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.

Three Twins postgame thoughts from LEN3: Parmelee, Verlander, minor stuff

Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: September 29, 2012 - 8:14 PM
  • share

    email

The Twins on Saturday lost their 92nd game of the season. Here are three quick thoughts:

1. Signs of playing hard: The Twins have not thrown in the towel. They tried to battle Justin Verlander and were a swing way from tying the game in the ninth. The best example was Chris Parmelee in the seventh. He singled off of Verlander, then went in hard to break up a double play when Trevor Plouffe followed with a grounder. Detroit's Jhonny Peralta jumped in the air to avoid getting destroyed and didn't get enough on his throw to turn two. Teammates were waiting in the dugout for Parmelee to slap him on the back for that one.

2. Verlander is amazing: You have to be impressed with how Verlander can reach back for more on his fastball when he needs it. He did it with Parmelee in the fourth when he went from 96 miles an hour to 100. What an arm.

3. Some minor details: Tyler Grimes, a fifth-round pick in the 2011 draft, is being moved from shortstop to catcher. Lefthander Andrew Albers pitched for Canada last week in World Baseball Classic qualifying with a broken hamate bone and has since had surgery. Kyle Gibson looked sharp recently during a five-inning outing during instructional league action. He reports to the Arizona Fall League next week.

  • 6
  • Comments

  • share

    email

Final123456789RHE
Boston «0110100025111
Minnesota000010000151
@theBallpark
Preview | Matchup | Lineup | Log | Wrap | Box | TV: NESN, FSN-N
W:J.Lackey(2-4) L:P.Hernandez(2-1)
HR: BOS- D.Pedroia (2), W.Middlebrooks (8) MIN- None

ADVERTISEMENT

Seattle - LP: F. Hernandez 0 FINAL
Cleveland - WP: J. Masterson 6
Toronto 0 Postponed
NY Yankees 0
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
Pittsburgh - WP: J. Locke 1
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
Colorado - WP: J. Nicasio 5
Detroit - LP: J. Ortega 8 FINAL
Texas - WP: R. Ross 11
Memphis 83 FINAL
San Antonio 105
NY Rangers 2 FINAL
Boston 5
Pittsburgh 1 FINAL(OT)
Ottawa 2
Los Angeles 0 FINAL
Red Bull New York 1
Sporting Kansas City 1 FINAL
D.C. 1
Real Salt Lake 4 FINAL
Chivas USA 1
Connect with twitterConnect with facebookConnect with Google+Connect with PinterestConnect with PinterestConnect with RssfeedConnect with email newsletters

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

question of the day

Poll: Should baseball expand instant replay?

Weekly Question

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT