Monday Breakfast & Baseball: Hudson headed to DL, plus trade rumors

by Jon Marthaler on Jul 26, 2010 7:00 AM EDT in News

Here's your Monday morning Twins news:

Hudson goes on DL for a second time | StarTribune.com
Orlando Hudson is headed to the DL with an oblique muscle strain. His replacement is Jose Morales, who will fill the important role of making Gardy feel warm and fuzzy about having three catchers on the roster. With Drew Butera now playing every fifth day, it's nice to know that the Twins still have a catcher who never plays.

Twins Rumors @ MLBTradeRumors.com
Rather than linking you to each individual post, just check out the Twins' team page at MLBTR. Minnesota could be in on Scott Downs, Tom Gorzelanny, or Ted Lilly, though the latter is believed to have a no-trade clause that includes the Twins.

Tom Powers: Minnesota Twins dawdle as trade deadline nears
This Pioneer Press column is mostly entertaining because I think I may disagree with every single thing in it.

Ozzie has no regrets regarding Thome
Ozzie Guillen loves Jim Thome, but doesn't regret getting rid of him. Ozzie remains great value for your entertainment dollar, too.

Twins Notes | AaronGleeman.com
Gleeman's weekly notes, containing all the BABIP-y goodness you'd expect.

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Comments

RE: Powers

I think you can say that about every column he writes.

by RandBall's Stu on Jul 26, 2010 8:10 AM EDT reply actions

Right?

Or maybe it’s just that the only times I read him are when people point out something he’s written that’s complete garbage.

by Jesse on Jul 26, 2010 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Powers - my goodness

That was a particularly entertaining article. Let me get this straight – we need a starting pitcher, so we should look at the Baltimore pitching staff? Do they have anyone who is a definite upgrade over what we already have? Guthrie pitched well on Friday, but he’s been consistently pounded this year. Perhaps I’d trade for Matusz, but as a prospect and not a starter who will help us this year. Ditto for Tillman and, to a lesser extent, Arrieta.

by Adam Peterson on Jul 26, 2010 8:16 AM EDT reply actions

Jose Morales

I don’t really mind the move, as it gives us a bat off the bench, and there wasn’t much in the way of alternatives. Tolbert? No thanks, we already have Punto, Casilla and Valencia splitting time at 2B and 3B. Ramos wouldn’t make sense if he’s not going to get time as a catcher. If Hughes were healthy (and hitting), he’d have a shot.

by Adam Peterson on Jul 26, 2010 8:19 AM EDT reply actions

See you at the game tonight

Time to get on the road!

by DJL44 on Jul 26, 2010 8:19 AM EDT reply actions

Morales

In addition to starting when Pavano is on the mound, Butera started games with Liriano and Slowey on the mound LAST WEEK. I don’t mind Butera once a week, when the pitcher is so slow to home, opposing teams can run at will. But the other two times, it could have been Morales.

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

by cmathewson on Jul 26, 2010 9:02 AM EDT reply actions

Actually

Joe Mauer has a sore shoulder and needs the rest. Gardy sat him because we were playing Baltimore. If it were a team like the Yankees, Joe Mauer would be behind the plate.

by Jessy S on Jul 26, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the move

Even though Butera has been playing well, I like the addition of Morales, a guy who hit over .300 in AAA from 2007-2009 (I’m not sure what his numbers are this year) and over .300 in 119 ABs last year with the Twins. I’m not sure how often Morales will play catcher, but with Morneau out for a while and Thome finding himself in the starting lineup a lot more, it’s nice to have a good hitter on the bench if we need to pinch hit for someone late in a game. Basically, I see Morales as having the same kind of role Thome had before Gardy went with the Cuddyer at third experiment, forcing Kubel into the outfield and Thome into the everyday DH role.

by Sheldon on Jul 26, 2010 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

Morales

maybe Mauer is a bit more banged up than what is know. Its not enough to get him on the DL, but enough to maybe he is DHing a few more times

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Jul 26, 2010 10:08 AM EDT reply actions

Yes

His shoulder is really bothering him. He’s taken a few too many foul tips off of it.

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

by cmathewson on Jul 26, 2010 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't think foul tips would cause a shoulder to be banged up

I actually think the shoulder goes back to the foot injury that kept Joe out for a few weeks earlier this year.

by Jessy S on Jul 26, 2010 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I almost wish they'd just DL him instead of just giving him all this half-assed "rest" here and there.

by Luke in MN on Jul 26, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Not me

I don’t think it gets better or worse with rest. I’d rather have Joe Mauer out there as a catcher/DH five games a week than not have him at all.

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

by cmathewson on Jul 26, 2010 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

are you thinking it's a surgery type situation then?

Baseball reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.-Terence Mann/James Earl Jones in FoD

by Twins33 on Jul 26, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

No, it'll heal in the offseason

I think it’s some kind of bone bruise or something. It just takes a long time for these things to heal, especially when you play catcher in the majors.

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

by cmathewson on Jul 26, 2010 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Ah, I never even thought of a bone bruise

Which is odd since Hardy just went through it and they’re always talking about how hard Mauer got nailed in the shoulder against Detroit.

Took Hardy a month (?) to recover from that. This would definitely be an offseason type of thing if it’s that.

Baseball reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.-Terence Mann/James Earl Jones in FoD

by Twins33 on Jul 26, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

You're probably right.

I was saying that with absolutely no knowledge of the actual problem (or what would likely fix it).

by Luke in MN on Jul 26, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I think people might be speculating here...

My life's goal: to force fischean itno using her moderator powers

by montanatwinsfan on Jul 26, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

definitely

I don’t think anyone knows besides Mauer, the team and the doctors.

I think if it’s something that can be healed in a week’s time, I’d rest Mauer as much as possible, but if it’s something longer…might as well run him into the ground because he is the better option even when hurt.

Baseball reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.-Terence Mann/James Earl Jones in FoD

by Twins33 on Jul 26, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

We don't want that

It’s just been a lingering injury since early June. Of course, making 200 throws a game doesn’t help. Pitchers have pitch counts. Catchers, not so much.

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

by cmathewson on Jul 26, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't mention catcher "throw counts"

to Barreiro, he might have an aneurysm. On second thought…here’s the email address…

by Dave MN on Jul 26, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Morales in Trade?

Maybe it’s a showcase to be included in a trade. Let’s see how much he plays this week.

by rancher33 on Jul 26, 2010 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

doubt that

wouldnt they trade ramos? he has more value apparently…

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 26, 2010 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Depends on who the Twins would get back

Twins could say we’ll give you Morales for this guy, if you want Ramos we need this other guy.

by rancher33 on Jul 26, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

not sure they act as seller at this point. i mean who could you possibly get for someone that projects as a career backup catcher?

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 26, 2010 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Who also has....

A history of injuries…you’re probably right, my wishful thinking on the possibility of some pitching help.

by rancher33 on Jul 26, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

sounded like he'd be a bench guy to me

on tv, I believe someone said the “Butera will still be Mauer’s primary back-up,” after they announced the move. I can’t remember who said it though.

Baseball reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.-Terence Mann/James Earl Jones in FoD

by Twins33 on Jul 26, 2010 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Best quote yet this season

Slama, on being called up from Triple-A to join a clubhouse full of equally mustachioed men:

I’ve been grooming this thing since April. I didn’t know all this was happening up here, the mustache extravaganza. It’s good to see some real men in here.

by bl4ckduck on Jul 26, 2010 12:48 PM EDT reply actions