Updates for the Minnesota Twins Walking Wounded

by Jesse on Sep 9, 2010 10:30 AM EDT in News

I don't think this should take more than six or seven hours....

Justin Morneau is still optimistic that he'll return in 2010. There've been more good days than bad days, and while there still are bad days he's starting to string the good ones together in between.
The MRI on the back of Brian Fuentes didn't show any structural damage. There's a chance that he could be available for the weekend series in Cleveland. Which would be a pleasant change.
Jim Thome was scratched from the lineup late last night, apparently due to a mild abdominal strain. He's day-to-day. The Twins can always use all the firepower they can get, but if Thome does need to miss a game or two this weekend, at least it's the Indians and not a club that typically requires a great deal of offensive support for a win.
Danny Valencia is slated to start Friday night. The Twins were cautious with his tightness in his hamstring, and considering the Twins didn't lose in his absence it's hard to argue with the logic.
Jose Mijares threw a bullpen session and took fielding drills yesterday, and while he felt "a little pain" the session went well. He's slated to pitch a simulated game tomorrow, after which the Twins will discuss a potential return date.
J.J. Hardy has been cutting down on his pre-game workout in order to put less stress on his wrist.
Nick Punto was eligible to come off the disabled list last weekend, but is still getting extra work in while the luxury is there. Neither he or the doctors are in a rush, but he should be back in relatively short order, barring another injury.
Kevin Slowey seems to be okay.
The off day today, as well as the off day Monday, will allow the Twins to work with a four-man rotation through next week. They'll need a fifth starter by Sunday, September 19th, which is probably the time frame for Scott Baker's return.
Orlando Hudson has looked good, too. It's nice to see a couple of these DL guys healthy.
Also healthy: Jason Kubel.

I think that's everybody...right?

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The day will soon come

that Justin Morneau will ride onto the baseball field ontop of a majestic unicorn shooting rainbows from it’s horn, and Punto hanging off it’s back crying that it’s his unicorn and give it back…

The women will swoon, and so will the men but in a manly way like how guys hug but don’t really touch besides a slap on the back. Even bears will swoon at the sight of Justin walking towards homeplate with a freshly carved bat in hand.

The pitcher will shake as he throws his first pitch. It will magically transform from a baseball to a delicious meatball on it’s way to the catcher and Morneau will exhale, his eyes will grow big and he will think, “Yeah Bitches, I’m Back!” as he crushes the ball into the upper deck.
The crowd will roar, TC Bear will fill his souvenir cup, and all will be well with the world.

by caluofmn on Sep 9, 2010 10:50 AM EDT reply actions

LMFAO...mushrooms?

by BigSkyViking on Sep 10, 2010 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Dream scenario.....

1. We wrap up the division before the Toronto series and let all out big guys rest.

2. Morneau comes back for the last week of the regular season and gets some swings, gets back into it just in time for the playoffs.

3. Rangers continue their skid and go the NY in the first round.

4. Tampa limps across the finish line and barely wins the wild card. They come to Target Field where a frenzied crowd doesn’t shut up for a single minute. Twins take the first two games and win one in Tampa.

5. Rangers upset the Yankees.

6. Twins host the Rangers and win the first two at Target Field, win 1 of 3 in Texas and then win Game 6 at home, celebrating the AL Title with victory laps and pie.

7. Twins split Games 1 & 2 vs. the NL foe and win 3 straight at Target Field.

8. Twins wear borrowed mink coats for the parade through the Cities.

9. Mauer and Morneau make the late night rounds and cut it up with Leno and Letterman. Jim Thome visits the Daily Show and Tolbert is a guest on (what else?) the Colbert Report.

10. Twins sign Thome, Hudson and Pavano to extensions. Joe Nathan comes back 100% and we win 100 games in 2011.

The beard abides.

by Jason Kubel's Beard on Sep 9, 2010 11:07 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs

I like the way you think JKB.

But yeah, two days off in the next five, plus a little bit of a cushion in the division, plus playing Cleveland, where 2 out of 3 should easily be the expectation, certainly gives the Twins some flexibility in resting guys. Overall the news in the health department is far more good than bad right now.

As far as Morneau, I’ve officially moved into “I’ll believe it when I see it and not before” territory, but man would that be nice. I think a healthy Twins team, assuming they play at home, are favorites to beat Tampa. Yes Tampa took 3 of 4 at Target Field over 4th of July weekend, but, if you look at those games, it really should have been the other way around.

by DonnyDonovan on Sep 9, 2010 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

I like this.

But personally, I WANT to face the Yankees in the postseason. I don’t want another team to have to take care of them for us. I want the Twins to finally take care of business and send the Yankees packing this year. It would be awesome if we could get home-field advantage vs. them.

by Twins4Life on Sep 9, 2010 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

The way it's going, the Twins will have the best record in the AL by the end of the year

Home field advantage throughout the playoffs! That’s my dream scenario.

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

by cmathewson on Sep 9, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Win the home games

Pavano winning a game in NY would be pretty sweet.

by DJL44 on Sep 9, 2010 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

The Yankees schedule for the remainder is pretty tough:

Away series against the Rangers, Rays, Jays and Red Sox. Home series against the Rays and Red Sox.

"'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 Sep 9, 2010 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Ouch, that's nice to hear.

I think the Twins with homefield advantage against the Yanks in the ALCS is my dream. Twins in 7 in a series for the ages. I’ll take the Braves in the WS for a 1991 rematch.

by Luke in MN on Sep 9, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Me too

For the past few weeks I kept telling myself, “Just focus on the division and being better than Texas,” which do come first anyway, the latter giving us home-field advantage in the first round regardless. But at this rate, we do actually have a chance at catching Tampa and New York in the win column. If we somehow pull that off, I’ll be ecstatic.

That being said, if we could avoid the Yankees altogether, I’d be happy. But if we do have to face them (might as well!), let it be the ALDS again, with them as the Wild Card. I’m rooting for Tampa to win that division anyway, so the Yanks would have no chance whatsoever at home-field advantage.

by MarshalltheIrish on Sep 9, 2010 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

And

I’m rooting for Texas in the ALDS regardless of their opponent.

by MarshalltheIrish on Sep 9, 2010 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm torn if it's Texas vs Tampa

I like both teams but I think I’d have to root for Texas b/c I’d rather face them in the ALCS.

by caluofmn on Sep 9, 2010 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

My perfect scenario

1. Twins win division
2. Twins sweep Rays
3. Twins sweep Yankees
4. Twins sweep Padres (yeah that’s right, Padres are winning the NL you heard it here first)
5. Twins have best World Series parade ever

"Baseball is the only major sport that appears backward in a mirror" ~George Carlin

by thewild_viking_twins on Sep 9, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Ditto, with:

1. I win the lottery and can afford season tickets.
2. Twins sell Guinness on tap at Target Field. Unless they already do, of course…

"'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 Sep 9, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Guinness is definitely sold at Target Field.

Not at all of the concessions, mind you, but if you go into places like Hrbek’s, Townball Tavern, or the Twins Pubs you’ll find it.

by Twins4Life on Sep 9, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

we can still 100 games this year

with a 17-5 finish. Not completely out of the question

by Armaskarhu on Sep 9, 2010 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Especially looking at the competition.

6 vs. Cleveland, 3 vs. KC, 3 vs. Oakland, 3 vs. Detroit, 3 vs. WSox, 4 vs. Toronto.

Possibly:
5-1 vs. Cleveland
3-0 vs. KC
2-1 vs. Oakland
2-1 vs. Detroit
2-1 vs. WSox
3-1 vs. Toronto

That’s kinda how I hope it plays out. We could sweep Oakland too. Who knows.

by Twins4Life on Sep 9, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

My first reaction is that your scenario against KC and Oakland are realistic.

Otherwise… well, I’d be thrilled if it worked out that way but I think 13-9 or thereabouts is more likely. I just can’t see the Sox not keeping it close.

"'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 Sep 9, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

That has us winning every series,

while sweeping a few which, aside from the texas away series, is what we’ve been doing for over a month now

by Armaskarhu on Sep 9, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

obviously a little too optimisitic

but nonetheless i like

I called on the exact pitch - Joe Mauer's first career Home-Run at Target Field !!!

Why Oh Why did the D'Backs select A.J. Pollock over Mike Trout?

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Sep 9, 2010 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Scott Baker

Is still hurt. As far as we know. Also: Clay Condrey!

by Jon Marthaler on Sep 9, 2010 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

Clay Condrey

sounds like a band that plays the 400 Bar on a Wed night…

by caluofmn on Sep 9, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Baker's in there, amongst the four-man rotation talk.

Auto-tagger didn’t pick him up though…let me try that one again.

by Jesse on Sep 9, 2010 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I must have been the only person who was excited when Condrey was signed

I thought he would bring a great arm to the bullpen, especially having pitched for the recent World Series Phillies teams. Oh well…

by MarshalltheIrish on Sep 10, 2010 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions

i guess over-caution is what happens when you turn into a big market team

gotta protect those investments!

and you can put it on the boaaaaaard YES, HELL YES

by yefrem on Sep 9, 2010 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

Punto

Punto has missed far too many games with injury to risk re-signing for next year, right?

Right?

by wcooley on Sep 9, 2010 11:27 AM EDT reply actions

Right

They have to buy out his option. If he wants to come back as strictly a utility player for $1 M, fine. I doubt he’ll get better offers elsewhere, though some on this site have suggested he’ll get $3 Mil. With his age, injury history and inconsistent play, I highly doubt it.

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

by cmathewson on Sep 9, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

3 million?

Or we could just give every single fan a refrigerator magnet next year… I vote for that.

"'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 Sep 9, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Me too

I think it was DJL44 who said he was worth $3 million on the open market. That’s just really hard for me to believe. I can’t believe scouts outside of the Twins organization don’t see his faults as plainly as we do. Besides, utility guys with no power and marginal arms are a dime a dozen.

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

by cmathewson on Sep 9, 2010 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Doubt it was me

I’d say you’re dead on with $1.5-$2M. Of course I still can’t understand why he got his last contract.

by DJL44 on Sep 9, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Tolbert Instead

We now have Matt (I only hit triples…) Tolbert to take the the place of the Italian All-Star.

by rancher33 on Sep 9, 2010 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

The Tolbert Report

“The Toll-bear Ruh-pore”

Tolbert Nation

The beard abides.

by Jason Kubel's Beard on Sep 9, 2010 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Odd stat: Liriano has still given up fewer home runs this year than Mahay.

4 to 5. Alex Burnett has also given up 4. Impressive in this day and age…

"'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 Sep 9, 2010 12:23 PM EDT reply actions

Burnett

Didn’t give up a home run until quite a bit into the season. I remember being surprised it was his first.

by Anjemon on Sep 9, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Decemberists

Every time I see Valencia I hear that song in my head.

by DJL44 on Sep 9, 2010 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

I was just glad to read that Valencia's injury report wasn't:

“Blood still warm on the ground.”

by Luke in MN on Sep 9, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice roundup Jesse

Blissful to read this a week after the 13-inning nightmare against Detroit. The announcement on Morneau really made my day yesterday, as did the Mijares announcement. Credit to Gardy for resting anyone promptly when they’ve needed it, and I have a feeling that will really pay off.

by MarshalltheIrish on Sep 9, 2010 1:41 PM EDT reply actions

Catching the White Sox in the bottom of the 3rd on MLB.tv

I don’t think I’ve watched a Sox game all year when I wasn’t dumbstruck by what a terrible defender Carlos Quentin is. Sox down, 3-0.

by Luke in MN on Sep 9, 2010 1:47 PM EDT reply actions

4-0

by Luke in MN on Sep 9, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

4-2. Rios blast.

by Luke in MN on Sep 9, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I want the Yankees

Let’s play the yankees. If we’re goona win, lets win big. It’d be far less satisfying to beat the Rangers, Rays or Sox. Let’s do it up right, on the Big Stage.

Though the Sox might be a fun playoff victim…

by MarkusRex on Sep 9, 2010 1:58 PM EDT reply actions