Twins – Page 139 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Twins Big Papi Loss Still Haunts

Posted on June 10, 2016June 10, 2016 by David Shama

During a season of bad memories for Twins fans, a “nightmare” is back at Target Field—presumably for the last time.

The “nightmare” has a name, David Ortiz. He and his Red Sox teammates play their only series in Minneapolis this weekend starting with tonight’s game and continuing through Sunday. The 40-year-old designated hitter has said this is his last Major League season. If so, local fans won’t be so “haunted” in the future by an All-Star slugger who could have had a dreamy career in this town.

In late August of 1996 the Twins acquired Ortiz in a trade with the Mariners for third baseman Dave Hollins. The move could have turned out to be the best ever made by general manager Terry Ryan. Ortiz was a minor league prospect and first baseman when he joined the Twins, but he participated in 15 big league games starting in 1997 and was with the club at least portions of each season through 2002. During his last year with the Twins he hit 20 home runs and drove in 75 runs.

In the 2002 offseason Ortiz was arbitration eligible and the Twins had to make a decision whether to pay him more money and keep him around. The club had veteran Doug Mientkiewicz at first base and in the minors there was a converted catcher prospect named Justin Morneau. The Twins decided to move on without Ortiz so the Red Sox signed the then first baseman.

Ryan has acknowledged he made a bad decision releasing Ortiz, while the Red Sox front office has been high-fiving from the beginning of the Ortiz era. His first season in Boston, he hit 31 home runs and drove in 101 runs. Perhaps the greatest hitter in Red Sox history except for the immortal Ted Williams, Ortiz has 519 career home runs. Only 21 big leaguers have ever hit more.

Ortiz has been a major contributor to the best run in Red Sox history starting in 2004. He has played on three World Series championship teams during that span and was the 2013 series MVP.

This season the Red Sox, 34-25, are contenders in the American League East. Guess who is leading the club in most major hitting categories? Yeah, it’s the old man who is batting the ball around ballparks so productively he is a candidate to win the Triple Crown.

Ortiz is hitting .338 with 16 home runs and 55 RBI. He ranks third in average, and fourth in home runs among American League hitters, and is first in RBI. He is also the league leader in slugging and on-base percentages.

In other words, the Twins still miss this guy even as he approaches his 41st birthday in November and makes a farewell tour of MLB parks. The Giants honored him in San Francisco earlier this week and the Twins will do the same this weekend.

Among Twins players who will have some of their last looks at the man nicknamed Big Papi is Miguel Sano. Too bad the 6-3, 230-pound Ortiz isn’t in a Twins uniform where he could mentor Sano. Both players are from the Dominican Republic. Sano is 22 years old and has Big Papi potential but his professional approach to his work is being questioned. As a Twin, Ortiz could have been a mentor, a major influence on Sano who has struggled learning to play right field and has seen his batting average fall drastically from last season’s .269.

Ortiz has shaped a good-guy image off the field. He has developed the David Ortiz Children’s Fund that assists kids in New England and the Dominican Republic with pediatric care. In 2011 he was honored with the Roberto Clemente Award given annually to a major leaguer who best represents the game on and off the field.

Yes, when the Twins parted ways with Ortiz they said goodbye to an eventual megastar and leader. But if you want to remember—and not forget him—here are a couple of suggestions. Show up at Target Field this weekend, or visit Bigpapi.com where his website celebrates “the end of an era with David Ortiz.” Memorabilia available for purchase ranges from coffee cups to bases.

Worth Noting

With a major league worst 17-40 record, the Twins aren’t headed for any championships this season but 25 years ago the franchise had a club that would win the 1991 World Series. That team started slow but took off in June with a season best month of 22-6.

Minnesota native Harvey Mackay and wife Carol Ann are in Louisville today for the Muhammad Ali memorial service. The two have been close friends of Ali, who died last week, and his spouse Lonnie Ali. The couples frequently enjoyed dinners together.

The service for Ali will be held at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville this afternoon with about 15,000 expected to attend and millions following the event around the world. Celebrities expected include Bill Clinton, Billy Crystal, Bryant Gumbel, Steve Wynn and heads of state.

The outpouring of sympathies extended to Lonnie and the Ali family has come from various parts of the world as media coverage reported the passing of a man whose popularity transcended his legendary boxing career. “In my lifetime I have never seen anything like the media explosion on his passing. He had the most recognizable face in the world,” said Mackay, a 1954 University of Minnesota graduate.

Mackay, who played golf for the Gophers before establishing Minneapolis-based Mackay Envelope and becoming a New York Times bestselling author, has drafted an article on Ali for his syndicated business column. The column focusing on lessons learned from Ali will be printed in a couple of weeks in various U.S. newspapers including the Star Tribune.

Timberwolves fans may do a double take when they next see Tyus Jones. The Minnesota native and Wolves point guard has changed his body, becoming more muscular with off-season training this spring in California.

The Minnesota Wild announced that $15,635 was raised as part of the event held at the BMO Harris Bank in Edina last month to help support people affected by the devastating wildfires around Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada. Wild players Erik Haula, Zach Parise, Jason Pominville, Nate Prosser, Jared Spurgeon and Jason Zucker signed autographs for fans who donated $50 and the Minnesota Wild Foundation is providing an additional $5,000 to the Red Cross. All proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross to support those affected by the wildfires in Alberta.

With free admission to the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am, the public is welcome to watch professional and amateur golfers at Southview Country Club in West St. Paul. The men’s event begins today, with competition continuing through Sunday. The women’s event will be Saturday and Sunday.

The men’s field includes last year’s champion Ryan Helminen who three times has won the tournament. Seven-time champ Don Berry and four-time winner Dave Tentis will also play. Two-time titlist Martha Nause is part of the women’s field.

For over 44 years the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am has been raising money to help people with developmental disabilities. The Tapemark has raised and donated more than $7 million to nonprofits serving the disabled and their families. More at Tapemarkgolf.org.

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Cheeseheads & More in Today’s Column

Posted on June 6, 2016June 6, 2016 by David Shama

Notes collected before, during and after a weekend trip to Appleton, Wisconsin for a family event:

I talked to two Vikings prior to departure last week—seeking reassurance Minnesotans are safe in Packerland. “They treat us well, as tough and as hard fought as the rivalry is,” safety Harrison Smith said. “For instance, my family went to the week 17 game last year and they had nothing but good things to say about Packer fans. The way they were treated not only before the game—but after we won the division (in Green Bay) they were very congratulatory.”

Tight end Kyle Rudolph had a simple message: “If you’re going to Appleton, my only advice is to make sure you stop by Lombardi’s and get that tomahawk steak. That’s the only good thing I know that’s in Appleton. …”

Lombardi’s is a steakhouse in the Radisson Hotel named after legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi. The Radisson is a road hotel for visiting teams like the Vikings. Rudolph isn’t sure, but he thinks the tomahawk is a rib-eye cut. Not only does he like eating there, but in a separate interview Smith also praised the food at Lombardi’s.

Harrison Smith (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings).

Smith talks to the media tomorrow about the five-year contract extension he has signed with the Vikings. Since his first NFL season in 2012, Smith is one of two NFL players (Reshad Jones, Dolphins) to have at least 12 interceptions and five sacks.

The Packers will play their first two regular season games on the road in 2016, then the next four at Lambeau Field. Their second road trip is to Minneapolis for the first ever regular season game in U.S. Bank Stadium against the Vikings. StubHub.com listed tickets yesterday starting at $275.

As the Packers practice this spring, potential bad news for Vikings’ pass blockers and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is that linebacker Clay Matthews is likely moving from the inside to his more natural position of outside linebacker. Personnel circumstances dictated Matthews on the inside in recent seasons but the mobile veteran linebacker has been taking a lot of snaps on the outside this spring where his speed can make a difference going after passers.

Vashti Cunningham, the daughter of former Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham, is the subject of a four-page feature in the June 6 issue of Sports Illustrated. The Nevada-based 18-year-old is “poised to become the world’s best high jumper,” according to the magazine.

Minneapolis businessman, author and former Gophers golfer Harvey Mackay was close to Muhammad Ali who died late last week. The two men bonded through their mutual love of magic tricks.

The first time they met Mackay travelled to Ali’s home in Michigan. “I went to a magician and brushed up on my magic before the trip,” Mackay remembered in a column I wrote two years ago. “When I met Ali I not only did a magic trick for him, but showed him how it was done. It was something that turned him on.”

It will be interesting to watch new Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle during the next 12 months. Here are a few key items:

How effectively does Coyle manage the crisis situations in the men’s basketball and wrestling departments?

If there are new coaches, who does Coyle hire?

The Gophers men’s hockey program is in the doldrums? What does Coyle do about coach Don Lucia having one more year on his contract?

Exceptional leaders have vision. What’s Coyle’s vision for the major revenue sports of men’s basketball, hockey, and football?

Can Coyle fast-track fundraising for the $166 million Gophers Athletes Village?

One more thought on Lucia: he has high regard for associate head coach Mike Guentzel. Wouldn’t it be interesting if the soon to be 58-year-old Lucia announces shortly before next season that he is retiring effective immediately and presumably creates a “tryout” for Guentzel to permanently become head coach.

Twins first baseman Joe Mauer makes $23 million this season as part of an eight-year deal he signed in 2010. With the Twins on pace to win perhaps 50 games and have the lowest attendance in Target Field history, the long criticized contract looks worse than ever. When judged by directly impacting the outcome of games and generating revenues for a team, Mauer could be baseball’s most overpaid player by season’s end.

The 16-40 Twins have won only six of 19 series of games against opponents so far this season.

Rookie center fielder Byron Buxton had three hits in yesterday’s home loss to the Rays. It was only the second time in his career for three hits in one game. Buxton is hitting .435 in the six games since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester.

With conjecture about the Timberwolves and Wild making playoff runs within a couple of years, optimistic local fans wonder if Minneapolis-St. Paul could some spring host both the NBA and NHL championships. That kind of speculation is prompted because of the Bay Area’s Warriors and Sharks being in the pro basketball and Stanley Cup finals. No one area has ever emerged as champions in both basketball and hockey in the same year. So if you want to dream big, muse about it happening in MSP during Hillary Clinton’s second-term as president. Umm, or is that Bernie Sanders?

Author Patrick Mader willl speak to the “Breakfast with Leroy” group Saturday at the Bloomington Knights of Columbus, 1114 American Blvd West. Mader wrote “Minnesota Gold: Conversations with Northland Athletes Competing on the World Stage.” Mader, whose book came out last October, profiles 57 Minnesotans, including past Olympians, and details their lives and accomplishments. A breakfast buffet starting at 9 a.m. precedes Mader’s remarks, with more information available by contacting Pat Rickert at 612-861-3981. Group attendees are mostly athletes from the Minneapolis public schools in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, many of whom went on to college and professional careers.

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Not So Fast Trading Trevor Plouffe

Posted on June 2, 2016June 2, 2016 by David Shama

It’s almost a local pastime to speculate whether the Twins should trade third baseman Trevor Plouffe. Fans critical of the organization and the team’s awful start this season are amped up about trading the 29-year-old who plays the same position as franchise savior Miguel Sano.

Miguel Sano (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins).

Sano, forced to play right field, literally stumbles around in his new position. The 22-year-old slugger has been trained to play third base but Plouffe, a seven-year veteran with the Twins, blocks his path to the infield.

What to do? Don’t panic is the best advice to the Twins. The club has a long list of needs including pitching and catching. The Twins haven’t been able to develop or acquire a No.1 starting pitcher, and the bullpen is an adventure almost every night, particularly with 33-year-old All-Star closer Glen Perkins injured and out indefinitely. As for catching, the near future for the position appears dismal with 32-year-old Kurt Suzuki failing at the plate again this year and no prospects in the organization looking like they can become the regular guy.

But the Twins, who have made a lot of bad moves in recent years, don’t need to make another poor one by giving away Plouffe who is no star but is productive at bat and in the field. Twins owner Jim Pohlad must decide whether he wants general manager Terry Ryan to lead an aggressive strategy regarding trades now or wait until the season is over. The Twins might be better served doing their best due diligence in the off-season.

Then, too, there could be new leadership in the baseball department by next fall. If that is the direction Pohlad leans, then it’s wiser to do nothing now in this wasted season and let the new baseball bosses decide on Plouffe and any other players the team may choose to move.

Worth Noting

Among players exciting Twins fans is Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy who is the subject of trade rumors. The 29-year-old would solve the Twins’ catching problems for years but has said he wants to play for a contender—and that’s not Minnesota with an MLB worst record of 15-37.

Orlando Arcia, younger brother of Twins right fielder Oswaldo Arcia, is a shortstop in the Brewers organization playing for Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Outfielder Adam Walker, who is with the Twins’ Triple-A Rochester farm club, is tied for second in home runs among International League players with 10, but has struck out 76 times in 157 at bats.

Logan Shore, the Coon Rapids native at the University of Florida, is one of 25 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award honoring college baseball’s best player, according to Floridagators.com. Shore is the SEC Pitcher of the Year for 2016.

Former Gophers baseball player Mike Handel is now an account executive with Minnetonka-based Signature Concepts. The company’s clients include the University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin.

Dick Jonckowski, the Gophers’ basketball and baseball public announcer, emceed banquets recently that helped raise over $650,000 for youth sports and health care. Jonckowski was in the Baltimore area last week for the Horsey Foundation’s banquet and golf outing that generated over $250,000. A week earlier, Jonckowski was in St. Louis at the request of national sportscaster Joe Buck. He emceed Buck’s banquet and also welcomed golfers at hole No. 5 as part of activities to raise over $400,000 for St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Jonckowski, who for years has emceed events in various parts of the country, just finished his 28th season as the Gophers’ baseball public address announcer. This fall will be his 31st season handling P.A. work for men’s basketball.

Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph expects his team to keep its blue-collar work ethic after last season’s success in winning the NFC North for the first time since 2009. “That’s how we are. That’s how we’re going to play,” Rudolph told Sports Headliners. “I feel like a lot of teams try to get away from their identity based on what’s popular in the NFL, and we know that’s our identity and we have to stick to it.”

The Vikings are practicing now at Winter Park as they prepare for training camp and the 2016 season. Will next season’s team have a collective chip on its shoulder after last January’s blown opportunity to defeat the Seahawks in the playoffs?

Rudolph expects the Vikings to play with an edge, but not because of that first round loss. “…If you don’t play with a chip on your shoulder, you’re not going to fit in here because that’s a style that we play with. We play with that blue-collar, hard-working attitude, and that’s just a mindset that we have to bring each and every day.”

Vikings rookie wide receiver Moritz Boehringer will meet the public from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Fan HQ store located in the Eden Prairie Center. Twins relief pitcher Trevor May will be at the Fan HQ location at Ridgedale from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday. More specifics about both appearances including costs are available at Fanhqstore.com.

Boehringer is the first player ever drafted directly from Europe by an NFL team. He was selected by the Vikings this spring in the sixth round (180th overall). As a middle innings reliever, May is 0-2 with a 5.13 ERA but has struck out 40 batters in 26.1 innings.

WCCO TV’s David McCoy and ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling recently reported on a horse racing ownership group that has Vikings connections with offensive guard Brandon Fusco, offensive coordinator Norv Turner, quarterbacks coach Scott Turner and radio play-by-play announcer Paul Allen. The group bought Tiger D for $16,000 earlier this year and watched the five-year-old finish fourth in its debut race at Canterbury Park last Friday night, according to Goessling’s story posted yesterday.

Happy birthday to ex-North Stars player and executive Lou Nanne who turns 75 today.

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