Friday, June 20, 2008

Happy Friday!

Good morning! It's Friday!! Finally. It has been a crazy, busy, tiring week, so nothing overly exciting leading into today's notes. It will be a fun weekend at the Dome, so if you get a chance, head to a game!

• Because of the busy-ness of the weekend ahead, I will be taking questions for Jeff Manship throughout the weekend and get them sent to him on Sunday night. So please take a minute, think of a good question for one of the Twins top prospects whether it be about his 2008 season, his goals, life in the minors, or whatever you like .
• Be sure to head over to Josh's Thoughts where he is posting another Q&A with a Twins minor leaguer. As of publishing this, it is not there, but Josh tells me it will be there on Friday... and no, he won't tell me who the subject of the Q&A is!
• Over the Baggy asks "What's Wrong with Boof?"
• Michael Cuddyer will not be playing on Friday. He will be at the hospital with his wife Claudia for the birth of their first child, a son named Casey. Congrats!

TWINS 9, NATIONALS 3

• The Twins got a much needed sweep. Yes, it was against a really bad team, with a really bad offense, but any sweep is exciting. It was also nice to see the Twins outscore a team 22-6.
• Glen Perkins gave the Twins eight innings on Thursday afternoon. That was really important. He gave up a couple of runs early and then just found a way to keep getting quick outs. Despite three runs on ten hits and a walk, he threw just 106 pitches in those eight innings. Craig Breslow got the final three outs, again without allowing a run.
• The Twins had 12 hits and added five walks to get their nine runs. Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Brian Buscher and Brendan Harris each had two hits in the game. Mauer is now hitting .335, tops in the AL.
• You all know I'm as high as anyone in the world on Jason Kubel, but how does he have three triples already this year?! He is not very swift, but he can flat-out hit!
• THIS IS ALL REPEATED FROM YESTERDAY, BUT IT WILL BE A GREAT WEEKEND IN AND AROUND THE DOME! Just a couple of other notes for the upcoming weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks:
• Friday night is Dan Gladden bobblehead game. The game will pit Scott Baker against future Hall of Famer, Randy Johnson.
• Saturday is the annual Twins autograph party out on the plaza. That is always a fun event. They are sold out of autograph cards, but there is still plenty to do at the event.
• Saturday afternoon, I will be attending the SBG Convention. I’m a big fan of the World’s Greatest Online Magazine, so I am really looking forward to the event. Following the picnic, we will be attending the game. Nick Blackburn will go against Micah Owings, and I would assume that he will hit for himself. I believe that last year when the D-Backs played in AL cities, Owings was their DH a couple of times. It would be great if Alex Romero can get some playing time too.
• At that Saturday night game, the Twins will induct Rick Aguilera into the Twins Hall of Fame. He is definitely deserving of the honor.
• I will also be at the Twins/Diamondbacks game on Sunday. Looks like I will get to see Brandon Webb, although, I will also have to see Livan Hernandez again. Oh well.
• And, if you will be attending any of the Twins home games in June, be sure to pick up your copy of Gameday magazine, sold outside the Metrodome by the folks in the red vests. I have an article in this month’s edition again.

Any other Twins thoughts?

Twins Minor League Updates

Thursday SethSpeaks Player of the Day – Sergio Santos, Rochester Red Wingss
Thursday SethSpeaks Pitcher of the Day – Mike McCardell, Beloit Snappers

ROCHESTER REPORT
Thursday – Rochester 9, Indianapolis 3 – Brian Duensing improved to 4-6 after this game. He gave up two runs on six hits and three walks in seven innings. He struck out five. Tim Lahey gave up a run on three hits in two innings. Sergio Santos went 4-5 with his 20th double. Trevor Plouffe went 2-4 with a walk, his first AAA double and three runs scored. Darnell McDonald went 2-5 with his 10th homer. Alejandro Machado went 2-3 with a triple and three RBI. Denard Span went 2-4 with a walk and his ninth double.

BONUS - When the Twins claimed Sergio Santos off waivers from the Blue Jays, he was hitting just .183. He is now hitting .237 thanks to a pretty strong stretch. In his last 11 games, he has gone 18-45 (.400). At a listed 6-3, 230 pounds, he provides the Twins with an alternative at the shortstop position to the little guys like Nick Punto, Adam Everett and Matt Tolbert. By the way, Denard Span has gone 8-12 with three walks in the three games since he came off the DL. 

NEW BRITAIN NEWS
Thursday – New Britain 4, Portland 10 – It was the AA debut of Jeff Manship and I have a feeling that he probably isn't real happy with it. He gave up six runs (5 earned) on eight hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out six. Jason Miller threw the final four innings and gave up four more runs on six hits and two walks. Felix Molina went 3-4. David Winfree and Brian Dinkelman each went 2-4. Erik Lis hit his seventh homer.

BONUS - Recall the Red Sox minor leaguers mentioned in Johan Santana trade rumors this past offseason? One name that we really didn't hear much about was Michael Bowden. He was the name I kept saying that I wanted the Twins to get, along with Jacoby Ellsbury or Jon Lester, Jed Lowrie, etc. Well, after this game, Bowden is now 6-3 with a 2.20 ERA. Very impressive. Well, the guy that was actually mentioned, Justin Masterson, has also done well in AA... and is 4-1 with the Red Sox in three call ups to their team. Impressive! That's why the Red Sox will contend for championships for a long time!  

FT MYERS MEMOS
Thursday – Miracle 5, Sarasota 3 – Alex Burnett had another quality start and improves to 6-2 with a 3.40 ERA. In seven innings, he gave up three runs on six hits. He walked none and struck out four. Oswaldo Sosa gave up a hit and a walk in one relief inning. He struck out two. Anthony Slama struck out the side in the 9th for his 14th save. Wilson Ramos went 2-4. Steve Singleton hit his first home run for the Miracle. Nick Punto led off, played SS and went 1-4. Alexander Smit started for Sarasota and gave up five runs on five hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out six.

BELOIT BITS
Thursday – Beloit 3, Peoria 1 – Mike McCardell has now put together a few really good starts in a row following his time on the DL. Another good start or two and he should be considered for a spot in the Ft. Myers rotation. In this game, the righty gave up just one unearned run on four hits and a walk in six innings. He struck out six. Charles Nolte went the final three innings to get the win and improve to 3-1. He did not allow a run. It is great to see Paul Kelly back in the lineup too. He was batting third and playing SS. He went 2-2 with a walk. Estarlin de Los Santos went 2-3 with his first homer and second stolen base. Joe Benson went 1-3 with a walk.      

ELIZABETHTON EXTRAS
Thursday – E-Twins 7, Bluefield 1 – Dan Berlind and Brad Tippett started the first two games. They were able to go five innings because they have been pitching with Beloit already. In this game, 2008 draft pick Dan Osterbrook made the start and went just the first three innings. He gave up a run on five hits. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter. Thomas Wright came in and got the win by throwing three shutout innings. Jarrad Eacott struck out two in two shutout innings. Danny Rondon threw the final inning. Jeanfred Brito was in LF in this game and went 2-5. Michael Harrington went 1-2 with two walks, his first double and two RBI. Danny Rams had a double and two RBI. 

GCL TWINS TALK
Thursday – GCL Twins 3, GCL Pirates 2 – The GCL season got underway and the Twins picked up a nice win. When reading the GCL updates, you will notice that I will frequently point out where players are from because this is definitely a melting pot team with players from all around the globe. Martire Garcia (Dominican Republic) started. In four innings he gave up a run on six hits. He walked none and struck out four. Australian Elliot Biddle gave up a run on four hits in one inning. Mauro Schiavoni is from Argentina. He gave up just one hit in 1.1 innings. Kentucky native Steven Blevins got the final five outs. Reggie Williams is a guy to watch in 2008. The 2007 draft pick signed too late to play last year. In his debut, he went 2-4 with a double and a triple. 2008 pick Daniel Ortiz also tripled.

Have a great Thursday!

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