Twins – Page 177 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

No Decision on Webb as Viking WR

Posted on May 10, 2013May 14, 2013 by David Shama

Quoting Vikings’ general manager Rick Spielman after a one-on-one interview earlier this week:

On Joe Webb playing wide receiver, not quarterback: “We’ll look at a lot of different options. Coaches will make that decision on where he finally ends up, but I know we’ll experiment and do a lot of different things. That’s why you’re in this offseason program now.”

Background: Webb, 26, has been practicing his catching skills this spring and is expected to play wide receiver in the team’s organized practices during May. Although Webb has three seasons of NFL practice and game experience at quarterback, his size, 6-4, 220, and athleticism make him an interesting experiment at wide receiver, a position he played at times in college. It’s an opportunity created too by the acquisition of veteran quarterback Matt Cassel who is the No. 2 quarterback now, not Webb.

Spielman on quarterback Christian Ponder who came out of a slump and helped lead the then 6-6 Vikings to a 10-6 record and the playoffs: “We saw that last year (a step forward). The biggest thing was for him to start out strong, to go through his slump…but to be able to come out of that and then lead us. We had Adrian Peterson who had a phenomenal year, but give a lot of credit to Christian with what he was able to do through those last four games, especially two very tough places to go play on the road (St. Louis and Houston).”

Background: The Vikings like the presence of having nine year veteran Cassel around Ponder to help as a mentor. Ponder is the team’s No. 1 quarterback and his continued development begins any list of whether the Vikings can win the NFC North, or even qualify for the playoffs again.

Spielman on building a championship team: “We’re feeling we’re trying to do everything we think is right to bring in the right players. We feel very confident and excited about the coaching staff, and with coach (Leslie) Frazier and everything they’re able to do and bring. So just like everybody else, we’re definitely trying to build a championship team or else we wouldn’t be doing this.”

Background: Spielman said this time of year every team in the NFL has championship ambitions and he’s right. The Vikings haven’t won a division title since 2009 and bottomed out in 2011 with a 3-13 record. The franchise has made astute draft choices to rebuild the roster and create competitiveness among players. The Vikings have also given new contracts to retain core players in offensive tackle Phil Loadholt, wide receiver Jerome Simpson and linebacker Erin Henderson, although they did lose veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield this offseason. But the Vikings are on the rise in accumulating young, talented players while keeping most of their best veterans.

Spielman on whether the political views of Chris Kluwe were a factor in releasing the nine year veteran punter: “…I have the utmost respect for Chris and his outspokenness — that he has the courage to get out there and speak his mind. That has nothing to do with the evaluation on what we’re trying to do as a football team. So that’s two totally different, separate entities, and what he does outside of our building, more power to him. …That’s his right as a U.S. citizen.”

Background: Kluwe’s replacement, 2013 fifth round draft choice Jeff Locke, will earn a lot less compensation than Kluwe, and that had to be a consideration by the Vikings. The Vikings will also have a punter in Locke who is eight years younger than Kluwe. At UCLA, Locke did his punting outdoors while Kluwe, playing at Mall of America Field and other domes, did a lot of indoor kicking. In 2014 and 2015 the Vikings will be playing outdoors at TCF Bank Stadium. Perhaps Locke gained favor for that reason, too.

Spielman on Kluwe punting outdoors and the decision on replacing him with Locke: “I think he (Kluwe) can punt outdoors. He’s just been a little inconsistent. I know the way our roster is shaping up and understanding where we’re going to be two, three, four years from now, it was a unique opportunity to get a young punter. ..Just a little bit a part of our youth movement, and understanding the financial situation with Chris. It’s just all purely based on football and trying to make the best football decisions you can make.”

Worth Noting

My reaction will be extreme surprise if plans announced next Monday regarding design of the Vikings’ stadium includes a retractable roof. It seems improbable with the limitations of the $975 million budget — and now uncertainty regarding projected revenues for the state’s share of $348 million — that the project can include a retractable roof.

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, the Vikings and HKS Sports will announce details regarding design of the multi-purpose stadium Monday night at a MSFA board meeting at the Guthrie Theater. Expect the stadium plan to include creative ways to allow light into the building even though the roof will be fixed.

This week the Steelers signed veteran offensive tackle Guy Whimper. Not exactly a made-for-Hollywood football name. Vikings’ general manager Rick Spielman was asked light-heartedly if he would sign a player with that name.

“Actually he’s a very good player,” Spielman said. “In our business we don’t pay very much attention to names. We just pay attention if they can play or not.”

Schedulemakers from the two conferences sent the Gophers a message when the matchups were announced on Wednesday for next season’s Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The matchmakers don’t think the Gophers will be an exceptional team, and delivered the same message to Florida State, Minnesota’s opponent for the Tuesday, December 3 game at Williams Arena.

Not that Gophers’ season ticket holders aren’t at least somewhat appreciative to have a power conference team on the home nonconference schedule that is typically filled with the likes of American, Lafayette and Tennessee State. It’s just that a yawn can be excused since the schools have played against each other four times (2-2) in the 14 year history of the Challenge.

The Gophers will have to become a Big Ten title contender to command a game against legendary ACC schools like Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse but even a game in 2014 against Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and North Carolina State would be more fun than another matchup against the Seminoles.

The surprising Twins, now over .500 with a 16-15 record, won three of four games in Boston this week and will play the Red Sox in Minneapolis May 17-19.

The Twins will see their former shortstop, J.J. Hardy, when they play the Orioles in a three-game series starting tonight at Target Field. The Twins traded Hardy in 2010 and never have replaced his offensive production at shortstop. He has six home runs this season, more than any Twins player.

The Twins have parted with several players in recent years who would be major assets to the club. A list can start with outfielders Carol Gomez, Torri Hunter and Michael Cuddyer. Gomez leads MLB in hitting at .386, Hunter is fifth in the American League at .344 and Cuddyer is among NL leaders at .319.

Former Twins’ first baseman David Ortiz has impressive numbers for the Red Sox in limited plate appearances (68), hitting .353 with a .662 slugging percentage. Wilson Ramos, who would give the Twins needed catching and bench depth, has often shown a good bat since joining the Nationals in 2011.

Collective earned run averages for Twins’ starting pitchers have ranked high this spring but ex-Twin Kevin Slowey has surprised with a 1.81 ERA and 1-2 record for the Marlins.

Productive moves by Twins’ general manager Terry Ryan in the last two off seasons have included adding pitchers Jared Burton and Kevin Correia, catcher Ryan Doumit, outfielder Josh Willingham, and 2012 draft choice Byron Buxton (outfield). Ryan is rebuilding the club in his second tenure as GM.

Augsburg’s football team defeated a Canadian foe 78-6 in an exhibition game in Winnipeg last weekend. It was the Auggies’ third international football game in school history having previously been to Canada and New Zealand.

The Hobey Baker dinner on May 22 at 317 On Rice Park in St. Paul is a near sellout. The event will honor 2013 Hobey Baker winner Drew LeBlanc and Legend of Hockey recipient Jeff Sauer. More at Hobeybaker.com.

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Tailgating Lot Planned for U Students

Posted on April 29, 2013April 29, 2013 by David Shama

Covering the Gophers’ spring football game on Saturday:

Gophers’ executive associate athletics director David Benedict told Sports Headliners the University of Minnesota will designate a parking lot just for students as an incentive to increase ticket sales for football games this season.

Last week athletic department officials met with 55 student leaders representing various groups to talk about the idea. Benedict also said the student season ticket sale will begin next month. Student season ticket totals have been declining in recent years despite the move of football to campus from the Metrodome.

Last year the department contracted with the Aspire Group to sell tickets. Benedict said Aspire has sold approximately $1 million in tickets since last September, including 600 new football season tickets.

He also said the department hosted 100 potential purchasers of premium football seating at Saturday’s spring game. Those seating areas include suites and outdoor locations.

The Gophers had a large turnout of high school prospects on Saturday but Washburn High School running back Jeff Jones, who has verbally committed to play for Minnesota, didn’t attend the game. The junior recruit was playing in a basketball tournament.

GopherIllustrated.com reported three-star quarterback Dimonic McKinzy from Kansas City, Kansas, committed to the Gophers on his unofficial visit to campus last weekend.

Among those in the crowd of several thousand spectators at the game were University president Eric Kaler and members of the Board of Regents. After being told the Gophers’ opening game at TCF Bank Stadium on August 29 will be played at the same time as the Vikings’ final preseason game at Mall of America Field, a regent said: “I am not happy about it.”

The Gophers’ game has long been scheduled for that date but the Vikings finalized their date earlier this spring.

Gophers coach Jerry Kill said he didn’t allow more than a dozen players to participate in the spring game including two of his best defensive players, senior tackle Ra’Shede Hageman and senior safety Brock Vereen. Hageman is a consensus pick as the team’s top NFL draft prospect. “Brock Vereen is, in my opinion, one of the better secondary players in the Big Ten,” Kill said.

Kill told his players after the game he was proud of their spring efforts and he “loved” them. He urged players to be accountable in their off-field activities including attending class.

Later he told the media: “You go to bed every night worrying about something. Nothing is ever perfect.”

This week the Gophers, who have now completed their 15 spring practices, will hear about mental toughness from motivational speakers Kill has asked to address the team.

A replay of the spring game will be shown on the Big Ten Network starting at 7 p.m. tonight.

Worth Noting

Jim Dutcher followed with interest the recent University of Minnesota hiring of assistant basketball coach Kimani Young who many years ago was arrested for possession of 96 pounds of marijuana. In 2007 the University wouldn’t allow the hiring of assistant coach Jimmy Williams who decades before had allegedly been involved with NCAA rules violations at Minnesota.

“That was a gutsy move (hiring Young) after the way they treated Jimmy Williams — and I fully support it because I always believe in giving people second chances,” said Dutcher who had Williams on his staff in the 1970s and 1980s when he was the Gophers’ head coach.

Dutcher expects Michigan State and Michigan to be favorites to win the Big Ten title next season. He also said the hiring of young head coaches at Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern and Rutgers could change the style of play in the league, moving away from the “grind it out” offenses to faster play.

Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire has sold his home in Little Canada for $751,000.00, according to a Bizjournals.com story on Friday. Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal also reported the sales price was $1,100.00 more than the initial asking price in February.

After yesterday’s 5-0 win over the Rangers, the Twins are above .500 in both overall record (11-10) and at Target Field (7-6). Starting pitcher Kevin Correia shutout the Rangers for eight innings. He’s the only Twins’ pitcher in history to start his career with five straight outings of seven innings or more.

Twins’ second baseman Brian Dozier is batting .364 in eight games as the team’s leadoff hitter. He has reached base in 10 consecutive games.

Watch Twins’ farm players like Chris Colabello (six home runs) and Clete Thomas (.340 average) when Triple-A Rochester hosts Buffalo starting at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday in a MLB Network telecast.

Paul Allen, the radio play-by-play voice of the Vikings, will speak to the C.O.R.E.S. group on Thursday, May 9 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington. Allen is also a radio talk show host on KFAN and track announcer at Canterbury Park. Anyone interested in attending the luncheon and program can contact Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

Canterbury Park is the only location in the state where there is legalized wagering for this Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. Admission is free at the Shakopee facility where live horse racing returns on Friday, May 17.

WCCO Radio’s Dave Lee has been honored with awards from both the Associated Press and the Northwest Broadcast News Association for his play-by-play broadcast of the St. Thomas and UW-Oshkosh football playoff game last year.

Dave Mona, public relations executive with Weber Shandwick-Minneapolis, was honored by Minnesota Business Magazine last week as part of its power 50 list. Mona is retiring from the international public relations agency on July 1 but will consult for the company.

Weber Shandwick announced this month that it has added the Big Ten Conference to its client list. Mona said much of the work will be done by Weber Shandwick in Chicago.

When the Blue Jackets didn’t qualify for the playoffs, it probably cost Columbus coach and former Wild coach Todd Richards a realistic opportunity to win the NHL Coach of the Year award.

Tim Leiweke, the former Timberwolves marketing executive, has been hired in Toronto to run Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. He will have NBA, NHL and facility responsibilities.

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Mauer Turns 30 with Critics & Admirers

Posted on April 19, 2013April 19, 2013 by David Shama

Joe Mauer’s 30^th birthday is today. A cynic might suggest the Twins’ catcher will receive more well wishes from across the country than here in Minnesota.

“He’s under appreciated in his own market,” said Dave Mona, co-host of WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle. “Talk shows rip on him all the time.”

The rant over Mauer is about his $23 million salary, minimal home run production and the losing ways of his team. In 2009 his future with the Twins was uncertain until he signed a contract that puts him among a half dozen or so of the best paid players in major league baseball.

Mauer’s critics argue the hometown hero makes the list of baseball’s best paid players but he isn’t a top five player. Some baseball authorities wouldn’t even grant Mauer No. 1 status among catchers, preferring the Giants’ Buster Posey or the Cardinals’ Yadier Molina.

But how is it fair to blame Mauer for having leverage with the Twins back in 2009 to command one of baseball’s richest contracts? “I do believe the Twins had to sign him to a large contract because they were moving into a new ballpark and needed the fan base to be on board that they were going to build a winner,” said a sports marketing authority who spoke anonymously.

In two of their three seasons at Target Field the Twins have finished last in the Central Division. While injuries sidelined Mauer for much of the disastrous 2011 season (99 losses), he came back last year to play in 147 games and the team still lost almost 100 games. Mauer doesn’t deserve blame for a franchise whose front office let the talent pool dry up, led by a pitching staff that nosedived to among the worst in baseball.

Home runs? The casual fan looks at the 6-5, 230-pound Mauer and wonders why has he hit only 22 home runs during the last three seasons, including just 10 last year in 545 at bats. “I know people want more home runs and I think he could do it,” said Gophers’ assistant baseball coach Rob Fornasiere. “But that’s not who he is.”

Fornasiere said that in over 30 years of high school recruiting in Minnesota Mauer is the best player he’s seen, and the former Cretin-Derham Hall three-sport star has the same beautiful batting swing he had as a sophomore. “From a mechanical standpoint he’s just so consistent,” Fornasiere said.

Mauer has been in birthday celebration mode this week. After consecutive four hit games on Monday and Tuesday nights, he is on a nine game hitting streak — .462 average with two home runs and seven RBI. The hitting party has raised his batting average for the season to .386.

This week Mauer looks like the hitter who batted .365 in 2009, whacking balls up the middle, finding the gaps in the outfield, and sending balls into the left field corner. His batting average that season was the highest ever for a major league catcher. He led the American League in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage — something no catcher had ever done before in MLB history.

Mauer has three batting titles since his big league career began in 2004. He won the AL MVP Award in 2009. Coming into this season he had the highest batting average in the major leagues since 2006 (.328) and his on-base percentage of .411 was fourth best.

For those who study baseball, Mauer’s prowess hitting the ball is even more remarkable because of the position he plays. Catching is the most physically demanding position on the field. It’s a punishing job squatting behind the plate, subjecting legs to constant stress while hands, fingers and other body parts are targets for foul tips.

Mauer has always liked being back of the plate, helping to dictate the game. His knowledge about opposing hitters helps get the most out of the Twins’ pitching staff, and his strong throwing arm is a deterrent to base runners.

Spoken like a career baseball man, Fornasiere said good baseball teams are built on quality position players in the middle of the field starting with the catcher. “There’s not a team that wouldn’t take him (Mauer),” Fornasiere said.

If critics don’t like Mauer, then Fornasiere probably has it right when he said, “You’re dealing with other people’s expectations.” Those who admire Mauer have their own expectations about him including one day seeing him inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

“He’s already done things no other catcher in the history of baseball has done,” said Mona.

And Mauer is only 30 years old.

Worth Noting

A ceremony Sunday at Siebert Field will recognize Gophers’ baseball coach John Anderson for his 500^th career Big Ten win last weekend at Northwestern, according to assistant Minnesota coach Rob Fornasiere. Anderson, who started coaching the Gophers in 1982, is the all-time winningest Big Ten baseball coach — 87 wins ahead of retired Ohio State coach Bob Todd and 205 more than ex-Minnesota coaching legend Dick Siebert. Fornasiere said that since the fall of 1981 there have been 37 head baseball coaches in the Big Ten.

The Gophers play a series against Michigan State at Siebert Field this weekend including Sunday’s game starting at 1:05 p.m. Fornasiere said the Spartans’ leadoff hitter and center fielder is freshman Cam Gibson who is batting .297. He is the son of Kirk Gibson, the Diamondbacks’ manager and former major league star.

The Gophers, 23-13 overall and 7-2 in conference games, are tied for first place with Michigan in the Big Ten standings. Minnesota pitcher Tom Windle, 5-2 with a 1.35 ERA, leads the conference in strikeouts with 57 in 60 innings.

New Minneapolis public schools athletic director Trent Tucker has known Gophers’ basketball coach Richard Pitino since Pitino was five years old. Former Henry football coach Jim Dotseth said Tucker attended a meeting of retired city coaches on Wednesday and Tucker remembered young Pitino from his days playing for the Knicks and coach Rick Pitino, Richard’s father.

I don’t know by how much, but the odds of the Gophers convincing DeLaSalle junior Reid Travis to attend Minnesota went up when Pitino hired former Islanders’ star Ben Johnson as an assistant coach.

But not so sure about Minnesota’s chances for landing Apple Valley point guard Tyus Jones and Cooper shooting guard Rashad Vaughn, both juniors. Elite prep players often want to know how their college experiences can help them earn a roster spot in the NBA. Pitino, at 30 years old, can’t talk about any players he sent to the next level as a head coach. Tough competition against power coaches like Kentucky’s John Calipari and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski.

In a somewhat surprising prediction, Dane Brugler from Cbssports.com has quarterback Ryan Nassib from Syracuse going No.8 to the Bills in his NFL mock draft. The Gophers beat Nassib and the Orange 17-10 last year at TCF Bank Stadium. None of Brugler’s other colleagues have Nassib being selected in the first round of their mock picks.

Former Star Tribune Vikings writer Don Banks posted his mock draft for SI.com with Minnesota selecting Washington cornerback Desmond Trufant at No. 23 in the first round and Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o at No 25.

In a mock NBA draft, NBAdraftnet.com projects the Timberwolves choosing shooting guards Shabazz Muhammad (UCLA) and Tim Hardaway, Jr. (Michigan) with the No. 9 and 25 picks in the first round. The projections also include former Gophers Rodney Williams and Trevor Mbakwe going to Dallas and Utah with the No. 43 and 44 picks.

In a comparison worthy of shoot-first former Gopher Kris Humphries, Muhammad had 27 assists in 32 games for the Bruins last season.

Former Saint John’s national championship coach John Gagliardi and his son Jim Gagliardi will speak Tuesday evening at the MVP event at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater. Together they helped coach the Johnnies to the 2003 Division III national title. MVP stands for men, value, purpose. MVP gatherings celebrate sports with food, fellowship and inspiration. More information is available at Trinitylc.org.

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