May 2, 2008

Weekend Preview

Adam Everett has been activated from the disabled list. To make room on the roster, the Twins sent Brian Buscher back to Triple-A Rochester. Everett has been out with a strained right shoulder since April 14th (he wasn't placed on the D.L. until the 19th). Prior to him hitting the DL, he was hitting .185 with just 1 extra-base hit in 28 at bats. He also committed 3 errors which was correlated with his bum shoulder, making horrible throws to first base.

Buscher, did not get to play very much. Just appearing in 3 games and going 2-8 at the plate. It would have been nice to see him in the lineup more often, especially with Mike Lamb struggling and they did take him from the struggling Red Wings, but it doesn't surprise me that he didn't play very often. The Twins seem to do that more often than not with their prospects that they promote, they get them up here, play them in a couple games and if they don't go 4-4 every game, they see their playing time diminish. They did that last year with Alexi Casilla and Garrett Jones.

Twins-Tigers Preview

The Twins open a 3-game series against the Tigers at the dome tonight. After starting the season 2-10, the Tigers are now 12-5 after they were awaken by the Twins in a two-game series in which they came back in the 8th inning to win in both. The Twins' bullpen has pitched very well since then, so hopefully they can keep the Tigers to limited damage throughout the next 3 games. Unfortunately, I think that Detroit's lineup is so powerful that if the bullpen can hold them to zero runs in the series, that it will be considered a miracle.
Friday: RHP Armando Galarraga (2-0, 1.50) vs. RHP Scott Baker (2-0, 4.50)
Saturday: RHP Justin Verlander (1-4, 6.50) vs. Livan Hernandez (3-1, 5.05)
Sunday: LHP Kenny Rogers (2-3, 6.75) vs. Boof Bonser (2-4, 3.75)

Down on the Farm

Hitter of the Day
Luke Hughes - Rock Cats - Designated Hitter
Note: I think that I've talked enough about Hughes in the last few weeks to know that he's completely raking in New Britain thus far. Last night, he went 4-5 and was just a double away from hitting for the cycle. He went deep for the 9th time this season in just 104 at bats, he had 9 in 315 at bats last season. Hughes came around to score a total of 4 times in the game and stole his 4th base of the season. He now has driven in 19 runs, while mostly hitting from the leadoff spot and now has a .375 average. Too bad the Red Wings have a plethora of older infielders with not a lot of upside because it probably has delayed Hughes' arrival in Rochester where they'd welcome his bat to help their dismal offense.

Pitcher of the Day
David Bromberg - Snappers - Starting Pitcher
Note: Bromberg has definitely had an up and down season in the Midwest League thus far after he dominated the Appalachian League last season for the Elizabethton Snappers. But yesterday he had his best game of the season, holding the Great Lakes Loons to just 1 run on 2 hits over 6 innings. He did walk 3, but he also struck out 9 to bring his season total to 34 K's in 30 innings. He still has control problems, but hopefully this is the kind of start that can get him going and hopefully become the pitcher for the Snappers like the one that played an integral role in Elizabethton's quest to win the Appy League.

Touch 'Em All!
  • Rochester Red Wings: None
  • New Britain Rock Cats: Hughes (9)
  • Ft. Myers Miracle: None
  • Beloit Snappers: None
Minor League Box Scores

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