Vikings – Page 169 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Not So Fast Trading Trevor Plouffe

Posted on June 2, 2016June 2, 2016 by David Shama

It’s almost a local pastime to speculate whether the Twins should trade third baseman Trevor Plouffe. Fans critical of the organization and the team’s awful start this season are amped up about trading the 29-year-old who plays the same position as franchise savior Miguel Sano.

Miguel Sano (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins).

Sano, forced to play right field, literally stumbles around in his new position. The 22-year-old slugger has been trained to play third base but Plouffe, a seven-year veteran with the Twins, blocks his path to the infield.

What to do? Don’t panic is the best advice to the Twins. The club has a long list of needs including pitching and catching. The Twins haven’t been able to develop or acquire a No.1 starting pitcher, and the bullpen is an adventure almost every night, particularly with 33-year-old All-Star closer Glen Perkins injured and out indefinitely. As for catching, the near future for the position appears dismal with 32-year-old Kurt Suzuki failing at the plate again this year and no prospects in the organization looking like they can become the regular guy.

But the Twins, who have made a lot of bad moves in recent years, don’t need to make another poor one by giving away Plouffe who is no star but is productive at bat and in the field. Twins owner Jim Pohlad must decide whether he wants general manager Terry Ryan to lead an aggressive strategy regarding trades now or wait until the season is over. The Twins might be better served doing their best due diligence in the off-season.

Then, too, there could be new leadership in the baseball department by next fall. If that is the direction Pohlad leans, then it’s wiser to do nothing now in this wasted season and let the new baseball bosses decide on Plouffe and any other players the team may choose to move.

Worth Noting

Among players exciting Twins fans is Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy who is the subject of trade rumors. The 29-year-old would solve the Twins’ catching problems for years but has said he wants to play for a contender—and that’s not Minnesota with an MLB worst record of 15-37.

Orlando Arcia, younger brother of Twins right fielder Oswaldo Arcia, is a shortstop in the Brewers organization playing for Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Outfielder Adam Walker, who is with the Twins’ Triple-A Rochester farm club, is tied for second in home runs among International League players with 10, but has struck out 76 times in 157 at bats.

Logan Shore, the Coon Rapids native at the University of Florida, is one of 25 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award honoring college baseball’s best player, according to Floridagators.com. Shore is the SEC Pitcher of the Year for 2016.

Former Gophers baseball player Mike Handel is now an account executive with Minnetonka-based Signature Concepts. The company’s clients include the University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin.

Dick Jonckowski, the Gophers’ basketball and baseball public announcer, emceed banquets recently that helped raise over $650,000 for youth sports and health care. Jonckowski was in the Baltimore area last week for the Horsey Foundation’s banquet and golf outing that generated over $250,000. A week earlier, Jonckowski was in St. Louis at the request of national sportscaster Joe Buck. He emceed Buck’s banquet and also welcomed golfers at hole No. 5 as part of activities to raise over $400,000 for St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Jonckowski, who for years has emceed events in various parts of the country, just finished his 28th season as the Gophers’ baseball public address announcer. This fall will be his 31st season handling P.A. work for men’s basketball.

Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph expects his team to keep its blue-collar work ethic after last season’s success in winning the NFC North for the first time since 2009. “That’s how we are. That’s how we’re going to play,” Rudolph told Sports Headliners. “I feel like a lot of teams try to get away from their identity based on what’s popular in the NFL, and we know that’s our identity and we have to stick to it.”

The Vikings are practicing now at Winter Park as they prepare for training camp and the 2016 season. Will next season’s team have a collective chip on its shoulder after last January’s blown opportunity to defeat the Seahawks in the playoffs?

Rudolph expects the Vikings to play with an edge, but not because of that first round loss. “…If you don’t play with a chip on your shoulder, you’re not going to fit in here because that’s a style that we play with. We play with that blue-collar, hard-working attitude, and that’s just a mindset that we have to bring each and every day.”

Vikings rookie wide receiver Moritz Boehringer will meet the public from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Fan HQ store located in the Eden Prairie Center. Twins relief pitcher Trevor May will be at the Fan HQ location at Ridgedale from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday. More specifics about both appearances including costs are available at Fanhqstore.com.

Boehringer is the first player ever drafted directly from Europe by an NFL team. He was selected by the Vikings this spring in the sixth round (180th overall). As a middle innings reliever, May is 0-2 with a 5.13 ERA but has struck out 40 batters in 26.1 innings.

WCCO TV’s David McCoy and ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling recently reported on a horse racing ownership group that has Vikings connections with offensive guard Brandon Fusco, offensive coordinator Norv Turner, quarterbacks coach Scott Turner and radio play-by-play announcer Paul Allen. The group bought Tiger D for $16,000 earlier this year and watched the five-year-old finish fourth in its debut race at Canterbury Park last Friday night, according to Goessling’s story posted yesterday.

Happy birthday to ex-North Stars player and executive Lou Nanne who turns 75 today.

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Zimmer to Vikes: Remain Blue-Collar

Posted on May 25, 2016May 25, 2016 by David Shama

The Vikings are going through Organized Team Activities at Winter Park this week and head coach Mike Zimmer has a message for the team this spring. The Vikings won their first NFC North title in six years last fall, and the football world is predicting more success in 2016, but today Zimmer cautioned “let’s not try to be someone else.”

Zimmer has stressed work ethic and toughness since he was hired as Vikings head coach after the 2013 season. His first team was 7-9 and often inconsistent in multiple ways including effort. Last fall the Vikings took a major step, earning an 11-5 regular season record and that division title before losing a first-round playoff game to the Seahawks.

Zimmer knows his players hear during the off-season how the team is “going to be good” but the words he spoke today while meeting with the media were to remind everyone the Vikings are expected to play hard and not be their own worst enemy with miscues. “We’re a blue-collar team that works hard and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” he said. …

Representatives of multiple organizations, including the Vikings, scored “points” yesterday with a knockout preview of the culinary scene planned for the new U.S. Bank Stadium opening this summer. In a presentation to the media, speakers promoted concepts and offerings that emphasize local partners and quality food.

TV personality Andrew Zimmern said U.S. Bank Stadium is going to “serve the best food” in a facility he predicted will be the “single greatest on the planet.” Andrew Zimmern’s Canteen and his AZC Rotisserie will be on the roster of U.S. Bank Stadium offerings as will Minneapolis-based purveyors such as Ike’s, Revival, and Spoon and Stable.

Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, told Sports Headliners pricing hasn’t been determined but predicted it will be similar to food sold at Target Field and Target Center. “It will stay in line (with those facilities),” she predicted.

Interestingly, the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium opening in Atlanta in 2017 has already announced concession prices that will be a hit with Falcons fans. According to a May 23 story on Falcons.com, offerings will include $2 hot dogs, popcorn and bottled water; $3 nachos, peanuts, and pizza; and $5 12-ounce domestic beer. …

The Vikings have about 2,000 seats remaining in their personal seat licenses inventory for the new stadium, team executive Lester Bagley told Sports Headliners. They have sold approximately 47,000 seat licenses.

Single game ticket sales for 2016 begin in mid-June for the 66,200 seat U.S. Bank Stadium. …

The Twins announced today they have selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Buddy Boshers from Triple-A Rochester. Boshers, who was signed by the Twins as a minor league free agent last December, was 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in 15 relief appearances for the Red Wings this season.

The Twins have placed outfielder Darin Mastroianni on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain (retro to May 22). The club has transferred left-handed pitcher Glen Perkins to the 60-day disabled list. He was placed on the disabled list April 13 (retro to April 11) with a left posterior shoulder strain. …

It’s still not confirmed whether Apple Valley High School star shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. will return to the program for his senior season. Sources have said Trent and his father have been considering other schools. The goal might be that during 2016-2017 he could be more challenged in practice playing against elite players. National prep power Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada has a reputation for rosters with highly recruited players and has been rumored as a preferred place for Trent.

“It does seem like Trent Jr. and Sr. want to find a situation that works for them but I have no confirmation if they have found it,” Jadee Jones told Sports Headliners.

Jones is an assistant on the Apple Valley varsity and he expects a decision by the Trents in June after school is finished. He said with or without Trent, the Eagles expect to have a strong team next season. “I do think we have what it takes to be competitive in the state tournament,” he said.

Jones is the older brother of Apple Valley point guard Tre Jones and also Tyus Jones who plays the same position for the Timberwolves. Tre will be a junior at Apple Valley next season and is regarded as one of the better point guard prospects in the national class of 2018.

Jadee said Tre has shown progress in his game even since Apple Valley’s season ended in March, and he has added about eight pounds to increase his strength. Tre is now 6-2 and about 175 pounds. Jadee said he sees a “noticeable difference” in his brother’s ball handling and physicality this spring.

Tre, however, is inactive for awhile after breaking the thumb on his right hand. He will wear a cast for almost four more weeks.

Tyus is spending the month in Anaheim where training and medical professionals are helping him to improve, Jadee said. Evaluations and training are focused on helping the 20-year-old move better and be more explosive. Jadee said Tyus cancelled off-season leisure travel plans to improve his physical development. …

The Gophers’ opening Big Ten Tournament baseball game in Omaha against Iowa is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. tonight and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. Regular season champion Minnesota is the No. 1 seed in the tourney, while the Hawkeyes are No. 8.

In Big Ten games the Gophers finished 16-7 and led the conference in hitting with a .304 batting average, and also in home runs with 21. Minnesota was third in team ERA at 2.99. …

Gophers fans can follow the progress of the Athletes Village construction project at NothingShortOfGreatness.com. …

Former Gopher football player Mark Smith and his Presnap Training Academy is now in its eighth year. Counselors include ex-Gophers Lewis Garrison, Rickey Foggie, and Jay Thomas. Academy sessions are at Eastview High School in Apple Valley. More at Presnapfootball.com. …

Minnesota Wild players Erik Haula, Zach Parise, Jason Pominville, Nate Prosser, Jared Spurgeon and Jason Zucker will sign autographs tomorrow at the BMO Harris Bank at 5050 France Ave. South in Edina. They will be available from 3 to 4 p.m. to raise money for people affected by the devastating spring wildfires around Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada.

Starting at 2 p.m. tomorrow, the first 300 fans donating $50 (only cash or credit card) will receive a ticket for one autograph from each of the six players. All proceeds from the event will go to the Red Cross to support those affected by the wildfires.

Spurgeon’s wife, Danielle, is one of thousands impacted by the fires in Alberta. Her parents lost their home to a fire in west Edmonton earlier this month. …

For the ninth consecutive school year the St. Thomas men and women are the MIAC’s All-Sports champions. During 2015-2016, St. Thomas won 15 conference championships—nine women’s titles and six men’s—and finished as the runner-up in three other sports. This is the 30th all-sports championship for the St. Thomas men, and 25th for the women. …

The Lynx, 3-0 this season, play the Mercury, 0-3, in Phoenix tonight in the first of eight televised games by Fox Sports North. Although the Lynx is the defending league champ, WNBA general managers predicted in a poll this month the Mercury will win the 2016 title.

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Mpls. on Standby for Soccer Stadium

Posted on May 6, 2016May 6, 2016 by David Shama

Minneapolis Council president Barb Johnson and Vikings’ front office executive Lester Bagley spoke to Sports Headliners this week regarding the proposed St. Paul soccer stadium, and the possibility of Minnesota hosting a future NFL Draft.

Minnesota United and St. Paul officials want to see the construction of a soccer stadium in the city’s Midway district. The facility could be the home for a Major League Soccer franchise starting in 2018 if the Minnesota Legislature approves an ongoing exemption from property taxes and a one-year exemption on sales tax for stadium construction materials. The stadium is to be privately financed but United and St. Paul officials insist tax exemptions are necessary to make the facility a reality.

Bagley, the point man at the State Capitol for years on the Vikings’ stadium effort, is optimistic about United and St. Paul leaders winning approval for the exemptions before the Legislature adjourns in a couple of weeks. “We think it’s in pretty good shape,” he said. “(But) if there is no tax bill, then this one will probably not stand alone. Bottom line—it appears to be on track—and it’s a fairly modest proposal. It doesn’t seem to be gathering too much controversy.”

Passage of an omnibus tax bill, with a number of initiatives including the soccer stadium, seems a likely path for United and St. Paul officials. If legislation doesn’t happen this spring, Johnson is interested in pursuing a location in Minneapolis.

“Well, I never say never until the shovel turns on the groundbreaking,” said Johnson who has been City Council president since 2006. “I am always open to Minneapolis being the home for these facilities. I think there are great amenities in our city.

“I’ve watched deals over the years with both the Twins ballpark and then the Vikings stadium be proposed for other sites but they landed in Minneapolis. I am willing to keep my ears open…and look at a potential deal in Minneapolis.”

Those comments could feed paranoia in St. Paul. Years ago the new Twins ballpark appeared headed to St. Paul but ultimately landed in Minneapolis. Five years back Arden Hills, St. Paul’s Ramsey County neighbor, appeared on track to have the new Vikings stadium, but in the end Minneapolis won out.

United owners were initially interested in buying private land for a soccer stadium in the Minneapolis Farmers market area. Unable to close the deal and convinced nothing else was available in Minneapolis, the United leaders found an ally in St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman and other officials from the city.

Johnson, though, suggested there are potential locations for a privately financed soccer stadium in her city including the Upper Harbor site along the Mississippi River in north Minneapolis. The 50-acre parcel of land is owned by the city and is near Interstate 94. “There’s lots of places that soccer could happen in Minneapolis,” Johnson said.

If the Legislature says no to the exemptions and building a new stadium doesn’t happen, the expectation is the MLS will withdraw the franchise offer to the United which currently plays in the less highly regarded North American Soccer League. The best case scenario for the United is to break ground as soon as possible on a stadium and initially play one year at TCF Bank Stadium or Target Field before moving into its new facility in St. Paul. ..

The three-day NFL Draft and ancillary activities have become big business for the league and host cities. The event was held in New York for decades but now the NFL office is amenable to other league cities hosting the spring event where the nation watches as teams select college players during seven rounds of drafting.

The last two years the draft has been in Chicago. Reports of direct economic impact use a figure of about $44 million for the 2015 draft. Although no formal announcement has been made, it’s believed Philadelphia could host the 2017 draft.

Lester Bagley (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings).

Bagley said the Vikings have expressed interest in bringing the draft to Minnesota, perhaps in 2018, 2019 or 2020. “Kind of down the road a little bit. Just digging into that right now.”

No formal proposal has been submitted by the Vikings but Bagley is confident the Minneapolis-St. Paul market has the attributes to successfully host the draft. He said those attributes are the same ones that impressed league officials so much they awarded the 2018 Super Bowl to Minnesota, and include “great hospitality,” facilities, corporate leadership, transportation, hotels, bars and restaurants.

Early speculation is draft headquarters could be the proposed new Vikings complex in Eagan. The project includes a new practice facility, team offices and a 6,000 seat outdoor stadium expandable to 10,000 that Bagley said could be used by spectators at the draft. There has also been talk of building a hotel and large conference center as part of the project.

The Vikings hope to receive approval for their complex by the Eagan City Council by the end of May. Bagley believes his organization could “potentially break ground” in Eagan in June.

“We are working with Eagan to try to bring forward a major plan and development,” Bagley said. “It’s going to be very unique in the NFL. It’s going to be the best practice facility-team headquarters in the NFL. Lots of upside there to do a lot of great things—NFL Draft notwithstanding.”

That Eagan project, along with a “75-day” countdown to the opening of U.S. Bank Stadium has Bagley and other Vikings executives busy. Too busy to spend a lot of time on a future draft for Minnesota. “We’ve got our hands full,” he said.

If the Vikings and other Minnesota officials do make a formal bid to host an NFL Draft, Johnson makes it clear she wants Minneapolis, not Eagan to be the host city. “We’re where the action is. Eagan is not, and I don’t mean to diminish Eagan, but we’ve got a lot more going on here in Minneapolis,” she said.

Johnson said the Minneapolis Convention Center or U.S. Bank Stadium are locations that can host the draft. Minneapolis invested $150 million along with the Vikings and the state in the shared cost of the stadium. Asked if that doesn’t give the city leverage in discussions about a draft site, Johnson said, “Well, sure. That’s what we’re depending on is events coming into our city because we have that investment in the stadium.”

Johnson said it will be a major disappointment if the draft isn’t hosted by Minneapolis, giving the city maximum economic impact and national publicity.

“I will have a conversation with Lester,” Johnson said. “I will also talk to Mark Wilf (Vikings president/owner). He and I talk on a regular basis.”

Johnson is respected by the Vikings. She is considered a voice of reason in City Hall—a place that sometimes leaves business leaders scratching their collective heads.

“We have the highest regard for her,” Bagley said. “Some of the other interactions down at the city (hall) are not as always clean and positive as it is with Barbara. We have not had a conversation with her about the NFL Draft. Again, early stages of telling the league we’re interested in our market (hosting the draft). Then in terms of where and which facilities, we haven’t even seriously looked into that.”

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