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.
The Twins have placed righthander Clay Condrey on the 15-day disabled list and have called up Alex Burnett from Class AAA Rochester. More details after the game.
Anthony Slama fans take note: He's not on the 40-man roster. Burnett is.
The Twins took b.p. before the game, which allowed them to check the flight of the ball and learn the angles of their new $545 million toy.
There were some serious bombs hit during batting practice.Delmon Young hit one that landed in the seats over the bullpen in center, then hit another off the facade of the second deck in left.
Twins coach Jerry White watched Drew Butera, Dan Lehmann and Steve Singleton reach the seats and muttered, ``These little guys are muscling up and knocking the stuff out of the ball.''
There will be some tricky spots throughout the outfield. The ball will drop straight down after hitting the fence in front of the bullpens and the video board in right field. But balls hit to right will shoot right back at rightfielders if it strikes the marble homegrown from down in Mankato super duper Kasota Limestone on front of the overhang.
Reliever Clay Condrey threw 25 pitches in the minor league game yesterday, and the Twins were satisfied enough with his progress that he'll definitely join the club on Monday in Anaheim. ``Heard he got the ball up a little,'' manager Ron Gardenhire said while wincing.
Lineups
Cardinals
1. Skip Schumaker, 2B
2. Brendan Ryan, SS
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Matt Holliday, LF
5. Colby Rasmus, CF
6. Ryan Ludwick, RF
7. David Freese, 3B
8. Nick Stavinoha, DH
9. Matt Pagnozzi, C
LHP Jaime Garcia
Twins
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Orlando Hudson, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Jim Thome, DH
7. Delmon Young, LF
8. J.J. Hardy, SS
9. Brendan Harris, 3B
RHP Kevin Slowey
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