Here are three thoughts following the Twins' 8-3 victory over Baltimore on Tuesday:
ROSTER MOVE: After the game, the Twins optioned catcher Chris Herrmann to Class AAA Rochester and selected the contract of catcher Eric Fryer from Rochester. Fryer was with Team USA in Cary, N.C., as it prepared for the upcoming Pan Am Games in Toronto but will leave to join the Twins. Herrmann batted .156 in 25 games for the Twins. Backup catchers don't hit, OK? But Herrmann's bat had REALLY gotten dull, so the Twins figured it was time for him to go down and play every day. This is not a good sign that Josmil Pinto, still battling concussion symptoms, is coming back anytime soon. Fryer is a solid defensive catcher who has patiently waited for his shots at the majors.
SANO, THE CULTURED HITTER: Joe Mauer told Miguel Sano yesterday, "You've come a long way since the last time I've seen you." That's the sentiment from people who watched Sano chase after everything while coming up through the minors and during spring training games with the major leaguers. This version of Sano is not expanding his strike zone much and not swinging out of his tail at everything. When he drew the walk in the fourth, he did take a big hack at a fastball, but he reeled himself in, stayed away from breaking pitches off the plate and took the walk to force in a run. Twins manager Paul Molitor was asked if he preferred the home run or the bases-loaded walk. "I'll take them both," he said. "We were all waiting to see the power, other than the really hard line drives we have seen him hit. And he got hold of one. I think we have been encouraged by the walks he has taken."
HUNTER SITS: Torii Hunter was not in the starting lineup on Tuesday because Molitor elected to give him some rest. "I'm kind of ahead of schedule in terms of how much I've run him out there," Molitor said. "He's played well. He says he's fresh. I gotta be a little careful because I want to make sure we see those same swings in September that we are seeing now. And hopefully October." Eddie Rosario started in right field in place of Hunter.
