2007 Twins Report (April 2-8)
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by user False Prophet
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| Twins Preview: Offense |
| Twins Preview: Pitching |
| Week 1 (April 2-8) |
| Week 2 (April 9-15) |
| Weel 3 (April 16-22) |
So, instead of writing game recaps for each game, I've decided to write a weekly report for the 2007 Minnesota Twins, which will eventually be turned into the Historical page for the Twins. I'm writing the Twins preview articles still, but am waiting to see the fifth starter, Sydney Ponson pitch to finnish up.
So, without further ado, here is the first edition of the 2007 Twins Report:
Game 1: Opening Night (4/2/07 vs. Baltimore)
Opening night down at the Metrodome, and what an odd scene it was for the Twins. The twins have been known for their pitching in years past, but got it done against the Orioles with the Bats. Santana was not Santana that night, going 6 innings, and giving up 4 runs with 6 K's. The reigning MVP Justin Morneau went 3-4 with a HR and 2 RBI.
Twins Stats:
Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Castillo, 2B 5 1 3 0 0 0 0 .600 Punto, 3B 5 1 2 1 0 1 1 .400 Mauer, C 3 1 1 0 1 0 2 .333 Cuddyer, RF 4 1 1 0 0 3 6 .250 Morneau, 1B 4 1 3 2 0 0 0 .750 Hunter, CF 4 1 2 2 0 1 2 .500 White, LF 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .000 Cirillo, DH 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 .500 1-Tyner, PR-DH 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Bartlett, SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .000 Totals 35 7 13 6 3 6 15 Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Santana (W, 1-0) 6.0 7 4 4 2 6 1 6.00 Reyes (H, 1) 0.1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 Crain (H, 1) 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Rincon (H, 1) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Nathan (S, 1) 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00
Boxscore:
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Baltimore 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 4 8 0 Minnesota 0 2 0 1 3 1 0 0 X 7 13 0
Twins now 1-0
Game 2: Boof's Debut (4/3/07 vs. Baltimore)
The Twins won again on tuesday 3-2. Boof went 6 innings giving up 3 hits and 2 runs. The twins shocked us all by proving they can win with the bat, or with pitching, depending on whichever is necessary for the night. Now, the twins are looking at a possible opening series sweep, a first in a long time. It's nice for a change to look at the standings and to see the Twins on top of the division this early in the year.
Stats:
Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Castillo, 2B 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 .556 Punto, 3B 4 1 1 0 0 3 4 .333 Mauer, C 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .429 Cuddyer, RF 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .125 Morneau, 1B 3 0 1 0 1 2 1 .571 Hunter, CF 3 1 0 0 1 1 3 .286 White, LF 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .000 1-Tyner, PR-LF 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Kubel, DH 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 .000 Bartlett, SS 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 .143 Totals 29 3 7 2 4 10 17 Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bonser 6.0 3 2 2 3 6 1 3.00 Neshek (W, 1-0) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Rincon (H, 2) 0.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Reyes (H, 2) 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Crain (H, 2) 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Nathan (S, 2) 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00
Boxscore:
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Baltimore 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 Minnesota 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 X 3 7 1
Twins now 2-0
Game 3: A new look at a new pitcher (4/4/07 vs. Baltimore)
Wednesday was a crucial game for the Twins. It was our first look at new starter Ramon Ortiz. He was a bit nervous throughout the first few innings, but eventually got into it and gave up only 2 runs in 7 innings En Route to a 7-2 whooping of the Orioles for the opening series sweep.
Congradulations to Joe Nathan, who's wife gave birth to a baby girl wednesday night. Unfortunately, a police escort to the Dome to allow Nathan to Close the game was unecessary as the Twins pounded the Orioles, but was there after the game to congradulate his teammates.
Cuddyer went 3-3 with two RBI before exiting the game after fouling a ball off of his chin. Mauer went 2-4 and scored a run, while Rondell White went 1-4 with two RBI.
Stats:
Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Castillo, 2B 5 0 2 2 0 0 2 .500 Punto, 3B 3 2 0 0 2 0 5 .250 Mauer, C 4 1 2 0 1 0 0 .455 Cuddyer, RF 3 1 3 2 0 0 0 .364 Tyner, RF 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333 Morneau, 1B 4 1 0 0 1 2 5 .364 Hunter, CF 4 1 1 0 0 0 7 .273 White, LF 4 1 1 2 0 1 3 .111 Kubel, DH 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .167 Bartlett, SS 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 .111 Totals 35 7 11 7 6 4 26 Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Ortiz (W, 1-0) 7.0 5 2 2 1 4 0 2.57 Guerrier 2.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00
Boxscore:
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Baltimore 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 6 3 Minnesota 1 0 5 0 1 0 0 0 X 7 11 1
Twins now 3-0
Game 4:Grudge Match and the return of Silva (4/7/07 vs. Chicago)
Game 4 was supposed to be played friday, but due to weather problems, it was postponed untill an undetermined date and instead the 4th game was played Saturday.
The twins lost yesterday, but it's ok. There's still a lot more rivalry games with the ChiSox to be played, and we can't blame the loss on Carlos Silva, who pitched 5 innings and gave up 2 runs. It seemed like the bats were left in Minnesota on saturday, but at least we learned that Silva can pitch.
The twins had one really stupid play that ended up killing them. In the second inning, with the bases loaded, and one out. Hunter pops out to second for the second out, and then for some reason, Cuddyer runs home as soon as the ball as hit and turns a threat into a stupid double play. That's just not a smart play.
Stats:
Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Castillo, 2B 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .471 Punto, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .188 Mauer, C 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .333 Cuddyer, RF 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 .429 Morneau, 1B 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 .308 Hunter, CF 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .200 Kubel, DH 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .143 a-Cirillo, PH-DH 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .333 Tyner, LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .167 Bartlett, SS 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .083 Totals 28 0 3 0 4 9 13 Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Silva (L, 0-1) 5.0 5 1 1 1 1 0 1.80 Guerrier 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Reyes 0.1 2 2 2 1 0 1 18.00 Neshek 0.2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.00
Boxscore:
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Minnesota: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 ChiSox: 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 X 3 8 0
Twins now 3-1
Game 5: Easter Sunday (4/8/07 vs. Chicago)
Santana was Santana today, going 7 innings, 1 hit, 3 walks, and 9 K's allowing 0 runs. The twins proved that when they're on top of their game, they are hard to stop. It was a good game, with Morneau hitting his second HR of the season, and Mauer picking up 2 hits.
Stats:
Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Castillo, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .381 Punto, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150 Mauer, C 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .368 Cuddyer, RF 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 .412 Morneau, 1B 4 1 2 3 0 1 1 .353 Hunter, CF 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .158 Redmond, DH 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .000 Tyner, LF 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .200 Bartlett, SS 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .067 Totals 33 3 6 3 2 8 9 Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Santana (W, 2-0)7.0 1 0 0 3 9 0 2.77 Crain (H, 3) 1.0 1 1 1 0 0 1 4.50 Nathan (S, 3) 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
Boxscore:
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Minnesota 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 0 White Sox 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 1
Twins now 4-1, 1st in AL Central
Overall Thoughts
The only thing that could have been better so far is if Ponson would have pitched a game this season so far because then I'd know what I can expect from everyone in the twins rotation. We have the best bullpen in baseball, but our starters have been good enough so that we don't need to use it. We've won with the bats, and with pitching, and I think that they're on track to win the division.
