GameChat – Twins @ White Sox, 7:10pm

There isn’t much I can think of to say about today’s game other than.. I REALLY like it when the Twins beat the White Sox more than just about ANY team except the Yankees – and even that is debatable.

Minnesota

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Chi White Sox
Span, CF De Aza, CF
Revere, RF Beckham, 2B
Mauer, C Dunn, A, DH
Willingham, LF Konerko, 1B
Morneau, 1B Pierzynski, C
Doumit, DH Rios, RF
Dozier, SS Viciedo, LF
Casilla, A, 2B Ramirez, Al, SS
Carroll, 3B Escobar, 3B
  Walters, P   Floyd, P

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Minnesota

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9

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Chi White Sox

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I’m just not in a wordy mood today I guess – and yes, make all the cracks you want about how rare that is. That aside, tonight was a GOOD win.

  1. We beat the White Sox!
  2. They didn’t use the Assbats! Thank goodness they packed the good ones.
  3. PJ Walters can really pitch!

Wow, it’s great to have a lot of runs and have guys hitting the ball hard & deep but I’m always a pitchers girl at heart and to see a guy go a complete game and get a W just warms my heart in ways I can’t describe. Even with all the offense, unanimous BOD vote goes to our boy, PJ. (and I would like to point out that it’s his second consecutive BOD during starts.. dude is on FIRE!)

photo credit: Leon Halip/Getty Images North America

GameChat – Twins @ Tigers #2, 12:05pm, 1500espn & MLB.tv only

[edit] I LIED! The calendar doesn’t have this broadcast listed for FSN but it seems to be on the FSN list!! woohoo!

photo courtesy of Jim Mone/ASSOCIATED PRESS

First of all, I feel it’s utterly appropriate to recognize that a year ago, today, we lost Harmon Killebrew. For the Twins fans and team, this was a HUGE loss. I think we are continuing to feel his absence both up in MN and in the minor leagues where he had such an impact on young players. You’ll always be missed Killer.

 

 

 

 

On to the game: today’s pre-game roster moves are not what anyone was actually expecting. After last night’s odd victory (both in on-field activity and record), we had some odd announcements. We expected to see Doumit moved to the DL after popping a calf muscle during the game and having Butera replace him defensively in the 8th. Turns out, he had an MRI and it was all good news! Doumit is day-to-day but could be available to DH very soon. Of course that means he joins the ranks of the bench-injured – a growing club with this team that includes Span and apparently Capps as well. In a rare move, the Twins actually did place someone on the DL – Nick Blackburn – with a strained left quad. That does explain the horrible 2 inning outing. However, the team brought up Ben Revere to take the open spot on the roster…  color me a tad confused. I’m sure the decision regarding Revere was made when the team assumed they were losing Doumit for awhile. But I certainly didn’t expect to see the team go to 12 pitchers the day after we used the entire available bullpen to win a game. I think that we have a lot of pressure on Walters today.. let’s see what happens.

Minnesota

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Detroit
Revere, CF Kelly, CF
Dozier, SS Dirks, LF
Mauer, 1B Cabrera, Mi, 3B
Willingham, LF Fielder, 1B
Morneau, DH Young, D, DH
Plouffe, RF Avila, C
Casilla, A, 2B Boesch, RF
Butera, C Peralta, Jh, SS
Carroll, 3B Raburn, 2B
  Walters, P   Fister, P

 

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Detroit

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The Twins won a SERIES!!! Detroit may lead the division at some point (probable) this season but their defense is going to have to improve for that to happen. BUT if you have the bats, solid defense and miracle of all miracles, a BULLPEN, you can go places!! Justin Morneau got 3 of today’s 4 RBI so I gotta say it’s really good to have him back. And you’ll never guess who leads the team in Batting Average right now.. yes, it’s DREW BUTERA! *dies laughing* Statistically, Drew was 3/4 today but actually got on base all 4 plate appearances due to an error.

But, as I mentioned in the pregame notes, the pressure for today was all on PJ Walters. Since our bullpen had to cover 7 innings last night, there wasn’t a lot of room for anything but a deep outing from our starter today. And while Detroit may do their best circus emulation on the field, they DO bring the big bats to the plate. It’s no easy job to face that lineup inning after inning. So while we offer our heartiest thanks and plates of pastries to Doc & Drew for their stellar efforts today, the BOD goes to the new comer, PJ Walters! Congrats on your first Twins win!

Photo credit: Jim Mone / AP

Late Night Roster Changes

This is what happens when you’re sick and you sleep during the game and then wake up to take more drugs so you can go back to sleep. You decide to check Twitter and… wow…

Danny Valencia

Danny Valencia has been struggling badly at the plate, with his batting average falling below the Mendoza line, and now he’s been optioned to Rochester.

Matt Maloney, along with his 9.00 ERA has been designated for assignment.

[Edit] Also in the ‘making a change’ category is Francisco Liriano who has been moved to the bullpen. As far as changes go, it was either this or the minors so I hope this works for him.

On their way up to the Twins from Rochester are outfielder Darin Mastroianni and pitcher P. J. Walters.

Mastoianni started the season in New Britain before moving up to Rochester after 9 games. In 20 games with the Red Wings, Mastroianni accumulated a .346/.393/.423 slash line with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 10 stolen bases.

Walters has a 3-1 record after six starts for Rochester, with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He has struck out 25 hitters and walked only 6. Walters’ arrival means Francisco Liriano will be moving to the Twins bullpen, as the team announced Walters will be starting Saturday’s game with the Blue Jays.

With an infielder going to Rochester and being replaced on the roster by an outfielder, it does make one wonder what roles other existing roster members are going to be playing. Dan Gladden mentioned during the Wednesday night game broadcast that Alexi Casilla was taking ground balls at 3B, so we might assume he’ll be manning the hot corner, though Ron Gardenhire told reporters that Casilla, Plouffe and Carroll would all split time at 3B.

I hope Valencia finds his stroke in Rochester and can make his way back up before the season is over and I certainly hope Liriano finds whatever it is that he’s been missing.

– JC