Wild – Page 19 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Lions Send Message to Vikes & NFL

Posted on May 7, 2023May 7, 2023 by David Shama

It’s an interesting offseason in the NFC North Division where the Vikings call home. The great Aaron Rodgers has left the Packers, likely transforming that team into expected also-rans, while the Lions, not the defending division champion Vikings, are the favorite to win the North.

Many sports books have the Lions betting favorites to win their first division title since 1993. Only seven NFL teams have better odds of making the Super Bowl next year, according to BetMGM. The franchise that defined ineptitude is now a top 10 NFL team, per some NFL observers.

Detroit (no playoffs since 2016) has been sending a message for a while that they will be bullied no more. The vision started after Dan Campbell was named head coach in January of 2021. The feisty former NFL player said when his Lions are knocked down, not only will that get up but “we’re going to bite a knee cap off.”

During Campbell’s first two years in Detroit the players have responded with enthusiasm and work ethic. The Vikings got a taste of the grit and toughness of the Lions in a December game last year, a 34-23 Detroit victory.

The Lions went 5-1 in their last six games and that finish is part of the reason for Detroit’s popularity now as 2023 division favorites. That momentum seemingly continues after last month’s NFL Draft where the Lions signaled their commitment to be a tough, physical football team, including a willingness to run the football.

Today’s NFL is basketball on grass for many teams, but it looks like the Lions may eschew that approach in 2023. Their initial pick in the first round was a surprise, drafting Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12. He’s an explosive runner and will be complemented by veteran pick up David Montgomery as the Lions anticipate improving on a rushing game that ranked No. 11 in the league last season (average per game 128.2).

Signing former Gophers All-American Mo Ibrahim as a free agent running back is another clue about how Campbell and company intend to compete. Ibrahim’s toughness and power running make him a candidate to earn a roster spot as a short yardage option and goal line specialist. The Lions could take an approach to be different offensively than many of their peers, including the high-powered Viking offense built around quarterback Kirk Cousins and his elusive receivers.

The Vikings were 13-4 last season, but the record was unconvincing to critics. Minnesota set an NFL record by winning 11 one-score games. Opponents outscored them during the regular season, 427-424. Minnesota’s wild card game was a dud, losing 31-24 to the Giants in Minneapolis.

The Lions, 9-8 overall, outscored the opposition 453-427. Detroit also had the best record against division rivals, going 5-1.

The Lions and Vikings need to show they are better defensively in 2023. Last season both gave up 25 points per game, among the worst showings in the NFL. Both defenses flirted with yielding nearly 400 yards per game.

The Lions also sent a message with their second draft pick in the first round, taking tough guy linebacker Jack Campbell from Iowa. The 6-5, 249-pound Campbell was the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year and Dick Butkus Award winner as the nation’s best linebacker.

Offensively, both the Vikings and Lions made their fans happy last season. Minnesota averaged 24.9 points per game, seventh best in the NFL. The Lions averaged a fourth best 26.6.

Today your bookie probably will handicap the NFC North like this: Lions, Vikings, Bears and Packers. The Bears are still rebuilding, and the Packers are dealing with the loss of Rodgers at football’s most important position. Of course, reality won’t be known until the end of the year but for now a lot of observers see a new team at the top of a mediocre division.

Worth Noting

A recent story by Adam Sparks of USA Today reported the football Gophers spent $1,227,189 on recruiting in 2022. That ranked Minnesota No. 7 in the Big Ten and No. 25 nationally. The Big Ten list didn’t include private school Northwestern. Surprisingly Rutgers ranked No. 2 and Ohio State No. 5, with Michigan No. 1, and Minnesota out spending neighboring rivals Nebraska, Wisconsin and Iowa who ranked No. 8, 11 and 13 respectively.

Joe Salem, the University of Minnesota head football coach from 1979-1983, turned 85 last Monday and lives in his hometown of Sioux Falls. An imaginative offensive mind, Salem’s assistants at Minnesota included Mike Shanahan who went on to lead the NFL Broncos to consecutive Super Bowl wins. Before taking over the Gophers, Salem was head coach at Northern Arizona where his assistants included Brad Childress, Marty Mornhinweg and Andy Reid, all of whom became NFL head coaches.

The Wild’s Marc Andre-Fleury will be 39 next November but it will be a surprise if he doesn’t return for another season and be part of the goalie rotation with Filip Gustavsson. “He is a leader in the locker room,” a hockey source told Sports Headliners. “He’s a leader of the young players.”

Speculation a few years ago was the St. Paul Saints franchise was worth $25 million as one of the more valuable properties in minor league baseball. The club was sold earlier this year for a price that may have been $17 million.

Condolences to friends and family of Tim Heikkila who passed away late last month in Thomasville, Georgia. Heikkila, a member of the University of Minnesota M Club Hall of Fame, was a 1971 high jump All-American.

The Kentucky Derby showcased the best racehorses Saturday but for some thoroughbreds the big money comes after they retire and are used for breeding. A New York Times article pointed out last week that Flightline, a champion thoroughbred racehorse now retired, made $4.3 million in racing purses over two years, but “with 155 mares in his date book” he will generate $31 million in earnings by the end of July for breeding.

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Twins President Sees Bests Yet to Come

Posted on May 2, 2023 by David Shama

Twins president Dave St. Peter thinks the best is yet to come for his team and star DH Byron Buxton.

The Twins are in first place in the American League Central Division with a 17-12 record. They are three games ahead of the second place and defending division champion Guardians. They are already nine games in front of the fourth place White Sox who host the Twins for a series starting tonight in Chicago.

St. Peter was hoping for a fast start to the season and got one. “But I think we have our best baseball ahead of us. I am really excited about the makeup of this team and…the way it was constructed. I think it’s set up for a lot of not just regular season success but post season success. The best is yet to come.

“…We’re into May here now. You normally want to get to about 40-50 games (into the season) and then you’ll have a better sense of what type of team you have. So we got a little ways to go to get there but I like how we’re tracking.”

Byron Buxton has produced timely hitting, including Sunday when his three-run home run started a seven run third inning for the Twins in a win against the Royals. “I think his best is still yet to come,” St. Peter said. “I think he’s just scratching the surface. He’s such a talented athlete and I think he’s really turning into being a pretty gifted hitter.”

Buxton is 29 and in his ninth season with the club but he’s only been able to tease his potential because of so many injuries. Only once has “Buck” been able to play in more than 92 games. Caution surrounds the Twins’ management of him. Held back for only designated hitting so far, warmer weather and surer footing could prompt occasionally using his fielding gifts in center field.

Buxton’s athleticism on the bases has helped the Twins, too, but health concerns seem likely to limit his stolen base attempts. “…I am not sure stolen bases are ever going to be a big part of Byron’s game, in my opinion,” St. Peter said.

The Twins’ team batting average of .237 ranks seventh in the 15-team American League. The club is in a fourth place tie for home runs with 38 and is eighth in runs scored at 134. Minnesota is a plus 26 in runs over their opponents. Injuries have at time caused some of the team’s better hitters to miss games and the statistics may indicate the Twins can produce better offensively as the season progresses.

The Twins’ pitching depth will be tested in the coming weeks with injuries sidelining starters Tyler Mahle and Kenta Maeda. Mahle will be out about four weeks with expectations Maeda will return sooner.

Mahle has a a posterior impingement and a flexor pronator strain in his right arm. Maeda has a right triceps strain.

Mahle is 1-2 with a 3:16 ERA and his regular spot in the rotation will be taken tomorrow night in Chicago by Louie Varland. Bailey Ober started in place of Maeda on Saturday and gave up four hits in 5.1 innings in a game the Twins went on to lose. Maeda, who missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery, has struggled in 2023 with a 0-4 record and 9.00 ERA. Mahle knows past frustration, too, after missing a number of starts last season because of a shoulder injury.

The Twins’ ERA of .348 is fourth best in the American League. Nobody has been better for Minnesota than Sonny Gray, 4-0 with a 0.77 ERA. “His baseball acumen is through the charts,” St. Peter said. “He understands the hitters. He is obviously executing his pitches. So I don’t think anybody inside the Twins is surprised that Sonny Gray is having success. He has obviously been unbelievably dominant. …”

St. Peter said the Twins don’t think in terms of one pitcher being the staff ace or stopper. He believes Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez, along with Gray, are capable of being the starter in the opening game of a playoff series.

Good news for the Twins regarding injuries is that utility player Kyle Farmer could return to the team later this week, or for sure when the Twins start their next homestand May 9. Farmer was hit in the face by a pitch April 12 and sidelined until recently but is rehabbing at AAA St. Paul.

Unusually cool weather this spring has hurt Twins home attendance. Minnesota ranks No. 22 of 30 teams averaging 18,492, per ESPN.com. “It’s been a tough April,” St. Peter said.

Dave St. Peter photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins.

Because Target Field is located on a small site, the likelihood is about zero a roof would ever be added. But St. Peter points out Target Field is considered one of the best ballpark experiences in the country. He contrasted the ballpark and Minneapolis weather with iconic Wrigley Field and Chicago. “Nobody talks about putting a roof on Wrigley Field. They’ve dealt with all the same weather issues we’ve dealt with this April.”

Feedback has been positive among Twins fans regarding MLB’s rule changes that include a pitch timer. Shorter games and more action are positive trends for the Twins and other teams.

Fans are also approving of the club’s new uniform offerings. “The new brand look is doing very well at retail,” St. Peter said. “Very pleased and I agree…they do look fantastic. The most popular jersey is the Twin Cities jersey.”

Lou Nanne on the Minnesota Wild

Lou Nanne, the revered hockey authority who played for the North Stars and also served as GM and president during a long run with Minnesota’s first NHL franchise, believes the Wild is better than the Stars team that won last week’s Stanley Cup opening playoff series in six games. Stars goalie Jake Oettinger and teammates limited the Wild’s scoring including flagship performer Kirill Kaprizov who often had two or three defenders around him. It didn’t help, either, that Minnesota’s experienced center Joel Eriksson Ek played in only one game because of a lower body injury.

Why does Nanne consider the Wild better than Dallas? “I think they got a deeper team. I think they have more intensity, more grit. They have players that can play it (style) anyway you want. Unfortunately, for them their best players didn’t get on the scoreboard. Coming into the playoffs like Kaprizov had been out 14 games. Erickson-Ek was missing. …(Face) a hot goal tender in those playoff series, that team could win.”

Nanne praised rookie shutdown defenseman Brock Faber who in the month of April played for the Golden Gophers in the Frozen Four and then in two regular season and five playoff games for the Wild. Faber was traded to Minnesota by the Kings last year after Los Angeles had drafted him in 2020. Not only does it look like Faber will produce for the Wild for a long time, but he has leadership qualities that could one day result in being a captain of the team.

Nanne won’t make suggestions as to what GM Bill Guerin should do to improve the Wild during the offseason. “I have no idea. I am not going to be saying what changes they have to make. That’s up to Guerin and his staff. I did that for long enough. Everybody can second guess, have their opinions, but it’s going to be up to the brass to decide.”

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Addison’s Drive May Ensure NFL Success

Posted on April 30, 2023 by David Shama

Jordan Addison, the Vikings’ first round draft selection in 2023, is gifted with the physical abilities to play in the NFL but enhancing his likelihood of becoming a dynamic receiver is his work ethic.

Initial references to Addison typically include mentions such as his ability to get separation from defensive backs. His foot work, route running and speed, including quick bursts, have all drawn praise, but there’s more that has contributed to his achievements and recognition that include winning the 2021 Biletnikoff Award honoring him as the best receiver in college football.

Addison won the award while at Pittsburgh, before transferring to USC and playing there last fall. A football source texted Sports Headliners that while playing for Pitt, Addison showed he was a “grinder,” and described the 5-11, 173-pound Addison as a “lunch bucket guy.”

Jordan Addison photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

When Addison arrived in Los Angeles he found his preferred jersey number, 3, had been retired to honor former USC Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Carson Palmer. Addison promised “to work his tail off” at USC and Palmer graciously told the transfer he could wear the number.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said his franchise was attracted to Addison’s “drive to be great.” At the Friday news conference where O’Connell spoke to the media, Addison said he has wanted to play football since he was three years old, but his mom wouldn’t okay participation until he was five.

Addison made it known in the media session he’s ready to play his rookie season. What’s his thought process? “Because just my confidence and I’m willing to come in here and work every day. I’m happy coming into the building, studying extra tape and just being around the guys.”

Addison has college experience as a slot receiver and could fit there for the Vikings who need to replace the departed Adam Thielen on their wide receivers roster. Schematically and physically Addison should be a great fit for the Vikings’ already superb passing game led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, wide receivers Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn and tight end T.J. Hockenson.

Because of his smallish size for a pro receiver Addison will probably need to get stronger in his body and hands. But with his other skills at the young age of 21, and reputation for willingness to work, the expectation is he will be up for the assignment.

Worth Noting

It was 25 years ago this month the Vikings drafted wide receiver Randy Moss at No. 21 of the first round. Other teams knew he was talented, but character concerns made them back away from Moss who went on to a Hall of Fame career.

Zach Evans, the redshirt freshman named one of the MVPs of the Gophers’ spring game, was ranked the No. 10 running back in the nation by Rivals after his senior season in Heath, Texas where he rushed for 26 touchdowns and 1,957 yards.

Early predictions have Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota as favorites to win the Big Ten West Division this fall.

It’s fair to speculate about Dean Evason’s future as the Wild’s coach. After Friday night’s playoff loss to the Stars, Evason coached teams have lost four consecutive opening playoff series dating back to 2020, including this spring with Dallas eliminating Minnesota in six games. His decision to start goalie Marc Andre-Fleury in Game Two was a disaster, with Minnesota losing 7-3 after opening the series with a win in Dallas behind Filip Gustavsson.

Evason changed up his lines Friday night to spark more scoring but the Wild produced just one goal after being shut out in Game 5. The Wild, trailing 1-0 after the first period Friday, were inexplicably flat in the second period as Dallas took a 3-0 lead into intermission. And Evason will tell you he wasn’t satisfied with the play of his special teams in the series.

Wild GM Bill Guerin isn’t the most patient of leaders and fans may wonder if sooner or later he might be tempted to change coaches in an effort to get a franchise that hasn’t advanced beyond the first round since 2015 to go deeper into the playoffs. This is the second consecutive year the Wild led 2-1 in a best of seven series only to lose, with the Blues being the nemesis in 2022.

Evason is an intense leader, and a solid coach, and a change might not be fair to him, but when expectations aren’t met for a long time shake ups can happen.

Don’t be too sure the Timberwolves can’t find a trade partner for controversial center Rudy Gobert. The Mavericks, for example, need rebounding and interior defense to complement high-scoring guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

MLB teams are now allowed to have jersey sponsors, but most clubs still don’t have deals including the Twins. It will require big money for any sponsors to have their patches on uniforms.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, the former Twins prospect who was sent to the Reds last August as part of a deal to acquire pitcher Tyler Mahle, is hitting .464 in 28 at bats for AAA Louisville. The 23-year-old third baseman-first baseman turned heads with his .577 batting average in spring training.

Yennier Cano, the ex-Twins pitching prospect sent to the Orioles last year as part of the transaction to acquire Jorge Lopez, has yet to allow a hit in 9.2 innings after being recalled from Norfolk April 14. Now 29, Cano signed with the Twins at 25 and made a name for himself in Cuba.

Long time Twin Cities newspaper columnist Patrick Reusse celebrated 42 years of sobriety April 27. “There was no risk to my job or anything like that,” Reusse told Sports Headliners years ago about the decision to enter recovery for alcoholism. “I got sick of being hung over. I was single, (and) my first wife had divorced me in ‘79. I was running around with a younger crowd and acting goofy. …”

The annual Twin Cities Dunkers Fund dinner and auction is Tuesday night at Interlachen Country Club. The fund assists the under financed athletic programs of the Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools. Last year’s event raised $161,350 and since 2011 has generated $1,107,588.

Jon Cherney, executive director of the Herb Brooks Foundation for five years, is leaving the organization.

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