Monday

Good Monday morning everyone! I hope everyone was able to enjoy their weekend. I have to start out by saying that I just don't know the frequency of posts this week, or the extent of the content. It is going to be a busy, interesting week for me. So, even for today, it is just going to be a very brief entry. Of course, part of the reason that today's posting is a little shorter is because after viewing Part 1of the Grey's Anatomy finale, I needed to let that soak in for awhile. I was expecting certain things to happen at the end of the show, setting up tonight's final show. However, that last eight minutes of the show was absolutely incredible! I can't wait to watch the final finale tonight!

But anyway, I will try to post a little something each night, but I am pretty much certain it will not be as lengthy as it normally tends to be. There is a good reason, and at some point, I may get into that.

Before you start today, please be sure to check out my Blogger's Moment that aired last Saturday on WCCO Radio's Twins Magazine Show before the Twins game. (When you open up that link, it will take several seconds before the sound starts playing. The reason is because the file is quite large. I would love to hear your thoughts on it, and there is a Comments section there as well)

And finally, Congratulations to Matt Garza, who did a Q&A here, on his promotion from Ft. Myers to New Britain! Next up... Kevin Slowey!???

The Twins and White Sox will play Game 4 of their series at noon today. The Twins won in a blowout Friday night, had an incredible come-from-behind win on Saturday, and then were come back on on National TV last night!! Today, they will try to win the series.

The Twins got a great start from Johan Santana in Friday's 10-1 win. He was on. He was throwing hard, throwing a great slider and mixing up his speeds and locations and all the while, he was hitting spots. When he is on, as he has been his last four starts, he is so fun to watch. Ten runs though? Well, again, it all starts at the top. The combination of Shannon Stewart, Luis Castillo and Joe Mauer went 7-13 with two walks, four runs and six RBI in the game. That is a good way to win.

We have all witnessed the Grand Awakening of Michael Cuddyer the last two or three weeks. As I was watching him bat, I just kept thinking that I had seen his new batting stance somewhere before. He is now bent more at the knees, and his hands are lower, almost at chest level, and moving just slightly. Saturday night, I finally figured out what it was. Cuddyer's new stance is very similar to that of the great Cal Ripken. Granted, Ripken did alter his stance frequently, but I am talking about the Ripken stance late in his career, the one he used in his final All-Star game to home off of Chan Ho Park.

Did you know that Rondell White, after that very slow start, is currently working on a 10 game hitting streak? In that stretch, he is 12-39 (.308). He's still hitting just .185, but he is doing much better.

Speaking of doing much better, Justin Morneau has been swinging a really good bat the last two or three weeks. After an 0-2 on May 6th, he was hitting .202. Since then, he is now on a seven game hitting streak. Over that time range, he has gone 11-28 (.393) with three homers and 12 RBI. Granted, two of the homers and six of the RBI came in one game, but nevertheless, Morneau has been swinging very well lately.

The Triple Play last night... What are the odds? I mean, Luis Castillo is a great bunter, so it is presumably safe to send the runners when he bunts (although I really see no reason for it). He pops it and the two runners are out too. Last night, Castillo was 0-4. However, in the first two games of the series, he was 3-5 in both games. He had two doubles and a homer as well. And last night, he made a couple of great defensive plays too.

That's really all I'm going to write on the Twins. Please be sure to check out the other excellent Twins blogs that I've linked to on the left of the screen. So, do you have any thoughts on the Twins/White Sox series, or the Twins in general? If so, please feel free to leave Comments below, or send me an e-mail.

Throughout the year, our friend "Roger" will be keeping tabs of the Twins minor leaguers again. This year, he is coming up with a minor league hitter and pitcher each week. Feel free to comment! And don't forget to check out his weekly minor league update at Twinkie Town.

Friday SethSpeaks Player of the Day - Jason Tyner, Rochester Red Wings

Saturday SethSpeaks Player of the Day - Denard Span, New Britain Rockcats

Sunday SethSpeaks Player of the Day - Jason Tyner, Rochester Red Wings

Friday SethSpeaks Pitcher of the Day - Pat Neshek, Rochester Red Wings

Saturday SethSpeaks Pitcher of the Day - Glen Perkins, New Britain Rockcats

Sunday SethSpeaks Pitcher of the Day - Ricky Barrett, Rochester Red Wings

Here are the weekend updates. If you have any thoughts on the Twins system, please e-mail me.

ROCHESTER REPORT

Friday - Red Wings 6, Buffalo 2 – Boof Bonser won his third game of the year. He went six innings and gave up two runs on three hits and four walks. He struck out eight. Ricky Barrett and Kevin Cameron pitched a shutout seventh inning before Pat Neshek came in for a two inning Save, his fifth of the season. He struck out two more in those two innings. Jason Tyner led the offense, going 3-5. The leadoff hitter scored four runs. Jason Bartlett went 2-5 with two doubles and an RBI. Jason Kubel was 2-5 with a double and three RBI.

Saturday - Red Wings 2, Syracuse 4 (6) – The Red Wings lost a rain-shortened, six inning game over Syracuse. Jason Tyner went 2-3 with a double. Jason Bartlett was 2-3 with his 15th double. Josh Rabe was 2-3 with his 8th double. Henry Bonilla pitched all five innings and gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks.

Sunday - Game 1 - Red Wings , Syracuse - JD Durbin won his second straight start to improve to 2-0. The righty went 5.2 innings and gave up three runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out six batters. Pat Neshek struggled. In 1.1 innings, he gave up three runs on two hits (both homers), but he did record his sixth save. Jason Tyner continued his great weekend with a 3-4 game. He had his fifth double. Jason Bartlett went 2-4 with his 16th double and two RBI. Jason Kubel went 2-4 with his second triple and third home run. He drove in four runs. Terry Tiffee was also 2-4.

Sunday - Game 2 - Red Wings 5, Syracuse 1 - Jason Tyner had an unbelievable weekend. In this game, he went 3-4 with a triple. Gil Velazquez went 1-3 with two RBI. Jason Hart was 1-2 with a walk and his second home run. Matt Ford got the start and gave up a run in four innings. Ricky Barrett went the final three innings to pick up the win. He didn't give up a run, and allowed just a hit and two walks.

TYNER SIDE NOTE - If you add it all up, Jason Tyner was 11-16 on the weekend. That is not too bad!

NEW BRITAIN NEWS

Friday - Rockcats-Connecticut – Rained Out.

Saturday - Game 1 - Rockcats 0, Connecticut 1 (11) – Another extra inning game for a Twins affiliate! I don't remember there being this many in the past. This was quite the pitcher's dual, and Glen Perkins held up his end of the bargain. The lefty went six strong innings. He gave up no runs on three hits and three walks while he struck out ten. Julio DePaula came in and went 2 shutout innings. Bobby Korecky went two shutout innings. But, after getting the first two hitters out in the 11th, there was an error followed by two singles to end the game. Matt Moses was the long Rockcat with multiple hits. He went 2-5.

Saturday - Game 2 - Rockcats 8, Connecticut 2 – The second game was Nick Blackburn's and he came out pitching very well again. He went all seven innings. He gave up two runs on three hits and two walks for the win. Denard Span led the offense with a 3-5 day. He drove in two and had a stolen base. Matt Moses went 2-4. Danny Matienzo was also 2-4 with a double. Tommy Watkins went 2-3 with a walk and two RBI.

Sunday - Rockcats, Connecticut – Rained Out.

FT MYERS MEMOS

Friday - Miracle 1, Daytona 3 – Jose Mijares made his second start and this time went 4.1 innings. He gave up three runs on four hits and a walk. He did strike out seven. Colby Miller finally got back into action. The righty went 2.2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and two walks. Chris Schutt went a scoreless frame as well. The Miracle had just four hits, but three of them were for extra bases. Garrett Guzman hit his fourth home. Trevor Plouffe and Kyle Geiger each hit doubles.

Saturday - Miracle 2, Daytona 9 – Matt Garza was due for a less-than-stellar start one of these days. There was much speculation that this could be his final Class A start. In this game, however, he went just five innings and gave up three runs on five hits. He walked four batters, which is unusual. He struck out four. Dan Powers threw the next two innings without allowing a run. JP Martinez gave up two runs in his inning, and then Josh Hill gave up four runs in one inning. Luke Hughes went 2-3 with a walk. Deacon Burns went 2-4.

Sunday - Miracle – No games scheduled in the Florida State League.

GARZA SIDENOTE - On Sunday, it was announced that Matt Garza was being promoted from Ft. Myers to New Britain. We knew it was just a matter of time. What I would ask you to do is compare his numbers on the left of this screen to those of Kevin Slowey's. Then tell me which one has been more dominant. That's not at all a slap at Garza, he has been amazing, but I have to wonder if Slowey may move up very soon too.

BELOIT BITS

Friday - Snappers 1, Kane County 8 –Ryan Mullins had a rough start. The lefty lasted just 3.1 innings and gave up six runs on six hits (2 homers) and two walks. Danny Vais gave up three hits, but no runs, in 1.2 innings. He struck out three. Alexander Smit went the next three innings and gave up two runs on two hits and two walks, but he struck out three. Frank Mata pitched a scoreless inning. Edward Ovalle had two of the Snappers six hits, including a double. Paul Kelly went 0-2, but he had three of the team's seven walks.
Saturday - Snappers, Kane County – Rained Out
Sunday - Game 1 - Snappers 0, Kane County 0 – Cougar's starter Jared Lansford was the story in this game. The pitcher walked five Snapper hitters, but in the seven innings, he gave up no hits. A no-hitter. Not much Eduardo Morlan could do to compete against that, so he did something about that. The Twins prospect went just 3.2 innings and gave up three runs on two hits and two walks before he was ejected. Yohan Pino gave up an unearned run in his 1.1 innings. Jose Lugo went two shutout innings.
Sunday - Game 2 - Snappers 2, Kane County 3 – Oswaldo Sosa recorded his third win of the season with 5.1 innings of work. He gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks. David Shinskie got his third save with 1.1 innings of relief. For the offense, Caleb Moore went 2-3. Juan Portes, Paul Kelly and Erik Lis each had a double. Lis drove in two runs.

Do you have any further thoughts on any Twins prospects, minor leaguers, or these summaries? I would love any input, or ideas to make it better. Thanks! E-mail me, or also feel free to leave comments below.

Welp, that is it for today. If you have any thoughts, opinions, comments, critiques, or ideas on anything, please e-mail me, or let's get a discussion going in the Comments.