Posted August 29, 2011    

•Johan Santana

•Michael Chang

•Donovan McNabb

•Jerry Kill

•Tyus Jones

Time to Scrutinize Twins Top to Bottom 

Now what for the Minnesota Twins?   

The embarrassing 2011 season is only weeks away from ending but how the offseason goes will tell the more passionate and savvy fans a lot about this organization’s future. 

Ownership and management could take a "cosmetic" approach in the months ahead.  Make a few changes and rationalize 2011 as a tough luck season, mostly caused by an unusually high number of injuries.  But rather than take the victim approach, the decision makers at Target Field are advised to audit the entire organization and everyone in it.   

Best business practices call for nothing less.  The process should include fact finding and opinion from not only the ownership and top management, but also the advice of consultants who can look more objectively at the organization and its people.   

The Twins were 94-68 last season and have won six of the last nine Central Division titles, but even those ball clubs frustrated themselves and fans with their dismal playoff records.  The Twins weren’t built to play with baseball’s best teams, and this year’s club couldn’t compete very well against past Minnesota championship teams. 

The 2011 Twins are stumbling to the season’s finish line.  The club has a 6-19 record in August and lost 15 of its last 18 home games.  Minnesota is 10-28 against the powerful East Division, the American League’s best grouping of teams.  The Twins have lost five straight series at home.   

It’s time to look at everything and everybody involved with what the Twins do during the season, the offseason and spring training.  The scrutiny certainly needs to start with general manager Billy Smith and the organization’s other talent evaluators, but the organizational analysis needs to go beyond that and try to answer questions about coaching, conditioning and best use of player payroll.

 

Nishioka & Other Moves Draw Attention 

The Twins have made a series of unproductive personnel moves that are troubling, dating back to the trade of power pitcher Johan Santana to the Mets in 2008. From the Santana deal to the maneuverings that sent shortstop J.J. Hardy away for failed relief pitcher Jim Hoey, to the signing of Japanese shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka—the most expensive franchise bust within memory— it's evident the front office has struggled multiple times to improve the ballclub.   

In fairness, though, the Twins have made some productive personnel moves in recent years.  Heading the list are the acquisitions of pitcher Carl Pavano and slugger Jim Thome.  In past seasons the Twins’ success was aided by the acquisitions of Orlando Cabrera and Orlando Hudson, both starting infielders. 

The organization’s evaluators are on the spot not just for the big league team, but the minor leagues, too.  The farm system isn’t exactly dazzling and has been of minimal help to the Twins this season trying to plug holes.  Power hitting, a priority need on the big league club, seems to be missing in the farm system.  Power arms—candidates to become the team’s No. 1 starter—seem to be on the same missing-in-action list. 

The players on the big league club need to do their own self-audits with analysis that includes how can they best condition themselves, and also define their roles to help the team.  It wouldn’t be surprising, for example, if catcher Joe Mauer accepts part-time assignment next season in the outfield and at first base. 

The fans have embraced the ballclub and the new ballpark, a public-private partnership partially funded by Hennepin County taxpayers.  With that relationship and ticket prices that only a few years ago were seen at Vikings games—not at Twins games—the Twins’ bosses owe the public and themselves a thorough offseason evaluation of the business.  

 

Worth Noting    

Michael Chang, who along with Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and Jim Courier will be here for the September 30 LeeAnn Chin Challenge at Target Center, spent part of his childhood growing up in the St. Paul area where his father worked for 3M.  Former Gophers' tennis coach Jerry Noyce recalled that as a youngster Chang won the local Green Giant Little Sprout Tennis tournament.  Among Chang’s childhood opponents was David Wheaton, the name most associated with men’s professional tennis in Minnesota. 

Agassi has a Minnesota connection, too.  He won his first professional tournament at the Minikahda Tennis Invitational in Minneapolis. 

McEnroe has helped tutor Rochester eighth grade tennis phenom Ingrid Neel.  She played on the Rochester Mayo boys Class 2A state tournament team last spring.

The Target Center event is part of the Champions Series that begins September 22 in Fort Lauderdale and is scheduled in 12 U.S. cities through October 22.  Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander will also participate.  A prize pool totaling $1 million will be shared by the top three finishers at season’s end. 

Dan Patrick asking Donovan McNabb in the August 22 issue of Sports Illustrated whether the Vikings’ veteran quarterback believes he’s been “unfairly criticized” during his NFL career: “I personally don’t care what people think about me.  I’ve been criticized throughout my career, so it doesn’t matter.”

Former Cretin Derham-Hall quarterback Steve Walsh tutored Terrelle Pryor before the ex-Ohio State quarterback was selected last week in the third round of the NFL supplemental draft.  Walsh, who played collegiately for Miami, was a NFL supplemental pick in 1989. 

Gophers football coach Jerry Kill’s 50^th birthday was last Wednesday. Kill was born in 1961, the last year the Gophers sent a team to the Rose Bowl.  Minnesota defeated UCLA 21-3 in the January 1962 Rose Bowl.

Former Timberwolves assistant coach Eric Musselman has been hired by the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League as head coach.

Former Gophers coach Dan Monson was among the guests at the wedding of his ex-Minnesota player Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian earlier this month.  

Tyus Jones, the much acclaimed sophomore point guard at Apple Valley High School next season, impressed Sporting News Magazine enough last month that he was proclaimed  “best shooter” in the August 15 issue after writer Mike DeCourcy        travelled thousands of miles watching America’s top preps play summer basketball.

Twins curator Clyde Doepner will be the speaker on Thursday, September 8 at the C.O.R.E.S luncheon.  C.O.R.E.S members can contact Jim Dotseth for more information, dotsethj@comcast.net.  C.O.R.E.S is an acronym for coaches, officials, educators, reporters and sports fans.  

 

Jerry Kill

  Dan  Monson