Tag: Minnesota Twins (Page 6 of 11)

      Nathan to miss 2010 season? Twins scouting Padres’ Bell

      March 19, 2010 /

      According to Bob Nightengale via his Twitter page, the Twins have been “extensively” scouting Padres closer Heath Bell for a possible trade. If the report is true, then that probably means that Joe Nathan is likely preparing to have Tommy John surgery on his elbow and will miss the entire 2010 season.

      Bell was the National League’s surprise leader in saves in 2009 after he racked up 42 stops, a 2.71 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. Despite the Padres only winning 75 games last year, Bell was given plenty of opportunities to save tight games in the ninth, which he did with regularity.

      It’s no secret that the Padres want to continue to shed payroll and Bell’s name has been mentioned in trades all winter. With the Twins desperate to fill Nathan’s ninth inning spot, San Diego might be able to get a decent prospect in a trade – especially if they wait until after the season starts. Minnesota has a team ready to compete now, but if bullpen woes start to emerge then the Twins might have to overpay a little to acquire Bell’s services. After all, a bullpen can be the difference between a team that makes the postseason and one that comes up short at the end of the season.

      From a fantasy standpoint, a potential trade could be viewed as both a positive and a negative. On one hand, he would be going to a competitive club that should give him plenty of save opportunities and if Nathan were indeed done for the year, Bell would instantly become the closer. On the other hand, he’d be leaving spacious Petco Park and would probably see a spike in his ERA while pitching in the American League. Plus, the lowly Padres were already giving him save opportunities so owners might be wishing he stays put.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Joe Nathan to have Tommy John surgery?

      March 9, 2010 /

      According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Joe Christensen, Twins’ closer Joe Nathan has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and will decide whether or not to have Tommy John surgery within the next two weeks.

      If Nathan opts to go with the surgery, he would miss the entire 2010 season and leave the Twins without a closer. Nathan says that he will do whatever he can to give himself the “best chance to go out there and help” the Twins, but also realizes that he has to decide soon whether or not to have surgery because the club needs to figure out its closer situation.

      Jon Rauch was added to Minnesota’s bullpen in August, so he may be asked to close for the Twins at the start of the season, or at least until the club finds a more suitable option. Matt Guerrier is also a candidate after pitching extremely well (2.36 ERA, 33 holds, 0.97 WHIP) in 2009.

      Hopefully Nathan won’t need surgery but at this point, it’s probably wise to count him out for the 2010 season. Fantasy owners should take note.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Twins’ Mauer earns much-deserved 2009 AL MVP award

      November 23, 2009 /

      In a unanimous decision, Twins catcher Joe Mauer was named the 2009 American League’s Most Valuable Player on Monday. Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira and shortstop Derek Jeter finished second and third, respectively.

      Mauer received 27 of 28 first-place votes after leading the league in batting average (.365), on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587). No other catcher has ever led the league in those three categories and he even threw in a Gold Glove this season, just for good measure.

      Not to take anything away from Teixeira, Jeter or Miguel Cabrera (who finished fourth), but there simply was no other choice for this award than Mauer. He was phenomenal and most likely parlayed his ’09 season into a fat contract extension. (Mauer becomes a free agent in 2011.)


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      MLB

      Twins beat Tigers, will play Yankees in ALDS

      October 6, 2009 /

      Thanks to Alexi Casilla’s walk-off RBI single in the 12 inning on Tuesday night, the Twins won the AL Central by beating the Tigers 6-5 in a one-game playoff. Minnesota will now take on the Yankees tomorrow night in Game 1 of the ALDS.

      It would be one to remember. The Twins overcame a 3-0 deficit, thanks to Orlando Cabrera’s two-run homer in the seventh that gave them a 4-3 lead, only to have the contest tied at 4 in the eighth inning on a Magglio Ordonez leadoff homer.

      Still knotted at 4 heading into the ninth, the Tigers appeared like they would take a lead after putting runners on first and third with no outs against Joe Nathan. But Nathan froze Placido Polanco on a called third strike and then got Ordonez to line into an inning-ending double play, as Cabrera made the throw to first base to catch Curtis Granderson off the bag.

      Nick Punto drew a 10-pitch walk to lead off the ninth and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Cabrera grounded out, thanks to a diving stop by third baseman Brandon Inge. Rodney then intentionally walked Joe Mauer to get to Gomez, who entered the game in the eighth as a defensive replacement for Jason Kubel, and Gomez grounded out.

      The clubs exchanged runs in the 10th inning. Jesse Crain struck Aubrey Huff with a pitch, and Inge hit an RBI double to put Detroit up a run, 5-4. But Michael Cuddyer tripled to lead off the bottom of the frame and scored on Matt Tolbert’s single up the middle to knot the contest again. The Twins had the winning run on third with one out, but Punto flied out to left field and Casilla was thrown out at home as he tried to slide around catcher Gerald Laird’s tag.

      What a wild finish to the season. I know the Twins bring a lot to the table with their offense led by Joe Mauer, but the Yankees must be somewhat breathing a sigh of relief for not having to face Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Rick Porcello in a best of seven.

      It’ll be interesting to see if the Yankees overlook yet another opponent in the first round of the postseason like they’ve done in previous years. As previously noted, the Twins have one of the better offenses in the American League and CC Sabathia hasn’t necessarily been lights out in the playoffs over his career.

      Let the games begin.

      MLB

      Mikey’s MLB Power Rankings

      October 3, 2009 /

      We are barreling toward the playoffs, which begin next week. But some of the races are not determined officially yet…namely, the Rockies have clinched a playoff berth but still have a shot at the division title. The Twins are hanging tough, having fended off elimination one more day. Other than that, the races are decided. Here are the final power rankings for the regular season…..

      1. New York Yankees (102-58)—Absolutely no signs of slowing down, and that’s probably a good thing with the playoffs looming.

      2. Los Angeles Angels (95-65)—Will this be the year the Angels finally break their playoff curse against the Red Sox?

      3. Los Angeles Dodgers (93-67)—These guys have been playing mediocre ball since Manny came back, and now they are in danger of blowing the division lead.

      4. Boston Red Sox (93-67)—The Sox seem to be able to beat up on everyone except the Yankees. And that could prove to be a problem in the next two weeks.

      5. Philadelphia Phillies (92-68)—No matter who the closer is, this team has to like its chances with Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels going 1-2 in a short series.

      6. St. Louis Cardinals (91-69)—Sometimes coasting to the division title makes a team complacent, and winning 4 of 10 games is complacent. Plus, the NL matchups are yet to be determined, so the Cards don’t know who their first opponent will be.

      7. Colorado Rockies (92-68)—You don’t get as hot as the Rockies, who are 74-40 since Jim Tracy took over as manager. I mean, are you kidding me? I’d be really worried if I were any other team these guys might face in the postseason.

      8. Detroit Tigers (85-75)—They’ve been in first place just about since day one, but the feisty Twins are making live miserable. Still, the Tigers have had to fight and that could give them momentum against the Yankees. Well, if they hang on to win the division.

      9. Minnesota Twins (84-76)—They earn a spot here because they are still in the race.

      10. San Francisco Giants (87-73)—Lots of promise this season, but couldn’t fend off a white hot Rockies team in the end.

      Bullz-Eye Sports Channel, MLB

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