Jays 7, Twins 4: April 1 is One Day Closer

by Jesse on Mar 10, 2011 6:39 PM EST in Game Recaps

The further we get into spring training, the more things we can begin to predict. While issues such as the fifth starter and the bullpen won't play out until the very last minute, that doesn't mean we can't draw some early conclusions about certain players based on their performances so far.

Eric Hacker is nowhere near ready to make a contribution at the Major League level. His fourth appearance today was another disaster, as the two runs he allowed in his one inning of work actually lowered his ERA. In his four spring innings he's allowed 12 hits. I know it's just spring, but that doesn't mean it can't be clear when somebody isn't ready.
Joe Nathan pitched again. He's fine. You always have to be a little wary when a guy is first coming back from Tommy John, but right now he looks find.
Luke Hughes continued his all-or-nothing spring, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI...and a pair of strikeouts. He's hitting .370/.400/.778 in 27 spring at-bats, with 10 RBI and five extra base hits.
Jason Kubel tripeled. That's not Mike-Redmond-triples-and-belly-flops-into-third-base funny, but it's up there. You can't really take anything from this event, other than the fact that we now know Kubel can make that run.
Ben Revere got three full at-bats today. He went 0-for-3, but he's going his best to keep his swing short and to see a few pitches. It's paid off with a few early walks this spring. He won't go north with the Twins obviously, but if can prove that he's willing to take a few more walks in Rochester it'll definitely help his value.

That's all she wrote. See you tomorrow!

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We already knew Kubel could make that run.

He hit for the cycle one time.

Oh and Nathan looks fine, not find. Might want to fix that. :P

FREE AIRWOLF!

ROHLFING!!!!!

by d-mac on Mar 10, 2011 7:39 PM EST reply actions

Nope.

He’s find.

by Jesse on Mar 11, 2011 3:05 AM EST up reply actions

I just hope

Thome can hit another triple this year. That was one of my favorite moments last year.

by geoff a on Mar 10, 2011 8:24 PM EST reply actions

I concur

That Kubel definitely hit for the cycle not too long ago.

And Thome had not one but TWO triples last year

by gkasper on Mar 11, 2011 3:06 AM EST up reply actions

Did he really?

I only remember the one that bounced off the corner of the score board.

by geoff a on Mar 11, 2011 10:34 AM EST up reply actions

That's all she wrote?

“one of Gardy’s guys” got lit up pretty bad. no?

trading Slowey seems like a better and better idea as time goes by…

by eau claire twins fan on Mar 10, 2011 8:37 PM EST reply actions

Hacker

Is there anyone besides Bill Smith who thinks keeping Hacker over Delaney was a good idea?

by clutterheart on Mar 10, 2011 10:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions

It wasn't Hacker.

It was Dusty Hughes. Hughes has been okay this spring, although I’d still have preferred to have kept Delaney.

by Jesse on Mar 11, 2011 3:11 AM EST up reply actions

In a round about way it was Hacker.

He was added to the 40man and then D Hughes came available. So Smiths choice was drop Hughes who we just picked up or Delaney. He chose to cut Delaney. So in a way it was Hacker that forced out Delaney. I get so pissed to see us treat cast-offs from other team better then the guys that come up through the system. We might talk bad about Swarts and Perkins and others but I’ll them any day over most of the cast-offs we pick up and give first shot to.

by b1 on Mar 11, 2011 9:15 AM EST up reply actions

They would have filled that slot some other way

There was a two-month gap between signing Hacker and sighing Hughes. They doubtless passed up several opportunities to bolster their bullpen in that span.

Hacker’s a AAAA starter, not a reliever. They want him for depth at AAA. He had other offers, so they gave him a spot on the 40 man to sign him. If he sucks in Rochester, and they want to sign someone else, I’m sure he’d be one of the first guys they use to make room for the new arm.

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

by cmathewson on Mar 11, 2011 10:28 AM EST up reply actions