managed a win Friday night by lasting six innings and giving up four runs. In an April 12 start against the White Sox Berrios was sharper, throwing seven shutout innings while allowing only three hits and striking out 11 batters.

Morris offered this evaluation of Berrios prior to the right hander’s latest start: “Well, you know, it’s funny. He’s been two different guys so far this year. He was a dominant guy. He came out like a lion the first couple games. Then the last two games he hasn’t had his velocity. He has been tailing his breaking ball, which hasn’t been very consistent, and hasn’t been able to locate it, and so that puts him in a hole again.

“I don’t know if he has the strength to be that lion that he was the first time throughout the whole year or not. But he certainly seems to be going with more breaking balls that aren’t as effective the last couple times.”

In the first inning of Berrios’ Friday night start he gave up three hits including a two-run home run to Jose Abreu. Twins TV analyst Roy Smalley echoed Morris’ comments saying he believes Berrios sometimes“gets away from his fast ball way too soon.”

Morris pitched in 549 big league games, most of them for the Tigers. He knows that even the top pitchers don’t always have their best stuff but that’s where they need to be creative and determined enough to still win.

When Morris looks at Berrios, he sees a pitcher trending upward in his third big league season. Perhaps a pitcher that some day could be in the conversation for the Cy Young Award. “Well, you know the way he pitched the first couple games he was almost unhittable,” Morris said. “His stuff is way above average when he is on.

“The more he wins, the confidence level and the focus gets sharper. You cannot tell anybody that until they have experienced it themselves. …Then you can be creative on the days when you don’t have your stuff.”

Morris had confidence and grit including his memorable Game Seven that carried the Twins to their World Series championship in 1991 against the Braves. It was a highlight experience for the St. Paul native who won 254 big league games pitching for the Tigers, Twins, Blue Jays and Indians.

Morris receives the ultimate personal award this summer with his induction into the Hall of Fame. The ceremony will culminate a baseball life that goes back to being a six-year-old with big dreams. Morris recalled riding home from a Twins game at Met Stadium and saying this to his mom:

“Some day I am going to play in the big leagues for the Minnesota Twins.

“She grabbed my arm and kind of hugged me and squeezed me, and said, ‘Well you just keep dreaming.’

“I said, ‘No, mom, I am serious. I am going to.’ ”

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Vikings Expectations Still on Rise

Posted on April 26, 2018April 26, 2018 by David Shama

Offseason optimism about the Vikings ranks with the highest in franchise history and tonight’s NFL Draft will only add to the hype. After last season’s 13-3 season and near Super Bowl, the Vikings can add a first round draft choice tonight at No. 30 and eight total selections over the next two days of the draft.

Count 16-year Vikings radio play-by-play man Paul Allen among those passionate about the 2018 team. He believes this is a franchise that can play with and defeat the NFL’s best. “Given that they upgraded at the quarterback spot and they’re going to get the return of Dalvin Cook, yeah, I believe it’s a better team already, and I really like some things I think they’re going to do in the draft,” he told Sports Headliners.

Allen agrees with the prevailing prediction the Vikings are likely to focus on offensive line prospects in the draft but adds that because general manager Rick Spielman has such a talented team he doesn’t have to be “desperate” and can select the best player available regardless of position. There certainly is no road map for NFL teams drafting over the next three days and that’s why general managers may have 50 scenarios of what can play out on their selection boards.

“…I’ve hammered so many different scenarios over the last three days,” Spielman said on Tuesday. “I can’t tell you all weekend how much film we watched and how many scenarios we have put ourselves in. Not only at 30, but if we trade back (later rounds) these players are available. Are we just as happy getting one of these players and another pick?

“We went through scenarios through to the bottom of the second and bottom of the third round right now. That’s the exciting part because you don’t know what you’re going to experience because it seems like you experience something new every year.”

Spielman made Kirk Cousins the NFL’s highest paid quarterback during the offseason, replacing Case Keenum who went to Denver. Cousins has never played on successful playoff teams but aspirations are for that to change in Minneapolis. What’s it like to be on a team with such high expectations?

“It is what it is,” Cousins said. “I don’t want to be on a team with low expectations, do I? I think that it’s part of being in this league. There is pressure on everybody. It would be immature for us to focus on the expectations.

“I am just focused on being the best quarterback I can be today. …The rest will take care of itself, and if we do our job each and every day, and having the best OTAs we can have, then the results that everyone is looking to see and care about in the fall, those will take care of themselves.”

Cousins and his teammates and coaches have been getting acquainted at the Vikings’ practice facility. What are first impressions about them and the organization? “It’s the real deal,” he said. “I wasn’t fooled on the free agency visit; what I saw then has been the truth. There’s no aloof personalities in the locker room, everybody has been very down to earth, there’s humility there.

“There’s a formula here for success. I sit in the team meetings and I see the organization. I see the attention to detail. I see the professionalism and it’s no surprise why they were successful last year, and it’s no surprise why I wanted to be here. I’m very, very impressed with what I’ve seen, but at the same time was expecting all along.”

The Vikings had an NFL Rookie of the Year candidate last season in running back Dalvin Cook but he tore his ACL in week four. In a smart move in last year’s draft, Spielman moved up in the second round selection process to secure Cook who veteran pro football writer Peter King predicted would be one of the NFL’s five best running backs by late October.

Cook is expected to make a full recovery from surgery, participate in summer training camp and be ready for the opening game in September against the 49ers. Vikings head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman has been working with Cook through the rehab process, just as he did several years ago with Adrian Peterson when he recovered from a torn ACL.

“Yes, we took some of that stuff that we did with Adrian and transferred it right to Dalvin who really has attacked his rehab with the same approach that Adrian did, and hopefully he will have the same success at the end of the day,” Sugarman told Sports Headliners.

Peterson wowed observers with his determination during rehab and Sugarman sees a similar attitude with Cook. “He (Cook) does have unbelievable spark. The thing to me is that ACL rehab is tough because it’s nine months. It gets boring. It’s tedious.

“There’s not a day that he didn’t walk in this building, or Winter Park, with a without a smile on his face. Just a pleasure to work with. Been fun to watch him go from injury to rehab, to now on the field, and hopefully scoring touchdowns in the future.”

Worth Noting

Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph said teammate and wide receiver Michael Floyd is still living with Rudolph and his family in Minnesota, but also spends time in Scottsdale, Arizona. “He’s back and forth,” Rudolph said.

High school football games will be played at the Vikings’ newly opened Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in Eagan. Would Eden Prairie, the defending Class 6A champions and coached by Mike Grant, be a target for the first game there ever? Grant, son of legendary Vikings head coach Bud Grant, said he hasn’t been contacted.

Because the Eagles play only four home games, Grant said it’s difficult to give one up. The games are important, he explained, to “so many people” at the school and in the community. The home games also impact revenues through the booster club and ticket sales.

Condolences to the family and friends of Twin Cities native Mark Merrill who died earlier this month. The former Kellogg High School athlete was a second team All-Big Ten tackle for the Gophers in 1977.

Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners tickets remain for all Twins’ home games including the anticipated series with the Angels June 8, 9 and 10 when rookie sensation Shohei Ohtani may pitch.

Media reports are that a signed Ohtani rookie collector card is valued at over $6,000. The Japanese phenom has impressed this spring as both a pitcher and designated hitter.

St. Peter said among similar size cities, only Mobile, Alabama will have more National Baseball Hall of Famers than St. Paul when Jack Morris is inducted this summer. Morris joins St. Paulites Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield in the hall. Mobile has five enshrined in Cooperstown including all-time home run leader Hank Aaron.

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Wolves Can Adjust on James Harden

Posted on April 17, 2018April 17, 2018 by David Shama

A Tuesday notes column with predictions on the Wolves and Wild, plus voices in support of youth football, items on MLB and the Twins, and more.

An NBA authority with decades of experience in the league has suggestions on how the Timberwolves can defend the Rockets’ James Harden who scorched them for 44 points on 15 of 26 shooting including 7 of 12 three pointers in his team’s Game One playoff win Sunday night.

“First thing I’d do is pick up full court (defensively on the Rockets)—not to steal the ball but to use up clock,” said the source who didn’t want his name identified.

The strategy is to take time off the 24-second shot clock, perhaps forcing the Rockets to use eight seconds or so to move the ball into the front court while eliminating time for Harden and the Rockets to set up their offense, including extra ball movement or dribbling. “He’s a hell of a player and great shooter,” the authority said of Harden who led the NBA in points per game during the regular season at 30.4.

Another suggestion is overplaying Harden to either his right or left, forcing him to move in the direction determined by the Wolves defender. As a strategy, other Wolves defenders stay alert to helping on Harden and with two men on him the superstar point guard may give up the ball to teammates or force a difficult shot. The source said this can also eliminate fouling and sending Harden to the free throw line (nine attempts, seven made, most of any player Sunday).

The Rockets had the best regular season record in the NBA, while the Wolves qualified in the last game for the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference. Although there is minimal optimism about the Wolves’ chances against Houston, the Sports Headliners source thinks the best of seven series could go to the final game with the Rockets winning.

“They’re (the Wolves) better than their season record. …They have good young talent and are well coached,” the source said.

A Wild win tonight at home against the Jets evens the series at 2-2. A hockey source, who before the playoffs predicted Minnesota will lose in six games, described tonight’s matchup as a “momentum game.” A Wild win could mean Minnesota goes seven games against the Jets but a loss puts the team down 3-1 in the series and headed back to Winnipeg for Friday night’s game.

Give the Wild credit for showing fight Sunday night at the Xcel Energy Center. Not only was Minnesota down 2-0 in the series but fell behind 1-0 in the game. “The Jets tried to play physical but the Wild didn’t back down,” said the source.

The most interesting angle tonight could be if Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck—after being pulled during Sunday night’s 6-2 loss—plays with confidence. That was his first ever road playoff game.

The Wild probably generated $2 million or more from revenues at Sunday night’s home game, and projects to do the same tonight.

Bob Motzko (photo courtesy of Minnesota Athletic Communications)

Bob Motzko, named the Golden Gophers’ new hockey coach in late March, hasn’t announced who will be on his staff. He will do the “Let’s Play Hockey” call tonight before the Wild-Jets game.

There were legislative initiatives earlier this year in the states of Illinois and New York that would ban tackle football for children younger than 12—citing concerns over head injuries. From Hollywood to Hoboken, much has been said and written about the dangers of head injuries from football, a sport under attack in America.

Supporters, though, point to information showing other activities, including cheerleading, have caused more head injuries among youth. They also talk about the virtues and lessons learned from what many educators regard as the ultimate team sport.

The Minnesota Football Coaches Association and Minnesota State High School League are promoting an event May 5 at Mounds View High School called the Minnesota Football Summit. The purpose is to “develop a plan for short and long range action steps to benefit youth and high school participants and programs throughout Minnesota.” Youth and prep football coaches, and athletic directors, are encouraged to attend. More at Mnfootballcoaches.com.

Former Viking and St. Paul native Matt Birk, now a consultant for the NFL, told Sports Headliners that the Illinois and New York initiatives have failed. He believes “states can find bigger things they can focus on.” He speaks from experiences in high school, college and the pros when supporting his sport.

“Football is such a great game,” Birk said. “It has so much to offer young people. We don’t need to make any apologies.

“Of course we’re always going to try to make it better and safer. …I think it’s just fine for the most part the way it is. We need to make sure people know that the reason why you play football is because it’s great for the overall development of kids. You can learn a lot of things that will serve you well for the rest of your life.”

Birk has a nine-year-old son who played tackle football for the first time last fall. “He had a great time. He loves football. He loves being out there with his friends.”

Birk said his eight-year-old son asks almost every day if he can play football when he turns nine. The answer will be yes because Birk sees it as his responsibility to encourage kids to participate in activities they are enthusiastic about.

The NFL promotes co-ed flag football programs for ages 9-10 and 11-12, and 13-14 for boys, and 13-14 for girls. “Anything that gets kids involved with football is great,” Birk said. “There should be options for kids. If you want to play flag, they can play flag. If you want to play tackle, play tackle. …We have an obesity epidemic in this country. If kids want to do stuff, then gosh dang, we should find a way for them to do it.”

Birk said it would have been nice to see Case Keenum rewarded with a new and richer contract for his role in last season’s success, but the Vikings obviously identified new quarterback Kirk Cousins as an upgrade “which he may be.” The Vikings have a window of opportunity with a talented roster. “It seems like everything is there,” Birk said. “Kind of going all in right now to push for a Super Bowl run.”

A sports industry source was told the Twins, as the host team in the two-game Puerto Rico series against the Indians that starts tonight, are guaranteed by MLB the sum of their average Target Field game revenues. That figure could be about $1.3 million per game in Minneapolis, or for two games against the Indians in San Juan a total of $2.6 million, plus expenses.

Look for MLB to improve its April scheduling next year with northern teams likely to have fewer home dates the first two weeks of the month. Half of MLB’s 30 teams are either located in warm weather cities, or have domes.

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