The Twins took batting practice on Wednesday, but that’s their last chance for awhile. They play day games for four straight days when they return home. Players don’t generally like arriving in the morning hours for batting practice, but that’s not the only problem this weekend.
The Vikings play an NFL game Thursday night, and the Gophers open their football season Saturday night, with three baseball games in between. That means the Metrodome stadium crew will be busy switching the field back and forth from football to baseball and vice versa. Painting (and removing) all the lines is a big job, and the pitcher’s mound must be rebuilt to major-league specifications each time. So the baseball field might not be ready in time for practice.
The Twins -- who will play three games in roughly 25 hours Friday and Saturday -- plan to limit their work to indoor cages, which isn’t the same, but it’s the best they can hope for until Tuesday. Just one of the disadvantages to sharing a stadium -- something that ends in two more years.
For now, “it’s a good thing we play on the turf,” Michael Cuddyer pointed out. “Can you imagine how torn up the field would get with two football games and three baseball games in three days?”
Tonight’s lineups for Santana vs. Sabathia (a terrific matchup that will be repeated in the Metrodome on Monday afternoon:)
TWINS
Casilla 2b
Bartlett ss
Hunter cf
Morneau 1b
Cuddyer rf
White dh
Redmond c
Tyner lf
Punto 3b
Santana p
INDIANS
Sizemore cf
Cabrera ss
Hafner dh
Martinez c
Garko 1b
Gutierrez rf
Lofton lf
Gomez 2b
Blake 3b
Sabathia p
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Relievers Need Relief
The Twins need a lot from Boof Bonser tonight. Not just another performance like the one he supplied last weekend in Baltimore, when he broke his 12-start winless streak, and not just a critical pennant-race victory.
They also need a little relief. From the starter.
The bullpen is stretched thin, Ron Gardenhire made clear before Tuesday’s game. Too many short starts, a situation made worse by Carlos Silva’s 3 2/3 outing on Monday. Scott Baker lasted six innings on Sunday, and Matt Garza only five innings on Saturday.
That’s why Carmen Cali and Juan Rincon have worked two of the past three nights, and Julio DePaula has pitched in three straight.
“If we have to go out there early, I’m not sure what we’ll do,” Gardenhire said. “We need some help from the starter.”
Nick Punto is at second base tonight, mostly because of his .375 lifetime average (in just 16 at-bats, of course) against Jake Westbrook. Brian Buscher returns to third base, with Alexi Casilla getting the night off.
Tonight’s lineups:
TWINS
Tyner lf
Bartlett ss
Hunter cf
Morneau 1b
Cuddyer rf
Kubel dh
Redmond c
Buscher 3b
Punto 2b
Bonser p
INDIANS
Sizemore cf
Cabrera 2b
Hafner dh
Martinez c
Garko 1b
Peralta ss
Lofton lf
Nixon rf
Blake 3b
Westbrook p
They also need a little relief. From the starter.
The bullpen is stretched thin, Ron Gardenhire made clear before Tuesday’s game. Too many short starts, a situation made worse by Carlos Silva’s 3 2/3 outing on Monday. Scott Baker lasted six innings on Sunday, and Matt Garza only five innings on Saturday.
That’s why Carmen Cali and Juan Rincon have worked two of the past three nights, and Julio DePaula has pitched in three straight.
“If we have to go out there early, I’m not sure what we’ll do,” Gardenhire said. “We need some help from the starter.”
Nick Punto is at second base tonight, mostly because of his .375 lifetime average (in just 16 at-bats, of course) against Jake Westbrook. Brian Buscher returns to third base, with Alexi Casilla getting the night off.
Tonight’s lineups:
TWINS
Tyner lf
Bartlett ss
Hunter cf
Morneau 1b
Cuddyer rf
Kubel dh
Redmond c
Buscher 3b
Punto 2b
Bonser p
INDIANS
Sizemore cf
Cabrera 2b
Hafner dh
Martinez c
Garko 1b
Peralta ss
Lofton lf
Nixon rf
Blake 3b
Westbrook p
Monday, August 27, 2007
Catcher Still Can't
No Joe Mauer again tonight, and probably not for a few days, at least. Ron Gardenhire said Mauer was not significantly improved -- in fact, he said, “Right now, he’s Kirk Gibson waiting to pinch hit.” Yeah, Gibson homered in that ’88 Series, but that’s not a very happy comparison, considering what a difficult time Gibson had walking back then. Remember, that Game 1 homer was Gibson’s only at-bat in the entire series.
Mauer did some exercises, and worked out in the swimming pool that he got plenty of use out of when the Twins were here in May.
Gardenhire is still trying to find out whether Scott Baker, who is home in Louisiana with his wife after the birth of their second son, expects to be back by Wednesday to do his normal between-starts workout. If not, his next start probably will be pushed back to Saturday and a Triple-A pitcher, presumably Kevin Slowey, will start one end of Friday’s doubleheader with Kansas City. If Baker makes it to Cleveland, he and Matt Garza could pitch in the doubleheader, and no call-up would be needed.
Tonight’s game wasn’t on the Indians’ original schedule; it was supposed to be played Thursday, but was moved back so Cleveland and Seattle can fit in one of their makeup games from the season-opening snowstorm. But because they didn’t start selling tickets for this game till mid-season, the crowd appears to be tiny. It’s a half-hour to first pitch, and there can’t be more than 2,000 people in the park.
Tonight’s lineups:
TWINS
Casilla 2b
Bartlett ss
Hunter cf
Morneau 1b
Cuddyer rf
Kubel dh
Redmond c
Tyner lf
Punto 3b
Silva p
INDIANS
Sizemore cf
Cabrera 2b
Hafner dh
Martinez 1b
Peralta ss
Blake 3b
Lofton lf
Gutierrez rf
Shoppach c
Byrd p
Mauer did some exercises, and worked out in the swimming pool that he got plenty of use out of when the Twins were here in May.
Gardenhire is still trying to find out whether Scott Baker, who is home in Louisiana with his wife after the birth of their second son, expects to be back by Wednesday to do his normal between-starts workout. If not, his next start probably will be pushed back to Saturday and a Triple-A pitcher, presumably Kevin Slowey, will start one end of Friday’s doubleheader with Kansas City. If Baker makes it to Cleveland, he and Matt Garza could pitch in the doubleheader, and no call-up would be needed.
Tonight’s game wasn’t on the Indians’ original schedule; it was supposed to be played Thursday, but was moved back so Cleveland and Seattle can fit in one of their makeup games from the season-opening snowstorm. But because they didn’t start selling tickets for this game till mid-season, the crowd appears to be tiny. It’s a half-hour to first pitch, and there can’t be more than 2,000 people in the park.
Tonight’s lineups:
TWINS
Casilla 2b
Bartlett ss
Hunter cf
Morneau 1b
Cuddyer rf
Kubel dh
Redmond c
Tyner lf
Punto 3b
Silva p
INDIANS
Sizemore cf
Cabrera 2b
Hafner dh
Martinez 1b
Peralta ss
Blake 3b
Lofton lf
Gutierrez rf
Shoppach c
Byrd p
Friday, August 17, 2007
Injuries? What Injuries?
No sign of Jason Bartlett or Jason Kubel in the lineup tonight, but both are feeling pretty good today, and both figure to avoid the disabled list. Kubel has shaved his beard, and was a little hard to recognize. Until he got in the cage, anyway -- he was launching line drives all over the field, as usual.
The Twins have painted 20th anniversary logos on the field, and are really going all out for the 1987 team. I asked Mike Redmond, who was still in high school in 1987, who he pulled for in the ’87 World Series -- he said the Twins, of course. Why? “They’re closer to Spokane.” Makes perfect sense.
By the way, about three weeks ago, the Twins had an off night in Cleveland. I spent it at Jacobs Field, watching Kason Gabbard, tonight’s starter for Texas, get hammered by the Indians. The Red Sox (who traded him in the Gagne deal a week later) handed him an 8-1 lead or something like that, but he couldn’t get out of the fifth inning to earn the win.
Tonight’s lineups:
RANGERS
Catalanotto lf
Kinsler 2b
Young ss
Byrd cf
Botts dh
Cruz rf
Wilkerson 1b
Saltalamacchia c
Vazquez 3b
Gabbard p
TWINS
Casilla 2b
Punto ss
Mauer c
Hunter cf
Morneau 1b
Cuddyer rf
White lf
Redmond dh
Watkins 3b
Silva p
The Twins have painted 20th anniversary logos on the field, and are really going all out for the 1987 team. I asked Mike Redmond, who was still in high school in 1987, who he pulled for in the ’87 World Series -- he said the Twins, of course. Why? “They’re closer to Spokane.” Makes perfect sense.
By the way, about three weeks ago, the Twins had an off night in Cleveland. I spent it at Jacobs Field, watching Kason Gabbard, tonight’s starter for Texas, get hammered by the Indians. The Red Sox (who traded him in the Gagne deal a week later) handed him an 8-1 lead or something like that, but he couldn’t get out of the fifth inning to earn the win.
Tonight’s lineups:
RANGERS
Catalanotto lf
Kinsler 2b
Young ss
Byrd cf
Botts dh
Cruz rf
Wilkerson 1b
Saltalamacchia c
Vazquez 3b
Gabbard p
TWINS
Casilla 2b
Punto ss
Mauer c
Hunter cf
Morneau 1b
Cuddyer rf
White lf
Redmond dh
Watkins 3b
Silva p
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Buscher Out, Watkins In
It was interesting to see the whisper tree go around the Twins’ clubhouse as the word leaked out -- Tommy Watkins is coming. The rookie is obviously tremendously popular with the Twins, and there were a lot of happy people to hear the news.
Unfortunately, it’s not good news for Brian Buscher. The rookie fouled off a pitch -- on his second at-bat in the big leagues, of all the luck -- and the bruise is now roughly the size of a basketball. That’s how it looked to me, anyway. Buscher may spend a night or two in the hospital while doctors treat the infection, which Buscher said Tuesday was extremely painful.
Anyway, tonight’s lineups don’t include Rondell White, but that’s just because Ron Gardenhire doesn’t want to risk any uncertain defense behind Johan Santana, and Joe Mauer is the DH. Sounds like White might try the outfield in Anaheim this weekend.
The lineups:
TWINS
Bartlett ss
Punto 3b
Mauer dh
Cuddyer rf
Morneau 1b
Hunter cf
Redmond c
Tyner lf
Casilla 2b
Santana p
ROYALS
DeJesus cf
Grudzielanek 2b
Teahen rf
Butler dh
Gload 1b
German 3b
Brown lf
Buck c
Pena p
Unfortunately, it’s not good news for Brian Buscher. The rookie fouled off a pitch -- on his second at-bat in the big leagues, of all the luck -- and the bruise is now roughly the size of a basketball. That’s how it looked to me, anyway. Buscher may spend a night or two in the hospital while doctors treat the infection, which Buscher said Tuesday was extremely painful.
Anyway, tonight’s lineups don’t include Rondell White, but that’s just because Ron Gardenhire doesn’t want to risk any uncertain defense behind Johan Santana, and Joe Mauer is the DH. Sounds like White might try the outfield in Anaheim this weekend.
The lineups:
TWINS
Bartlett ss
Punto 3b
Mauer dh
Cuddyer rf
Morneau 1b
Hunter cf
Redmond c
Tyner lf
Casilla 2b
Santana p
ROYALS
DeJesus cf
Grudzielanek 2b
Teahen rf
Butler dh
Gload 1b
German 3b
Brown lf
Buck c
Pena p
Friday, August 3, 2007
Diamondbacks claim Cirillo off waivers
Jeff Cirillo’s brief tenure with the Twins is over. The team just announced it activated Michael Cuddyer for tonight's game. To make space on the roster, Minnesota allowed Jeff Cirillo to join Arizona, which had claimed the utility infielder off waivers. The Twins received no compensation for Cirillo, and the Diamondbacks will assume his contract.
Just before the team gathered on the field for pre-batting practice stretching, manager Ron Gardenhire walked to the batting cage and said something to Cirillo. The pair went back to the clubhouse together.
Cirillo, a 14-year major-league veteran who signed a one-year free-agent contract last December, is hitting .261 with two home runs. His season was hampered by arthroscopic knee surgery in April, and he had suggested that he might retire after the season.
Going to the first-place Diamondbacks could give Cirillo a chance to achieve a career-long goal of playing in the postseason for the first time.
Tonight’s lineups:
INDIANS
Sizemore cf
Blake 3b
Martinez c
Garko 1b
Hafner dh
Peralta ss
Lofton lf
Gutierrez rf
Barfield 2b
Sabathia p
TWINS
Tyner lf
Bartlett ss
Mauer c
Cuddyer rf
Morneau 1b
Hunter cf
Redmond dh
Punto 3b
Casilla 2b
Santana p
Just before the team gathered on the field for pre-batting practice stretching, manager Ron Gardenhire walked to the batting cage and said something to Cirillo. The pair went back to the clubhouse together.
Cirillo, a 14-year major-league veteran who signed a one-year free-agent contract last December, is hitting .261 with two home runs. His season was hampered by arthroscopic knee surgery in April, and he had suggested that he might retire after the season.
Going to the first-place Diamondbacks could give Cirillo a chance to achieve a career-long goal of playing in the postseason for the first time.
Tonight’s lineups:
INDIANS
Sizemore cf
Blake 3b
Martinez c
Garko 1b
Hafner dh
Peralta ss
Lofton lf
Gutierrez rf
Barfield 2b
Sabathia p
TWINS
Tyner lf
Bartlett ss
Mauer c
Cuddyer rf
Morneau 1b
Hunter cf
Redmond dh
Punto 3b
Casilla 2b
Santana p
Cirillo Traded?
Looks like Jeff Cirillo’s tenure with the Twins may be over, though there is no official word yet. The team intends to activate Michael Cuddyer for tonight’s game with Cleveland, and word in the clubhouse is that he’s been traded to the National League.
Just before the team gathered on the field for pre-batting practice stretching, manager Ron Gardenhire walked to the batting cage and said something to Cirillo. The pair went back to the clubhouse together.
The team has now begun their stretching, and Cirillo is not on the field. There is no confirmation on where he is headed, but we will update once an announcement is made.Cirillo, a 14-year major-league veteran who signed a one-year free-agent contract last December, is hitting .261 with two home runs. His season was hampered by arthroscopic knee surgery in April, and he had suggested that he might retire after the season.
Just before the team gathered on the field for pre-batting practice stretching, manager Ron Gardenhire walked to the batting cage and said something to Cirillo. The pair went back to the clubhouse together.
The team has now begun their stretching, and Cirillo is not on the field. There is no confirmation on where he is headed, but we will update once an announcement is made.Cirillo, a 14-year major-league veteran who signed a one-year free-agent contract last December, is hitting .261 with two home runs. His season was hampered by arthroscopic knee surgery in April, and he had suggested that he might retire after the season.
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