Here are three thoughts following the Twins 7-3 loss to the Royals
ROSTER MOVE:After the game, the Twins designated lefthander Andrew Albers for assignment. Albers on Thursday was called up from Class AAA Rochester and pitched six innings in relief of starter Tommy Milone. He's expected to clear waivers and return to Rochester. The Twins will announce who will be added to roster on Saturday. Righthander Pat Light is a possibility. Odd that they made the move on Friday. It seems like they could have sent Albers down after Thursday's game and had a second pitcher come over with Pat Dean. But I heard that Rochester's pitching staff was in a shambles too, so maybe they needed a day to get things sorted. It worked out for the Twins, as Dean gave them three efficient innings late in the game.
ROYALS DEFENSE: The Royals put Lorenzo Cain in right field when he came off the disabled list, thinking it would be less demanding on his recently-healed hamstring. Center is Orlando's natural position, and he looked in control out there as he made great plays to rob Miguel Sano and Robbie Grossman of hits on Friday. ``You see Paulo Orlando play center field and you understand why Cain in playing in right," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. Kansas City can still play defense.
TWINS DEFENSE: The vibe is different for the Twins outfield: ``We need to tighten up our outfield defense," Molitor said. He really thought Alcides Escobar's fly ball in the sixth should have been caught, moreso by Robbie Grossman than Jorge Polanco. It looked like Grossman might have been fooled by the big swing Escobar took and was unable to get the best break on the ball. Grossman broke in on a ball Thursday against Houston that got by him for a double. Max Kepler is improving in right but there's some growth left there. Eddie Rosario is solid in center but he's no Byron Buxton. And Grossman can be a solid outfielder, but might be the least-tooled of the outfield corps.
