Tuesday, June
16, 2009
Off Day Report
The Twins enjoyed an off day on
Monday. With the injury situation, it was much needed. The Twins hope to get
healthy both physically and in terms of working their way above the .500 mark against
the two lowest teams in the six-team NL Central Division. Here are the pitching
matchups for the three games with the Pirates:
Tuesday – 7:10 - Glen Perkins (1-3, 5.36, 1.32, .270) vs Paul Maholm (4-2, 3.61, 1.31, .253)
Wednesday – 7:10 – Francisco Liriano
(2-7, 5.99, 1.54, .277) vs Ian Snell (1-7, 5.25, 1.61, .284)
Thursday – 12:10 – Nick Blackburn (5-2, 3.31, 1.30, .264) vs Zach Duke
(7-4, 3.10, 1.17, .263)
·
Last
night’s SethSpeaks.net Weekly Minnesota Twins Podcast was a lot of fun, with some good guests. If you’re
able, please click here to listen to it and then give me your thoughts:
1. The show started with spending about 25 minutes with Phil Miller, the Twins beat writer for
the St.
Paul Pioneer Press. We talked about all of the top Twins stories right
now from Glen Perkins starting, to
what to do with Jesse Crain. We
talked about the middle infield, the Outfield situation, and the upcoming home stand.
Miller is always great to listen to.
2. Next, Matt Fox,
a right-handed starter for the AA New Britain Rockcats
called in. He is currently 5-2 with a 2.64 ERA and is really a great story
within the organization. After being a supplemental first
round pick out of Central Florida in 2004, he had Tommy John surgery in
2005 and missed that entire season. He came back in 2006 with Elizabethton and
has moved up a level each year, seemingly getting better and better. I think he’s
ready to move to AAA, and I think he has to be considered someone who could be
promoted to the Twins within the next year.
3. Finally, Ronnie
Richardson called in and we spent four or five minutes getting to know him.
He was the Twins 11th round pick out of high school in Florida. He
is small, but incredibly quick and has a very quick bat. He fell to the 11th
round due to signability concerns. But it was really
fun talking to him about some of the factors that will go into his decision to
sign with the Twins or go to Central Florida.
4. I definitely encourage your comments regarding the
podcasts. I am curious what you like or don’t like about the show. What you
would like to hear on a Twins related podcast, maybe some potential guests to
pursue, whatever ideas you have. So, if you would like, please e-mail
me your comments.
·
I mentioned that
I was in-studio on Sunday night with Phil
Mackey at KFAN recording this
week’s episode of Twins Weekly. Now,
if you go to the
Twins Weekly On Demand page, you can listen to or download the entire
June 14th show. Please do, and let me know what you think.
·
The Twins have
already signed a few of their 2009 draft picks. The biggest name and highest
draft selection signed to this point is Gophers
2B Derek McCallum who was their 4th round pick. He will
likely go to Elizabethton to start his pro career and primarily play second
base. However, I have been told that it is likely he will also get some time at
shortstop. LaVelle adds that the team may be close to
signing second round pick Billy Bullock
as well. Bullock is really an exciting potential bullpen arm. He only recently
transitioned to the bullpen. His fastball is now being clocked at 97 and 98 mph
with a slider that continues to improve. 6th round pick, Tobias Streich,
a catcher from West Virginia University known for being a very good defensive
catcher, signed and is already in Ft. Myers. Another catcher, 30th
rounder, Trayvon Johnson also signed and reported.
·
Nick Nelson
discusses the amazing
Joe Mauer a day after talking about his trip
to Wrigley.
·
Very
Well Then explains to us that Joe
Mauer is already leading the American League in
Batting Average despite being 21 plate appearances short of 3.1 per Twins game.
·
MINOR LEAGUE REPORT
Monday -
SethSpeaks.net Hitter of the Day – Steve Singleton, Ft. Myers Miracle
Monday -
SethSpeaks.net Pitcher of the Day – David Bromberg, Ft. Myers Miracle – Jason Jones,
Rochester Red Wings
TRANSACTIONS AND NOTES
·
This may be a
little old news, but with Wilson Ramos
back on the Disabled List, Danny Lehmann
has been sent to AA New Britain. With Jose Morales with the Twins, Drew Butera
is the lone catcher at AAA, so that may be worth watching.
·
What was your
favorite Henry “Hank” Sanchez
moment? His 50 game suspension for a Drug of Abuse
ended yesterday, and so did his career in the Minnesota Twins organization.
Injuries and strikeouts would probably be the words that most encapsulate his
career since the Twins made him a supplemental first round pick in 2005. Add in
the 50 game suspension and the word “Bust” certainly
applies. Maybe he’ll find his way somewhere else, but this was an easy
decision, I would guess, for the Twins brass.
·
Chris Parmelee will participate in the Florida State League All-Star
Game Home Run Derby this weekend.
·
Travis continues
to work on his Top 50 Twins prospect list. Here are his
choices for numbers 21-30.
ROCHESTER REPORT
Monday –Rochester 4, Columbus 2 – Jason Jones has really been struggling most of this season, but
on this day, he pitched very well to earn his second win of the season. He
threw 6.1 shutout innings. He gave up seven hits with one walk. Juan Morillo
got the next four outs (two on strikeouts). Rob Delaney gave up a run on two hits but got the final four outs
to record his first AAA save. Brock
Peterson went 3-4. David Winfree went 2-4 with his 16th double. Matt Macri
hit a big two run homer. It was his sixth home run of the season.
ROCKCAT RECAP
Monday – New Britain – No
Game Scheduled.
MIRACLE MEMOS
Monday – Ft. Myers 1, Dunedin 2 –
David Bromberg was excellent again,
but there was not enough run support and poor defense in the bottom of the 9th
meant a loss. Bromberg threw 6.1 shutout innings. He gave up just three hits,
walked four and struck out five. Spencer
Steedley maintained the shutout through the
eighth inning. But he gave up a single to lead off the bottom of the ninth and
was replaced by Blair Erickson.
Erickson got two outs, but a walk, a passed ball and an error meant two runs
scored and the Miracle took a tough loss. Steve
Singleton led the offense by going 2-4 with his 11th double and
third home run. Deibinson Romero went 1-2 with two walks and his
third stolen base.
SNAPPERS SNIPPETS
Monday – Beloit 5, Clinton 10 –
Brad Tippett
put together a Quality Start, but once he left the game, things went down hill
in a hurry. The Australian righty went the first six innings and gave up three
runs (2 earned) on five hits. He walked none and struck out six. But then Curtis Leavitt came in and gave up
three hits and a walk without getting an out. All four runs scored. Bruce Pugh came in and was charged with
three runs (1 earned) on one hit and three walks in his two innings. Blake Martin got the final two outs,
but not before walking three batters. Ramon
Santana was 2-4 with two RBI. James
Beresford went 2-4 with a walk. Ozzie
Lewis was 2-4 with his 11th double. Juan Richardson was also
2-4.
Please feel free to Send me an e-mail, or leave your
questions or comments here.