Article: Report From The Fort: Mauer With First Hit Of Spring

[Parker Hageman]

In walk-off fashion, the Minnesota Twins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 in extra innings.

 

After several innings of stranding runners in scoring position, the Twins finally got on the board in the bottom of the ninth when infielder Ehire Adrianza drove home Leonardo Reginatto with a single to right. An inning later, catcher Chris Gimenez stroked a solid single back up the middle in the tenth to sent the winning run home.

 

Notable performances include Kyle Gibson, who worked an efficient four innings, limiting the Cardinals to just one run on two hits. Joe Mauer reached base in all three of his plate appearances, landing his first base hit of the spring and adding two walks. Byron Buxton had two hits, including a double down the left field line.

 

More notes from Monday at the park...

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** Chris Gimenez was the recipient of a half-hearted infield celebration following his walk-off single in the tenth. Gimenez is in the running for the backup catcher position. Having caught in four spring games, he has received strong reviews for his in-game defense from several of the pitchers he has handled, including Jose Berrios and Trevor May. Reading between the lines, it appears that the Twins would like to see him win the job.

 

** Paul Molitor said that the team is going to be more aggressive with their defensive alignments in the outfield, using different positioning for their alignment.

 

“We’re trying to look at all the data we had last year on position and we’re trying to make some adjustments to that,” Molitor said. “For example, when you have a three run lead in the fifth I’m more worried about the bloop, not the double. A guy smokes one over your head, he does, but I’m trying to keep baserunners off, trying to protect leads.”

 

** Byron Buxton went 2-for-3 on Monday, driving a double down the left field line and reaching on a bunt hit in the third.

 

“I don’t know how much bunting is going to be a part of his game,” said Molitor. “I think it still will be, it should be, but as his offensive prowess grows there might be times you’d rather see him drive that run instead of creating that first-and-third.”

 

It was pointed out that Buxton displayed power last September and the double later in the game would have likely scored Escobar or at least put two runners in scoring position with one out.

 

“Kirby Puckett bunted a lot as a rookie but when he started hitting 30 homers he didn’t bother much.”

 

** Buxton made a fantastic diving catch in the third inning on a low line drive that looked like it was destined to be a single.

 

“He would have caught that standing up incredibly had the wind not been blowing out there,” Gibson said. “He’s awesome out there, he tracks about everything down.”

 

Gibson said Buxton brings a welcome mindset to the position, always expecting himself to make every play. In his first outing of the spring, Gibson said he surrendered a double which Buxton later apologized for not catching at the wall. “I’m the one who gave up a laser,” Gibson laughed.

 

** Gibson’s ongoing mechanical transformation is still a work in progress, the right-hander admitted after third outing of the spring. There are times when he says he fights against reverting back into his old delivery but says he is developing a strong feel for the new one.

 

“I’m never trying to be out there thinking about my delivery but if you are not feeling your delivery or you are not feeling when you are out of sync or what's going on when you are out of sync, you are going to hit your head against the wall throwing ball after ball after ball,” Gibson said.

 

** Glen Perkins continued his rehabilitation, throwing another bullpen off the mound at Hammond Stadium on Monday. Perkins said that he is still not yet throwing sliders in his program.

 

“You ask him how he’s feeling and he gets a big smile,” said Molitor. “And that’s good.”

 

** Reliever Ryan O’Rourke says he has seen some good indication that his weighted ball training program is providing some early dividends. He said that he was typically topping out at 88-89 at this point in his season but this year he’s been up to 91.

 

** Phil Hughes will make a backfield appearance on Tuesday at the camp, throwing in what will be a four inning intrasquad contest. Hughes last pitched on Friday and should be looking to reach at least three innings.

 

** After a scheduled off-day on Tuesday, the Twins will play Team USA as they prepare for the World Baseball Classic. Trevor May will make his third appearance of the spring, coming off his 2.1 innings in Clearwater on Saturday. May said that one of his focuses this coming outing will be on using his changeup in different situations.

 

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[Dantes929]

“Kirby Puckett bunted a lot as a rookie but when he started hitting 30 homers he didn’t bother much.”

Mickey Mantle bunted 148 times and had 54.7% success rate.   Kirby Puckett had 13 bunt hits in 1992 to lead the team.   He led the team in at least one other post rookie season.   Hard to find great stats on it but Puckett definitely didn't stop bunting when he started hitting 30 homers and it was a contributing factor to his accumulation of hit totals and batting average.    It is an exciting and very disruptive play though I prefer those down the 3rd base side rather than 1st.   Buxton should spend a lot of time developing the skill and should attempt it at least every other game IMO.   Its a great weapon.   Seems odd that in one breath Molitor wants to limit the bloop hits at the expense of doubles on defense but goes the other way offensively.  Seems contradictory.

[mikelink45]

Love the bunt, Mickey Mantle was the master of the drag bunt, just between the pitcher and first base.  It was really disruptive to the other team.

[Tibs]

#NeverBunt

[blindeke]

Really great job with the notes here! Love all the details.

[VikingGuy]

Obviously no one in their right mind can expect Buxton to keep up what he did in September.  But how nice is it to just see him look comfortable, hitting the ball hard, getting on base and playing his usual unbelievable defense?

[VikingGuy]

To me, Gibson may be the biggest factor in whether or not that staff gets better.  200 innings, 4.00 ERA would go a long way toward providing some stability and allow Molly to use whatever bullpen he has to whatever strengths it will have.

[DrNeau]

Mauer's third AB tonight was typical Mauer. 5 pitches, 0 swings, 40 cleat rakes in the box, 10 squints, 1 reverse K and 1 comment to the ump on the way to the dugout.