10.  Among the rookies participating in their first spring training these players made an impression to Ron Gardenhire and the coaching staff.  OF Ben Revere, RHP Anthony Slama, IF Danny Valencia, and OF/IF Juan Portes.  Portes had a big day early in spring training when he hit a grand slam home run and then hit another two run home run, amassing 6 runs batted in.

9.  The Twins finished with a better than .500 record in spring training.  At one time they won 6 games in a row. In all it was a very good spring for the Twins, showing they will be a contending team in the Central Division in 2010.

8.  The Twins starting pitching was just short of outstanding the entire spring.  Starters Scott Baker, Carl Pavano, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn, and Francisco Liriano showed they will be a starting rotation to be reckoned with during the regular season.

7.  Among the battles for positions and roster spots during the spring, IF Alexi Casilla beat out Matt Tolbert for the final spot on the roster.  And C Drew Butera was the back up catching position over Wilson Ramos, although Ramos turned some heads with a tremendous home run hit over the batters eye fence in centerfield in a Grapefruit League game.

6.  The Twins newcomers seem to fit in very nicely.  Winter acquisitions JJ Hardy, Orlando Hudson, and Jim Thome blended in with the Twins veterans.  Hudson was an instant success with his clubhouse banter, Hardy was accepted by his teammates, and Thome brought an aura to the clubhouse with his work ethic and great baseball knowledge.

5.  Michael Cuddyer has the best spring of any of the position players.  Cuddyer flirted with a .500 batting average right up to the end of spring.  Jason Kubel, Denard Span, Joe Mauer, and JJ Hardy also put together outstanding offensive numbers.  Mauer hit over .400 most of the spring.

4.  The Twins had a stellar attendance season.  They sold out 12 of their 13 home games and set new single game attendance marks three games in a row.  Fans came out in droves to watch the Twins play at Lee County Sports Complex and Hammond Stadium.  There was a lot of enthusiasm and excitement for Twins baseball all season long.

3.  All teams try to avoid injuries during spring training, and the Twins were dealt a severe blow when closer Joe Nathan went down with a torn ligament in his right elbow.  Nathan had Tommy John surgery and will be lost for the season.  The Twins announced in the final week of spring training that they will try closer by committee to try and fill Nathan’s void.

2.  The Twins announced three contract extensions, and none was bigger than Joe Mauer’s extension thru 2018.  Mauer signed for $184 million, the richest contract in the history of the Twins franchise.  The Twins also extended RHP Nick Blackburn’s and OF Denard Span’s contracts.  Blackburn received a 4 year extension and Span a 5 year extension.

1.  The Twins ended their Grapefruit League schedule with a game versus Boston and they departed Florida for a two game series with the St Louis Cardinals at the new Target Field in the Twin Cities.  Everyone, the players, coaches, manager, front office, media, and fans could not wait to play the first ever major league games at Target Field.

That’s it from Florida fans.  See you at Target Field.

“Touch ‘em All,”

JG

1.  Normally I don’t put a whole lot of stock in spring training games, the results, individual performances, etc.  But I have to tell you that this spring training has been a very upbeat one for the Twins.  They have a better than .500 record (13-10) and there was a stretch where the Twins won 6 straight games.  The starting pitching has been absolutely sensational and the bullpen pitchers have been pretty sharp themselves.  And there was a handful of rookies appearing in their first-ever spring training camp that made a lasting impression. OF Ben Revere was particularly impressive and RHP Anthony Slama also pitched very well.  And OF Juan Portes is still with the team and will travel to the Twin Cities even though he is going to be reassigned.  Slama will also be a part of eight or nine players coming North to the Twin Cities for the Cardinal games.  Revere will probably start out at AA New Britain, and maybe the same for Portes.  Slama will be the closer at AAA Rochester.  Keep your eye on them during the early season.

2.  OF Jacque Jones was told he won’t be a member of the Twins 25 man roster to start the season, but Jacque will report to AAA Rochester to begin play with the Red Wings.  If the Twins need another outfielder at anytime during the season, more than likely Jones will get the call.  He has had a very nice spring, but there just wasn’t any room for him on the roster.  The Twins will call on Alexi Casilla to play some outfield if needed, but for now the Twins outfield roster will include Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span, Delmon Young, and Jason Kubel.  Casilli has struggled some in playing outfield in spring training games but oufield coach Jerry White has been working with him daily and Casilla has improved.

3.  If I was to list one of the top three highlights of spring training (later on I will do a top ten), I would definitely talk about Michael Cuddyer’s spring.  He has been hitting .500 or better all spring, leads the team in hits and at-bats and has played just great all spring long.  I am sure he will carry it over to the start of the regular season.  In a pre-season publication (Sporting News) Cuddyer was listed as the “most under-rated” player in the game, and they sure got that right.  What a valuable man to have on the team.  He plays everyday, helps break up the dominated left-handed hitting line-up of the Twins, and is without a doubt the clubhouse leader on the team.  How fortunate the Twins are to have Michael Cuddyer on the team.  He’s a very valuable man to have.

That’s all for today folks.  Wednesday I will list the top ten highlights of spring.

“Touch ‘em All,”

JG

Here are some spring training notes:

1.  As we approach the final week of play a couple of rookies are still hanging on.  I doubt that Ben Revere, Juan Portes, and Anthony Slama will make the final roster cut, but all three have made a very big impression during the entire camp.  Especially Slama who could possible make the team as a bullpen pitcher.  I doubt that Slama would close, but he could surprise and slip in as a set-up guy.  It’s an outside chance, but Slama has been quite impressive.  And Revere and Portes have opened some eyes.  Portes has a chance of starting at AAA Rochester, and more than likely Revere will start the season at AA New Britain.  But keep you eye on Portes and Revere, they are both going to be big leaguers and maybe sooner than you think.

2.  The Twins starting pitching has been nothing short of sensational during the entire spring. Baker, Pavano, Slowey, and Liriano have all pitched well and in every start.  Only Blackburn has been a bit behind (a knee problem) and Nick is scheduled to pitch this weekend versus Philadelphia and hopefully he will have a good game to get back on track.  You have to like what you see from the Twins starters this spring.  If they pitch this consistently during the regular season, look out, he Twins will be tough to beat!

3.  The end of spring training is always a tough time.  The truck is leaving early this year because the Twins have to get back home for the two games with the Cardinals.  So here I am packing up this week and there’s still a week to go.  And how do you pack?  It looks like the weather is going to be OK for the two games this next weekend and then we will turn right around and head out to the west coast to open the season against the Angels.  And then it’s back to the midwest for the three games with the White Sox before the Twins get home for the long homestand versus the Red Sox, Royals, and Indians.  It’s going to a wild start and the first two weeks are going to be very hectic.  “Pace yourself,” is what my wife Nancy keeps saying to me.  And here I am trying to work in a final golf game!!

That’s all for this time Twins fans.  I’ll have more upcoming as the Twins prepare for their final week of spring training.

“Touch ‘em All,”

JG

Well here we are winding down spring training 2010.  What a bitter-sweet day it was for Twins fans yesterday.  Feeling very low with the news that Joe Nathan will be lost for the season having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, the Twins went from the “outhouse to the Penthouse” when they found out that Joe Mauer finally signed his contract and will be locked in to the Twins up to 2018.  What a nice contract for Joe Mauer and how happy Twins fans are he will be a Twin for a long time.

Here are some happenings from spring training:

1.  The Twins have their final off day in spring training Monday, March 22nd and will play a game every day until their break camp on the 1st of April.  It will be a very busy schedule for the Twins.  Now is the time where the Twins players/pitchers start to bear down on their at bats and innings pitched to get ready for the start of the season.

2.  Now that Joe Nathan is out for the year, who closes for the Twins?  That’s a big question and the Twins will try and sort things out in the final two weeks.  You can’t really try out a closer in spring training, but I am sure you will see some of the relievers like Pat Neshek, Jon Rauch, Matt Guerrier, and Jesse Crain work in the late innings of the final Grapefruit League games to try and get them used to pitching late in a game.  And don’t forget rookie RHP Anthony Slama.  He has been the closer the last two seasons with New Britain and Rochester and he has pitched impressively in early spring training games.

3.  These players/pitchers have been impressive in the Twins minor league camp.  Keep in mind Minor League Camp has been open just over a week, but RHP Kyle Gibson (last years number one draft pick) has opened a few eyes.  And RHP Shooter Hunt (a top sandwich pick two years ago) has also pitched well.  It’s good to see Shooter Hunt back.  RHP Loek Van Mil was in camp with the Twins but didn’t pitch (sore shoulder) and he did pitch off the mound on Sunday.  Van Mil will probably start the season at AA New Britain.  He’s the 7′ 1″ pitcher from the Netherlands.  OF Aaron Hicks has also impressed and Hicks will probably start the season at High-A Fort Myers.

4.  So the other day my wife and I are at the grocery store and just as Nancy is dropping me off to slip in to pick up a couple of things we see this lady slip and fall in the parking lot.  It was raining and she took quite a fall.  I got out of the car and helped her up and escorted her to shelter and went and got the store manager to help out.  I could tell she was really hurting and I told her she should call an ambulance and go to the hospital.  She refused, but I stuck with her until she got some help from her neighbor lady friends.  She apologized and said her husband was in Arizona with the Los Angeles Dodgers in spring training.  Turned out it was Bob Schaefer’s wife (whom I did not know),  and Bob Schaefer is the Dodgers bench coach.  What a small world.

That’s all for this time folks.  More mid-week.  Take care and keep rooting for the Twins.

“Touch ‘em All,”

JG

1.  TWINS MAKE FIRST CUTS….Eight players were trimmed from the Twins Spring Training roster, and all eight were assigned to the Twins Minor League Camp.  There were RHP Deolis Guerra, RHP Loek Van Mil, LHP Jose Lugo, IF Estarlin De Los Santos, C Jair Fernandez, C Danny Rams, IF Steve Singleton, and OF Rene Tosoni.  Of the entire group only Tosoni got appreciable playing time in the early games.  And I would say that Tosoni is the only one to really keep an eye on during the 2010 season.  He’s one of the Twins top outfield prospects.   Tosoni has a chance to play at AAA Rochester.  It was disappointing that Van Mil was hurt and didn’t get a chance to pitch.  He’s the 7 foot 1 inch pitcher from the Netherlands and has been coming along in the Twins system.  Guerra is the last of the four players the Twins got from the Mets when they traded Johan Santana.  Guerra has a chance to pitch at AA New Britain and is still ranked as one of the Twins top pitching prospects.

2.  NCAA TOURNAMENT….The field of 65 in the NCAA Basketball Tournament always causes a big buzz at the Twins camp.  There are all sorts of pools and the players, media, and Twins staff have a big time talking up the tournament.  I was kidding Kevin Slowey about the Wintrop Eagles.  Slowey went to Wintrop and if you remember they made quite a stir in the tournament a couple of years ago.  The Eagles qualified this year when they won their league tournament and Slowey and I were talking about where they would be seeded.  I tried to make him feel good and said they might get a 11 or 12 seed.  Well they didn’t fair too well and the Eagles will have to play the feed-in game Tuesday night versus Arkansas Pine-Bluff and if they win they get Duke in a first round game.  Good luck to the Eagles.

3.  TWINS LOCK IN BLACKBURN AND SPAN….Earlier in the week the Twins signed RHP Nick Blackburn to a four year contract and then on Saturday they announced that they have signed OF Denard Span to a five year deal.  Both are very good signs by the Twins.  The signings will take the Twins up to and a bit beyond free agency for both and both are becoming valuable players for the Twins.  Span had a great year last year and has established himself as a top lead off hitter and exceptional centerfielder.  Despite the fact that Blackburn has a losing record in two full seasons as a starter for the Twins, he appears to coming into his own and it’s good to know that he will be around for the next four years.  These are both very good signs by the Twins.

That’s all for today folks.  It will be a busy week of baseball for the Twins with games everyday this week.  And with just three weeks to go the players will start to bear down on getting themselves ready for the start of the 2010 season.

“Touch ‘em All,”

JG

Note and Quotes from spring training
1.  I had a great conversation with Twins C Wilson Ramos.  The young Venezulan is battling Drew Butera for the back up catchers job, behind Joe Mauer.  Ramos played at AA-New Britain last year and is generally consider to be one of the top three prospects in the Twins Organization.  Ramos is a strapping young man, and possesses great hitting skills.  Many say he has to shore up his catching skills to be a bonifide major leaguer. But durring our conversation about how his spring was coming along he told me is one of 5 in his family, all boys and that his 16 year old brother is the best baseball prospect of all, even better than Wilson himself.  I hope the Twins have a bead on the younger Ramos and get a chance to sign him when he becomes eligible.  To early to tell on who is ahead in the battle between Ramos and Butera, but I am sure it will sort out as the spring progresses.

Twins Prospect Wilson Ramos

2.  The Twins have 56 players in camp, and as yet have not made a cut.  I would expect that 8 to 10 players will be sent to the Twins minor league camp later next week.  The Twins tried to open their minor league camp today (rained out) but over 150 minor leaguers are in camp and they will have their first workout tomorrow.  Some of those who were invited to spring training and those that are first time 40 man roster players will be the prime figures to be sent down, but then you never know.  The Twins will break camp on the 1st of April (after a game with the Boston Red Sox) and they will be down to their 25 man roster at that time.  They may take a few extra players with them to the Twin Cities for the games with the Cardinals (at Target Field) but when they fly to Los Angeles for their opening game with the Angels on the 5th of April they will have to be down to the official 25 men.

3.  A lot of the pundits are trying to predict who the Twins closer might be if Joe Nathan is not ready to start the regular season.  Nathan has been sidelines for two weeks and will not hold a baseball during that time.  He is in camp still, and is going thru an extensive exercise program to strengthen his elbow.  Jon Rauch has saved games at the major league level (Washington Nationals) and Pat Neshek, recovering from Tommy John surgery was a top closer for the Twins at both New Britain and Rochester when he was in the Twins minor league system.  And I wouldn’t rule out RHP Anthony Slama.  Slama has saved 50 games in the last two seasons at New Britain and Rochester and was the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2008.  Slama has never pitched in the major leagues.  Those are some of the would-be candidates if Nathan is not able to open the regular season.

Jon Rauch

Pat Neshek

Anthony Slama

Quickies:

RHP Loek Van Mil, the tallest pitchers in baseball (he’s 7 feet, one inch tall) is still on the shelf and won’t pitch in spring training.  He’s experiencing a sore shoulder and that has kept him off the mound.  OF Juan Portes leads the Twins in home runs in the early goings of spring training.  He has hit 3 homers, including a grand slam vs the Yankees last Sunday.  Already the Twins have pitched 3 combined shutouts in Grapefruit League play and in the game Thursday night vs Baltimore a total of 5 pitchers did not walk a man.

1.  Some of the Twins rookies are making a nice impression in the early games.  OF Juan Portes had two home runs (one a grand slam) and drove in 6 runs in a game versus the Yankees.  More than likely Portes will open the season at AAA-Rochester.  He’s been playing in the outfield during spring training games but he is listed as a third-baseman on the Red Wing roster.  RHP Kyle Waldrop has pitched impressively in three relief outings.  Waldrop pitched at Fort Myers and New Britain last year.  He appeared in 51 games total, all in relief.  Waldrop missed the entire 2008 season with a shoulder strain, but is apparently on his way back to full strength.  Waldrop will probably start the season at AA-New Britain. And we have all heard about 3B Danny Valancia. He hit a game winning home run versus St Louis and I am sure that turned some heads both in the dugout and up in the General Manager’s box.  Valancia will probably start at AAA-Rochester, but I wouldn’t be at all surprise if he doesn’t make his major league debut sometime during the 2010 season.

2.  LHP Francisco Liriano is scheduled to start versus Baltimore Thursday night.  It will his second start of the spring.  As we all know there’s a rotation spot open behind Scott Baker, Carl Pavano, Kevin Slowey and Nick Blackburn.  Liriano appears to be the front-runner for that fifth spot, with competition coming from LHP Glen Perkins, RHP Jeff Manship, RHP Anthony Swarzak, and LHP Brian Duensing.  Liriano is coming off a troublesome 2009 season where he won just 5 games while losing 13, but he was “lights out” in winter ball and everyone is most encouraged that Liriano is going to have a banner 2010 season.  Thursdays outing versus Baltimore isn’t that big a deal, but it sure would be nice if he pitches well and gains ground from his first outing, which was better than average.

3.  HOPEFULLY NATHAN IS GOING TO BE OK….The Twins were disappointed to say the least when they found out Joe Nathan has a partial tear in the ligament in his right elbow.  Nathan went to Minneapolis for an MRI on Monday and was back in camp on Tuesday.  He is going to rest his arm for two weeks and then a further evaluation will be made.  He is not to pick up a baseball for the next two weeks.  After the respite he will try and pitch and we will see if he can continue to pitch for the Twins or has to have surgery.  There’s a lot of speculation on what the Twins would do if Nathan has to have surgery and is out for the season.  Who would close?  Would it be closer by committee?  Would the Twins try and go outside and trade for a closer?  Lots of questions.  Let’s all take a step back, wait and see and hopefully Nathan will be healthy enough to continue on as the top closer that he has been for the Twins.

QUICK NOTES FROM SPRING TRAINING
1.  Minor League Camp Opens Up…..some 150 minor leaguers report the Twins Minor League Complex Thursday.  Jim Rantz, Twins Director of Minor Leagues, and his staff will greet the players.
2. C Jose Morales is recovering from wrist surgery.  He has his cast off and he has started a throwing program but he has not swung a bat as yet.
3.  C Joe Mauer had his first spring training RBI Tuesday, and 1B Justin Morneau drove in a pair of runs with a first inning double.  DH Jim Thome is still looking for his spring training hit.  He has played in three games.

More coming up this weekend.

“Touch ‘em All,”

JG

1.  DON’T PUT ANY STOCK IN SPRING TRAINING GAMES….Yesterday the Twins won one game and lost another.  How can that happen, you say?  Well the Twins played a split squad, winning 11-0 over the Yankees and losing 15-5 to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  We broadcast the Yankee game and Juan Portes (who’s he?) was the big hitting hero.  Portes, most likely ticketed for Triple A Rochester, is a converted infielder who can hit.  He had two home runs in the game and one was a grand slam!  In the Yankee game, Pat Neshek pitched for the second time and did just fine.  Neshek, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is vying for a bullpen spot.  In the Pirates game, Justin Morneau homered for the first time, but the Twins lost 15-5.  I’ll get a report on the game, but for me it’s just a spring training game and the pitchers got their innings in and the players got their at-bats.

2.  BLACKBURN SIGNS A FOUR YEAR DEAL….RHP Nick Blackburn is tied up for four years with a very nice contract.  The Twins announced the signing just before the game with the Yankees.  Although Blackburn has a losing record (22-24) thru his first two full seasons as a Twins starter he is a very valuable pitcher for the Twins.  I look for Nick to have a breakthrough season for the Twins in 2010 and I wouldn’t be at all suprised if he turns out 15-17 wins this season.  One thing about Blackburn, he can provide innings and that’s what you want from your starter(s).

3.  SPRING TRAINING CROWDS ARE BIG…..The Twins have played just two home spring training games and already they have two sellouts.  Over 8-thousand attended the opening game vs the Red Sox and the second game (yesterday) vs the Yankees.  Yes, there were a lot of Yankee and Red Sox fans in attendance, but the big crowds sure do show you that baseball fans are thirsty for the game.  The Twins have one of the best spring training facilities in all of baseball, and the fans love coming to the Lee County Sports Complex (and Hammond Stadium) to watch the games.  If you give the fans sunshine, a cold favorite beverage, and a hot dog they really don’t care if the Twins win or lose.  It’s baseball and the fans love it!!

That’s all for this time, I’ll have more for you later in the week.

“Touch ‘em All,”

John Gordon

First Stop, Fairabault, MN We left Marshall early in the morning and made a long
drive to Fairabault.  We got there about 11am and our first visit was a restuarant.
These types of stops are usually a bit of a cluster, and this was just that.  The
room was not set up for a good visit and because of our time constraints we didn’t
have time for autographs.  That disappointed a lot of fans.  But we had a decent
program, and this is where we picked up newcomer J. J. Hardy.  Bert and Denard
left us for the Twins Cities and the Annual Diamond Awards dinner.  Bert actually
skipped the Diamond Awards Dinner and subbed for Harmon Killebrew at a dinner in
Red Wing.  Harmon had to beg off Winter Caravan and TwinsFest because of gall
bladder surgery.

Second Stop, Owatanna, MN Again we visited a Plaza Moreno Restuarant.  Twins
Spanish Broadcasters, Alphonso Hernandez and Miguel Ramos joined us and helped
out with the program.  We showed the video on the TV screens and then took a
complimentary lunch to a school visit.  We were at Lincoln Elementary and the visit
was just great.  TC the Bear stole the show, as he normally does, but JJ and Jeff
(Manship) did a great job too.  TC does a “Bear” dance that is hilarious and the kids
and teachers just loved it.  Then we do a quiz with the students and teachers and
that was a big hit.  Lots of fun at Lincoln Elementary.

Third (and final) Stop, Rochester, MN This was our night meeting and we had over
400.  There are lots of great fans in Rochester.  One lady was introduced and she
has seen every Twins opener since 1961 when the Twins played their first-ever game
at Metropolitan Stadium.  The video broke down but they fixed it and showed it
after the event.  This was JJ’s first night event and he did a very nice job.  Looks
like JJ is going to fit in very nicely with the Twins.  Our bus ride home was rather
un-eventful.  We stopped at Michael’s and got dinners to go and we ate on the bus
on the way home.  I put my head on the pillow at 10:45PM and got a good night’s
rest.

Now it’s on to TwinsFest and weekend of fun and talking baseball with the Twins ]
fans.  I acutally started the day (today) with a Dunker’s Breakfast with Joe Nathan,
Jason Kubel, and Dave St. Peter.  There were lots of questions about the Twins.  Joe
and Jason did a nice job.

Can’t wait to get back to Florida.  My four block walk from the hotel to the Dunker’s
Breakfast was made with a temp of -4.  Ouch!

“Touch ‘em All,

John Gordon

First Stop, Watertown, South Dakota….This trip didn’t start out all that well. Our bus driver, Jack, got mixed up between Watertown, MN and Watertown, SD, and it wasn’t until he asked why he couldn’t find the school stop we were supposed to be at on his GPS that we all discovered he was going the wrong way!! Once we got straightened out we arrived at the Mellette Elementary School in Watertown, SD and enjoyed a typical good school visit.

Second Stop, Montevideo, MN…..This was a lunch stop and we staged a short program at the VFW Hall. It took awhile to get the crowd going, but once we did we have a lively baseball discussion. The event was sponsored by our radio affiliate, KMGM-FM. After this visit we started our trek to Marshall, MN.

Third Stop, Marshall, MN…..This was our night stop and it turned out to be very successful. About 400 showed up to the Southwest Minesota State University gym, and after the showing of the video we had a lively discussion taking questions from the audience. For the first time we had to answer a question about Mark McGuire and his steriod use. Bert handled the answer just fine. One of the traditions of Winter Caravan is to go out to dinner after the night stop. Even it is a late dinner, almost always everyone in the travelling party attends. We went to Hitching Post restuarant in Marshall and man did they ever have good ribs. The best I have ever tasted. The owner is originally from Apple Valley and we hit it off with him. This is a time where we review the day and there are usually a lot of laughs. There’s always a good story from the autograph table.

Our last day is Thursday and Bert and Denard are going back to the Twin Cities and we will pick up one of the new Twins, JJ Hardy for our stops. Should be fun.

“Touch ‘em All,”

John Gordon