Buxton is probably getting work in on the other fields?

 

Am in patient to see him and Simmons on the field for maximum wow factor.

 

I hope they are behind who ever pitches most to contact...

Wait, what? Astudillo drew a walk!?

And Nick Gordon got his first hit of ST. Good for him! 

 

Let me be the first to ask...because it’s never too early to ask this question...

 

Where’s Buxton?

 

I was anticipating a very healthy dose of live reps this spring for him. Seeing as though his injury woes are behind him and all. And the career 289 OBP.

Dude I was just thinking this today. Then I looked at the stats, says he's played in 4 games so far and gone 1-for-10. Only one strikeout, though.

 

He's been in there, apparently. He hasn't really done anything besides watch Broxton knock the cover off the ball.

Sano with 14 AB so far this spring to lead the team. Currently hitting .143 and has struck out 50% of the time.

 

Who's the backup first baseman? Can Donaldson play there and Arraez or Polanco shift to 3rd? How's that going to work? Kiriloff?

Sano with 14 AB so far this spring to lead the team. Currently hitting .143 and has struck out 50% of the time.

 

Who's the backup first baseman? Can Donaldson play there and Arraez or Polanco shift to 3rd? How's that going to work? Kiriloff?

Kirilloff/Rooker, probably. Blankenhorn is playing a bit there as well.

Curse of the Bambino is long forgotten, almost like it was the work of Lovecraft or thatKing fellow, best recounted round a camp fire miles from light polution. This century, it seems Boston sports franchises have had more than their fare share of championships, and some of that success has come from players who had formerly played for Minnesota. I am too lazy to put research in, after all, it is only Spring Training.

I just hope Marwin isn't the latest example...

 

Red Sox:
0. Eduardo Rodriguez ( L) P
1. Enrique Hernandez (R ) CF
2. Marwin Gonzalez ( S ) 2B
3. J.D. Martinez (R ) DH
4. Rafael Devers ( L) 3B
5. Christian Arroyo (R ) SS
6. Michael Chavis (R ) 1B
7. Kevin Plawecki (R ) C
8. Michael Gettys (R ) RF
9. Marcus Wilson (R ) LF

 

Twins:

0. Matt Shoemaker (R ) P

1. Max Kepler ( L) CF
2. Josh Donaldson (R ) 3B
3. Nelson Cruz (R ) DH
4. Jorge Polanco ( S ) 2B
5. Mitch Garver (R ) C
6. Alex Kirilloff ( L) 1B
7. Brent Rooker (R ) LF
8. Keon Broxton (R ) RF
9. JT Riddle ( L) SS

After 3, it is 1-1. marwin's dinger offsets Kirilloff's.

And Marwin is hit by pitch next at bat?!

Second marwin dinger with a couple geese on the pond.

 

I take the blame for this...

 me and my half baked intros.

And buckeys take an 11-0 run to open the big ten tourney play.  Er 13-0.

Balazovic with a 1-2-3 8th.

 

Is that his first ST appearance?

 

Protected the 4 run deficit.

And Gophers down 39-27 at the half.

We plated 3 in the bottom of the final inningto make it close (5-4) but oh well.

 

And 4 minutes to go in the Gophers and still trailing by 12. Got it down to 4, but let it slip back up.

I sure hope they make a run!

 

Buxton is probably getting work in on the other fields?

It’s never as simple as that with this guy. Never.

 

It’s never as simple as that with this guy. Never.

Well... Hardly ever.

 

We plated 3 in the bottom of the final inningto make it close (5-4) but oh well.

 

And 4 minutes to go in the Gophers and still trailing by 12. Got it down to 4, but let it slip back up.

I sure hope they make a run!

Lost by 4.

 

Kept in doubt with 5 seconds to go with the press.

Well... Hardly ever.

We have Gilberto Celestino. I need to think about the Sullivano angle for the Twins....

Thorpe pitching like a changed man. Excited to see him on the big league roster

Beyond the 3 run homer, Gameday shows Duffey fastball barely at 90. Is that because of spring training or is sign of trouble?

Sorry, i slept in... And have a running errand to catch soon.

 

For ye with eyes, how'd Simmons look?

And what have i missed today?

Astudillo went 1 for 3, with the only run scored or rbi of the game. I am fine with that for now, but i hope is willing to share with his teammates in the future.

 

And Albers with the save.

Only 8 innings... Does that make it a Winna?

Look, I know ST numbers and results only mean so much and only tell a small portion of the early story...but....

 

Dobber pitched 3 and only gave up one hit and struck out SIX. (K's may be fascist, but keep it up Dobber). 0.0 ERA thus far. Apparently he wants to make the team in whatever capacity. Have to say, very impressed with every SP thus far.

 

Clean IP by Alcala in the 4th, 2 groundouts and a fly out.

 

Waddell struck out the side and "lowered" his ERA to 10.80. Lol. Not picking on the guy. He is one of many who could provide help at some time coming over from St Paul. Just nice to see a good day.

 

Law got the win with a perfect 6th and struck out the side. No runs allowed thus far. I may be wrong but wasn't this only his 2nd appearance? One great year and then seemed to lose it. At 30yr old but a FB/slider option the Twins like, does he provide help at some point? Meh. I'm betting on Anderson, Hamilton and a few others before him.

 

Albers? He was a great story for a few starts a few years ago. I doubt we have another Thielbar reclamation story here.

 

Beyond a great performance from Dobnak, and the clean IP by Alcala, the story in a meaningless game is Astudillo. Yes, his game winning HR came in the 7th and means little overall. But he's hitting over .400 thus far and whether you like him or not, the staff does. While nothing special to be sure, he plays acceptable defense at multiple positions. How you view his defense...or offense for that matter...IMO, depends how much you have actually seen him play. I've seen him miss balls behind the plate, but also watched him catch shutouts and 1 run games for reference.

 

NOT saying he's making the initial roster or he is a great player, just saying he's having a good ST thus far and is a pretty decent "hitter" with some pop as long as he's not up there flailing at the ridiculous outside stuff. And yes, I've seen that negative part of him as well.

Regarding Astudillo, I commented the other day kind of tongue in cheek that he drew a walk. But in today's at bat he seemed more patient that I had ever seen him. He waited for his pitch and didn't waisted it. Maybe he got the message? We'll see..

I wonder if Astudillo is as fun to play with as he is to watch? Team's keeping him around for some reason. Versatile (albeit mediocre) ability plus a big dose of chemistry might explain it. 

Byron Buxton deep home run! Twins up 1-0 over Boston in the third. Maeda pitching/pitched great.

And Rooker with a laser double.

 

Nice to hear some hard hits.

Maeda pitching like a Cy Young frontrunner