Twins – Page 186 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Faces May Change in 2014 Twins Infield

Posted on September 21, 2012September 21, 2012 by David Shama

The need to develop better starting pitching dominates conversations about the Twins but Roy Smalley said the club’s unsettled infield is “absolutely” priority No. 2 for improving the team.

Guessing who will be the starting shortstop and second baseman next season will occupy the thoughts of fans over the winter, but it’s not even a lock that in another year or two Trevor Plouffe will be playing third base and Justin Morneau will be at first.

Plouffe has a head start on the third base job going into spring training after a first season in that assignment for the Twins during 2012. Never able to win the shortstop job in the past, Plouffe has been okay in the field and at times very promising at the plate, hitting 23 home runs with 51 RBI and a .238 average in 383 at bats.

Smalley, the former Twins and Yankees shortstop, said Plouffe has homework to do. “He’s got some mechanical things in his swing he needs to iron out. It’s just a process. I think he will keep making progress.”

Morneau will one day be in the Twins Hall of Fame but he will be 32 with a history of concussions when his reportedly $14 million contract ends after next season. If the Twins and Morneau can’t get together on a deal, and Plouffe doesn’t lock up the third base job, the infield in 2013 or 2014 could have four new faces compared to this summer’s starting players.

Uncertainty surrounds shortstop and second base. Not to have those positions settled with quality players is not the “normal recipe” for a division contender, according to Smalley who stays close to the Twins as a TV analyst.

After years of being a division champion, the Twins are trying to find their way back to the top. Smalley is impressed with the defensive ability shown by late season call-up Pedro Florimon but the 25 year old hasn’t proven he can hit.

Smalley believes Florimon is “probably the leader” to claim the shortstop job but said there are other possibilities including Brian Dozier who was the regular shortstop earlier in the season. “It will all be determined by performances in the spring,” Smalley said.

The same evaluation can be applied to the second base situation. Among the possibilities is Alexi Casilla who has been with the Twins since 2006 but has never established himself as a starter playing shortstop or second base. “They keep trying to give him the job (second base) and he kind of keeps refusing it,” Smalley said.

Eduardo Escobar, 21, is another middle infield candidate and late season call-up whose offensive skills are suspect. The prospect of minimal offense from the shortstop and second baseman isn’t attractive and such a situation would demand that the third baseman, first baseman and a corner outfielder be productive with power.

But right now the Twins don’t even know if they have good field, no hit guys who can be solid over the course of a full season. “First you have got to catch the ball at short and second,” Smalley said. “You’ve got to make all the plays there.”

Notes on Max Shortell & More:

Sophomore quarterback Max Shortell, who threw three touchdown passes in relief of the injured MarQueis Gray last Saturday, is a popular teammate who often shows his sense of humor, according to Gophers’ junior wide receiver Derrick Engel.

“Max is definitely a jokester,” Engel said. “Even on the football field, like in the game (last) Saturday. During TV timeouts he was joking, smiling. He definitely helps lighten up the mood in the huddle. …”

Engel described Shortell as “down to earth” and a person easy to accept. “Everyone gets along with him really well, no matter where you’re from, no matter what your background is,” Engel said. “Everyone connects with Max. I think that’s a key thing to have, is your quarterback…being able to connect with the rest of your teammates. Maxie is definitely one of the more popular guys on our team, and we’re confident with him being our leader going into the next few games while MarQueis is healing up from his injuries.”

How does Engel think true freshman Philip Nelson, who has yet to take a snap in a college game, would respond if he had to replace Shortell? “It might be a little difficult right away playing in front of that many people (compared with high school), but I think Phil is someone who would respond great if he was thrown in. Especially now that he knows that he’s like the No. 2 guy to come up in the next few weeks if something were to happen to Max.

“Phil is an 18-year-old kid but he doesn’t act that way. He’s real mature for his age. He’s a great leader. I think he will be great for us down the road, if not sooner.”

Gray’s high ankle sprain sustained last Saturday against Western Michigan will likely keep him sidelined tomorrow night when the 3-0 Gophers play 1-2 Syracuse at TCF Bank Stadium. The Orange has scored 98 points in three games including 41 in a one point loss to Northwestern.

Syracuse, led by senior quarterback Ryan Nassib and senior wide receiver Marcus Sales, ranks third in the country for passing offense per game at 379.67 yards. Sales is averaging 116.7 yards per game in receptions and has caught four touchdown passes. So far Minnesota’s pass defense, led by impressive coverage in the secondary and six sacks by defensive linemen D.L. Wilhite and Ra‘Shede Hageman, ranks No. 15 in the nation.

Minnesota’s defensive backs have frequently been in position to make plays and the Gophers have five interceptions. Senior cornerback Troy Stoudermire praises secondary coach Jay Sawvel’s work with the unit.

“We’re the last group to leave every single day in the meeting room,” Stoudermire said. “Just putting in the extra time, I think that’s what’s making our DB group the best (in recent U history) right now.”

It was Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby (once the AD at Iowa) who hired Jim Harbaugh about six years ago and launched the former Michigan quarterback into the big time world of head coaching. Harbaugh was head coach at Division I-AA San Diego before Stanford hired him. He turned heads at Stanford, making the Cardinal a top 10 program. Now as head coach of the 2-0 49ers (they play the 1-1 Vikings on Sunday at Mall of America Field) Harbaugh has a Super Bowl favorite in his second season in the NFL.

Harbaugh succeeded Mike Singletary, now a Vikings assistant coach, as boss of the 49ers. Singletary’s record in three seasons with the 49ers was 18-22. Harbaugh’s record is 15-3.

Vikings’ defensive coordinator Alan Williams talking about 35-year-old receiver Randy Moss of the 49ers: “You never want to turn Moss loose. That would be a mistake not to pay attention to Randy Moss. Until he’s turned in his retirement papers, I think every defensive coordinator, every secondary, every defense is going to pay attention to him. We have to.”

Vikings’ quarterback Christian Ponder leads the NFL in passing completion percentage at 75.8. Vikings’ offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said there were only a few plays out of 70 that Ponder should have made a different decision in the game last Sunday against the Colts.

Blair Walsh, the Vikings’ rookie kicker, can set a franchise record on Sunday if he can boot a field goal of 50 yards or more in three consecutive games. He told Sports Headliners he has no incentive bonuses in his contract for achievements like that.

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen answering a question about a personal foul penalty against the Colts: “I am not a dirty player. I play hard.”

If a major football coaching opportunity occurs in Minnesota expect Marc Trestman’s name to surface. The former Gophers quarterback and Vikings assistant coach has a long resume of college and pro assignments. He’s in his sixth season coaching Montreal in the Canadian Football League where his teams have won two Grey Cup championships.

Timberwolves media day will be on Monday, October 1 from noon to 2 p.m. at Target Center. Fans can watch and also submit questions that day via www.timberwolves.com.

The Wolves will train in Mankato from October 2-5, working out at the Bresnan Arena in the Taylor Center at Minnesota State University.

The Wolves will gain a local pro sports marketing edge this fall if the Vikings disappoint fans, and the Wild don’t play because of the NHL work stoppage. Popular opinion is the Wild, bolstered by free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, are more likely to make the playoffs than the Wolves.

Former North Stars player and president Lou Nanne has become a frequent guest on Mike Max’s Sunday night TV program, “The Sports Show,” replacing the late Dark Star.

FOX Sports North and the Big Ten Network will combine to televise 34 of 36 men’s Gophers hockey games next season including Minnesota’s opener at Michigan State on October 12.

Are there leadership changes coming in baseball’s AL Central Division? It wouldn’t be surprising if there were off-season changes to the Twins’ coaching staff. How about manager Jim Leyland’s future in Detroit where the Tigers could be headed to a disappointing second place finish?

The streak is over. The St. Scholastica (Duluth) women’s soccer team, undefeated in 99 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference games dating back to 2003, lost to Minnesota- Morris last Saturday.

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Vikings’ Simpson Plans to Stay Humble

Posted on September 19, 2012September 21, 2012 by David Shama

Jerome Simpson told Sports Headliners he’s learned his lesson after pleading guilty earlier this year to a felony drug charge and then being suspended by the NFL for violating league substance abuse policy.

“Just getting back to the old Jerome Simpson, and just being myself and not getting out of character,” Simpson said. “Just always staying humble and doing the right thing.”

It was reportedly a year ago this month that a marijuana shipment to Simpson’s home in Kentucky led to his problems. That development would detract from a breakout season while playing for Cincinnati.

The Vikings signed Simpson in the offseason, hoping he will become the deep threat receiver the offense needs. The 6-foot-2, 189-pound North Carolina native who grew up an only child influenced by his mother’s values will finish his three-game suspension by the NFL after this Sunday’s Vikings-49ers game.

Simpson described the waiting to play as “grueling” but believes he’s circled back to the values he was raised with. “I’ve grown so much in being able to appreciate the position I am in, and the influence that I have on the community and a lot of youth, and people back home, and just all around me,” he said.

A second round pick by the Bengals in 2008, Simpson never had more than 20 catches until last season. In 2011 he had 50 receptions for 725 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 14.5 yards per catch. Among the highlights was a front flip into the end zone touchdown against the Cardinals that has become YouTube content.

The Vikings have been searching for an elusive big play receiver since Sidney Rice left for Seattle after the 2010 season. In two games this season the Vikings’ longest pass completion by quarterback Christian Ponder is 29 yards and the team’s average pass reception is 8.3 yards. With an exceptional slot receiver in Percy Harvin, promising tight end in Kyle Rudolph and All-Pro running back in Adrian Peterson, a speed-blessed wide receiver to stretch the field and the defense is a missing element in the offense.

The wait to learn if Simpson is the answer is almost over.

Notes:

Controversial former Viking Randy Moss will receive attention locally this week and on Sunday when the 49ers come to Mall of America Field. But at age 35 Moss is no longer the dominating wide receiver he was when he played here from 1998 to 2004. Moss didn’t start for the 49ers in either of his team’s first two games this month. He caught four passes for 48 yards and a touchdown in the opening game and one ball for 14 yards last Sunday.

During player introductions on Sunday night Moss said he was from Rand University, a school that doesn’t exist. The reference was to his hometown while growing up, Rand, West Virginia.

Gophers football coach Jerry Kill said yesterday he isn’t sure when MarQueis Gray’s high ankle sprain will allow him to play again but didn’t rule out the senior quarterback’s participation in Saturday’s home game against Syracuse. The guess here is Gray will be able to play against Iowa on September 29, or following Minnesota’s bye week in early October.

As of yesterday afternoon the Gophers had about 1,500 tickets at $40 each available to the public for Saturday’s game. A spokesman said all 5,300 tickets on sale earlier in the week at a special discount price of $10 are gone.

Friends and family of John Williams will feel joy and sorrow tomorrow night at the M Club Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in TCF Bank Stadium’s DQ Club Room. John passed away this summer and I know how pleased he would have been to attend the ceremonies along with eight other honorees including volleyball’s Lindsey Berg, football’s Tyrone Carter, hockey’s Butsy Erickson and wrestling’s J Robinson. John was a Time Magazine All-American offensive tackle on the Gophers 1967 Big Ten championship team. He was admired for his football accomplishments, including playing in the NFL, but family and friends know what made him special was his devotion to helping others.

John was a good friend who was quietly proud of the Gophers and his many achievements including his dental practice in north Minneapolis. I can’t give John a higher compliment than to say “I can’t replace him in my life.”

St. Thomas confirmed what most MIAC observers thought last week when the Tommies defeated Saint John’s 43-21 in their famous rivalry game. The Tommies are among the best Division III teams in the country and have impressed with a 3-0 start that includes a defense holding opponents to 98 total yards rushing for the season. The Tommies have a schedule bye this Saturday.

Former Vikings wide receiver Leo Lewis and ex-Stillwater head football coach George Thole will be among the speakers for the MVP event on Tuesday, September 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater. MVP is an abbreviation for Men, Value and Purpose. MVP gatherings celebrate sports with “food, fellowship and inspiration.” The public is welcome to attend next Tuesday’s event and more information is available by emailing Todd Fultz, toddfultz@me.com.

Former Gustavus tennis coach Steve Wilkinson received the Iowa Varsity Club Lifetime Achievement award last Friday. On Saturday the former Hawkeyes’ tennis player and assistant coach was introduced at Kinnick Stadium prior to the start of the Iowa-Northern Iowa football game. Wilkinson has the most coaching victories (929) in the history of college tennis, was five times national tennis coach of the year and is a member of six tennis halls of fame, according to the Varsity Club.

Twins’ Target Field attendance for the 2012 season is 2,580,329 with two home stands remaining. Attendance totals the first two seasons at Target Field (2010 and 2011) were 3,223,640 and 3,168,107.

Stubhub.com listed tickets on Monday starting at $5 to $7 for next week’s Yankees series at Target Field.

The Twins, tied for last place in the Central Division with a 61-87 record, have been swept 11 times this season.

Scott Diamond, the team’s leading pitcher in wins with 11, has only one victory since August 6. He has an ERA of 7.33 in his last four starts.

Zack Greinke, known for not liking a lot of media attention, will be a free agent during the off-season. This market seems like a comfortable fit for Greinke who is pitching for the Angels.

St. Paul native Ken Mauer starts his 27^th season as an NBA referee this fall. He may officiate for another five to six years. Mauer said salaries for NBA officials range from $90,000 to $400,000. He will work 70 to 75 games per season and be on the road about 25 days per month.

Close friends know Mauer has a 1989 Rolls Royce convertible. He acquired the car after making a successful investment. “It’s not as fancy as everybody thinks it is but I take good care of it because I probably won’t be able to get another one,” he said.

Bleacherreport.com puts the Timberwolves at No. 17 in its new NBA power rankings out this week. The website said “on paper” the Wolves are better than last season but won’t make the playoffs. Too many ifs including point guard Ricky Rubio’s recovery from ACL surgery, and how effectively new but aging acquisitions Brandon Roy (shooting guard) and Andrei Kirilenko (small forward) perform.

Coach Kevin McHale’s Rockets receive a No. 29 ranking. Coach Randy Wittman’s Wizards are No. 24. Both are former Wolves head coaches.

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Vikings’ Walsh Shakes Georgia Slump

Posted on September 10, 2012September 10, 2012 by David Shama

Rookie Blair Walsh kicked a 55-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter yesterday to send the Vikings-Jaguars game into overtime. Then the Vikings’ placekicker made an overtime 38-yard field goal in his first regular season NFL game to lift Minnesota to a 26-23 win. But Walsh said in the locker room after the game that neither of those pressure field goals produced the anxiety experienced in the second quarter.

“The most nervous I was all day was my first point after touchdown,” Walsh said. “I was so anxious to get going in the NFL and start a career.”

What a way to begin a career, making all four of his field goal attempts and both extra points including after the Vikings scored a late second quarter touchdown to cut the Jaguars’ lead to 9-7. The performance justified not only the decision to draft Walsh in the sixth round earlier this year, but to cut 15-year veteran Ryan Longwell.

Walsh, who said he “tremendously” respected Longwell, missed 14 field goal attempts during his senior season at Georgia after never missing more than eight in one year. “I think my stats dipped a little bit last year because I was pushing a little too much,” he told Sports Headliners last week. “I missed early on (in 2011) and I hadn’t missed early on in my career. I just pushed. I wanted to be there for my team and help them. One thing led to another and I just never really got back into my rhythm.”

A four-year career at Georgia, playing in college football’s best conference (the SEC), helped develop a philosophy about pressure. “One miss is not going to kill you, and one make is not going to make you,” Walsh said.

Maybe Walsh’s pressure field goals yesterday won’t make him or the Vikings, but yesterday was a step forward for a team that was 3-13 last season. The smallest Vikings home crowd at the Metrodome since December 21, 1997 offered plenty of boos in the first half, often directing the boos to a faltering quarterback, Christian Ponder.

But by game’s end, many in the announced crowd of 56,607 had acquired some faith in the home team. Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams told Sports Headliners last Thursday he knew about the doubters.

“We believe in ourselves,” Williams said then. “I don’t think anybody outside this locker room believes in us. We believe we’ve got the talent to win some games. We just need to put it on display Sunday and start with the Jacksonville Jaguars.”

After the game Williams was asked whether the win will make converts. “We might a got one or two people over,” he said. “We (the defense) made a lot of mistakes. We gotta look at this film and get that stuff corrected. We didn’t play as well as we’re capable of playing.”

The mistakes included allowing a 39-yard touchdown reception by Cecil Shorts III to put the Jaguars ahead 23-20 during the final minute of the fourth quarter. Not only did cornerback Chris Cook get beat but there was no help from other Vikings defenders on the play.

But that won’t be remembered as much as this: Vikings 26, Jaguars 23.

Notes:

The Jaguars might have won the game in regulation had their coaching staff decided to go for a touchdown on fourth down from the Vikings one-yard line in the first quarter. Instead, the Jaguars kicked a field goal, taking three points and not six from a potential touchdown. An odd decision early in a game that was the NFL opener for both teams.

One hour before kickoff yesterday there were parking spaces on Park Avenue within about a block of the stadium. A ticket hawker was asking $70 for a $120 seat on the 40-yard line, row 15.

Vikings rookie safety Harrison Smith said last week his parents travelled from Knoxville to watch all his games, home and away, while he was at Notre Dame. He’s told them they don’t need to do that in the NFL but they planned to be in Minneapolis for the Vikings opener yesterday. Smith expected “about nine” family members and a friend to come from out of town to watch him play his first regular season NFL game.

Smith welcomes feeling apprehensive before games. “I like having the butterflies,” he said. “I like being a little nervous before the games—put me on edge a little bit, get me excited. At the same time you don’t want to be nervous and shaky, and everything.”

The Gophers played one of their best games in memory against a non-BCS opponent on Saturday, dominating New Hampshire in a 44-7 win at TCF Bank Stadium. The 2-0 Gophers have won four of their last seven games dating back to 2011.

Quarterback Alex Carder threw five touchdown passes in Western Michigan’s 52-21 win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday. The Broncos (1-1) play Minnesota at TCF Bank Stadium next Saturday.

The Aspire Group had sold “about 600 full season tickets” for Gophers football as of early last week, according to Jason LaFrenz. The Gophers associate athletics director said the Atlanta-based company has 12 sales reps here selling season and group tickets for 12 different University of Minnesota sports including football. The goal for the school year is $1.2 million in ticket revenues.

Former Gophers center Ralph Sampson III watched his father Ralph Sampson II be inducted with 11 other honorees last week into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. The older Sampson is a former three-time college basketball player of the year. Among those also inducted was former Indiana Pacers star Mel Daniels who started his ABA career with the Minnesota Muskies.

Serving on the Hall of Fame’s board of governors is former Gophers golfer and New York Times best selling author Harvey Mackay. Mannie Jackson, a former executive in Minneapolis with Honeywell, is also on the board.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire tied with the Giants Bruce Bochy for fourth in a Sports Illustrated poll published last week that determined baseball’s most underrated manager, according to a vote by players.

Cole De Vries, 4-4 after beating the Indians on Saturday night, has a 1.54 ERA in his last four starts for the Twins. He’s won his last three starts.

Twins outfielder Ben Revere has stolen 36 bases, the most on the club since Otis Nixon had 37 steals in 1998.

Much publicized Twins prospect Miguel Sano, playing for Beloit, led the Midwest League in home runs with 28 and RBI with 100.

Canterbury Park concluded its 2012 live racing season with an increase in attendance from last year. Average attendance for the 62-day meet was 6,595, up from 6,143 in 2011.

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