Thursday Night, May 15, 2008

Thursday Game Notes

Just a few quick notes this afternoon. I’m working on another minor league report, but maybe it’ll wait until tomorrow, or next week or something. I had a couple of vacation days from work, and I’m really trying to stay away from the computer too. So, I apologize for some of the brevity, but I don’t think you have to worry too much about any impending slow down. Have a great weekend!

By the way, be sure to check out the other Twins blogs that I’ve linked to on the left. There is a lot of great content out there!

Twins 2, Blue Jays 3 

• Being at the ball park is always a great time! Being there with a two year old who wants to run-run-run… still fun, but a lot more work!
• Being at the game when Carlos Gomez, Joe Mauer and Mike Lamb are out of the lineup is really unfortunate!
• Justin Morneau is absolutely crushing the ball. Early in the game, he came up with a runner or two on and hit a long ball that was about 3 feet foul. Since the game was not on TV, many may not have seen that. However, it just keeps going back to the ‘game of inches’ thinking. Would have been an entirely different game.
• Jason Kubel had a couple more hits, although I wouldn’t say that they were hit particularly hard.
• Kubel probably got yelled at a bit in the clubhouse after being thrown out at the plate on a Justin Morneau bloop double. The ball landed perfectly between the SS and the LF and bounced away. Gardy said that Scott Ullger was waving Kubel around third but then clearly put his arms up to hold him. Kubel put his head down and just went, maybe not even seeing the coach, or at least not able to stop once he did. The coaching staff may blame Kubel a little there. However, they can and should also take a look in the mirror. Late innings, DH gets on base. Extra base hitter up. Close game. Alexi Casilla and Carlos Gomez on the bench. Hmmm… might have made some sense to pinch run in that situation. (Note – when the same scenario happened in the 10^th inning, Casilla pinch ran.)
• Carlos Gomez was out with ‘flu-like symptoms.’ I read he wasn’t feeling well and didn’t sleep much the night before. He came into the game later. Was anyone else thinking day game after a night game… maybe young Carlos wasn’t feeling well BECAUSE he didn’t sleep much the night before. Seems a little curious. Maybe he hung out too much with Luis Castillo in New York last year too!
• Maybe watching him in person is more frustrating than on TV, but seriously, Delmon, take a pitch, just, once in a while. Get a good pitch to hit, especially with runners on base and in a close game.
• Scott Rolen made one of the more amazing catches I have seen live.
• Craig Monroe, playing CF for Gomez, made a pretty remarkable play himself. On a line drive he came in and sprawled out to catch the ball. He got up and threw out the runner from first who was around second base already.

Any other thoughts on the Twins?

Twins Minor League Updates

Thursday SethSpeaks Player of the Day – Erik Lis, New Britain Rockcats
Thursday SethSpeaks Pitcher of the Day – Tyler Robertson, Ft. Myers Miracle

ROCHESTER REPORT
Thursday - Red Wings 1, Columbus 3 – Well, Denard Span didn’t homer, but he did have two of the Red Wings six hits, and he walked once. Francisco Liriano had his best start of the year in this one. The lefty threw just 93 pitches in eight innings. He gave up three runs on seven his, but probably most importantly, he walked just one. He struck out four, but clearly there is a plan in place here. Let’s get him to work on throwing strikes. Let him see that just throwing strikes can make a pitcher relatively successful. Coupled with the better control, it sounds like Liriano was throwing a little harder too. In time, the strikeouts will increase. But, I do think it is vitally important that the Twins are extremely patient with The Franchise. Make sure he puts together a group of these types of starts or better before rushing him back.

NEW BRITAIN NEWS
Thursday - Rockcats 2, Binghamtom 5 (11 innings) – I think it is fair to say that Erik Lis is on a tear! He had two more doubles a day after he hit three doubles. He went 4-5 on the day. Trevor Plouffe was 2-4 with a walk and his third stolen base. Steve Tolleson went 2-5 with three stolen bases. Toby Gardenhire went 2-5 as well. Luke Hughes was back in the lineup and leading off… and he started right where he left off, with his 10^th home run. Errol Simonitsch had an appearance in Ft. Myers and this was his first AA start in a while. The tall lefty gave up five runs (4 earned) on eight hits and two walks in five innings. Kyle Aselton then gave up a run on four hits in 1.1 innings. Armando Gabino threw 2.2 shutout innings in relief. But Ben Julianel took the loss by giving up a run on two hits and a walk in his 1.1 innings.

FT MYERS MEMOS
Thursday - Miracle 6, Tampa 5 (10 innings) – Tyler Robertson had arguably his best start of the season. He gave up three runs on six hits in seven innings. He struck out nine and more importantly, he walked none. Jose Lugo came in and struck out the side in the eighth. Rob Delaney gave up two runs on three hits in the 9^th to blow the save. But Frank Mata got the win with a shutout inning in the 10^th. Johnny Woodard went 2-4 with his seventh double and first triple. Danny Berg was 2-3. Whit Robbins went 2-4.

BELOIT BITS
Thursday - Snappers 2, Clinton 4 – Dan Berlind started and gave up three runs (2 earned) on five hits and a walk in 4.1 innings. Steve Hirschfeld came in and struck out two in 3.2 shutout innings. Loek Van Mil allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk in an inning. Ben Revere kept his average about the same with a 2-5 day. He hit his fourth double. Ben Petsch went 2-3. Joe Benson hit his ninth double and stole his 10^th base.

Have a great weekend!

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