Gardy: Punto to DL, Blackburn to AAA

Just caught Ron Gardenhire's interview with ESPN1500's Pat Reusse and Phil Mackey. The manager says LNP has a strained hamstring that will probably necessitate a trip to the Nick Punto Wing of the Minnesota Twins disabled list, with Trevor Plouffe being the most likely call-up. In addition, to make room for worst acquisition ever (copyright: everyone in my Twitter feed) Matt Capps, Nick Blackburn is the most likely player to be sent to Rochester. "He needs to start," said Gardy. Finally, he knows just as much about Justin Morneau as we do, it seems.

over 1 year ago RandBall's Stu 32 comments 0 recs |

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thanks for the update

I really hope Blackburn can figure himself out in Rochester!

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 30, 2010 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

+1

I’d like to see him back when he’s good again.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
Minnesota Twins 2010: GAME 163 OR BUST!!!

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jul 30, 2010 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

Best of luck to Blackburn, hopefully he’ll turn himself around.

Souhan in Chinese! : "一會兒，德爾蒙楊想與他無關的隊友。不想讓他們打他。難道不希望他們偷了他的頭盔。不希望他們成為他的Facebook的朋友。"

by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Jul 30, 2010 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

maybe he should learn a knuckleball, like RA Dickey. that would be awesome.

by Hillstop on Jul 30, 2010 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Dear God

Justin get well soon!

Delmon Young is my new Bicycle.

by Zack Carlson on Jul 30, 2010 2:28 PM EDT reply actions

better to have Blackburn work out his stuff in AAA

by Hjorvarthr on Jul 30, 2010 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

I'm glad Blackburn is going to Rochester;

he has a lot of work to do. The Twins will survive without LNP for a while, but I wish there was solid (and positive news) about Morneau…

"'Over'? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell, no!"

by rubberbiscuit on Jul 30, 2010 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

I know we are kinda limited, but now our roster is highly hilarious

3 guys who only play C
2 guys who only play SS
1 guy who only plays DH

it fights, but tolbert the true rubbish, is the son--japanese proverb
Chase Utley is a Nick Punto-type player, but with power--Bert Blyleven

by ajmargarine on Jul 30, 2010 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

Reminds me of my fantasy team

Well, change catcher to 1B. And I should note, I am not anywhere close to winning my league. Thankfully for the twins, Cuddy seems cool with playing wherever we put him.

by dctwin on Jul 30, 2010 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

and he should be

i mean why the hell not? he is a team player, or isnt he?!

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 30, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

And by "cool," I also mean capable

I can’t imagine there are too many guys of his caliber who can play 1B, 2B, 3B and OF (albeit not all of them well).

by dctwin on Jul 30, 2010 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

true true

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 30, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

This actually seems a spot for Matt Macri to get the call

He’s played everywhere but CF and C this year at AAA, so he can backup the primary positions we need backed up, 1B, 2B, SS and 3B. He’s the same age as Tolbert, hits as well as Tolbert and is more versatile and probably at least just as good defensively. I think we could have activated Tolbert from the DL, DFA’d him, no one takes him probably and we get Macri on the 40man and Tolbert to AAA.

(full disclosure: I like Matt Macri for some reason) (hit .324 in his 2008 stint with the Twins)

it fights, but tolbert the true rubbish, is the son--japanese proverb
Chase Utley is a Nick Punto-type player, but with power--Bert Blyleven

by ajmargarine on Jul 30, 2010 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

the only thing with this is activating Tolbert from the DL if he's still injured,

which he almost has to be to not get the callup here…and that would probably be a violation of union rules or baseball rules or some rules somewhere

it fights, but tolbert the true rubbish, is the son--japanese proverb
Chase Utley is a Nick Punto-type player, but with power--Bert Blyleven

by ajmargarine on Jul 30, 2010 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Twins still in on Lilly as of 1:20pm CST today

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-latest-news-from-July-070110

Good news, I just don’t want to overpay.

by bbeeck on Jul 30, 2010 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

At the same link

Rosenthal/Morosi say the Twins are still interested in Downs as well.

by bbeeck on Jul 30, 2010 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

which is odd

it fights, but tolbert the true rubbish, is the son--japanese proverb
Chase Utley is a Nick Punto-type player, but with power--Bert Blyleven

by ajmargarine on Jul 30, 2010 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah...

If we already gave Ramos to the Nats, who would we give for Downs or Lilly? Hicks is off limits (and rightfully so). Maybe a current starter + midlevel prospect for Lilly + prospect? Every report says the Lilly asking price is way too high.

by bbeeck on Jul 30, 2010 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

could come down overnight though.

sounds like they want to move him and they’ve really got no reason to keep him.

by dctwin on Jul 30, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Ryan Theriot

Could we also/or even want to try and get Theriot as well as Lilly?

by NYCisTwinsTerritory on Jul 30, 2010 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah

He’s like a better hitting, much worse fielding Punto. No reason to.

by bbeeck on Jul 30, 2010 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

that is why i ask

i know he has decent singles bat, but do not know much about his fielding or his salary.

by NYCisTwinsTerritory on Jul 30, 2010 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Its not that he's worthless

Its just that he’d be redundent. He’s making $2.6 mil, and we already have Punto (overpaid), Casilla (cheap), and Tolber (extra crappy, but cheap and versatile). It just wouldn’t make sense, unless they took back one of the aforementioned three utility players. Which they won’t, and it would be a lateral move for us.

by bbeeck on Jul 30, 2010 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm guessing that's what their doing

They probably have an offer on the table and are hoping nobody outbids them. I don’t see the Twins overpaying for him. They already did it once this week, albeit slightly.

by bbeeck on Jul 30, 2010 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Blackburn

I did a little research into this because I had a concern about optioning Blacky to AAA this year. My concern was that if only had one option year left and we use it this year, he’s locked into the 25-man MLB roster for the next 3 seasons, suckage be damned.

But, I think he has 2 option years left. So, we send him to AAA this year and use one option. And now, next year we still have the AAA option to use if ~~he still sucks~~ we need to use it.

(Of course, the only reason this is a discussion is because Bill Smith signed him to a multi-year deal this offseason…How’s that working out for us, grrr)

it fights, but tolbert the true rubbish, is the son--japanese proverb
Chase Utley is a Nick Punto-type player, but with power--Bert Blyleven

by ajmargarine on Jul 30, 2010 3:22 PM EDT reply actions

Blackbeard's had a rough half season

after multiple good years. It’s not like its because he’s old and cant perform physically. Cut him some slack.

by Codypc21 on Jul 30, 2010 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, hopefully he'll be able to figure his mechanics and such out in AAA.

And come back to be the Big Game Blackbeard that we all know and love.

"All I want to do is beat the hair mannequin [Anthony LaPanta] this year"-Souhan

by fischean on Jul 30, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd like them to clean out his elbow

I think he’s more hurt than they say. Could it be that he’s not finishing his pitches because of pain in his elbow? They know he has a big bone spur. Why doesn’t it occur to them that he’s not 100%?

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

by cmathewson on Jul 30, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I want to trust the Twins medical staff

but boy do they have a bad track record with pitchers.

by dctwin on Jul 30, 2010 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Joe Mays

There, I said it.

by DJL44 on Jul 30, 2010 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Pat Neshek

Francisco Liriano
Joe Mauer

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

by cmathewson on Jul 30, 2010 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

He's not old, but at 28

he’s had one disastrous cup of coffee, two decent years and one disaster. At Blackburn’s best, he doens’t have a lot of room for error. He reminds me a lot of Carlos Silva.

"'Over'? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell, no!"

by rubberbiscuit on Jul 30, 2010 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions