Season Notes

[Durango53]

"We blew our chance to go undefeated," Gardenhire deadpanned afterward.

"We're disappointed in that."

[Durango53]

For now, Gardenhire hopes to have Mauer behind the plate two or three days a week. The rest of the time, he will take advantage of his bat as a designated hitter or lefty pinch-hitter off the bench.

[Durango53]

The Twins have finalized plans for Friday's home opener vs. the White Sox at the Metrodome. As part of a tribute to late public address announcer Bob Casey, who died March 27, his family will throw the ceremonial first pitch and handle PA duties during the game. There will also be a tribute to the 1965 team.

An annual tradition, Breakfast on the Plaza, will run from 6-9 a.m. CT outside the ballpark on Kirby Puckett Place, with complimentary coffee, orange juice, Krispy Kreme doughnuts and hot dogs being served. Free opening weekend tickets will be given away throughout the morning.

Opening Day rallies are also scheduled in both Minneapolis and St. Paul at 12:30 p.m. Twins TV play-by-play voice Dick Bremer will emcee the Minneapolis rally at the IDS Crystal Court and be joined by Michael Cuddyer, LeCroy, Gardenhire and Hall of Fame member Rod Carew. WCCO's John Gordon will emcee the St. Paul rally at Fifth Street center with Ford, Juan Rincon, Anderson and Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.

[Durango53]

With LHP C.J. Nitkowski fading near the end of camp, RHP Matt Guerrier claimed the final bullpen spot. Guerrier's fastball reaches only 87-90 mph; his success hinges on locating and keeping the ball down. He likely will keep the spot until RHP Grant Balfour (forearm) returns from the D.L.

[Durango53]

2B Luis Rivas' continued poor at-bats this spring invited a late challenge for his starting spot from utilityman Nick Punto. But after putting in extra work, during which he focused on staying down on the ball and hitting line drives instead of fly balls, Rivas had a solid final week and kept the job. The club wants Rivas to take better advantage of his speed by bunting more.

[Durango53]

OF Shannon Stewart is a lifetime .325 hitter in April, his best career split of any full month. The foot injury that kept Stewart out for two months of last season is healed and he should come out of the gate hot as the table-setter for the Twins revamped, and younger, lineup.

[Durango53]

Joe Mauer started behind the plate yesterday and had a very good -- and very healthy -- first game. Mauer blooped a single off Jamie Moyer and then shocked everyone by stealing second base. It was the second steal of his career. Mauer also threw Ichiro Suzuki out when the Seattle right fielder tried to steal second base in the fifth inning.

[Durango53]

Johan Santana's early struggle lasted for two months and 12 starts in 2004. He lost his fourth start in a row on June 3 to Tampa Bay, falling to 2-4 with a 5.50 ERA.

[Durango53]

The Twins announced on Tuesday that Friday's home opener against the White Sox has been sold out. Only obstructed view seats remain for half price.

[Durango53]

Members of Bob Casey's family will throw out the first pitch and handle public address duties. Casey, the Twins' public address announcer for 44 years, passed away March 24. The Steeles, a local group, will sing the national anthem. And there will be a video tribute to the 1965 Twins, which won the AL championship.

[Durango53]

Two Twins minor league pitchers had elbow surgery on Tuesday in the Twin Cities. Righthander Frank Mata, who was off to an impressive start in his pro career, will return in three weeks to have Tommy John ligament replacement surgery and will miss the entire season. Righthander Bobby Korecky, who was part of the trade that brought Carlos Silva and Nick Punto to the Twins, might also need Tommy John surgery but will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

[Durango53]

Catcher Mike Redmond, who is expected to start today against Seattle, couldn't resist saying something while watching Carlos Delgado double for the Marlins on Tuesday. "It's a good thing I left to free up money so they could sign Delgado," said Redmond, who played for Florida for seven seasons.

[Timberwolf]

"We blew our chance to go undefeated," Gardenhire deadpanned afterward.

"We're disappointed in that."

Great line of the game.

[Durango53]

An announced crowd of 28,089 brought the three-game total to 118,386, the third-largest home opening series in team history.

[Durango53]

The Twins' opponent has scored first in every game. In fact, the Twins haven't scored earlier than the third inning.

[Durango53]

Twins left fielder Shannon Stewart has a hit in all six games.

[Durango53]

Gassner arrives: Called up from Rochester over the weekend to replace Silva, left-hander Dave Gassner joined the Twins on Tuesday and will make his first big league start Saturday at Cleveland.

Gassner, who threw six scoreless innings in his first start for the Red Wings, wasn't sure what to think when Rochester manager Phil Roof summoned him to his office.

"The first thing you think, 'Is this it?' It was really early for that," Gassner said. "He surprised me. I thought he was kidding when he said something."

The 26-year-old native of Hortonville, Wisc., was the player to be named in the 2003 trade that brought Shannon Stewart from Toronto for Bobby Kielty.

Gassner, who throws 88-90 mph with a vast assortment of breaking balls and changeups, won 16 games for Rochester last season and impressed during Spring Training by posting a 2.38 ERA in 11 1/3 innings.

"We saw he could command the zone and knew how to pitch," Gardenhire said.

"I always thought I could get big league hitters out," Gassner said. "I was just looking for an opportunity to do so. When Spring Training came around and they put me on the 40-man roster, I said, 'Here's my chance to make the most of it.'"

[Durango53]

Talk is cheap: Tigers designated hitter Dmitri Young stirred it up Sunday when he told reporters the AL Central race would come down to Detroit and Cleveland while shrugging off the Twins' chances. Minnesota's clubhouse didn't seem too bothered by the bulletin board material.

"You can talk all you want but you've got to take it from us," Twins center fielder Torii Hunter said. "We're still the champs and nobody's better than us until you prove it."

"We may be the weakest division, but we have the strongest lips," joked Gardenhire. "We'll rank our [division's] trash-talking up there with anybody's."

:lmao:
Ron cracks me up. He comes up with some of the best one liners out of everyone... :clap:

[T-Wolves]

LMAO...He's my hero, I wanna grow up to be just like him. lol

[Durango53]

Starting pitcher Joe Mays rejoined the club Tuesday after he spent Sunday night and Monday away tending to family business.

Right-handed reliever Grant Balfour, on the DL with a strained forearm, threw another bullpen session in Fort Myers on Tuesday. Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Balfour was getting closer to be able to pitch in extended spring games.

"He's making progress," Ryan said.

[Durango53]

Briefly: Twins right fielder Jacque Jones turned 30 Monday. ... Entering the game, Twins pitchers led the Majors in fewest walks with 20. Houston and Detroit were tied for second with 48. ... The last time the Twins were kept idle by two consecutive weather postponements was June 11-12, 1985, when rain forced games to be called at Cleveland.

[Durango53]

After the team skipped one of his turns in the rotation, RHP Kyle Lohse decided to scale back from five pitches to three. He will go with his strengths, sticking mostly with a two-seam fastball, changeup and curve. He will rely less often on his four-seamer and slider. . . .

[Durango53]

The Twins have struggled with the bases loaded, but manager Ron Gardenhire isn't concerned. He's satisfied that his club is getting chances and believes it eventually will take advantage. . . .

[Durango53]

Is RHP Joe Mays recovering his 17-win, All-Star form of 2001? In a recent start, Mays' sinking fastballs, which appear headed for the middle of the plate before diving, drew aggressive swings.

[Durango53]

FEARLESS FORECAST: Look for C Joe Mauer to hit with more power. Mauer, who had only 107 big-league at-bats entering this season, has been sticking to his strength of hitting pitches the other way but will start turning on the ball as he becomes more comfortable.

[Durango53]

Jason Bartlett was unavailable today after suffering a torn fingernail on his left pinkie yesterday. In case you were curious, Bartlett said he was adjusting the position of his television when the nail was caught underneath and ripped off. He's listed as day-to-day.

[Durango53]

Michael Cuddyer went 0-for-4 today and is 1-for-13 over the last three games. Manager Ron Gardenhire has been very patient so far, but he has to be getting frustrated with Cuddyer, who is batting .203 with just three RBI in 60 at-bats. We still think he'll get hot soon, but if it doesn't happen within the next week, the Twins may bring back Terry Tiffee.

[Durango53]

Gardenhire said prior to Tuesday's game against Kansas City that infielders Jason Bartlett and Juan Castro are again available.

Bartlett suffered a freak injury in Detroit when he tore the nail off his left pinky finger while attempting to move the television set in his hotel room. Castro woke up will a stiff neck.

"Bartlett is better and Castro is better," Gardenhire said. "I could play them both."

Nick Punto started Tuesday's game at shortstop.

[Durango53]

The Twins entered Tuesday's game having allowed just 23 walks, which ranked as the fewest in the Major Leagues. ... Michael Cuddyer was hitting just .203 as Tuesday's game commenced, but Gardenhire's message to Cuddyer was simply to relax, because he's the third baseman. ... Left fielder Shannon Stewart was scratched from the lineup on Tuesday because of a bruised left foot.

[Durango53]

Leaving them loaded: The Twins have created a statistical oddity in the clutch hitting department. They entered Wednesday's game leading the American League in hitting with runners in scoring position. They had a .328 average with five doubles, 10 homers and 74 RBIs with runners in scoring position.

However, Minnesota was just 4-of-28 (.143) when loading the bases before Wednesday's game. The Twins received a game-winning hit from Lew Ford on Tuesday with runners at first and third.

[LesPaul]

Minnesota claimed right-hander Daylan Childress off waivers from Cincinnati and assigned the 26-year-old to Triple-A Rochester.

Childress was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in 14 2/3 innings for Triple-A Louisville, allowing 18 hits and seven walks while striking out seven

[Durango53]

Injury report: After getting his first day off of the season Sunday to rest a sore groin, center fielder Torii Hunter was back in Monday's starting lineup.

Rookie Terry Tiffee started in place of designated hitter Lew Ford, who was out Monday with a sore finger on his left hand.

[Durango53]

Down on the farm: Pitcher J.D. Durbin, who had struggled out of the gate for Triple-A Rochester this season, earned his first victory Sunday with a 7 2/3 inning performance against Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Durbin gave up two runs on three hits with a walk and four strikeouts in the 5-3 decision.

[Durango53]

Briefly: The Twins media relations department received kudos Monday from Major League Baseball for creating the best media guide cover in the American League.

Designed by Sean Harlin and Mike Herman, it's the second time Minnesota's guide has been recognized.

The guide cover features Johan Santana with former Twins Cy Young Award winners Frank Viola and Jim Perry.

[Durango53]

There could be some additional tension when Twins reliever Juan Rincon pitches next against the Angels, especially after comments made by Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia. Complaining that Rincon got only 10 days for violating steroid policy, Scioscia told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune: "If Juan Rincon comes back and pitches 11 days from now, are the effects of the steroids going to deteriorate to where his talent is back to his God-given level? No. He'll have the benefit of whatever steroids he took. I guarantee you, in 10 days, Juan Rincon does not become a mere mortal. I think he'll still be throwing the ball pretty good with enhanced chemicals."

Why dont people worry about there own team? Now if this comes to a Angel getting caugh what is said?

Come on Scioscia I used to have a ton of respect for you. :(

[Timberwolf]

Scioscia's comment did not bothered me.

Juan put himself in a position in the scorn of public eye.

[Durango53]

In his first start since his club-record 17-game winning streak was snapped Sunday, LHP Johan Santana threw just 16 balls among 92 pitches overall on the way to his second career complete game. He gave up a first-inning run on back-to-back, one-out triples, then pitched a four-hit shutout the rest of the way in a 7-1 victory over the Devil Rays.

[Durango53]

-Over his last 29 starts -- since a loss June 3 to Tampa Bay -- LHP Johan Santana is 23-3 with a 1.72 ERA and 263 strikeouts in 209 1/3 innings (with just 36 walks).

[Durango53]

-C Corky Miller cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Rochester on Wednesday, an indication the Twins' concerns over C Joe Mauer's surgically repaired left knee have subsided. The Twins had been carrying four catchers as insurance against a setback with Mauer, who has looked strong the first month of the season.

I am glad the Twins got to keep Corky. I dont know why he isnt the best player in the world but I have always liked Miller.

[Durango53]

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, asked if Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, who hit his third home run of the season Tuesday night against Cleveland and is batting .400, is back to normal after being hit in the head by a pitch early this season: "I'd say he's ahead of normal."

[Durango53]

• A little birdie says Twins reliever Juan Rincon's performance-enhancing substance issue had more to do with naivete than anything else.

[Durango53]

Orioles RHP Daniel Cabrera topped out at 99 mph in eight shutout innings against the Twins and threw more than 20 pitches at 98 or faster — while mixing in a vicious 89-mph slider. "I couldn't hit the fastball. I couldn't hit the slider. I couldn't even see them," Twins 1B/3B Terry Tiffee told manager Ron Gardenhire

[LesPaul]

:ugh: Pillow talk: Reliever Terry Mulholland became the latest Twins player to fall prey to injury at the team hotel. While sleeping Sunday night, Mulholland scratched his right eyeball on the sharp end of a feather that pointed through his pillow.

The lefty, who was scheduled to be seen by a doctor, could miss a game or two.

"It's just irritating," said Mulholland, who was applying saline to his swollen eye. "Because I want to blink all the time."

The Twins could really use Mulholland this week. Cleveland entered the night with a .225 team batting average vs. lefties.

Hotels have been hazardous for Twins players this year. Last month, shortstops Jason Bartlett (ripped fingernail on television) and Juan Castro (stiff neck from sleeping) were hurt at the team hotel in Detroit.
:eyebrow

It says "eyeball" so I had to post it :D

[Durango53]

LAST THREE TOP PICKS

Trevor Plouffe, SS, 2004, pick #20: The first of three Twins first-round picks, Plouffe signed quickly and batted .283 in 60 games at rookie-level Elizabethton. Turning 19 on June 15, Plouffe is struggling offensively so far at low Class A Beloit.

Matt Moses, 3B, 2003, pick #21: There have been some health setbacks, including a heart defect that was detected the summer he was drafted and a back injury that forced him out over three months last season. Now at high Class A Fort Myers, Moses has delivered with an excellent season to this point.

Denard Span, OF, 2002, pick #20: With his speed, the organization remains hopeful Span can become a leadoff hitter in the mold of the Marlins' Juan Pierre. Like Moses, he is off to a fantastic start with Fort Myers.

[Durango53]

Second baseman Luis Rivas went on the 15-day disabled list with a left external oblique strain. Third baseman Terry Tiffee was optioned back to Triple-A Rochester.

Joining the club Wednesday will be outfielder Michael Ryan and infielder Brent Abernathy. Both were called up from Rochester.

[Durango53]

The St. Paul Pioneer-Press thinks a deal could be in the works between the Braves and the Twins. Atlanta is looking for an outfielder and Braves scout Jim Fregosi was seen at the Metrodome on Tuesday.

[Timberwolf]

Second baseman Luis Rivas went on the 15-day disabled list with a left external oblique strain. Third baseman Terry Tiffee was optioned back to Triple-A Rochester.

Joining the club Wednesday will be outfielder Michael Ryan and infielder Brent Abernathy. Both were called up from Rochester.


Can things get worse for Luis? It's been a year to forget. He lost his job to Nick. His performance has been horrible. Now he is in the DL.

I can understand why Terry is in the minors. Like Jason Bartlett, he has been struggling and he is not going to get better by sitting in the bench. Hopefully, Jason and Terry can get it going over there and then come back.

Brent Abernathy is up. Let's see if he can help our struggling bench.

[LesPaul]

June 2: Twins Placed shortstop Nick Punto on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled right hamstring; recalled infielder Terry Tiffee from Rochester of the International League (AAA).

[LesPaul]

They were talking during the game tonight about Tiffee being sent down and recalled so fast. Lucky for Tiffee he had not left the city yet as he was to report to Rochester this morning. They said the 2 days away from the game might do him good. He had a hit in his first atbat in what is his 3rd stint in the majors this season. He finished the game 1-4 at the plate.

[Durango53]

The Minnesota Twins made another change to their injury-depleted infield, sending Terry Tiffee back to Triple-A Rochester and calling up Glenn Williams after Sunday's game.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Williams, right-handed reliever Grant Balfour - out for the season following elbow surgery - was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL.

Tiffee was batting just .194 in 67 at-bats. The Twins want him to find his rhythm at the plate by playing every day in the minors. Tiffee was sent down earlier in the week, only to be recalled on Thursday when second baseman Nick Punto pulled a hamstring and was put on the disabled list.

Williams, a native of Australia, can play second base, third base and first base. After beginning his professional career with the Atlanta organization in 1994, Williams has not yet appeared in the majors.

[Durango53]

Mauer was able to run around before Sunday's game. He was available to play, if needed, and was expected to be ready to start again Tuesday.

[Durango53]

The Twins held a 20-minute, closed-door meeting after Friday's win. Gardenhire decided to call the postgame talk about midway through the game.

"We just talked baseball stuff ... stuff that I needed to say to them and some things that may be able to help us, and we got it straightened out," Gardenhire said. "It's just a meeting. We haven't had a meeting in a long, long time."

The Twins have not been playing their sharpest baseball lately, dropping five of seven games before Friday's win.

"We had some things during the course of the game, the last couple games, that we wanted to talk about," Gardenhire said. "I wanted to make sure we understood where we're at and how to get past some of these things. ... We said what we had to say, and we'll leave it at that."

[Durango53]

It is said that the Twins are looking into Ted Lilly of the Blue Jays....

[Durango53]

Manager Ron Gardenhire said RHP Brad Radke will make his next scheduled start against Milwaukee on Friday despite having soreness in his neck his last few starts. "Rad says he's fine and ready to go," Gardenhire said. "All we can go by is what Radke says to us."

[Durango53]

The Twins might have a platoon situation at third base — or possibly even a new starter. Glenn Williams made his fourth straight start at the position Sunday against Milwaukee, and he continued to give manager Ron Gardenhire a reason to keep him in the lineup. Williams went 2 for 5, giving him at least one hit in each of his first 11 big-league games. All indications are that Williams will continue to play third over struggling Michael Cuddyer.

[Timberwolf]

Cuddyer should be out of town. I had it with him.

I have more faith in Glenn than Michael.

[Durango53]

Twins center fielder Torii Hunter, on the disabled list since he broke his left ankle on July 29, had his hard cast removed Monday in the Twin Cities and was fitted for a walking cast. A CT scan showed healing of the compression fracture, manager Ron Gardenhire said. Hunter is scheduled to consult today with Dr. John Steubs, the team orthopedist who was out of town Monday. Hunter is not expected to play again this season, but he said again over the weekend that he expects to be ready if the Twins make the playoffs.