Twins 7, Red Sox 4: A Bad Day For Lightning Chasers

Unfortunately, on the sunny fields of the Red Sox’ jetBlue Park yesterday, there was no sign of lightning. Or of storm clouds. Or even of really bad static cling. Three of the Twins players, to whom the highest of hopes are attached, started in the Twins 7-4 victory, but none looked like a magical season was imminent.

Byron Buxton made two of the Twins first six outs, both from strikeouts, and one of them was looking. That was reminiscent of his introduction to the majors last year, where he struck out 44 times versus just six walks in his first 129 at-bats. He did manage to leave the game on a better note, getting an RBI on a ground ball single in his third at-bat.

The Twins had a small rally going against Boston left-hander Henry Owens in the first inning when Oswaldo Arcia stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Terry Ryan talked before the game about how hard Arcia worked in the offseason, how he had learned from last year and how he had been “humbled.”

Facing one of those nasty southpaws, against whom he has a .231 batting average and a 614 OPS in his career, was a tough test for the first at-bat of a new season. He also struck out, and finished the day 0-3 and leaving six men on base.

Finally, it was an inauspicious start for the Twins big free agent signing, Korean slugger Byung Ho Park. He not only went 0-3, but didn’t put a ball in play, striking out three times. He admitted he was a little revved up before the game. “I’ve got to admit, I was a little nervous,” he said after the game. “But I felt good and got the first [game] out of the way.”

All of this means absolutely nothing, of course. These are truly the three most meaningless at-bats of the year for these guys. They mean only what one wants them to mean, or what one has attached to them.

But the lighting chasers will need to wait another day. That’s all right; we’ve got 194 more games to dream.

Phil’s Belt Holder?

Phil Hughes started today’s game throwing 19 pitches over two innings and then finishing with 15 more pitches in the bullpen. He was followed by Trevor May for two innings, who everyone insists is competing for a starting pitching spot, despite his performance in the bullpen last year. It’s clear everyone understands the situation: the rotation is crowded and May would instantly become a valuable contributor in the bullpen.

For now, he’s on the starting pitching track. Before the game Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said he talked to May about making sure he was “stretched out” to pursue a starter’s role before he came to spring training. May thinks he’ll be pitching every fifth day or so, taking the innings behind Hughes like he did today. Or, as he said, “Holding onto Phil’s belt and walking behind him.”

As good-natured as May seemed to be about the situation, he also made it clear he would prefer to start. “It’s what I’ve trained my whole life to do,” said May. “Watching baseball and the playoffs and all that stuff after the season kind of lit a fire a little bit to go up and say ‘I can take the ball in Game One of the series.’ I wanna be the guy that they can hop on the back a little bit and go deep into games and then throw in the pen when they need me later.”

But the situation is what it is. “He is a candidate,” agreed Twins Manager Paul Molitor after the game. “[but if we have] six or seven healthy starters and they’re all performing, we’re all going to have to decide how we’re going to prioritize shaping the entire staff, not just the rotation.”

To me, that sounds like May is a backup plan, regardless of how he is being prepared.

Don’t You Forget About Me

Here was the middle of the Twins lineup yesterday. See if you can find the choice that made me raise my eyebrows, especially considering they were facing a left-handed starter.

3. Kennys Vargas – (SH)

4. Miguel Sano – (RH)

5. Oswaldo Arcia – (LH)

6. Byung Ho Park – (RH)

Byung Ho Park is projected to be the designated hitter for the MLB club, while Kennys Vargas will likely have a similar role in AAA-Rochester. But Vargas is the one batting 3^rd, and Park is batting 6^th?

It makes sense in that Park is seen as more of a power threat while Vargas is viewed as more of a “pure hitter”. I don’t think it means anything, other than we might not want to forget Kennys Vargas is still in this organization.

Speed Thrills

In his third at-bat, after two strikeouts, Buxton tried laying a bunt down the third base line. It didn’t work; it eventually rolled just foul. But a couple of things struck me about it.

First, it was a great bunt. It nearly stayed fair and even without his blazing speed, most ballplayers could have turned that bunt into a hit. With his speed, it was never in doubt. The only hope was that it would go foul.

Second, lord is Buxton’s speed fun to watch. I hope he adds that bunt partly because it can be a weapon, especially against a third baseman like the Red Sox’ Pablo Sandoval. But I mostly hope he adds it because it is so damn fun to watch him turn a dribbler into a TKO. By the time Buxton is one-third of the way down the first base line, everyone knows it’s hopeless. The rest of the play is the world’s fastest victory lap.

Today’s reminder that it’s spring training for everyone

Newly acquired catcher John Ryan Murphy faced a pop fly in the fourth inning. To track it, he flung off his mask – directly at his own feet. As he stumbled backwards to successfully catch it, he damn near literally stumbled on the mask. It looked like Twins third baseman, Eduardo Nunez, the home plate umpire and the next Red Sox batter all gave him a bit of a hard time about it.

For The Lighting Chasers

Or maybe we were just looking the wrong way for lightning.

One youngster had a hell of a game. 22-year-old Jorge Polanco, who has already had a few very short stints with the major league club, had a home run and a double in his three at-bats, driving in two runs. So long as everyone remains healthy, he’s essentially competing for a utility infielder spot and will play all around the diamond. He started at second base today.

Could he get that 13^th position player spot? I suspect, unless he gets a chance to play regularly – maybe not as a starting position player but at least someone who they want to sub regularly - the Twins will assign him to Rochester to continue to develop. Still, it’s nice to see him continue to make a good impression. Depth always plays a role in the AL Central.

Mid Season Patience

And finally, we should mention that Miguel Sano also played even though he was credited with zero at-bats because he walked three times. His patience seems to be in midseason form. Our patience, on the other hand was tested: the much anticipated first play in right field will need to wait because no hits went his direction today. We may not need to wait long. Molitor suggested he might have Sano in tomorrow night’s lineup as well.