David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

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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Vikings May Target Coveted Quarterback Anthony Richardson

Posted on April 25, 2023April 25, 2023 by David Shama

Daniel House spends countless hours studying NFL draft prospects and told Sports Headliners he could see the Vikings selecting coveted Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson Thursday night. “I am passionate about the draft,” said House who has a following because of his Mnvikingscorner.com and Gophersguru.com websites and appearances on local radio.

It’s a head scratcher as to what the Vikings will do with their five selections in the seven round NFL Draft that will go through Saturday. “The first round is interesting because there’s a couple different ways they could go,” House said.

He believes if Richardson is still available in the eight, nine or 10 range of the first round, the Vikings may be able to trade to a better position from their No. 23 spot and take the 6-4, 244-pound quarterback who could emerge as an NFL starter early in his career. “This is one of the more unpredictable top tens that I can remember in a while because you don’t really know how teams are going to value the quarterback (candidates), and then (defensive tackle) Jalen Carter, how much does the off the field situation (maturity-character) play into his slide down the board? Don’t really know.”

If the Vikings stay at No. 23, Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey could be their target and provide talent for new coordinator Brian Flores. “Kancey would be a very intriguing player in the Vikings’ scheme,” House said via email this morning. “He is an explosive DT who could move all over the front and create mismatches based on the situation or matchup. He’d also be a very dynamic weapon in the defensive line movement game. The Vikings need more interior pass rushing juice and Kancey could provide that. Flores would feature him very creatively too.”

House also likes North Carolina wide receiver Josh Downs, while admitting he is “a lot higher” on him than others. The Vikings can benefit from a third skilled wide receiver behind Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn. House said the 5-9 Downs has “excellent ball skills” as shown by his 72 percent success with contested catches last season. “He’s got great field vision and can cause damage after the catch,” House said about another possibility at No. 23.

The Vikings have cornerback needs, too, that need attention. “I am a huge fan of Cam Smith,” House said in regard to the South Carolina corner. The 6-1, 180-pound Smith runs a 4.43 40, per NFL.com, and is not only a physical defender but is skilled in anticipation of pass routes, House said.

If the Vikings trade back from No. 23 in the first round as part of a strategy to add picks, Downs or Smith might be available, or Wisconsin defensive tackle Keeanu Benton. House said the media is “undervaluing” Benton who NFL.com projects as a second-round pick. At 6-4, 309 he is not only strong but showed pass rushing skills at the Senior Bowl, per House.

Daniel House

Edge rushers are coveted in the NFL and Iowa State’s Will McDonald is another player that House believes is undervalued. McDonald looks like a possibility in the first round and certainly somewhere in the second. “I loved the energy and effort he played with,” House said. “He’s one of those guys that maybe didn’t play in the best fit schematically but could translate (to a new scheme) and be a huge, huge boon for an NFL team who values him.”

The Vikings don’t have a second-round selection but do have picks in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds. Possible second or third round players House likes in the upcoming draft include Mississippi running back Zach Evans who with his explosiveness reminds him of the Vikings’ Dalvin Cook.

House also favors day two and three prospects Israel Abanikanda from Pittsburgh, Mississippi wide receiver Jonathan Mingo and Illinois defensive tackle Calvin Avery. The Vikings may have included Avery among top 30 players hosted here for draft analysis. House sees him potentially filling a nose tackle need for the Vikings and “someone to keep an eye on” during day three.

The Vikings’ NFC North Division rivals include the Lions who have two selections in the first round. House believes the Lions could take Illinois corner Devon Witherspoon at No. 6 and beat the Vikings to Kancey at No. 18. The Bears need offensive line help and may opt for Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright. At No. 13 the Packers may go with Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones. Before their trade Monday with the Jets that moved them up from No. 15 to 13, House thought the Packers might pull an “out of the box” move selecting McDonald who eventually would replace 30-year-old outside linebacker Preston Smith.

Several Golden Gophers could be selected over the three days, starting with center John Michael Schmitz who is likely to go in the first round, possibly to the Giants or Seahawks. House believes cornerback Terell Smith and safety Jordan Howden may be selected in the fourth round. He sees running back Mo Ibrahim, quarterback Tanner Morgan, pass rusher Thomas Rush and linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin as possible seventh rounders.

The draft projection for Ibrahim, the Gophers’ record setting All-American, may surprise some fans. While Ibrahim has strength, toughness and excellent run vision, there are concerns about his injury history and lack of top-level speed.

Worth Noting

Passionate Vikings fan Steve Nestor, who has followed the franchise since its inception in 1961, emailed the following: “If the Vikings draft a QB @ 23, I will no longer follow or watch them. They have so many holes to fill. They need to get more picks and sign some free agents! How is that for being adamant?”

House said dating back to 2017 the football Gophers are the least penalized team in the FCS. “I spent a lot of time looking into that project,” he said.

Minnesota averaged 3.97 penalties per game. Air Force was second at 4.03. Cincinnati, where Luke Fickell led the Bearcats before taking over at Wisconsin after last season, was the most penalty prone team with an average of 8.05.

Look for P.J. Fleck and his assistants to be active in the transfer portal now with needs that include defensive backs. Also, coaches will be on the road recruiting high school players during May.

The Wild, tied at 2-2 in their first round series with the Stars and resuming play tonight in Dallas, could make history if this team advances to the Stanley Cup Finals and wins, per NHL Stats. No expansion team in the NHL, NBA, NFL or MLB that began play this century has ever won a championship. The Wild’s first season was 2000-2001 and although the franchise has been to the playoffs 11 times, Minnesota has never qualified for the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Wild, who lost 3-2 to the Stars Sunday night at Xcel Energy Center, don’t lose often at home. Minnesota has had 24 wins and only eight losses at the X since November 19 of last year.

Denny Schulstad, a close friend of basketball immortal George Mikan, speaks to the CORES lunch group Thursday, May 11 at the Bloomington Event Center. Schulstad, who served 22 years on the Minneapolis City Council and is a former Brigadier General in the Air Force, will share stories about Mikan who led the Minneapolis Lakers to five world championships in six years and was named Mr. Basketball for the first half of the 20^th century. Reservations can be made by emailing Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

Dick Jonckowski, who emcees the CORES lunch programs, will be the featured speaker at the annual Brainerd Elks Fishing Fling fundraiser Wednesday, May 10 at the Brainerd National Armory. Proceeds benefit the organization’s youth activities fund.

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