David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

GM Brings Hope to Faltering Twins

Posted on June 18, 2012June 18, 2012 by David Shama

Terry Ryan’s return this season as Twins general manager adds optimism to discussion about the franchise’s future. Ryan, who was the team’s general manager from 1994-2007, returned to that position last fall with the task of improving a club that lost 99 games and finished last in the Central Division.

The Twins have struggled again this season, compiling a 26-39 record compared with 29-39 on this date in 2011. But Ryan’s positive influence on the franchise is evident.

“I think the work he did in the off season, particularly in and around Josh Willingham, Ryan Doumit, a Jamey Carroll, I think those moves are indicative of what Terry and his staff will be able to do here to improve this team,” Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners late last week. “We have a lot of work to do, particularly on the starting pitching front, but I think Terry’s leadership continues to pay dividends for us. And certainly the amateur draft that just concluded. …His fingerprints are all over that draft.”

The Twins won four division titles in Ryan’s last seven years when he was the franchise’s baseball boss. His admirers place him among MLB’s most astute general managers. “I certainly think so and…I know his peers around major league baseball would think so,” St. Peter said. “If you polled the other 29 GM’s I think Terry Ryan would rank certainly at or near the top of that list in terms of the most respected GM’s in the game.”

There’s no doubting Ryan’s work ethic either. “He’s going to work his tail off to help make us better,” St. Peter said. “He doesn’t view this (franchise) as a rebuilding process. He views this as frankly an opportunity for us to perhaps continue to pivot, to contend. He has not thrown in the towel in terms of 2012. …

“We’ve got to continue to play better baseball. Get back to .500 and hopefully play meaningful games down the stretch. We’re not focused on 2013. We’re still focused on how we can make the Twins better in 2012.”

St.Peter said Ryan gives “150 percent” to his job and that’s a reminder the Twins general manager must manage stress. The long hours and mental demand of the job contributed to Ryan vacating his general manager position back in 2007 and accepting a lesser role with the organization.

St. Peter said he thinks Ryan is “doing fine” managing stress. The organization has been aware of helping Ryan shape a favorable schedule, and today’s communications technology allows him to sometimes work from home. St. Peter suggested too that Ryan has come to better realize there are certain matters he can control and others he can’t.

Twins Notes:

St.Peter said first baseman Justin Morneau hasn’t had concussion symptoms this season. Morneau is hitting .238 for the season compared with a career MLB average of .279. He has 10 home runs and 33 RBI in 2012 so far.

“I expect him to have a big second half (of the season),” St. Peter said. “I think his timing is getting closer. He’s missed a lot of baseball games over the course of the last two years. Often for hitters in particular, timing is the last thing to come. I think he’s in store for a big second half, and frankly we need that out of him.”

The Twins are working on “questions and issues” with MLB and the city of Minneapolis regarding the 2014 All-Star Game being held at Target Field. “We remain very hopeful, but nothing definitive yet,” St. Peter said. “We still believe there’s an opportunity perhaps to have an announcement during the 2012 season.”

St. Peter described the sold out Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw concert on July 8 at Target Field as “the concert of the year in Minnesota.” The event will be the first concert ever at the Twins ballpark and “we could have one or more shows in 2013,” St. Peter said.

The Twins also remain interested in having Target Field as the site for the NHL Winter Classic but no date is determined at this time.

Twins catcher Joe Mauer is hitting .475 in Interleague games this season. He had three hits in four at bats in yesterday’s win over the Brewers but had to leave the game early with a bruised right quad. His availability is day-to-day.

Twins infielder Jamey Carroll is batting .405 with eight RBI and 11 runs scored in his last 11 games.

The Twins have been home the last three years for Father’s Day weekends and encountered rain each time.

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Ch. 11 News Anchor Next for Shaver?

Posted on June 18, 2012June 18, 2012 by David Shama

Randy Shaver, part of the Ch. 11 sports department since the 1980s, has been the interim co-news anchor on the station with Julie Nelson in recent weeks. Shaver, who for years has been KARE 11’s prime sports anchor, might replace Mike Pomeranz who had worked with Nelson before leaving for San Diego earlier this year.

“He’s (Shaver) a possibility,” said station general manager John Remes. “He’s definitely a candidate. We haven’t made a final decision. We’re working through the process.”

Paul Magers might have been the most popular news anchor in Minneapolis TV history before he left for Los Angeles. He and Remes remain friends. Could Magers be headed back? Remes told Sports Headliners Magers is “happily employed” in Los Angeles.

Magers endears himself to colleagues and other friends with his sense of humor. “He used to call me from his treadmill (in Los Angeles) and tell me a joke or two,” Remes said.

As for Shaver, he must be interested in the job of replacing Pomeranz because he’s been on air since late May doing news, not sports. Remes said Shaver “looks comfortable” reporting the news and there has been a “lot of really good feedback.”

It’s not that unusual for an established sportscaster to transition into the news anchor role. Jeff Passolt worked with Shaver in sports at Ch. 11 in the 1980s, and later left this market to work in Denver. When he returned it was as a lead news anchor for Ch. 9, a position he still holds.

Although Shaver might become the lead news anchor with Nelson, Remes said it’s too soon to say how the station’s sports department would be reorganized.

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Magazines Predict Cellar for U Football

Posted on June 15, 2012June 15, 2012 by David Shama

Two of the first college football magazines on the newsstands predict the Gophers will finish last in the Big Ten’s Legends Division.

Lindy’s Sports College Football Preview offers a couple of cynical views about the Gophers. The publication reports the good news is adults will be able to buy beer at TCF Bank Stadium this year. Not so good is the “Gophers need something in the stands to distract fans from the action on the field.”

Phil Steele’s College 2012 Preview also acknowledges Minnesota’s likelihood of last place in the Legends Division — just like last season — but describes the Gophers as a “much improved squad.” Steele is a workaholic football authority who after studying the Gophers voices this optimism: “Three of my nine sets of power ratings call for the Gophers to achieve bowl eligibility and that gives them a shot at escaping the basement.”

Lindy’s agrees the Gophers, with improved talent and speed, could contend for a “lower tier bowl game.” Neither publication includes any Gophers players among the best in the Big Ten Conference, and both view Indiana — forecast for last place in the Leaders Division — as the only team in the conference worse than Minnesota.

The predictions for the Gophers this summer by national publications like Lindy’s and Steele’s won’t surprise most Minnesota fans. Not after a 3-9 season last year, the same as in 2010.

It’s the long term view that inspires more optimism among Gophers fans. I’ve followed every Gophers football coach going back to Murray Warmath, and other than Lou Holtz none impressed media and fans in their first two years as much as Jerry Kill.

This week a friend who is passionate about the Gophers said: ‘If Kill doesn’t become a success coaching the Gophers, I will run naked down the Nicollet Mall.”

If the Gophers don’t lose key players to injuries (hello, MarQueis Gray) they could improve last season’s overall record even if the wins and losses are no better in the Big Ten. Minnesota needs to sweep its nonconference games starting at UNLV on August 30, playing a Rebels program Steele reports has one winning season in the last 17. Then come home nonleague games against New Hampshire, Western Michigan and Syracuse. All winnable, but no cinches.

Last year the Gophers were 2-6 in the Big Ten. On the league schedule are three teams —Wisconsin, Nebraska and Michigan State— Steele ranks among his 12 national surprise teams for 2012. Then, too, the Gophers must play Michigan, a popular choice to win the Big Ten championship. Minnesota might have to scrap to find two league wins among games against Iowa, Purdue, Northwestern and Illinois.

Looks like a 7-5 season at best, 4-8 at worst.

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