Blackburn gears up for first major league start
Posted on April 2nd, 2008 – 10:14 AMBy Joe Christensen
Twins righthander Nick Blackburn will make his first major league start tonight after making all six of his appearances last September in relief. Lefthander Joe Saunders pitches for the Angels, with first pitch at the Metrodome at 7:10.
Manager Ron Gardenhire told a story Tuesday of his son, Toby, getting hit by a Blackburn pitch to start a game when the two were in junior college. Blackburn was at Seminole State Junior College at the time, and Toby was at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith JC.
Any hard feelings have been forgotten, of course. The skipper spoke highly of the way Blackburn pitched this spring.
“When he uses all his pitches, he’s got as good of stuff as anybody on this staff,” Gardenhire said. “He’s got a great curve ball, he’s got a great cutter, he can sink it, and he can throw the heck out of the ball. He had a good spring.”
As I mentioned last year, one of my favorite ways to get up to speed each morning on the next set of games is to go to Baseball Musings for David Pinto’s “Games of the Day” post. Today, he notes that Matt Garza, who makes his Tampa Bay debut today, held runners to a .213 average last year with runners in scoring position.
105 Responses to "Blackburn gears up for first major league start"
Go blackburn!
So is Gardy calling him Blacky, Burnzy, or Blackburnzy.
Show us your stuff Nicky Blackburnzy
racism!
pc:
africanamericanburn
Frankly, I’m impressed that the runners got any hits at all while they were in scoring position.
I was at last night’s game. Wasted money. Not ’cause they lost, but because, the Twins looked flat and disinterested. Geez. They’re young and they play a game for a really good living. They ought to act like it.
Delmon Young misjudged one, but he looks really great.
There’s nothing wrong with going for both: Blackyburnzey. Kinda rolls off the tongue…
Delmon misjudging that ball was more because of where he was positioned prior to the ball being hit by Figgins.
The outfield was playing extremely shallow, which is why Young did not get back in time to catch the batted ball.
Erik
I was at the game Monday and sat out in the left field area. It was our observation that Young was playing too deep– nearly on the warning track. So if you are saying yesterday he was too shallow– I wonder if the coaches told him to move in and some how he overcompensated?
I hope he does good tonight and slowey and Liriano cause I would like to see a rotatio of
Livan
Liriano
Slowey
Blackburn
And either Humber or Mulvey or both
Boof light should be a MR or LR at best
jb– I think Baker is in the rotation before Humber and Mulvey. But I do think Boof, Slowey and Blackburn have to be at their best or they will be assigned to the pen or Rochester
Jimmy
What about Baker?
So quick to judge Jimmy? Let him have a few starts before you give him the axe. He looked alright after that first inning.
jama I have to see Baker pitch just a few more times to tell. I think that I have seen enough the past seasons of both Boof and Boof light
I think Slowey wins 15 games this year
“bc twins fan” Same old Boof pitching but just more streamline. Seen to much of the Boof light
Wait until you see Blackburn start in the Majors before you name him Boof’s replacement.
Boof dang near pitched a quality start which is 3 or less runs and at least 6 IP. He only gave up 3 earned runs so really he did pitch a QS. If it hadn’t been his first start thy probably would have let him at least pitch part of the 7th since he was at 89 pitches.
bc twins fan fair enough but I am really hoping Blackburnzy does well because the 5th inning last night seemed to look like the old Boof and not the more streamline better endurance Boof. I just want what is best for the team and I would like to see Boof take his more natural role of MR or LR
I agree halfchest. While I don’t think he is a good number 2 (no poop jokes. I think he will be a good bottom of the rotation starter for the Twins.
)
I still think he can start in this league and if he has a solid ERA and the Twins are out of it by the deadline he could make nice trade bait to a desperate team that needs another “quality” starter. I think we have enough ML or LR.
Do you think Nathan would have made a great starter because he actually began his career as a starter. Boof would make an awesome ML or LR.
Boof needs to change speeds more or he’s doomed to be the next lohse.
He has a good slower breaking pitch that I only seen twice last night and one of the times it got past mauer in the dirt.
I love that pitch where Livan slows down that huge curve to around 58 mph
jon - i’m also surprised runners were able to get hits while in scoring position…
anyone know when Liriano is scheduled to pitch for Fort Myers?
That’s hard to say
jimmy, i do too, despite bert saying its a slow curveball, its a 12-6 drop, not really any curve, so I’d call it an Eephus, kinda cool to have a guy who throws that pitch consistently…
Keep(JohanAndTorii)AtAnyPrice I was just about to say it was the Eephus pitch
Isn’t the Euphus just a slow overhand lob?
I would like to get an old school kuckleball pitcher then imagine in one night a batter could see
Livan’s eephus pitch
MR is a knuckleball pitcher
Closer that night wih Neshek
I just looked it up and it does go by Earned Runs so Boof did pitch a QS yesterday. If you look at his 2006 there’s definitely reason to believe that 2007 was a bad year. I wouldn’t be too upset to see him switch to relief if he has a couple awful months this year. With the abundance of Major League ready starters at AAA the Twins have the luxury of switching a guy like Boof to a relief role. I’m all for giving him at least 10-15 starts this year to see if he can regain his 06 form though.
halfchest hopefully his 06 form and not 06 weight. I like the new look though of Boof Light but his head looks odd
Jimmy Bee,
I was hoping we’d get back that knuckleballer from Seattle(I think?) that we lost in the rule 5 just to see what he could do. I think part of Nesheks effectiveness hinges on guys not seeing that delivery often. You throw in a knuckleballer as well that would be great. I loved watching the Angels players look of bewilderment after facing Neshek.
Liriano is slated to pitch…last I saw..their opener, which is Thursday.
start with a good helping of eephus
bring in the Knuckleballer
end it with neshek’s sidearm
the other team would be lost and running over to Brits pub for happy hour quickly
Is there anyway to develop a pitcher that could throw a sidearm knuckleball or a sidearm knuckle curve
what about a sidarm knuckleball slurve euphus?
Wasn’t Fernando Valenzuela the first Eephus pitcher
Robert a knuckleball goes around the same speed as an Eephus
FM / Liriano start is 6pm Thursday Central Time.
First eephus pitcher was Rip Sewell…a long time ago.
History of the eephus:
ya, the Eephus has been around a long time, like before and during the Ted Williams days
I know Jimmy, I was just joking around
I love that pitch where Livan slows down that huge curve to around 58 mph
Ditto. The fans at the game even noticed how awesome it was. There was a very good response (cheers, oohs) when he floated that one and the guy swung WAY ahead of it.
The REAL eephus (blooper ball) goes 15-20 feet in the air.
The knuckle ball is thrown much harder. Maybe seven feet at the highest and is not really lobbed.
The knuckleball pitcher is just trying to keep the ball from hitting the ground.
we need to field and hit the ball before we start ripping on the pitching. waiting for mr. mvp to do something.
how many eephus pitches in a game can be thrown without it losing it’s effectiveness
Craig was right they should’ve traded Morneau for pitching.
OK, Franchise this Thursday, then around next Tuesday. So he could pitch with the Twins in KC on a Sunday afternoon, the 13th.
BTW, looks like Livan and Boof won’t start against Detroit and Cleveland this month.
Liriano could pitch once against them (Cleveland) on the 18th. But in the other 4 games, it’ll be Slowey and Baker.
The Twins record on May 1st will be around 11-17
Craig loves Morneau even more then anyone else loves Morneau. We could have packaged up
Boof
Kubel
Punto
and Rincon and also with that 10 Mill we never spent and with cutting those 4 salaries gone and maybe gotten Harden or Blanton from the A’s
did I say crain I also would include him in the package for a starter
pintobean, what pitching? Who? Who’s gonna trade an ace pitcher for Morneau?
So, trade an MVP and demoralize a team.
All those in favor of trading Morneau, say aye………..send in your blog support now.
we lost a gold glover an ace 2x cy young award winner and if we lost an MVP the state of Minnesota would torch the metrodome
Has anyone seen Atlanta’s SP staff. They are 3 times the age of our starting rotation
It’s nice to see Delmon Young off to a good start he looks very focused and is playing hard. The only thing i’m worried about is him having the same attitude when the Twins are like 40-60 later this summer. Being on a losing team does change some players attitudes.
We could have packaged up
Boof
Kubel
Punto
and Rincon and also with that 10 Mill we never spent and with cutting those 4 salaries gone and maybe gotten Harden or Blanton from the A’s
I’ve said my piece before on trade suggestions such as this. And aside from adding it’s incredibly lopsided in favor of Oakland.
T Your right I know we need 1 more starter but i can yell till I am Blue in the face but that isn’t the develop and trade away kind of way ( or in Torii’s case develop and get nothing but 2 draft picks )
Why would Oakland want Punto and Rincon…they would have wanted several of the top younger players.
Look at the deals they made and the alleged rumors…they were after the rest of the Mets top guys for Blanton.
No way would they have taken the Boof/Kubel/Punto/Rincon package.
Rincon will have to improve to justify paying him any more than the 2+ mill he gets this year in ‘09. Better to save the money and get someone like Korecky or DePaula ready for the bigs.
I can understand Blackburn being on the pitching staff, but what in the world is Brian Bass doing on the active roster? Maybe they will put him in the games when winning the game is out of reach for the Twins, in order to save the other arms. I can’t believe the organization doesn’t realize that Bass is going to have a very high ERA. When Liriano is called back up, I think the Twins should keep Blackburn and send Bass class AA.
Good luck Blackburn, give’em hell!
anyone hear if Terry Tiffee made a team. I think he was trying out for the dodger’s
I think the Twins should send Bonser to the minor leagues as soon as they see a potential future major league starter in their minor league system. Boof is a bust.
Bass is out of options…for once, the Twins held onto a guy in that situation instead of losing him. Bass can long relief and spot start if needed.
I do think Blackburn can do the same, but probably is better served just starting…period.
saul - I’m 99.9% sure that was the plan from the beginning after saying Liriano would start in the minors. In fact, i’m pretty sure I read that Gardy said that in about 10 different articles…
Bonser got totally hammered against the Angels. He throws too many fat pitches. I think he is really only a minor league callibur pitcher.
Was it just me or did Boof throw nothing but Fastballs and sliders last night? You would think he would have watched Livan and realized a change up isn’t a bad pitch.And what about Bonsers curveball? He used to throw the yacker for his strikeout pitch but I think I counted two curves last night.Hard,hard,hard = a tired outfield.
Gardenhire hasn’t gotten thrown out of a game yet. When the Twins lose a few more in a row, he will try to get thrown out in order to go into the clubhouse and eat as much pizza as he can and drink as much beer as he can. Just like last season!
I understood that Blackburn goes down, and Bass stays up in long relief.
Not my choice, but I think thats the plan.
Boo is not a complete bust Jimmy he would make a very good MR or LR guy
Gardenhire looks like a Norwegian bowling ball. Maybe he should try to lose some weight.
Saul Gardenhire looks like a German bowling ball he is not norwegian
Saul Blyleven looks like a Chinese mad scientist
hmmm, well I’ll reserve judgement on who should stay up when Liriano is called up until after Blackburn pitches tonight and Bass throws a few more innings, but on paper, I’d say send Bass back down.
and Bass is out of options huh? I don’t seem to remember him ever being called up…(i know its only his 2nd year in the organization…)
In fact, BaseballCube.com says he’s never pitched in MLB, so I have a hard time believing he’s out of options.
Why don’t we let Baker get a start in and see how Cisco does when he gets back before we blow up the team. This isn’t exactly our ideal staff. They were probably counting on Cisco and Perkins not Bass and nickyburns.
keep,
He is out of options because he was on MLB 40-man rosters and had to be optioned to the minors.
Craig spent 2 months last winter wanting to trade Morneau for pitching.
While not realistic he is now untradeable with his new contract. His hitting has been very poor for the second half or last year and spring training. While only 2 games he has not looked good in either game.
Not much outrage on here conpaired to Punto’s lack of hitting, he is a utility guy and Morneau is an x-mvp with a big new contract. Time to give Morneau is due!
nobody is outraged because its been two games pinto. Big papi hasn’t got a hit in 3 games now, should the red sox trade him too?
Keep, even though it’s hard for you to believe, Bass is out of options.
Bonser admitted he was a mess in the 1st inning, said he had the jitters. After that 1st, he gave up only 1 ER.
So even though it’s hard for you all to believe, Bonser really just okay (a quality start) WITHOUT an effective curve last night.
Time for you backbenchers to hush and regain your senses.
sane - I’ll trust your memory on that, but he’s only pitched at the AAA level in ‘06 (7 games) and ‘07 (37 games for twins, 10 starts). was he on the twins 40 man roster last year, i didn’t think he was? and does being on any 40 man roster at any point in time then take away all options? doesn’t seem right to me…
anyway, I’m done at work, so I’ll have to check back to see what you guys say, but I’d like to know why Bass is out of options…
Bonser should develop a knuckleball. I imagine this situation arrising. “Oh no there’s that knuckleballing Boof Bonser”
the tigers are down 4 to 0 in the bottom of the 9th. I like it!
Bonser should develop a knuckleball. Imagine this situation arrising. “Oh no, there’s that knuckleballing Boof Bonser”
I like jimmy bee’s sense of humor. That’s why I don’t take anything he says seriously.
J.D. Durbin was out of options last year and never pitched in the MLB.
Once you go on the 40-man roster you start using options (I believe).
Bass was drafted by KC in 2000, so he has 8 years of minor league experience.
Only 2 games?
Morneau 2nd half of 07: 74 gms, 268 abs, ave .243, obp .318, slg .384, 7 hr’s and 37 rbi
We should be worried!
I think Ortiz’s #’s were a little better in the 2nd half or last yr than Morneau’s.
Since Bass was drafted and signed in 2000, he had to be added to the 40-man roster in 2004 to be protected from the rule 5 draft. He was optioned in 2004, 2005, & 2006. Then he became a minor league free agent and signed a minor league contract with the Twins in 2007. He became a free agent again after the 2007 season and the Twins signed him to a major league contract.
Ya so what? that was last year, this is a whole new year. He did the win the MVP only two years ago so I think he will be alright.
I believe Bass was on the Royals 40-man roster several times.
My guess is ‘04,’05 and ‘06 because ‘03 was his fourth year in the minors after which he must be protected on the 40-man roster or risk losing him.
I can’t trace this, but it is logical if not fact.
As I was famously quoted as saying when I lead my high school state championship team onto the field..”hop on my back, boys” while I single handedly demolished the other team, I will say this again tonight as I “take the sign and here’s the delivery. Blackburn throws it high and tight on the upper corner and..oh! down goes Figgins as he tumbles away from the box to get out of the way of that heater. A brushback pitch from Blackburn to Figgins sending a message early.” Byrn ‘em!!!
pintobean I think that last year Morneau wasn’t in great shape for the second half of the season. I think the new Torri Hunter conditioning will help him out w/the second part of the season. This will give him even better stats than previous years hopefully
sweetone,
I should read before I write.
If you are accurate, my guessing looks OK.
In Minnesota sports who is disliked the most
1/ Childress
2/ McHale ( McFail )
3/ Pohlad
McFail without a doubt…
jimmy bee none of the above i think it’s Punto.
BC of ND Punto more than T-Jax
I’m not even a basketball fan and I still say it’s McFail. That guy sucks
So with a lefty on the mound tonight does that mean Monroe will be starting again? I checked it out and Monroe is
1-8 vs Saunders and Kubel is 0-4 tough decision for Gardy.
Kubel should get the bench again! Seriously, i’ve never seen a guy that hits so well w/no one on base, but then chokes with a runner on base. After a lead-off double by Young, Kubel hits a lazy fly ball to center field, not moving the runner up…get the ball on the ground to the right side of the infield, or hit it to RC field and move the runner up to third. Young would have scored on a grounder or decent fly to the OF…but NO, Kubel screws up again and killed a lead-off double (single stretched to a double due to Young’s hustle!) Ugh…Monroe for DH and Kubel as a backup, that’s my official stance for the season!
Bonser pitched well enough for the Twins to win last night. The problem was the hitting.
If I take the first 3 letters of Boof
Boo
and the last 3 letters of Bonser
Ser
Say it with me now everyone Boo-Ser,
Boo-Ser, Booser
If Morneau’s struggles have you worried, it’s a good thing your not a Tigers fan. 19 K’s in 20 innings and only 4 runs for their explosive line up. By the Royals no less
The Twins have an “A” lineup? The offense has looked absolutely inept against an Angels team that has its best two starters on the DL. It’s going to be a looooooonnnng season.
