Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Real Quick Notes
Hey everyone! Good morning! I am going to be real quick today as I have to be on the road in the morning by 5:45 a.m. Seriously! That's absolutely crazy. I am going to spend the next two days in Fargo for work. I will try to post a couple of quick blogs over the next couple of days if information needs to be told or I happen to have some extra time, so please be sure to check back.
Went to the movie Hancock last night at the Eden Prairie Mall. Did you know that tickets are half price during the week?! What a great idea! And seriously, buttered popcorn at the theatre is just so good. Speaking of good... the movie was excellent. That is completely not the type of movie that I would go to or enjoy, but I really did. I has about the right combination of humor, action, drama and emotion to be just a really fun movie to watch. I would recommend it. Seems that for every movie you hear good things and bad things. I had heard both for this one, but it's really to each his own. That's why I don't pay much attention to what others think. Will Smith is excellent. Jason Bateman was actually really good. And well, Charlize Theron is Charlize Theron! Check it out if you get a chance!
I got into the car to head home just as the Twins game finished. The Twins lost 1-0. Sounds like Scott Baker was excellent again. I continue to be impressed by him. I know when he first came up, he was compared to Brad Radke. I recall saying that he had the poise. He actually threw a couple mph more than Radke, and his curveball is significantly better than Radke's. Baker's changeup is still not quite to Radke-level, but it's a very good big league pitch. I've said 150 wins for Kevin Slowey, and I happen to think that Baker is right there with him!
I am one who considered the Boston Red Sox the class of the big leagues, and Daisuke Matsuzaka is excellent, if he only threw more strikes. They run things well. They actually think a lot like the Twins in terms of building from within and player development. Their 2005 draft was absolutely remarkable with Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden all a part of it. So, a 1-0 loss is not a horrible thing. It really tells us that the Twins are quite good.
For some really good points on the Twins game, please check out Andrew's thoughts at TwinsFix.
I think I am glad I didn't watch though for one reason. Jason Kubel was 1-2 with a walk in the game. Then he was scheduled to bat with the bases loaded and one out in the 8th inning. Joe Mauer had singled and Justin Morneau had walked in front of him. Gardy decided, for some unknown reason that is incomprehensible to me, to pinch hit Craig Monroe for him. Monroe came up and popped out, essentially ending the Twins scoring opportunity. Would Kubel have come through? We don't know. There is no way of knowing that. I think that he has earned the right to get that chance. I don't care if a lefty is on the mound, and I don't care if Monroe was brought in to hit lefties. He would not pinch hit for Justin Morneau or Joe Mauer against a lefty, would he? And no, I'm not quite putting Kubel into their category, but again, he's proven enough to get that opportunity. Thank you to "Pete" for mentioning this situation to me. He added, "You don't pinch hit for your third best hitter." Very true! Thanks for the note, Pete and thanks for making me irate now. I am glad I didn't see that! Let's talk about the minor leaguers!!
Rochester lost 7-3 to Charlotte. Garrett Jones had three hits including his 9th home run. Jason Pridie had two hits including his 10th triple. Ryan Jorgensen had two hits including a double. Danny Graves gave up three runs on seven hits and no walks in six innings. I am one who believes he should move back to the bullpen as that is his hope to get back to the big leagues. However, I just don't see anyone in AA or AAA right now who would be better.
New Britain lost 5-3 to Connecticut. Brian Dinkelman, Brock Peterson and Erik Lis each had two hits. Zach Ward made another start and gave up two runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings.
Ft. Myers lost 5-2 to Vero Beach. Tyler Robertson took the loss as he gave up five runs (just one earned) on five hits and three walks in four innings. Jose Lugo threw three shutout innings. Then, according to the box score at least, Danny Santiesteban came in and pitched a 1-2-3 inning, including two strikeouts. Intriguing! Yangervis Solarte had two hits. Steve Singleton had a two, a double and two RBI.
Beloit's game against Wisconsin was rained out. Elizabethton did not have a game scheduled.
The GCL Twins gave the organization its lone win of the day, a 12-1 win over the GCL Red Sox. Alex Curry threw six shutout innings. He gave up just one hit and one walk. Herbert Lara, Anderson Hidalgo, Josmil Pinto and Juan Sanchez each had three hits. Sanchez had two doubles, Lara and Pinto each had one. Michael Gonzalez hit a home run and drove in three runs.
Over the weekend, Travis posted his Quarterly Top 50 Prospect list.
I was looking at MLBTradeRumors.com tonight and saw that the Dodgers are Targeting Jack Wilson. They are apparently OK with the fact that he is owed more than $7 million next year and has an option for more than $8 million in 2010. Jack Wilson has been hurt most of this year and isn't very good anyway. His defense, while once very good, is now average at best. The article goes on to say that the Dodgers may be willing to part with OF Matt Kemp... for Jack Wilson?! I think that the Twins should offer up Nick Punto to the Dodgers and see if they could get Andy LaRoche or why not ask for Clayton Kershaw. I realize there are plenty of questions around Kemp, but we are still talking about Jack Wilson!
Hope you all have a good day!!