Twins Lineup:

 

Denard Span CF

Jamey Carroll SS

Josh Willingham LF

Justin Morneau DH

Danny Valencia 3B

Ryan Doumit C

Trevor Plouffe RF

Chris Parmelee 1B

Alexi Casilla 2B

 

SP: Nick Blackburn

 

First day off for Joe Mauer... Well deserved... They're going to have to get a day off for Carroll and Span at some point too.

Wonder if Mauer will pinch hit, to keep open the option of appearing in all 162?

Paraphrasing Carroll "I sat for the first several years of my MLB career. I don't need to rest much anymore." Span will only take a break when one of the other outfielders show some kind of ability to play center. Mauer is taking the day off because he and Morneau are a combined 4-42 against C.J. Wilson.

I could see Mauer making a pinch hit appearance once Wilson is out of the game. He may even stay in to play 1B, but there would probably end up being some sort of defensive substitution as well... I don't see Gardy pinch hitting Mauer for Parmelee. Maybe for Casilla if the game is close near then end.

I think that this game shows how short-sided was the Luke Hughes DFA by the Twins. Today they have 3 lefties on the bench Mauer/Burroughs/Thomas and another (Morneau) at DH who has not been hitting the cover off the ball off LHPs... That bench was nicely balanced at the begining of the season. They need to get back to that.

Just end April on a winning note.

Looks like Blackburn is getting some really good movement and location on his pitches tonight... Batters are doing well against it but I'm feeling fairly vood about this start if we can get some offense going

I'm pretty sure every downtrodden Twins fan has already internally resigned themselves to the fact that Albert Pujols is going to break his homerless streak against our favorite club. Anyone want to venture which pitcher will give it up during which game and in which inning?

 

My money is off Burton in the 7th tonight.

I am having the same thought, Nick, and hope that it does not happen. If it does happen, I hope that it's off a reliever, not Blackburn.

Nice strikeout of Pujols by Blackburn. Now we need some RUNS!

Uh oh, why is Morneau being pinch-hit for in the middle of the game?

With Mauer out of the lineup, it feels eerily like last season. He is key.

All I have for today is Gameday. I am wondering the same thing.

Morneau's got a sore left wrist, according to Bremer. Concerning, for sure.

Gameday says the problem is Morneau's wrist. Well, he has admitted that the wrist has bothered him and it is not more concussion symptoms......but still, I wouldn't be surprised if he goes on the DL.

Willingham can tie this game with one bomb.

Wonder if Mauer will pinch hit, to keep open the option of appearing in all 162?

Hadn't seen until late into the game that Mauer fouled a ball off his knee in Sunday's game. That justifies a full game off.

Cmon doumit, tie this thing up!

It looked like it probably bruised his knee.

 

Nice at bat by Valencia, but Borroughs did not look good. We could use some better bench players.

Hadn't seen until late into the game that Mauer fouled a ball off his knee in Sunday's game. That justifies a full game off.

 

 

Actually Pena fouled it off the inside of Mauer's knee...............ever had that happen?

Plouffe, Parmelee, Casillia coming up in the 9th. So you're saying there's a chance!

Plouffe is due!!

I'm pretty sure every downtrodden Twins fan has already internally resigned themselves to the fact that Albert Pujols is going to break his homerless streak against our favorite club. Anyone want to venture which pitcher will give it up during which game and in which inning?

 

My money is off Burton in the 7th tonight.

How about an opportunity in the 8th?? Burton gets Pujols on a pop up to CF.

I'm pretty sure every downtrodden Twins fan has already internally resigned themselves to the fact that Albert Pujols is going to break his homerless streak against our favorite club. Anyone want to venture which pitcher will give it up during which game and in which inning?

 

My money is off Burton in the 7th tonight.

Thanks for playing.

Plouffe is due!!

To fly out to centre

Plouffe and Parmalee should be in Rochester until they get better.

Nice at bat by Casilla. Now it's up to Span.

If Span gets on base, Mauer is pinch hitting for Carroll.

And Span grounds out weakly to second, and our misery continues ...

Nice rally, at least they didn't go down with their tails between their legs. Great game by Casilla, his play lately is very encouraging, Valencia had another big hit tonight. Wilson was great tonight, got to hand it to him.

 

I thought Blackburn was real good, a couple of bad ones that got cashed, unfortunate. If we get that from him moving forward it'll pay off. That's back to back quality starts for Twins pitchers.