The Twins are now 18-3 in their last 21 games and that has a great deal to do with both the offense and pitching finally "clicking" at the same time. The offense has scored 132 runs which is a very good average of 6.3 runs per game while the pitching has given up just 61 runs which is an average of 2.9 runs per game in that time frame.
Before the season started, the biggest concern for the Twins was how their young rotation would handle the loss of both Carlos Silva and Johan Santana. Thus far on the season, the team has a combined ERA of 4.18 which is just slightly behind the league average of 4.17. However when compared to the rest of the American League, the pitching ranks in at 7th and is .11 points lower than the average ERA. But really, the rotation is just as good as it was last season with both Santana and Silva. And to compare it to another time, when the Twins made it to the ALCS in 2002, they did it with an average ERA of 4.12.
Recently the starters have been sensational. In the last 21 games, the starters are a combined 14-2 with a 3.15 ERA. They have 17 quality starts and a 4.2 K/BB ratio and average 6.5 IP per game. In other words, they are on cruise control.
Kevin Slowey has been the anchor. The 24-year-old right-hander is now 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA in his last 5 starts and has pitched with outstanding control which is evident with his 7.5 K/BB ratio. He has also been "homer prone" giving up 9 long balls in his first 43 2/3 innings. But on this current streak, he's given up just 2 in 35 innings. He's showing why he was named the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2007. His current self is quite "Rochester-like" and he's definitely going to have a big role in the rotation's future and will hopefully continue to develop into the #2 pitcher he's shown potential to have.
None of the starter's ERA's are currently over 3.89 since June 13th. Livan Hernandez's ERA is at 3.00 in 4 starts and is picking himself up and giving himself a significant value boost just prior to the trade deadline which could push the Twins to pursue a possible trade for the 33-year-old veteran. After Hernandez, Nick Blackburn's ERA comes in at 3.37, Scott Baker's comes in at 3.75 and Glen Perkins' comes in at 3.89 in 12 combined starts.
The team regardless of experience is very good in regards to command and they rank 4th in the league with a 2.47 K/BB ratio but yet rank 25th in the league with a 5.86 K/9 ratio. The problem with the rotation thus far has been they are very hittable, they rank 3rd in the majors with a .280 BAA and tied for 10th in the majors in fielding this season. If the pitchers are going to be that hittable, they need to have a strong defense behind them and although the Twins are attempting to improve that area by moving Brendan Harris to third and inserting Nick Punto at shortstop (even for a couple games) is a great way to improve the defense. When the Twins last won the division, they did so by being tied with Oakland for the 3rd lowest amount of errors given up and they did so with a .267 BAA.
The defense needs to improve for this rotation to be successful. Especially with Livan Hernandez on the mound. He has induced nearly 200 ground balls this season, which is 4th most in all of baseball. If the defense improves, there's no doubt in my mind that we'll continue seeing strong starting pitching for the remainder of the season. This is a very young pitching staff, but immensely talented.
Friday's Game Ball
Nick Punto - Second Base
Line: 2-4, 3 runs, double, home run, 4 RBI, walk
Twins win, 12-3.
Saturday's Game Ball
Joe Mauer - Catcher
Line: 1-2, 3 runs, home run, 1 RBI, 3 walks
Twins win, 9-6.
Sunday's Game Ball
Glen Perkins - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 7 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 3 K, win
Twins win, 4-3.
July 7, 2008
July 3, 2008
Young trying to get out of sophomore slump
When the Twins parted with Matt Garza (and others) last fall for Delmon Young (and others), many believed that this would give the Twins their legitimate right-handed bat that will at some point separate Joe Mauer & Justin Morneau in the batting order, and the first reaction was that the Twins got the better end of the deal. Looking back on that trade, there's no doubt that the Twins traded away great talent. The team parted with Garza, their 24-year-old right-handed pitcher who they selected in the first round of the 2005 draft out of Fresno State. Garza rose through the Twins minor league systems fast and quickly became one of the organizations most talented pitchers. Besides Garza, the Twins also parted with their top relief pitching prospect in Eduardo Morlan and their starting shortstop Jason Bartlett.
There's no doubt that Bartlett and Garza have played major factors in Tampa Bay's spectacular season. Manager Joe Maddon has praised both players and has even praised how Bartlett is the team's leader both on the field and in the clubhouse. Garza has been great this season, sporting a 3.47 ERA and a 7-4 record his WHIP and .37 points lower than last season and his BAA is .66 points better and he's really helped anchor the middle of the Ray's up and coming rotation. Bartlett has not been outstanding, sporting just a .256 average, he is homerless and has a dismal .592 OPS. He has 11 errors, which ranks 2nd most in the AL, but Minnesota fans are familiar with Bartlett's defense to know that his errors generally are not that big of a deal and that his defense is extremely valuable at shortstop in that he can make the most outstanding plays look like his bread and butter while the routine plays look difficult at times
In exchange for the three players, the Twins acquired Young who was the first overall pick in the 2003 draft and the AL's runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2007. The team also acquired infielder Brendan Harris who was coming off of his best season as a professional and outfield prospect Jason Pridie who the team believed could compete for the starting center field spot. Harris has been very disappointing, and has not been able to catch fire for long enough to make a significant impact on the team. In fact, his starting spot in the lineup has been in question multiple times this season and if it weren't for injuries, there's a good chance that he would've been out of a starting spot in May. Pridie lost the 3-way battle for the starting center field spot to Carlos Gomez and has not faired well in AAA so far. He's hitting just .235 with a .633 OPS and strikes out on average at least once per game. To say he's been a disappointment would be an understatement. But then again, the entire Red Wings team has been a disappointment and he is only partially to blame for their lackluster season.
Young was the centerpiece however, and many believed that it would not take a couple years for the Twins to see production from the 22-year-old outfielder. But as we sit right now, Young is hitting .284 which is very good, but has just 2 home runs and 29 RBI which makes his PECOTA prediction of 17 home runs look ridiculous at this point. And really, I think that Twins fans may be expecting too much, too soon from Young.
He is a self proclaimed slow starter and stated that around May 15th, he'll start heating up. We'll prior to that date he was hitting .270 with just 3 doubles, one triples and zero home runs in 148 at bats. Since then, he's hit .298 with 13 doubles, 3 triples and 2 home runs in 151 at bats. He clearly was correct and as you can see he is definitely starting to turn it around. His power production is still down, but I did not expect all that much (in that department) from him this season anyways. It is definitely discouraging to see a 2nd year player take that big of a dip in terms of power, but it's not unfamiliar to see players get into funks in their sophomore seasons. The NL's 2007 Rookie of the Year runner-up Troy Tulowitzki is also a self-proclaimed slow-starter and has also been stuck in a sophomore slump this season as well, although he has the excuse of being injured. Regardless, he was terrible prior to the injury and is not hitting that well since his return.
Young is starting to heat up, and he's doing it at the right time. In my observation (and to make this clear, I'm no hitting expert and if you believe it's something different please let me know, this is just my observation), his biggest problem is that it's been hard for him to find his timing and that has been his biggest problem this season. I do not believe that he's intentionally trying to push the ball to the right side, I think that his timing is just off and that he is a little late with his swing. I also believe that if levels and shortens his swing up, he could really start hitting the ball farther. And really, those are two very common things for even the best of hitters to struggle with. Whether or not we'll start seeing power production from him is still in question, but if he gets his timing down (which again, I stress is a hard thing for a young player to do), then I expect him to have a great second half like he did in '07, only I see him hitting quite a few more home runs than he did last year after the All-Star Break.
This season he is walking more, striking out less, having better pitch selection and is making more contact then he did last season. Have no fear, he's starting to come around. Hopefully he can start hitting the ball over the fence more, but regardless I've been very impressed with him as of late. With Young, the future is wide open and I for one am still confident that the Twins will get the better end of the trade in the long run. But as of right now, Tampa Bay sure looks to have the advantage.
There's no doubt that Bartlett and Garza have played major factors in Tampa Bay's spectacular season. Manager Joe Maddon has praised both players and has even praised how Bartlett is the team's leader both on the field and in the clubhouse. Garza has been great this season, sporting a 3.47 ERA and a 7-4 record his WHIP and .37 points lower than last season and his BAA is .66 points better and he's really helped anchor the middle of the Ray's up and coming rotation. Bartlett has not been outstanding, sporting just a .256 average, he is homerless and has a dismal .592 OPS. He has 11 errors, which ranks 2nd most in the AL, but Minnesota fans are familiar with Bartlett's defense to know that his errors generally are not that big of a deal and that his defense is extremely valuable at shortstop in that he can make the most outstanding plays look like his bread and butter while the routine plays look difficult at times
In exchange for the three players, the Twins acquired Young who was the first overall pick in the 2003 draft and the AL's runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2007. The team also acquired infielder Brendan Harris who was coming off of his best season as a professional and outfield prospect Jason Pridie who the team believed could compete for the starting center field spot. Harris has been very disappointing, and has not been able to catch fire for long enough to make a significant impact on the team. In fact, his starting spot in the lineup has been in question multiple times this season and if it weren't for injuries, there's a good chance that he would've been out of a starting spot in May. Pridie lost the 3-way battle for the starting center field spot to Carlos Gomez and has not faired well in AAA so far. He's hitting just .235 with a .633 OPS and strikes out on average at least once per game. To say he's been a disappointment would be an understatement. But then again, the entire Red Wings team has been a disappointment and he is only partially to blame for their lackluster season.
Young was the centerpiece however, and many believed that it would not take a couple years for the Twins to see production from the 22-year-old outfielder. But as we sit right now, Young is hitting .284 which is very good, but has just 2 home runs and 29 RBI which makes his PECOTA prediction of 17 home runs look ridiculous at this point. And really, I think that Twins fans may be expecting too much, too soon from Young.
He is a self proclaimed slow starter and stated that around May 15th, he'll start heating up. We'll prior to that date he was hitting .270 with just 3 doubles, one triples and zero home runs in 148 at bats. Since then, he's hit .298 with 13 doubles, 3 triples and 2 home runs in 151 at bats. He clearly was correct and as you can see he is definitely starting to turn it around. His power production is still down, but I did not expect all that much (in that department) from him this season anyways. It is definitely discouraging to see a 2nd year player take that big of a dip in terms of power, but it's not unfamiliar to see players get into funks in their sophomore seasons. The NL's 2007 Rookie of the Year runner-up Troy Tulowitzki is also a self-proclaimed slow-starter and has also been stuck in a sophomore slump this season as well, although he has the excuse of being injured. Regardless, he was terrible prior to the injury and is not hitting that well since his return.
Young is starting to heat up, and he's doing it at the right time. In my observation (and to make this clear, I'm no hitting expert and if you believe it's something different please let me know, this is just my observation), his biggest problem is that it's been hard for him to find his timing and that has been his biggest problem this season. I do not believe that he's intentionally trying to push the ball to the right side, I think that his timing is just off and that he is a little late with his swing. I also believe that if levels and shortens his swing up, he could really start hitting the ball farther. And really, those are two very common things for even the best of hitters to struggle with. Whether or not we'll start seeing power production from him is still in question, but if he gets his timing down (which again, I stress is a hard thing for a young player to do), then I expect him to have a great second half like he did in '07, only I see him hitting quite a few more home runs than he did last year after the All-Star Break.
This season he is walking more, striking out less, having better pitch selection and is making more contact then he did last season. Have no fear, he's starting to come around. Hopefully he can start hitting the ball over the fence more, but regardless I've been very impressed with him as of late. With Young, the future is wide open and I for one am still confident that the Twins will get the better end of the trade in the long run. But as of right now, Tampa Bay sure looks to have the advantage.
Game Balls for Detroit Series
Monday's Game Ball
Glen Perkins - Starting Pitcher
Line: 6 1/3 innings pitched, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Twins lose, 5-4
Tuesday's Game Ball
Craig Monroe - Designated Hitter
Line: 2-3, 3-run home run, walk
Twins win, 6-4
Wednesday's Game Ball
Nick Blackburn - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, win
Twins win, 7-0
Glen Perkins - Starting Pitcher
Line: 6 1/3 innings pitched, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Twins lose, 5-4
Tuesday's Game Ball
Craig Monroe - Designated Hitter
Line: 2-3, 3-run home run, walk
Twins win, 6-4
Wednesday's Game Ball
Nick Blackburn - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, win
Twins win, 7-0
July 2, 2008
MY AL All-Stars
Catcher: Joe Mauer, Twins
This is a pretty easy pick. Mauer leads the AL in hitting. And he leads all catchers with an .856 OPS and 34 RBI. There is not other catcher in the AL that can carry Mauer's jock and he's the easy choice. Honorable Mention: A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox
First Base: Justin Morneau, Twins, Twins
Morneau & Youkilis have both had great seasons, but I have to go with Morneau due his run production. He has 63 RBI which is second in the AL. Morneau is also on pace for almost 200 hits. He is having a great season despite having lower power numbers than he'd like. However, he can always turn it on in the second half although he usually is a first-half power hitter. Regardless, he's having a great season thus far. Honorable Mention: Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
Second Base: Ian Kinsler, Rangers
Kinsler is one of the more underrated players in baseball. He is first in the majors with 113 hits. He also leads all AL second basemen with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, and OPS. And he is 2nd in average and stolen bases. His glove is definitely not great, but he is such a versatile offensive player that he is a great threat at the top of the order. Honorable Mention: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
Third Base: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
Alex Rodriguez is the most scrutenized player in all of baseball, yet he continuosly puts up spectacular numbers year in and year out. Behind Albert Pujols, I view Rodriguez as the best hitter in the game and this season Rodriguez continues to prove this point. He's hitting .322/.408/.601 with 16 home runs and has 44 RBI. He's on pace for his lowest RBI total since 1997 but I don't think there's even a question that he's the best third baseman so far this season in the AL. Honorable Mention: Evan Longoria, Rays
Shortstop: Michael Young, Rangers
Young leads all AL shortstops with 97 hits, a .285 average, and 43 RBI. He is also second with 7 home runs and a .755 OPS. He is not the hitter he once was, but he's still one of the best in the AL. Besides Young, it really comes down to Derek Jeter and Jhonny Peralta. However, this 31-year-old slugger is still the best pick. He is on pace for 14 home runs with 85 RBI. The AL is not blessed with great middle infielders like the NL, but Young is the best right now. Honorable Mention: Jhonny Peralta, Indians
Outfield: Josh Hamilton, Rangers
The Rangers acquired Hamilton in the off-season and I don't think anyone expected him to play this well, at least not this soon. He's quickly emerged as the A.L.'s top slugger this season and he's definitely the most deserving of an All-Star nod. He is on pace for 37 home runs and 155 RBI. His average has taken quite a dip, but he's still the A.L.'s best chance at winning the Triple Crown (this season).
Outfield: Carlos Quentin, White Sox
Quentin (like Hamilton) was also acquired in the off-season, only Quentin was acquired for a next to nothing (respectfully speaking). Although Chris Carter is a good prospect, the Diamondbacks got hosed on the deal as Quentin is another of the A.L.'s top sluggers this season. He has 61 RBI which ranks him second in the AL for outfielders. He is also tied for first with Hamilton and the next outfielder with 19 home runs.
Outfield: Grady Sizemore, Indians
Sizemore is on pace for the most productive season of his career. He is a huge threat at the top of the Indian's lineup and hurts teams with his outstanding baserunning. His average is a little low, but his .878 OPS would be his second best in his career. Sizemore is just 25-years-old but is still one of the best all-around outfielders in the game. Honorable Mention: Jermaine Dye, White Sox
Designated Hitter: Milton Bradley, Rangers
Another player acquired in the off-season, Bradley was brought in through free agency. He had knee problems which frightened teams, but his attitude is probably the only thing that's ever held him back. He's finally producing and is off to a great start. He's been banged up a little this season, but he's still put up great numbers. He leads all AL DH's (who qualify at least) with 49 RBI and a 1.039 OPS and is tied for 1st with 16 home runs. If David Ortiz was healthy, he might have been the most deserving, but with him being injured Bradley is the easy choice. Honorable Mention: David Ortiz, Red Sox
Starting Pitcher: Cliff Lee, Indians
Lee got off to a terrific start this season and is clearly the best pitcher in the AL thus far. He has a ridiculous 11-1 record and a 5.6 K/BB ratio. If the Indians offense was better, he'd probably have another 2-3 wins which is absurd to think of a pitcher having 13-14 wins halfway through the season. Joe Saunders, Roy Halladay, Justin Duchscherer and John Danks have all had great seasons but Lee is clearly the AL's best. Honorable Mention: Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
This is a pretty easy pick. Mauer leads the AL in hitting. And he leads all catchers with an .856 OPS and 34 RBI. There is not other catcher in the AL that can carry Mauer's jock and he's the easy choice. Honorable Mention: A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox
First Base: Justin Morneau, Twins, Twins
Morneau & Youkilis have both had great seasons, but I have to go with Morneau due his run production. He has 63 RBI which is second in the AL. Morneau is also on pace for almost 200 hits. He is having a great season despite having lower power numbers than he'd like. However, he can always turn it on in the second half although he usually is a first-half power hitter. Regardless, he's having a great season thus far. Honorable Mention: Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
Second Base: Ian Kinsler, Rangers
Kinsler is one of the more underrated players in baseball. He is first in the majors with 113 hits. He also leads all AL second basemen with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, and OPS. And he is 2nd in average and stolen bases. His glove is definitely not great, but he is such a versatile offensive player that he is a great threat at the top of the order. Honorable Mention: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
Third Base: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
Alex Rodriguez is the most scrutenized player in all of baseball, yet he continuosly puts up spectacular numbers year in and year out. Behind Albert Pujols, I view Rodriguez as the best hitter in the game and this season Rodriguez continues to prove this point. He's hitting .322/.408/.601 with 16 home runs and has 44 RBI. He's on pace for his lowest RBI total since 1997 but I don't think there's even a question that he's the best third baseman so far this season in the AL. Honorable Mention: Evan Longoria, Rays
Shortstop: Michael Young, Rangers
Young leads all AL shortstops with 97 hits, a .285 average, and 43 RBI. He is also second with 7 home runs and a .755 OPS. He is not the hitter he once was, but he's still one of the best in the AL. Besides Young, it really comes down to Derek Jeter and Jhonny Peralta. However, this 31-year-old slugger is still the best pick. He is on pace for 14 home runs with 85 RBI. The AL is not blessed with great middle infielders like the NL, but Young is the best right now. Honorable Mention: Jhonny Peralta, Indians
Outfield: Josh Hamilton, Rangers
The Rangers acquired Hamilton in the off-season and I don't think anyone expected him to play this well, at least not this soon. He's quickly emerged as the A.L.'s top slugger this season and he's definitely the most deserving of an All-Star nod. He is on pace for 37 home runs and 155 RBI. His average has taken quite a dip, but he's still the A.L.'s best chance at winning the Triple Crown (this season).
Outfield: Carlos Quentin, White Sox
Quentin (like Hamilton) was also acquired in the off-season, only Quentin was acquired for a next to nothing (respectfully speaking). Although Chris Carter is a good prospect, the Diamondbacks got hosed on the deal as Quentin is another of the A.L.'s top sluggers this season. He has 61 RBI which ranks him second in the AL for outfielders. He is also tied for first with Hamilton and the next outfielder with 19 home runs.
Outfield: Grady Sizemore, Indians
Sizemore is on pace for the most productive season of his career. He is a huge threat at the top of the Indian's lineup and hurts teams with his outstanding baserunning. His average is a little low, but his .878 OPS would be his second best in his career. Sizemore is just 25-years-old but is still one of the best all-around outfielders in the game. Honorable Mention: Jermaine Dye, White Sox
Designated Hitter: Milton Bradley, Rangers
Another player acquired in the off-season, Bradley was brought in through free agency. He had knee problems which frightened teams, but his attitude is probably the only thing that's ever held him back. He's finally producing and is off to a great start. He's been banged up a little this season, but he's still put up great numbers. He leads all AL DH's (who qualify at least) with 49 RBI and a 1.039 OPS and is tied for 1st with 16 home runs. If David Ortiz was healthy, he might have been the most deserving, but with him being injured Bradley is the easy choice. Honorable Mention: David Ortiz, Red Sox
Starting Pitcher: Cliff Lee, Indians
Lee got off to a terrific start this season and is clearly the best pitcher in the AL thus far. He has a ridiculous 11-1 record and a 5.6 K/BB ratio. If the Indians offense was better, he'd probably have another 2-3 wins which is absurd to think of a pitcher having 13-14 wins halfway through the season. Joe Saunders, Roy Halladay, Justin Duchscherer and John Danks have all had great seasons but Lee is clearly the AL's best. Honorable Mention: Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
July 1, 2008
My NL All Stars
Catcher: Brian McCann, Braves
After breaking out in 2006, McCann had a good season for a catcher in '07, but not for him. So far this season, he's hitting .295 and has a .900 OPS. He has 14 home runs, just 4 behind his total from a year ago and is on pace for just under 30 long balls with 90+ RBI. Honorable Mention: Russell Martin, Dodgers
First Base: Lance Berkman, Astros
Berkman also had a down 2007 season compared to a standout '06 campaign. He hit .278 which was the lowest of his career and also had the lowest OPS of his career as well. However, this season he is on pace to break nearly all of his career highs. He currently is hitting .364 (2nd in the NL) with a 1.135 OPS (1st in NL) and 21 HR's (T-3rd in NL) to go along with 67 RBI (2nd in NL). Honorable Mention: Adrian Gonzalez, Padres
Second Base: Chase Utley, Phillies
Chase Utley has become the household name when thinking of the best second baseman in not just the National League, but in all of Major League Baseball. His bat would stand out at any position, but the fact that he's hitting 23 home runs before the mid-way point of the season while playing second base is just that much more impressive. Utley has competition as another power-hitting second baseman named Dan Uggla from the Marlins also has 23 home runs, but Utley has better numbers than him in nearly every other category which makes Utley easy to choose. Honorable Mention: Dan Uggla, Marlins
Third Base: Chipper Jones, Braves
Washed up? Yeah right! Chipper Jones just gets better with age as he's improved every year since 2004. This 36 year old is still chugging along, and although there's a chance he will miss the All-Star Game due to being injured, he still deserves the nomination. Jones is hitting just under .400 (.394) and has a 1.115 OPS and is on pace for his best season since 2001. Honorable Mention: David Wright, Mets
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
When you talk about the complete package (at least offensively), Ramirez's name should be next to it. He's the best shortstop in the game and at just 24-years-old, he's on pace for almost 200 hits and 36 home runs. This is a future Hall of Famer in the making and it's a good thing the Marlins locked him up long-term early at a fairly cheap price because he would get absurd amounts on the open market whenever he'd be eligible for free agency (which I'm aware wouldn't be for a few more years regardless). Honorable Mention: Jose Reyes, Mets
Outfield: Ryan Braun, Brewers
Ryan Braun is becoming one of the best hitters in all of baseball. In just 113 games (451 at bats), Braun hit 34 home runs with 97 RBI and on hitting line of .324/.370/.634 in his Rookie year. And he definitely has not fallen into a sophomore slump this season. He is currently hitting .287 with a respectable .874 OPS and is on pace for 40 home runs and 117 RBI. It's clearly not as good as his Rookie campaign, but really expecting anything more from him than he did in '07 would be unfair. Not because he should not have to improve, but because he did so good in '07 that he really set himself up for a disappointing '08 season. But I think he's without a doubt the best outfielder in the NL right now.
Outfield: Nate McLouth, Pirates
Nate McLouth was considered one of the "sleeper picks" to bust out this season and have a great season and he's done just that. McLouth's average has taken a dip in each month so far, but his overall numbers are still very good. He has 15 home runs to go along with his .280 average. He also leads all NL Outfielders with 59 runs scored.
Outfield: Carlos Lee, Astros
Carlos Lee is one of the most feared hitters in all of baseball, but still seems to be an underrated player. He currently has 18 home runs and 62 RBI to go along with his .853 OPS. His average has slowly been getting better over the course of the season and this 3 time NL All-Star definitely deserves a 4th consecutive appearance in the All-Star game. Honorable Mention: Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals
Designated Hitter: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
Since the NL doesn't have a DH, I have to go with the next players who I thought of that should also be starting. Pujols is having a spectacular season despite there being rumors before the season that he'd likely be slowed down by an injured elbow. However, that doesn't seem to be the case. He has a 1.123 OPS and is hitting .356 and has 17 home runs to along with 45 RBI. Honorable Mention: Aramis Ramirez, Cubs
Starting Pitcher: Edison Volquez, Reds
The Rangers and Reds made a trade prior to the season which was very similar to the Twins-Rays trade taht brought Delmon Young to the Twins and Matt Garza to the Rays. However, the two players in the Reds-Rangers deal have both emerged as top players and potential MVP candidates while the players in the Twins-Rays trade have not made nearly the kind of impact that either of these two players have. Regardless, Volquez is withoutadoubt the best pitcher in the National League this season. He leads the N.L. with a ridiculous 2.08 ERA and is tied for second wins (10) and is second in strikeouts (110). Honorable Mention: Tim Lincecum, Giants
After breaking out in 2006, McCann had a good season for a catcher in '07, but not for him. So far this season, he's hitting .295 and has a .900 OPS. He has 14 home runs, just 4 behind his total from a year ago and is on pace for just under 30 long balls with 90+ RBI. Honorable Mention: Russell Martin, Dodgers
First Base: Lance Berkman, Astros
Berkman also had a down 2007 season compared to a standout '06 campaign. He hit .278 which was the lowest of his career and also had the lowest OPS of his career as well. However, this season he is on pace to break nearly all of his career highs. He currently is hitting .364 (2nd in the NL) with a 1.135 OPS (1st in NL) and 21 HR's (T-3rd in NL) to go along with 67 RBI (2nd in NL). Honorable Mention: Adrian Gonzalez, Padres
Second Base: Chase Utley, Phillies
Chase Utley has become the household name when thinking of the best second baseman in not just the National League, but in all of Major League Baseball. His bat would stand out at any position, but the fact that he's hitting 23 home runs before the mid-way point of the season while playing second base is just that much more impressive. Utley has competition as another power-hitting second baseman named Dan Uggla from the Marlins also has 23 home runs, but Utley has better numbers than him in nearly every other category which makes Utley easy to choose. Honorable Mention: Dan Uggla, Marlins
Third Base: Chipper Jones, Braves
Washed up? Yeah right! Chipper Jones just gets better with age as he's improved every year since 2004. This 36 year old is still chugging along, and although there's a chance he will miss the All-Star Game due to being injured, he still deserves the nomination. Jones is hitting just under .400 (.394) and has a 1.115 OPS and is on pace for his best season since 2001. Honorable Mention: David Wright, Mets
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
When you talk about the complete package (at least offensively), Ramirez's name should be next to it. He's the best shortstop in the game and at just 24-years-old, he's on pace for almost 200 hits and 36 home runs. This is a future Hall of Famer in the making and it's a good thing the Marlins locked him up long-term early at a fairly cheap price because he would get absurd amounts on the open market whenever he'd be eligible for free agency (which I'm aware wouldn't be for a few more years regardless). Honorable Mention: Jose Reyes, Mets
Outfield: Ryan Braun, Brewers
Ryan Braun is becoming one of the best hitters in all of baseball. In just 113 games (451 at bats), Braun hit 34 home runs with 97 RBI and on hitting line of .324/.370/.634 in his Rookie year. And he definitely has not fallen into a sophomore slump this season. He is currently hitting .287 with a respectable .874 OPS and is on pace for 40 home runs and 117 RBI. It's clearly not as good as his Rookie campaign, but really expecting anything more from him than he did in '07 would be unfair. Not because he should not have to improve, but because he did so good in '07 that he really set himself up for a disappointing '08 season. But I think he's without a doubt the best outfielder in the NL right now.
Outfield: Nate McLouth, Pirates
Nate McLouth was considered one of the "sleeper picks" to bust out this season and have a great season and he's done just that. McLouth's average has taken a dip in each month so far, but his overall numbers are still very good. He has 15 home runs to go along with his .280 average. He also leads all NL Outfielders with 59 runs scored.
Outfield: Carlos Lee, Astros
Carlos Lee is one of the most feared hitters in all of baseball, but still seems to be an underrated player. He currently has 18 home runs and 62 RBI to go along with his .853 OPS. His average has slowly been getting better over the course of the season and this 3 time NL All-Star definitely deserves a 4th consecutive appearance in the All-Star game. Honorable Mention: Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals
Designated Hitter: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
Since the NL doesn't have a DH, I have to go with the next players who I thought of that should also be starting. Pujols is having a spectacular season despite there being rumors before the season that he'd likely be slowed down by an injured elbow. However, that doesn't seem to be the case. He has a 1.123 OPS and is hitting .356 and has 17 home runs to along with 45 RBI. Honorable Mention: Aramis Ramirez, Cubs
Starting Pitcher: Edison Volquez, Reds
The Rangers and Reds made a trade prior to the season which was very similar to the Twins-Rays trade taht brought Delmon Young to the Twins and Matt Garza to the Rays. However, the two players in the Reds-Rangers deal have both emerged as top players and potential MVP candidates while the players in the Twins-Rays trade have not made nearly the kind of impact that either of these two players have. Regardless, Volquez is withoutadoubt the best pitcher in the National League this season. He leads the N.L. with a ridiculous 2.08 ERA and is tied for second wins (10) and is second in strikeouts (110). Honorable Mention: Tim Lincecum, Giants
(All stats are as of games played before 6/30)
June 30, 2008
Twins Update
• Since I last posted, the Twins finalized the sweep of the San Diego Padres by beating Greg Maddux and Josh Banks. Then they took 2 of three from the Brewers which snapped their 10 game winning streak but started a new streak in which they beat one of the best pitchers in the NL in Ben Sheets.
Wednesday's Game Ball
Carlos Gomez - Center Field
Line: 3-4, run, 2 RBI, 2 SB's
Box Score
Thursday's Game Ball
Justin Morneau - First Base
Line: 3-4, home run, 3 RBI
Box Score
Friday's Game Ball
Joe Mauer - Catcher
Line: 2-4, 2 runs, Go-Ahead HR, RBI, walk
Box Score
Saturday's Game Ball
Jason Kubel - Right Field
Line: 1-2, home run, 2 walks
Box Score
Sunday's Game Ball
Kevin Slowey - Starting Pitcher
Line: CG Shutout, 3 hits, 8 K, win
Box Score
• Michael Cuddyer has been placed on the DL with a strained tendon in his left index finger. Cuddyer was hitting .250 with 4 home runs and 34 RBI's since his return from the DL earlier this season. He missed 3 weeks in April with a lacerated/dislocated right index finger. It's not known how long he's expected to be out, but I think the Twins expect him back as soon as he's eligible.
To take his place, the Twins are calling up Denard Span who's been playing very good for the Rochester Red Wings this season. He was hitting .340/.434./.481 with 11 doubles, a triple, and 3 home runs in 156 at bats. He will likely start quite a bit in right field while Cuddyer is out, but he will also play in center and left field when needed. It's great to see Denard back with the Twins, hopefully this time he can show enough to the Twins to keep him up longer, if not for good.
• Three prominent Beloit Snappers have been placed on the DL. Chris Parmelee looks like he'll miss 4-6 weeks with a broken left wrist. Parmelee was hitting .239 with an OPS of .881. He was Beloits main run producer as he lead the team with 14 home runs and 49 RBI. His RBI total was 22 more than any other hitter on the team. In Parmelee's second go around in Beloit, his average and discipline isn't exactly where the Twins wanted it to be but his OPS is still good and he definitely has a good power stroke. The former 1st round pick was hitting .282/.393/.577 with 6 home runs and 20 RBI's in just 20 games.
Joe Benson will be missing time with a stress fracture in his lower back. He was hitting .248./.325/.380 with 16 doubles, 3 triples, 4 home runs and 27 RBI's. Benson was drafted in the 2nd round in 2006 and is also on his second go around in Beloit and he too has not had a great season.
Jair Fernandez will also be missing time with a right wrist injury. Fernandez was acquired by the Seattle Mariners for R.A. Dickey who was selected in the Rule V Draft by the Mariners and was given to the Twins to allow Dickey to be demoted to the minors. Fernandez was having a terrific season for the Snappers hitting .283/.333/.370 while handling the majority of the Snappers catching duties.
To replace them, the Snappers received Minnesota Native Andrew Schmiesing and Rene Leverett from Elizabethton. With Ben Revere still recovering from his tweaked hamstring, the last thing the Snappers needed was injuries to their outfield.
• Jim Mandelaro of the Democratic & Chronicle has been very disgruntled with the Twins lack of help towards the disappointing Rochester Red Wings this season. One of the things he wanted to see the team do was sign former Red Wing/Twins outfielder Josh Rabe. After tearing up the Independent League but his back pain was just too much to bare. It's unforunate, but Rabe has a great future ahead of him in Law School.
Wednesday's Game Ball
Carlos Gomez - Center Field
Line: 3-4, run, 2 RBI, 2 SB's
Box Score
Thursday's Game Ball
Justin Morneau - First Base
Line: 3-4, home run, 3 RBI
Box Score
Friday's Game Ball
Joe Mauer - Catcher
Line: 2-4, 2 runs, Go-Ahead HR, RBI, walk
Box Score
Saturday's Game Ball
Jason Kubel - Right Field
Line: 1-2, home run, 2 walks
Box Score
Sunday's Game Ball
Kevin Slowey - Starting Pitcher
Line: CG Shutout, 3 hits, 8 K, win
Box Score
• Michael Cuddyer has been placed on the DL with a strained tendon in his left index finger. Cuddyer was hitting .250 with 4 home runs and 34 RBI's since his return from the DL earlier this season. He missed 3 weeks in April with a lacerated/dislocated right index finger. It's not known how long he's expected to be out, but I think the Twins expect him back as soon as he's eligible.
To take his place, the Twins are calling up Denard Span who's been playing very good for the Rochester Red Wings this season. He was hitting .340/.434./.481 with 11 doubles, a triple, and 3 home runs in 156 at bats. He will likely start quite a bit in right field while Cuddyer is out, but he will also play in center and left field when needed. It's great to see Denard back with the Twins, hopefully this time he can show enough to the Twins to keep him up longer, if not for good.
• Three prominent Beloit Snappers have been placed on the DL. Chris Parmelee looks like he'll miss 4-6 weeks with a broken left wrist. Parmelee was hitting .239 with an OPS of .881. He was Beloits main run producer as he lead the team with 14 home runs and 49 RBI. His RBI total was 22 more than any other hitter on the team. In Parmelee's second go around in Beloit, his average and discipline isn't exactly where the Twins wanted it to be but his OPS is still good and he definitely has a good power stroke. The former 1st round pick was hitting .282/.393/.577 with 6 home runs and 20 RBI's in just 20 games.
Joe Benson will be missing time with a stress fracture in his lower back. He was hitting .248./.325/.380 with 16 doubles, 3 triples, 4 home runs and 27 RBI's. Benson was drafted in the 2nd round in 2006 and is also on his second go around in Beloit and he too has not had a great season.
Jair Fernandez will also be missing time with a right wrist injury. Fernandez was acquired by the Seattle Mariners for R.A. Dickey who was selected in the Rule V Draft by the Mariners and was given to the Twins to allow Dickey to be demoted to the minors. Fernandez was having a terrific season for the Snappers hitting .283/.333/.370 while handling the majority of the Snappers catching duties.
To replace them, the Snappers received Minnesota Native Andrew Schmiesing and Rene Leverett from Elizabethton. With Ben Revere still recovering from his tweaked hamstring, the last thing the Snappers needed was injuries to their outfield.
• Jim Mandelaro of the Democratic & Chronicle has been very disgruntled with the Twins lack of help towards the disappointing Rochester Red Wings this season. One of the things he wanted to see the team do was sign former Red Wing/Twins outfielder Josh Rabe. After tearing up the Independent League but his back pain was just too much to bare. It's unforunate, but Rabe has a great future ahead of him in Law School.
June 27, 2008
Blog Update
Hey everyone. Sorry about the lack of posting this week. I had no intentions on doing this but I just didn't have time to write. Anyways, I don't have a post again today (sorry) and will be MIA until Monday. However, next week I'm going to give you my top prospect list for midway through the season, my all-stars for both the AL & NL and of course my thoughts on the surging Twins.
Here are a few things to read:
Here are a few things to read:
- This is exactly how I feel at the moment. Alright Hamilton! Nailed it on the nose. And I predicted this exact thing would happen.
- Aaron Gleeman gives us his #18 top Twins player of all time.
- Nick Nelson fills in for Gleeman on Rotoworld.com's "Baseball Daily Dose."
- For a review of the Padres series, head over to Sense from Center.
- Will the Twins be contenders in 2010?
GO TWINS!!!
June 25, 2008
Harris, Buscher proving that they're the men for the job
When the Twins made the November trade for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie, the Twins felt that they got 3 potential starters for the 2008 season and beyond. But after the trade of Johan Santana which brought the Twins Carlos Gomez, Pridie had some competition in Spring Training and all Gomez had to do was show up and his name would be penciled into the lineup more than either Pridie or Denard Span which made it pretty evident that Ron Gardenhire was going to choose Gomez to be his opening day starter.
Even so, the Twins felt that they got two other upgrades in the trade as well. Delmon Young was going to take over in left field for Jason Kubel who although came on very strong at the end of the season, still looked mediocre. And Brendan Harris who's bat was going to be a huge upgrade at either second base or shortstop whichever the Twins used him at. After a brief stay at second base which proved to be unsuccessful, Harris looks to have found his new home between second and third base in the Twins infield. And really, this isn't what the Twins had in mind. There were times in which Ron Gardenhire had plans to use Harris as a platoon at third base with the struggling Mike Lamb and use him primarily as a utility infielder. But thanks to injuries, that killed any of those thoughts. Nick Punto, Adam Everett and Matt Tolbert were all considerations to start over Harris, due to them being better with the leather. However, since Harris has made the switch to shortstop, he has committed just two errors (opposed to 5 at second base) despite playing just 11 games less than he did at second base.
Still, the Twins needed his bat to come alive if he wanted to stay in the lineup as a starter when Punto returned from the disabled list because everyone knows how much Gardenhire loves Punto's "cat-like reflexes" at shortstop and values defense over offense. So if Harris could continue to play o.k. defense while he started hitting, he'd more than likely stay a starter for at least the time being. Well, that time has arrived and not only is Harris playing "o.k." defense, he is also swinging a smoldering hot bat at the plate. During the Twins last six games, Harris is hitting .450 with 7 runs scored, 4 doubles, a triple, a home run and 3 RBI's. Still, I know that this is not enough of a sample size to suggest that he's going to become the player we all expected him to be.
Harris is certainly helping this team win games, not only in walk-off fashion like he did last night against one of the greatest closer's in baseball history, but he's staying consistent at the plate and is really starting to drive the ball well to all parts of the field.
After a good debut with the Twins last season, many (including myself) felt a little comfortable with Brian Buscher possibly being the Twins starting third baseman heading into the season. But after the signing of Mike Lamb, the thought of Buscher starting was long gone and Lamb was hopefully going to help turn things around for the Twins at third base, which has been a hole (at least on offense) since Corey Koskie left a few years ago. With weak defense, the Twins were going to let Lamb's bat do the talking and after hitting .372 in 43 Spring Training at bats, there was little doubt that Lamb was the guy for the job.
Despite hitting .302 in May, Lamb is hitting .223 on the season and is just 1 for 29 in June. His struggles (and an injury or two) lead to the Twins calling up Buscher from Rochester. He was hitting .319 with an OPS of .915 while he split time between first and third base for the Red Wings prior to his call-up. He was first called up in April to take the roster spot of the injured Adam Everett, but that call-up only got him a combined 8 at bats. So this time around, the Twins gave him his shot and he's definitely responding well. Since his most recent promotion, Buscher is hitting .400 with 7 runs scored and 13 RBI's in 30 at bats. He's also playing good defense at third base. So with Lamb's current skid at the plate and with him not playing good defense, it's got to be pretty easy for Gardenhire to keep Buscher in the lineup.
With the power seemingly starting to decline throughout baseball (or so they say), I'm not really worried about any of the players lack of home run power. The Twins currently rank 8th in the league in runs scored at 368 yet rank dead last in home runs. With guys like Michael Cuddyer, Delmon Young, and even Justin Morneau not hitting as many home runs as many think they should, as long as the team continues to keep scoring runs I think everyone will be happy. After all, it's a team sport and as much as I'd like to see individuals with great success, I think any of them would take a championship any day before a few guys win awards like the Cy Young, Batting Champ and even M.V.P.
Game Ball
Brian Buscher - Third Base
Line: 2-4, home run, RBI
Other things to read:
Even so, the Twins felt that they got two other upgrades in the trade as well. Delmon Young was going to take over in left field for Jason Kubel who although came on very strong at the end of the season, still looked mediocre. And Brendan Harris who's bat was going to be a huge upgrade at either second base or shortstop whichever the Twins used him at. After a brief stay at second base which proved to be unsuccessful, Harris looks to have found his new home between second and third base in the Twins infield. And really, this isn't what the Twins had in mind. There were times in which Ron Gardenhire had plans to use Harris as a platoon at third base with the struggling Mike Lamb and use him primarily as a utility infielder. But thanks to injuries, that killed any of those thoughts. Nick Punto, Adam Everett and Matt Tolbert were all considerations to start over Harris, due to them being better with the leather. However, since Harris has made the switch to shortstop, he has committed just two errors (opposed to 5 at second base) despite playing just 11 games less than he did at second base.
Still, the Twins needed his bat to come alive if he wanted to stay in the lineup as a starter when Punto returned from the disabled list because everyone knows how much Gardenhire loves Punto's "cat-like reflexes" at shortstop and values defense over offense. So if Harris could continue to play o.k. defense while he started hitting, he'd more than likely stay a starter for at least the time being. Well, that time has arrived and not only is Harris playing "o.k." defense, he is also swinging a smoldering hot bat at the plate. During the Twins last six games, Harris is hitting .450 with 7 runs scored, 4 doubles, a triple, a home run and 3 RBI's. Still, I know that this is not enough of a sample size to suggest that he's going to become the player we all expected him to be.Harris is certainly helping this team win games, not only in walk-off fashion like he did last night against one of the greatest closer's in baseball history, but he's staying consistent at the plate and is really starting to drive the ball well to all parts of the field.
After a good debut with the Twins last season, many (including myself) felt a little comfortable with Brian Buscher possibly being the Twins starting third baseman heading into the season. But after the signing of Mike Lamb, the thought of Buscher starting was long gone and Lamb was hopefully going to help turn things around for the Twins at third base, which has been a hole (at least on offense) since Corey Koskie left a few years ago. With weak defense, the Twins were going to let Lamb's bat do the talking and after hitting .372 in 43 Spring Training at bats, there was little doubt that Lamb was the guy for the job.
Despite hitting .302 in May, Lamb is hitting .223 on the season and is just 1 for 29 in June. His struggles (and an injury or two) lead to the Twins calling up Buscher from Rochester. He was hitting .319 with an OPS of .915 while he split time between first and third base for the Red Wings prior to his call-up. He was first called up in April to take the roster spot of the injured Adam Everett, but that call-up only got him a combined 8 at bats. So this time around, the Twins gave him his shot and he's definitely responding well. Since his most recent promotion, Buscher is hitting .400 with 7 runs scored and 13 RBI's in 30 at bats. He's also playing good defense at third base. So with Lamb's current skid at the plate and with him not playing good defense, it's got to be pretty easy for Gardenhire to keep Buscher in the lineup.With the power seemingly starting to decline throughout baseball (or so they say), I'm not really worried about any of the players lack of home run power. The Twins currently rank 8th in the league in runs scored at 368 yet rank dead last in home runs. With guys like Michael Cuddyer, Delmon Young, and even Justin Morneau not hitting as many home runs as many think they should, as long as the team continues to keep scoring runs I think everyone will be happy. After all, it's a team sport and as much as I'd like to see individuals with great success, I think any of them would take a championship any day before a few guys win awards like the Cy Young, Batting Champ and even M.V.P.
Game Ball
Brian Buscher - Third Base
Line: 2-4, home run, RBI
Other things to read:
- Aaron Gleeman looks at the Twins' WPA (Win Probability Added) since 2002.
- Twins Geek is preparing us for the "Free Span" campaign.
- Over the Baggy looks at who has the nastiest pitch in both the rotation and the bullpen.
- And make sure to check out Twins Fix, which is a new Twins blog which I'm sure you'll enjoy!
June 24, 2008
Anthony Slama Q&A
Anthony Slama was selected in the 39th round of the 2006 draft. At 24-years-old, he doesn't get the respect that he should for being one of the top pitching prospsects in the entire system. So far he has a 1.03 ERA in just under 70 innings pitched. He has struck out 112 in that same period of time while walking just 22 walks allowed. The 6'3'' right-handed pitcher has had a great 1/2 season so far in Ft. Myers with a 2-0 record and a 0.47 ERA in 38 innings to go along with his 63/12 K/BB ratio. If he keeps it up, he should be in New Britain before the end of the season. Hope you enjoy!
Josh's Thoughts: What was it like to hear your name called on draft day? Josh's Thoughts: What is your pitching repertoire? Josh's Thoughts: What would you say is your strikeout pitch? Josh's Thoughts: How does it feel to be named a Florida State League All-Star? Josh's Thoughts: When you were growing up, what team(s) did you follow? Josh's Thoughts: Who were your favorite players when you were growing up? Josh's Thoughts: Who has been the biggest influence in your career? Josh's Thoughts: Do you feel that attending college has helped with your transition into professional baseball? Josh's Thoughts: What is your goal for the remaining of the season? Josh's Thoughts: What do you like to do in your free time? Josh's Thoughts: What are your interests besides baseball? Favorite music, movies, other hobbies etc.
Josh's Thoughts: If you weren’t playing baseball, what else would you be doing?
Josh's Thoughts: Any nickname? Josh's Thoughts: What is something people would be shocked to know about you?
Josh's Thoughts: What are your goals for the season? Long term?
Josh's Thoughts: Thanks Anthony! Best of luck to you for the rest of the season.
Josh's Thoughts: Before you were drafted by the Twins in 2006, what other teams were interested in you?
Anthony Slama: I'm not sure which teams were interested in drafting me, I had only a few converstaions with scouts before I was taken in the draft by the Twins.
Anthony Slama: I actually didn't hear my name. I was in the process of moving out of my college house and back to Orange County when my mom and dad called me.
Anthony Slama: I throw a fastball, slider and change-up.
Anthony Slama: My strikeout pitch is my fastball.
Anthony Slama: I feel truly honored to be called an "All-Star."
Anthony Slama: I grew up a Dodgers fan.
Anthony Slama: Brett Butler, Roger Clemens and Mark Prior.
Anthony Slama: My mom and dad and my coaches.
Anthony Slama: Definitely. College made me a more mature ballplayer and person.
Anthony Slama: My goal is to pitch well, stay healthy, and help my team win.
Anthony Slama: I like to read, watch movies, listen to music and play computer games.
Anthony Slama: I listen to a lot of Rock and I play a little guitar.
Anthony Slama: Working at a job
Anthony Slama: Slama
Anthony Slama: I have a dog named David Bowie.
Anthony Slama: I want to win a championship this season and long term i want to play in the major leagues for the Minnesota Twins.
June 23, 2008
Weekend Review
Heading into the series the Twins were 4 1/2 games out heading into the series, but with a Twins sweep over the Diamondbacks and a Cubs sweep over the White Sox the Twins moved within 2 games of first place.
The Twins outscored Arizona 18-6 in the 3 game set with the Twins scoring at least 5 runs in each of the games. But the pitching is what won this series for the Twins. On Friday, Scott Baker went 6 strong innings and gave up 1 run on 7 hits while he struck out 7 batters. Baker's lone run allowed came on a solo home run from Mark Reynolds. On Saturday, Nick Blackburn went 7 innings of 1 run ball to pick up his 6th victory of the season. He threw 63 of his 89 pitches for strikes and gave up just 3 hits all night. And then on Sunday, Livan Hernandez turned in his 2nd strong performance in a row giving up just 3 runs (1 earned) in 7 innings while he struck out 5 batters.
On Offense, Brendan Harris continued to play well going 4-8 with 4 runs scored, 2 doubles and 2 RBI. He is now 8-16 since the 2nd game of the Washington series and 4 doubles, a triple, and 2 RBI. He's definitely zoned in at the plate right now which has played a vital part to the Twins success. Another middle-infielder who has played an important role in the Twins success this season is Alexi Casilla who went 5-12 with 2 runs and 3 RBI in the series. Those two have played solid defense and have been great at the plate, and as long as they continue to play well I don't see anyone biting into their playing time.
Friday's Game Ball
Scott Baker - Starting Pitcher
Line: 6 innings pitched, 7 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, 112 pitches, win
Box Score
Saturday's Game Ball
Nick Blackburn - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 3 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts, 89 pitches, win
Box Score
Sunday's Game Ball
Brian Buscher - Third Base
Line: 2-4, run, 2 RBI
Box Score
Matt Macri left Friday's game after he delivered a 2-run single to put the Twins up 2-0 in the third inning with a strained left calf. And then after Sunday's game, Macri was optioned back to Rochester to make room for Nick Punto as he comes off of the DL. Since arriving in Minnesota, Macri has hit .367 with 4 RBI's in 30 at bats. But still someone had to go down to Rochester and with Brian Buscher producing more. Buscher has hit .384 in just 26 at bats with 11 RBI's and has played great defense at third. Buscher has Buscher has just 12 RBI's less than Delmon Young and yet he has played only 10 games compared to Young's 72. Or even 17 RBI behind Joe Mauer's in 69 games.
Punto went 3-12 in his rehab all with the Ft. Myer's Miracle and will meet the Twins in his hometown of San Diego, California. He will likely see time at all the infield positions (besides first base) but will have to earn a starting spot in the lineup as the players currently at 2nd, shortstop, and third base are all playing very well right now.
Other Twins talk
I will be back later (around) with another Q&A. So make sure to stay tuned.
The Twins outscored Arizona 18-6 in the 3 game set with the Twins scoring at least 5 runs in each of the games. But the pitching is what won this series for the Twins. On Friday, Scott Baker went 6 strong innings and gave up 1 run on 7 hits while he struck out 7 batters. Baker's lone run allowed came on a solo home run from Mark Reynolds. On Saturday, Nick Blackburn went 7 innings of 1 run ball to pick up his 6th victory of the season. He threw 63 of his 89 pitches for strikes and gave up just 3 hits all night. And then on Sunday, Livan Hernandez turned in his 2nd strong performance in a row giving up just 3 runs (1 earned) in 7 innings while he struck out 5 batters.
On Offense, Brendan Harris continued to play well going 4-8 with 4 runs scored, 2 doubles and 2 RBI. He is now 8-16 since the 2nd game of the Washington series and 4 doubles, a triple, and 2 RBI. He's definitely zoned in at the plate right now which has played a vital part to the Twins success. Another middle-infielder who has played an important role in the Twins success this season is Alexi Casilla who went 5-12 with 2 runs and 3 RBI in the series. Those two have played solid defense and have been great at the plate, and as long as they continue to play well I don't see anyone biting into their playing time.
Friday's Game Ball
Scott Baker - Starting Pitcher
Line: 6 innings pitched, 7 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, 112 pitches, win
Box Score
Saturday's Game Ball
Nick Blackburn - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 3 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts, 89 pitches, win
Box Score
Sunday's Game Ball
Brian Buscher - Third Base
Line: 2-4, run, 2 RBI
Box Score
Matt Macri left Friday's game after he delivered a 2-run single to put the Twins up 2-0 in the third inning with a strained left calf. And then after Sunday's game, Macri was optioned back to Rochester to make room for Nick Punto as he comes off of the DL. Since arriving in Minnesota, Macri has hit .367 with 4 RBI's in 30 at bats. But still someone had to go down to Rochester and with Brian Buscher producing more. Buscher has hit .384 in just 26 at bats with 11 RBI's and has played great defense at third. Buscher has Buscher has just 12 RBI's less than Delmon Young and yet he has played only 10 games compared to Young's 72. Or even 17 RBI behind Joe Mauer's in 69 games.
Punto went 3-12 in his rehab all with the Ft. Myer's Miracle and will meet the Twins in his hometown of San Diego, California. He will likely see time at all the infield positions (besides first base) but will have to earn a starting spot in the lineup as the players currently at 2nd, shortstop, and third base are all playing very well right now.
Other Twins talk
- Ben Revere was out for 4 games after he "tweaked" his hamstring in batting practice. He returned to the Snappers lineup tonight and played DH. The 2007 first-round pick went 1-2 but was replaced by Ramon Santiago in the 5th inning. Not sure yet if it was injury related or not.
- John Sickel's "Controversial Prospect" post on Ben Revere.
- La Velle E. Neal III looks into the Twins' "Milwaukee Surge."
- Joe Christensen reports that Joe Mauer is now the American League leading vote getter for Catcher. Justin Morneau is 2nd for first baseman.
- Francisco Liriano was hit hard on Saturday, but a poster on Howard Sinker's site felt optimistic about the start and was there to watch it first hand.
I will be back later (around) with another Q&A. So make sure to stay tuned.
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