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Stars May Align for Twins in Playoffs

Posted on September 28, 2020September 28, 2020 by David Shama

Maybe the Minnesota Twins can start a new kind of momentum this week. The club has lost 16 consecutive postseason games dating back to 2004, but multiple positives are in place as the Twins await the Tuesday start of their best of three opening playoff series against the Houston Astros.

All games will be at Target Field—and talk about being comfy at home, the Twins were a MLB-best 24-7 in Minneapolis. With a season record of 36-24, Minnesota is among the World Series favorites and regarded as a top five MLB team. The Astros, 29-31 this season, have stumbled into the expanded MLB playoff field and been awful on the road, winning nine games and losing 23.

The Astros are defending AL champions but don’t have the same roster as last year. Among the most significant changes is that Kate Upton’s husband, pitching ace Justin Verlander, is unavailable and scheduled for Tommy John surgery. That’s a major loss for the Astros, particularly in a short playoff series.

Despite their “Bomba Squad” reputation, the Twins have transformed their identity a bit from the 2019 MLB home run record team. This year’s edition can brag on its pitching, too. By most metrics the Twins staff is among the best in baseball, including an ERA of 3.54 that ranks No. 4 among MLB’s 30 teams, per Espn.com. The Astros rank No. 13 with an ERA of 4.31.

If Twins starter Kenta Maeda, with bullpen help, can stop the 0-16 streak in the series opener, that will be a confidence booster for both the club and its fans. In his first season with the Twins Maeda has emerged as the staff’s best starter, with an impressive 6-1 record and 2.70 ERA. He has been steady in performance and calm in demeanor. “I think my command was there throughout the season,” Maeda said this afternoon.

The ex-Los Angeles Dodger has 24 games of playoff experience, including appearances in seven World Series games. The majority of postseason outings were in relief but he does have three starts. Overall, the 32-year-old Japanese-born right-hander has a 2-1 playoff record and 3.31 ERA.

Another success story for the pitching-deep Twins is Tyler Duffey. Once an ineffective starter, it took Duffey awhile to emerge as a go-to reliever. Even in 2018 Duffey’s stats out of the bullpen included a 7.20 ERA, but last year with improved throwing velocity it dropped to 2.50. During the second half of the 2019 season he was the fifth most valuable reliever in baseball, per FanGraphs and MLB.com. This year the 29-year-old right-hander has a career-best ERA number of 1.88.

The “Bomba Boys” hit 91 home runs during the 60-game season, sixth best in MLB, per Espn.com. That is 22 better than the Astros, with the two teams having similar batting averages—Minnesota .242 and Houston .240. But the Twins were mediocre this season in scoring runs, ranking No. 18 in the majors and 10 fewer than the Astros produced.

It was frequently home run-or-bust at the plate, with too few hitters reaching base via singles and doubles. But another upbeat omen for the Twins is that slap the ball to all fields Luis Arraez is on a seven-game hitting streak and finished the season batting .321.

The Astros have a lineup of difficult to strike out hitters but Maeda may not be fazed by that. He doesn’t concentrate on strikeouts, just getting batters out. That’s the mentality of a staff ace but Maeda ducked the label today after being asked, even though he deserves the recognition.

“He’s been unbelievable,” Duffey said. “His preparation day-to-day, it seems like he’s always doing something to get ready for his next outing. Watching him pitch it’s weird, he just doesn’t miss.

“It’s pretty incredible and he throws five or six pitches, you can’t really tell. Everything is darting left and right. But guys have had a hard time getting to him all year so I think we can do nothing but to expect that again. ..”

Despite significant injuries throughout the season, the Twins won a second consecutive AL Central Division title. Even entering the playoffs there are uncertainties about the availabilities of center fielder Byron Buxton, third baseman Josh Donaldson and starter Jake Odorizzi. Another good omen for the Twins would be seeing a couple of those players back on the field soon.

Asked about Buxton possibly playing behind him tomorrow, Maeda first mentioned the recent hot hitting by the center fielder. Then he quickly referenced Buxton’s “phenomenal” fielding and suggested Buxton’s presence improves the Twins’ defense “10 times more than other guys.”

Last year the Twins dealt with deafening crowd noise in their three-game playoff at Yankee Stadium. Duffey acknowledged the environment as difficult and likened it to the engine roar of an airplane. This year the Twins are playing at home, even though they will be without the energy of their fans. Still, they have to be happy not playing in Yankee Stadium.

Tuesday’s game is a 1 p.m. start televised by ABC, with Wednesday having a noon start on ESPN2.

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Dutcher Contract Targets Gopher Job

Posted on September 23, 2020September 23, 2020 by David Shama

Minnesota native Brian Dutcher has negotiated a revised contract to continue coaching the San Diego State men’s basketball team. The deal includes a near $7 million buyout if he departed for another school, but it has one exception: the University of Minnesota job.

The San Diego Union-Tribune offered details of the new contract earlier this month and reported the buyout to take the Minnesota job is $1 million. The $6.95 million opt out amount, the newspaper said, drops in succeeding years and will be expensive for either the Aztecs to fire Dutcher, or for another school to hire him—except if that program is the Gophers.

Dutcher, 60, is an alum of Bloomington Jefferson and the University of Minnesota. His dad Jim Dutcher, now in his late 80s, coached Minnesota to the Big Ten title in 1982. Brian is close to his father who every season travels to San Diego to watch the Aztecs. Brian comes back to Minneapolis each summer with his family and sees not only his dad but two sisters.

“I guess he’s putting it out there that Minnesota would be a pretty good place for him to go if the job opened up,” said Robbie Hummel, Big Ten Network and ESPN college basketball authority.

Hummel, the former Purdue star and Minnesota Timberwolves reserve, acknowledged the opt out clause for Minnesota is unusual. “I’ve never heard of a coach being able to negotiate a deal like that,” Hummel told Sports Headliners yesterday. “That’s sure interesting because if that were to happen it would be encouraging for Gopher fans because he did a heck of a job last year.

“But I do believe Minnesota has a really good coach right now in Richard Pitino—given the hands he’s been dealt, whether it’s injuries, suspensions. He’s put together some good teams in the league. …I think Minnesota’s got something pretty good right now.”

In the Union-Tribune story San Diego State AD John David Wicker said the Aztecs job is a better one than Minnesota but he understands the pull to go home for family reasons if a vacancy were to occur. Brian Dutcher also spoke on the record and said,
“It’s my school. Where I went and was able to be part of that basketball program with my dad. But it’s still a buyout. It’s not like it’s free.”

Dutcher’s team was 30-2 and ranked No. 6 in the nation before COVID put an end to the 2019-2020 college basketball season. His team appeared poised for a deep tournament run. USA Today named him college coach of the year. His three-year record as Aztecs head coach is 73-26 (.737 winning percentage).

Pitino, 38, starts his eighth season at Minnesota this fall. Two of his teams have qualified for the NCAA Tournament. His first Gopher team won the 2014 NIT. His overall record is 127-108 and 48-82 in Big Ten games. Only once has his Gopher team won more Big Ten games than it lost.

Critics have suggested for awhile that Minnesota AD Mark Coyle should make a change. With the possibility of program interest declining and ticket sales slumping even more, rumors had Pitino being dismissed last March and bought out of his contract, but issues caused by the pandemic, including financial hardship at the U, may have been why a change didn’t happen.

The Gopher job could also open up if Pitino decided to take over another program. During Pitino’s tenure at Minnesota his name has been linked to other major college positions.

If Coyle did make a change some time in the next few years, you can be sure the ability of the head coach to recruit will be top of the list. Dutcher has recruiting ties in talent-rich California and helped bring the great Kawhi Leonard to San Diego State when he was an assistant coach. While an assistant at Michigan, Dutcher was instrumental in the recruiting of the famous “Fab Five” freshmen class.

Hummel doesn’t believe Pitino is spending time thinking about Dutcher’s contract. “You just gotta worry about yourself. …I don’t think he’s worried at all about Brian Dutcher’s contract.”

Worth Noting

Is it possible ex-Gophers center Daniel Oturu has fallen in NBA mock draft projections because scouts are concerned about his history of injuries with both shoulders? NBAdraft.net, for example, once ranked the Woodbury native as a top 10 choice in the 2020 draft but now projects him as the last player to be chosen in the first round, going at No. 30 to the Boston Celtics.

All-Big Ten junior Gophers point guard Marcus Carr, who withdrew his name for the draft this summer, needs to improve his shooting to draw more serious interest from NBA teams. He made .393 percent of his field goals last season (.361 on three-pointers).

Liam Robbins, the Drake transfer who will replace Oturu, is drawing interest from Gophers fans and he should including for his shot blocking. Last season Robbins ranked No. 4 nationally with a 2.91 blocks per game average. Oturu ranked No. 21 averaging 2.45.

Various media reports last week had Rick Pitino, father of Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino, watching the U.S. Open from his nearby house at Winged Foot Golf Club. Pitino is also a member of the historic club in suburban New York City.

Here is another indictment of the Vikings’ ineffective offensive line that has contributed to two quarterback sacks and a 0-2 record: Tight ends Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr. have to focus on blocking to help the interior crew, rather than receiving (they have two catches each).

Look for the Vikings to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2013 with a win at U.S. Bank Stadium against a mediocre 2-0 Tennessee Titans team. It will be a miracle if Titans kicker Stephen Gostkowski beats the Vikings with a field goal after booting the game winner twice in the last two minutes of Tennessee’s opening games.

In the latest S.I.com NFL power rankings the Vikings, a preseason favorite to win the NFC North Division, are at No. 23 among 32 teams.

Front Office Sports reports FOX is willing to spend $2 billion to maintain its rights to Sunday NFL games that include exposure in the nation’s three largest TV markets, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The present deal cost $1.08 billion.

Twins closer Taylor Rogers earned the save last night in Minnesota’s 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers that pulled the team within a half game of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central Division race, but he gave up a run and is struggling this season with a 4.34 ERA (last season 2.61).

Minnesota is 10-1 in September Target Field games and a MLB-best 22-5 playing at home this season.

Bloomington-located Total Sports Enterprises is promoting an October 2 private signing of Joe Mauer items.

Former University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler turns 64 today.

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Ben Leber Goes Off on Vikings

Posted on September 21, 2020September 21, 2020 by David Shama

The Minnesota Vikings have been dominated in their first two games, losing 43-34 to the Green Bay Packers and 28-11 to the Indianapolis Colts. Beyond the 0-2 start to the 2020 season, few numbers are more telling than the team’s time of possession average: Vikings 20 minutes: 10 seconds, opponents 39:51.

Since 1990 NFL teams that begin the season 0-2 have about a 12 percent chance of making the playoffs. With the league expanding the number of playoff teams from 12 to 14 in 2020, it might be premature to write the Vikings’ “obituary” before the first official day of fall, but this team has issues.

The front office willingly parted with personnel in the offseason, most specifically on the defensive line, cornerback and trading star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills. Injuries to defensive end Danielle Hunter, linebacker Anthony Barr and guard Pat Elflein have compounded performance. Still, there are a couple of issues that have been troubling for years—inconsistency at quarterback and in the offensive line. Management has not put high caliber personnel in place to elevate these areas to rank among the best in the league.

Vikings fans are frustrated and so is ex-Viking linebacker Ben Leber. Since Leber’s career ended he has emerged as a candid and knowledgeable analyst on Vikings radio broadcasts and college football telecasts. Unlike many ex-players turned analysts, he is credible and serves his audience.

After yesterday’s game he went off on how the Vikings are playing. Speaking on the KFAN post-game show, Leber was rightfully critical of both the offense and defense.

Leber started with quarterback Kirk Cousins who had a miserable 15.9 passer rating yesterday. Cousins, who has a contract worth almost $100 million, completed 11 of 26 passes for 113 yards and threw three interceptions. But Leber thought Cousins was worse than his stats.

“To me Kirk Cousins has to be able to trust other people outside of (favorite wide receiver) Adam Thielen,” Leber said on KFAN. “He’s way too predictable on passes thrown to him. (In) critical situations everybody knows it’s going to go to Thielen. He (also) has to do a better job in the course of the first half of ball distribution, finding other guys. …”

The Vikings started yesterday’s game with Cousins throwing the ball in a series of plays featuring play-action passes. Leber didn’t like the scripted plays not utilizing Dalvin Cook who management just rewarded with a big contract that includes a $23 million guarantee. He regards Cooks as one of the NFL’s best running backs.

Leber understands offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak wants to have a balanced attack of running and throwing but Cook isn’t receiving enough opportunities (14 carries, two receptions yesterday). “He has this ability to make plays,” Leber said. “Let him be your playmaker. Let the offense run through him. Let the play action pass get developed and get down the field through the run game. We’re just not doing that.”

The Vikings’ woes with time of possession are caused by more than an ineffective offense that leaves the defense on the field for long stretches. “It’s extremely agonizing (to watch),” Leber said. “I love that word because it encapsulates how you feel watching the defense as well (as the offense).”

The defense isn’t playing like a typical Mike Zimmer defense. The line has been pushed around on running plays and unable to sack quarterbacks and create pressure. “The running backs are getting two, three, four yards down the field before there is any initial contact,” Leber said.

An inexperienced group of cornerbacks 24 years old and younger has struggled. Leber said they have played “dumb football.” He is also critical of linebacker Eric Wilson’s pass coverage. ”There are big time issues on this defense that cannot be ignored,” Leber said.

Worth Noting

Leber lives in Edina, a community of choice for players from the Minnesota Wild, Gophers coaches P.J. Fleck and Richard Pitino, Minnesota Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson, and Twins club executives Derek Falvey and Thad Levine.

The AL Central division leading Chicago White Sox rank No. 2 behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in SI.com’s MLB power rankings of last Friday. The New York Yankees, the team Twins fans fear meeting in the playoffs, rank No. 8 while Minnesota is No. 6.

In MLB.com’s power rankings out today the Yankees rank No. 4, White Sox No. 6 and Twins No. 7.

The Twins win over the Chicago Cubs last night was the club’s first appearance since 2010 on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.

Ron Gardenhire, who has had health issues for years, retired from the Detroit Tigers a couple of days ago but will best be remembered as the Twins manager. He was the first skipper in MLB history to have his team in the playoffs during the first six of his nine years.

Nice guy Gardy could get fired up on the field. He was ejected from games 84 times, the seventh highest in MLB history.

Former Gophers head coach Jerry Kill, now a special assistant at TCU, will see an interesting prospect coming to Fort Worth next year. Alexander Honig, who lives in Germany, has verbally committed to TCU and prompted an Associated Press story awhile ago that detailed his 6-6 height, skills and potential.

Murray’s, the longtime Sports Headliners advertiser, has an impressive new website telling visitors the success story of the iconic downtown restaurant that dates back to 1946. Open most days for lunch and dinner, Murray’s is also offering curbside pickup.

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