Twins – Page 6 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Don’t Bet on Seeing a Lot of QB J.J. McCarthy in Preseason

Posted on August 3, 2025August 3, 2025 by David Shama

The Vikings play their first of three preseason games starting Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Then they have joint practices August 13 and 14 in Eagan against the Patriots before playing them in an exhibition game August 16 in Minneapolis. The Vikings finish up with a preseason game August 22 in Nashville against the Titans.

What fans are salivating over is when they can watch quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The short answer is not much.

That’s a popular view including from a valued Sports Headliners source whose background includes front office assignments with NFL teams. Speaking on condition of anonymity he said via text: “I expect him to play a couple series at most in (the) preseason opener vs Texans, then after their joint practices with Patriots, he won’t play in preseason #2…or the last preseason game when no starters play.”

McCarthy talking about rookie quarterback Max Brosmer, the former Golden Gopher: “Max is the man. Just super detail oriented, works his butt off. I can’t say enough good things about that guy. He is just an awesome human being, and he can sing pretty well, too. He’s got a song out there: Old Jack Daniels. You can check it out…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Will Reichard, the Vikings rookie kicker who last season made all of his extra points and converted 24 of 30 field goal attempts including eight from over 50 yards, is hitting the ball well in training camp, per special teams coach Matt Daniels. Noting that the Vikings will face adverse weather conditions on the road, Daniels said the “biggest thing is handling” the elements at camp which can include stiff winds.

Worth Noting

The Big Ten Network airs its football training camp show on the Gophers today at multiple times including 6 to 7 p.m. and 10 to 11 p.m. The BTN crew was in town last night to attend the practice open to the public and media.

Interesting take: background music was played throughout the evening’s practice including the Iowa fight song. Surprisingly, no boo-birds or even murmurs surfaced from the crowd of perhaps 2,000 people.

The players were limited in contact with an emphasis on passing and new starting quarterback Drake Lindsey, the redshirt freshman, threw some nice balls. The wide receiver corps, as advertised, was impressive including redshirt freshman Jalen Smith from Mankato who could emerge as a star before his four seasons of eligibility are done.

The Gophers showed a goal line power offense with tight end Frank Bierman lined up in front of the tailback. The pecking order at tailback looked like Darius Taylor and transfers A.J. Turner (Marshall) and Cam Davis (Washington).

The speedy and elusive Turner, who in 2024 averaged a nation’s best 8.3 yards per carry for runners with over 100 rushing attempts, returned kickoffs at last night’s practice.

Daniel Jackson, the true freshman from Alexandria, Minnesota, showed a strong leg on field goal attempts. Brady Denaburg, the senior transfer from Syracuse, flashed perhaps even a stronger leg. He made 13 of 22 career field goals at Syracuse and recorded 156 touchbacks on 198 kickoffs.

BetMGM has the Gophers as 16.5 point favorites playing at home to defeat Buffalo in the season opener for both teams on August 28. It appears to be a large point spread against a Buffalo team that is among the favorites to win the Mid-American.

Gopher head coach P.J. Fleck loves to play golf but his increasingly busy schedule limits times on the links. He usually plays with his buddy Cal Simmons at Interlachen Country Club, and Simmons said the two have been out about six times this year and play either early in the day or late.

Twins president Derek Falvey sent out a letter via email Friday to ticket purchasers. It said in part: “This week, we made a clear and deliberate decision to strengthen the next chapter of championship-caliber baseball for the Minnesota Twins. ..

“We know moves like this spark reactions. That’s natural. It reflects how much you care.

“That’s why we’re positioning the Twins to compete at a higher level, not just in the short term, but in a way that can endure the ups and downs of a long season. That’s the kind of team you deserve.

“The mission hasn’t changed. We’re here to build a team that can win a World Series. …”

A Sports Headliners reader points out that since the Twins won the 1991 World Series all their rivals in the American League Central Division have been to the big show. The Guardians have been to three World Series, the Royals and Tigers two, and the White Sox one. The Royals and White Sox won titles.

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Roster Purge May Indicate No New Twins Owner Soon

Posted on August 1, 2025August 1, 2025 by David Shama

The Twins shocking moves this week to trade 10 players, or 38 percent of their 26-man roster, may indicate the unlikelihood of announcing a new buyer any time soon. The player transactions, in which the Twins have received mostly minor league prospects in return for their trading big league players, has enraged Minnesota fans while lightening the payroll for ownership.

The franchise reportedly is at least $425 million in debt, believed to be among the higher totals in MLB. The Pohlad family presumably now feels at least some comfort today after lessening their financial burden.

It’s unclear whether the Pohlads are financially viable to sustain Twins financial losses for a long time if they choose. The club has been for sale since last year.

A former sports executive, writing on condition of anonymity, offered this take via email: “I am told earlier in the week, a sale is NOT close, contrary to some recent reports. The Twins need a huge cash influx to contend. Some potential owners have backed off because of the debt in place. (Also,) heard through my MLB sources that there is infighting internally amongst the Pohlad family.”

If a Twins buyer were ready to sign the final papers soon, why would the person or group be so foolish as to associate themselves with the Pohlad PR disaster? The selloff of players, including stars Jhoan Duran and Carlos Correa, has eliminated any chance the club had of making the playoffs as a Wild Card entrant. More important, the gutting of the roster— particularly what was one of baseball’s best bullpens–appears to have set the Twins back for at least a couple of years on the field and with the fanbase.

If the new owners are tainted with the label of misers, they will be DOA in Minneapolis.

Thud.

New ownership should want to message to players and fans that their regime and operation will be in sharp contrast to the Pohlads who have long been disliked by the public. By words and through actions new owners should have a honeymoon period that can be nurtured into a favorable long-term relationship with their employees and the public.

Ownership showing up even several weeks from now taking bows, following the disaster of moves this week led by Twins president Derek Falvey, will make them look like carpetbaggers.

Following the legacy of the Pohlad family should not be challenging. It will be two years this fall that the team, having built a competitive club that won the franchise’s first playoff game in 19 years, announced payroll would drop by a reported $30 million.

Carl Pohlad bought the team in 1984 from the Griffith family. With a nucleus of players mostly from the Griffiths, Minnesota won the World Series in 1987 and 1991. In the 10 years that followed the last World Series title, Pohlad–long known for his fiscal restraint– tried contracting the franchise after alleged attempts to sell it to out-of-town buyers failed.

The Pohlads pressed for and got their new ballpark, Target Field which opened in 2010. The expectations of fans and politicos was the club would spend more money on payroll because of their new playland revenues. The Twins have spent big money on some deals like for the now retired Joe Mauer and now traded Correa but the feeling in the town square is ownership hasn’t delivered.

As of today, the franchise is in a deplorable state with its patrons. A long-time ticket buy wrote this to Sports Headliners; “…They cut payroll but they’re also going to lose close to 50 percent of their season ticket holder base which is already at an all-time low for Target Field. If they are businesspeople, at all, they would know that that does not make sense business wise.”

Another Sports Headliners reader, who has decades of marketing experience, said this via email: “Good luck moving tickets the rest of the season. There might be more fans at a local Little League game than any game at Target Field in September.”

The way it looks now, the Twins are going to lose a lot of ticket goers this year and beyond. The season base might drop to something like 4,000 and a franchise capable of drawing 2.5 million fans a year or more could be headed for half of that or less.

And Twins fans are left wondering if their 10 players were attractive enough to find takers, why didn’t the club headed by Falvey and manager Rocco Baldelli have more success on the field. One fan asked via email: “Why aren’t they in first place?”

Another fan wrote: “It seems to me that Baldelli and his staff isn’t up to major league abilities.”

Lots of developments are coming down the road with the Twins. But as of today, not so many fans are that interested.

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Brian Flores Likes What He Sees in Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy

Posted on July 29, 2025July 29, 2025 by David Shama

Enjoy a Tuesday notes column.

All eyes seemingly are on first-year Vikings starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy at training camp. Among those most qualified to give an opinion about the 22-year-old is defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

Flores said yesterday part of the strategy in preparing the inexperienced quarterback is “giving him a lot of different looks” from the defense. “I think J.J. has done a great job. I really do. I think he’s got real good command of the offense. I think he’s throwing the ball really well. I think he’s doing a lot of nice things and I’ve liked watching him improve. That’s good for everybody.”

Seems like when, not if, Flores will leave from his successful run here and accept an NFL head coaching position elsewhere. As in past seasons, it appears likely Flores will hear his name speculated on for openings in the fall and early winter.

Flores had a head coaching job previously, leading the Dolphins from 2019-2021. That tenure didn’t end well with a 24-25 record and negative feelings about his dismissal.

Flores has flourished in two previous seasons as leader of the Vikings defense. In his first two seasons leading the defense (2023-24), Minnesota had 53 total takeaways, the third most in the NFL trailing only Buffalo (59) and Pittsburgh (57). The Vikings have also held foes to an average of 96.1 rushing yards per game under Flores. That’s the third-fewest rushing yards per game over the past two seasons, behind only Detroit (93.6) and Baltimore (94.7).

Flores, who was a finalist for the Associated Press Assistant Coach of the Year for 2024, has not only polished his resume here, but also assimilated the offensive wisdom and coaching prowess of head coach Kevin O’Connell. In three seasons O’Connell has dazzled as a quarterback developer and offensive strategist.

Flores praises the way the offense goes about its business, from leadership to how the unit practices. He is comfortable going into the boss’s office and “picking his brain” on things like pass protection or route concepts. He describes O’Connell’s relationships with others as a “super power.”

“My time with him has been incredible these last two years and this year as well,” Flores said. “I think I am pretty good in some areas. Areas I am not as good in, he’s really good in. So just kind of naturally I get better in those areas. …”

Flores describes a “bit of a chess match” between the Vikings offense and defense as both units work on details to improve themselves and each other. Flores knows O’Connell is loaded with football smarts. “X’s and O’s wise, he’s as good as they get,” Flores said.

No word on who will be replacing recently retired Joe Schmit as sports director at KSTP TV. If the successor comes internally, seems likely the choice could be Chris Long who was the No. 2 behind Schmit.

George Schauer, the point man on the Golden Gophers famous Harlem Globetrotters-like warmup show in the early 1970s, died earlier this month in Dallas. Coach Bill Musselman put Schauer on scholarship strictly because of his ballhandling skills and trickery as he led his teammates through a pre-game show set to music that packed Williams Arena and had fans roaring with delight.

Former Gophers assistant coach Kevin Wilson told Sports Headliners Schauer scored two points in his four-year career and that Schauer and the Williams Arena faithful went bonkers when he made his field goal.

Schauer entertained with his basketball wizardry after college with his most recent gig as an ambassador for the Frisco, Texas based Texas Legends of the G League. That’s the official minor league of the NBA.

New coach Niko Medved’s 2025 Gophers have their last day of summer practice Thursday. Medved meets with the media that day to provide an evaluation.

Cody Nagel from Cbssports.com ranked the 18 Big Ten football coaches last week and Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck is at No. 8. Coaches above Fleck starting at No. 1 are Ryan Day, Ohio State; Dan Lanning, Oregon; James Franklin, Penn State; Lincoln Riley, USC; Kirk Ferentz, Iowa; Curt Cignetti, Indiana; Bret Bielema, Illinois.

Pioneer League football coaches voted St. Thomas to finish third in the standings this fall behind San Diego and Drake. In four previous seasons in the league, head coach Glenn Caruso’s Tommies have finished top three each year including a championship in 2022.

Twins infielder Luke Keaschall (right forearm) remains on rehab assignment with the Saints after having only 19 at bats with Minnesota this season. Pitcher Bailey Ober (left hip impingement) is also rehabbing with the Saints and has a 1.00 ERA in nine innings and two starts.

Don’t look now but while Twins pitching ace Pablo Lopez is sidelined the man traded to obtain Lopez, infielder Luis Arraez, is hitting .322 in his last 30 games and lifted his season average to .292.

Twins legends and hall of famers Jim Kaat and Rod Carew speak to the Twin Cities Dunkers on August 15.

Congratulations to Jeff Maday on being inducted into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame. The track’s media relations manager has been with the racing facility for more than 30 years and started as a groom.

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