Tagged: Twins
Target Field bliss: Twins vs. Rangers 5/29
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — Today is one of those days when I used to despise going into the Metrodome.
The sun is shining on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in the Twin Cities with temperatures expected to hit the high 80s. You can’t help but to smile as you head into Target Field on a day like this and realize what you’ve been missing during day baseball games in recent years. And yes, I know I’ve been focused on a lot on the weather since the season started but I’m making up for the previous four years I’ve been on the beat when I missed out on the beautiful Minnesota summers.
All right, back to baseball. Justin Morneau is getting a DH day. Nothing of concern, he just asked manager Ron Gardenhire if the DH spot was open today and both felt it would be a good day to give him a break from playing the field.
Nick Punto’s ring finger has been a little sore when he’s swinging from the right side so Gardenhire started Brendan Harris at third base today against Rangers left-handed starter C.J. Wilson.
This isn’t the first time the Twins have faced Wilson, but the southpaw is in a new role now. The former closer moved into the rotation at the start of this year. He has been tough on lefties, who are batting just .102 against him this season, so it will be interesting to see how the Twins’ lefties fare against him. Joe Mauer and Morneau have combined to tally just three hits and one home run in 21 at-bats against Wilson, although all of those did come when he was in a relief role.
Rangers (26-22)
Elvis
Andrus, SS
Michael Young, 3B
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Vladimir
Guerrero, DH
Josh Hamilton, LF
David Murphy, RF
Justin Smoak,
1B
Max Ramirez, C
Julio Borbon, CF
Pitching: LHP C.J. Wilson (3-2, 3.07 ERA)
Twins
(28-20)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, DH
Michael
Cuddyer, 1B
Jason Kubel, RF
Delmon Young, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Brendan Harris, 3B
Pitching: RHP Carl Pavano (4-5,
4.17 ERA)
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Two division leaders meet: Twins vs. Rangers 5/28
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — Nick Punto makes his return to the Twins lineup tonight after being sidelined with a sore ring finger as his club opens up a three-game series with the Rangers tonight.
Punto took early batting practice on Friday afternoon and got through it fine, so Gardenhire said he slotted him back in the lineup.
Kevin Slowey is on the mound for Minnesota and will see if he can get out of his season-long streak of running his pitch count up early in contests. Only once in Slowey’s nine starts has he lasted longer than 5 2/3 innings, which came in an eight-inning gem against the Indians on April 20.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was asked about Slowey’s inability to pitch deep into games before Friday’s contest and said the key will be for the right-hander to stop trying to make the “perfect pitch.”
“I’d like to see him pitch to more contact and get hitters to swing earlier in the count,” Gardenhire said. “To get some quicker innings and quicker outs instead of having 15 and 20 pitches every inning. It’s just about throwing quality pitches down in the zone and pitching to contact earlier in the game, and that will get you deeper in the game.”
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Rangers (26-21)
Elvis Andrus, SS
Michael Young, 3B
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Vladimir Guerrero, DH
Josh Hamilton, LF
David Murphy, RF
Justin Smoak, 1B
Max Ramirez, C
Julio Borbon, CF
Pitching: RHP Colby Lewis (4-2, 3.45 ERA)
Twins
(27-20)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Jim Thome, DH
Michael
Cuddyer,
RF
Jason Kubel, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Nick Punto, 3B
Pitching: RHP Kevin Slowey (5-3,
4.53 ERA)
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Trying to avoid a sweep: Twins vs. Yankees 5/27
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — It’s an absolutely beautiful early evening here at Target Field as the Twins try to pick up a win against the Yankees and try to prevent a sweep like they did a little less than two weeks ago in the Bronx.
The club will be taking on right-hander Javier Vazquez, who is a familiar opponent considering the time he spent with the White Sox.
Alexi Casilla gets the start at third base tonight. Nick Punto (sore left ring finger) took some swings in the cage and took ground balls, doing his normal pre-game routine. So Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Punto should be in the lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Rangers.
The Twins players also enjoyed a little pre-batting practice action on the field as a group of hockey players stopped by to get in some hitting of their own. Among the players on hand were Mark Parrish, Andrew Brunette, Nick Schultz, and Derek Boogaard. When asked whether any of the players could consider a baseball career if the hockey thing doesn’t work out, Gardenhire joked that Boogaard could hang out on the Twins bench and act as the club’s enforcer for any on-field altercations.
Yankees (26-18)
Derek
Jeter, SS
Brett Gardner, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez,
3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Juan Miranda, DH
Francisco
Cervelli, C
Kevin Russo, LF
Pitching: RHP Javier Vazquez (3-4, 6.69 ERA)
Twins
(26-20)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Jim Thome, DH
Michael Cuddyer,
RF
Jason Kubel, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Alexi Casilla, 3B
Pitching: RHP Nick Blackburn (5-1, 4.50 ERA)
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Hardy returns to lineup: Twins vs. Yankees 5/25
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — Shortstop J.J. Hardy returns to the lineup tonight for the Twins.
Hardy said his left wrist is still not 100 percent, that there is some residual pain but it’s manageable. Over the past few days, he’s been testing the wrist as much as he can (“trying to injure it,” he joked) to make sure that he’s ready to go. And he feels like he is so the Twins get their everyday shortstop back.
To make room for Hardy, the Twins have optioned shortstop Trevor Plouffe back to Triple-A Rochester.
The Twins will still be a little short in their infield depth on Tuesday, as Nick Punto’s left ring finger is still sore after he got a cortisone injection on Sunday. Punto can’t hit tonight and probably can’t field, but he is available to pinch run. And the expectation is that he’ll be ready within a couple days to return.
Yankees (26-18)
Derek Jeter, SS
Brett Gardner, CF
Mark Teixeira, DH
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Juan Miranda, 1B
Francisco Cervelli, C
Kevin Russo, LF
Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (4-2, 3.86 ERA)
Twins
(26-18)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer,
RF
Jason Kubel, DH
Delmon Young, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Brendan Harris, 3B
Pitching: RHP Scott Baker (4-4, 4.88 ERA)
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Going for the Sweep: Twins vs. Brewers 5/23
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins will try to wrap up their series against the Brewers on Sunday afternoon and they’ll do so facing right-hander Marco Estrada.
Manny Parra had originally been scheduled to start for Milwaukee but the Brewers turned to him for the 11th and 12th innings in Saturday’s 8-7 win for the Twins. Estrada actually pitched in the sixth inning on Saturday as well, facing four batters. So it will be a pieced together effort by Milwaukee for the finale.
The Twins will be without a few guys in their lineup. Joe Mauer is getting a “day off” as he’s not starting behind the plate but he’ll be available to pinch hit late in the game. Nick Punto has a sore left ring finger and will be getting a cortisone shot today, but he said he should be ready to be back in the lineup on Tuesday.
Second baseman Orlando Hudson continued to show that it will take a lot to keep him out of the lineup. After suffering a bruised right elbow when he was hit by a pickoff throw in the seventh inning, Hudson is back in the starting lineup today as his elbow feels much better.
Also, it’s looking more and more like shortstop J.J. Hardy will be ready to be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday for the start of the Yankees series. Hardy took batting practice in the cage on Sunday morning at 100 percent and said his wrist didn’t hurt too badly afterward.
The plan is to have Hardy come in on Monday’s off day and get a work out in. Then if everything goes well during early batting practice on Tuesday, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Hardy could be activated for the contest.
Funny moment of the day. There was a picture of a football player with his arm in the air and his finger pointed hanging next to the lineup today. Denard Span’s head had been taped on the photo — a reference to Span’s premature home run celebration in the ninth inning on Saturday. He’s certainly take some grief for that.
Brewers (16-27)
Rickie
Weeks,
2B
Carlos Gomez, CF
Ryan Braun, LF
Prince Fielder, 1B
Casey
McGehee, DH
Corey Hart, RF
Craig Counsell, 3B
Alcides Escobar, SS
George
Kottaras, C
Pitching: RHP Marco Estrada (0-0, 6.23 ERA)
Twins
(26-17)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer,
RF
Jason Kubel, DH
Delmon Young, LF
Brendan Harris, 3B
Trevor Plouffe, SS
Drew Butera, C
Pitching: RHP
Carl Pavano (4-4, 4.11 ERA)
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15 runs = No lineup changes: Twins vs. Brewers 5/22
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — As the old saying goes, if something isn’t broke don’t fix it.
The same goes for the Twins lineup.
One day after scoring 15 runs against the Brewers, the Twins are running out the same lineup as they get set to face Milwaukee’s ace Yovani Gallardo.
Shortstop Trevor Plouffe will get his second straight start for the Twins. Plouffe said he received plenty of texts and phone calls following his strong Major League debut in which went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. His family has flown in from California and will be here for today’s contest.
Infielder Alexi Casilla said his sore right elbow is feeling better today. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that the MRI on Casilla’s elbow showed some irritation from an old bone spur and a few loose bodies. But while his arm is still a little sore, Casilla will be available if needed today.
As for a more definitive timetable on shortstop J.J. Hardy, Gardenhire said he still doesn’t have an exact date although the club is still hoping to have him ready for Tuesday’s game.
Brewers (16-26)
Rickie Weeks,
2B
Carlos Gomez, CF
Ryan Braun, DH
Prince Fielder, 1B
Casey
McGehee, 3B
Corey Hart, RF
Joe Inglett, LF
Alcides Escobar, SS
George Kottaras, C
Pitching: RHP Yovani Gallardo (4-2, 2.89 ERA)
Twins
(25-17)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer,
RF
Jason Kubel, DH
Delmon Young, LF
Trevor Plouffe, SS
Nick
Punto, 3B
Pitching: RHP Kevin Slowey (5-3, 4.70 ERA)
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Go-Go makes his return: Twins vs. Brewers 5/21
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — Carlos Gomez was donning his usual mile-wide smile inside the visiting clubhouse at Target Field on Friday afternoon.
Gomez was activated from the disabled list on Friday, just in time to return to the lineup against the Twins. He’s excited to face his former team as both kick off Interleague Play. Gomez is playing center field and batting second for Milwaukee.
Shortstop Trevor Plouffe has arrived in Minnesota and he’s in the starting lineup, making his Major League debut. Plouffe, 23, was a first round pick of the Twins in the 2004 Draft. He’s gotten off to a hot start at Rochester this year, batting .303 with 11 doubles, four home runs and 38 RBIs before getting his first callup.
The Twins are going to be a little thin on infield depth tonight as Alexi Casilla went to get an MRI on his right elbow. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Casilla has been battling a sore right arm for the last 5 days to a week but it was worse on Friday, prompting the test.
Brewers (16-25)
Joe Inglett, 2B
Carlos Gomez, CF
Ryan Braun, LF
Prince Fielder, 1B
Casey McGehee, DH
Corey Hart, RF
Craig Counsell, 3B
George Kottaras, C
Alcides Escobar, SS
Pitching: RHP Dave Bush (1-4, 4.27 ERA)
Twins
(24-17)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer,
RF
Jason Kubel, DH
Delmon Young, LF
Trevor Plouffe, SS
Nick Punto, 3B
Pitching: RHP Nick Blackburn (4-1, 4.63 ERA)
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Trying for a 3-4 roadtrip: Twins at Red Sox 5/20
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
BOSTON – The Twins are trying to wrap up their roadtrip with a win tonight and while it would still be a losing roadtrip, a 3-4 record certainly looks better than 2-5 vs. the AL East on this three-city trip.
It appears unlikely that shortstop J.J. Hardy will be ready to play this weekend against his former team, the Brewers. Hardy (left wrist contusion) is still only hitting off a tee and manager Ron Gardenhire said the club will most likely wait until after Monday’s off day to activate him from the DL.
The Twins don’t want to stick with 13 pitchers to they’re expected to make a roster mover after tonight’s game to swap a pitcher for an infielder. The move is not known yet, although Matt Tolbert is not eligible to be brought up again and Luke Hughes is on the DL with a strained groin.
Twins
(24-16)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer,
RF
Jason Kubel, DH
Delmon Young, LF
Brendan Harris, SS
Nick
Punto, 3B
Pitching: LHP Francisco Liriano (4-2, 2.63
ERA)
Red Sox (21-20)
Darnell McDonald, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Victor Martinez, C
Kevin Youkilis,
1B
Mike Lowell, DH
Adrian Beltre, 3B
J.D. Drew, RF
Bill
Hall, LF
Angel Sanchez, SS
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester
(3-2, 3.91 ERA)
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Catching liability?
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
BOSTON — During Spring Training, it would have been easy to assume that the backup catching spot would be there for Jose Morales once he recovered from offseason right wrist surgery.
But now that Morales’ wrist is healed and he’s starting to catch and DH at Triple-A Rochester, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that Morales has to prove that he deserves to have that spot.
“That’s not a given at all. It depends on how he does
and whether he can catch and throw,” Gardenhire said. “There’s nothing
written in stone that that’s his job. Coming back from an injury, he has
to earn the promotion just like everybody else. He’s been told that,
and I think his agent’s been told that.”
The biggest test for Morales now is to show that he can
control the running game.
Morales threw out just one of 19 baserunners
attempting to steal over his 29 games in the big leagues last year and was charged with five passed balls. He wasn’t able to work on those skills this winter due to his wrist injury and he missed all of Spring Training as he recovered from surgery, making it difficult for the club to work with him on his issues.
But before Gardenhire can hand the backup catching position to Morales, he first needs to see that the catcher can help to control a running game.
“We know he’s not the strongest-armed kid in the world, that’s a given,”
Gardenhire said, “but you have to be able to be serviceable enough to
throw the ball down there and get the people you’re supposed to get,
that’s all. His thing is getting healthy.”
Gardenhire reiterated that he’s very happy with the job that Drew Butera has done in the backup catcher role. Although Morales is a better hitter, Butera “can catch and throw with the best of them,” according to Gardenhire. And while Butera is batting .136 for the Twins, the club feels he’s a good fit since he doesn’t get many starts playing behind Joe Mauer.
Welcome to Beantown: Twins at Red Sox 5/19
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
BOSTON –After missing the two-day trip to Toronto, I’m back with the Twins as they wrap up the roadtrip with a two-game set against the Red Sox.
For now, here are the lineups:
Twins
(24-15)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer,
RF
Jim Thome, DH
Jason Kubel, LF
Brendan Harris, SS
Nick Punto, 3B
Pitching: RHP Scott Baker (4-3, 4.93
ERA)
Red Sox (20-20)
J.D. Drew, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Victor Martinez, C
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Jeremy Hermida, LF
Bill Hall, SS
Darnell McDonald, CF
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.46 ERA)
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