Tagged: Twins
Twins pick up Kubel’s option, decline Punto’s option
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins have exercised Jason Kubel’s club option for the 2011 season and they’ve declined Nick Punto’s club option, the team announced Friday morning.
Kubel’s salary in 2011 will be $5.25 million. He batted .249 with 21 home runs and 92 RBIs in 143 games with the Twins in 2010. After starting last season as the club’s everyday designated hitter, Kubel spent nearly the entire second half playing in right field for the Twins. He was used almost exclusively in right field after Michael Cuddyer shifted to first base in the absence of Justin Morneau, who suffered a season-ending concussion on July 7.
The Twins chose not to exercise Punto’s $5 million option for the 2011 season. Punto, who will receive a $500,000 buyout, will become a free agent.
Punto played in 88 games for the Twins in 2010. He batted .238 with 11 doubles, one triple, one home run and 20 RBIs. The infielder was hampered by a strained left hamstring late in the season and he went on the disabled list twice with the injury.
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Win or go home: Twins at Yankees Game 3
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins know the task ahead of them if they want to continue in the postseason: win three straight games over the Yankees.
But of course, that all starts with winning Game 3 on Saturday night at Yankee Stadium if the Twins are to keep their season alive. And the Twins players talked at length during Friday’s workout about focusing on one game at a time.
Left-hander Brian Duensing is making his second ALDS start at Yankee Stadium. The first came last year in Game 1 when Duensing got the start after the Twins used all of their other starters down the stretch to force a Game 163 and earn the AL Central title. This time, Duensing knows what awaits him in the start and he sounded ready for the job.
Manager Ron Gardenhire had talked about moving a left-handed hitter
behind Joe Mauer since the team is facing right-hander Phil Hughes in Game 3. Jason Kubel got the nod in the cleanup spot, although he currently has a .080 career postseason batting average. Kubel has two hits in three
career regular season at-bats against Hughes.
Gardenhire also had mentioned that he might start Alexi Casilla to give more speed in the lineup. But J.J. Hardy is at shortstop and all nine players in the lineup are the same as in Games 1 and 2.
Twins
(0-2)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Jason Kubel, RF
Delmon Young, LF
Jim Thome, DH
Michael
Cuddyer, 1B
Danny Valencia, 3B
J.J. Hardy, SS
Pitching: LHP Brian Duensing
(10-3, 2.62 ERA this season)
Yankees (2-0)
Derek Jeter, SS
Nick Swisher, RF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson
Cano, 2B
Marcus Thames, DH
Jorge Posada, C
Curtis Granderson,
CF
Brett
Gardner, LF
Pitching: RHP Phil
Hughes(18-8, 4.19 ERA this season)
A
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“Almost a do-or-die type thing” — Twins vs. Yankees Game 2
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — Twins manager Ron Gardenhire didn’t mince words when talking about tonight’s Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Yankees.
“This is a huge game,” Gardenhire said. “This is almost a do-or-die type thing. You don’t want to go into New York 0-2. I try not to put pressure on guys but this is one that we’ve got to get. We need to get this game. It’s very important.”
When the Twins set up their rotation, one of the reasons for putting Carl Pavano as the starter in Game 2 was to give the team a stabilizing force in case they fell behind 0-1. So now the task is on Pavano to be the leader that he’s been all season.
It’s certainly not an easy thing to come back from a loss in Game 1 of a best-of-five division series. The last team to do it was the Tigers in 2006 when they lost Game 1 in New York to the Yankees and then won three straight against the club en route to winning the World Series.
Now the Twins have to see if they can put together a similar type run.
Yankees (1-0)
Derek Jeter, SS
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson
Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Jorge Posada, C
Lance Berkman, DH
Brett Gardner, LF
Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte
(11-3, 3.28 ERA this season)
Twins
(0-1)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Delmon Young, LF
Jim Thome, DH
Michael
Cuddyer, 1B
Jason
Kubel, RF
Danny Valencia, 3B
J.J. Hardy, SS
Pitching: RHP Carl Pavano
(17-11, 3.75 ERA this season)
A
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can follow me on Twitter @kellythesier
And so it begins: Twins vs. Yankees Game 1
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — The buzz has been building in the Twin Cities all day and no, it’s not about the fact that Randy Moss is now back with the Vikings.
Tonight, the Twins officially host the first playoff game at Target Field and the storyline is set with the vaunted Yankees as the opponent. So the Twin will try to see if they can end this streak of three postseason series losses to the Yankees and head back to the ALCS for the first time since 2002.
Big news of the day was that the roster has now been set. Both Jon Rauch and Scott Baker made the roster while Kevin Slowey was left off. Rauch’s left knee is well enough for him to pitch and Gardy said that they liked Baker’s ability to strike out the Yankees over Slowey’s pitch-to-contact stuff at least for this series.
And now it’s up to the Twins to see if they can make a statement in Game 1. To me, this seems to be one of the most confident Twins teams that I’ve seen in my five years on the beat. Of course it helps that this is the first time over that span they’ve been able to rest their team and set up the rotation for the postseason. Will it make a difference? Starting tonight, we’ll see.
Yankees (0-0)
Derek Jeter, SS
Nick Swisher, RF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Marcus Thames, DH
Jorge Posada, C
Curtis Granderson, CF
Brett Gardner, LF
Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia
(21-7, 3.18 ERA this season)
Twins
(0-0)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Delmon Young, LF
Jim Thome, DH
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Jason
Kubel, RF
Danny Valencia, 3B
J.J. Hardy, SS
Pitching: LHP Francisco Liriano
(14-10, 3.62 ERA this season)
A
reminder
you
can follow me on Twitter @kellythesier
The MASH unit: Twins at Tigers 9/26
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
DETROIT — The Twins are a little banged up as they head into the series finale with the Tigers today trying to avoid a sweep.
Manager Ron Gardenhire is among the walking wounded. Gardenhire was feeling better on Sunday after getting hit in the right ear by a thrown baseball during batting practice on Saturday. Gardenhire’s ear is still not pretty but he will be managing the game today.
Shortstop J.J. Hardy has a swollen left knee and he is scheduled to be checked out by the doctor today. Hardy said he’s not sure how he injured his knee. He said he didn’t feel anything bother him during Saturday’s game but he woke up to a swollen knee on Sunday.
Denard Span fouled a ball off his right foot in his final at-bat on Saturday. He said he woke up with his foot feeling very sore, “almost fell out of bed,” he said. He was getting treatment on the foot and was not int he lineup..
Jim Thome’s back is still sore and he said that he has a knot in the left side of his back. He said he first felt something after Tuesday night’s clinching game. He seems to be a little
concerned, although the hope is that they’ll be able to get his back feeling better soon.
Jason Repko is still out with bruised right thumb after getting hit with a pitch last night.
As for Mauer, Gardenhire said that it’s possible that he could return to the lineup in Kansas City. If that’s the case, Mauer will probably be the DH. Gardenhire stressed that they just want to see the catcher healthy before he’s back behind the plate.
Twins
(92-62)
Ben Revere, CF
Orlando Hudson, DH
Delmon Young, LF
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Jason Kubel, RF
Danny Valencia, 3B
Jose Morales, 1B
Matt Tolbert, 2B
Nick Punto, SS
Pitching: LHP Brian Duensing
(10-2, 2.19 ERA)
Tigers
(79-75)
Austin Jackson, CF
Casper Wells, RF
Ryan Raburn, LF
Miguel
Cabrera, 1B
Jhonny Peralta, DH
Brandon Inge, 3B
Scott Sizemore, 2B
Ramon Santiago, SS
Gerald Laird, C
Pitching: RHP Rick Porcello
(9-11, 5.22 ERA)
A
reminder
you
can follow me on Twitter @kellythesier
Best record in baseball: Twins at Tigers 9/24
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
DETROIT — The Twins prepare to open up their series against the Tigers tonight at Comerica Park with a new distinction — owning the best record in the Major Leagues.
Thanks to the Rays winning two straight games over the Yankees, the Twins have taken over with the best overall record at 92-60. It’s a nice thing to have, manager Ron Gardenhire said, but he wishes that he can say that after the next 10 days when the regular season is over.
The key for the Twins down the stretch is to try to maintain the best record while also ensuring that the team is healthy entering the ALDS. The team’s opponent is still unknown as the Rays now trail the Yankees by just a 1/2 game in the AL East race. The Twins will face whoever finishes second in the race and one key thing to know is that Tampa Bay holds the tie-breaker over the Yankees with a 10-8 record against them this season.
Here are some Twins updates today:
Joe Mauer will not play in this series with the Tigers, Gardenhire said, after getting a cortisone shot in his left knee on Wednesday. It’s possible that Mauer could return to the lineup on Monday in Kansas City but that will all depend on how his knee is feeling.
Twins general manager Bill Smith said Thursday that there was nothing new to report on first baseman Justin Morneau, meaning that there has been no expectation for a return and also no official decision has been made to shut Morneau down either. On his weekly radio appearance on ESPN 1500 AM, Gardenhire was asked for a Morneau
update and said, “I don’t see how [a September or October return] can
possibly happen for him.” He then added, “I hope I’m wrong…I’m hoping all of a sudden he joins us somewhere.”
Jim Thome is not in the lineup for the series opener as he’s feeling a little stiff today, Gardenhire said.
Gardenhire also said that he tried to stack the lineup with as many left-handed hitters as possible today against Verlander. So Alexi Casilla is getting the start at shortstop, since he’s a switch-hitter, although Gardenhire stressed that J.J. Hardy is feeling just fine. Ben Revere also got the nod in right field.
Denard Span had an MRI exam on his right shoulder on Wednesday in a precautionary move since it had already been scheduled, and it didn’t show anything of concern. Gardenhire said that the MRI was part of his routine end-of-year physical and Span is back in the lineup again today.
.
Twins
(92-60)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Jason Kubel, DH
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Danny Valencia, 3B
Jose Morales, 1B
Ben Revere,
RF
Alexi Casilla, SS
Pitching: LHP Francisco Liriano
(14-8, 3.44 ERA)
Tigers
(77-75)
Austin Jackson, CF
Scott Sizemore, 2B
Ryan Raburn, LF
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Casper Wells, RF
Brennan Boesch, DH
Brandon Inge, 3B
Gerald Laird, C
Pitching: RHP Justin Verlander
(17-8, 3.46 ERA)
A
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Span to get precautionary MRI on shoulder; Mauer gets cortisone shot
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
Twins center fielder Denard Span is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his right shoulder on Thursday.
General manager Bill Smith said that the team had scheduled the MRI after Span missed three games last weekend after injuring the shoulder while diving for a ball in a game at Chicago on Sept.16. Span returned to the lineup on Monday and played all three games against the Indians.
“When he missed a couple games last week set this up,” Smith said. “And we decided to go ahead and have the MRI as a precautionary measure.He’s played a few games without any significant problems but we decided just to have it done.”
Span told ESPN 1500 AM on Thursday that he initially injured the shoulder during a dive in Oakland in early June. He said he’s been dealing with soreness in the shoulder on and off since that time, but said that it’s nothing that he can’t play through.
Smith also confirmed that catcher Joe Mauer received a cortisone shot in his left knee on Wednesday. Mauer injured his knee in Sunday’s game against the A’s, leaving after his at-bat in the sixth inning, but an MRI revealed no structural damage, just some tissue inflammation. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that Mauer, who has not played since Sunday, would miss a few days if he received a cortisone shot.
The day after the clinch: Twins vs. Indians 9/22
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — What was joked about on Tuesday might be a celebratory brunch for the Twins has instead turned into one of those “day-after” contests.
As everyone knows, the Twins did indeed stick around last night to watch as the White Sox suffered a 7-2 loss to the A’s and then celebrated their sixth division title in the last nine years. Considering how the Twins rallied with a four-run inning in the eighth on Tuesday night to defeat the Indians 6-4, the timing was just too good for the club not to celebrate.
So today, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire had to run around the clubhouse and see who was available to play. He said that Jim Thome was a little sore and Delmon Young said there was no chance he’d be OK to play.
Gardenhire confirmed on Wednesday that Francisco Liriano will be the Game 1 starter for the Twins in the ALDS. Carl Pavano is in line for Game 2 and Brian Duensing will pitch Game 3. There is still no official decision as to whether the Twins will use a four-man rotation but if that’s the case, Nick Blackburn is in line right now to be the starter for a possible fourth game.
Indians (62-89)
Michael Brantley, CF
Drew Sutton, SS
Shin-Soo Choo, RF
Travis
Hafner, DH
Shelley Duncan, LF
Jayson Nix, 3B
Matt LaPorta, 1B
Luis
Valbuena, 2B
Chris Gimenez, C
Pitching: RHP Carlos Carrasco (1-0, 2.70 ERA)
Twins
(91-60)
Denard Span, CF
Alexi Casilla, SS
Jason Kubel, DH
Danny Valencia, 3B
Jose Morales, 1B
Matt Tolbert, 2B
Ben Revere, LF
Jason Repko, RF
Drew Butera, C
Pitching: RHP Nick Blackburn
(9-10, 5.43 ERA)
A
reminder
you
can follow me on Twitter @kellythesier
Magic number now at 2: Twins vs. Indians 9/21
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins have an opportunity to clinch the American League Central division title tonight with a little help from the Oakland A’s.
A victory by the Twins plus a White Sox loss would reduce the club’s magic number from 2 to 0 and give the Twins their sixth division title in the last nine years. But due to the White Sox playing on the West Coast and their game not starting until two hours after the Twins, it’s unclear whether the team will celebrate tonight if that happens.,
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that he will be at home by the time the White Sox are finished playing tonight. He brought up the fact that the Twins will finish off their series against the Indians with a 12:10 p.m. CT game on Wednesday.
“There is plenty of time to do what you have to do,” Gardenhire said of celebrating. “If we win tonight, and [the White Sox] lose tonight, I guarantee you
we’ll have some fun tomorrow, one way or another.”
One reporter jokingly asked, “A celebration brunch?”
“We’ll let you have a celebratory brunch,” Gardenhire said. “We’re
going to play a baseball game [Wednesday] and after the game, we’ll do
our thing … and we might even let you in.”
Indians (62-88)
Michael Brantley, CF
Drew Sutton, SS
Shin-Soo Choo, RF
Travis Hafner, DH
Jordan Brown, 1B
Andy Marte, 3B
Trevor Crowe, LF
Luis Valbuena, 2B
Lou Marson, C
Pitching: RHP Fausto Carmona (12-14, 3.81 ERA)
Twins
(90-60)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Jason Kubel, RF
Michael
Cuddyer, 1B
Jim Thome, DH
Delmon Young, LF
Danny Valencia, 3B
Nick Punto,
SS
Drew Butera, C
Pitching: RHP Scott Baker
(12-9, 4.60 ERA)
A
reminder
you
can follow me on Twitter @kellythesier
Mauer’s MRI provides good news
MINNEAPOLIS – The MRI on Joe Mauer’s left knee showed some tissue inflammation but nothing more serious, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said before Tuesday’s game against the Indians.
“Everything came out good, so good news,” Gardenhire said.
Gardenhire said that Mauer would probably receive a cortisone shot to help with the inflammation in his knee, which would sideline him for around 4-5 days. A decision on whether Mauer will get the shot will be made once he consults with the Twins doctors on Tuesday night.
Mauer injured his knee while swinging in the sixth inning of Sunday’s 6-2 loss to the A’s, and the catcher left the game after it started to get worse while he ran up the first-base line.
The Twins are on the verge of clinching the American League Central title as their magic number was 2 entering Tuesday and there are 12 games remaining in the regular season, so Gardenhire said the timing of the injury isn’t such a bad thing.
“If they decide to do [the cortisone shot], then it’s probably 4-5 days, which he could use,” Gardenhire said. “That would be good [for him].”
Although Gardenhire had said that he wasn’t concerned that Mauer’s knee injury was anything serious since the doctors had not seemed concerned, he acknowledged that the positive results of the MRI were a bit of a relief.
“They told me in the first place it was nothing so I was listening to them,” Gardenhire said. “But I think you never know until you see an MRI, you never know what you can find.”
Until Mauer is ready to return to the lineup, the Twins catching duties will be split between Drew Butera and Jose Morales. Butera was behind the plate for Tuesday’s contest to catch starter Scott Baker and Morales was slated to catch Wednesday afternoon’s contest with Nick Blackburn on the mound.
Kelly's Corner 