also available at www.SethSpeaks.net –
If you are able, I will be on the radio with Paul Allen this morning at 9:20 on KFAN (am 1130 in the Twin Cities, affiliates around the state/region) or listen live in on KFAN.com. Or, be sure to listen to the podcast (Fan on Demand) an hour later.
Time is of the essence today, so here are some quick thoughts on the Twins game last night and highlights from the affiliates:
- The Twins lost to the Brewers. The decision to go with a lefty-laden lineup worked well for Ron Gardenhire. Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau each had two hits while Jason Kubel had two hits off of a lefty. Of course, pinch hitting Jim Thome against a lefty in the top of the 6th really hurt.
- Also, Danny Valencia needs to be playing 3B on this team… not Michael Cuddyer. I’m as big of a Michael Cuddyer fan as there is, but he is not a 3B. I get that it is nice to have that ability and get his bat in there along with Young and Kubel, but he’s not a 3B. There were two plays last night that most 3B make that he didn’t come close to, and those plays led to three Brewers runs. Oh yeah, the Brewers won, by three. This isn’t at all a knock on Cuddyer. He’ll do anything he’s asked to for the time, and I admire that. I can’t even really blame Gardy for playing him there since in his two games at 3B in Philadelphia, he only had one play to make. You can’t hide a guy at 3B for very long. I think this is a great cautionary tale for all of the Twins fans who seem to think that Joe Mauer can easily move to 3B. Seriously, it’s not that easy.
- Glen Perkins got crushed again last night in Rochester. He gave up six runs on eight hits and four walks in just 3.2 innings. Fortunately Tim Lahey threw 3.1 hitless innings in relief. Then Pat Neshek came in and gave up five runs on six hits and got just one out. Of the 23 pitches he threw, 18 were strikes. Kyle Waldrop came in and gave up a hit but got the final two outs. Rob Delaney struck out the side in the 9th. The Red Wings lost 11-2 and had just six hits including four doubles (Trevor Plouffe, D’Angelo Jimenez, Jose Morales, Jacque Jones).
- New Britain beat Binghamton 10-2. Chris Parmelee was 3-4 with a walk. Mark Dolenc went 3-5 with his seventh double and four RBI. Erik Lis was 3-5. Jair Fernandez went 2-3. Joe Benson was 2-5 with a walk and his seventh double. Carlos Gutierrez started and gave up one run on six hits and a walk in six innings. Chris Province gave up a run on three hits in two innings, and Cole DeVries threw a perfect inning.
- Ft. Myers beat Palm Beach 9-6. Brian Dozier went 4-6. Estarlin de Los Santos went 3-5 with a walk. Evan Bigley went 3-5 and drove in three runs. Nate Hanson went 2-4 with a walk. Angel Morales went 2-4 with his first FSL double. Santos Arias gave up three runs on six hits in four innings. Andrey Lobanov gave up one run on three hits in 2.2 innings. Billy Bullock notched his 13th save with two strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning.
- Beloit did not play. They are still on their all-star break and start playing games again tonight. Tom Stuifbergen told me that he expects to be back on the mound around the 4th of July.
- Elizabethton lost to Bristol 8-4. Blayne Weller got knocked around a bit. He gave up five runs (4 earned) on nine hits in four innings. Sam Spangler gave up one run on two hits in two innings. David Gutierrez debuted and struck out two in a perfect innings. Kyle Necke gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in an inning. Oswaldo Arcia hit his first triple and his second home run (in 2 games). Brandon Henderson went 2-2 with a walk and his second stolen base.
- The GCL Rays topped the GCL Twins 7-4. Eddie Rosario went 3-4 with his first homer and his first stolen base. Candid Pimental went 3-4 with a walk and two stolen bases. Nick Lockwood hit two doubles in five at bats. Kennys Vargas went 2-3 with a walk and his second double. Clay Condrey started for the team and pitched the first inning. He gave up two hits and a walk in an inning but no runs. Ricardo Arevalo went the next 4.1 innings and gave up four runs (3 earned) on four hits. He didn’t walk any hitters and struck out four. Bart Carter struck out two in 1.2 scoreless innings. Brett Carroll gave up three runs on five hits in an inning. Matt Trau struck out two in a scoreless inning.
Any thoughts of the Twins or the minor league system? Feel free to leave your questions and comments here.
SethSpeaks.net 
Speaking of guys who should not play 3rd. Jair Fernandez had to play 3B last night for New Britain. Well, he was brutal there. He basically gifted the 2nd run with his D.
probably, but I’m not concerned about minor league guys getting to play other positions.
not worried either. just an example I witnessed last night similar to the argument.
We are lucky that Bill Smith is the Twins’ GM. David Kahn seems to live for the draft. It’s true, he does sound like Mr. Rogers.
I think they know(the Twins)that Valencia is not going to be a top level major leaguer. Now even in time!
Above last sentence should read: Not even with more playing time!
I think it is too early to judge Smith. He has one bad offseason (Garza and Santana trades) and one season that looks good and bad (Rauch deal, both 2B signings, and the ridiculous Blackbrun signing). The GM should be judged by trades and roster composition. I’d assume that the drafting is mostly done by the scouts, and not the GM (though he does hire/employ them). On that front, the decision to have three utility players, to sign Blackburn and Harris and Crain (as your 6th best RP to $1.5MM) all seem like bad decisions. The Thome, Rauch and two 2B deals all seem like good decisions. So, too early to judge yet.