Hi Twins fans. Well the Twins are 4-3 thru their first 7 games in Grapefruit League action.  They have an off day today and resume play tomorrow night versus Baltimore.  And it will be a busy weekend of play with games at home versus the Mets (Friday) and Red Sox (Sunday) with a road game versus the Phillies (Saturday) at Clearwater.   Here are some camp observations.

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

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