twins/mlb
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 go for the sweep against the Brew Crew
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: May 20, 2012 - 11:38 AM
The Twins have not named a starter for their game on Thursday against the White Sox. It's Carl Pavano's turn in the rotation, but the Twins are leaning toward giving him an extra day of rest.
Indications are that they will use a spot starter on Thursday, with Anthony Swarzak and Brian Duensing the leading candidates. Some of it could depend on how Jason Marquis does today, because I'm sensing that the coaching staff wants to see a turnaround. Today.
Marquis is a career .197 hitter, by the way, with five home runs. The last Twins pitcher to homer in a game was Jim Kaat in 1972. Despite entering Sunday with a .360 batting average this season, Drew Butera is a career .190 hitter.
Pavano, by the way, had an average fastball of 87.75 mph with a max of 89.3 yesterday, which is a little improvement. Any velo he can gain will help his change up.
Former Twin Carlos Gomez has been activated from the disabled list and is available, but the Brewers went with Nyjer Morgan in center today.
Zack Greinke is 3-8 in his career against the Twins. Denard Span is batting .333 against him in his career. Joe Mauer (.275) has been so-so against him. Justin Morneau (.172), not so good.
And....Greinke is 13-0, 2.66 at Miller Park.
It's true. Tsuyoshi Nishioka homered yesterday for Class AAA Rochester, and manager Ron Gardenhire said he's getting favorable reports on Nishi's play of late.
Class AA New Britain righthander B.J. Hermsen has been named Twins minor league player of the week. He won both his starts in the last week, giving up just four earned runs over 142/3 innings.
Twins (14-26)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Ben Revere, RF
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Josh Willingham, LF
5. Justin Morneau, 1B
6. Brian Dozier, SS
7. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
8. Jamey Carroll, 2B
9. Jason Marquis, RHP
Brewers (16-24)
1. Corey Hart, RF
2. Nyjer Morgan, CF
3. Ryan Braun, LF
4. Jonathan Lucroy, C
5. Taylor Green, T, 3B
6. Travis Ishikawa, 1B
7. Cesar Izturis, SS
8. Edwin Maysonet, 2B
9. Zack Greinke, RHP
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