Minor League
February 26, 2010
Found link that shows the Minnesota Twins signed minor league outfielder Charlton Jimerson out of the Atlantic League.
Jimerson had an incredible 2009 for the Newark Bears, with a .335/.387/.567 with 21 HR, 88 SO and 38 stolen bases.
Jacque Jones played 28 games last year for the Newark Bears.
Odds & Ends: 02-19-2010
February 19, 2010
Just some odds and ends for week ending February 19, 2010.
The Twins twitter account has been active lately, sending regular updates on who is reporting in, trying to drum up more followers and promoting Twins season tickets. One interesting post was of a picture of Target Field. At first glance you might think this was a practical joke by the grounds crew trying to drum up some more attention for the new field, but it actually has a purpose.
Although the 40,000-seat open-air ballpark has a heated field, by blowing out the snow in the grid pattern will help melt the snow faster according to the grounds crew.
As the Twins ballplayers start to arrive in Fort Meyer, the Star Tribunes LaVelle Neal takes some time to explain why the Twins have a late start to spring training as opposed to other teams.
LaVelle explains how the Twins have a organized system to get players on and off the field as fast as possible. The system was implemented by Tom Kelly and Ron Gardenhire continues to use the same method as it gets the organization ready for the start of the regular season in the form they want.
Baker slotted to start Opening Day
February 16, 2010
In an interview with Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune, Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson stated that Scott Baker will be the Opening Day starter when Minnesota takes on the Los Angeles Angels on April 5th. Anderson said Baker earned it after going 12-2 to finish out the 2009 season.
Of course, a lot can happen between now and then with opening day still 49 days away and spring training just around the corner. One needs to only look back to last year when Baker was penciled in as the Opening Day starter but ended up on the 15-day disabled list with a stiff shoulder.
Francisco Liriano took the Opening Day spot and gave up four runs in a 6-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners in the final home opener in the Metrodome. It was a rough start for the lefty where he ended the season with a 5-13 mark and a 5.80 ERA before finishing out the season in the bullpen with a few spot starts.
With the rough season behind him, Anderson stated that Liriano has had some great outings in winter ball and will be able to compete for the final spot in the rotation come spring training.
And the numbers are in
February 13, 2010
Lavelle E Neal III got a sneak peak of the 2010 media guide and has given us a sneak peak as to what numbers the players will be wearing this year.
JJ Hardy Jersey
Jose Morales will be making a switch from number 58 to number 26 and Danny Valencia will don number 19.
Lopez fires Scott Boras
February 13, 2010
Continuing on our rant against agent Scott Boras, it looks like Felipe Lopez finally got wise and fired his agent.
Scott Boras isn’t the Anti-Christ, but he is not doing any of his clients a favor this year. He convinced Damon he was worth more then the market thinks and Damon and Boras are currently trying to create a bidding war between the White Sox and the Tigers.
Then you have Jarrod Washburn who was offered a one-year deal for $5MM by the Minnesota Twins. Even though Washburn said he wanted to play close to home, he declined the offer and now after playing a month of “the price is right” with his agent Boras, Washburn finds himself in a situation where he either takes a much smaller deal in Seattle or retire.
Here is to you Felipe Lopez. Once we hoped you might be a Twin, but now we hope you just find a job. May you land yourself a spot on a roster and prosper!
In Memoriam
February 12, 2010
Was reading Kelly Thesier’s mail bag today and got to thinking about those Twins from last year who are not projected at this time to be with the club.
OF Carlos Gomez: Carlos Gomez was an exciting young center fielder who always had a smile on his face. When he arrived in 2008, he was a welcome sight in the injury prone out field of 2008. His addition along with that of Denard Span in 2008 gave Twins fans a lot to be excited about going into 2009.
Gomez came into the organization and swung the bat well to begin with, but towards the end of the year as pitchers got to know him, his numbers dropped. Unfortunately, Gomez continued to struggle in 2009 and was relegated to being the 8th-9th inning defensive substitution through most of 2009.
Two days after the World Series, the Twins announced that Gomez had been traded to the Brewers in exchange for shortstop JJ Hardy. Any true Gomez fan knows this was a great opportunity for the young out fielder as he will get a chance to be the everyday center fielder with the Brewers organization.
SS Orlando Cabrera: There was a lot of buzz before the 2009 season began about the Twins landing Cabrera. The organization tried to whew the almost 34 year-old shortstop to play with them. Cabrera chose to play with the Oakland Athletics, but late in the season the Twins made another offer to obtain Cabrera to help them close the gap with Detroit.
Picked up late in 2009, Cabrera brought the spark that the Twins needed to catch up to the division leading Tigers. His enthusiasm and presence in the club house was infectious and he is given much of the credit for the Twins winning the AL Central title.
With the off season acquisition of JJ Hardy, the Twins did not have a role for the 35 year-old shortstop and his service were not sought after by the Twins. Cabrera recently signed a contract to play with the Cincinnati Reds.
Mike Redmond
3B Joe Crede: Crede was a gamble that didn’t really payoff for the Twins. Skeptical that he had really resolved previous back issues, the Twins signed the former White Sox to a heavy incentive laden one-year deal. He wasn’t a bust, but he wasn’t a boom either, going .225/.289/.414 with 15 home runs in 367 plate apperances. He was unable to shake the injury bug and underwent his third back surgery in three years just before the end of the season. Crede says he is healthy but still remains an unsigned free agent.
LHP Ron Mahay: Mahay was picked up late August 2009 from the Kansas City Royals for a player to be named later. Mahay pitched a total of 9 innings of relief in 16 games. He racked up 8 SO/3BB and ended the season with a 2.00 ERA. The Twins had expressed interest in re-signing the reliever before the end of the year, but the left-hander remains unsigned.
RHP Bobby Keppel: Who could forget Bobby Keppel’s last game for the Twins. In one of the most thrilling games ever played in baseball, Keppel was called in to relief during extra innings of game 163 against the Tigers. His efforts in that game were rewared as he left the game with his first and so far only Major League win. Keppel requested a release from his contract after the 2009 season to pursue a pitching career in Japan.
Mike Lamb signs with Marlins
February 11, 2010
Mike Lamb has agreed to terms with the Florida Marlins on a minor league deal according to a tweet from Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post.
Mike Lamb
Lamb was signed in December of 2007 to a two-year deal with the Twins. After 261 plate appearances and going .233/.276/.322, He was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for the return of Eddie Guardado. Lamb was released quietly on September 4th and quickly signed with the Milwaukee Brewers.
After becoming a free agent at the end of 2008, Lamb renewed his contract with the Brewers. Lamb was released by the Brewers April 1, 2009 when he refused assignment to the Brewers Triple A.
Gagne joins Twins Hall of Fame
February 9, 2010
Greg Gagne
Two time World Series Champion shortstop Greg Gagne has been elected to the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame.
Gagne will be inducted September 4, 2010 in the Twins contest against the Rangers.
Gagne began his career in 1979 when he was drafted in the fifth round by the Yankees. The Twins acquired Gagne from the Yankees through a trade in April of 1982. Gagne made his Major League debut in 1983 and took over the Twins shortstop position in ’85. Gagne played in Minnesota until 1992.
During his time with the Twins, Gagne posted a .249 BA with 335 RBI’s, 452 runs scored and 69 home runs.
The shortstop is one of only seven players who played on both of the Twins’ 1987 and 1991 World Series championship clubs. Gagne was error free in 37 total plays during the seven-game series with the Braves in the 1991 World Series. Gagne offensively assisted the Twins in the fifth inning of Game 1 of the 1991 World Series, belting a three-run homer off Braves starter Charlie Leibrandt to lead the Twins to a 5-2 victory.
Gagne was named the starting shortstop of the All Metrodome team last year.
Gagne is the 22nd member of the organziations Hall of Fame.
Jacque Jones signs minor league deal
February 9, 2010
Jacque Jones, who played with the Minnesota Twins during their back-to-back-to-back AL Central Division titles, has agreed to a minor league deal with the club and will be one of the invites to join the club in Fort Myers for spring training.
Jones was drafted by the Twins in 1996 and broke with the team in 1999. He spent the next seven years with Minnesota playing all positions in the outfield and hit .279 with 20+ homers in four of those years. His best season with the Twins came in 2002 where he hit .300 with 27 home runs when Minnesota advanced to the ALCS, eventually losing to the Anaheim Angels.
In 2006, Jones opted to become a free agent and signed with the Chicago Cubs. Since then, Jones has spent time with the Cubs, Detroit Tigers and Florida Marlins. Last year, Jones signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds but was cut before the season started. He then played in the independent Atlantic League with the Newark Bears.
The Twins will be inviting Jones to spring training and Jones has agreed to play in Rochester if he does not make the team. Twins GM, Bill Smith, stated that they are “glad to have him back in our organization.”
Jason Pridie claimed by Mets
February 9, 2010
Kelly Thesier reported today on Twitter that outfielder, Jason Pridie, was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets. Pridie was put on waivers to make room on the 40-man roster for newly acquired Orlando Hudson.
Pridie was originally selected by the Twins as a Rule 5 draft pick in 2005 but ended up being sent back to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays due to not having any open spots on their 25-man roster. He eventually was traded to the Twins in a package deal that sent Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett and Eduardo Morlan to the Rays in exchange for himself, Delmon Young and Brendan Harris.
Pridie batted .268 in two seasons with the Rochester Red Wings with 22 home runs and 114 RBI. He has also had his proverbial cup of coffee in the big leagues going 0-4 with a walk and a sacrifice in six plate appearances with the Twins. He only made one appearance with the club last season as a pinch runner in an interleague game against the Houston Astros.
