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.
Posts about Bears
Winter meetings wrap-up: The Twins actually made a trade
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: December 6, 2012 - 11:29 PM
First of all, the Opryland Hotel is far from affordable family fun. I hit a breakfast buffet on Monday, and found out it was $21.00. Lunch on Tuesday consisted of two sushi rolls, miso soup and iced tea. That was $40.00 (and they weren't exotic rolls). I spent the rest of the meetings buying sandwiches at coffee shops. Geez...
And the complex is just enormous. Too many places for teams to hide. Too spread out. Instead of saying 'hello' as we crossed paths with other scribes during the week, we would say. 'I hate this hotel,' for a greeting.
Still, it's a baseball convention. There are still debates that go on into the early morning at the bars. The wild rumors still spread around the lobby, and it gets you looking forward to spring training. I love this stuff.
I'm trying to figure out what kind of Twins team will report to Fort Myers, Fla. in February. GM Terry Ryan stunned me and made a trade today - the first time he's swung a deal during the winter meetings in my 15 years on the beat. All you folks who predicted the Twins would do nothing were wrong - for the first time, ha!
I'm totally behind the concept of adding the pitchers the Twins have added. They traded Ben Revere, who has speed and a good glove but doesn't have power or a strong arm, and turned him into two pitchers. One, Vance Worley, was described by a scout as a, 'Twins type pitcher.' He doesn't miss bats and needs good control to win. He's young and he said he has his cut fastball back that he didn't have last season because of bone chips in his elbow.
The other pitcher, Trevor May, has upside. He could turn out to be a No. 2 starter because he hits 94 and has good secondary pitches. His control needs to improve, but coming to the Twins and Rick Anderson could be just what he needs.
So YOU MAKE THAT TRADE. You get two starters - one for now, one for two years down the road - for a speedy contact hitter.
It's time to re-do my top ten prospects rankings, again. May doesn't have Alex Myers' upside but he could land anywhere from 4-6 in the rankings. A potential rotation of Meyer, Gibson and May - the MGM boys - looks promising.
I expect Terry Ryan to sign at least one more starting pitcher this offseason, so the 2013 can resemble more of a makeover. If they re-sign Francisco Liriano, I hope there's a second signing. They still have several offers out there, waiting for the pitching market to loosen up.
I'm going to miss Revere, one of the most positive people in that clubhouse. I'm going to miss Denard, one of high-quality guys I've met during my career. But the Twins have to address this starting pitching problem, and had to make these deals.
Not sure who will start in center. At 1 a.m. this morning, when I was chasing down the Revere rumor, one official said he heard that the Twins are ready to give Hicks a chance to start in center. Wow. We'll see if they stick to that.
All I know is this: If the season started today, Joe Mauer might have to be the leadoff hitter.
It was a productive week for the Twins. In addition to Worley and May, the Twins picked up righthander Ryan Pressly and third baseman Mark Sobolewski in the Rule 5 draft and signed reliever Jared Burton to a two-year contract, plus an option.
They have two spots open on their 40-man roster, by the way.
Watch the Strib this weekend for more coverage of the remodeling of the Twins' rotation. An online chat has been scheduled for Monday, too. And I'll join KFAN's Paul Allen on Friday (actually about 12 hours from now) at Buffalo Wild Wings in Coon Rapids to talk Twins and argue about the Bears-Vikings game this weekend.
Target Field not an option for football
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: December 13, 2010 - 2:55 PM
Just to make sure the Twins weren't secretly working to host the Vikings-Bears game next Monday, I checked with club president Dave St. Peter.
``No,'' he said. ``To my knowledge no one from the Twins has been contacted as it relates to Vikings games.
``But, yes, this facility could hold both football and soccer games.''
Like TCF Bank Stadium, Target Field would need several days to be brought out of, `hibernation.' Coincidentally, I was at Target Field for baseball-related business several weeks ago while it was being winterized.TCF Bank Stadium has two advantages over Target Field when it comes to being a home for an emergency NFL game: It holds 50,000 (TF hold 40,000 with SRO tickets, and there probably would be room for a couple thousand seats on the field) and The Bank has FieldTurf.
Football at Target Field, however, sounds intriguing. Where would the field be placed?
``We would work with a couple of configurations,'' St. Peter said. ``One would run down the middle of the field, the other would be from left field to right field.''
There's a good chance Target Field will be used for different events in the future. The Twins said before the season they wanted the field to settle in for a year or two before having other functions there. They have expressed a willingness to host concerts, which would be great considering the only outdoor music venue we have in the area is the Zoo.
I guess TCF Bank is in that market too. U2's concert there last summer was postponed until 2011. The thought of having two options for major outdoor concerts makes me forget it's five degrees outside.
Novemberquest Watch: White Sox feel the stress
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: September 8, 2010 - 10:04 AMMy first installment was called Octoberquest Watch, But l looked at this postseason schedule and was reminded that a few World Series games could be played in November. Not meant to get too far ahead of the Twins' playoff hopes as much as it is to point out the ridiculousness of the MLB calendar.
MLB commissioner Bud Selig must agree, because he's moving up the 2011 opener nearly a week.
Anyway,in this Chicago Tribune story the Pale Hose lost on Tuesday and are now 4.5 games back of the Twins in the AL Central. So Chicago really made little ground during their recent hot streak.
"We won seven games in a row, and the only game we picked up was the day we didn't play and they (the Twins) lost," A.J. Pierzynski said. "What can you do? You go out and play as hard as we can.''
The Twins have won 10 of their last 12 games to maintain a safe buffer between them and the White Sox streak - call it a surge protector.
Brian Duensing is on the mound tonight as the Twins go for a second straight series sweep. The White Sox have two more games in Detroit before coming home to play the Royals...then the Twins. Chicago has injury concerns (Freddy Garcia, Gordon Beckham, Paul Konerko) and John Danks is starting tonight on three days' rest.
That's worth watching. If there is a bulldog in that White Sox rotation it's Danks.
Manny Ramirez is 7-for-18 since joining the Sox - all singles. He's scored one run and hasn't walked once - although he was hit with pitches twice on Tuesday.
By the way, check out the poll on the left hand column of the White Sox story. The feeling around Chicago is that they want to see the Sox within three games before the division collision next week.
I voted for the Bears,if you were wondering.
Twins try to hobble through the series finale against Baltimore
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: May 9, 2010 - 12:48 PMThere seems to be a point every season when the injures just keep coming.
The Twins starting middle infield of second baseman Orlando Hudson and shortstop J.J. Hardy is out for today's game. Hudson tweaked his shoulder yesterday. Although he felt much better when he arrived at the park today, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire decided to keep him out of the starting lineup.
Hardy is still bothered by a sore left wrist, and acknowledged that if he doesn't improve by Tuesday he could wind up on the disabled list.
Reliever Pat Neshek said his right middle finger felt a lot better and that he might try to pick up a baseball in the next couple of days. It's while gripping the baseball when he feels the most pain.
Joe Mauer is in the lineup as the designated hitter today. He's wearing turf shoes with cleats attached to them to give his sore left heel a little more comfort, The Twins will cross their fingers when he runs the bases and tries to stop.
Even Jose Morales has had another setback during his rehab in the minors, injuring a hip while sliding into a base.
It will be interesting to see who will get healthy in time for Black and White week - series against the White Sox and Yankees.
There were a few guests around before the game. There was the Hastings family that Gardenhire has developed a friendship with - Logan and his father, Jeff, are both in the Army.
Gardenhire also spent some time talking with former Vikings coach and current CHICAGO BEARS ASSISTANT COACH Mike Tice.
Tice also chatted up Joe Mauer before the game. Hope he didn't ask him to back up Jay Cutler. We don't need him.
By the way, anyone know how the Canucks are doing in the NHL playoffs these days?
Lineups
Orioles (9-22)
!. Cesar Izturis, SS
2. Ty Wigginton, 2B
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Miguel Tejada, 3B
5. Matt Wieters,C
6. Luke Scott,DH
7. Adam Jones, CF
8. Garrett Atkins, 1B
9. Nolan Reimold, LF
RHP Brian Matusz
Twins (20-11)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Nick Punto, 3B
3. Joe Mauer, DH
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Wilson Ramos, C
8. Brendan Harris, SS
9. Alexi Casilla, 2B
RHP Nick Blackburn
Countdown to Fort Myers
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: February 10, 2010 - 7:47 AM
This photo (courtesy of Jerry Holt) is from the first workout last year. We're just days away from many images like this one coming from Fort Myers, Fla., where the Twins will begin spring training 2010. Thanks to an offseason during which the Twins finally stayed away from the Sean Bergman, Butch Huskey, Bobby and Luis Ayala types and upgraded their roster which proven veteran talent, everyone heads to Florida with high expectations.
Based on the increasing amount of e-mails recently, it appears that Twins fans are ready to head down to spring training and catch their favorite squad.
Many of your e-mails have asked the same question: Will I present another dining/entertainment guide to spring training.
My answer: Do I have a choice?
My plan is post the guide right before pitchers and catchers report, so keep an eye out for it!
Meanwhile, any of you who have been to Fort Myers recently and have tips on new restaurants or other sights, please e-mail me at lneal@startribune.com with your suggestions. I'm scheduled to fly down to Florida on Tuesday and will have time to, ahem, critique them.
I have been working on a big Sunday project (remember that trip I took last month?) and have left Joe C. to cover the breaking news. But here's a few things:
+I saw Jacque Jones at the winter meetings in Indianapolis last December, looking for a job. He didn't play in the majors at all in 2009 and seemed to have a hard time finding work. He needs to play to prove he belongs in the majors. It would take a rash of injuries for him to make the Opening Day roster. If he gets off to a good start, I wouldn't be surprised if the Twins move him to a club that can use him in the majors.
It's true that Jones started 210 games in the center field for the Twins. And, in 1999, there were times when Jones was in center and Torii Hunter was a corner outfielder. Could Jones return to center now if Denard Span broke down? Don't know. All Jones could find last year was some at bats with the Newark Bears, so he's got to open some eyes that he can play at the top level again.
+Max Kepler passed his GED exam recently with flying colors, so now he's a full-time Twins prospect.
+Miguel Sano will report to camp with the rest of the Dominican players but will return home to rest for a week before playing in the Domincan Summer League. After a couple weeks, Sano will return to the States to play in the Gulf Coast League.
+Jorge Polanco, the other Latin bonus baby will do the same. Was told by a coach to keep an eye on Polanco, who is flying under the Sano radar. Polanco is projected as a true shortstop, whereas Sano will move to third and might end up in the outfield. Was also told that at least two teams offered more for Polanco than the Twins. Polanco, however, preferred the relationship he built with the Twins. That's another good reflection on their Latin American scout, Fred Guerrero.
+Players are beginning to arrive in Florida to start workouts. That includes new Twins shortstop J.J. Hardy, who is catching up with his buddy Joe Mauer.
Countdown to Fort Myers
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: February 10, 2010 - 7:47 AM
This photo (courtesy of Jerry Holt) is from the first workout last year. We're just days away from many images like this one coming from Fort Myers, Fla., where the Twins will begin spring training 2010. Thanks to an offseason during which the Twins finally stayed away from the Sean Bergman, Butch Huskey, Bobby and Luis Ayala types and upgraded their roster which proven veteran talent, everyone heads to Florida with high expectations.
Based on the increasing amount of e-mails recently, it appears that Twins fans are ready to head down to spring training and catch their favorite squad.
Many of your e-mails have asked the same question: Will I present another dining/entertainment guide to spring training.
My answer: Do I have a choice?
My plan is post the guide right before pitchers and catchers report, so keep an eye out for it!
Meanwhile, any of you who have been to Fort Myers recently and have tips on new restaurants or other sights, please e-mail me at lneal@startribune.com with your suggestions. I'm scheduled to fly down to Florida on Tuesday and will have time to, ahem, critique them.
I have been working on a big Sunday project (remember that trip I took last month?) and have left Joe C. to cover the breaking news. But here's a few things:
+I saw Jacque Jones at the winter meetings in Indianapolis last December, looking for a job. He didn't play in the majors at all in 2009 and seemed to have a hard time finding work. He needs to play to prove he belongs in the majors. It would take a rash of injuries for him to make the Opening Day roster. If he gets off to a good start, I wouldn't be surprised if the Twins move him to a club that can use him in the majors.
It's true that Jones started 210 games in the center field for the Twins. And, in 1999, there were times when Jones was in center and Torii Hunter was a corner outfielder. Could Jones return to center now if Denard Span broke down? Don't know. All Jones could find last year was some at bats with the Newark Bears, so he's got to open some eyes that he can play at the top level again.
+Max Kepler passed his GED exam recently with flying colors, so now he's a full-time Twins prospect.
+Miguel Sano will report to camp with the rest of the Dominican players but will return home to rest for a week before playing in the Domincan Summer League. After a couple weeks, Sano will return to the States to play in the Gulf Coast League.
+Jorge Polanco, the other Latin bonus baby will do the same. Was told by a coach to keep an eye on Polanco, who is flying under the Sano radar. Polanco is projected as a true shortstop, whereas Sano will move to third and might end up in the outfield. Was also told that at least two teams offered more for Polanco than the Twins. Polanco, however, preferred the relationship he built with the Twins. That's another good reflection on their Latin American scout, Fred Guerrero.
+Players are beginning to arrive in Florida to start workouts. That includes new Twins shortstop J.J. Hardy, who is catching up with his buddy Joe Mauer.
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