Monday Night, May 19, 2008
Monday Game Notes
Welcome to the Twins, Howie Clark!! How does that feel?! Mitchell WHAT? Who cares? (Note - if you didn't see the end of that game, you missed a great game, very exciting... Howie Clark drilled a liner over the head of the drawn in - because Carlos Gomez was on 2B - Josh Hamilton in CF for the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the 12th inning. A side note, Livan Hernandez was in the on-deck circle.)
Now that was a long Twins game. I was pretty much ready to post this before the end of the 9th inning of the Twins/Rangers marathon. I will shortly be posting my Minor League Report, so be sure to check back.
I'm not a big believer in the term "clutch player." I am a huge believer in the phrase "Clutch situation." How clutch was Bobby Korecky tonight? He came in with one out and the bases loaded in a tie game in the top of the 11th inning and got a pop up and a strike out of Michael Young to end the inning. Then with one out in the bottom of the 11th, he came through with his first big league hit! He also threw a 1-2-3 12th inning for the win.
Speaking of "clutch," how about Justin Morneau taking a called third strike, right down the middle with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 11th? Michael Cuddyer made the third out on a fielder's choice, but all Morneau had to do was get the ball to the outfield and the Twins would have won right then.
That said, it would be nice if Cuddyer could do anything productive at the plate these days. He didn't look bad at all in CF though!
You want 'clutch', how about Joe Mauer getting a big two-out single in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game. He also walked to put Morneau into the game winning situation.
How sweet was it to see Alexi Casilla drill a big three run homer earlier in the game? It was his first big league home run. The still-very-young, very-much-maligned Casilla gave the Twins a 4-2 lead with a long home run over the baggy in right. He also made a couple of nice plays in the field.
Brendan Harris started the game as the team's DH, and after some lineup maneuvering, he ended up playing SS in the late innings. He had a big game, picking up three hits.
Delmon Young continued his extra base streak with a triple.
The game was long, so maybe you don't remember, but Boof Bonser started the game. Although his pitching line doesn't show it, he really pitched very well. He gave up a first inning, solo homer to Josh Hamilton, one of baseball's hottest hitters. He also gave up a solo homer to Ian Kinsler. But then he was excellent until the 7th inning when he gave up a two run single to Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Of course, it shouldn't have got to that point. One batter earlier, Bonser got exactly what he needed, a double play ball. With a runner on first, he got a ground ball back to himself. But instead of setting himself and making a good, strong throw to 2B for the first out, he threw it too quickly and hurriedly and made a bad throw meaning the inning would continue. But let's just say he makes that play, Bonser goes seven innings of two run ball. That is how you really should look at the start.
I can't help but agree with Howard Sinker's posting yesterday, where he basically was saying that the Twins needed to drop someone, make a transaction, cut a veteran, and his suggestion was Juan Rincon. I commented that I couldn't agree more. Rincon has been dead weight for two years or more. He's making $2.5 million this year. If they release him, they're on the hook for all of that amount. Sure, it would be nice to trade him for a rookie league level middle reliever, but I can't imagine a team in the big leagues that would want him. I would like to see them release Rincon and call up Danny Graves. I have had people from a couple of the levels he has pitched at tell me that he works hard and has a great attitude. He isn't an All-Star like he once was, but his velocity has improved since earlier this year and he gets a lot of movement on his pitches, many of which sink. It just makes too much sense.
Dennys Reyes gave up another big hit for the second straight day. Jesse Crain had a good comeback game.
Any other thoughts on the Twins or this game? Hopefully you were able to stay awake for the whole game!
Twins Minor League Updates
Monday SethSpeaks Player of the Day – Randy Ruiz, Rochester Red Wings
Monday SethSpeaks Pitcher of the Day – Jay Rainville, Ft. Myers Miracle
ROCHESTER REPORT
Monday - Game 1 - Red Wings 0, Syracuse 5 – This was actually the
completion of yesterday's game in Cooperstown that was rained out with the
bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 2nd. Kevin Mulvey had
left the bases loaded, and Heath Totten came in where they left off.
He immediately gave up a two run single before getting the inning's final
out. Totten went two more innings and gave up one more run. Then Ricky
Barrett came in and gave up a run on one hit and three walks, although
he struck out four, in two innings. Casey Daigle threw two shutout
innings. Matt Macri was back in the lineup, batting third and playing
2B. He went 2-4. Jose Morales went 2-3.
Monday - Game 2 - Red Wings 7, Syracuse 6 – Because of the first game, the second game today was scheduled for seven innings (as all minor league double headers are). They needed one more inning to decide this one. In the top of the 8th, it was a Randy Ruiz sacrifice fly that scored Tommy Watkins who got on with a walk and advanced to third on a Matt Macri double. Ruiz went 2-4 in the game with his 11th double, third home run and four RBI. Chris Basak went 3-4. Watkins walked three times in the game. Brian Buscher was 1-2 with two walks and was hit by a pitch. Brian Duensing started and gave up three runs in five innings. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out two. Julio DePaula gave up two runs on two hits and a walk, and he got just one out. Tim Lahey came in and allowed the tying run, but ended up getting the win when the Red Wings went back ahead. Carmen Cali recorded the save with a scoreless 8th inning.
NEW BRITAIN NEWS
Monday - Rockcats 5, Harrisburg 1
– This is just what Jay Rainville needed, a great start after
struggling so much. Rainville went seven innings and gave up just an
unearned run. He gave up just three hits. Most importantly, he walked
none and struck out eight. Zach Ward struck out two in two
shutout innings to drop his ERA to 0.32. Trevor Plouffe led the
offense, going 3-4 with his tenth double. Six other Rockcats had one hit
a piece, and four of those had a double. Luke Hughes hit his
third triple. For those interested, the starting pitcher for Harrisburg
was former Twins prospect Tristan Crawford. He gave up five runs
on eight hits in 5.1 innings. Levale Speigner also threw an
inning for the Senators. He is yet to allow a run through five games
with the team in eight innings.
FT MYERS MEMOS
Monday
- Miracle 2, Jupiter 4 – Alex Burnett
started and gave up four runs (3 earned)
on nine hits in six innings to take the loss. He walked none and struck
out four. Frank Mata and Danny Hernandez each threw a
shutout inning of relief. The Miracle managed just six hits. Edward
Ovalle went 2-4 with his fifth triple. Danny Berg was 1-3
with a walk and an RBI.
BELOIT BITS
Monday - Snappers 6, Clinton 5 –
In a three run top of the 9th, Steve Singleton drove in a run
with a single but then two runs scored on an error to give the Snappers
the win. Ben Revere and Garrett Olson led the way, each
going 3-4 in the game. Revere had a double and drove in two runs. Olson
stole two bases. Michael Tarsi started and gave up four runs on
nine hits and four walks. Three of the hits were home runs. Brad
Tippett got the final outs of the sixth inning. Then Mike
McCardell made his first appearance since April 20th and got the
win. He did give up a run in his two innings of work, on a solo home
run. He walked two and struck out five. It will be good to see him get
back in the rotation. Spencer Steedley gave up two hits and a
walk, but did not allow a run in the ninth to record his third save.
I'll be back shortly with a Minor League Report!
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