twins/mlb

Twins first-round pick Kohl Stewart is in town today to undergo a physical, one of the final steps before the club will announce his signing.

Stewart, the fourth overall pick in the June 6 draft, arrived in the Twin Cities on Monday, based on his twitter post:

Adrian Peterson just boarded and sat in front of me ��

— Kohl Stewart (@KohlStewart1) June 17, 2013

Since then, Stewart has tweeted a picture of Target Field and has received dining tips from fans.

pic.twitter.com/k2RH9WUSCv

— Kohl Stewart (@KohlStewart1) June 18, 2013

I'm hearing that the Twins will sign Stewart for either right at or close to $4,544,400 - the assigned pick value the league has recommended for the fourth overall selection. From there, Stewart will begin his pro career with the Twins' rookie team in the Gulf Coast League.

The Twins have signed many of their picks from the draft and will officially announce all of them either later today or, most likely, tomorrow.

Three quick thoughts following the Twins' loss to the Tigers:

1. NO OFFENSE: The Twins are averaging 2.6 runs over their last 12 games. Their clutch hitting hasn't been reliable. Is the offense ever going to heat up, or is that what it is. Trevor Plouffe, Chris Parmelee and Brian Dozier must step up and support the veteran hitters ahead of them in the batting order. The pitching hasn't been too shabby of late - not including Sunday. It's on the offense.

2. CONGRATS TO TORII ON A TOUGH DAY: Torii Hunter socked his 300th career homer in the city where his career began, but he did so with a heavy heart.  A few days ago, a good friend of his, Corey Grice, died of a heart attack while with his children. Hunter dedicated the home run to him. ``His kids couldn't have their father for Father's Day,'' Hunter said.

3. WHAT AN AT-BAT: Hunter, after hitting the home run, came back and put Josh Roenicke through a 12-pitch at bat before coming through with a RBI ground rule double in the eighth inning. Hunter fouled off eight pitches in the at-bat. ``I kept thinking that the Twins never give up, that's their motto,'' he said. ``Had to get that insurance run.''

Josh Willingham is not in the lineup today after receiving an injection in his left knee following Saturday's game. With tomorrow being an offday, Willingham will have two days for the medication to work its magic. He hopes to be ready to play Tuesday when the Twins open a three-game series against the White Sox.

Willingham said the knee bothers him when he runs, making playing the outfield difficult. Before you react to that, I must point out that Willingham acknowledged his shortcomings as an outfielder. He needs his knee to mend so he can be as functional out there as he can be.

``I wish I could blame it on my hitting, but I can't,'' said Willingham, who is batting .211 with 10 homers and 31 RBI.

He's not sure when he injured the knee, but said that sliding into second on Apr. 27 against Texas for his only stolen base of the season didn't help things.

So Oswaldo Arcia started in left once again while Ryan Doumit slid into the designated hitter role.

Joe Mauer (2,127,175) leads Matt Wieters (1,615,625) in voting for the All-Star Game. Mauer could join Ivan Rodriguez and Carlton Fisk as the only catchers to be elected to the game four times.

The Twins are going for the fourth straight win on Father's Day.

The club intends to announce several signings of draft picks of the next couple of days. Here are the ones I know about:

RD    PLAYER               POS         SCHOOL 
3  Stuart Turner            C            University of Mississippi
5  Aaron Slegers          RHP          Indiana University              
6  Brian Navarreto        C             Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville)
7  Brian Gilbert            RHP         Seton Hall University           
9  Mitchell Garver         C            University of New Mexico
10 C.K.  Irby                 RHP        Samford University                  
11 Nelson Molina          SS/2B     Antonio Lucchetti High School (Arecibio, P.R.)
12 Ethan Mildren           RHP        University of Pittsburgh            
13 Brandon Peterson      RHP        Wichita State University        
14 Zack Granite              OF        Seton Hall University           
18 Ryan Walker              SS        University of Texas-Arlington    
20 Jason Kanzler            OF        University of Buffalo            
21 Tyler Stirewalt         RHP        Fresno State University
22 Alex Swim                 C         Elon University                  
23 Zach Hayden            RHP       University of South Carolina-Aiken
25 Chad Christensen       OF        University of Nebraska
30 Tanner Vavra            2B         Valparaiso University             
32 Carlos Avila              SS         Cal St University-Dominguez Hills       
 

Tigers (37-29)

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Torii Hunter, RF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
4. Prince Fielder, DH
5. Victor Martinez, 1B
6. Johnny Peralta, SS
7. Andy Dirks, LF
8. Omar Infante, 2B
9. Alex Avila, C

Pitching: Doug Fister, RHP

Twins (30-35)

1. Clete Thomas, CF
2. Joe Mauer, C
3. Ryan Doumit, DH
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Oswaldo Arcia, LF
6. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
7. Chris Parmelee, RF
8. Brian Dozier, 2B
9. Pedro Florimon, SS

Pitching: P.J. Walters.

Here are three thoughts following the Twins' 6-3 win over the Tigers:

1. SAM ' I CAN,' DEDUNO: Samuel Deduno had one of his best outings of the season Friday, holding Detroit to two runs over seven innings while walking just one batter. One. Deduno used to throw two bullpen sessions between starts just to help him remember the feel for his pitches. He no longer does that now as he got ahead of hitters fairly well and used his breaking ball effectively. ``You saw him get a couple of counts there when he would get two quick balls or three quick balls but he would come right back and pound the strike zone with it. That's all about throwing the fastball over, which normally he would go to the breaking ball to get strike three. He was able to throw his fastball.''

2. ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST: When will opponents stop trying to run on the Twins. Actually, if Prince Fielder had not missed the plate with his slide would have been called safe in the sixth inning. Instead, Chris Parmelee got his sixth outfield assist of the season by throwing a rope to Ryan Doumit. Replays showed that Fielder missed the plate and was tagged out by Doumit. The Twins lead the majors with 22 outfield assists.

3. WHO'S REALLY NEXT AT ROCHESTER?: Kyle Gibson gave up three runs over six innings on six hits and a walk while striking out four on Saturday. Not a strong outing as the Red Wings rallied to beat Gwinnett County. After walking five in his previous outing, Gibson needed a strong start to improve his case to be promoted. But, if the Twins really needed a starter right now, they probably would clear space on their 40-man roster for lefthander Andrew Albers. who is 5-2 with a 3.01 ERA. He's the hot hand. ``Correct.'' Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said. ``He's pitching better than anyone we have down there. And he has for a month, it's not like one start.'' Albers was on the same pitching staff at the University of Kentucky with Class AA New Britain's Logan Darnell and Alex Meyer.

It's raining pretty good at Target Field. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has all his weather toys opened on his computer, trying to play weatherman.

``It's all around us right now,'' he said.

Everyone thinks the game will be played. Will it start on time? No one is ready to go out on that limb.

UPDATE: The tarp is being pulled off (4:22 p.m.)

Whenever the game starts, Clete Thomas will be batting leadoff. Gardenhire is trying to figure out ways to get the offense going, and he thinks Thomas has had some good at bats in recent games, so he gets the shot.\

Trevor Plouffe has arrived and is in the lineup after recovering from a strained calf. He said he's changed his pre-game routine since injuring his calf twice this season. The Twins could use any offense he can provide. Jamey Carroll and Eduardo Escobar went 10-for-89 (.112) as Plouffe's replacements.

Chris Herrmann, who was sent to Rochester to make room for Plouffe, will continue to catch and play the outfield. Gardy thinks Herrmann will increase his chances of sticking in the majors one day if he can play more positions.

Wilkin Ramirez said he headed out on a minor league rehabilitation assignment either Sunday or Monday. He hasn't played since late May because of a concussion.

Torii Hunter is getting a day off.

Anibal Sanchez nearly no-hit the Twins on May 24 in Detroit. This is the first time he's faced the Twins since then.

BTW, I mentioned earlier in the week that Jared Burton needed an extra day of rest because of a slightly sore shoulder. It was a groin muscle, not shoulder. Sorry for the confusion.

Tigers (37-28)

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Andy Dirks, LF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
4. Prince Fielder, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Jhonny Perlata, SS
7. Don Kelly, RF
8. Omar Infante, 2B
9. Alex Avila, C

Pitching: Anibal Sanchez, RHP

Twins (29-35)

1. Clete Thomas, CF
2. Joe Mauer, DH
3. Ryan Doumit, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Oswaldo Arcia, LF
6. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
7. Chris Parmelee, RF'
8. Brian Dozier, 2B
9. Pedro Florimon, SS

Pitching: Samuel Deduno, RHP

Three thoughts following the Twins' 4-3 win over the Phillies:

1. PELFREY BETTER: I'm not saying it's time to start a write-in campaign to get Mike Pelfrey into the All-Star Game, But the veteran worked his way through seven solid innings for a second quality start in as many outings. He got a bad break in the first inning when umpire Bruce Dreckman called Ben Revere safe when it was clear to everyone else that Justin Morneau tagged him on the shoulder. Revere scored the first of two Phillies' runs that inning, or Pelfrey would have had a very nice line. He hit 94 on the gun, didn't fall behind many batters and threw some nice breaking balls later in the game. Now he has had back-to-back solid outings and building a little momentum.

2. WHO'S COVERING FIRST? A debate broke out in the pressbox and on twitter in the eighth when Ben Revere bunted for a hit. Joe Mauer pounced on the ball but had no one to throw to because Justin Morneau rushed in and Eduardo Escobar couldn't get to first base in time. Many placed the blame on Escobar. After checking in the clubhouse, I was told that manager Ron Gardenhire told Morneau that he needed to get back to the bag once Mauer closed in on the ball.

3. OSWALDO...OH, OH, OH: Oswaldo Arcia comes to the plate looking to do damage and you've got to love that. Before his single in fourth, he blasted a long foul ball to right that bounced and hit the gate. The ball had no chance of being fair, but there was Arcia, trying to wave it fair like Carlon Fisk in the World Series. Hilarious. ``I think the home run ball he hit foul, I don't think I've seen one hit that far in a long, long time,'' Gardy said. ``I even looked over at Charlie Manuel and he had a big smile on his face. Charlie more than anyone likes to see people go deep, and he hit that ball a long way.''