David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Wolves Roster Reshuffling Seems Likely

Posted on May 2, 2019May 8, 2019 by David Shama

Enjoy a Thursday notes column on Timberwolves, Twins, Gophers and Vikings newsmakers.

The hiring of new president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas is likely to reshape the roster for next season but perhaps won’t dramatically change the coaching staff. Rosas is a disciple of analytics and three-point shooting advocate as practiced by the Houston Rockets for whom he has worked as a front office executive.

The Wolves attempted 2,357 three point shots last season, the fifth fewest of the NBA’s 30 teams, per Basketball-reference.com. The roster doesn’t have much in the way of three-point marksmen, although center Karl-Anthony Towns is among the better shooting big men in the league.

The expected emphasis on three-point shooting could impact decisions on free agent guards Derrick Rose and Tyus Jones. Neither is known for his three-point game and Jones has struggled with field goal accuracy.

The Rockets have been one of the NBA’s most successful teams in recent years and have done it with a foundation of three-point shooting. Last season the Rockets attempted the most three-point shots in the league (3,721) and were the only club with more three-point shots than two point attempts, per basketball-reference.com.

Interim head coach Ryan Saunders told Sports Headliners awhile ago he is interested in playing an up-tempo style. That seems in his favor as word is awaited on whether Rosas will make him the permanent coach. The Rockets try to get the basketball up the floor quickly and they look for open space to shoot three-pointers.

Saunders’ willingness to communicate and learn also is in his favor for staying on with the Wolves where owner Glen Taylor has expressed his liking for the league’s youngest coach. With Rosas’ input, the assistant coaching staff could certainly change.

Rosas’ hiring is a reminder of how absent this organization has been in making elite personnel moves since its inception 30 years ago. The franchise’s futility (one playoff appearance since 2004 and never a Western Conference championship) is tied to not having an extraordinary talent evaluator leading the basketball front office. While it’s no easy task to hire a talent-finding savant, it can be done—with the Golden State Warriors organization a showcase example.

The Warriors are the favorites to advance through the playoffs and win a fourth NBA title in five years. Their stars include forward-center Draymond Green who was a second round draft choice. Point guard Steph Curry, a perennial league MVP, was available to the Wolves in the 2009 NBA Draft but instead Minnesota chose Jonny Flynn who washed out early in his NBA Career.

The San Antonio Spurs have made the playoffs for 22 consecutive years behind the leadership of general manager R.C. Buford and head coach Gregg Popovich. Their cagey personnel moves include finding future hall of famers and international players Tony Parker (late first round) and Manu Ginobili (late second). They also prioritized Kawhi Leonard, making a trade to choose him in the middle of the first round. After Leonard became one of the top five players in the NBA he decided last year he wanted to move on. In a single offseason Buford and Popovich rebuilt the roster and starting lineup with no-names and surprisingly got the Spurs into this spring’s playoffs.

Wolves fans can only hope the new basketball boss will be special at recognizing talent that others undervalue, or perhaps don’t even recognize.

The Gophers’ Amir Coffey needs to impress at the NBA G League Elite Camp, a three-day tryout for NBA Draft hopefuls in Chicago May 12-14. Those who impress enough will be invited to the NBA Draft Combine (also in Chicago) May 14-19. The Gopher junior wing has until 5 p.m. on June 10 to withdraw his name for the June 20 NBA Draft and still retain eligibility to play for Minnesota next season.

The Twins, leading the AL Central with a 18-10 record, have defeated four former Cy Young pitchers this season, Jake Arrieta, Jacob deGrom, Corey Kluber and Justin Verlander.

Jim Kaat will offer game analysis along with play-by-play partner Dick Bremer on the Fox Sports North telecasts of the Twins-Yankees weekend games in New York. Kaat’s insights have for years made him one of the best analysts ever to work big league baseball telecasts.

Twins general manager Thad Levine is impressed with the work of first-season pitching coach Wes Johnson who since last year has transitioned from the University of Arkansas to the major leagues. Levine refers to Johnson as a “tireless worker” who will partner with pitchers to find strategies and approaches that work.

Rob Fornasiere, the ex-assistant head coach for Gophers baseball who retired last year, misses the relationships he had. “One thing I don’t miss are the cold (spring) games,” he said.

Fornasiere has formed his own company with endeavors that include evaluations of other college baseball programs, mostly on the Division II and III levels.

Brandon Zylstra, the New London-Spicer alum who joined the Vikings as a wide receiver last year, gives free autographs from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 11 at HQ at Eden Prairie Center.

Next Monday is the deadline for reservations to attend the Thursday, May 9 CORES luncheon featuring Pete Bercich at the Bloomington Event Center, 1114 American Blvd. The former Viking linebacker is a game analyst on radio for his former team, and he is also head football coach at Hill-Murray. For reservations and other information, contact Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

Expectations are that the Vikings-Chiefs game will create extra buzz in Kansas City on November 3 because this is the 50th anniversary of the Vikings and Chiefs teams who advanced to the 1970 Super Bowl. That 23-7 Chiefs win was the last between the NFL and AFL.

Golden Gophers football historian Doug Addison points out it was 50 years ago this year that Judge Dickson had a prestigious White House Fellowship. Dickson, now retired from a long career as a lawyer for IBM, was a prominent halfback on Minnesota’s 1960 national championship team.

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Twins GM Says Club in Test Mode

Posted on April 30, 2019April 30, 2019 by David Shama

The Minnesota Twins have an interesting schedule with home games going on now against the Houston Astros and starting on Friday in New York against the Yankees. Those two opponents are probably the best the Twins have played this season and are among the favorites to represent the American League in the World Series.

Twins general manager Thad Levine and chief baseball officer Derek Falvey will be scrutinizing how their club plays in this seven-game stretch that started last night with a 1-0 Minnesota win against Houston. “I think this is a great test for our team,” Levine told Sports Headliners yesterday.

The Twins earned one victory in three games against the Astros last week in Houston. Although the Twins won last night, they don’t have to come up with a winning record between now and next Monday to win Levine’s favor. “I think it’s how you play the game and how competitive we were in those games,” he said.

Levine will be looking at how the team responds not only on the field but in the clubhouse. He will talk to manager Rocco Baldelli and the coaches to get a “feel for the how team played.” He will also be evaluating individual player development in the two series.

While the GM said games against the Astros and Yankees won’t provide any “definitive conclusions” about the 2019 Twins, Levine will learn more about his 17-9 club that has won eight of its last 10 games. The Twins are among the surprise teams in the big leagues, although six of the wins have come against the woeful Baltimore Orioles.

The homer-happy Twins have started the season with momentum, particularly impressing with run-scoring. After last night’s 1-0 win and home run by Ehire Adrianza, Minnesota has 50 home runs this season—the most in franchise history through April 29.

Levine refers to home runs as the most “expeditious way to score” and the club’s front office was aggressive during the offseason in acquiring players who can hit with power. But the number that interests him the most is run differential. The Twins are a plus-28 against opponents and Levine said a club needs to be “at least in the 50 to 60 range” to end a season with over 90 wins and gain “playoff relevance.”

Falvey and Levine weren’t as active in the pitcher market during the offseason as they were in acquiring position players and DH specialist Nelson Cruz. However, the Twins did add closer Blake Parker who has been difficult for opponents to hit and already has saved six games for Minnesota. The front office also added starter Martin Perez who has won three games for the Twins.

While Levine is optimistic about his team, he looks at the 162-game schedule and knows there are 137 more games to be played. That’s a lot of baseball.

“I think on one side of the coin we are not drawing any conclusions,” he said. (“But) we are optimistic. We are encouraged by what we have seen. The reality is we have banked the wins right now. Every win counts the same. …”

Worth Noting

Minnesota native Matt Birk played center for 15 years in the NFL with the Vikings and Ravens. The former All-Pro said Vikings No. 1 draft choice Garrett Bradbury, the center from North Carolina State, held his own in college playing against Clemson’s famed defensive line that included three players drafted in the first round last week before Minnesota’s pick at No. 18 with Bradbury. “…Playing against that Clemson D-line, that’s probably as close as you can get to playing against an NFL front in college,” Birk told Sports Headliners.

Many positives have been written about Bradbury, but a concern of some observers is his relatively short arms, measuring 31 and ¾ inches. Arm length and extension are a factor in blocking pass rushers, but Birk isn’t one to go overboard regarding measureables.

Birk said, “Players come in all shapes and sizes. Everybody’s gotta kind of figure out their own style. He was obviously an effective player in college. At the end of the day, it’s can you block the guy you’re supposed to block? …”

Spring Lake Park alum and Blaine native E.J. Ejiya has signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent. The North Texas linebacker was second in program history in career tackles for loss (40.5). He is the school leader in single season tackles for loss (25.0 in 2018), and he was a first team USA All-Conference selection in 2018.

Former Gopher basketball guard Keith Young, part of the 1972 Big Ten championship team, has self-published a print-on-demand book: Minnesota’s Big Ten Champions, Losing Is Worth Than Death. The 1972 team was a surprise champion and overcame significant obstacles including after the infamous Minnesota-Ohio State brawl.

The Minnesota United ownership group paid a $100 million MLS expansion fee and began play in the soccer league in 2017. Now the MLS is asking for $200 million for future expansion franchises because of the fast rising interest in professional soccer in the United States.

By comparison, the Minnesota Wild NHL expansion franchise cost $80 million in 1997. The Minnesota Timberwolves NBA expansion club cost $32.5 million in the late 1980s.

Advance wagering begins Thursday at Canterbury Park on the 145th Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs. The most famous horse race in America is Saturday in Louisville, with post time at 5:50 p.m. CDT. Canterbury Park’s first two days of live racing will be Friday night and Saturday.

The Shakopee track’s 66-meet schedule will again be enhanced by promotions including non-wagering dog races in May (English Bulldogs), June (Basset Hounds), July (Wiener Dogs) and August (Corgis). Extreme Race Day featuring Ostrich and Camel races isn’t part of the promotional lineup this year.

The Gustavus Adolphus men’s tennis program hasn’t lost an MIAC regular season match since April, 1986. The Gusties have won 52 league titles including this year, and on Thursday will be in the conference’s playoffs against today’s (Tuesday) winner of the Macalester and Bethel match.

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Wild to Make “Noise” in Player Market

Posted on April 28, 2019April 28, 2019 by David Shama

Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold is anticipating July 1, and the period when NHL teams can pursue free agents to help their teams.

Leipold told Sports Headliners he’s excited about the summer ahead and upgrading Minnesota’s talent pool. “For the first time in seven years we have some cash (payroll flexibility) to go out and get involved in unrestricted free agents,” he said. “You know we haven’t had money since (signing Ryan) Suter and (Zach) Parise. …”

The Wild, who missed the playoffs this spring after six straight years, had only two goal scorers with over 20 goals last season. Parise, who along with Suter signed $98 million deals in 2012, had 28 goals and Eric Staal scored 22. The Wild ranked 27th in the 31 team NHL in regular season goal scoring with 210, or about 2.5 per game.

Before the season ended, general manager Paul Fenton made payroll moves to create more flexibility, to spend money this summer to acquire one or two productive goal scorers. “We’re excited about that,” Leipold said.

The owner would welcome a 25-plus goal scorer. “They’re hard to come by and they are expensive,” Leipold said. “But there are some people out there like that and we’re anxious to talk to them.”

Leipold didn’t mention names but among those Minnesota seems certain to consider is former Edina and Notre Dame star Anders Lee of the New York Islanders. He scored 28 goals and had 23 assists last season, and becomes an unrestricted free agent in July.

Lee turns 29 that month and is in the prime of his career. He might command a new contract of $7 million or more per season not only for his offensive production but also because of his leadership.

Could the Wild sign even two premiere goal scorers? “It would be hard to get two premier goal scorers but I guess it defines what you mean by premiere,” Leipold said. “I mean if we have $12 million available to us this summer we can make some noise and that’s what we plan to do.”

What’s the likelihood of Minnesota coming up with at least one very productive forward? “I think the likelihood is very good. I think we will,” Leipold said. “Minnesota is a great place to play, and we have a lot going for us right now.

“We’ve got some really young players that would be appealing to anybody looking at coming to our team. And we have some experienced players that know how to do it, know how to win, and know how to play in the playoffs. We will be in a good place come this summer so I am excited about that.”

Worth Noting

Did Leipold labor over whether to retain Bruce Boudreau as coach after the Wild didn’t make the playoffs? “Not at all,” Leipold said. “Done deal.”

Leipold has a high regard for Boudreau who has coached the team for three seasons. “I like Bruce. I like the way he coaches,” Leipold said. “I think he’s got command of the players.

“Last year, I am not blaming Bruce on how things ended up. This is a tough league. I don’t know if everybody understands that. Only half the teams make it (into the playoffs). We got knocked out there at the end. But that happens.

“Look what’s happening (upsets) in the playoffs, this is completely crazy. There’s a lot of parity in this league.”

Ex-Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema had a blue-collar mentality when he played in the 1970s. He looks at players in the NFL Draft and sees impressive athletic skills, but not necessarily hard workers. “I would draft on work ethic alone, almost,” he told Sports Headliners.

What percent of players have a work ethic meeting Lurtsema’s expectations? “Not enough, I will tell you that. If I say 50 percent, I would be high.”

Lurtsema on Kirk Cousins, the Vikings’ $84 million quarterback: “The kid has a work ethic like you wouldn’t believe.”

Former Vikings center Matt Birk is a Renaissance man with his varied activities including public speaking, starting a new Catholic school in Burnsville and doing comedy at local venues for charity. Unity High School plans to open in the fall, and Birk will do his comedy act for a school fundraiser on May 4 at Royal Cliff in Eagan. Birk will perform at the Gasthof in Minneapolis May 3 for Teach for Christ.

During playing days with the Vikings, Birk owned two Minneapolis-St. Paul restaurants. He told Sports Headliners he’s not likely to go back into that business.

“No, never. (Well), never say never.”

The Twins try for a home sweep against the Orioles in today’s series finale at Target Field. Minnesota has won 11 straight over Baltimore dating back to last year.

Minnesota designated hitter Nelson Cruz is hitting .455, with four home runs and six RBI against the Orioles in five games this season.

The Twins have placed catcher Willians Astudillo on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, an injury he suffered yesterday afternoon running the bases. Astudillo has played in 16 games, hitting .327 (16-for-49) with four doubles, two home runs and seven RBI. The Twins recalled outfielder Jake Cave from Triple-A Rochester to replace Astudillo on the 25-man roster.

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