2007 Twins Report (April 9-15)
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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, as we continue into week two of the MLB season, the twins have there ups and downs, and ESPN continued to rank them outside of their top 10 teams for the second week in a row, on top of numerous other stupid rankings, leading me to ditch ESPN.com for good, and convert to foxsports.com. But, beyond that, here's what happened in week 2 for the Minnesota Twins:
On the DL
The Twins have a few injuries so far, a few creating time on the DL, and a few just keeping players inactive.
First, the Twins placed Left Fielder Rondell White on the 15 Day DL (be quiet davis), and infielder Jeff Cirillo on the DL for at least a month. To replace the two players, the Twins called up Josh Rabe and Alexi Casilla from AAA Rochester.
Then, for reasons that confuse everyone, the Twins have stated that both Matt Guerrier and Jessie Crain are both a bit sore from action throughout the week, and are not likely to pitch again untill Wednesday or Thursday.
Rondell's injury doesn't create a whole lot of problems, and neither does Cirillo's, but the Pitching injuries caused the twins to send down 3rd string catcher Chris Heintz to Rochester, in order to call up pitcher Glen Perkins.
Game 6: Sid the Kid gets rocked (April 9th vs. New York Yankees)
The headline explains the results pretty well. Sydney Ponson gets rocked by the Yankees, giving up 10 hits, 8 run and 3 walks in 5.2 innings. The Twins were anemic at the plate, scoring only 2 runs in the entire game. This game was a reality check for the Twins, because although the twins lost one game against the White Sox last week, they never really got rocked in the same way they did today. Beyond that, Hunter was the only bright spot in everything tonight, going 2 for 3, scoring a run and driving in the other.
Batting: Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Castillo, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .360 Punto, 3B 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .130 Mauer, C 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .348 Cuddyer, RF 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .381 Morneau, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .286 Hunter, CF 3 1 2 1 0 0 1 .227 Kubel, LF 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 .200 Redmond, DH 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 Bartlett, SS 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .056 Totals 31 2 6 2 1 3 12 Pitching: Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Ponson (L, 0-1) 5.2 10 8 8 3 2 2 12.71 Guerrier 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Reyes 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 9.00 Neshek 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00
Boxscore:
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Yankees 3 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 8 11 0 Minnesota 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 6
Game 7: Yankees Take Batting Practice (April 10th vs. New York Yankees)
Another game against the Yankees, and another loss, this time 10-1 after Boof Bonser goes 4.1 innings and giving up 7 runs with only 1 K. I tried to watch this game, but decided after the first inning that it wasn't going to be good and decided to just check the box score the morning after. After two straight blowouts, things are not looking good for the twins. Although Ramon Ortiz does get to start again, maybe that'll go well.
Stats:
Batting: Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Castillo, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .310 Punto, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .148 Mauer, C 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .346 Heintz, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Cuddyer, RF 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .360 Morneau, 1B 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .250 Hunter, CF 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 .208 b-Tyner, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182 Rabe, LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .000 c-Rodriguez, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Redmond, DH 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .111 Bartlett, SS 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .050 a-Kubel, PH 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .273 1-Casilla, PR-SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 31 1 5 1 3 4 14 a-Singled for Bartlett in the 7th. b-Grounded out for Hunter in the 9th. c-Flied out for Rabe in the 9th. 1-Ran for Kubel in the 7th. Pitching: Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bonser (L, 0-1) 4.1 6 7 6 2 1 2 6.97 Crain 1.2 2 0 0 0 0 0 2.45 Neshek 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 Rincon 1.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.00 Reyes 1.0 4 3 3 1 2 0 15.00
Boxscore:
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Yankees 2 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 3 10 13 0 Twins 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 1
Game 8:Payback Time (April 11 vs. New York Yankees)
What a game this was. This season, I am a first time parital season ticket holder for the Twins, and attended my first game of the year tonight. And what a Game it was. First off, I sat only about a dozen seats away from Minnesota Legend Garrison Keillor, and saw Ramon Ortiz strike out A-Rod. From the 8th inning on, the cheering stopped, and the Chants of Yankees Suck! took over the Metrodome. Ortiz was a rock, going 8 innings and giving up only one run.
Hunter was amazing, going 2-4 scoring a run and driving in an RBI, looks like Hunter's going to have a heafty price tag this offseason. Beyond that, Micheal Cuddyer, went 2-4 scoring a run and driving in 2 RBI. Looks like the naysayers were wrong about him as well,
Stats:
Batting: Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Castillo, 2B 3 1 0 0 1 1 4 .281 Punto, 3B 3 1 1 0 1 1 3 .167 Mauer, C 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 .345 Cuddyer, RF 4 1 2 2 0 0 0 .379 Morneau, 1B 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 .250 Hunter, CF 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 .250 Kubel, LF 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .267 Rodriguez, DH 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .400 Casilla, SS 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .333 Totals 32 5 11 5 2 2 15 Pitching: Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Ortiz (W, 2-0) 8.0 3 1 1 1 4 0 1.80 Nathan 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Boxscore:
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Yankees 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 Twins 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 X 5 11 0
New Ballpark Design Unveiled (April 12)
The Twins are working out the final details on their brand new stadium set to open for the 2010 season. Here's what it Looks like:
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It's going to be a nice, roomy, 40,000 Steated stadium with almost identical dimensions to the Metrodome, except with less foul territory, making it lean towards being a hitters park. For more information, read the Star Tribune's article on it [http://www.startribune.com/509/story/1115358.html
Game 9:Time to stick it to the (Man)Rays (April 12 vs. Tampa Bay)
Entering the weekend is a series against ManRay's Devil Rays. The First game sent Carlos Silva to the mound. Silva was great, going just over 6 innings and allowing no runs. He would have gotten a win, but the bullpen blew the lead, and if it weren't for a crazy base stealing accident would have cost the twins the game.
In the top of the 9th, with runners on 2nd and third, off of a Crawford Double, Crawford kept going and went to third, despite Zobrist being on third, forcing Zorbist to go home. Castillo threw the ball to Mauer, who tagged Zorbist out and then threw Crawford out at Second when he tried to get back to the base, and hence ending the game for the Devil Rays.
Stats:
Batting: Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Castillo, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .250 Punto, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .147 Mauer, C 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .364 Cuddyer, RF 4 1 1 2 0 0 1 .364 Morneau, 1B 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .250 Hunter, CF 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258 Kubel, LF 3 0 2 0 0 1 1 .333 1-Tyner, PR-LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182 Rabe, DH 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .167 Casilla, SS 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .200 Totals 31 3 8 3 0 3 8 Pitching: Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Silva 6.2 7 0 0 2 4 0 0.77 Reyes (H, 3) 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 13.50 Rincon (BS, 1) 0.1 3 2 2 1 1 1 6.75 Neshek 0.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 Nathan (W, 1-0) 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0
Boxscore:
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E D-Rays 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 12 0 Twins 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 8 0
Game 10:Santana's Streak Ends (April 13 vs. Tampa Bay)
Santana's regular season streak of 18 striaght wins at the Metrodome, and 23 straight Twins Regular Season wins when Santana starts ended tonight after a 4 run start in 7 innings. The game was not that Great. Santana brought his C game, and so did the Twins offense, only scoring 2 runs.
Stats:
Batting: Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Castillo, 2B 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .275 Punto, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 .132 Mauer, C 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .324 Cuddyer, RF 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .324 Morneau, 1B 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 .278 Hunter, CF 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .257 Rabe, LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .111 a-Kubel, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316 Rodriguez, DH 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 .375 Bartlett, SS 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .087 Totals 34 2 7 2 0 7 14 Pitching: Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Santana (L, 2-1) 7.0 6 4 4 1 10 1 3.60 Guerrier 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Perkins 0.2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00
Game 11:Twins take batting practice (April 14 vs. Tampa Bay)
It was redemption for Friday's loss, and it was my second game of the season, and it was well worth going to. The Twins score 12 runs off of 14 hits en route to a 12-5 win over the Devil rays. The Score is a bit misleading, as Perkins gave up 4 runs in the 9th that made the game closer than it really was. The Rays were pathetic, and the twins were able to capitalize. The Rays had 5 pitchers, non of which were able to keep the twins from scoring.
Stats:
Batting: Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Castillo, 2B 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .256 Casilla, 2B 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .167 Tyner, CF 5 3 3 1 0 1 2 .312 Mauer, C 3 3 1 1 2 1 2 .325 Cuddyer, RF 4 3 3 2 0 0 0 .366 Morneau, 1B 5 0 2 2 0 0 3 .293 Hunter, DH 5 0 2 3 0 0 3 .275 Kubel, LF 4 0 0 1 0 1 3 .261 Rodriguez, 3B 5 1 1 1 0 0 2 .308 Bartlett, SS 2 1 1 0 2 0 0 .120 Totals 37 12 13 11 5 4 18 Pitching: Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Ponson (W, 1-1) 5.1 8 2 2 3 6 0 8.18 Rincon (H, 3) 1.2 0 0 0 0 3 0 4.15 Perkins 2.0 2 3 3 2 3 1 10.12
Boxscore:
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E D-Rays 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 10 3 Twins 2 0 3 0 1 3 3 0 X 12 13 0
Game 12:Nathan's breakdown (April 14 vs. Tampa Bay)
This was a relatively close game untill the 9th. Boof went 5.1 innings, and gave up two Home Runs for 4 runs. Not exactly a good start if you ask me. Boof is supposed to be the No. 2 Starter, yet he can't even go 6 innings. It was a miserable start, and He'll need to make up for it in his next start if he wants to remain as the No. 2 guy.
In the 9th inning, with the score tied at 4, Joe Nathan gave up 4 hits to allow the Rays to score the go ahead run and an insurance run that proved to be it for the twins. Overall, the series was not that good. The Rays were ranked 29th in foxpsorts.com's power rankings, and the twins were third. They really shouldn't have split the series, it just wasn't something that's supposed to happen.
Stats:
Batting: Minnesota AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Casilla, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 .100 Tyner, LF 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .300 Redmond, C 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .077 Cuddyer, RF 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .356 Morneau, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289 Hunter, CF 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .273 Kubel, DH 4 2 2 1 0 2 1 .296 Rodriguez, 3B 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 .250 Bartlett, SS 3 0 3 2 0 0 0 .214 Totals 34 4 9 4 0 6 11 Pitching: Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bonser 5.1 6 4 4 3 8 2 6.89 Reyes 0.2 0 0 0 1 1 0 11.25 Guerrier 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Nathan (L, 1-1) 1.0 4 2 2 0 1 0 3.00
Boxscore:
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E D-Rays 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 2 6 10 0 Twins 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 4 9 0
Twins are now 7-5, tied for Second in the AL Central with Detroit and .5 Games Behind Clevland.
