Twins – Page 8 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Guess Who Tops Favorites List of the Twins Last 25 Seasons

Posted on June 10, 2025June 10, 2025 by David Shama

The Twins are 25 years into the new millennium. It’s been a historic period in franchise history with the opening of Target Field, division titles and ending that infamous streak of 18 consecutive post-season losses.

To honor the 25 years, I am selecting two personal favorites from the era. One choice will be about as surprising as the sunrise tomorrow. The other might have you guessing for 10 minutes.

No one put his fingerprints on Twins history over the last 25 years like Joe Mauer. My other selection, Francisco Liriano, only teased at sustained superstardom for a brief time but he captured my favor forever.

Both players played major roles in the Twins extraordinary 2006 season. The Central Division champions had the American League MVP in Justin Morneau, batting champion in Mauer, Cy Young Award winning in Johan Santana, a sixth consecutive Gold Glove Award winner in Tori Hunter, and Liriano a lights out pitcher who might have been both the Cy Young winner and Rookie of the Year if not for late season arm trouble.

Liriano photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins

In one of the best trades in Twins’ history, general manager Terry Ryan had brought Liriano to the organization in a 2003 deal with the Giants that also obtained pitchers Joe Nathan and Boof Bonser for catcher A.J. Pierzynski. After the trade Ryan remembered “everybody raving about him (Liriano)” in the farm system.

Liriano pitched briefly for the Twins in 2005 and then was more than ready in the spring of 2006 when manager Ron Gardenhire put the left-hander in the starting rotation. “He never really skipped a beat from Triple-A to the big leagues,” Ryan told Sports Headliners. “He had velocity. He had control. He had command.

“He had the slider that was an out pitch. He had an excellent change up. You know with he and Santana, they both had those changeups—difference makers. So, he had a complete mix.

“He was a good athlete. He had a good makeup about him; nothing seemed to faze him. ….”

Liriano’s dominance from May until early August when he injured his arm was breath taking to watch. During that short stretch he was the best Twins pitcher in franchise history this observer ever saw.

The Twins were almost certain to win when Liriano went to the mound. He put together a streak of eight quality starts (per MLB.com) and was named to the American League All-Star team. Ryan referred to that magical run of 2006 as “phenomenal.”

Liriano was a strike out pitching machine, partially because of a nasty slider that Ryan described as unhittable while also praising the then 22-year-old’s velocity. “I don’t care if you’re left-handed or right handed (hitter), you couldn’t hit it. Because it had power and it had severe bite, and he could locate it, and he wasn’t afraid to throw it in any count.

“Whether he was two and one; three and one; 0-2, he’d throw it. He didn’t have any problem with location, complete confidence in an out pitch, especially with left handers where they didn’t stand a chance against that pitch.”

Liriano had a 1.96 ERA into August of 2006 but then hurt his arm. He made only two starts in the last two months of the season. Still, his season numbers were gaudy: 12-3 record, 2.16 ERA, 144 strikeouts in 121 innings with opposing batters hitting .205. In a full season it might have been Liriano, not Santana who won the Cy Young Award.

“Liriano and Santana were about as impressive a tandem on a starting staff as you could ever hope for,” Ryan said. “And there was no chance that we were going to go on any extended losing streak with those two guys on the staff. Because each time either one of those guys took the mound you had a pretty good feeling you had a very good chance of winning that game that particular night.”

Before Liriano got hurt it looked like the Twins had the makings of a future World Series champion. Perhaps even in 2006. Ryan described the loss of Liriano as “devastating” to that team. “When he went down it really set us back,” Ryan said.

Liriano missed the entire 2007 season after having Tommy John surgery in late 2006. He stayed with the Twins into the 2012 season before being sent to the White Sox. He had a quality 2010 season with the Twins winning 14 games and later in his career won 16 for the Pirates. But injuries plagued his career before officially retiring in January of 2022.

It seems like Joseph Patrick Mauer, born and raised in St. Paul, has been in the spotlight forever. At Cretin-Derham Hall in the late 1990s he was a headline maker on the local sports pages. He was terrific on the basketball court, a five-star college quarterback prospect and so coveted in baseball he became the first overall selection in the 2001 MLB Draft. The Twins chose Mauer over pitcher Mark Prior and it was a wise decision because spurning the local kid for a guy who had an okay career on the mound would have been a disaster.

Ryan said the Twins might have scouted Mauer more than any prospect he knows of. “…I think we got a lot of things right on him. His make up was phenomenal. Tremendous athlete. He had a desire (to excel). He was a quiet leader.

“His demeanor was unbelievably calm. Those types of guys, they had that low pulse. They don’t get overreacting. They don’t get over excited. They just go about their business.”

By 2004 Mauer was the team’s starting catcher and taking the first steps of a legendary 15-year career in the majors, all with the Twins. The 6-foot-4, left-hand hitting Mauer won three American League batting titles, five Silver Slugger Awards and was the 2009 AL MVP Award. His production that year was the stuff of baseball immortals, hitting a career-high 28 home runs along with a .365 batting average and best-ever 96 RBI.

A Sports Illustrated cover boy, he is the only AL catcher ever to win a batting title. Six times he was named an AL all-star.

Mauer was a superb catcher superb catcher who showed off a quarterback’s arm in targeting base runners. His marvelous athleticism made him capable of even catching a foul ball behind his back or reaching behind the protective netting to snag a ball. He was a three-time Gold Glove winner as a catcher and probably deserved to win one after moving to first base late in his career.

“He was probably one of the greatest athletic catchers that came a long in the game,” Ryan said.

Mauer was voted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2023. The ultimate post-career honor came in 2024 when he was a first=ballot selection for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Ask Ryan how special Mauer was and you will hear about the man as well as the player. “Well, he’s a Hall of Famer for a reason. He’s got tools. He’s got makeup. He’s a great teammate.

“Great human being. He was raised well and. …And he hasn’t changed. I’ve been around him quite a bit since he retired, and he hasn’t changed at all”.

Mauer is a legend and he’s one of us. He put his stamp all over the first 25 years of the new millennium and we’re all the better for it.

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Will Glen Taylor Surprise as New Minnesota Twins Owner?

Posted on June 4, 2025June 4, 2025 by David Shama

The field of potential buyers of the Twins franchise is unknown to the public. Could Glen Taylor be among the interested?

Taylor, 84, might seem unlikely given his age and apparent exit from sports as majority owner of the Timberwolves and Lynx. The sale of those franchises to the Marc Lore-Alex Rodriguez group is expected to be finalized soon by the NBA.

Taylor is a lifelong civic-minded Minnesotan and sports fan. It was Taylor who stepped up in 1994 to buy a distressed Wolves franchise that could have been headed to New Orleans. Taylor started the Lynx franchise in 1999 partially because he wanted to be supportive of women’s basketball. For many years he operated both the Lynx and Wolves when they lost money.

The Mankato-based billionaire obviously wants to make money on his various business endeavors, but he’s demonstrated his interest in benefitting the community including paying for expensive upgrades to Target Center, the city-owned home of the Wolves and Lynx. More than 20 years ago he told the Rochester Post-Bulletin he had interest in buying the Twins and Vikings.

Could Taylor head a group of Minnesotans willing to buy the baseball franchise under terms they consider favorable? Might that group include the Davis family best known to many Minnesotans for its Cambria ownership? Twins hall of famer Joe Mauer, potentially as a minor investor, would add “curb appeal” to a new group.

Taylor and partners reportedly will receive $1.5 billion for the sale of the Wolves-Lynx. The Twins Pohlad family ownership group might be asking a similar price for their franchise.

That appears to be a higher figure than realistic. Forbes does value the team at $1.5 billion but a recent report from Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press said the franchise has more than $400 million debt and is borrowing to pay bills.

That is a big negotiating point to any potential buyer. So, too, is the belief that the Twins are in the bottom third in valuation among the 30 MLB franchises.

Forbes ranks the franchise at No. 23. The Orioles, who sold last year at a reported $1.7 billion, are ranked No. 18 and valued at $1.9 billion.

The Twins are averaging 19,595 fans a game this season, per ESPN.com. That ranks No. 25 in baseball. The Twins per game attendance, though, will rise in the summer months with better weather and if the Twins continue to win as they have done of late.

The club has long had a bandwagon fan base. There is no fierce groundswell of loyalty to the Twins as there is for the Vikings, or baseball’s Cubs and Red Sox.

Attendance is significantly impacted by on field success and while usually having a competitive team in the AL Central Division, the franchise is hardly poised for a World Series run. It doesn’t help either that much of the fanbase is anti-Pohlad, believing that for too long ownership has been unwilling to invest enough in payroll.

Selling season tickets has been a challenge in recent years. When the club moved into Target Field in 2010 the season tickets total was reportedly about 24,000. That figure more than doubled the franchise record, per my reporting in 2010. Now the season tickets base might be in the 10,000 range, or even less.

In addition to on field performance, attendance is impacted by inclement weather. April and May often bring troublesome weather that discourages ticket buyers. Those two months represent roughly one-third of the schedule.

Playing in a facility without a retractable roof is a liability for the franchise which might have been interested in that amenity except for the added cost. A covered facility assures ticket buyers, including groups, that a game will be played regardless of the weather.

The neighboring Brewers have such a facility and are valued at $1.7 billion and ranked No. 20 in the Forbes evaluations. Yet Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin don’t have the geographic drawing power that the Twins benefit from being able to attract fans from the Dakotas, Iowa and Canada. American Family Field gives the Brewers an edge at the box office.

The Twins have also been hit with reported declining local TV revenue. The once lucrative regional sports model has been replaced by Twins TV. Going back to the 2024 offseason it was apparent the club’s stance on player payroll was impacted on a projection of less money from local television.

Perhaps the Twins would be willing to structure a sale for something like $1.2 billion with the caveat that if certain revenue marks are achieved in coming years, the Pohlads will receive a percentage of the success. That could be a negotiating item in a sale that has plenty of challenges including the potential of a MLB players’ work stoppage after the collective bargaining agreement between their union and the owners ends after the 2026 season.

Maybe Taylor is intrigued by it all. Perhaps he sees a reinvigoration of himself on a warm, sunny day at Target Field.

Worth Noting

When the Twins selected Royce Lewis at No. 1 overall in the 2017 MLB Draft, they passed on Hunter Greene. While Lewis is in an inexplicable slump and hitting .133, Greene is arguably one of MLB’s 10 best starting pitchers. The Reds ace was 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA last season and in 2025 is off to a 4-3 record with a 2.72 ERA.

New Vikings backup quarterback Sam Howell has a Korean heritage. His grandmother was Korean and he has worn a South Korean flag decal on his helmet in the past.

Brian Cosgriff, the Minnesota high school girls basketball coaching legend who won eight state titles before retiring this spring, turned down the opportunity to pursue the head coaching job at the prestigious Montverde Academy (near Orlando). Cosgriff, 64, had an initial interest in becoming a serious candidate for the national powerhouse program but decided to remain in Minneapolis where next school year he will have a physical education position at DeLaSalle High School.

The upcoming season will be Mark Lundgren’s 30th as a member of the University of Minnesota football chain gang. The season will be the 25th for him as the gang’s crew chief. Lundgren, who has never missed a game, was recently given a 30-year commemorative jacket by some crew members.

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U Football Commits Include 4 O-Tackles in National Top 50

Posted on June 2, 2025June 2, 2025 by David Shama

The Golden Gophers picked up five more verbal commitments over the weekend for their 2026 football recruiting class, per various media. Notably, two of those players are offensive tackles, giving Minnesota four verbal commits at that position in their 15-player class so far that eventually is expected to total at least in the low 20s.

The Gophers’ four commits are all ranked in the top 50 nationally among offensive tackles by 247Sports. Andrew Trout, a four-star recruit from Cold Spring, Minnesota, is ranked No. 23; Daniel McMorris, from Norman, Oklahoma, is No. 29; Gavin Meier, Janesville, Wisconsin, No. 44; and Mataalii Benjamin, Lehi, Utah, No 45.

Two years ago, Minnesota received commitments from and later signed two prize high school offensive tackles. Nathan Roy, from Mukwonago, Wisconsin and Brett Carroll, from Olathe, Kansas, were ranked No. 11 and 21 respectively among the best prep tackles by 247Sports.

Both project as second teamers going into fall camp for the Gophers, with Roy at tackle and Carroll playing center.

Offensive tackle is a key position in college football. The Gophers have recruiting success at the position because of their coaching staff including offensive line coach Brian Callahan who has a quality reputation and has been with head coach P.J. Fleck since he came to Minnesota in 2017. Callahan’s standouts include former NFL draft choices Daniel Faalele and John Michael Schmitz.

The Gophers will have an exceptional offensive tackle roster in the class of 2026 if all of the players keep their commitments. Ironically, Benjamin, a under the radar commit, could end up having the best college career of the Gopher four-some.

Over the recruiting weekend, the Gophers also received verbal commitments from two edge rushers in Aayen Aytch, edge rusher from Lafayette, Indiana; and Anthony Charles, from McDonald, Pennsylvania; along with linebacker Angel Luciano of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, per 247Sports.

Historically, June is a busy month for the Gophers and other college programs to pick up verbal commitments. Minnesota’s 2026 class is currently ranked No. 18 in the team recruiting rankings by 247Sports.

The class is led by two four-star recruits, Trout and defensive lineman Howie Johnson from Forest Lake. They are the state of Minnesota’s No. 3 and No. 2 ranked players by 247Sports which has Jackson’s Roman Voss at No. 1.

Voss, projecting as a tight end in college, reportedly attended last weekend’s Gopher Summer Splash recruiting event but remains uncommitted. GopherIllustrated and 247Sports recruiting authority Ryan Burns told Sports Headliners recently that Voss is expected to commit to the Gophers or Alabama.

Dodge Center athlete Pierce Petersohn, who could be a college linebacker, is a possibility for the Gophers and is ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the state. Offensive tackle Owen Linder from Chanhassen is No. 5 and verbally committed to Iowa. “Minnesota chose not to go on him at any point,” Burns said.

Jayden Moore, a wide receiver from Hopkins, is ranked No. 6 among state prospects. “…I am going to guess he’s going to play basketball in college so this is going to be a moot point (regarding a college football destination),” Burns said.

Chanhassen tight end Kade Bush and Minnetonka running back Caleb Francois, are No. 7 and 8 respectively. Bush has verbally committed to Arkansas and Francois to Iowa State. Burns said the Gophers didn’t pursue either of them.

Fleck and the Gophers have landed the top high school recruit in Minnesota in three of the four previous years: Eden Prairie defensive lineman Trey Bixby (2022), Esko athlete Koi Perich (2024), and Robbinsdale Cooper linebacker Emmanuel Karmo (2025).

Worth Noting

ESPN pro football analyst Bill Barnwell is impressed with the Vikings offseason personnel additions on the offensive and defensive lines. After evaluating NFC teams, he wrote recently of the Vikings: “Most likely to flex on the line of scrimmage.”

Aaron Judge of the Yankees is hitting a gaudy .391. Former Twin Luis Arraez was hitting over .400 in June two years ago for the Marlins before finishing at .354. Ted Williams, who played minor league baseball in Minneapolis, was the last MLB .400 hitter. The Red Sox immortal had a .406 average in 1941.

Royce Lewis, who looked like the Twins best hitter for the next five years 12 months ago, is hitting an unfathomable .127.

New Golden Gophers men’s basketball coach Niko Medved makes his first appearance in front of the Twin Cities Dunkers on June 18.

Medved announced this morning former North Carolina guard-forward Cade Tyson is joining his program. The 6-7 Tyson played at Belmont earlier in his college career. At Belmont he was second team All-Missouri Valley Conference in 2024 and ranked second nationally in three point percentage at 46.5 percent.

“Cade is a versatile player that will immediately impact our team,” Medved said in a statement. “He’s a dynamic scorer, a true playmaker and a great rebounder. Cade is a terrific addition to our program and we can’t wait for him to be a Gopher.”

At North Carolina last season he played in 31 games, averaging eight minutes and 2.6 points. Tyson will presumably have one season of eligibility at Minnesota.

Happy birthday to hockey icon Lou Nanne who celebrates his 84^th birthday today.

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