BallHype - Latest Minnesota Twins News Articles

Twins add six to fill out 40-man roster

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:36:00 +0000

The Twins maxed out their 40-man roster by protecting six players in preparation for the Dec. 10 Draft that will take place at the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis.

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Marlins brass tour Target Field

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:20:00 +0000

With Target Field in Minnesota set to open next spring, members of the Marlins' front office recently toured the stadium to get some ideas for the opening of their new park in 2012.

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Minnesota Twins News Links

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

• Here's a great article about Brendan Harris visiting a middle school. It's hard not to respect a guy like Harris after reading that. He definitely went up a few notches in my book. • Mark DeRosa and Jarrod Washburn are reportedly being linked to the Twins. • The Twins unveiled new uniforms, patches, hats, and logos on Monday. I personally like the changes and can't wait to buy a new away jersey. Here are some more thoughts: A Voice from Twins Territory Twins MVB Fanatic Jack Talks Twins BP's Baseball Blog Alright Hamilton! • Ron Gardenhire came in second to Angels manager Mike Scocia in voting for A.L. Manager of the Year . Brian Pietrzak believes Gardenhirew was snubbed . I personally thought Rangers manager Ron Washington was snubbed or at the very least deserved more votes than he got. But I'm not surprised, being that the Rangers failed to make the playoffs. • For some great pictures of Target Field, check out both the walking tour from ...

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Twins set to spend as market opens

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 +0000

The free-agent market will officially be open for business at 11 p.m. CT and with it comes the opportunity for the Twins to begin exploring the market for ways to improve their club for another run at the postseason.

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Ron Gardenhire Runner-Up for AL Manager of the Year, Again

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:07:06 +0000

At first glance, Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire hasn't accomplished anything too extraordinary over his eight-year career. Sure, he has led the Twins to five American League Central championships and has a career record well above .500 (709-588), but the Twins have won just a single playoff series under Gardenhire and have a dismal 6-18 postseason record. From the outside looking in, it may appear as though it's time for the organization to move on from a coach who can't seem to take his team over the hump. When you look deeper into what Gardenhire has accomplished in his tenure with Minnesota, however, it becomes clear that he has been a magic worker, taking teams that have no business competing and pushing them to the next level. It was announced today that Mike Scioscia of the Angels won the 2009 AL Manager of the Year, with Gardenhire taking second for the fifth time. Scioscia had a tough job ahead of him from Day One, with ace John Lackey, as well as other key ...

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Scioscia, Tracy capture top manager honors

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:07:18 +0000

Mike Scioscia of the Angels won his second American League Manager of the Year award, beating out Twins skipper Ron Gardenhire. Scioscia received 15 of the 28 first-place votes, while Gardenhire got six. Yankees manager Joe Girardi was listed first on four ballots, finishing third. Mike Scioscia, Angels 15-10-1 (106) Ron Gardenhire, Twins 6-12-6 (72) Joe Girardi, Yankees 4-3-5 (34) Don Wakamatsu, Mariners 2-2-3 (19) Ron Washington, Rangers 1-1-11 (19) Jim Leyland, Tigers 0-0-2 (2) As I detailed in my earlier post, I thought Scioscia was the right choice for this award. I believed Gardenhire would win it based on the Twins' big finish, but I'm glad to see voters recognize Scioscia for the job he did with the adversity his team faced this season. Tracy was an obvious choice in the NL, leading the Rockies to the playoffs after taking over for Clint Hurdle in May with his team in last place. Tracy beat out Tony La Russa of the Cardinals in a landslide, getting 29 of the 32 ...

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Gardenhire second in MOY Award balloting

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:50:00 +0000

After leading the Twins to a wild finish and the AL Central title in 2009, Minnesota skipper Ron Gardenhire came in second for the AL Manager of the Year Award on Wednesday.

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B-Mets officially tap Teufel

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:52:42 +0000

Binghamton has confirmed that Tim Teufel will manage the organization's Double-A affiliate.Here's the official announcement: With an ultimate goal of developing players to contribute to winning a World Series, the New York Mets handed the managerial reins of their Double-A team over to Tim Teufel, a member of the big league’s club last world title team, it was announced today. Teufel, 51, replaces Mako Oliveras, whose contract was not renewed, as the 12th skipper in Binghamton Mets history. Teufel moves up to Binghamton after guiding the St. Lucie Mets, New York’s High-A squad in the Florida State League, in four of his last five years as a minor league manager. The Greenwich, Connecticut native led St. Lucie to a 66-68 record in 2009 and has compiled a six-year managerial record of 337-404. His coaching career with the Mets began in 2001 as a roving minor league infield instructor before piloting Mets affiliates in Brooklyn (2003), St. Lucie (2004-5, 2008-9) & Savannah (2007). ...

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Looking Ahead: The Twins' 12 Reasons for Optimism in 2010 and Beyond

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:53:19 +0000

After a charmed season in which they seemed to be able to beat every team in the American League except the Yankees, the Twins now enter the offseason filled with hope and a hunger for more success. Here are 12reasons why Twins fans should be optimistic for the future. 1. Joe Mauer I don't really think I need to explain why he comes in first on this list. Short of Albert Pujols, Mauer could be the most important player for his respective team in baseball. Mauer is entering the final year of his contract, and Twins management is clamoring to lock him down for a multi-year deal. Look for the Mauer contract negotiations to be a hot button issue for the Twins this offseason. 2. Justin Morneau's back Many people forget that the Twins were able to pull off their remarkable comeback in September without the services of 2006 MVP Justin Morneau. Morneau should be healthy and ready for spring training, adding another dangerous bat to the middle of the Twins' lineup. 3. Kevin Slowey ...

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Twins unveil new unis for 2010

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:10:00 +0000

The Twins lifted the curtain on two new jerseys Monday at a ceremony at the IDS Crystal Court in downtown Minneapolis, with Denard Span and Scott Baker on hand to show off the new looks.

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Bill Smith, Twins small success

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:22:14 +0000

Just two winters ago, the Minnesota Twins were in a quandary. Their two cornerstone talents - Johan Santana, a year away from free agency, and Torii Hunter, a free agent...

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Minnesota Twins: Bye Bye, Justin Huber?

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:55:00 +0000

NPB Tracker just posted a report from the The Chugoku Shimbun that Justin Huber is close to signing a contract with the Hiroshima Carp. This week, Huber was taken off of the 40-man roster and was sent outright to Triple-A. The Carp then put in a request for Huber which, according to the report, was accepted immediately. The Twins letting Huber go doesn't make a lot of sense to me. For starters, the Rochester Red Wings were a pretty bad team last season and Huber was a fan-favorite who led the club in home runs, RBI, and batting average. And on top of winning the Red Wings' Triple Crown, Huber was named an I.L. All-Star and competed in the home run derby in which he provided the night's longest home run (438 feet). That doesn't mean he should be untouchable, but ripping a player like Huber away from the Red Wings will definitely hurt the team. He also provides depth at both the corner outfield and first base, two positions the Twins need depth. At first thought, you'd probably ...

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Fits Like a Glove: Placido Polanco

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:28:44 +0000

Much fuss has been made on this blog recently in regards to Minnesota's complete lack of a No. 2 hitter to bat behind Denard Span . I hold to my belief that it is the most important hole that remains to be filled, and should be taken care of before the starting rotation is addressed. This decade, the average on-base-percentage of a No. 2 hitter in the American League is .338. The past ten years, the Twins have had anything but a consistent batter hitting behind the lead-off man. This past season Orlando Cabrera received the most at-bats in the No. 2 position, accruing a miserable OBP of .313. Before him, in 2008, Alexi Casilla was the regular No. 2 hitter, with a .333 OBP. In fact, throughout the decade, just once has Minnesota been able to field a team with an above-average No. 2 hitter. In '07 Jason Bartlett put up a .337 OBP, in '05 Nick Punto sported a .301 OBP, and from '04 to '00 Cristian Guzman posted a combined OBP of .308. The only year Minnesota has benefited from an ...

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Denard Span in Center Field...The Way It Was Meant to Be

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:49:46 +0000

When the Minnesota Twins drafted Torii Hunter in the 1993 MLB Draft, there was no question that he would become Kirby Puckett's replacement in center field for the Twins. Hunter was selected with the 20th overall pick out of Pine Bluff (AR) High School. When Puckett retired in 1995, the Twins filled center field with Rich Becker and Otis Nixon until Hunter played his first full year in 1999. Hunter was a staple for the Twins during the 2000s, winning seven of his nine Gold Gloves, making two of his three All-Star appearances, and leading the Twins to four of their five division titles. When the Minnesota Twins drafted Denard Span in the 2002 MLB Draft, there was no question that he would become Hunter's replacement in center field for the Twins. Span was selected with the 20th overall pick out of Tampa Catholic High School. When Hunter departed the Twins via free agency after 2007, the Twins took a hard look at Span to be the starting center fielder, who had been waiting for Hunter to ...

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Twins, Mauer contract talks quiet

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:52:00 +0000

A report in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Wednesday said that Mauer and the Twins have started talks on a new contract, but the catcher indicated later that day that nothing serious has taken place between the two sides just yet.

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Indians to monitor Westbrook's winter ball stint

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:02:36 +0000

Sporting News staff reports The Cleveland Indians will be keeping a close eye on Jake Westbrook when the big right-hander starts his first game in the Puerto Rican winter league on Nov. 28. The team would like Westbrook, who did not pitch last season after undergoing elbow surgery, to be in their rotation and his work in Puerto Rico over a three-week period could elevate or deflate that optimism. "Our expectation is, at this point, that Jake will be in our rotation at the start of the year," assistant general manager Chris Antonetti told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. If Westbrook falters, one possible backup plan is to re-sign Carl Pavano, who was traded to the Twins at last season's deadline and finished with a combined record of 14-12 in 33 starts.

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Who's at Second? Twins Have Numerous Options to Complete Right Side of Infield

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:08:00 +0000

Since Todd Walker and Chuck Knoblauch played at the Metrodome, the Twins haven't had steady play from any of their second basemen. In fact, the team has put in little effort (at least, compared to other positions) to upgrade it at all. Surely you can mention Bret Boone or Luis Castillo, but both were well past their primes before putting on a Twins uniform. When options like Alexi Casilla and Luis Rivas have failed, the Twins haven't been able to find a suitable replacement. Now after a decade of futility at (admittedly) a position that isn't viewed as a highly productive position, the Twins could be in a great position to finally find a productive player to put at second base. Last week, I mentioned who I would most like to see at second base. Today, I'll give other options that could entice the Twins. Thankfully, there are quite a few. Orlando Cabrera The Twins traded for J.J. Hardy last week , which made everyone assume that the Twins would move on from Cabrera. But since ...

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Back-to-back Gold Gloves for Mauer

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:15:00 +0000

Gold Gloves were handed out in the American League on Tuesday, and catcher Joe Mauer took home his second such honor for his fine fielding behind the plate in Minnesota.

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Twins add four to 40-man roster

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:09:00 +0000

The Twins took pitchers Boof Bonser, Pat Neshek and Kevin Slowey off the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday and reinstated them to the 40-man roster.

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Twins Offseason Blueprint: Letting Go (The Joe Crede Edition)

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Not even a year ago, the Twins signed Joe Crede to be a one-year stopgap at third base while the organization waits for Danny Valencia to make his way up. The deal was a great opportunity for Crede to prove to other ball clubs that he was fully healed from back surgery and worthy of a long-term contract. Unfortunately, things didn't quite work out the way either side wanted. Valencia isn't quite ready, and Crede hurt himself, eliminating any chances he had of joining another team with a multi-year deal. Although one would expect that the Twins and Crede would part ways, the contrary seems to be likely. The Twins and Crede could both use one another for yet another season. Many believe that Valencia could probably handle the starting job right out of spring training, but the Twins' ultra-conservative approach with position prospects makes that a pipe dream at this point in time. That leaves a possibility for the Twins and Crede to be able to find a way to keep the 31-year-old in Minnesota for ...

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Cabrera last of Twins to file for free agency

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:59:00 +0000

Shortstop Orlando Cabrera filed for free agency on Monday, making him the last of the Twins' five free-agent eligible players to do so.

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CF Cameron files for free agency (AP)

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 19:46:44 +0000

The Mike Cameron era in center field for the Milwaukee Brewers ended Monday when the 15-year veteran filed for free agency. Cameron's spot will be taken by Carlos Gomez, who was acquired Friday from Minnesota for shortstop J.J. Hardy. Four other Brewers filed for free agency, including outfielders Frank Catalanotto and Corey Patterson, catcher Jason Kendall and second baseman Felipe Lopez.

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Twins' Gabino claimed by Orioles

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 18:28:00 +0000

The Twins' 40-man roster continued to get some alterations on Monday, as right-hander Armando Gabino was claimed by the Orioles on outright waivers.

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