Twins – Page 41 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Arraez-Lopez Trade May Haunt Twins

Posted on June 7, 2023June 7, 2023 by David Shama

It’s too soon to reach conclusions about last winter’s trade sending Luis Arraez to the Marlins for Pablo Lopez but right now perceptions and facts are one-sided against the Twins.

Arraez, 26, was hitting a gaudy .399 as of yesterday morning while playing mostly second base this spring for the dramatically improved Marlins. MLB.com points out he could become the first player since 1900 to be the batting champion in the American and National Leagues in consecutive seasons.

The gifted left-handed hitter has an early flirtation with a .400 season, something last accomplished in the majors by Ted Williams in 1941. Since that year only eight players had higher averages than Arraez through the first 61 games of a season, per MLB.com.

Arraez’s numbers on Tuesday included 29 runs batted in, 22 runs scored, an MLB-best OBP of .454 and sixth best OPS of .945. He had struck out only 11 times.

No Twins player is close to Arraez’s numbers. Minnesota had a team batting average of .233 going into last night’s game against the Rays and Twins batters had struck out an MLB-high 613 times.

The Twins’ offense has too often been MIA, frequently scoring three runs or less in games and often not coming through with timely hits. Obviously, the Twins miss Arraez’s bat in the lineup and ability to get on base.

The Marlins, though, with the addition of Arraez and other changes to the team are thriving. Through Monday’s games Miami’s record of 33-28 had the Marlins in second place in the NL East three games behind the Mets. That contrasts with a 22-30 record in 2022 when the Marlins were 13.5 games out of first place.

With a Wins Above Replacement offensive number of 2.4, Arraez ranked No. 7 among MLB players as of yesterday, according to stats from ESPN.com. Lopez’s number is 0.7 and that didn’t place him in the top 100 WAR numbers for pitchers.

The Twins traded for Lopez, 27, with the intent for him to be among their best starters and possibly the staff ace. His record of 3-3 and ERA of 4.54 is disappointing, although he’s had impressive outings including a May showdown with Angels’ superstar pitcher-hitter Shohei Ohtani that the Twins lost with faulty bullpen work.

Lopez is 2-1 with a 5.66 ERA in his last seven starts. His last start on June 1 against the AL Central defending champion Guardians saw him throw 5.2 innings and yield six earned runs.

The Twins, who reportedly signed Lopez to a four-year, $73.5 million contract extension in April, have six pitchers with as many or more wins than the right-hander whose MLB career record in six seasons in 31-34 with a 4.01 ERA.

A year ago yesterday the Twins’ record was 32-24, compared with 31 wins and 29 losses in 2023. During the remainder of the season Minnesota needs a dominant performance from Lopez to build a better record, secure a Central Division title for the first time since 2020 and make Twins Territory feel better about that guy down in Miami who is on a torrid tear.

In the trade with the Marlins, the Twins also received two highly-regarded prospects, 20-year-old shortstop Jose Salas and 18-year-old outfielder Byron Chourio. Salas is hitting .160 in 150 at bats with High-A Affiliate Cedar Rapids. Chourio’s average is .167 in six at bats with the Florida Complex Twins.

Worth Noting

Greg Eslinger, the former Gophers center and one of the most honored offensive linemen in Big Ten football history, is a step closer to Hall of Fame recognition with this week’s announcement he is on the ballot for the class of 2024. When voting is announced early next year it will be stunning if the 2004-2005 All-American isn’t selected by the National Football Foundation for a place in the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

In 2005 Eslinger received the Outland Trophy (the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman) and the Rimington Trophy (the country’s best center). He was the 2005 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year (only Gopher ever honored) and was awarded with the 2006 Big Ten Medal of Honor (the conference’s oldest and most prestigious award).

Eslinger (No. 61) photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

For four seasons, Eslinger was a contributor for the ages to Minnesota’s offense. Playing for head coach Glen Mason, he was indispensable to an offense that set single-season records for rushing attempts (683), rushing yards (3,759), rushing yards per game (289.2), rushing touchdowns (46), total season yards (6,430), total yards per game (494.8), total season points (503), average points per game (38.7), season touchdowns (66) and first downs (326).

Eslinger, a Bismarck, North Dakota native, is the only player in school history to be named first-team all-conference by the media and coaches for three consecutive seasons. In 2014, he was named to the Athlon Sports Top 50 College Football Players of the BCS era (1998-2013). He ranked 34th behind LaDanian Tomlinson (30th), Robert Griffin III (31st), Reggie Bush (32nd) and Drew Brees (33rd).

John Anderson, the Golden Gophers head baseball coach, told Sports Headliners 35 percent of MLB pitchers have had Tommy John surgery during their baseball lives. The emphasis to throw at high velocity has put more strain on arms than should occur and resulted in needed surgery (sometimes early in careers).

Anderson has been loyal to the University of Minnesota through the years. He has been contacted by other schools about their vacancies and was once a finalist for the Georgia job. Anderson first came to the U in 1974 as a pitcher and seven years later was named head coach.

“I care about this program, and I was given an opportunity at 26, a very young age, to carry on this program, the history and tradition,” Anderson said about the oldest sport at the U. “I wasn’t going to walk out the door just for the next job because this was a special place for me because of my background here.”

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and others with the club are planning for next season and the upcoming NBA Draft later this month. That doesn’t preclude a bit of recreational time, though. “I bought a boat last summer, so I enjoy being out there (Lake Minnetonka),” Finch told Sports Headliners recently. “I go to the Twins games. I go to the Lynx games. Spend some time downtown in the North Loop area where I live. Just kind of relaxing and enjoying the good weather. So, it’s a fun place to be right now.”

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’50-50′ QB Kirk Cousins Gets Extension Prior to Season?

Posted on May 23, 2023May 23, 2023 by David Shama

Kirk Cousins is signed only through the coming season and the presumption is Vikings management will let things play out to decide about future interest in the 34-year-old quarterback. But a former pro football authority isn’t so sure and thinks it’s “50-50” an extension could be agreed to between now and the team’s first regular season game September 10 in Minneapolis.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened before the season since they didn’t draft anybody high and he’s still to me a top 10 to 12 quarterback in the league,” said the ex-NFL team executive who spoke to Sports Headliners on condition of anonymity.

The Vikings drafted Brigham Young QB Jaren Hall in the fifth-round last month. How he will develop is unknown, but odds are that even in a best-case scenario he won’t be ready to succeed Cousins in 2024.

Cousins earns $35 million this year before pending free agency in 2024. A one- or two-year extension is likely to pay him $40 to $45 million annually.

The source referenced here said the Vikings may be taking a wait-and-see approach on the veteran’s performance during the coming season. “But where are they going to find someone better than him?” he asked.

While Cousins likely will be with the team for a while, leading rusher Dalvin Cook’s exit appears soon. “I think they tried to trade him during the draft, and I think Miami was a target,” the source said.

Instead of a trade, the Dolphins drafted a running back on the third round and passed on the 27-year-old Cook who four times in his career has rushed for over 1,000 yards (most recently 1,177). “But the problem with Dalvin is that I don’t think anyone wants to trade for him and pay him $11 million bucks this year because the running back market is so depressed compared to other positions—which is really not fair—but that’s the way it is,” said the authority.

The Vikings appear convinced Cook’s contract is too much of a burden on their payroll and salary cap situation. To trade him for a future draft choice might require helping pay the other team for Cook’s compensation. The best window for a trade could be during training camp if another team is on the spot because of running back injuries.

Earlier this month the Vikings did agree to pay part of linebacker Za’Darius Smith’s compensation in a trade with the Browns. That helped with Minnesota’s salary cap space (reportedly now at over $13 million), as would moving on from Cook.

But the deal with the Browns that brought future draft picks to the Vikings left Minnesota with pass rushing concerns, a Smith specialty. Could Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah be looking at Ravens free agent linebacker Justin Houston?

Houston had 9.5 sacks last season and is known as a pass rushing specialist. “Yeah, he’s 34 years old but on a one year deal he could be a guy that could really…be a great signing,” said the authority quoted previously.

The former NFL executive has another defensive concern about the Vikings, and it was a suspect area last season, too. “I think the cornerback situation is still very questionable for the team.”

His first-round selection for the Vikings in the April draft would have been cornerback Deonte Banks from Maryland, rather than WR Jordan Addison of USC. The Giants, picking one spot behind the Vikings, took Banks at No. 24.

Minnesota chose USC cornerback Mekhi Blackmon in the third round but how much of a contribution can he make as a rookie? The core of the Vikings’ cornerback roster consists of second year players Andrew Booth and Akayleb Evans, and five year talented vet Byron Murphy who signed on as a free agent in March.

“So, they’re counting on these three guys that were all hurt last year. Booth was hurt all through college, too,” the source said. “…They really have to get fortunate with those guys staying healthy and coming on this year or they’re going to be in trouble in the secondary again.”

Worth Noting

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, writing yesterday about the job security of MLB managers, said Rocco Baldelli “appears secure.” He wrote that before last season the Twins manager received a contract extension of unknown length but at least through 2025.

Former Twins executive Terry Ryan is the latest guest on “Behind the Game” with hosts Bill Robertson and Patrick Klinger. Ryan talks about baseball’s rule changes and other topics on the TV show that can be viewed by clicking on this link https://youtu.be/Oyje7-3Yhng

Congratulations to coach Martin Hyndman and his rowers from the University of Minnesota who won the American Collegiate Rowing Association national championship last weekend in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Men’s rowing will gain attention later this year when the movie Boys in the Boat is released and tells the story of the University of Washington team that won gold in the 1936 Olympics held in Adolph Hitler’s Berlin, Germany.

USA Basketball recently announced the men’s 2023 USA 3×3 World Cup team that will participate in the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup May 30-June 4 in Vienna, Austria. The roster includes former Iowa Wolves player Canyon Barry, along with Jimmer Fredette, Kareem Maddox and Dylan Travis.

Larry Higgins is asking if any Sports Headliners readers have film or video of the 1961 state championship basketball game when his Bemidji High team almost upset Duluth Central in a controversial finish. Central, trailing late in the game, won 51-50 and finished with a 27-0 record.

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Twins Won’t Rush Royce Lewis to Bigs

Posted on May 14, 2023May 21, 2023 by David Shama

Royce Lewis made his 2023 debut Thursday night with Double-A Wichita after rehabbing in Florida earlier this spring. Lewis, who figures to play shortstop and third base for the Twins’ minor league farm team, struck out three times and was hit by a pitch. He cleanly handled one chance in the field at third base.

Not a “wow start,” but predictable for a player on recovery road. And Saturday was better, with Lewis having two hits in three at bats and driving in a run for the Wind Surge.

Last year Lewis had ACL surgery on his right knee for a second time, having also suffered a tear requiring surgery in 2021. Understandably the Twins’ approach with Lewis is cautious. “He will come out of games early, then get a day off,” Twins executive Derek Falvey told Sports Headliners. … ”It’s really a slow ramp up for him.”

It’s been a weird path the last few years for Lewis. He and other minor leaguers didn’t play during the 2020 COVID year. He missed all of 2021 because of the first ACL injury. Then last year after being promoted from Triple-A to the Twins he suffered that second ACL injury on May 29.

“We want to be very attentive to the return (in 2023),” said Falvey, the team’s chief baseball officer. “Maybe even more conservative than you might normally be. I think just putting him in the best position to be healthy.”

Falvey said there is no timetable for a return by Lewis to the Twins. That will be determined by “health, performance and opportunity,” Falvey explained.

At 23, Lewis is still considered among Minnesota’s most valued prospects, but will he retain the athleticism and other attributes that convinced the Twins to make him their No. 1 draft pick in 2017? Will he, for instance, have the same elite range in the field that made him both a special infield and outfield prospect? The same pop in his bat that he showed in 12 games with the Twins last season, hitting .300 with two home runs and five RBI?

After two surgeries and so much time off, those are unanswerable questions now. Falvey said, “But in theory it’s fixed. It’s not a muscle injury. It’s a ligament. So ultimately when the ligament is fixed his athleticism, his burst, his speed, his power should all be the same. We just need to keep him as healthy as possible.”

The Twins are struggling to score runs and the kind of bat Lewis showed last season would be welcome. After hitting .313 in 34 games at Triple- A St. Paul, Lewis teased Twins fans with his potential at bat and in the field where he played 11 games at short and one in center field.

The Twins could have an ASAP need at third base this season. After an impressive rookie season in 2022, Jose Miranda got off to a disappointing start hitting and in the field before being demoted to St. Paul. Kyle Farmer, 32, is the replacement for now but not long term.

Falvey said the front office and Lewis have also talked about the native Californian playing in the outfield. “He is such an eager kid. He just wants to find a way to help the team,” Falvey said.

Hopefully, Lewis finds his spot with the Twins and has a long run with the club, but Falvey pointed out the uncertainty of big-league baseball careers. He said this spring MLB’s 30 teams only have about 4.5 players on their rosters who played for them in 2019. The Twins have three 2019 alums from the opening day roster: second baseman Jorge Polanco who was a shortstop then, DH Byron Buxton who was the centerfielder, and right fielder Max Kepler who is still in the same position.

Worth Noting

Lewis is considered the Twins’ No. 2 prospect behind Brooks Lee, the club’s 2022 No. 1 draft choice. His background, too, is shortstop and he is also at Wichita. Falvey told Lee in spring training he didn’t care if the Cal Poly alum hit “.100 or .700,” he just wanted him to learn from veterans like shortstop Carlos Correa and Buxton about how to prepare and be a big leaguer.

Lee hit .303 with three minor league teams last year and is off to a .258 start this spring. He is an impressive athlete who can help a team in multiple ways including in the field. “I think this kid is a big part of our future,” Falvey said.

Former Twins infielder and 2022 AL batting champion Luis Arraez is leading the majors in hitting with a .379 average. Pitcher Pablo Lopez, who the Twins acquired during the offseason in a trade sending Arraez to the Marlins, is 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA.

Falvey said the Twins tried to make different deals “without Luie in it but couldn’t.” He added the Marlins, in need of offense, were “fixated on Luie and we were fixated on Pablo.” The Twins believe high performance starting pitching is difficult to find.

Since the trade the Twins have reached agreement with Lopez on a four-year contract extension that commits him from 2024-2027. Falvey doesn’t anticipate any similar deals during the rest of the season including with pitcher Sonny Gray who has been dominant with a 1.39 ERA and 4-0 record. He is a free agent in the fall.

Not only has Gray been the team’s best pitcher but he contributes to a healthy environment in the clubhouse. “Sonny gets along with everybody. He engages with everybody in the room,” Falvey said.

In last year’s draft the Twins selected Ben Ross in the fifth round out of Notre Dame College in Ohio (yes, that is correct). Another shortstop, Ross is hitting .308 at High-A Twins affiliate Cedar Rapids and committed only one error in the field.

The late Herb Carneal would have turned 100 last Wednesday. The radio voice of the Twins for 45 seasons, Carneal started broadcasting games for the club in 1962, one year after the franchise relocated to Minnesota from Washington D.C.

Danny Olsen is the new Eastview High School boys’ basketball coach, replacing long-time and much-admired head coach Paul Goetz. Olsen, a 1999 Eastview grad, has extensive AAU and high school coaching experience. The last 10 years he has been the head sophomore coach at Eastview and a varsity assistant.

Dick Jonckowski shares emcee duties with sports columnist Charley Walters Monday night at the 37^th annual Mancini’s Sports Hall of Fame dinner at Mancini’s Char House in St. Paul. Former Cretin Derham-Hall quarterback Steve Walsh, who played at Miami and in the NFL, is among the inductees.

Jonckowski will emcee and speak Friday night in Fridley at the Minnesota Senior Sports Association’s seventh annual Hall of Fame banquet. The event at the Banquets of Minnesota facility honors individuals and teams from various recreational sports.

Reservations are still being accepted for the May 21 tribute to the late Bud Grant, the Vikings’ legendary coach. The free event at U.S. Bank Stadium begins at noon and requires a ticket. http://www.vikings.com/legends/bud-grant

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