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 Roster moves
Twins hoping to play two in drippy Kansas City - DELAY
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: September 1, 2012 - 2:53 PM
Today's game is being delayed until 3:30 p.m. It's raining again, but the groundscrew has painted the infield, so they can just pull the tarp up and spruce things up once they are ready to play.
By the way, this is the first "true" doubleheader the Twins have played in since Sept. 13, 2008 in Baltimore. There will be 30 minutes between games.
A couple notes:
Kyle Gibson on Friday gave up three runs over 3.2 innings on five hits and three walks as Class AAA Rochester lost 8-5 to Buffalo. He threw 68 pitches, 43 strikes. That should be Gibson's final start of the minor league season as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery last year. Between Rochester, Fort Myers and the Gulf Coast League, Gibson threw 28.1 innings.
He'll head to Florida Instructional League for a few weeks before Arizona Fall League play begins in October.
After the game, Gibson tweeted the following: "By no means is it the results I want, but its getting better in one way or another each time out! Gotta keep working each day to get there!"
Matt Capps (shoulder, rotator cuff) continues to work out at Target Field. Twins GM Terry Ryan said yesterday that there's a chance that Capps will be able to pitch in late September. Capps hasn't pitched in a game since June.
I'm going to re-post the starting lineups from last night's game, and will update if there are any changes. The only one I can think of is that Joe Mauer might play the first game after getting last night off.
UPDATE: It has stopped raining!!!!
The Twins have made their expected roster moves official. Righthander Esmerling Vasquez has had his contract purchased from Class AAA Rochester. Righthander P.J. Walters (shoulder) has been reinstated from the 60-day disabled list.
More callups are expected sometime next week.
Twins (53-78)
1. Darin Mastroianni, CF
2. Jamey Carroll, 2B
3. Josh Willingham, DH
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Ryan Doumit, C
6. Chris Parmelee, RF
7. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
8. Matt Carson, LF
9. Pedro Florimon, SS
Pitching: RHP Cole De Vries
Royals (59-71)
1. Lorenzo Cain, CF
2. Yuniel Escobar, SS
3. Alex Gordon, LF
4. Billy Butler, DH
5 .Mike Moustakas, 3B
6. Brayan Pena, C
7. Jeff Francouer, RF
8. Eric Hosmer, 1B
9. Johnny Giavotella, 2B
Pitching: LHP Will Smith
Postgame. Post roster shakeup. Some thoughts
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: May 10, 2012 - 12:33 AMThe Twins lost 6-2 on Wednesday but made bigger news after the game with a few roster moves.
Here are a few initial thoughts after the Twins wear out the transaction wire.
1. Who is Darin Mastroianni? The Twins claimed him off waivers from the Blue Jays in February. Dude can run. He once stole 70 bases in a minor league season. He didn't show too much in spring training but wasn't expected to make the club anyway. When he got off to a slow start at Class AA New Britain, it looked like a bad move.
But Mastroianni took off once he got to Class AAA Rochester, batting .346. He can play all three outfield positions, he doesn't hit for power and can play a little second base. A little. "Mastroianni’s been playing the living fire out of the game down there,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "They told me he’s the most exciting player down there. Terry (Ryan) has been down there watching that team for a week or so. I talked to the manager down there, Gene Glynn. He told me this kid has been playing really well, swinging the bat really well. Probably the most exciting player they have on that baseball team right now, running bases, stealing bases. He can fly. We’ll see. We’ll see how he does.”
2. Who is P.J. Walters? Walters has some major league experience with the Cardinals and Blue Jays. According to www.fangraphs.com, Walters' fastball is around 88 mph to go with a slider, cutter, curve and change. "Strike-thrower, mixes all his pitches in,'' Gardenhire said. "Velocity's somewhere between 87 to 90. Very confident. They tell me he's the best pitcher available right now. He's throwing the ball very, very well. He was right up there with Mr. Diamond, so hopefully he'll be able to come up here and do some of that. He's very tough, and he gets after it pretty good. So we'll see what happens."
3. Is this it for Danny Valencia? I don't think so. It's hard to find good third baseman in the league. If Valencia can get his offense going, he will be back. He was a little better defensively but there are some things he can smooth out (like that hitch when he gets ready to throw the ball). Gardy pointed out his flaws - which some readers didn't like - but it appeared that Valencia made a serious attempt to get better during the offseason. If he maintains that approach he will eventually be back in the majors.
4. Who plays where? For now, look for Jamey Carroll and Trevor Plouffe to play third, and Alexi Casilla could wind up there some as well. Not sure how much Mastroianni will play, with Erik Komatsu already here. Gardy could throw a lot of speed in the lineup if he wanted. He might have to to get the offense going. I really would like to see Plouffe get more time in right field. We've seen him play in the infield and his throws got him into trouble.
5, Who's next? Ben Revere, Clete Thomas, Sean Burroughs, Danny Valencia, Liam Hendriks, Luke Hughes and Matt Maloney all have been with the Twins this season but are now elsewhere. Wow. Didn't think I would be writing about Walters and Mastroianni on May 10! Not sure who else they could move. Chris Parmelee is struggling but they need him to play first base until Justin Morneau gets healthy and can play there some. Plouffe is out of options. Will they keep three catchers the whole year? Anthony Swarzak could use a few good outings. Deolis Guerra could make his debut if he keeps throwing well.
The thing is, folks, there's going to be more roster shakeups down the road. I expect the Twins to deal veterans-for-prospects at the trade deadline. And will the Nats make a serious move for Denard Span? This roster really could look different during the second half of the year. Ryan has made it clear that, if player's don't play well, they will be replaced.
Roster shakeup: Valencia to Rochester. Liriano to bullpen. Maloney designated for assignment
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: May 9, 2012 - 10:43 PMThe 8-22 Twins couldn't stand it anymore and made several roster moves after the game.
The Twins optioned third baseman Danny Valencia to Class AAA Rochester. He's gone 26 plate appearances without a hit this month.
Francisco Liriano was demoted to the bullpen.
Matt Maloney was designated for assignment and will likely head to Rochester if he isn't claimed off waivers.
The Twins have selected the contract of righthander P.J. Walters and outfielder Darin Mastroianni from Rochester. Walters will start Saturday. Mastroianni can play all three outfield spots.
Jamey Carroll, and others, will play third.
Will check back after deadline with updates. Until then, discuss.
Three postgame thoughts from LEN3: Roster moves, double plays, can you hit?
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: May 6, 2012 - 12:08 AMTwins lose 7-0 to Seattle. Let's get to the three thoughts:
1. If there was ever a time for a prospect in the upper levels of the farm system to get hot, now is the time: There are spaces available on the major league roster. Terry Ryan and Ron Gardenhire are willing to shake things up to spark this team. Scott Diamond is on his way. Brian Dozier is too. Is there another? Is there another? Where, oh where, is Joe Benson?
2. Double plays: Things could have gotten out of hand earlier on Saturday if not for three double plays turned by the Twins infield. In fact, they got Ichiro to hit into a double play for the second straight game, something I've never seen and thought was impossible. But No. 51 has slowed down.
3. Can you hit? This is ridiculous. The Twins have scored in one of their last 36 innings. Nine hits in four games. I've never seen a team go from smacking the ball around the park and grinding out at-bats to looking meek at the plate. What gives? And how should they address this?
Twins: Jason Marquis headed to New Britain, NOT Rochester
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: April 4, 2012 - 12:42 PMUPDATE: Jason Marquis will be optioned to Class AA New Britainr. Marquis, being a veteran player with at least five years of experience, had to agree to the move. Sorry about the confusion, but I got some bad info. Being at New Britain allows Marquis to get to New York to visit his daughter, who's still in the hospital.
If he makes two starts, he could build his pitch count to around 85.
The Twins are expected to announce roster moves sometime today that will officially set their 25-man roster for Opening Day. For instance, righthander Jared Burton and third baseman Sean Burroughs were non-roster invites to camp and have to be officially placed on the roster.
Burroughs could complicate things with his sore back, but he's expected to be O.K. We'll learn more about his condition later.
Fans here will get a chance to see some future Twins today, mainly outfielders Oswaldo Arcia and Angel Morales and shortstop Levi Michael. Arcia was in major league camp for awhile. Morales is still highly thought of but could use a big season. Michael was the Twins' first round pick last June.
Marty Popham was selecrted in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft last December. He was a 20th round pick in 2008 by Cleveland.
Joe Mauer is at first base today and should take some abuse from his brother, Jake, the Miracle manager.
Well, Gardy has talked about having plenty of flexibility with his roster. This looks like his flex offense.....
Miracle
Daniel Santana, 2B
Jairo Perez, 3B
Oswaldo Arcia, RF
Dan Rohlfing, C
Lance Ray, LF
Angel Morales, CF
Danny Rams, DH
Michael Gonzalez, 1B
Levi Michael, SS
Marty Popham, RHP
Denard Span, CF
Alexi Casilla, 2B
Joe Mauer, 1B
Justin Morneau, DH
Josh Willingham, LF
Ryan Doumit, C
Luke Hughes, 3B
Trevor Plouffe, SS
Ben Revere, RF
Nick Blackburn, RHP
Twins go for series win in Chicago
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: July 10, 2011 - 11:52 AMSorry about the first edition. I wanted to post something before I hit the clubhouse. I was flying through spell check and hit "change" instead of "ignore" so all the names were changed to crazy stuff. I was ticked off, but i also laughed at some of the names.
This is a big game.
The Twins can take three of four games from the White Sox and hit the break with a 24-11 record over their final 35 games.
Fortunately for the Twins, Cleveland and Detroit lost on Saturday. So they remained seven games back in the AL Central. Then again, you can lament the fact that they could have closed to within six games.
The bullpen is an issue. The Twins have lost nine games this year when leading after seven innings. Joe Nathan, Matt Capps and Glen Perkins clearly are their guys when it's time finish off a game, but the rest of the bullpen is a question mark. I know Perk and Nathan didn't get it done yesterday but, overall, they are the most reliable arms in that 'pen.
Listening to Gardy's show right now, and he's throwing out a bunch of talking points.
They are disappointed in Jose Mijares, then added that he thinks Chuck James can help them. Hmmm.
He also said Trevor Plouffe probably will be called up soon.
AS for bullpen help, Anthony Slama is on the DL, and Jeff Manship,apparently, has had to go back on the DL..
Denard Span has been sent home. The Twins aren't working out before today's game, so the Twins figured this is a good time for a break. Gardy said on his show that once Span passes his concussion test - expected to be next week - he'll probably head out on a minor league rehab assignment for 7-10 days.
Francisco Liriano is available ouf of the bullpen today.
THE TWINS WILL ANNOUNCE TWO ROSTER MOVES AFTER THE GAME, PROBABLY YOUNG AND PLOUFFE COMING UP
Twins (40-48)
1. Ben Revere, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, DH
4. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
5. Danny Valencia, 3B
6. Rene Tosoni, LF
7. Nishi, SS
8. Drew Butera, C
9. Jason Repko, RF
Pitching: Anthony Swarzak, RHP
White Sox (44-47)
1. Juan Pierre, LF
2. Alexei Ramirez, SS
3. Paul Konerko, 1B
4. Adam Dunn, DH
5. Carlos Quentin, RF
6. Alex Rios, CF
7. A.J., C
8. Gordon Beckham, 2B
9. Mark Teahen, 3B
Pitching: Jake Peavy, RHP
ADVERTISEMENT
Post By Category
ADVERTISEMENT
inside the StarTribune
-
425 Portland Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55488
(612) 673-4000
- Company
- Subscriber Services
- Website
- Buy Ads
- Store
- Connect with Us
© 2013 StarTribune. All rights reserved.
StarTribune.com is powered by Limelight Networks
Newspaper Subscriptions
eEdition
RSS
Newsletters