Here is today's Twins lineup in Tampa against the Yankees:

 

Denard Span CF

Pedro Florimon 2B

Ryan Doumit 1B

Justin Morneau DH

Josh Willingham LF

Sean Burroughs 3B

Brian Dozier SS

Brian Dinkelman RF

Drew Butera C

 

SP - Francisco Liriano

If there's one thing we can all say, it's that Justin Morneau is tough and he's going to try to work through anything! Even if that means the longer bus ride to Tampa!

 

Curious to see how Doumit can perform at 1B.

 

Surprised to see Willingham in LF. Dinkelman could play there.

If there's one thing we can all say, it's that Justin Morneau is tough and he's going to try to work through anything! Even if that means the longer bus ride to Tampa!

 

Curious to see how Doumit can perform at 1B.

 

Surprised to see Willingham in LF. Dinkelman could play there.

I thought the exact same thing when I saw him in today's lineup. At the very least, it has to mean that the guy is feeling healthy enough to go out and play. There's no way the team physicians and trainers would let him play -- in unimportant Spring Training games -- if the wrist issues were that bothersome.

I tweeted Mackey, asking if there was any comment or reasoning for Willingham in LF.

 

Mackey's response was that Gardy really likes Plouffe in RF.

 

so, my thinking is that you could have the following scenario:

 

vs RHP - Revere in LF, Willingham in RF

vs LHP - Willingham in LF, Plouffe in RF -- > Certainly adds some power vs LHP with those two in it!!!

Or Willingham could go to DH, with Plouffe in RF and Doumit catching, with either Mauer or Morneau getting a day off. Or both getting a day off with Hughes at first. There are actually a lot ways to contruct a lineup this year. The Twins will likely miss Thome in some ways but this group will likely be a lot more flexible.

What I don't understand is why Rivera is not catching Liriano instead of Butera in this game... this is not a good sign. Hope that Liriano can overcome that

Watching the game on YES. 3 pitches 2 outs...

Span FO to center first pitch of the game, Florimon FO to Left (2 pitch PA) , Doummit K looking in 4 pitches

The Twins can't beat the Yankees even in spring training.

Jeter singles to the RF on a 1-2 count

Liriano went 0-2 on both batters he faced so far with FBs... K's Granderson with his 3rd pitch a slider

Liriano's FB up to 93 per the YES gun. Fell back 3-1 to Texeira gets hit to fly out to RF

0-2 to A-Roid, K's on a change up. FranKKie!!!

Nova pretty dominant as well, Morneau soft pop fly at LF, Willingham K's

Burroughs strikes out swinging too

Nova has a very very dirty curve. Doumit struck out looking at it and both Willingham and Burroughs were swinging at pitches at their shoelaces

FranKKie gets ahead of Martin 0-2 and gets him to fly out to shallow center

Jones flies out to shallow center on a FB (previous 2 Ps sliders). Nunez gets a hit just off the range of Florimon on a weakly hit change. 24 pitchies for FranKKie

0-2 to Hall too. Now 0-3. FranKKKie with 26 pitches in 2 IP. Looking very good.

0-2 to Hall too. Now 0-3. FranKKKie with 26 pitches in 2 IP. Looking very good.

Most important stat there is the 26 total pitches and he has accumulated 6 outs.

Dozier almost beats a soft trickle to the SS

Most important stat there is the 26 total pitches and he has accumulated 6 outs.

Nova needed 16 pitches to do the same thing

Dinkelman swings at his shoelaces. K. 2-outs

Butera flies out to short Right Center

Burroughs two hops the throw to 1B on a routine play to yield an infield single. Jeter GIDP. 2 outs.

Ground out for Granderson. 3 ground outs (1 should had been) in this inning for FranKKKie. 31 total pitches.

Span grounds out in one pitch (he really should be taking more), Florimon does the same, So does Doumit.

FranKKKKie continues his game... Walk to Texeira, K to ARoid and gets Martin to GIDP. Nice and efficient. He might go 6-7 today.

Thrylos, spit up a little laughing with the "hopefully Liriano can overcome Butera catching" instead of Rivera. Looks like he's doing just fine, an omen, I hope, for the entire year no matter who's catching.

There's some offense! And Moreau!