Orioles @ Twins

by Jesse on Mar 11, 2010 5:01 PM EST in Game Threads

First Pitch: 6:05pm CST

Lineups after the jump!

Orioles

Nolan Reimold, DH
Robert Andino, 2B
Nick Markakis, RF
Luke Scott, LF
Garrett Akins, 1B
Josh Bell, 3B
Jeff Salazar, CF
Chad Moeller, C
Pedro Florimon, SS

Pitching: Kevin Millwood, Koji Uehara, Jim Johnson

Twins

Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Jason Kubel, DH
Delmon Young, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Nick Punto, 3B

Pitching: Scott Baker, Francisco Liriano, Jon Rauch, Matt Guerrier, Mike Maroth, others

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Comments

Finally!

The REAL opening day lineup!

by Twins4Life on Mar 11, 2010 5:05 PM EST reply actions

Wow

You gotta love a lineup where your real, starting, talented DH actually hits 6th. What a team.

"...and we'll see ya tomorrow night!" - Jack Buck, Game 6, 1991 World Series

by WindyCityTwinsFan on Mar 11, 2010 5:13 PM EST reply actions

What a rough couple of days - Mauer trade stories, Nathan's wonky elbow...

I needed to see this lineup to get re-excited for the season! What a fantastic team this will be offensively!

by dctwin on Mar 11, 2010 5:32 PM EST reply actions

Radio?

Is this one on the radio?

by Zathras on Mar 11, 2010 6:04 PM EST reply actions

Mauer Trade Story

…seriously, that is borderline blasphemy.

by bartikuSS on Mar 11, 2010 6:52 PM EST reply actions

When you look at that line-up

“Punto” just does’nt belong. “Harris” or “Valencia” seems to fit much better!

by b1 on Mar 11, 2010 6:58 PM EST reply actions

Did someone tell Span

that he doesnt need to hit 500 to make the team? Save some for the season.

by Luke in MN on Mar 11, 2010 7:31 PM EST reply actions

Cuddyer with a BIG home run

And LNP with a triple off the wall. 5-0 Twins

I love Twins Baseball and Minnesota Vikings Football.

by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Mar 11, 2010 8:04 PM EST reply actions

Haha, way to go LNP.

At least attempting to earn that roster spot. ;)

RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July

by fischean on Mar 11, 2010 9:05 PM EST up reply actions

Where's Frankie

by mthphy1 on Mar 11, 2010 8:45 PM EST reply actions

It sure looks like Liriano had another good outing...

three strike outs, one hit over two innings. I hope he’s for real this season.

by Cedoleban on Mar 11, 2010 9:27 PM EST reply actions

I hope the start stretching him out soon

Would have liked to see him go 3.

by Eric in Madison on Mar 11, 2010 9:37 PM EST up reply actions

Saw that

I’m getting more and more optimistic with each start. Still cautiously tho

by Neil34 on Mar 11, 2010 9:38 PM EST up reply actions

Juan Portes

Is having another unreal game. 2-2 with a 2B & HR with 2R &2RBI

by Neil34 on Mar 11, 2010 9:42 PM EST reply actions

Portes and Revere

I hope Casilla and Tolbert are looking in the rear view mirror because these two guys are gaining. If I’m Alexi, I’m not buying green bananas.

by z-squad on Mar 11, 2010 10:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

will somebody please profile juan portes for the website?

who in the heck is he? and is he expected to continue anything even remotely close to this?

by B.C. 4 MVP on Mar 11, 2010 11:59 PM EST reply actions

Portes was a 15th round draft pick of the Twins in 2004

Who has been making slooow progress through the system and spent last year at AA. He was originally an infielder, and still played some 3B last year, but mostly played outfield, which limits his prospects.

He’s hit…OK through his minor league career, but has not been great, and hasn’t had a breakout season. He showed a bit of power at Fort Myers, and even at NB, given the tough hitting environments, but his overall line in the minors is .276/.335/.418,

He showed some improvement in his walk rate and strikeout rate last season, but nothing extraordinary. He’s now 24 years old, and is pretty small for a ballplayer. There isn’t star potential there, and his most likely future is organizational filler, but who knows? There could be a good 4th outfileder/ 4 corners backup in there somewhere.

by Eric in Madison on Mar 12, 2010 7:56 AM EST up reply actions

Turd in the punchbowl

How soon before the positive test?

by DJL44 on Mar 12, 2010 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

I would add a few things

He had some trouble with academics in high school in Boston, so he didn’t play high school ball his senior year. But he showed enough upside in summer leagues to warrant a mid-level draft pick.

He started out very well in the GCL (.909 OPS) and the Appy League (.843). But he’s had a couple of down years due to injury. Last year, he showed signs of developing some of his upside, hitting .297/.366/.434 at New Britain.

Given his age, he might be ready for a break-out year this year. His body is filled out and he’s more mature overall. Even if he does break out and hit, say .300/.370/.480 in AAA , he’s limited defensively. He was drafted as a shortstop and he’s played a lot of second and center in the minors, so he has the speed and quickness. But the last three years, he’s primarily been a corner outfielder and third baseman.

He could be a decent bench bat down the road. A right-handed complement to Jason Kubel. The Twins have a couple of guys like that. Luke Hughes is another one—good bat, marginal glove.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Mar 12, 2010 11:18 AM EST up reply actions