Monday Night, March 3, 2008
Quick Notes
Hey ya'll, I'm actually working on another project right now and need to take a little bit of time with it. I will update you more on it as time is appropriate. Thanks to those of you who responded to my question yesterday. I really appreciate it. Today, just a couple of quick notes on the Twins and former Twins. I'll be back tomorrow. If you have other stories or articles that we should link to, please e-mail me or put them in the Comments below.
TWINS NOTES
Chris Basak, who has zero chance of making the Twins roster, certainly made a name for himself in the Twins clubhouse this afternoon. The utility infielder, who was playing LF in the game, hit a walk-off two run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Twins an 8-6 spring win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Randy Ruiz, whose chance at sticking with the Twins might be within percentage points of Basak's, hit a home run in the 9th inning. It was his second of two hits.
Imagine a lineup with Carlos Gomez and Alexi Casilla hitting one-two. In this game, Casilla had two stolen bases and Gomez had one. That is a lot of speed, and they could wreak a lot of havoc on the base paths in front of Mauer, Young, Cuddyer and Kubel! That would be a lot of fun to watch!
Jesse Crain gave up a run and threw 25 pitches in one inning. Nothing too exciting about that except for the fact that it was his fist outing of the spring after missing much of the 2007 season. The fact that he was on the mound in a game and felt fine after the game is a good thing. That's what is important there.
Baseball Musings takes a look at the Twins starting rotation. Check it out!
FORMER TWINS UPDATES
Monday Games
Javier Valentin went 1-2 and caught for the Reds. Juan Castro went 0-2 and played SS for the Reds.
Garrett Guzman (LF) and Chad Moeller (C) each went 0-1 in a backup role for the Nationals. Tristan Crawford gave up two runs (1 earned) on four hits. In two innings he struck out four.
Shannon Stewart went 0-3 as the Blue Jays lead off hitter and left fielder. Brian Wolfe struck out one in 1.2 perfect innings.
Aaron Fultz gave up two runs on a hit and two walks in two innings for Cleveland.
Luis Rivas went 1-3 and started at 2B for the Pirates.
JC Romero gave up a run on three hits in one inning. He struck out one.
Chris Heintz went 0-1 in his pinch hit at bat.
Terry Tiffee went 0-1 as the Dodgers backup 3B. Danny Ardoin caught an inning or two.
Jason Bartlett had a double in two at bats and started at SS for the Rays. Matt Garza gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. He was relieved by Grant Balfour who got the next four outs and gave up two hits and a walk.
Gil Velazquez went 0-1 in his at bat for the Red Sox and came in at shortstop. Bobby Kielty went 0-3 as the team's starting RF.
Tim Lahey gave up a hit but not runs in his shutout inning. He struck out one.
A couple days after hitting a double and a homer, Torii Hunter went 2-3 with a single and a triple for the Angels.
Luis(!) went 2-2 with four RBI as the Padres 2B.
Alex Romero went 0-1 while playing LF for the Diamondbacks. Trent Oeltjen singled in his pinch hitting appearance.
Enjoy your day!