Monday, June 24, 2013

Injury Report: Pelfrey's Back

On Sunday, the Twins placed RHP Mike Pelfrey on the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 19 (the last time he pitched), with a strained back.

His back tightened up during pre-game exercising on Saturday. He couldn't get it loose before his scheduled start on Sunday, so on the DL he went.

There's no indication of whether he'll be able to return when he's eligible, but it's doubtful this injury is serious.

LHP Pedro Hernandez was recalled to start on Sunday, and then was promptly optioned back after the game. It was a good thing that Pelfrey mentioned his sore back on Saturday; it gave the Twins time to notify Hernandez so he could drive six hours from Louisville, Kentucky, (where the Red Wings were playing) to Cleveland. If Pelfrey had waited until he woke up on Sunday to report it, the Twins would have been up a creek. Anthony Swarzak normally would've been able to make a spot start, but since he had to clean up PJ Walters' horrible one-inning start on Saturday, he was unavailable.

Although the transaction hasn't been officially made yet, the Twins have announced that they're calling up Kyle Gibson to replace Pelfrey on the roster. THE Kyle Gibson.


Monday, June 10, 2013

Injury Report: Hicksey Hammey

On Monday, the Twins placed Aaron Hicks on the 15-day DL with a left hamstring strain. He suffered it in Sunday evening's game while running to first base.

The hamstrings are the group of muscles running along the back of the thigh from the hip to the knee. If you've ever over-done lunges or weeding your garden, you've felt your hamstrings the next morning.

I haven't seen any indication how serious his injury is or how soon the Twins expect him back (probably because Monday's off-day didn't allow for the reporters to ask anyone about it). Fortunately, he didn't do that patented "shot-by-a-sniper" fall that people do when a hammie is ruptured. (I've witnessed that happening to an acquaintance, and it wasn't pretty.)

The Twins recalled Oswaldo Arcia to take Hicks' place on the roster. It sounds like Clete Thomas, who was added to the roster earlier this month, will be patrolling center field until either Hicks or Wilkin Rameriz comes off the DL.


Thursday, May 30, 2013

Injury Report: From Head to Calf

The Twins placed Trevor Plouffe on the 15-day DL on Thursday with a strained left calf muscle.

Poor Trevor. This is the worst of all possible luck. He was activated off the 7-day concussion DL on Wednesday, just to strain his calf in pregame warm-ups. He didn't even play in a game.

He missed a fair amount of time in Spring Training with the same injury.

The Twins don't believe it'll take the full 15 days for Plouffe to heal, but with a 13-man (!) pitching staff, they can't afford to have him sitting on the roster unavailable to play. Also, they weren't able to make the move retroactive to the beginning of the first DL stint since it's a separate incident.

The Twins recalled Chris Colabello to replace Plouffe on the roster. Colabello probably didn't even get unpacked after being optioned Wednesday to make room for Plouffe.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Injury Report: Head Cases

Sorry about posting this so late. I treated myself to some relaxation time.



On May 22, the Twins placed 3B Trevor Plouffe on the 7-day DL with concussion-like symptoms. He suffered it during the Braves series plowing into 2B Dan Uggla trying to break up a double play. Plouffe's helmet flew off and Uggla's knee met his head with force. It kind of reminded me of Justin Morneau's collision back in 2010, which was pretty worrisome.

After Plouffe's collision, he laid on the field for a long while, holding his head. And he looked really woozy as he was escorted off the field. The Twins wasted no time and put him on the DL right after the game.

Fortunately, it appears that Plouffe is going to be ok. He's passed his concussion tests, and he's gone through some workouts with no lingering effects. He hopes to be back in the lineup as soon as he's eligible on Wednesday. I hope so too.

The Twins selected the contract of 3B Chris Colabello to replace Plouffe on the active roster and transferred Darin Mastrioanni to the 60-day DL to make room for Colabello on the 40-man roster.

Bonus reading: Here is an article from my friend Seth over at Twins Daily on Chris Colabello's interesting back story.

~~~~

On Monday, the Twins placed OF Wilkin Ramirez on the 7-day DL with concussion-like symptoms. He suffered it on Sunday during the Tigers series when he ran into Josh Willingham while going for a fly ball. I didn't see the play, but apparently, Ramirez's jaw hit Willingham's forearm. Apparently, Josh Willingham has forearms like lead pipes.

The Tigers' team doctor diagnosed Ramirez. Ramirez initially disagreed with the diagnosis, claiming that the only portion of the concussion test he failed was naming the months backwards from December. He insisted that he can't normally name the months any way, English or Spanish.

(Admit it, you just named the months backwards from December.)

Ramirez wanted to appeal the DL stint, until the flight to Milwaukee. He got sick. It was later revealed that the months question was not the only part of the test he failed.

While I appreciate Ramirez's drive to stay on the active roster, I sincerely hope he realizes that brain injuries are nothing to fool around with. It's too soon to tell whether he'll recover quickly or not.

Catcher Chris Herrmann was recalled to replace Ramirez.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Injury Report: Mastroianni AND Wait...Who's This? Oswaldo Arcia (belated)


The Twins have placed Darin Mastroianni on the 15-day disabled list with a stress reaction to his left ankle.

A stress reaction is an injury to the bone, but no fracture is seen on the imaging -- kind of like a "pre- stress fracture," I guess. It's usually happens with runners, often caused by the force of pounding of the feet on the ground and compounded by improper shoes. It can also be caused by bone deficiencies like osteoporosis.

He's been nursing a sprained ankle and bone bruise since the last week of Spring Training. It's not clear if this is related to that, but I am willing to bet it is.

And recovery doesn't sound like it's going to be a walk in the park. He needs a boot. And he needs to be non-ambulatory for a while. In fact, according to the StarTribune's Phil Miller:

The Twins will recall Oswaldo Arcia to replace Mastro's roster spot.

Sources:
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_23038836/minnesota-twins-drop-aaron-hicks-lineup-scratch-darin
http://www.drpribut.com/sports/stress_fracture.html
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/cme/conferences/pdfs/RAD-2012-PDFs/02_MON-Greenspan.pdf

~~~

Note: I should have introduced you to Oswaldo Arcia before Monday, because that's when he got to play. I figured I could get to it on Tuesday, but he was sent right back down (he was up because Wilkin Ramirez was on paternity leave). But now that we'll get a good, long look at him, here he is.

Wait Now...Who's This?

Oswaldo Arcia

Outfielder
Bats lefty; throws righty
Almost 22 years old

What he looks like:

Source: Getty Images


Where did he come from:

Signed as a 16-year-old free agent.

A few things to get excited about:

  • He's a highly-rated prospect
  • He's young
  • He has some power and is generally a good all-around hitter

A few things to temper your enthusiasm

  • His strikeout and walk rates are something one would want for a pitcher, but he's a hitter
  • He's not really a center fielder (in case you're thinking he could fill in for Aaron Hicks)
  • He's still young

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Injury Report: Cole DeVries and Wait Now...Who's This: Pedro Hernandez

The Twins have placed Cole DeVries on the 15-day Disabled List, retroactive to March 30, with a strained right forearm.

He noticed tightness during his final appearance in Spring Training. After resting it for a few days, he still felt tightness when throwing his breaking balls.

He and the Twins are taking a cautious approach; they don't want it to get worse. He's scheduled to have an MRI on Monday.

This is of concern to me because Nick Blackburn's woes started with forearm tightness. Here's hoping Cole's isn't as serious.

The Twins have recalled lefty pitcher Pedro Hernandez to replace DeVries on the roster.

In other transaction news: the Twins have activated pitcher Anthony Swarzak off the DL and optioned Tyler Robertson to AAA Rochester.

~~~


Wait Now...Who's This?

Pedro Hernandez

Starting Pitcher
Right-handed
Almost 24 years old

What he looks like:

Source: StarTribune


Where did he come from:

Acquired in the Francisco Liriano trade last season. Made Twins debut on Sunday.

A few things to get excited about:

  • He had an outstanding spring (not that that matters much)
  • He's young
  • He looked pretty sharp on Sunday

A few things to temper your enthusiasm

  • He's probably going to give up too many hits
  • He's probably not going to strike out very many batters
  • He's still young


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Wait Now...Who's This? Wilkin Ramirez

There are a few new faces on the Minnesota Twins roster. The season is starting soon, and I thought I'd introduce them to you. If you haven't had a chance to see any Spring Training games, you probably won't know who you're looking at when you're watching on Opening Day. Back in the day, the Twins had a "Get To Know 'Em" ad campaign, but I'm sure that phrase is all trademarked and stuff, and I'd get in a whole heap of trouble if I used it, and I've been pretty busy lately, and the last thing I need is a whole bunch of "cease and desist" emails and phone calls, even though my tiny little blog isn't likely to dilute their precious trademark or anything, but whatever, so I present to you...

Wait Now...Who's This?

Wilkin Ramirez

Outfielder and Pinch Hitter
Right-handed
27 years old

What he looks like:

Source: Getty Images


Where did he come from:

Signed as a minor league free agent after the 2011 season. Spent the 2012 season in the minors.

A few things to get excited about:

  • He had an outstanding spring (not that that matters much)
  • He has some pop in his bat
  • He dominated AAA
  • On Tuesday, according to Baseball Reference, he was baseball's 5 millionth player appearance
  • He drove in a run on Wednesday

A few things to temper your enthusiasm

  • He's going to strike out way more than he walks 
  • He might strike out more than he gets hits
  • He probably won't have a great batting average
  • He's going to be stuck on the bench for most of the season

Friday, March 29, 2013

Wait Now...Who's This? Tim Wood (with a Paper Doll)



There are a few new faces on the Minnesota Twins roster. The season is starting soon, and I thought I'd introduce them to you. If you haven't had a chance to see any Spring Training games, you probably won't know who you're looking at when you're watching on Opening Day. Back in the day, the Twins had a "Get To Know 'Em" ad campaign, but I'm sure that phrase is all trademarked and stuff, and I'd get in a whole heap of trouble if I used it, and I've been pretty busy lately, and the last thing I need is a whole bunch of "cease and desist" emails and phone calls, even though my tiny little blog isn't likely to dilute their precious trademark or anything, but whatever, so I present to you...

Wait Now...Who's This?

Tim Wood

Relief Pitcher
Right-handed

What he looks like:

Source: StarTribune

Where did he come from:

Signed as a minor league free agent. Spent last season in Pirates AAA.

A few things to get excited about:

  • He's not expensive
  • He's on Twitter, and he doesn't seem arrogant or otherwise unpleasant
  • He has experience closing, so he's used to high-leverage situations

A few things to temper your enthusiasm:

  • He's 30, and he doesn't have very much major league experience
  • His ERA is likely to be pretty beefy, especially for a reliever
  • He kind of struggled controlling baserunners during Spring Training
  • And then there's this:
The Twins have placed RHP Tim Wood on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 24, with a strain to his right rotator cuff.

He complained of soreness on Sunday after he pitched well on Saturday.

He did not have an MRI.

He's due to return mid-April. However, he may not be guaranteed a spot on the roster. But, he is out of options, so if the Twins want to send him down to AAA when he's healthy, they'll have to pass him through waivers first.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Wait Now...Who's This? Mike Pelfrey



There are a few new faces on the Minnesota Twins roster. The season is starting soon, and I thought I'd introduce them to you. If you haven't had a chance to see any Spring Training games, you probably won't know who you're looking at when you're watching on Opening Day. Back in the day, the Twins had a "Get To Know 'Em" ad campaign, but I'm sure that phrase is all trademarked and stuff, and I'd get in a whole heap of trouble if I used it, and I've been pretty busy lately, and the last thing I need is a whole bunch of "cease and desist" emails and phone calls, even though my tiny little blog isn't likely to dilute their precious trademark or anything, but whatever, so I present to you...

Wait Now...Who's This?

Mike Pelfrey

Starting Pitcher
Right-handed

What he looks like:

Source: Getty Images

Or Even:

Source: StarTribune

Where did he come from:

Signed as a free agent. Been with the Mets since 2006.

A few things to get excited about:

  • He's 6'7"
  • He's not likely to give up a ton of home runs
  • He'll probably get more ground ball outs than fly ball outs
  • He's just like the rest of us and likes fried food

A few things to temper your enthusiasm

  • He's recovering from Tommy John surgery last season
  • He had the surgery May 1st, and it usually takes more than a year to fully recover (of course, everyone heals differently, so he could be ok, but ...)
  • He probably won't strike out a ton of batters
  • Broken record alert: He's only ever been a National League pitcher

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Wait Now...Who's This? Kevin Correia


There are a few new faces on the Minnesota Twins roster. The season is starting soon, and I thought I'd introduce them to you. If you haven't had a chance to see any Spring Training games, you probably won't know who you're looking at when you're watching on Opening Day. Back in the day, the Twins had a "Get To Know 'Em" ad campaign, but I'm sure that phrase is all trademarked and stuff, and I'd get in a whole heap of trouble if I used it, and I've been pretty busy lately, and the last thing I need is a whole bunch of "cease and desist" emails and phone calls, even though my tiny little blog isn't likely to dilute their precious trademark or anything, but whatever, so I present to you...

Wait Now...Who's This?

Kevin Correia

Starting Pitcher
Right-handed

What he looks like:

Source: ESPN

Where did he come from:

Signed as a free agent. Pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates two last seasons.

A few things to get excited about:

  • He doesn't have a history of injuries
  • Terry Ryan says he is a "good makeup guy" (no word on whether he refers to personality or Avon)
  • He has potential to eat a lot of innings
  • He's a family man; his wife just had their third son this spring


A few things to temper your enthusiasm

  • Not one optimistic word has been written about him by either local or national press 
  • There's no evidence that he has a personality or sense of humor
  • He'll probably have a beefy ERA
  • He wasn't an awesome pitcher in the National League, so he may struggle with American League batters

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Wait Now...Who's This? Vance Worley

There are a few new faces on the Minnesota Twins roster. The season is starting soon, and I thought I'd introduce them to you. If you haven't had a chance to see any Spring Training games, you probably won't know who you're looking at when you're watching on Opening Day. Back in the day, the Twins had a "Get To Know 'Em" ad campaign, but I'm sure that phrase is all trademarked and stuff, and I'd get in a whole heap of trouble if I used it, and I've been pretty busy lately, and the last thing I need is a whole bunch of "cease and desist" emails and phone calls, even though my tiny little blog isn't likely to dilute their precious trademark or anything, but whatever, so I present to you...

Wait Now...Who's This?

Vance Worley

Likely Opening Day Starting Pitcher
Right-handed

What he looks like:

Credit: Getty Images

Where did he come from:

Philadelphia Phillies. He and Trevor May were traded for Ben Revere.

A few things to get excited about:

  • He'll get more ground ball outs than fly ball outs
  • He's not likely to give up a ton of walks
  • He was a fan favorite in Philly, so he might actually have a personality
  • His nickname is "Vanimal"
  • He might fill the necessary "adorable dimples quotient" the team has been lacking since Michael Cuddyer's departure
  • He wears sweet glasses


A few things to temper your enthusiasm

  • He's coming off elbow surgery (bone chips) late last season
  • He hasn't really had a great spring (not that that matters much)
  • He doesn't have a great history of pitching deep into games (5-6 inning average)
  • He probably won't get a ton of strike outs
  • He's a former National League pitcher (the hitters in the American League tend to be better)

Sunday, March 24, 2013

So Begin the Paper Dolls: Swarzak and Diamond

As expected, on March 22, the Twins placed Anthony Swarzak and Scott Diamond on the 15-day Disabled List.

Anthony Swarzak was placed on the DL with cracked ribs suffered at the end of January while he was in Minnesota for TwinsFest. Apparently he and some teammates were goofing around, officially stated as "horseplay" but I'm guessing wrestling, and ouch.

The Twins are bringing him along slowly, making sure he heals. It probably hurts with the twisting motion of pitching. He's been pitching some live batting practices.

He's due back possibly mid-April.

~~~

Scott Diamond was placed on the DL because he's still recovering from bone chip removal surgery in December.

He heard a crack in his elbow while jumping rope for cardio exercise. The bone chips have probably been there awhile -- he suffered discomfort in 2007 -- and they shifted. He opted to have them removed now because the doctor informed him that they were close enough to his tendon that they might damage it, which might require Tommy John surgery in a couple of years.

Even though it was arthroscopic surgery, and the Twins initially believed he'd be fine by Opening Day, he's had some setbacks and he needs more time. He's been pitching live batting practices and minor league games.

He's due back possibly April 12.

~~~

Sources:
Minnesota Twins: Anthony Swarzak blows up bats, moves closer to return

Scott Diamond will begin the season the disabled list

Twins' Scott Diamond enjoying brighter spring

Injury Report


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Fan Forum Conference Call: Brunansky and Steinbach

The Twins conducted another Fan Form conference call for season-ticket holders, this time featuring new hitting coach Tom Brunansky and new bench and catchers' coach Terry Steinbach. I furiously scribbled notes as fast as a could so I can recap the call for you. As always, I'm pretty crappy at taking dictation, so please don't consider any of this true quotes, but rather regard it as paraphrases and general ideas. I apologize in advance if I get any of this wrong. Also, my phone rang a few moments after the call started, so I think I missed the first question.

Does Joe Mauer have the capability to hit for more power?
Response from Tom Brunansky: The Twins think he will. When you have a leg injury, you have doubt on the strength of the back leg. Now that his legs are healthy, he can generate more power. He's excited to start hitting because he feels good.

What are the primary responsibilities of a bench coach (other than hoping Gardy doesn't get ejected)?
Response from Terry Steinbach: Be Gardy's right hand man. Worry about matchups between your bench guys and the opponents bullpen. Worry about your bullpen and make sure the BP coach knows who should be warming up. Double check everything. Communicate. Be like a secondary manager (emphasis on secondary).
Fans were sad when Bruno was traded. What brought him back to Minnesota? What's the draw?
Bruno: I was sad too. The draw is that the Twins are a family. When I decided to come back to baseball, I only called Jim Rantz. When an opportunity opened up in the minors, I took it. I didn't know if I could handle it, but I worked everything out. Now I'm hoping to catch some of that same chemistry in the big leagues.

Who has pleasantly surprised you the most?
Steiny: The guys competing for outfield spots, Mastrioanni, Hicks, and Benson, have been really fun to watch. Hicks has opened a lot of eyes, not only with his hitting, but also with the way he patrols center field. He makes great jumps and covers a lot of ground.
Bruno: Terry took my answer. Hicks is going about this opportunity in a great way. He carries himself well. Also, Pedro Florimon has been fun to watch play shortstop. He's been working on his offense. Dozier is also fun to watch. It's too bad we've missed watching some of the guys due to the WBC.
How much input do you have on deciding which guys make the roster?
Bruno: I'm a newbie, but Gardy asks my opinion and we discuss.
Steiny: Gardy wants our opinion and wants to know what we think. We can give him input on both sides of a player: from the cages and from the practice fields. 
What's your perspective on how the starting rotation will fill out?
Steiny: It's a work-in-progress. We've got Pelfrey, Worley, and Correia ready. There's a lot of healthy competition of the rest of the spots. There are 12 games left to figure that out.
Bruno: I specialize in the hitting side, but I can see how opposing hitters approach our pitchers. A lot of guys are throwing well, they have to go grab it.
What's the biggest change in the game since your playing days?
Steiny: The social media. Everyone in the clubhouse is looking at their devices with their Tweeter [sic] accounts and stuff. But once they leave that on the sidelines, the game is still the same. Fundamentals are still important.
Bruno: The game itself is the same, with an emphasis on fundamentals. But I think the biggest change is the training staff, and conditioning. There's more emphasis on nutrition and diet. When I played, I always grabbed a cup of coffee and a donut. Now there's even sports psychologists.
If the weather doesn't warm up soon, how will the cold affect the game on Opening Day?
Bruno: No matter the weather, I'm nice and warm next to the heater in the dugout. I feel bad for Vav [Joe Vavra, third-base coach] and Scotty [Ullger, first-base coach] out there. The players bundle up to stay warm, but it's harder to move around or swing the bat. The ball doesn't carry as well. And, as a hitter, if a pitcher gets in on the hands, it hurts.
Steiny: A lot of it is mental; if you believe you're cold and miserable, then you'll be cold and miserable. But, if you go out there with a winning attitude, you're more apt to play well. Being a catcher has it's drawbacks, but it's great being a catcher on cold days with all the gear and working to keep you warm.
Do you think Trevor Plouffe is able to become a consistent power hitter?
Bruno: Absolutely! A good power hitter puts back spin on the ball. Trevor became a little pull-conscious and didn't adjust. He's been working on it all off-season. His plate coverage is better. And he's beginning to believe it.
As much as fans appreciate manufacturing runs, is this going to be a more power-hitting club?
Bruno: Hitting homers at the Dome was fun and it happened often. Target Field isn't as conducive for hitting homers. We're trying to encourage creating damage. Creating damage happens many ways: hitting to the gap, get extra-base hits. They still like reaching the seats, but it's about creating damage.
Will the club carry three catchers again? If not, who can do it in an emergency?
Steiny: We have had discussions about this, it's ultimately up to Gardy. With three, if one's starting at catcher and the other is at DH, there's another one available if one gets hurt. With two, if one's starting and the other's at DH, an one gets hurt, either you lose your DH and the pitchers have to hit, or someone comes in as an emergency catcher. Jeff Clement was drafted as a catcher, so he could do it. Escobar can do it do. Having these guys available keeps the options open.
How's Brain Dozier coming along?
Bruno: When he was sent down to Rochester last season, he was a lost ballplayer. The game had become too quick for him. I told him "just remember who you are." During the off-season, he went back to the basics. He was on his back leg too much. I want him to be an aggressive hitter, to drive the ball and hit the gaps. I don't want him to swing meekly; he should let loose.
Caller saw Bruno with Morneau hitting off a tee. What were they working on?
Bruno: Tee work is good for youngsters, but it's also very good for veterans. They were working on getting the feel of working on the back side and flattening the back swing until he gets a consistent feel. Then we'll move the tee out a little to get used to the feel of pulling the ball. They use all kinds of tee drills, depending on the players. With Joe Mauer, we work on the feel of his legs. With Brain Dozier, its the feel of his follow through.
How confident are you with the infield defense?
Steiny: A key aspect of Twins baseball has let them down the last few years. Florimon has improved at short. And Dozier moving to second has made a very healthy competition with Carroll. Every morning, they go to Tom Kelly field and work on fielding drills. They also make the pitchers watch so they can learn how the defense behind them will work.
What's Joe Mauer's value at calling games and handling the pitching staff?
Steiny: Joe absolutely has an impact on the pitchers and the outcome of the game. He has tremendous experience, and he's very good back there. We want him back there as much as he can be, but to keep him healthy, he can't be back there every day -- no catcher can. You just can't catch 162 games. So we'll try to make matchups accordingly and put Doumit in there when it works out. But Joe's fantastic.
Bruno: I think the two toughest positions are bench hitter and designated hitter. Most hitters do better when they can play out in the field. So we want Joe out in the field as much as possible.
Do you worry about the results of Spring Training games?
Bruno: I don't pay attention to win/loss records in Spring Training. I want the players to develop every day. Sometime a pitcher might be working on stuff, so we don't regard wins and losses. We still play to win so we feel like we're a winning team. 
Steiny: We want to find out what the veterans need: some like to ramp up towards Opening Day, some guys like to dial it back towards the end of Spring Training. Plus with so many guys in camp, there are a lot of guys to evaluate, and they have to play. We want a winning attitude and the guys want to win. 
Joe Mauer is a special hitter. What separates special hitters from good hitters?
Bruno: The best hitters, like Joe, make hitting look so easy. And that's saying something. First, they have a gift, but they also keep it simple. They have simple mechanics. There isn't a lot of stress. They also trust their ability. Confidence is key.
Steiny: They have to have the ability. They find a way to get it done. They can do so much with the bat. Great hitters don't get nervous regardless of the count. They trust themselves.
What kind of power potential do you see in Hicks and Parmelee?
Bruno: Hicks is a switch hitter. He has a good, strong core. Good base. I see 10-20 homers until he learns his true potential. Parmelee is a little more advanced, 15-25 homer potential. [He said a whole bunch more good stuff about both players, but he was talking so fast, I couldn't keep up.]
What are the differences in the mental approach for someone like Willingham and someone like Florimon?
Bruno: It's a different approach with each. For expample, if there's a runner at second, we're not going to ask Hammer to ground out on the right side to move the runner over. His approach is always going to be the same -- drive the ball. With Florimon, he may have to shorten his swing and avoid high pitches in order to get the grounder to move runners over. He's getting better with his command of the strike zone.
Asked again: what does the bench coach do?
Steiny: [Pretty much the same answer as before.] Also, keep track of the opponent's running game. Decide when to call a pitch out or a throw over to first.
You both took over for guys who are still with the team. How's that going?
Steiny: I'm the new kid on the block, so I'm doing everything I can to tap into these guys and use them as a resource. We're good friends. I'm always asking for advice. The key is we all check our egos at the door. We always learn. Everyone wants to win.
Bruno: Yes, we check our egos at the door. We work as a staff. We use them as resources. They're different eyes, different points of view. They will be watching from the bases. We're all watching batting practice and communicating. We're pretty well bonded.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Childhood Hazards

We all had a good chuckle (and by "chuckle," I mean "eye-roll") when we heard that Anthony Swarzak cracked a couple ribs when he and a teammate engaged in what the team officially calls "horseplay." Now, we're hearing that Scott Diamond's bone chips -- you know, the ones that required surgery in December -- occurred because he was jumping rope.

It makes one wonder whether players participating in common children's activities is perhaps unlucky.

Fortunately, I am not the only one who is concerned by this. We here at k-bro's baseball blog have been granted exclusive access to the following directive.*

To: All Minnesota Twins Players and Prospects
From: The Minnesota Twins Training and Medical Staff
Re: Off-field Hazards

It has come to our attention that some players are engaging in risky behavior which has potential to result in injury. In order to mitigate this risk, we have deemed it necessary to mandate that the following activities and items are forbidden unless properly supervised by a member of the coaching or training staff.
  • Wrestling, tickling, tag, ghost in the graveyard, and other horseplay. It's all fun and games until someone cracks his ribs.
  • Jump rope, double-dutch, hopscotch, dodge ball, may poles, and other playground equipment. Again, it's all fun and games until someone needs bone chips removed.
  • LEGO® bricks, Hot Wheels® cars, Barbie® doll shoes, jacks, and other tiny items. You don't know true debilitating pain until have stepped on one of these items. Also, imagine the beat-down you'd get if Gardy stepped on one of these and found out you left it on the floor.
  • Nerf guns, darts, Red Ryder BB guns, tracer guns, bows and arrows, and other means to launch projectiles. It's a sure thing that if you play with these, you'll shoot your eye out.
  • Water balloons, squirt guns, water pistols, bubbles, super soakers, and other means to make the floors slippery (celebratory champagne exempted). Wet floors can cause slips and falls which endanger tailbones.
  • Video games, hand-held game devices, and other practically useless devices. Nothing irritates tendons and ligaments like repetitive stress disorders.
  • Paper airplanes, coloring books, paper dolls, and other things with sharp edges. These things can cause paper cuts that can get seriously infected. Besides, if you play with a paper doll of yourself, that means you're already injured.  
We here on the training staff are certain that these preventative measures will help ensure an injury-free season.

So there you have it.

*Special thanks to Betsy and Babs for their help in obtaining this information. :)

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Who Are These Guys, Anyway? Quick and Dirty 2013 Spring Training Guide

In less than a week, the Twins will officially open Spring Training camp. As of now, 66 players are expected to be there: 34 pitchers, 9 catchers (a lot of catchers needed for a lot of pitchers), 13 infielders, and 10 outfielders. There are a lot of bodies (I imagine the locker room might be a tad crowded), but there are also a lot of holes from 2012 to be filled. By the end of it, there will be 25 men ready to head north and face the Tigers on April 1.

Now, if you're as tired as I am of this miserable winter, you're really looking forward to listening to the Spring Training games once they start on February 23 (you may be especially excited if you're in the Twin Cities area because now that the radio broadcasts will be on FM you can finally get radio reception at work). So I've wrote up this handy-dandy list of all the names you'll hear.

40-Man Roster:

These are the guys most likely to land on the big league club. And those who don't will likely be next in line in case of injury or ineffectiveness. A few guys are on the 40-man simply because the front office wants to protect their future with the team -- removing them from the 40-man roster would expose them to waivers.

Guys We Know and Love (Maybe)

  • Alex Burnett. RHP. Age 25. 2012: 67 games for the Twins.
  • Jared Burton. RHP. Age 31. 2012: 64 games for the Twins.
  • Drew Butera. C. Age 29. 2012: Red Wings and 42 games for the Twins.
  • Jamey Carroll. IF. Age 38. 2012: 138 games for the Twins.
  • Scott Diamond. LHP. Age 26. 2012: Red Wings and 27 starts for the Twins.
  • Ryan Doumit. C/DH. Age 31. 2012: 134 games for the Twins.
  • Brian Dozier. IF. Age 25. 2012: Red Wings and 84 games for the Twins.
  • Brian Duensing. LHP. Age 25. 2012: 55 games (11 starts) for the Twins.
  • Joe Mauer. C. Age 29. 2012: 147 games for the Twins.
  • Justin Morneau. 1B. Age 31. 2012: 134 games for the Twins.
  • Glen Perkins. LHP. Age 29. 2012: 70 games for the Twins.
  • Trevor Plouffe. 3B. Age 26. 2012: Red Wings and 119 games for the Twins.
  • Anthony Swarzak. RHP. Age 27. 2012: 44 games (5 starts) for the Twins. Will miss time due to cracked ribs.
  • Josh Willingham. LF. Age 33. 2012: 145 games for the Twins.

Guys We Kind of Know As Long As We Didn't Stop Paying Attention Last Season

  • Cole DeVries. RHP. Age 27. 2012: Red Wings and 17 games (16 starts) for the Twins.
  • Eduardo Escobar. SS. Age 24. 2012: Red Wings, 36 games for the White Sox, and 14 games for the Twins. Acquired in the Liriano trade.
  • Casey Fien. RHP. Age 29. 2012: Red Wings and 35 games for the Twins.
  • Pedro Florimon. SS. Age 26. 2012: Rock Cats, Red Wings, and 43 games for the Twins.
  • Liam Hendriks. RHP. Age 23. 2012: Red Wings and 16 starts for the Twins.
  • Chris Herrmann. C. Age 25. 2012: Rock Cats and 7 games for the Twins.
  • Darin Mastroianni. OF. Age 27. 2012: Rock Cats, Red Wings, and 77 games for the Twins.
  • Chris Parmelee. 1B/RF. Age 24. 2012: Red Wings and 64 games for the Twins.
  • Tyler Robertson. LHP. Age 25. 2012: Red Wings and 40 games for the Twins.

Guys From The Twins Minors

  • Oswaldo Arcia. OF. Age 21. 2012: Miracle and Rock Cats. #93 of MLB's top 100 prospects.
  • Joe Benson. OF. Age 24. 2012: GCL Twins, Miracle, Rock Cats, Red Wings (rehabbing injuries much of the season).
  • Kyle Gibson. RHP. Age 25. 2012: rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. #49 in MLB's top 100 prospects.
  • B.J Hermsen. RHP. Age 23. 2012: Miracle and Rock Cats.
  • Pedro Hernandez. LHP. Age 23. 2012: AA and AAA of the White Sox organization, Red Wings. Acquired in the Liriano trade.
  • Aaron Hicks. OF. Age 23. 2012: Rock Cats. #98 in MLB's top 100 prospects.
  • Josmil Pinto. C. Age 23. 2012: Miracle and Rock Cats.
  • Daniel Santana. IF. Age 22. 2012: Miracle.
  • Caleb Thielbar. LHP. Age 26. 2012: Miracle, Rock Cats, and Red Wings.
  • Michael Tonkin. LHP. Age 23. 2012: Snappers and Miracle.

Guys We Know If We Paid Attention to Other Teams

  • Kevin Correia. RHP. Age 32. 2012: 32 games (28 starts) for the Pirates. Signed as a free agent.
  • Mike Pelfrey. RHP. Age 29. 2012: rehabbing from Tommy John surgery (with the Mets). Signed as a free agent.
  • Vance Worley. RHP. Age 25. 2012: 23 games for the Phillies. Acquired in the Revere trade from the Phillies.

Guys We Probably Don't Know But We Want to Welcome to the Twins Organization

  • Trevor May. RHP. Age 23. 2012: AA in Phillies system. Acquired in Revere trade from the Phillies.
  • Ryan Pressly. RHP. Age 24. 2012: A+ and AA in Red Sox system. Rule 5 draft from the Red Sox.
  • Josh Roenicke. RHP. Age 30. 2012: 63 games for the Rockies. Claimed off waivers from the Rockies.
  • Tim Wood. RHP. Age 30. 2012: AAA or Pirates system. Signed as a minor-league free agent.

Non-Roster Invitees:

While it's more likely that 40-man guys will break camp with the big-league club, these guys have earned the right to try to impress the decision-makers. A quick paperwork effort would make any of these guys a Twin. I predict one or two of these guys will impress enough to make it -- Jared Burton did it last year.

Guys We Know and Love (Maybe)

  • Nick Blackburn. RHP. Age 30. 2012: Red Wings and Twins. Will miss time due to wrist surgery.

Guys We Know If We Didn't Stop Paying Attention Last Season

  • Samuel Deduno. RHP. Age 29. 2012: Red Wings and Twins.
  • Lester Oliveros. RHP. Age 24. 2012: Rock Cats, Red Wings, and Twins.
  • Luis Perdomo. RHP. Age 28. 2012: Rock Cats, Red Wings, and Twins.
  • Clete Thomas. OF. Age 29. 2012: Red Wings and Twins.
  • Esmerling Vasquez. RHP. Age 29. 2012: Red Wings and Twins.
  • P.J. Walters. RHP. Age 27. 2012: Red Wings and Twins.

Guys From The Twins Minors

  • James Beresford. IF. Age 24. 2012: Rock Cats.
  • Chris Colabello. 1B. Age 29. 2012: Rock Cats.
  • Brian Dinkelman. OF. Age 29. 2012: Red Wings.
  • Deolis Guerra. RHP. Age 23. 2012: Rock Cats and Red Wings.
  • Kyle Knudson. C. Age 25. 2012: Snappers and Miracle.
  • Danny Lehmann. C. Age 27. 2012: Rock Cats and Red Wings.
  • Shairon Martis. RHP. Age 25. 2012: AA and AAA between Pirates and Twins systems.
  • Wilkin Ramirez. OF. Age 27. 2012: Miracle, Rock Cats, and Red Wings.
  • Dan Rohlfing. C. Age 23. 2012: Miracle and Rock Cats.
  • Deibinson Romero. 3B. Age 26. 2012: Rock Cats.
  • Anthony Slama. RHP. Age 29. 2012: Red Wings.

Guys We Know If We Pay Attention to Other Teams

  • Rich Harden. RHP. Age 31. 2012: Injured (A's). Signed as a minor-league free agent.

Guys We Probably Don't Know But We Want to Welcome to the Twins Organization

  • Bryan Augenstein. RHP. Age 26. 2012: AAA of Rays system. Signed as a minor-league free agent.
  • Brandon Boggs. LF. Age 30. 2012: AAA of Pirates system. Signed as a minor-league free agent.
  • Jeff Clement. 1B. Age 29. 2012: AAA and Pirates. Signed as a minor-league free agent.
  • Eric Fryer. C. Age 27. 2012: AAA and Pirates. Signed as a minor-league free agent.
  • Alex Meyer. RHP. Age 23. 2012: A and A+ of Nationals system. Acquired in the Span trade from the Nationals. #40 in MLB's top 100 prospects.
  • Ray Olmedo. 3B. Age 31. 2012: AAA of White Sox system. Signed as minor-league free agent.
  • Mark Sobolewski. 3B. Age 26. 2012: AA and AAA in Blue Jays system. Rule 5 draft from Blue Jays.

Goners:

Don't be looking for these guys. They're not going to be there.
  • Scott Baker. RHP. Signed with the Cubs.
  • Matt Capps. RHP. Signed a minor-league deal with the Indians.
  • Matt Carson. OF. Signed with the Indians.
  • Alexi Casilla. IF. Claimed off waivers by Orioles.
  • Carlos Gutierrez. RHP. Claimed off waivers by Cubs.
  • Jeff Manship. RHP. Signed with the Rockies.
  • Tsuyoshi Nishioka. IF. Granted unconditional release and signed with a team in Japan.
  • Carl Pavano. RHP. Unsigned free agent. Recovering from a splenectomy.
  • Ben Revere. OF. Traded to Phillies.
  • Denard Span. OF. Traded to Nationals.
  • Kyle Waldrop. RHP. Signed with the Phillies.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

10 Things to Do and See at TwinsFest

The days are beginning to get noticeably longer. Football teams are being eliminated from the playoffs one-by-one. The Twins Caravan is in full swing. So it must be almost time for TwinsFest.

I know many fans enjoy going to TwinsFest yearly. Those folks already already know what they want to do. But, if you haven't been in a while, allow me to point out some of my TwinsFest traditions.


  1. Make a plan: Be sure to visit the TwinsFest website to view the autograph and photo schedules. If you're in to these things, you'll want to plan your arrival at the optimum time to visit with your favorite players. Now is the time to gather or purchase the items (photos, baseballs, jerseys, etc.) that you want signed. Allow plenty of standing-in-line time.
  2. Grab Seth's book: You've already ordered Seth Stohs' Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2013, right? It's a must-have for all the cool Twins fans. A fun thing to do is have the prospects sign their entries in the Handbook. If you haven't ordered it, you should get on it (however, you might not get it in time if you opt for standard shipping; there are expedited shipping options). There is also an e-version available for a reduced price. Be warned that I don't recommend you have prospects sign their entries on the e-version of the book. It might ruin your device.
  3. Decide whether you'll carry your coat, stash it, or do without: If history is any predictor, it's likely to be the coldest weather in a generation during TwinsFest. This makes it worth taking pause when you're deciding whether your awesome Twins sweatshirt will be warm enough to make the dash to the Dome from your parking spot. If you do wear your coat, try to score a plastic bag when you walk in (they give bags filled with coupons, ads, and other stuff at the doors). If you trust the masses to not steal it and want to stash it among the blue seats, please be considerate to the said masses and stick it somewhere where it isn't likely that some masses will want to place their asses (i.e.: away from the ESPN1500 radio area).
  4. Score a grab bag: I love stadium giveaways. Who doesn't? And being the neat freaks that they are, the Twins clean out their closets of all the old giveaways and other treasures, bag them up, and sell them -- a couple years ago, they went for $15 for a large grocery bag. And sometimes, they'll throw in an autographed item. Be sure to get there early, though. They sell out quickly.
  5. Get your (or your kids') pic taken with the best mascot in the bigs: There is no doubt that our friend TC Bear is a great mascot. He usually hangs out in the kids' area. And if you're the one getting your picture with him, don't be afraid to butt in line in front of all those kids waiting their turn. (Joking.)
  6. Revisit the past: Make sure you take a stroll through the National Baseball Hall of Fame exhibit. They always put on an fascinating display of Twins and baseball heroes from past generations. Plus, you can say howdy to the two Twins World Series trophies.
  7. Shop 'til you drop: TwinsFest features the area's largest gathering baseball card and memorabilia vendors. So if you're looking for that elusive 1972 Charlie Manuel card or that Twins-themed Hamm's beer can, you can look for it here. The Twins Pro-shops will also be there, so you can get yourself a sweet new shirsey.
  8. Sing your heart out: They'll be holding auditions for singing the National Anthem and God Bless America for the season. So, you're at all musically inclined, you may as well give it a go. What do you have to lose? The worse they can do is point and laugh.
  9. Take a load off: It's probably been a while since you've had some horrible stadium food, so grab yourself a Dome Dog and a pop, and take a seat in front of the ESPN1500 radio booth area and listen to what some players, coaches, and other Twins folks have to say. They'll be conducting interviews throughout the event, and it's kind of fun to sit there, rest up, and listen.
  10. Get excited for BASEBALL!
See you Friday, January 25th through Sunday, January 27

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Book Review: Out of My League


Dirk Hayhurst. Out of My League: A Rookie's Survival in the Bigs. New York, NY: Kensington Publishing Corp., 2012. ISBN 978-0-8065-3553-1

I loved The Bullpen Gospels, Dirk Hayhurst's first book, so much that I went out of my way to recommend it to anyone who would listen. Unfortunately, I can't muster that much enthusiasm for his follow-up book Out of My League. In fact, I hesitate to recommend it at all.

While Gospels is primarily a humor book, League is not. I wouldn't expect him to be able to carry the accounts of minor-league baseball hijinks through a second book -- after all, locker room humor is just locker room humor no matter how many times one writes about it. However, I liked Hayhurst and his storytelling so much, I had high hopes for this story.

In Gospels, I really appreciated how he opened himself up and shared his self doubts and family struggles, and League focuses on that aspect of his life. Unfortunately however, this time he comes across as whiny and weak. As far as I can recall, the timeline of the two books is about the same. I understand that minor-league life is very difficult, especially for fringe-y talent players, but I found myself just wanting to scold him to buck up and do better. He didn't become sympathetic to me until the last few chapters.

This book lacked balance. He spent so much energy concentrating on his demons and fears, that his joys and successes seemed out of place and unappreciated. He does share his relationship with his girlfriend/fiancee, but he makes himself seem like such a jerk, I had a hard time believing they're really a happy couple.

I found this book very difficult to get through. My grade: C-.