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Twins Need 2019 Mauer Farewell Season

Posted on October 1, 2018October 1, 2018 by David Shama

Joe Mauer can give the Twins a much needed marketing mission for next season if he decides to continue his career. That is the opinion of a sports industry business analyst that has been close to the Twins organization for years.

The club finished the 2018 season yesterday with an unexpected and disappointing 78-84 record. Mauer, the Twins’ 35-year-old first baseman who is unsure whether he wants to continue his 15-year MLB career, is one of the few players on the roster who sells tickets. The roster is one of the least appealing in franchise memory and Mauer, along with outfielder Eddie Rosario, lead any short list of box office attractions.

Mauer has only hit above .300 once in the last five seasons but the legendary Minnesota-born athlete has won three American League batting titles and the AL MVP Award. The sports industry source didn’t want his name used but he believes there was a period when Mauer may have been the most popular pro athlete in state history.

The source believes the Twins have been contemplating a 2019 marketing campaign built around a Mauer farewell season. “The organization needs to find something to promote,” he said.

The Twins drew under 2 million fans for home games this season. That’s just the second time the franchise hasn’t reached 2 million since moving into Target Field in 2010.

The club qualified for the playoffs a year ago and the Twins were expected to again be a winning team in 2018, but this season nosedived months ago and disappointments were many including awful performances by cornerstone players Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano. Fan apathy has been apparent for awhile and last Thursday Ticket King sent out emails to potential customers promoting tickets priced at $4 and $6 for weekend Twins games at Target Field.

Fans are frustrated with an organization that has put teams on the field who have produced six losing seasons since 2010, including five clubs that lost more than 90 games. With an uncertain core of players and limited talent, selling tickets during the offseason and next spring will be a challenge. And when an organization loses the confidence and interest of customers, it’s difficult to reverse direction.

During the last several seasons a lot of fans have been critical of Mauer. He’s been resented for not producing more at the plate while collecting on his eight-year $184 million contract that ran through this season. But as the possibility of retirement has become a news story this summer, there’s a sense many fans are circling back to Mauer with affection and appreciation.

Mauer has to decide in the offseason whether he still wants to play baseball. If the desire and commitment are present, speculation is the Twins might offer a $10 million one-year contract. The front office could build a ticket selling plan around the hometown hero if he agreed he wanted to play one more season and receive the applause not only of fans at Target Field but throughout the American League on a farewell tour.

Mauer is viewed by baseball authorities as an iffy candidate to one day be voted into the Hall of Fame. A year ago Mauer hit .305, the only time his batting average has been over .300 in the last five years. This season his batting totals included a .282 average, six home runs and 48 RBI. If Mauer could at least find the level of his 2017 performance next year, it certainly wouldn’t hurt his career hitting totals. Another season would move him further up the rankings for various categories in Twins and MLB history.

It does seem all but certain that if Mauer is to play baseball next season, he will be with the Twins. Asked by KSTP TV’s Joe Schmit last week about playing for another club he said, “I don’t think so.”

There is logic in arguing Mauer will announce his retirement in the coming weeks or months. He was celebrated by fans and teammates yesterday in the final game of the season, a 5-4 win over the White Sox. The former catcher who turned first baseman a few years ago even caught a perhaps symbolic pitch behind the plate during the game.

Mauer has all the money he and future generations of his family will ever need. He also has a history of health issues, and he has a young family who no doubt would love to see him spend summers with them. No, he won’t return for another season just to help the Twins sell tickets, and he will retire if he doesn’t have the will to continue his career.

But that’s a big decision for someone whose life has revolved around pro baseball since he was a teenager. The source who talked with Sports Headliners predicts the public will need to be patient about Mauer’s decision—probably a couple of months. “Joe never does anything quickly,” he said.

Worth Noting

The club’s disappointing record this season wasn’t because of competing in a talented five-team division. USA Today’s MLB power poll last week listed Central Division champion Cleveland No. 6, the Twins 22, the Tigers 26, White Sox 27 and Royals 29.

Outfielder Alex Kirilloff has been named the 2018 Sherry Robertson Award winner as the Twins Minor League Player of the Year and left-handed pitcher Lewis Thorpe has been named the 2018 Jim Rantz Award winner as the club’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Kirilloff, 20, split the season between Single-A Cedar Rapids and Single-A Ft. Myers, combining to hit .348 (178-for-512) with 44 doubles, seven triples, 20 home runs and 101 RBI in 130 games. Thorpe, 22, split the season between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Rochester, having a combined record of 8-7 with a 3.54 ERA. He pitched 129.2 innings and had 157 strikeouts, with opponents having a .250 batting average.

Wonder how many Timberwolves season ticket holders are unhappy after the organization increased prices and then franchise player Jimmy Butler announced last month he wants to be traded?

Former Vikings All-Pro defensive end Chris Doleman has glioblastoma, the same cancer that killed Arizona senator John McCain. Doleman, in a wheelchair, attended the September 29 tribute at U.S. Bank Stadium for Denny Green, his former coach.

Green’s widow, Marie, is a former flight attendant who is now operating partner of the Drybar hair shop in southern California, according to her Linkedin page.

It will be a difficult transition for Eric Kendricks if Anthony Barr isn’t with the Vikings next season. The two have been linebacker teammates at UCLA and with the Vikings (since 2015). Kendricks says of his friend, “that’s my boy,” but the Vikings might not have the financial flexibility (or desire) to sign his teammate who is a free agent after next season and was beaten on three touchdown passes Thursday night against the Rams.

Kendricks was asked last week about a future contract for Barr. “Honestly, I can’t make comment on that. I can just make comment on what kind of person he is and what kind of work ethic I see everyday. That’s all I have to judge off of him. I’ve been playing with Anthony for awhile now and (he’s) pushing me to do better, and that’s how it’s been.”

New Vikings kicker Dan Bailey is 30 years old and has been in the NFL since 2011 when he joined the Cowboys. In two games with the Vikings he is perfect on three field goal attempts and two extra points. “…I think I am hitting the ball just as well at this age as I was seven, eight years ago,” he said.

Condolences to family and friends of former Minnesota sportswriter Tony Swan, 78, who died last week. Tony spent much of his career in Michigan where he established a reputation as one of the preeminent automotive and motor sports journalists in the nation.

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Bailey Not the Vikings Kicker Yet

Posted on September 17, 2018September 19, 2018 by David Shama

Enjoy a Monday notes column on the Vikings, Gophers, Wild and MIAC.

Hysteria was rampant among Vikings followers after rookie kicker Daniel Carlson missed three field goals in yesterday’s 29-29 tie with the Packers. Among the misses was a 35-yarder in overtime that looked like a “gimme” for the 23-year-old kicker.

Carlson made a 48-yard field goal in Minnesota’s opening win against the 49ers a week ago Sunday. So he was at 25 percent on field goals as of this afternoon when the Vikings announced they cut him from the roster.

At his Monday news conference heard on KFAN-FM, head coach Mike Zimmer said the team will be ordering a physical for Carlson’s likely replacement, 31-year-old former Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey. He is an 88.2 percent career kicker over seven seasons with the Cowboys.

“We’ll see if we sign him or not,” Zimmer said.

The Vikings used a fifth round 2018 draft pick on Carlson, the former Auburn All-American. Minnesota made him the highest drafted kicker in franchise history. The Vikings were attracted to the 6-foot-5 Carlson’s big kicking leg and credentials that included the second best percentage for field goals at 50+ yards in NCAA history (13 of 21).

“That’s life,” Zimmer said. “I don’t know. It’s hard to figure out. You think you got a guy for awhile and then he goes out and misses three in a big game. But, you know, things happen, I guess.”

Carlson was 6 of 6 on PAT’s this season, and he never missed an extra point at Auburn. Conversions were an issue for 31-year-old Kai Forbath who Carlson beat out for the placekicking job with the Vikings this summer. Forbath only made 48 of 56 PAT’s during his Vikings career.

Forbath converted on 12 of 14 field goals between 30 and 39 yards last regular season. He hit six of seven from 40 to 49 yards for the Vikings.

Another change the Vikings personnel decision makers might be considering is replacing Laquon Treadwell when the offense has three wide receivers on the field. Treadwell, a 2016 first round draft choice, has made slow progress in his career. Yesterday he had his first ever NFL touchdown reception, but he also didn’t catch some passes including one that almost cost Minnesota the game.

The Vikings today signed wide receiver Aldrick Robinson who is in his seventh NFL season. He has played with four other NFL teams including the Redskins when Kirk Cousins was the quarterback there before joining the Vikings.

“He’s a fast guy,” Zimmer said. “(He) makes some deep ball plays, and Kirk throws a great deep ball as you saw the other day.”

The Vikings are the third youngest team in the NFL, according to opening day roster information from the NFL. At an average of 25.47 years, the Vikings rank behind the Browns at 25.19 and the Bengals at 25.38.

Only the Browns at 3.21 average years of NFL experience per player, have a lower figure than the Vikings at 3.49.

It was 57 years ago today, September 17, 1961, that rookie quarterback Fran Tarkenton led the Vikings to the franchise’s first ever win, a 37-13 upset victory over the Bears at Metropolitan Stadium in the opening game of the season.

Dan O’Brien told Sports Headliners redshirt Gophers sophomore safety and punt returner Antoine Winfield Jr., who already this season has twice been a Big Ten Player of the Week, was under recruited coming out of high school in Texas because of his short stature, maybe 5-foot-10. O’Brien was Winfield’s defensive backfield coach two years ago. During the summer of 2016 word came in from teammates during captain’s practices that Winfield was impressive for a true freshman, after being ranked only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com while in high school.

Winfield had an impressive 31-yard punt return and recovered a fumble in Saturday’s Gopher win over Miami (Ohio). O’Brien, who was part of the Jerry Kill–Tracy Claeys coaching era at Minnesota, is 3-0 in his first season as head coach at St. Thomas Academy.

Minnesota has won 19 of its last 20 nonconference home games, but only one was against a Power Five team. The Gophers defeated the Pac-12’s Oregon State in 2016 at TCF Bank Stadium. The one home loss came against No. 2 ranked TCU of the Big 12 in 2015.

The Gophers will make program history next season with the longevity and experience of two redshirt senior running backs—Shannon Brooks in his fifth year and Rodney Smith in his sixth. Are they the best running backs in program history to play together? No, that distinction goes to Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney.

Jacob Herbers, with deftly placed punts inside the Miami 10-yard line, was the “Player of the Game,” according to Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck talking on WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle yesterday.

Fleck indicated on the program he doesn’t expect quarterback Zack Annexstad’s ankle injury suffered in the Miami game to sideline him for next Saturday’s Big Ten opener at Maryland.

Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold, 66, had his third hip surgery last week and is planning a fourth.

As usual, the Wild’s fortunes on the ice will have much to do with the availability and performance of their well-paid two-some of forward Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter. General manager Paul Fenton told Sports Headliners that Parise, coming off of a sternum injury, will participate in the preseason schedule that opens tonight in Winnipeg. Suter, who missed the playoffs because of a severe ankle injury, might not play in the exhibition games.

“The plan is to have him (Suter) back for the opener,” Fenton said. “He’s going to be cleared here to be able to practice, so let’s just get him into the shape that he needs to be in. We’ve got until October 4th for him to be ready.”

With another school year starting, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference reports that more than 7,300 students at its member schools are expected to compete in athletics and over 70 percent are Minnesota natives.

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Rattle QB Rodgers? Yes, It’s Possible

Posted on September 14, 2018September 14, 2018 by David Shama

Aaron Rodgers is the master of the fourth quarter miracle. The Packers quarterback has led so many comebacks that Sbnation.com wrote an article this week about 11 of them just against the Bears and Lions.

The story was prompted by last Sunday night’s mythmaking rally against the Bears in Green Bay’s opening game of the season. A national NBC television audience watched a gimpy Rodgers, unable to put much weight on his left knee, lead the Packers to a 24-23 win, after the Bears had built a 20-0 early second half lead.

Since 2008 Rodgers has shown a flair for the dramatic, sometimes even the impossible. Former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber watched Sunday’s game with a feeling that when the Bears had a cushy lead it wasn’t going to last.

Leber told Sports Headliners this week that he probably would choose Rodgers over anyone else to lead a comeback if his team was in a bad spot. “He has an uncanny way of finding throws and finding seams,” Leber said.

Rodgers played with a left knee sprain and it affected his mobility. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer could see that as he watched tape this week of the game. “He didn’t move quite as well, but he did move and make some throws,” Zimmer said. “He didn’t really get outside the pocket after that. The guy is incredible. He makes every throw, gets the ball out quick, sees pressure. …”

Even hobbling around on one solid leg Rodgers may have been better than any other quarterback in the NFL. His arm strength is reminiscent of former Packers and Vikings legend Brett Favre.

“He’s learned how to manage a game and throw balls down the field even just throwing off one foot—whether it’s his back foot or a front foot,” Leber said. “If he didn’t have that arm strength, he would not have been as effective with that bad knee.”

The Packers have been coy this week about whether that injured left knee will keep the quarterback sidelined when the Vikings play at Green Bay on Sunday. Today official word will come whether he is “okay, questionable, doubtful or out” for the game between the two clubs who are the most likely to win the four-team NFC North Division title that also includes the Bears and Lions.

The news could cast a pall over Packer Nation. If Rodgers can’t play, the Packers would be at a huge disadvantage against the Vikings, who are superior to Green Bay in just about every way except at quarterback. Football is the ultimate team game but the Rodgers-led Packers are kind of a one-man band.

Even if Rodgers can play, there has to be concern in America’s Dairyland and all over Packer Nation. Their hero will be 35 in December and he is looking more vulnerable. In an early season game last year against the Vikings, Rodgers broke his collarbone on an infamous play. He missed most of the year and his absence ruined the Packers’ chances of being a playoff team.

This year Rodgers is hurt again. What if he plays this Sunday but takes an early blow to his knee? Can he withstand that? Rodgers is all about guts and courage but his mobility is a prime asset in his skillset.

Leber said even a healthy Rodgers is not an impossible assignment for the Vikings who have won four of the last five games against Green Bay. He suggested if the Vikings do things like play enough tight coverage on receivers, knock down passes and hurry throws, Rodgers can get frustrated, even rattled.

What Rodgers wants to do is hit the Vikings with long strikes down the field. The Vikings can frustrate Rodgers if he doesn’t have those opportunities. “I think that he gets antsy,” Leber said. “He wants to stay aggressive, and I don’t think he likes playing that game where he has to dink and dunk (short passes). I think he wants to sit in the pocket and throw the ball down the field.”

The formula for playing against Rodgers includes wearing him down during the game. “..I would say like every quarterback, nobody likes to get hit,” Leber said. “If you can constantly pressure him, and get him rattled—I mean he’s not immortal.

“But he is a much tougher quarterback (than most) to go against because he is a strong quarterback. He’s tough, he’s mobile. He’s extremely smart and savvy, and always thinking one step ahead.”

Zimmer is among the sharpest defensive strategists in the NFL but don’t expect him to create some grand design for Rodgers that will confuse the quarterback. Leber played 10 seasons in the NFL and he knows his X’s and O’s, too. “…As far as coverages go, and schemes, no, there is really nothing that he (Rodgers) hasn’t seen. It just comes down to his offensive line executing and giving him the time to throw.

“But I don’t think you’re going to go into a game ever thinking, ‘Hey, we’ve got something so cool and so creative that it’s just going to blow his socks off and he’s not going to know what to do.’ ”

How Rodgers plays Sunday—if he does—will have a lot to do with his supporting cast, of course. During the offseason the Packers released wide receiver Jordy Nelson, a longtime Rodgers favorite. Leber thinks the move results in a “dip in talent” for the receiver roster because Nelson was so effective in finding openings to catch passes from Rodgers. Leber likes the group of running backs and wants to see more of the offensive line before making evaluations.

Against the Bears the Green Bay offensive line struggled to contain star Chicago pass rusher Khalil Mack. When the Vikings come to town Rodgers and his protectors will have to contend with a defense that could be the NFL’s best. Minnesota has playmakers in every position including bring-the-pressure defensive ends Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter.

Even against the mythmaker Rodgers, Leber forecasts a Vikings win on Sunday, 24-20.

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