FORT TRAFFICJAMBURG, Fla. -- Matt Garza says his two-week headache/neck pain is all gone, thanks to a Novocain injection the pitcher received Wednesday.
Garza said he immediately felt better after receiving the injection, and he proceeded to throw a light bullpen session this morning. He is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Friday. If all goes well, he will return to game action Sunday or Monday, thus keeping the hotshot prospect in the mix for the vacancy in the starting rotation.
My money's still on Garza to beat out Sidney Ponson for the job. I've told a few people around here I believe Garza is this year's Francisco Liriano. Haven't had anyone object to that notion yet.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Friday, March 2, 2007
Torii update
FORT MISERY, Fla. -- Torii did not lose consciousness and has no concussion symptoms after being hit in the back left side of his head, according to the medical report passed on to official spokesman Mike Herman.
Hunter is alert and coherent, according to the report. Public address announcer just announced it to the crowd.
I used the "Fort Misery" dateline this time, because that's what Torii calls this place.
Hunter is alert and coherent, according to the report. Public address announcer just announced it to the crowd.
I used the "Fort Misery" dateline this time, because that's what Torii calls this place.
Scary
FORT TRAFFICJAMBURG, Fla. -- Scary scene here minutes ago, when Torii Hunter was drilled squarely in the head by a Kyle Lohse pitch with two outs in the first inning of the Twins-Reds game at Hammond Stadium.
After lying flat on his back for over a minute, Torii walked off the field to a standing ovation. I'll pass along an injury update when I get one.
Lohse still is the same lousy pitcher he was while with the Twins, but that wasn't intentional. I've heard he's actually hung out with Torii this spring. As the trainers tended to Torii, Gardy talked to Lohse and patted him on the back three times. Nice gesture from Gardy, especially after all the grief Lohse gave him the past two years.
Lohse got the hook after that. Typical line: 1 run, 1 hit, 2 walks, 1 hit batter
UPDATE: Turns out Lohse left because of a mild strain in his right hamstring.
After lying flat on his back for over a minute, Torii walked off the field to a standing ovation. I'll pass along an injury update when I get one.
Lohse still is the same lousy pitcher he was while with the Twins, but that wasn't intentional. I've heard he's actually hung out with Torii this spring. As the trainers tended to Torii, Gardy talked to Lohse and patted him on the back three times. Nice gesture from Gardy, especially after all the grief Lohse gave him the past two years.
Lohse got the hook after that. Typical line: 1 run, 1 hit, 2 walks, 1 hit batter
UPDATE: Turns out Lohse left because of a mild strain in his right hamstring.
Ponson obtains visa
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Twins pitcher Sidney Ponson has obtained the proper work visa, clearing the veteran right-hander to participate in official spring training exhibition games, general manager Terry Ryan said this afternoon.
"It was a little awkward for us, but he really didn't get setback any because he was slated to pitch March 5 and he's still going to pitch March 5," Ryan said. "Now the visa issue is a dead issue."
Ponson, a native of Aruba, was originally scheduled to pitch in the minor-league "B" game on Monday. Ryan was not certain whether the field staff would keep Ponson on that schedule or shift him to the major-league game against Tampa Bay on Monday.
Ponson left camp Thursday to travel to the Bahamas to receive his visa from the U.S. consul. He originally was scheduled to obtain his visa on March 9, meaning he would have missed almost two weeks of Grapefruit League games.
"It was a little awkward for us, but he really didn't get setback any because he was slated to pitch March 5 and he's still going to pitch March 5," Ryan said. "Now the visa issue is a dead issue."
Ponson, a native of Aruba, was originally scheduled to pitch in the minor-league "B" game on Monday. Ryan was not certain whether the field staff would keep Ponson on that schedule or shift him to the major-league game against Tampa Bay on Monday.
Ponson left camp Thursday to travel to the Bahamas to receive his visa from the U.S. consul. He originally was scheduled to obtain his visa on March 9, meaning he would have missed almost two weeks of Grapefruit League games.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Nice catch
TAMPA, Fla. -- Jason Kubel just showed that his knees are feeling pretty good, making a highlight-reel diving catch of Robinson Cano's line shot to left field in the third inning. Kubel is slotted to be the DH this season, but the Twins still view him as their future everyday left fielder.
More nuggets:
More nuggets:
- Gardy says Torii is day-to-day after he bent back his left thumbnail while sliding into base during Wednesday's game. Torii told the Pioneer Press the minor injury will not hold him back. He's not playing today because he wasn't scheduled to.
- What little shot 1B/DH Ken Harvey had of making the team took a big hit Wednesday night. Gardy reports that Harvey pulled a chest muscle while swinging the bat in the G'fruit League opener and could be out 3-5 days or longer.
- News flash: Anna Nicole Smith died.
- Few faint boos -- and I stress faint -- from the Legends Field crowd when MVP came to bat for the first time in the second inning. Still three people bitter about little market guy beating out Jeter.
Ugh
TAMPA, Fla. -- This could be a long year.
Silva just gave up a two-out, two-run shot to Giambi. 5-0, Bombers. Inning over. That's it for Silva. Forty-two pitches! No World Baseball Classic to blame now.
I suspect Silva won't be happy when the scribes pepper him with questions here in a little bit.
I know, it's two innings. Don't overreact. But these are the same things we watched all last season. No sink on the sinker.
It's been noted a time or two in your trusty St. Paul paper that Silva is the X-factor. He has a good year, Twins challenge for the division title again. He stinks, Twins finish third -- possibly fourth.
Silva just gave up a two-out, two-run shot to Giambi. 5-0, Bombers. Inning over. That's it for Silva. Forty-two pitches! No World Baseball Classic to blame now.
I suspect Silva won't be happy when the scribes pepper him with questions here in a little bit.
I know, it's two innings. Don't overreact. But these are the same things we watched all last season. No sink on the sinker.
It's been noted a time or two in your trusty St. Paul paper that Silva is the X-factor. He has a good year, Twins challenge for the division title again. He stinks, Twins finish third -- possibly fourth.
Same stuff, different year
TAMPA, Fla. -- It's just one inning, but the 2007 Carlos Silva looks like a spitting image of the 2006 Carlos Silva.
Lousy.
Silva's 26-pitch inning mercifully just ended, with the Yankees leading 3-0. The damage: Johnny Damon leadoff homer to right-center. Two walks. Hit batsman. Jorge Posada RBI single.
Looks like the sinker needs more refining. A lot more.
Lousy.
Silva's 26-pitch inning mercifully just ended, with the Yankees leading 3-0. The damage: Johnny Damon leadoff homer to right-center. Two walks. Hit batsman. Jorge Posada RBI single.
Looks like the sinker needs more refining. A lot more.
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