Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Quick Thoughts
Well, after posting throughout the weekend, I was hoping to come back with a posting of substance today. However, after not having internet connectivity problems in a couple of months, my internet was down from about 1:30 until 9:30 last night. So, today, it will be another quick summary of what happened in the Twins world on Monday, Labor Day. I hope everyone had a good, long weekend! For those of you in high school, or college, welcome back! Learn lots!
Congratulations to Twins farmhand Kevin Slowey. He and Team USA beat Panama yesterday to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. I'm sure it would be a great honor, but I am hoping that Slowey will not be playing for the US Olympic team in 2008. I hope he is in the Twins starting rotation.
Speaking of Kevin Slowey, the NFL "Experts" Picks will be back again this year. With the Thursday night game, I hope to have our picks posted by Thursday morning! You can feel free to use those picks as you wish. I know one strategy that you might want to use... don't copy my picks!!
For those Twins fans out there in North Dakota, John Sickels has a Prospect Retro on Travis Hafner, the montrous DH from Sykeston, ND.
As always, please feel free to e-mail me, or you could also leave Comments down below.
The Twins went down to Tampa Bay and began that series with a Labor Day afternoon game against the Devil Rays. Like the Royals, the D-Rays season is now all about playing the role of spoiler. The Rays have called up BJ Upton and Delmon Young to go with Rocco Baldelli and Carl Crawford. However, in yesterday's game, they started a lineup to consisted of Greg Norton as their cleanup hitter. Here are some thoughts on the game:
Bert Blyleven got a two game suspension for his unnecessary words used during the pre-game show on Sunday. I think if that is all Blyleven has to do, he will be quite lucky!
That will start tonight as for some inexplicable reason, the Labor Day afternoon game was not televised. Can anyone tell me why that makes sense? What do they expect people to do on Labor Day? Be outside on a nice day, rather than staying in to watch the Twins? Spend time at a lake cabin with family? I don't know, listen on the radio?
Seriously, I know that Rondell White has been a disappointment this year, but because of everything we have heard about him, it is nice to see him have a moment like yesterday. With the Twins down by a run in the 7th, White hit a two-run homer that comprised all of the Twins scoring on the day. He has been around a long time and has probably had a lot of big moments, but based on how little he has done this year, he has to feel pretty good about the blast.
The two runs were enough because Boof Bonser and three relievers combined to allow just one run. Bonser gave up a solo home run to catcher Dionner Navarro earlier in the game. In 6.1 innings, Bonser gave up just one run on five hits. Maybe most important, he walked none! He also struck out six. Jesse Crain struck out two of the four outs he got. Dennys Reyes again came in and got his batter out. Joe Nathan then recorded his 29th save with a perfect, two strikeout inning.
Tonight, the Twins will send their veteran starter, Johan Santana, to the mound to face righty Jae Seo. As has been the case for awhile now, Santana is pitching on the same night as Toronto's Roy Halladay. Both have an MLB leading 16 wins.
So, it's Santana and the Rookies. It's Santana and Bonser, Matt Garza, Scott Baker and, oh yeah, Carlos Silva, who is pitching like a rookie. Fortunately, for the most part of late, the actually rookies (yes, I know that Baker had a couple too many innings last year to still be a rookie) have been doing quite well. I know they're young, and I'm sure there'll be moments like Garza's against the Yankees on Sunday, but they are doing well. The Twins talk a lot about the depth of their pitching in the minor leagues. How many other teams in the big leagues would be in a position to place three young guys in their rotation now and continue to be competitive? And with the news that Francisco Liriano could be 10 days to two weeks from returning, that is only more exciting news!
Does anyone else have any thoughts on what the Twins are doing? I am baffled by how this team remains in playoff contention. It says a lot about something, but what? Ron Gardenhire? Rick Anderson? Joe Vavra? The players? I don't get it. What do you think?
Any other thoughts on the Twins, Devil Rays, White Sox, Tigers or anything baseball? E-mail me, or leave some Comments below.
Monday SethSpeaks Player of the Day - Garrett Jones, Rochester Red Wings
Monday SethSpeaks Pitcher of the Day - Nick Blackburn, Rochester Red Wings
ROCHESTER REPORT
Sunday - Red Wings 1, Scranton/Wilkes Barre 8 - Rochester really seems to just be doing some things to get ready for the International League playoffs. In this game, they used six pitchers. Peter Munro started and gave up three runs on six hits in three innings. Henry Bonilla gave up a run in two innings. Beau Kemp then threw a shutout inning. Levale Speigner gave up a run in 1.1 innings. Bobby Korecky gave up two runs in 1.1 innings. Matt Ford gave up a run in getting just one out. The offense managed just four hits on the game. Tommy Watkins and Quinton McCracken each had a double. Garrett Jones knocked his 21st homer.
NEW BRITAIN NEWS
Sunday - Rockcats 112, Harrisburg 3 (10) – If nothing else, Nick Blackburn can be very happy with his final two starts of the year. Last time out, he threw a complete game shutout. This time, he gave up two runs on six hits and no walks in eight innings. Jay Sawatski took the loss. In two innings, he gave up just the game winning run in the 10th. The Rockcats had just six hits. Garrett Guzman and Felix Molina each had a double.
FT MYERS MEMOS
Sunday - Miracle – No games scheduled in the Florida State League. Tonight, the playoffs will start. The Miracle will send righty Kyle Waldrop to the mound against the Dunedin Blue Jays.
BELOIT BITS
Sunday - Snappers 2, Peoria 0 (5-Rain) – Adam Hawes went the first three innings and despite two hits and two walks, he did not allow a run. Jose Cordero got the win as he threw two perfect innings. The Snappers got two runs with just three hits. Chris Parmalee went 0-0 with two walks. Terrance Patterson went 1-2 with two stolen bases, so he ends the year with 35 SBs.
Thanks again for stopping by this site. If you have any questions, comments or ideas for future postings, please e-mail me.