SAN FRANCISCO -- Getaway day from the West Coast, and the end of a trip that's felt a little like a family vacation for many of the Twins, with all the parents, siblings and friends around to watch them play in San Diego and here. The Twins will try to salvage a winning record on the trip today, with Ricky Nolasco facing Madison Bumgarner, then head home.
Not everyone will be heading to Minneapolis, though, because Josh Willingham and Oswaldo Arcia are already headed there, rejoining the team tomorrow. The Twins plan to announce their roster moves after the game, and there are several candidates for being optioned. I may be entirely off base here, but it certainly sounds like Chris Colabello, who leads the team in RBIs with 30, might be one of them.
He's not in the lineup again today, even with a left-hander on the mound for the Giants. Even with two infielders playing the outfield today. He hasn't been in the starting lineup since May 17, and has just one at-bat since. He's in an 0-for-23 slump. And his manager, a day after hinting that "you've got some people who are being sent out who have done OK here" noted this morning that "he's not swinging very well right now, and it's been a struggle." It sounds very much like the Twins might want him to work out of his slump at Class AAA.
Colabello batted .295 with three homers and 27 RBIs in April, though the production came with 26 strikeouts, too. In May, the numbers are .125, one homer and three RBIs, plus 24 whiffs. "A month ago, he was on everything, and now he's missing everything," Gardenhire said. "I don't know where you go -- there's got to be an in-between somewhere. That's why this is such a tough sport."
Would the Twins really send down their RBI leader? Maybe, though Gardy did note that it's easier to get Colabello in the lineup when the DH is in use. The Twins go back to playing in AL parks tomorrow. We'll know after the game.
For now, here are the lineups for Sunday's game by the bay:
TWINS
Dozier 2B
