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La Velle E. Neal III has covered baseball for the Star Tribune since 1998 (the post-Knoblauch era). Born and raised in Chicago, he grew up following the White Sox and hating the Cubs. He attended both the University of Illinois and Illinois-Chicago and began his baseball writing career at the Kansas City Star. He can be heard occasionally on KFAN radio, lending his great baseball mind to Paul Allen and other hosts. Mark Rosen borrows him occasionally for WCCO-TV.
Twins: Post workout notes
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: February 28, 2012 - 2:15 PM
Francisco Liriano had an interesting outing today. He hit Danny Valencia in the left shin with a pitch and served up a long one to Justin Morneau.
I'm not going to get into the standard Liriano quote about spotting his fastball. He's starting one of the split-squad games on Sunday. We will find out then.
Pitchers can look great at this time of year. The key will be when they face real competition. Jared Burton has looked good in camp. Luis Perdomo throws hard. But the real test starts with events like Thursday's B game against the Red Sox.
There was a rumor that Perdomo can throw 100 miles an hour. I asked Alexi Casilla, and he said 98.
I checked fangraphs.com. He averaged 94.3 mph with Padres in 2010. Again, we'll find out this weekend.
The Twins did announce Tuesday that Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn will be among the NINE pitchers the Twins are going to throw at the Red Sox in the B game. We should know the identities of the other seven pitchers tomorrow.
Etc.
Valencia, on being hit by Liriano: ``It's going to take a lot more to break this body.''
Terry Steinbach, either Wednesday or Thursday, is going to run the drill during which his catchers take throws from the outfield as he throws a tackling dummy at them to, somewhat, simulate home plate collisions.
Tom Brunansky, promoted to Class AAA Rochester to be the hitting coach, is getting good reviews from players who have worked with him in camp.
Still now word on Joel Zumaya, who is contemplating retirement vs Tommy John surgery.
And, as I pointed out on Twitter, I watched Tony Oliva get down on the grass beyond third base and rip off 10 push ups. He's 73 years old.
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| Seattle - LP: F. Hernandez | 0 | FINAL |
| Cleveland - WP: J. Masterson | 6 |
| Toronto | 0 | Postponed |
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| Arizona - LP: W. Miley | 1 | FINAL |
| Miami - WP: R. Nolasco | 2 |
| Cincinnati - LP: A. Chapman | 2 | FINAL |
| Philadelphia - WP: A. Bastardo | 3 |
| Houston - LP: L. Harrell | 0 | FINAL |
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| Los Angeles - LP: K. Jansen | 2 | FINAL |
| Atlanta - WP: L. Avilan | 5 |
| Tampa Bay - WP: M. Moore | 3 | FINAL |
| Baltimore - LP: C. Tillman | 1 |
| Boston - WP: J. Lackey | 5 | FINAL |
| Minnesota - LP: P. Hernandez | 1 |
| Milwaukee - LP: K. Lohse | 2 | FINAL |
| St. Louis - WP: J. Gast | 4 |
| NY Mets - WP: S. Rice | 4 | FINAL |
| Chicago Cubs - LP: K. Fujikawa | 3 |
| Chicago WSox - LP: J. Peavy | 2 | FINAL |
| LA Angels - WP: J. Vargas | 6 |
| Kansas City - LP: K. Herrera | 3 | FINAL |
| Oakland - WP: J. Blevins | 4 |
| Washington - LP: D. Haren | 4 | FINAL |
| San Diego - WP: A. Cashner | 13 |
| San Francisco - LP: B. Zito | 0 | FINAL |
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| Detroit - LP: J. Ortega | 8 | FINAL |
| Texas - WP: R. Ross | 11 |
| Memphis | 83 | FINAL |
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