Minnesota Twins @ Bare Baseball - Baseball MLB Blog

Notes: Trade deadline approaches

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 18:00:00 +0000

07/19/2006
MINNEAPOLIS -- The July 31 trade deadline remains just a little over two weeks away, and the Twins aren't exactly sure how they will approach the anticipated date.
Prior to the club's streak of winning 21 of 23 games, it had appeared very likely that the Twins would be selling in this year's market. But their run before the All-Star break and the continued strong play of the team has changed matters.
"If we stay in the race, then we're not going to be in the seller mode, and that's the goal," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "The goal is to play good baseball and stay close with what we have.
"We have a couple weeks here to decide [our approach], and that's good because it gives us a chance to see where we're going to be at here at the deadline and what we have to do."
Much of the Twins' outlook hinges on the club's upcoming road trip. To remain in the race for the division, the Twins have to improve upon their 17-29 record away from home.
The team has yet to win a division game on the road outside of Kansas City so far this season, and with the Twins approaching three games at Cleveland followed by three more at Chicago, there is no question this is a critical junction.
"This road trip is going to be very big for us," Gardenhire said.
There are a few areas that could be strengthened, such as adding another starter or adding infield and outfield depth. But the market dictates that there isn't a strong chance of that occurring.
"It's going to be hard to find awful much right now," Gardenhire said. "So we'll go with our infield as long as it stays healthy."
That means sticking with Nick Punto at third base despite the rumors that the Twins are shopping for an everyday third baseman. Punto's recent knee scare caused some concern, but as long as Punto is able to continue playing, the Twins will leave him as their starter at third.
"I think he brings a lot to the lineup and has been very good for us if we can keep him out there on the field and healthy," Gardenhire said. "If he were not able to play, then you probably have to look for a third baseman if you can find one. But I don't think find too many awful big names out there that we can attack."
Next step to return: Matt Guerrier is making his final step toward returning to the Twins from his broken right thumb injury. He leaves for a rehabilitation assignment on Thursday with Double-A New Britain.
Guerrier will join the team in Erie, Pa., and is scheduled to throw one or two innings on Friday. The goal is to stretch Guerrier to around 50-60 pitches before his return, which likely will take somewhere between four or five outings. If everything goes well, Guerrier could be set to return during the team's next homestand when they host the Tigers on July 28-30.
Before leaving on his rehab stint, Guerrier threw a simulated game of around 30-35 pitches on Wednesday afternoon. Everything seemed to go as anticipated.
"He was letting it go pretty good," Gardenhire said. "He was using his breaking ball and his slider, and he threw his changeup, too."
Guerrier got plenty of support in the simulated game, with teammates Jesse Crain, Kyle Lohse and Joe Nathan all wearing "Guerrier" jerseys and holding up a sign with cutout holes for their heads and the words, "You're Grrrreat!"
It was much appreciated by Guerrier, who admitted there was a little extra adrenaline in his first real pitching experience since being sidelined on June 8 with the injury. Guerrier said there is still a bit of pain while throwing, which the doctors told him was normal.
"It relaxed me a bit to see those guys," Guerrier said with a laugh. "My heart was beating fast and I had to step off a few times to just relax. I think maybe that made my hand feel better, too, with the adrenaline. I just hope there is more of that in a real game."
Twins tidbits: Rondell White was slotted into left field for the third consecutive day on Wednesday. Gardenhire has been happy with the way the veteran has played since his return, but could give him a rest from the outfield for the club's day game on Thursday. ... According to Elias, the matchup between Francisco Liriano and Scott Kazmir on Tuesday was the first time in 80 years that two left-handed pitchers both 22 or younger and with at least 10 wins for the season went head-to head. The last time was Babe Ruth (Red Sox) vs. Harry Harper (Senators) on Aug. 12, 1916. ... Since the beginning of the 2003 season, the Twins are 235-10 when they hold a lead after seven innings.
Down on the farm: Garrett Jones blasted his 13th home run of the season as Triple-A Rochester defeated Syracuse, 6-0, on Tuesday night. Mike Smith pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing just four hits and striking out 11. ... Daniel Matienzo doubled to drive home the only run in Double-A New Britain's 6-1 loss at Reading. ... Brandon Roberts went 4-for-5 with two runs scored in Class A Fort Myers' 8-4 victory over Jupiter.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

White's big night sparks Twins

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 17:58:00 +0000

07/19/2006
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins didn't quite know what to expect from Rondell White when he made his return from a rehab assignment with Triple-A this past week.
And frankly, neither did White.
With his callup coming a bit earlier than expected due to the rash of injuries the Twins had in the outfield, White wasn't sure if his swing and his shoulder were ready to come back to the big leagues.
An impressive night on Wednesday, when he belted two home runs and a double in the Twins' 7-2 victory over the Devil Rays, officially signaled the rebirth of the power hitter the club had expected when it signed him in the offseason.
"It ranks No. 1," White said of how much this game meant to him. "With all the things I've been going through this year and how I've been struggling, it felt really good to come out and help the team and swing the bat well."
White's timing couldn't have been better. Having lost three of their outfielders to the DL, the Twins needed a veteran to fill a hole. And having that veteran help carry the team to its sixth straight victory was a big boost.
"[Twins general manager] Terry Ryan has been telling me that this guy is going to be a big lift for us in the second half, and this is a good start," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "And right now, because of the injuries, we need it."
White's first homer came in the second inning, when the Twins trailed, 1-0. The 395-foot blast to left field off Devil Rays starter Jae Seo knotted the game at 1.
The game remained tied until White's next at-bat in the fifth. Leading off the inning, White delivered another shot to left -- this one carrying 410 feet to put the Twins up, 2-1. It was the first multihomer game for White since Aug. 22, 2000, when he played for the Expos.
The best part of White's night may have come when he came to the plate for his final at-bat. White was greeted by the fans with a standing ovation, to which White tipped his helmet.
"It felt great, man," White said. "I've been struggling all season and those fans have been behind me."
White's homer in the fifth sparked a four-run inning courtesy of a two-run triple by Nick Punto and an RBI sacrifice fly by Michael Cuddyer. The hit by Punto extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
More runs were added to the team's lead in the sixth, as the Twins drove home two on a Jason Bartlett RBI triple and an RBI single by Luis Castillo.
Every Twins batter recorded at least one hit, and Brad Radke continued his hot streak with another quality start.
Radke (8-7) allowed just two runs, both coming on homers, on four hits. Besides the two mistakes, Radke was able to show good command, issuing no walks and throwing just 87 pitches over seven innings. Radke has not lost since June 3.
"I felt I had good command of my fastball and had a pretty good breaking ball," Radke said. "I just kept them off-balance, and for a team that is going to come out swinging, they did that quite a few times tonight and I got quite a few quick outs.
"I'm just so happy for Rondell," Radke said. "It's just great to see him have a night like that. ... Everybody felt bad for him [during his struggles], but he stayed professional about it and didn't get down on himself. He just kept trying and didn't give up."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: Morneau working lefties

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 17:56:00 +0000

07/20/2006
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins have long believed that Justin Morneau could be the type of power hitter they've been lacking for nearly two decades. And with his numbers this season, he's certainly proving himself capable.
One of the biggest reasons behind the change in the first baseman's power numbers may be due to Morneau's improvement against left-handers.
Morneau has blasted nine homers off southpaws this season after recording just four last year. Some of those have come off impressive left-handers such as Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia and 22-year-old Devil Rays phenom Scott Kazmir on Tuesday. For Kazmir, it was only the third homer he has given up to a lefty over 341 career innings.
So what exactly has made the difference?
For Morneau, it seems to be a combination of getting more playing time facing lefties and changing his approach. Early in the year, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire would often take the first baseman out of the lineup with a tough lefty starter. But in May, that changed as Gardenhire began sticking with Morneau -- good performance or bad -- and it's appeared to pay off.
"Now, I come to the field knowing that I'm going to play," Morneau said. "Earlier in the year, I was looking over my shoulder a bit because you never know if you're going to get pinch-hit for, or what. It never happened, but when you are struggling and the team is not doing well, it's easy to try to make changes. Gardy stuck with me and kept putting me out there and letting me face them, so he showed confidence in me, too."
The result of keeping Morneau in against lefties has been an overall increase in his average from .201 against southpaws in 2005 to .281 through 88 games, heading into Thursday, this season.
"He's swinging the bat good and if they make a mistake, he puts a good swing on it," Gardenhire said of Morneau's changes. "He's not trying to do too much with it. He's been working very hard with [hitting coach] Joe Vavra, doing a lot of different things and it's all coming into play now. He's feeling very comfortable at the plate -- lefty, righty, it doesn't matter."
Morneau isn't the only batter doing well against left-handers, as the entire Twins squad has improved its numbers. The Twins are hitting .287 vs. left-handed pitchers, the third-highest average in baseball, compared to last season when they hit a Major League-low .247 vs. lefties.
It's something that teams used to be able to count on when facing the Twins with a left-handed starter, but that clearly has changed.
"Cleveland set up its rotation so that it could throw three lefties against us the last series," Morneau said. "That's how it used to be, you throw a lefty against us and it messed us up. But we're proving that the more you see them, the better chance you are going to have at having success."
Bring on the burns: The Twins have been a part of some pretty funny game promotions, but none may be more entertaining than the one the club recently announced.
The Twins, along with sponsoring partner Mall of America, will host "Joe Mauer Sideburn Night" on Thursday, Aug. 10 when the club plays the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:10 p.m. CT.
As part of the promotion and in honor of Mall of America's 14th birthday, the first 10,000 fans will receive replica Joe Mauer sideburns. The synthetic hair will include double-sided tape so that fans themselves can look like Mauer.
The night is just part of an onslaught of attention being directed at the 23-year-old catcher and his impressive season. But for Mauer, it's still a little bit surprising that it's his sideburns that have been the topic of so many questions, along with being the focus of one of the Twins' commercials.
"I don't know why everybody is so into my sideburns," Mauer said with a laugh. "It should be a funny day, though, to look in the stands and see people with blond and red hair wearing brown sideburns."
Sticking with what works: The initial plan for the Twins had not been to keep Rondell White as the everyday starter in left field upon his return to the club.
But with the way that White's been hitting since his callup -- going 8-for-14 with three home runs, six RBIS and five runs scored -- it's been almost impossible to take him away from the position.
Though White never blamed his offensive woes on changing to the designated hitter role, it's becoming clear that maybe the extra time in the outfield has helped his confidence a bit.
"With Rondell swinging like he's swinging out there and feeling comfortable, you're thinking that if this works out for him, and he's playing good defense, you're not going to change it," Gardenhire said. "You might mix it up every once in awhile, but I don't think you go and take a guy out when it appears that the outfield is helping the situation."
Twins tidbits: Both Shannon Stewart and Torii Hunter will not make the upcoming trip with the team due to their inability to really do any type of rehabilitation with their injuries. Hunter will head home to Dallas to work on some weights, upper body work and throwing, while staying off his injured foot. "By the time we get back, Torii should have three or four days to be ready and that should be plenty for him," Gardenhire said. ... Mauer got a day of rest from catching during Thursday's day game. He was slotted in the DH role in order to keep his bat in the lineup. ... The Twins' 36 wins in their first 47 home games set a new franchise record, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The last time a team won at least 36 of their first 47 home games was in 1998 when the Yankees were 39-8, the Padres were 36-11, and both teams went to the World Series that season.
Down on the farm: Boof Bonser threw five innings, allowing three hits as Triple-A Rochester beat Syracuse, 1-0, on Wednesday. Andres Torres went 2-for-4 with an RBI. In Game 2 of the doubleheader, Pete Munro lasted 5 1/3 innings and gave up five hits and four runs as the Red Wings lost, 4-2. ... Third baseman Matt Moses went 2-for-5 with four RBIs to push Double-A New Britain over Reading, 8-7. ... The club's Class A affiliates -- Ft. Meyers and Beloit -- were off on Wednesday.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Twins down Rays in series finale

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 17:52:00 +0000

07/20/2006
MINNEAPOLIS -- The goal for the Twins coming out of the All-Star break was simple: Take advantage right away of an eight-game stretch at home, the place where they had played their best baseball all year long.
Completing the homestand by winning seven of those games, including a 6-4 victory over the Devil Rays on Thursday afternoon, it appears that it was mission accomplished for the Twins.
"We were hoping out of the break that we could get off to a good start, heading into this upcoming road trip," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "And that's exactly what we did. Right now, we're playing good baseball."
After completing a four-game sweep of the Devil Rays on Thursday, it didn't take long for the focus to shift to the team's six-game road trip, as the Twins take on two of their American League Central rivals -- the Indians and the White Sox.
The Twins have yet to pick up a win in either Cleveland or Chicago this season, as part of a woeful year of road play where the club is just 17-29 away from the Metrodome. So these two series have long been circled as what could be a turning point for the club and its postseason hopes.
"These next two series on the road are a big test for us," closer Joe Nathan said. "We're going to need to start playing well on the road, and that's especially the case within our division."
But before the talk could turn to playing their division rivals once again, the Twins had to concentrate on picking up that seventh straight victory at home.
The Twins felt very comfortable heading into Thursday's finale with their ace, Johan Santana, taking the mound, knowing that, if they could score some runs, they would have a great chance at winning.
But they would need those runs even more than expected.
Santana didn't have his best outing of the year, as he struggled to find control, especially in the fifth inning.
With the game knotted at 1, after Santana had given up a home run to Travis Lee in the third inning, the southpaw had trouble finding the plate. He walked three batters and allowed two runs on two hits to put Tampa Bay ahead, 3-1.
Even more troublesome was the fact that it totaled up to be a 30-pitch inning that shortened Santana's outing to just six innings, as he threw a total of 101 pitches, giving up three runs on six hits, while walking four and striking out seven.
"I think I had the worst performance of the starting pitchers in this series, and yet we still ended up with a win," Santana said. "Whatever it takes for you to keep winning and winning, that's all that matters. It doesn't matter for me if I had a good day or a bad day, as long as I do my best to help this ballclub."
But in the bottom half of the inning, one that the Twins like to call "the fifth-inning misery," the club was finally able to take advantage of Devil Rays starter James Shields and put together a run that would help overcome Santana's problems just a half-inning before.
The Twins scored four runs in the fifth, as Shields (4-4) allowed four hits, two walks and delivered a wild pitch that saw Jason Tyner cross home. Shields recorded just one out in the inning before being pulled.
Mike Redmond jumpstarted the Twins' fifth-inning rally, leading off with a double to center field. Tyner followed with an RBI single to pull the Twins within one, 3-2. Two walks and a wild pitch would knot the game at 3, before Joe Mauer drove home the go-ahead run with a single to right. Michael Cuddyer added one more to the lead with his RBI single to left.
The Twins gave the bullpen one more run to work with, as three pitchers combined to hold Tampa Bay to just one run over the final three innings. Pat Neshek struck out the side in the seventh, while Juan Rincon gave up one run in the eighth. Joe Nathan came in to pitch the ninth and recorded his 18th save of the season.
For the Twins, it was just another day where almost every person on the field helped to capture the club's 20th victory at home.
"That is what it takes, everyone to be a part of it, so we can continue to capture wins," Gardenhire said. "We have to find a way to do that on the road now, as it's going to be a big series for us facing Cleveland and Chicago."
This road trip comes at a critical juncture for the club, with the team trailing the White Sox by just four games in the Wild Card race. Winning certainly hasn't been a problem for the club at home, where they have a Major League-best 37-11 home record. But the road has been an entirely different story.
"We're playing perfect here at home, so hopefully, we can find a way to make it that way when we're on the road," Santana said.
The goal for the Twins, now, isn't to try and replicate the success they've had capturing sweeps at the Metrodome, but rather, just to do what will keep them squarely in the postseason hunt.
"At this time of the year, you have to win series," Gardenhire said. "That's what it's all about. We have to get back to winning series on the road. We're trying to win two out of three, that's the goal. And if we get more than that, that's great."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: Liriano feels good in first start

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:14:00 +0000

03/01/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Left-hander Francisco Liriano didn't have his best command, but got through two innings unscathed against Concordia University on Wednesday morning.
For a first spring outing, Liriano will take it.
"It was kind of weird being out there," Liriano said. "I hadn't pitched to a hitter since September last year."
Liriano will use Wednesday's outing as a springboard to the World Baseball Classic. He'll leave the Twins to pitch for the Dominican Republic.
"I think I'm ready for it," Liriano said. "My slider wasn't very good today. I'm working on it. I probably threw five or six sliders."
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was just happy to see Liriano get in his two innings as Minnesota prevailed, 2-0, in six innings.
"He was missing the plate a little bit, but he was throwing the [heck] out of the ball," Gardenhire said.
Bouncing back: There are no givens, but Gardenhire emphasized Wednesday that first baseman Justin Morneau has put in the work to have a strong comeback season.
Morneau hit just .239 in 141 games last year.
"He has come down here and really worked hard," Gardenhire said. "He has a program every morning at 7:30. He has shortened his stride and is using his hands a lot better.
"He got out of whack [last year] and once he did that, he had a hard time getting back to where he was consistent."
Morneau will leave the Twins' camp to play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic.
Around the horn: The Twins are encouraged that right-hander Juan Rincon doesn't appear to have any arm issues. "He threw off the mound today and we'll see if he has any soreness tomorrow," Gardenhire said. "He has been throwing long toss free and easy." ... With the intense competition for jobs, there has been an overall serious atmosphere in the Twins camp. "We were talking about it the other day in our 'good morning' drills," Gardenhire said. "Normally, there's some joking around and laughing. But there are some guys locked in right here. They know that not many jobs are open." ... The Twins have set their starting pitching for the opening four Grapefruit League games, including the split-squad games on Saturday. It'll be Johan Santana on Thursday versus Boston, Brad Radke on Friday against Cincinnati, Scott Baker on Saturday against Tampa Bay and Boof Bonser on Saturday versus Cleveland.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Stingy Twins rotation in control

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:13:00 +0000

03/01/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- They are poised, polished and seemingly always in control.
For the Twins pitching staff, control is the operative word. Want to get on base against Minnesota? You'd better be ready to swing the bat. Wishing and hoping for a walk generally gets you a one-way ticket back to the dugout.
Last year, with starters Carlos Silva and Brad Radke setting the tone, the Twins led the Major Leagues in fewest walks with 348. It wasn't even close. Cleveland was second with 413 walks and the Astros and Red Sox were tied for third with 440 walks.
There's nothing to indicate the Twins won't blow the competition away again in the fewest walks category, especially with Minnesota pitchers taking their cues from longtime control guru Radke.
"This organization really stresses not walking guys," Radke said. "I think that as a staff, we've sort of been able to feed off each other in that regard. You learn. I know that when I walk guys, most of the time they are going to score."
Silva led the league in fewest walks per nine innings (0.4) last year, finishing with just nine walks in 188 1/3 innings. Radke surrendered just 23 walks in 200 2/3 innings and Johan Santana and Kyle Lohse had 45 and 44 walks in 231 2/3 innings and 178 2/3 innings, respectively.
"I always try to be around the plate," Radke said. "Sometimes, it backfires. There are times, depending on the situation, where you might want to be a little more off the plate and a little more careful. But for the most part, we're about putting our defense to work.
"The organization wants you to throw the ball around the plate so hitters put the ball in play and our defense has a chance to do its job."
Silva was on pace to set a record for fewest walks per nine innings late in the 2005 season. Giving up a few singles doesn't bother him because he's so confident he can get a double-play ball with a well-located sinker.
"As the season progressed, it was like, 'Holy cow.' Carlos has such a nasty sinker and throws so many ground balls that he can be really confident about making the hitters put the ball in play," Radke said.
Outstanding control can help a ballclub in many ways. One short-term effect is that fielders are always on their toes and generally less likely to make an error when the ball comes their way. By avoiding walks, pitchers generally throw fewer pitches, which lessens the chances of injury or fatigue through the grind of a long season.
"A lot of times, when a pitcher has a history of good control, the hitters will come up really revved to hit the first pitch," Radke said. "Sometimes that works out for them and sometimes it doesn't. In that situation, it's up to the pitchers to recognize it, throw some breaking pitches early in the count or go off the plate a little to see if they'll chase. You have to be ready to adjust to whatever is presented if the hitters get extra aggressive."
Radke said Santana is a special pitcher because he has extraordinary stuff coupled with control.
"He's amazing because he overpowers guys and still has finesse, too," Radke said.
Lohse, though he hasn't gained the overall prominence of the aforementioned three, takes the mound with a similar attack-the-hitter mentality. And there's every indication that Scott Baker, Francisco Liriano and the other quality young arms on the Twins staff will fall in line with the control theme as their careers unfold.
"Keep guys off the bases by limiting walks and you really give yourself a chance," Radke said. "Guys are going to get hits. But if you limit those free passes, they have to work a lot harder to put up runs."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Castillo likely to skip Classic

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:12:00 +0000

03/01/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- After saying prior to Wednesday's workout that he won't play in the World Baseball Classic, Twins' second baseman Luis Castillo left the door slightly ajar after practice. Castillo said he is leaning toward not playing for the Dominican Republic, but will talk with Dominican officials once more before a decision becomes final.
"That's the way I feel now [that he doesn't want to leave Twins camp], but I have to talk to the general manager of the Dominican team," Castillo said.
Castillo talked early in the day about the advantages of staying in the Minnesota camp.
"For me, it's better to stay here," Castillo said.
The Dominican team already has Alfonso Soriano on the roster at second base and Castillo said wants to concentrate on getting acclimated to his new situation with Minnesota after being acquired from the Florida Marlins.
"I want to work hard and be ready for the season," Castillo said. "I don't want to have any problem for the season."
Castillo was a three-time All-Star with the Marlins and won his third consecutive Gold Glove last season. He had expressed to manager Ron Gardenhire on Tuesday that he was undecided on whether to play in the Classic.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: Santana leaves ready

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:11:00 +0000

03/02/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Warning to any of the hitters preparing to play in the World Baseball Classic -- Johan Santana is ready.
Sure it was after only one outing where he didn't have perfect command of his pitches, but following his first start this spring Thursday night, Santana said he feels stronger than he can remember.
"At this point of the season compared to a couple of seasons ago, I feel much better," Santana said after pitching two scoreless innings in the 6-2 Twins victory. "Knowing that we had the [Classic] coming up, I was working out a little more this offseason, so I feel pretty good."
In his only outing with the Twins before heading off to Venezuela's camp, Santana threw 35 pitches. He held the Red Sox scoreless, but gave up two walks while striking out three and allowing only one hit. The command of his pitches wasn't as strong as he would have liked, but that's not unusual.
Spring Training is generally the time when pitchers work to find that certain pitch or have to develop velocity. For Santana it has always been his comfort level with the changeup. Just like fellow teammate Joe Nathan, who has his own concerns about the velocity of his pitches, Santana usually likes a little time to adjust to throwing his trademark pitch. Though he hasn't had as much practice as he would normally like, Santana said there were some positives he saw in his first outing.
"The good thing about it is that they were down," Santana said. "Even though they hit the ground or [were] kind of wild pitches a little, you want to see the changeup down and the slider, too."
Seeing the increased number of changeups and sliders thrown by Santana wasn't a surprise to manager Ron Gardenhire, who expected that with Santana having to prepare for the event. But the concern comes with whether the early progression will be a good thing or a bad thing later on in the season -- or even during the competition.
"All we are hoping is he doesn't hurt himself, because it's not the normal progression for him," Gardenhire said.
As for concerns he will do something to his arm with the added pressure, Santana feels confident that won't happen.
"I know what I'm doing," Santana said. "I know where I am. You might have to put a little extra [on a pitch] because you'll be in game situation where you have to win. But most players will be in the same situation. All of them don't want to overdo things and hurt themselves."
Thursday was the last time the Twins will see Santana for what he hopes will be until near the end of March as he leaves on Friday for camp in Clearwater, Fla. The finals for the World Baseball Classic are being staged in San Diego on March 18-20.
"There are a lot of expectations in our team and that's good to have," Santana said of his country. "Hopefully if all goes right for our team, we do the best we can to win."
Guess who's back: It didn't take long for Torii Hunter to show there wouldn't be any rust from his long layoff.
On the first pitch, in his first at-bat since the season-ending injury last July, Hunter launched a towering home run over the left-field wall.
Welcome back Torii.
"That was pretty fun to see," Gardenhire said of Hunter's homer. "He even said afterward that he surprised himself."
The welcome wagon was out for Hunter in full force long before the spectacular shot. The outfielder garnered two loud ovations: first, when he took to the field, and then when he stepped to the plate.
It had been nearly seven months since Hunter had seen action in an actual game. On Thursday, he played the outfield for three innings and had two at-bats, going 1-for-2.
Before the game, Hunter insisted it wasn't results that he was concerned with but rather finally getting to see game action again.
"I want to hit the ball and I want to get at-bats," Hunter said. "The results really don't matter to me."
Hunter said that in terms of his running ability, he was only going to go about 75 percent in his first game. The test in the outfield wasn't as much as Hunter may have wanted with no balls hit to center field, but it's just the kind of outing that helped him test the ankle a bit. Even before the game, Hunter acknowledged he would likely feel the effects of his first game action Friday.
"When you're running a lot in the outfield or on the base paths in games, you're going to be sore," Hunter said. "When I do more than I usually then it's sore but every time it gets sore, it's getting stronger."
More additions: The Twins clubhouse was a little quieter after the game with five players having left Spring Training for their respective countries' camps in the World Baseball Classic.
But the good news for the team is that it shouldn't be getting any quieter.
Luis Castillo confirmed he will not be leaving to play for the Dominican Republic. Castillo was told he would be backing up Alfonso Soriano at second base, and that played a big role in his decision.
The team will also be keeping Luis Rodriguez around, as he turned down the opportunity to play for Venezuela. Rodriguez learned he would have more of a platoon role, and figured it would be more beneficial to stay in Twins camp and fight for a roster spot.
"Being on the bench for these games won't help them get ready for season," Gardenhire said. "We are thin at the infield spots, so we are very happy to have these guys stay here."
Twins tidbits: One person in the crowd at Thursday night's game receiving quite a bit of attention was former Twins third base coach Al Newman. Newman, now a scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks, generated plenty of greetings from some of the Twins players including Joe Mauer, Jason Bartlett and Nick Punto during batting practice. ... The Twins' starting lineup for Friday's game will be left fielder Shannon Stewart, second baseman Luis Castillo, center fielder Hunter, designated hitter Rondell White, third baseman Glenn Williams, right fielder Michael Cuddyer, first baseman Terry Tiffee, catcher Mike Redmond and shortstop Nick Punto.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Santana sharp in spring debut

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:10:00 +0000

03/02/2006
Twins at the plate: Torii Hunter didn't take long to get back into game form, scoring the first Twins run in the second inning with a towering home run over the left-field wall on the first pitch he saw. Terry Tiffee added an RBI single later in the inning. Joe Mauer went 2-for-3 on the day with a solo homer and an RBI single.
Red Sox at the plate: It was an impressive debut for the Red Sox new leadoff man, Coco Crisp, who went 3-for-3 with one RBI, finishing just a homer shy of the cycle.
Twins on the mound: Johan Santana threw two scoreless innings while giving up one hit and striking out three in his only start for the Twins before leaving to pitch for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. Carlos Silva followed Santana with two scoreless innings of his own, allowing three hits and striking out three.
Red Sox on the mound: Starter Jonathan Papelbon surrendered two runs, both earned, on four hits and one walk in 1 2/3 innings. His outing began with a scare in the first inning when Twins leadoff batter Shannon Stewart hit a line shot off the pitcher's left ankle.
Grapefruit League records: Twins 1-0; Red Sox 0-1.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

New Twins record hits in loss to Reds

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:09:00 +0000

03/03/2006
Twins at the plate: It was a struggle offensively for Minnesota, as none of the starters recorded more than a single. Two of the new Twins did record their first hits though, as Luis Castillo singled in the first and Rondell White singled later in the inning. Ruben Sierra made his Twins debut as White's DH replacement and was 1-for-1 with an RBI and a walk.
Reds at the plate: Edwin Encarnacion blasted a two-run homer off Brad Radke in the first. Encarnacion finished the game 3-for-4 with another long bomb to left and a double. Tuffy Rhodes went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Twins on the mound: Radke made his first appearance of the spring, giving up three runs, all earned, on three hits. Radke also hit a batter. Glen Perkins followed Radke and threw two shutout innings while striking out three. J.D. Durbin struggled in his first outing of the year, giving up five runs in the seventh.
Reds on the mound: Starter Michael Gosling threw three shutout innings, giving up only three hits and striking out one. Jason Standridge pitched one shutout inning, allowing only one walk.
Grapefruit League records: Twins, 1-1; Reds, 1-1.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: White announces retirement

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:08:00 +0000

03/03/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Twins' three-man veteran race for the left-handed spot in the bullpen dropped down to two on Friday when Gabe White told the Twins that he was retiring.
The decision came after White pitched one inning in the Twins' Grapefruit League opener on Thursday night, giving up two triples and two runs. A non-roster invitee to Twins camp, White had hoped to earn the open spot in the bullpen but realized that physically, he just couldn't compete anymore.
"I just laid awake all night last night, staring at the TV," White said. "Physically and mentally, it's just time to move on -- let somebody else do it.
The pitcher met with Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson on Friday morning to inform them of this decision. White said that he began to feel pain in his throwing elbow after about three batters on Thursday. It wasn't the first time he has dealt with aches and pains, as his knee has swelled throughout Spring Training during running drills. The physical ills took a toll on White.
"You can't hide anything as a pitcher," White said. "When you're on the mound you have to be 100 percent, you can't compete with anything less."
White had been competing with left-handers Darrell May and Dennys Reyes for the open bullpen spot. The 34-year-old White pitched for the Reds, Rockies, Yankees, Cardinals and Expos over his eight years in the Majors.
Last season, White was released by Atlanta at the end of Spring Training and cut by St. Louis at the end of July after making six relief appearances. Though he has had his share of ups and downs over the past year, ending the career that he has spent almost his entire life pursuing was something that didn't come easy for White.
"It's a very difficult decision for me," White said. "I went through a lot of emotions last night, a lot of crying and bawling up. But I respect this game a lot and if I can't give it what I think it should be given, then it's time to move on."
New position: Ruben Sierra will soon add another position to his resume -- first base.
Sierra has been taking ground balls at the position during the early parts of the spring and Gardenhire said that he will start the 40-year-old at the spot during one of the games in the Twins' Grapefruit League schedule.
Though the 40-year-old has never played at the spot during his Major League career, the Twins believe that having Sierra's right-handed bat to back up left-hander Justin Morneau would be a big advantage.
"You want to be able to put him in the game," Gardenhire said. "You need to have those days where you can get him four at-bats here and four at-bats there to keep him sharp for late-inning situations and big pinch-hit situations."
Sierra saw his first action in a game for the Twins on Friday as a designated hitter and proved that he still has some speed left in his bat. Sierra went 1-for-1 with a walk and a hard liner to left.
The trial at first won't come immediately, as Gardenhire plans on starting Sierra in left field for Sunday's home game against the Red Sox. He will make sure that Sierra sees some significant time out in the field this spring, whether it's at first or in the outfield, to make sure that he is used to the role.
"He told me they didn't play him at all in a position in Spring Training, and then they get to the season and half way through they start him in the outfield," Gardenhire said. "We just need to get him out there so he can see balls off bats and try to get him acclimated."
Durbin roughed up: It was a rough day for most of the Twins pitchers, but maybe none more so than J.D. Durbin.
In his first outing of the spring, Durbin gave up five runs on six hits in one inning.
"The ball was up and out and over the plate," Gardenhire said of the young pitcher. "He can't seem to locate, but that was his first time out there and the big thing with him is feeling healthy. Maybe location will come."
The right-hander is coming off two seasons limited by injuries, and despite the bashing he took on Friday, Gardenhire chose to remain positive that things could turn around.
"He's got velocity and he has a breaking ball, it just didn't work out for him today," Gardenhire said. "He got beat."
Bullpen questions: Gardenhire made it clear that he is looking for two distinct roles for the two open spots in the Twins bullpen.
One is a long reliever who can eat up innings in the early spring, when starters can sometimes only last five or six innings. The other is a situational type of pitcher who can either intimidate hitters with speed or be brought in for special situations to face a lefty.
A name that Gardenhire threw in the mix for one of those roles wasn't one that he necessarily believed would be taken seriously, but one that has impressed the coaching staff so far this spring -- Glen Perkins. Perkins, a left-hander and the Twins' first-round pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, threw two scoreless innings in Friday's game and struck out three. It wasn't the first time he showed his ability to get hitters out this spring. Gardenhire chuckled as he told a story of former manager Tom Kelly bringing six broken bats into his office a few days earlier to give to pitching coach Rick Anderson as a gift from Perkins.
"We know it's early with the kid, but we like his arm," Gardenhire said. "He's been throwing the ball very well down here."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: Tiffee's opportunity to shine

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:07:00 +0000

03/04/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- There are plenty of young Twins players getting extra opportunities to show what they can do with 14 players in the organization leaving for the World Baseball Classic.
But no one player may benefit from the team's defections more than infielder Terry Tiffee.
With the absence of first baseman Justin Morneau and a lack of depth at third base, Tiffee will be getting plenty of opportunities to see the field due to his versatility. Through three days of Spring Training games including a split-squad set on Saturday, Tiffee has had the opportunity to start in a game every day either at third or first, including his start at third base on Saturday in St. Petersburg against the Devil Rays.
"Definitely it's something that excites me," Tiffee said of his extra time. "I'm glad to have the opportunity to play more. I'd play every day if they wanted me to. I just want to play, hit and do whatever it takes to get on the field.
With all the additional playing time, Tiffee will have a chance to prove that his troubles from last year are behind him. Last season, Tiffee hit only .207 with 15 RBIs over 54 games with the Twins. Tiffee knows that he will have to display some better performances this spring to prove that he can indeed succeed on this stage.
"After last year, I had a terrible year so I definitely want them to know that I can still play at this level," Tiffee said. "I think it was just everything. Not being used to the role of coming off the bench and lacking confidence. A lot played into it."
Part of Tiffee's struggles may have been the change from an everyday player to a bench reserve role. It wasn't something that Tiffee adjusted to easily but when he was called up again near the end of the season, Tiffee appeared to grasp the role better.
"I didn't really do very good at the beginning adjusting, and then the second time I got called up I adjusted a little better," Tiffee said. "Still it's a tough situation for me because I've never been in that situation because I've been used to playing every day in the Minor Leagues. My goal is to eventually get an everyday spot here."
When the Twins made the decision to move Michael Cuddyer from third base this past offseason, there was some discussion as to whether they might try Tiffee in the role. It was something that the 26-year-old hoped for but knew was unlikely.
"I can't expect them to give me a spot after having a terrible year," Tiffee said. "The moves they made are good for the ballclub and I understand that.
Just because he wouldn't have an everyday role once again though, doesn't mean that Tiffee is against competing for a backup role with the club this season. From what he learned last year, Tiffee feels that he could possibly bring some experience to the team and give the Twins the depth that they need.
"There are a couple of guys that can back up those spots," Tiffee said. "But with me having a bit more experience at the big league level, I think that could play out in my favor as well."
First impression: Not much is usually made of starts in the spring, but Boof Bonser's Spring Training start on Saturday meant a little more since it was his first.
"It was nice, especially since it was my first," Bonser said, with a beaming smile on his face after his outing.
Bonser had reason to smile as he threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two. It was two quality starts for the Twins as Scott Baker delivered another strong performance in St. Petersburg against the Devil Rays. Baker lasted 2 2/3 shutout innings, giving up three hits and striking out two.
One of the young pitchers getting some extra time on the mound with the absence of Johan Santana and Carlos Silva to the World Baseball Classic, Bonser is trying to take full advantage of the opportunity.
The big right-hander has often been talked about as a future starter for the Twins since being acquired in the A.J. Pierzynski trade to San Francisco, along with closer Joe Nathan and Francisco Liriano. Bonser was 11-9 last season with a 3.99 ERA at Triple-A Rochester.
"I would like to think that I'm ready for the next step," Bonser said following his start. "My goal has been to show them that I think I'm ready and let them make the decision."
The likelihood is that Bonser won't be in the running for a starting job this season but more starting spots could open up next year, especially if Brad Radke decides to retire. Bonser will have a chance to show his improvement as he will likely have three more chances to start this spring. The payoff may not come right away, but it's something Bonser is willing to wait out.
"I'm just waiting for my opportunity," Bonser said. "It's the name of this game, putting your time in and being patient. You just have to wait for the phone to ring."
Making his mark: Jason Kubel recorded his first hit of the spring, a sinking fly down the right-field line, in the sixth inning of Saturday's game, but it was his poise at the plate that impressed some of the Twins coaches.
Kubel still has only played in the designated hitter role and has yet to display what he can do in the outfield. In his first time on the bases, he looked a little tentative but still showed that there is power in his bat.
Twins tidbits: Catcher Shawn Wooten left early on Saturday afternoon to head back to the Twin Cities to be with his wife Marissa as she gives birth. ... The Twins announced on Saturday that they have agreed to terms on 2006 contracts with six players: pitchers Baker, Jesse Crain, Matt Guerrier and Liriano, catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Morneau and outfielder Lew Ford. The club has now signed all 40 players on its roster for the season. ... Guerrier gave up his first home run of the season, a two-run shot by Brandon Phillips, in the sixth inning of Saturday's game against the Indians at Fort Myers. ... The Twins will be short on pitchers over the next few days due to the split-squad games on Saturday. The starter for Monday's game is still unknown, but pitching coach Rick Anderson said it will likely be either Willie Eyre or Glen Perkins who will take the mound against the Pirates in Bradenton, Fla.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Ford, Bowen lift Twins over Devil Rays

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:06:00 +0000

03/04/2006
Rays at the plate: Joey Gathright was the lone Ray to reach base more than once: He went 1-for-2 with a walk. Non-roster invitee Luis Ordaz singled and drove in a run, and is now 5-for-8 through three Spring Training games.
Twins at the plate: Catcher Rob Bowen singled, left fielder Lew Ford tripled, and each had two RBIs as part of a six-run sixth inning. Third baseman Terry Tiffee went 3-for-4 with an RBI and non-roster invitee Josh Rabe doubled.
Rays on the mound: Right-hander Shawn Camp surrendered five runs on four hits in the sixth and hit a batter. Right-hander Jamie Shields struck out three in two innings of no-hit ball.
Twins on the mound: Non-roster invitee Matt Garza surrendered the Rays' lone run, in the fifth inning. Starter Scott Baker and Jason Miller each had two strikeouts, and Baker scattered three hits in 2 2/3 innings pitched.
Grapefruit League records: Rays 2-1; Twins 2-2.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Twins split squad falls to Tribe

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:05:00 +0000

03/04/2006
Twins at the plate: Torii Hunter went 2-for-2 in the game on Saturday, and Michael Cuddyer was 2-for-3 with a double. Jason Kubel recorded his first hit of the spring, a sinking fly down the right-field line, in the eighth inning.
Indians at the plate: Brandon Phillips provided most of the offense for the Indians as he scored a run in the fifth off a sacrifice fly by Todd Donovan. Phillips then drove in two more runs with a long bomb over the left-field wall in the sixth. Ben Broussard hit a triple in the first inning, and Grady Sizemore also recorded a single in the game.
Twins on the mound: Starter Boof Bonser made his first start in Spring Training and impressed, pitching two innings while allowing three hits and striking out one. Dave Gassner made his first appearance this spring and threw three innings, giving up three hits and one run. Matt Guerrier allowed his first home run of the season to Phillips in his two-inning outing.
Indians on the mound: Fausto Carmona lasted two innings in his start and gave up three hits while striking out one. Jeremy Guthrie followed Carmona with two scoreless innings of his own, allowing only two hits.
Grapefruit League records: Twins 2-2; Indians 2-1.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

'65 Twins remember Series appearance

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:04:00 +0000

03/04/2006
MINNEAPOLIS -- Memory Lane can get a bit crowded sometimes -- especially if you're going back 40 years. But certain moments hold their place in time, which is why Frank Quilici found himself in tears watching Game 7 of the 1987 World Series.
The sight of the Twins battling in a familiar situation stirred up old feelings for Quilici, who played second base for Minnesota's 1965 World Series team. He still remembers the intensity, excitement and camaraderie of playing in that historic championship, which the Los Angeles Dodgers won in seven games.
"We really were just a huge family during the '60s and '70s," Quilici said. "I've always tried to put things in perspective and say I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have appeared in the World Series."
Quilici's shining moment came in the series opener against Hall of Fame pitcher Don Drysdale. A career .214 hitter, Quilici singled and doubled in the same inning as the Twins surprised the Dodgers, 8-2, at Metropolitan Stadium.
"I came back to the bench after the second hit," Quilici recalled. "Honestly, I was so fired up, I thought we played two innings. I didn't even realize it."
Teammate Tony Oliva also was too focused on playing baseball at the time to comprehend the significance of the series. It was the first postseason appearance for the Minnesota Twins after moving from Washington five years earlier.
"In those days, you would think like a player," Oliva said. "You wouldn't think like a fan."
Oliva broke open Game 2 with a run-scoring double off legendary southpaw Sandy Koufax. The Twins went on to win that game, 5-1, and took a 2-0 lead to Dodger Stadium.
"People don't remember that," Oliva said of his RBI double, laughing. "People remember when [Koufax] struck me out. That was special for me to get a base hit against him."
Drysdale and Koufax bounced back when the series shifted to Los Angeles, as the home team won all three games. Twins pitcher Al Worthington made his first appearance of the series in the sixth inning of Game 4 in front of 55,920 fans at Dodger Stadium.
"You could call it a little nervous feeling," said Worthington, who played the last six seasons of his 16-year career with Minnesota.
Worthington can't hide his competitive fire when he says his most enduring memory of the 1965 World Series -- four decades later -- is losing. Koufax pitched a three-hit shutout in the decisive game in one of the great performances of the Hall of Famer's career.
"My high school coach told me, 'You'll never remember the games you win, you remember the games you lost,'" Worthington said. "I remember the seventh game very well."
Oliva has a different outlook. "Tony O" was a three-time batting champion in his career and led the league in hits five times. In the '65 Series, the longtime Twins outfielder batted 5-for-26 (.192) and went hitless in Game 7 against Koufax.
"When you lose to the Dodgers and Sandy Koufax, 2-0, you don't have to be ashamed of anything," Oliva said. "Only one team can win, but both teams can be great. ... To be able to play in the World Series against the Dodgers and to be in Minnesota, the people had the chance to see some of the best ballplayers in the world."
Quilici and Worthington said they welcome the 40-year anniversary of their benchmark season as an opportunity to reunite the team. Oliva has kept in touch with only a handful of his teammates through periodic charity events. The Twins organization will honor the '65 team with a special ceremony on Aug. 19.
"This year is special because the Minnesota Twins had the idea of a big program," Oliva said. "It means a lot because we have a chance to see people I haven't seen in 20 or 30 years. ... Those 40 years [since the Series] seem like yesterday. It's hard to believe 40 years went by."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/