Wednesday June 2, 2004

TWINS CRUSH D-RAYS

TWINS MINOR LEAGUE REPORT

TV THOUGHTS - Life After American Idol

MOVIE REVIEW - Raising Helen

FOR A LOOK AT MY ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY POSTING, CLICK HERE

Q&A with CJ Nitkowski, LH Pitcher, Atlanta Braves

TWINS RAMBLINGS

Please head over to The View from The Bleachers and vote in The World Series of Blogs! They have included SethSpeaks in the AL Central contendas.

TWINS CRUSH D-RAYS

Twins 16, Devil Rays 4 - The Twins got exactly what they needed, a big blow-out game where the result was never in question. The Twins just out to an early lead and Carlos Silva did well enough to keep the Twins ahead. It wasn't a very exciting game to watch, as most blowout games aren't. However, it is far better to be on this end of the blowout for once. Silva lasted seven innings and gave up just two runs on a homer by Tino Martinez.

The Twins on the other hand had plenty of hitting heroes last night. Corey Koskie went 2-4 with two homers (he now has 8), three runs and three RBI. Torii Hunter was 2-3 with a double, his 7th homer, three runs and an RBI. Michael Cuddyer and Cristian Guzman each had two hits, including a double. Henry Blanco also had 2 hits. Jacque Jones, feeling the pressure from Koskie and Hunter, launched his 10th home run fo the year. And Matthew Lecroy hit another pinch hit homer.

Just a couple of observations of note regarding the game...

First, does Corey Koskie's home run trot remind anyone of Kirk Gibson rounding the bases in the 1988 World Series? Seriously, he looks as though it literally pains him to have to jog that far after a blast. Problem is that maybe it really does.

Second, was anyone else disappointed in Carlos Silva? He threw 75 pitches through 7 innings. When Gardy came to talk to him, it appeared that Gardy asked Silva if he wanted to keep going. It looked like Silva was the one who decided he was done. Sure, he knows his arm better than anyone, BUT the Twins bullpen could have used a day off and with that pitch count, Silva could have provided that. Instead, Terry Mulholland had to throw two worthless innings.

Finally, we all knew that Justin Morneau was being sent down following the game, so why did he not play... again? I mean seriously, would it have killed the Twins to put his bat into that DH spot instead of Jose Offerman? Or, why could he not have had just a pinch hit opportunity in the 8th inning? Yeah, he was the lone position player on the bench who did not play. I know it is good to keep one option on the bench, in case of injury, but they had a 14 run lead. Someone gets hurt, you throw a pitcher in the field and you still win. I'm just incredibly frustrated by the Twins handling of prospects. Not just average prospects, but top 10 talent prospects like Morneau and Michael Cuddyer. It has taken Cuddyer 3+ years to finally be given a real shot at full-time duty. How long before Justin Morneau gets a chance? 2005? 2006? Or do they wait until 2007 when he has no more options as is the case with Cuddyer this season? Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the Twins and Terry Ryan and Ron Gardenhire are doing the nice thing, and keeping Justin Morneau in the minor leagues this season so that he can play for Team Canada in the Olympics in Greece in September?

THANK YOU BOBBY KIELTY - I don't know if you stayed up late enough, like I did, to watch the end of the White Sox/A's game on WGN. Well, when Jose Valentin hit a 2 out solo home run in the top of the 9th, the Sox had come back from down 4-0 and sent the game to extra innings. Neither team was able to score until the 12th inning. With Eric Byrnes on 1B, Bobby Kielty came up and launched a game-winning homer to win the game for the A's and Justin Duchscherer. It cut the Sox lead in the Central over the Twins to just 1 1/2 games. Kielty continues to crush the White Sox!

RIVAS TO THE MARINERS FOR BOONE?

Do you think there is any chance that this is true, that there could be talks going on? I just got an e-mail from Stephen from Mariners Wheelhouse. Here is what it said:

FYI - I did a piece on Rivas on my blog today that might interest you.
I suspect that Ryan is finally getting ready to move past Rivas - but I suspect it has as much to do with not wanting to go to arbitration with him. If he's smart, Ryan will dangle Rivas in front of the Mariners.
I suspect he could get Boone + huge chunk of cash (to pay about half of Boone's salary) for Rivas, one of OF/corner IF types, and a busted draft pick (such as Garbe).

So, what do you think? Could the Twins really get Bret Boone for Luis Rivas, Michael Restovich, BJ Garbe, and I'll even throw in Adam Johnson? If the Mariners are willing to take on a bunch of Boone's salary, can the Twins say no? Is this just a pipe dream? Check out Stephen's posting and let me know what you think.

The Twins continue their series with the Devil Rays today. Here are the matchups for the next two games:

Wednesday - 7:10 - Brad Radke (4-2, 3.52, 1.25, .293) vs Doug Waechter (2-5, 4.75, 1.22, .231)

Thursday - 12:10 - Johan Santana (2-3, 5.61, 1.49, .295) vs Mark Hendrickson (2-5, 5.27, 1.42, .287)

Any thoughts on what's going on with the Twins or what should happen with the Justin Morneau situation, or if the Twins should be looking to deal? What should they do? E-mail me.

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TWINS MINOR LEAGUE REPORTS

ROCHESTER REDWINGS

Game 1 - Redwings 8 vs. Toledo 0 - Rick Helling made his first AAA start and it was a good one. He threw a complete game (7 inning) shutout. He gave up four hits, walked one and struck out two. Augie Ojeda continues to hit well, going 2-3 with a walk. Josh Rabe was 2-3. Todd Dunwoody went 2-2 with a double and 3 RBI. 2B Ryan Owens was 1-1 with 2 walks. Joe Mauer went 1-4. Michael Restovich was 1-2 with a double and two walks. Terry Tiffee was 1-3 with a 2-run double.

Game 2 - Redwings 2 vs. Toledo 3 - The Redwings got a double header split after losing the second game. Matt Guerrier was pretty good, going 6 innings and giving up just one earned run (3 total runs) on 4 hits and 3 walks. His record now is just 3-5, but his ERA is a very solid 2.84. Joe Mauer DHed the second game and was 2-4 with a double. Terry Tiffee played 1B and went 2-3 with a walk, a double and 2 RBI. Luis Rodriguez went 2-2 with a double and a walk.

NEW BRITAIN ROCK CATS

Friday - Rockcats 2, New Hampshire 8 - Victor Moreno had his first bat outing of the year. In a start, he went 4 innings and gave up 7 hits and 6 walks. It accounted for 7 runs of which six were earned. Jason Richardson pitched the final 4 innings and gave up just a run on a hit and three walks. He struck out five. Garrett Jones went 2-2 with a triple and 2 RBI. Luis Maza and Kevin West each had a double.

FORT MYERS MIRACLE

Friday - Miracle 5, Tampa 3 (15 innings) - The Miracle had to play a lot of baseball to pick up the win. Francisco Liriano was impressive in the start. He went 6 2/3 shutout innings, giving up three hits and three walks. He struck out 8. Erik Lohse pitched 3 innings to pick up the win and improve to 2-2. Justin Olson recorded his 6th save with a one-hit 15th inning. Trent Oeltjen was 3-6 and stole his 15th base. Ron Perodin went 2-6. Jose Morales was 2-5 with two walks. Garrett Guzman was 2-6 with a triple and 2 RBI.

THE SWING OF THE QUAD CITIES

Swing 7, Clinton 2 - The Swing did not play yesterday. They start a series against Peoria tonight.

Any questions or comments on the Twins minor league system, e-mail me.

TV THOUGHTS

Are you like me and really not sure what to do or watch now that American Idol is done? Well, I found a great show to take its place in the Tuesday at 7:00 (central time) time slot. The WB has a new show called Summerland. Lori Loughlin of Full House fame stars and produces this summer show. She is a big-time fashion designer who lives with three others on the beach in California. Her sister, brother-in-law and their three kids are from Kansas. Just as she is about to move to Paris to further her career, she receives a call from her nephew. Her sister and brother-in-law were both killed in a weather-related accident. She and her roommates go to the funeral, where they find out that the children have been left to them. They move them to California and there are a lot of adjustments. The roommates to three kids being around. The kids to a new home and life without their parents.

Summerland has some situational comedy, but it is a good, emotional show. Aaron Spelling is another executive producer, so that may help tell you about this show. I just think it is going to be very good!

The WB also has a great show on Monday nights, right after the great show 7th Heaven, right now called Superstars. It is like American Idol, except the judges determine who advances. And, who advances is based on who is bad, not who is good. The judges (Briggs, Vitamin C and Tone Loc) praise the contestants in their own way. The contestants sing only for the judges so that they can't hear how good (or bad) the others are, and will continue to think they're good. It really is hilarious, and they are now down to four remaining contestants. So, check it out Mondays at 8:00 on The WB.

MOVIE REVIEW - RAISING HELEN

Kate Hudson plays Helen, a young fashion executive in a large model firm. She is headed for a career as an agent. She lives the big city, late-night, single life to a T. And then, her sister and her husband die and leave her with their three children. (I watched this on Sunday afternoon, before I had heard of Summerland. These storylines are somewhat similar.) She isn't sure totally why she is chosen. I mean, her other sister is already a stereotypical mother who would be much more ready and able to be a mom. But Helen decides that she will do as her sister wishes.

Again, this makes for some great comedy. Helen trying to adjust to her new life as a single mother of three. She wants to be their friends, but learns that it simply can not be the case, that she needs to be authoritative. I laughed at a lot of parts. I found it interesting that there were "Lutheran" jokes in the movie. I have noticed that most TV or movie religious discussion is "Catholic". But, Raising Helen deals with Lutheranism. She sends the kids to a Lutheran school and meets Pastor Dan, played by John Corbett (played Aidan on Sex in the City). There are even jokes about the differences between Catholic and Lutheran. As a Lutheran, I thought it was fun to see the jokes!

But to me, this was a great, incredible movie because it was so emotional! I mean, I was laughing much of it, but it was really tough to keep clear vision because of the water build-up in my eyes for a lot of it too. (Don't tell anyone)

I don't want to sound corny or anything, but I think this is one of the better movies I have seen in a long time. Kate Hudson is always wonderful (with the exception of Le Divorce, although the movie was awful, she was still good). John Corbett is great. You may remember Hayden Panettiere as Ally McBeal's daughter. Well, she plays the 15 year old daughter in this movie and is really great. The other two kids include a pudgy, yet intellectual boy with a great vocabulary, and a cutesy little girl.  They are all just wonderful in the movie.

Out of 5 stars, I would give this movie about 4.8, maybe even more. Check it out in a theatre near you. But, get there early. We went to a cinema with 5 other movies. We had every intention of watching Raising Helen, but because Shrek 2 was also in the theatre, the lines were huge. I want to see Shrek 2 really bad too. I loved Shrek! We talked about going to Mean Girls too, but again, the lines were too long, and the fact that Raising Helen was almost 2 hours long, we couldn't get into Mean Girls.

So there you have it, maybe review of the movie Raising Helen. It's a Must-See Moo-Vee!

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That is it for me for today. Have yourself a  a wonderful Wednesday! As always, if you have any questions or comments on anything, please e-mail me.

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