Hi Twins fans.  Well the spring training games are underway and the Twins are 2-2 thru their first four games.  Here’s what’s going on in Fort Myers.

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

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