Links and Notes

also available at www.SethSpeaks.net –

RADIO UPDATE – I will be on KFGO’s Front Row tonight at around 6:30. KFGO is 790 on the am dial in Fargo, and Front Row is their night time talk show. The host is Mike McFeely. You can listen live online too.

The Twins beat the Detroit Tigers last night and won yet another series. It took a great defensive play by JJ Hardy, and a nice triple by JJ Hardy, and JJ Hardy scoring on a passed ball to do it. Whatever it takes. That’s all that matters. Nick Blackburn was the story. The righty returned from being gone for family emergency leave and pitched a complete game. Through eight innings, he had just 85 pitches. In that eighth inning, he recorded three more ground balls, something that was common place in the game. But sending him out for the 9^th inning was an easy choice, and the right choice for the manager. Blackburn deserved the opportunity. The bullpen needed a performance like that, and he came through. Again, you win however you can, but to win on a wild pitch is too bad. It would have been great to see what Wilson Ramos could have done in that at bat.

It has been a little while since I have posted links to many Twins blogs and bloggers, so today I will do just that. I hope you enjoy and bookmark several of these sites. You can find these sites on the left side of this screen, where you can also find the links and times for the Twins-related podcasts. It is interesting. At the beginning of April, pretty much all of those blogs were up and running. We’re less than a week into May, and most of the sites on the left have not been updated since early or mid-April. That’s not a big deal at all. My main point is that, if there are other Twins-related blogs, please e-mail me and I’ll be sure to post a link soon. Thanks!

• Yesterday my StarTribune.com TwinsCentric blog discussed what the Twins should do with Wilson Ramos. Today, Nick Nelson posted that there is one clear choice for what to do. (I disagree)
• Luke Hughes bruised his right thumb last night and will likely miss a game or two.
• Allan de San Miguel is the only catcher in Rochester right now. That’s it. I know that people have been disappointed in previous years when the Twins left them short-handed. When the AAA team has just one catcher, it’s hard not to disagree.
• That said, with Danny Lehmann banged up in New Britain and likely to miss several more games, the Rockcats are limited to just one catcher as well, their backup Alexander Soto. That said, Toby Gardenhire has already been behind the plate once. And, if absolutely necessary, Joe Benson could probably don the gear like the old high school days for a game or two.
• Jair Fernandez is at Ft. Myers this year after being a Beloit last year. Chris Herrmann and Dan Rohlfing are at Ft. Myers this year after playing last year in Elizabethton and skipping Beloit.
• The Twins Geek wrote about attending last night’s game.
•  Aaron Gleeman broke some news late last night. Wilson Ramos is, in fact, human!
• Over the Baggy analyzes Denard Span’s Hand Placement, some excellent analysis.
• Josh’s Thoughts took a look at the April’s of each of the Twins minor league affiliates.
• If you want to know just how horrible the 18-9 Twins are, and what a horrible manager Ron Gardenhire is, be sure to check out Fanatic Jack’s blog.
• Here’s to you, Nick! Courtesy of K-Bro.
• Undomed posted some thoughts from Week 4.
• For the Love of the Game says Gracius to Wilson Ramos.   

Last night, Travis Aune and I will be hosted Twins Minor League Weekly. We spent an hour discussing the Twins minor league system, from the Rochester Red Wings through the Beloit Snappers. We named top players from each levels and talked about surprises. There were a lot of very good questions in the chat room, so it was just a fun show. I know a lot of Twins fans don’t care much for the minor leagues. Look at the 2010 season already. Alex Burnett was called up to the Opening Day roster and with the exception of a three day demotion, he has been with the team all year. He has been getting more high-leverage situations of late. Jeff Manship was promoted for one start when Nick Blackburn was put on the Family Emergency list. He gave up two runs in six innings last weekend. Luke Hughes came up to the Twins for the first time and got three hits in his two games played. He homered in his very first at bat. And most recently, Wilson Ramos came up from Rochester and proved what he could do given an opportunity. Odds are, another half-dozen players will come up to the Twins in 2010, maybe more. I think getting to know about these players well before they debut is fun and interesting. Of course, that’s probably why I’ve written two books on Twins prospects (Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook, 2009 and 2010.)

SethSpeaks Tuesday Minor League Hitter of the Day – Dustin Martin – Rochester Red Wings

SethSpeaks Tuesday Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Tom Stuifbergen – Beloit Snappers

Red Wings Report   

Tuesday – Rochester 7 Durham 10 – Dustin Martin had an incredible April and it has continued in into May. On this night, he went 2-4 with his third double and fifth home run. Jason Repko went 2-3 with two walks and his third home run. Matt Macri went 2-5 with a double. Glen Perkins started for the Red Wings and gave up six earned runs on eight hits and two walks in just 2.1 innings. Ryan Mullins came in and gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in 3.1 innings. Anthony Slama had not given up a run in nearly a dozen outings, but in this game, he gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in two innings. Rob Delaney got the final four outs.  

New Britain Notes

Tuesday – New Britain 4, New Hampshire 8 – The Rockcats fall to 4-20 with another loss. They are now 13.5 games behind division leading New Hampshire. Mike McCardell started, and went six innings (despite a rain delay in the third inning). He gave up five runs on nine hits (3 home runs) and two walks. Santos Arias gave up a run on two hits and two walks in his inning. Henry Arias gave up two runs on three hits and a walk but he got just one out. Joe Testa came in to get the final two outs. Joe Benson had another very good game. He went 2-4 with his third home run. Mark Dolenc went 2-3 with a walk. Alexander Soto and Chris Parmelee each had two hits.  

Miracle Matters

Tuesday – Ft. Myers 4, Jupiter 2 – Kyle Gibson improved to 3-1 with another very good outing. He gave up two runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out four. Matt Williams struck out three in two shutout innings. Michael Allen recorded his first save with a perfect ninth. Deibinson Romero went 2-4 with his third double. Nate Hanson continued to hit well, going 2-4 with a double. Brandon Roberts returned to his rehab assignment and went 2-3.  

Snappers Snippets

Tuesday – Beloit 2, Clinton 0 – Tom Stuifbergen was terrific again and improved to 4-0 on the season. The righty went six shutout innings. He gave up four hits, walked just one and struckout nine. Ben Tootle walked two and gave up a hit, but no runs in 0.2 innings. Matt Tone came in and struck out three of the five hitters that he got out. Steve Blevins got the game’s final two outs. Angel Morales went 2-4 with an RBI in the game.  

Any questions? Leave your comments here.