(FunDay) Monday's Minor League Round-up

What a difference a day makes! A day after getting beaten at all levels; the system did an about-face and took all four games in convincing fashion.

Some big-league news: Word came out late afternoon that the Twins are planning to designate Jason Marquis for assignment. Later in the evening it was reported that it wouldn’t happen immediately and that Marquis was with the team in Chicago.

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How you interpret that all is entirely up to you, but I will offer my two cents: The Twins will most likely be promoting someone to start Thursday’s game and that player will not be called up until Thursday. (Although the plan may be announced before then.) The corresponding roster move with be removing Marquis from the active (and also the 40-man) roster. This also gives the team a couple of additional days to make a final decision on Marquis. All signs point to clearing waivers and being given his unconditional release.

Let’s take a spin around the farm:

ROCHESTER 10, GWINNETT 1

It what could be the best “on-the-field” news of the last 48 hours, the Red Wings got after former major-league Jair Jurrjens. Big time. They didn’t stop there either. They hammered out 10 runs on 18 hits.

Rene Tosoni led the surge going 5-for-5, knocking in two runs, scoring two runs and stealing a base. He improved his average to .177. (Seth pointed out to me that Tosoni came into the game with 6 hits in 57 at-bats this year.) Danny Valencia went 3-for-4, scoring twice and hitting a three-run home run. Every hitter made contributions offensively and I would encourage you to check out the box score here.

Jeff Manship channeled his inner-Scott Diamond and went seven innings, allowing only four hits, one run and a walk. He struck out six. Though the plan was to keep Manship in relief, he deserves to stay in the rotation after an outing like this. Esmerling Vasquez finished off the game with two perfect innings, striking out three.

Tomorrow’s game will begin at 11:05 am ET and be on MLB Network.

NEW BRITAIN 10, BINGHAMTON 7

Joe Benson, not in the lineup again, apparently injured his wrist and was placed on the 7-day DL.

The product on the field, on the other hand, played extremely well. Every hitter in the lineup recorded at least a hit and seven of the nine crossed home plate.

Chris Herrmann led the charge going 4-for-5 with three runs and a double. As I suggested with the Red Wings game, it’s worth checking out the box score for this game too.

Steve Hirschfeld pitched five solid innings, giving up a run on six hits. He walked one and struck out two. Caleb Thielbar pitched two scoreless innings in relief, giving up a hit while striking out two. Daniel Turpen got roughed up in his two innings, to the tune of five hits, six runs, two walks and a strikeout, but it was too little, too late.

FT. MYERS 7, CLEARWATER 1

The Miracle got it going early with back-to-back-to-back doubles in the first inning by Jairo Perez, Oswaldo Arcia and Dan Rohlfing and never looked back.

Danny Ortiz continued to hit well going 3-for-4 and is now batting .317 over his last ten games. He does, though, continue to struggles to hit lefties at all.

Lance Ray had a solo home run in the eighth to hopefully turn his slump around. In addition to Perez’s first inning double, he added a single and two runs batted in. Michael Gonzales had two hits as well.

Jhon Garcia pitched a very solid six innings to earn his first win of the year. Garcia allowed four hits, one run and a walk, while striking out three. He also hit a batter. He recorded six outs by flyball, which is at least worth noting, since the wind was blowing out.

Edgar Ibarra recorded a three-inning save, allowing only a hit and a walk. He struck out three. While an encouraging outing, this was Ibarra’s first appearance in nearly a month where he didn’t allow a run.

BELOIT 4, BURLINGTON 2

Jason Wheeler had another stellar outing. He went a season-high seven innings, allowing eight hits, two runs and a walk. He struck out five. He also recorded twelve outs by groundball to only one on flyball. That’s an impressive feat for a guy that stands 6’ 8”. In 51 IP this year, he has a 36:9 K/BB ratio. While he’ll never project to be a top-of-the-rotation starter, Wheeler might become the definition of “innings-eater”.

Michael Tonkin continued his impressive year, striking out five in two innings.

The Snapper bats were just good enough to get a win, scoring all four runs in the fifth inning. A.J. Pettersen and Matthew Koch both delivered 2-RBI hits. Wang-Wei Lin had two hits in the nine-hole. Eddie Rosario was 1-for-4 with a stolen base (his ninth).

Miguel Sano continued to struggle. He went 0-for-4, with a strikeout. He’s now batting .256. He also had a throwing and fielding error and is up to 14 on the season. We all knew it wouldn’t be easy (or pretty), but I wouldn’t be shocked if he started getting some reps at 1B and DH.

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Players of the Day for Monday, May 21, 2012

Pitcher of the Day – Jeff Manship

Hitter of the Day – Rene Tosoni

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A Look Ahead – Tuesday, May 22, 2012 Schedule

Rochester vs Gwinnett – RHP Daryl Thompson (1-4, 4.42)

New Britain vs Binghamton – LHP Logan Darnell (4-2, 5.27)

Ft. Myers vs Clearwater – RHP Marty Popham (3-1, 4.91)

Beloit – OFF DAY

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Happy 6th birthday tomorrow to my daughter Marin!

If you have any questions on the Twins minor league system, players, teams, etc., leave them in the Comments and we’ll try to answer them! Comments also welcome.