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GM Smith disappointed to stay pat at deadline: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press July 31, 2011 at 03:42 PM; If the Twins make a serious run at their third straight division title, they'll do it largely with the team they already have as baseball's non-waiver trade deadline passed this afternoon without a move from general manager Bill Smith. "We had a lot of activity, we had a lot of calls. We made progress in a number of possibilities, but we just couldn't get to the finish line," Smith said just after
Twins manage to hold on to June gains ...: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press June 26, 2011 at 09:48 AM; By John Shipley jshipley@pioneerpress.com MILWAUKEE -- The good news is the Minnesota Twins have managed to hold on to most of the gains they've made in the American League Central this month despite a four-game losing streak. The bad news? After a 15-2 run, the season appears to be reverting to form. Since arriving at Miller Park on Friday, the Twins have not just lost two games; they've lost two
It's official: Mauer will come straight back here: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press June 12, 2011 at 11:24 AM; Joe Mauer will not play at triple-A Rochester before being activated from the 60-day disabled list, manager Ron Gardenhire said this morning. Out since April 12 with leg weakness and a sore right shoulder, Mauer will catch today and tomorrow at Class A Fort Myers, and possibly Tuesday. After that, he'll bat against Joe Nathan on Wednesday, and could be back in the Twin Cities by Thursday, though n
Young not loose, or not ready?: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press April 27, 2011 at 06:36 PM; Delmon Young pulled himself out of the lineup tonight because he couldn't get loose, whatever that means. Ron Gardenhire said he didn't feel well after batting practice (it's 42 degrees), though the manager clarified that Young is "fine." Young was supposed to be back tonight for the first time since the opener in Baltimore. He was out with a sore ribcage -- or oblique, or something -- and also
Pitching problems: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press April 27, 2011 at 06:36 PM; With tomorrow's double-header, Ron Gardenhire said he's thinking of pushing Scott Baker back to Saturday in KC and using Eric Hacker for the nightcap. "But first we need to get through tonight," the manager said. Carl Pavano has the flu, and his next start has been pushed from Saturday to Sunday. Kevin Slowey is still down in Fort Myers rehabbing his enigmatic shoulder, which is sore with either
The flu, leg weakness and getting too worked up: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press April 21, 2011 at 04:18 PM; I've been on this entire trip with the Twins, from the minute Joe Mauer's bilateral leg weakness was first mentioned to the diagnosis of his viral infection, to Morneau and Young getting the flu and Young dealing with rib soreness. I know the team is playing really poorly. Trust me, I've been watching up close, and my Twitter account tells me people are generally up in arms about what's going on
Liriano and his walks: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press April 19, 2011 at 05:00 PM; After walking five batters in his 6 1/3 inning start on Monday Francisco Liriano now leads all American League pitchers in walks this season with 14. He's also second in all of baseball (the Reds' Edinson Volquez had 16 through Monday). Monday was the second time this season Liriano has walked five in a single outing, but manager Ron Gardenhire looked beyond that after Monday's game. The strike
Back in NYC: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press April 04, 2011 at 01:48 PM; Some Twins have just taken the field here at Yankee Stadium, ready to take early batting practice. This will be an interesting four games for the Twins. Manager Ron Gardenhire, when asked yesterday about playing here, said the team will try to "survive." That doesn't inspire a great deal of confidence, but with a 6-30 record here since Gardenhire took over for Tom Kelly in 2002, survival seems a m
Opening Day in Toronto: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press April 01, 2011 at 02:36 PM; Good afternoon from Toronto, where the Twins just wrapped up an early workout. A funny scene here at Rogers Centre here a while ago when the Twins took the field. The team wanted to go through some pitchers fielding practice, but the grounds crew here didn't have the mound ready. So as they worked to at least get it into makeshift condition for PFPs, a huge group of Twins pitchers and infielders s
Gardenhire: "Tickled" by Twitter, internet: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press March 22, 2011 at 03:24 PM; Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has been pretty entertaining when it comes to the internet this spring. First, a few weeks ago, Gardenhire went on a comical rant after reporters tweeted his news that Nick Blackburn would be the fourth starter. Apparently, players saw it on Twitter before they heard it from Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson. That got Gardenhire to say the following day, abou
Matt Capps: A filet or a ribeye? That is the strange, strange question.: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press March 17, 2011 at 04:12 PM; Hello from Fort Myers, where I stayed back today to speak with Harmon Killebrew and watch Matt Capps, Carl Pavano and Joe Mauer on the minor league side. The team traveled to Lakeland, a drive I'll admit I wasn't sad to miss out on, and lost to the Tigers 4-3. But, the story today was Harmon, and you can read all about him in tomorrow's Pioneer Press. I thought he looked great, and if I didn't k
A rainy day in Fort Myers: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press March 10, 2011 at 09:00 AM; It's raining here in Fort Myers this morning so the Twins have suspended their morning workouts. I've heard the rain should pass through in time for this afternoon's game against Toronto, and I'm sure the Blue Jays, who have to bus 2.5 hours to get here, are hoping their long ride isn't for nothing. I'll have an update later on ...
Kevin Slowey: No Twins starter would object to pitching from the bullpen: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press March 04, 2011 at 05:12 PM; Kevin Slowey pitched three scoreless innings on Friday against the Rays and afterward answered some questions about the possibility of pitching in relief this season. Slowey, along with Nick Blackburn and Scott Baker, are competing for the final two spots in the rotation. Earlier this week, manager Ron Gardenhire said the pitcher of those three who doesn't make the starting staff will almost certa
Catching up with J.J. Hardy: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press March 03, 2011 at 04:49 PM; Twin Cities reporters caught up with shortstop J.J. Hardy this morning after he finished taking batting practice, but I didn't end up having room to include it in my notebook for tomorrow's paper. This is Hardy's third team in as many years, and after this season he'll be a free agent. Hardy made $5.1 million in 2010 and didn't get much a of raise for the 2011 season, avoiding arbitration with B
Duensing: happy to be a starter, not so happy with his curveball: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press March 02, 2011 at 04:48 PM; Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters today that Brian Duensing is in the rotation for the coming season, and you'll find more about that in tomorrow's Pioneer Press, but I had some extra stuff from Duensing about his outing today that I couldn't get into my story, so here it is. Duensing pitched two scoreless innings today, gave up two hits, walked one and struck out two in his spring deb
Nathan to pitch in first game since Tommy John surgery: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press March 01, 2011 at 09:12 AM; Good morning from Fort Myers, where the Twins are on the field for the morning. This afternoon is the third of three straight games against the Red Sox, this one at Hammond Stadium. Twins are 1-1 in this year's best-of-five Mayor's Cup, so today is clearly a big game ... or something. It actually is a big game in another way -- Joe Nathan is scheduled to pitch today. It will be the closer's first
Let the games begin, almost: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press February 25, 2011 at 04:35 PM; Just one more day of workouts here in Fort Myers before the Twins' Grapefruit League schedule gets underway, and manager Ron Gardenhire is eager for Sunday night's opener against Boston to get here. With 27 pitchers in camp the manager is trying his hardest to see all of them, but that will get much easier when he can call one of them in from the bullpen during an actual game. I've never seen th
Winter Meetings, Day 2: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press December 07, 2010 at 11:16 AM; Good morning once again from Orlando, where the Twins will continue to talk with Tsuyohsi Nishioka's agent, Rick Thurman, this week. Nishioka is reportedly seeking a three-year deal and it will likely end up somewhere between $3 and $5 million per year. Again, the sooner they sign him the better, so they can seriously start to consider offers for J.J. Hardy. The A's were unable to reach an agree
Twins meeting with Nishioka's agent today: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press December 06, 2010 at 12:29 PM; The Twins had a meeting scheduled for today (either in the morning or this afternoon) with Rick Thurman, Tsuyoshi Nishioka's agent from the Beverly Hills Sports Council. In my view, the sooner the Twins get Nishioka signed the better, especially if they are serious about trading J.J. Hardy this winter. I can't imagine the Twins would risk trading Hardy before they have Nishioka locked up. Seems
Gardenhire: Guys are loose: via Twins Now - Pioneer Press October 07, 2010 at 03:35 PM; Twins manager Ron Gardenhire didn't mince words this afternoon when assessing the importance of tonight's Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees, saying it's "pretty much do-or-die" for his team. But he didn't think his players would clench up when first pitch comes at 5:07 p.m. "Oh, they've been yelling (in the clubhouse)," he said. "I've been hearing a bunch of yelling in there; that tells me th