Liriano is behaving just as predicted

This young man with such hot stuff can't hold it together for three innings. Here he is again facing the bottom of the opposing team's batting order and he fills the bases with Rays with no hits involved. The Rays have just made a sacrifice fly and scored the first run of the game and still have no hits. They have done it twice now - no hits, two runs. Arghhhhhh!

A Twins win against the Bronx bombers?!?!

Who could have foretold that the Twins would have an easy win against their arch-nemesis, the Yankees? It was sweet, very sweet. So what if it was only our third win of this young season, so what if we had just dropped three to the Rangers? This victory was against the Yankees a team that normally just breathes on the Twins and we fold.

Eighth Inning finish

Runner on first, one out and yes, you know what happened since it was the Twins at bat - a double play ball to end the inning and what could have been a scoring opportunity. At least we didn't leave any runners on base!

Its been a long five years

But here I am again to sound off about baseball. Today's game on the 65th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's major league debut has been a pitchers' duel for the Twins and visitor's the Rangers.
Through four innings of scoreless ball pitching was the whole story of the game. Surprisingly the Twins have busted through and currently hold a two run lead.

One bad thing about the Twins offense is that they again hit into a double play ending what could have been a scoring opportunity. The Twins are leading the league (probably the majors) in the dubious honor of hitting into the most double plays. This has a simply devastating effect on runs scored. The psychological effect in the dug out has to be mind numbing. When the Twins hit into yet another double play, I can be heard to call for electric-shock therapy. I know it will never happen, and I am not serious. Saying that I would dearly love to see if it would work! The player's union might have a few words to say about this technique for performance modification and change.

Hunter goes to the Angels in a five year 90 million deal

Here from TwinkieTown.com a comment on the Torii Hunter trade. A little Thanksgiving food for thought

I agree with most of your sentiments. Congratulations to Torii. He got what he wanted, and what his talents deserve (at least in this non-salary cap ridiculous market), his money, his 5 years, and a chance to win now.

But let's not shed too many tears for the Twins. I think there is plenty of reason to think that this will make us stronger in the long run.

Torri wanted to be "the leader" of the Twins, ala Kevin Garnett. Torii has a similar fire in his belly as KG, but his selfish arrogance resulted in more locker room conflict as Torii's desire to "light a fire" under his teammates' ended up being cosistently (and I believe rightfully) construed as arrogant finger pointing and blaming.

Leaders don't blame others.

This year, and next, we will most certainly miss his bat and his defense, BUT I think the clubhouse atmosphere will be better without Torii immediately, and the savings (my personal guess is that Torii would have re-signed at 5 for $16)will allow us some flexibility to resign Santana or restock with a couple more position players/bats.

Now we just have to see who will step up into the leadership role this coming year.

We are horrified!!! and not amused by this latest rumor

This has to be a joke perpertrated by some bored sports journalist -

Boone a bargain for Twins

Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007 4:16 pm EDT

There have been a half-dozen trade rumors involving the Minnesota Twins the past couple of weeks, none of which makes as much sense as a deal the Twins should pursue. The Twins probably could have Marlins third baseman/first baseman Aaron Boone for a minor league pitcher. Boone gets on base, is a decent fielder and could spell Justin Morneau at first base from time to time.

Source: Pioneer Press

Doesn't any one remember Brett Boone?????

MN Twins go from the divine (Santana) to the hopeful (Baker)

Tonight the MN Twins' match up is a parody of last night's. Yesterday we had Santana pitching an inspired, albeit uncharacteristic , 9 inning shut out. The uncharacteristic part of the game was the lack of strike outs by Santana.

Tonight we have the hopeful Baker pitching for Minnesota against the NY Mets in the rubber game of this series. Will Baker be able to keep his straight no-chaser fast-ball down? Or will we see those level no-movement fast balls fly over the fences a Shea stadium? We (and surely Scott Baker) are hoping for another uncharacteristic start with similar success for the Twins.

Pitching is of course only one part of the baseball formula which the Twins are trying to hone here in June. The other part is hitting. Last night the Twins bats were on fire - with a lot of tinder piled on by NY Mets fielding errors. Will the MN Twins flickering bats be able to maintain some of last nights fire tonight? Only time will tell - but Gardenhire should remember Santana's fine batting performance if he needs a pinch hitter in tonight's game.

I think that Johann Santana may have found a formula which will get him further into the game. And going further, and with fewer runs, and fewer pitches will mean that Santana will have more control of his fate in future games with the MN Twins.

Matt Garza Expendable in Mark Teixeira Dealings

Matt Garza Expendable in Mark Teixeira Dealings - from MLB Rumors on /cooperstownkid.blogspot.com

It's be a bit harsh to label hard-throwing Twins prospect Matt Garza uncoachable, but clearly his resistence to developing off-speed offerings has cost him not only a promotion to The Bigs but perhaps some friends in the Minnesota organization.

Garza -- who throws in the mid-90s -- has pitched reasonably well for the Triple A Rochester Red Wings, but has had moderate control problems, blaming them on the coaching staff' pestering him to improve his change-up and other off-speed pitches.

The 23-year-old Garza prefers to do things his way, an attitude that would make him a very expendable but still valuable in any potential dealings for a Twins upgrade at third base.

In one of the Twins versions of the myriad scenarios for the trade of slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira by the Texas Rangers, Teixeira is envisioned going to the Boston Red Sox, allowing Kevin Youkilis to move to third base, Mike Lowell and cash to be shipped to the Twins and a Garza and other top Twins prospects to go to Texas.

This is a tremendous upgrade at the corners for the Red Sox, while helping the team to get younger and acquire some value for Lowell in his last year of a $9 million contract. At the same time the Twins receive a major third base rental in the team's ongoing charge for a playoff spot.

On the surface the free-falling Rangers would appear to have the most to lose in the deal, as the team would kiss off "Big Tex," the guy they signed for a $10 million bonus and the one player who more than any other embodies the face and future of the franchise.

But then again, this is the same team that was foolish enough to trade away starting pitcher Chris Young and upcoming star first basemen Adrian Gonzalez and Travis Hafner -- just to name a few -- and now has virtually nothing to show for it.

Sweet Sweep!

Its always sweet to beat the White Sox, and to sweep, is even sweeter. But to have the White Sox walk in the winning run!!! and to walk Torii Hunter - ahhh, how sweet this is!