Twins 3, Puerto Rico 2: Valencia, Crede highlight the win
Posted on March 3rd, 2009 – 4:27 PMBy Joe Christensen
FORT MYERS, FLA. — Scott Baker gave up three hits and a walk but pitched his way through three scoreless innings, and the Twins got a two-run double from Joe Crede today in a 3-2 exhibition victory over Puerto Rico at Hammond Stadium.
It was Crede’s first day playing third base for the Twins, but his replacement, Danny Valencia turned in the defensive play of the game with a run-saving stab-and-throw to end the sixth inning.
I’ll have more on Crede, Valencia and Joe Nathan in our first editions. La Velle is crafting a piece on the World Baseball Classic, and the two of us just produced our first tandem video, which we hope to have up on the site soon.
95 Responses to "Twins 3, Puerto Rico 2: Valencia, Crede highlight the win"
Valencia seems to be passing Luke Hughes on the Twins’ depth chart every game he plays; Hughes had better tear up the WBC or he could come back to camp without a position to settle at.
no love for Kubel? He went 3-3…
does anyone really care about the WBC? it’s like the Pro Bowl, everyone is pulling out cause nobody cares. the WBC needs to end after this year. It’s not worth anyone’s time. The only way it should stick around is if it’s in November or December, after the World Series, and well before spring training.
The pitcher Crede got the double off of was Twins prospect Gutierrez.
I’ve read about this Valencia guy a lot… somewhere…
Seth is secretly Valencia’s agent I am sure! Seth will be enjoying saying “I told you so” if he continues to shine. I am hoping he really steps up and then the need for Crede won’t be as great in 2010. If Hughes continues to hit maybe back at second base will be his easiest path next year.
Then our second baseman can become the SS, and Hughes can have his natural spot back.
if we thought Brendan Harris was bad at second… I can’t imagine Gardy letting Hughes play much 2B either.
And, I think “agent for Danny Valencia” would be a pretty good gig!
Carlos Gutierrez was a total waste of a 1st round pick!
Seth,
I thought you would get a laugh out of the agent thing for Valencia.. 
Lets say that Hughes lights up AAA with the bat this year. Where do you think his future is with the Twins if he is playing respectable defense there too??
shazel,
I think it is way to early to say that Gutierrez is a total waste of a draft pick. If you recall there was a Cy Young award winner that we picked up a few years ago in the rule 5 draft that turned out pretty well. His former club didn’t think he had much of a future I guess.
I’m all for Seth being Valencia’s agent. But then I’d be ok with pretty much anyone being his agent, as long as he doesn’t ask Gomez or Crede for their agent’s phone number.
And it’s pretty early to be so harsh with regard to Guutierrez.
Carlos Gutierrez was a total waste of a 1st round pick!
here is a question for you: how many other picks from the 2008 draft are playing against ML teams this spring training (even with WBC uniforms and how are they faring?) He is 2-3 years away from being there and would have not faced this kind of competition if it were not for the WBC. Next we’ll hear that Hein Robb is a bust because he will get pounded against the pros in the WBC…
Hughes has actually been pretty decent defensively at 2B. If he repeats his .319/.385/.551 New Britain line from last season in Rochester this season, I can see him fighting for a position next year. He is about as bad defensively as Uggla and if he can put Uggla numbers…
I think that who makes the final cuts will tell a lot about what Gardy thinks about defense. If he brings Buscher up north instead of Tolbert/Machado/Tolleson, then defense is not that much of a concern.
Thrylos
If Buscher continues to keep pounding the ball like he has so far I don’t see Gardy having any other choice but to bring him north. I think he is working hard on his defense and obviously if Crede is healthy he won’t be playing all that much at 3rd anyway. He will be a great left handed bat off the bench for us though.
Thrylos
Very interesting correlation between spring training and regular season records at Tenth Inning Stretch! I imagine for a younger team it even becomes more important to build a winning way about yourselves.
Jeff,
I am glad that Buscher is having a good spring so far and hopefully he can help the club. Otherwise, at least his trading value is being increased.
I imagine for a younger team it even becomes more important to build a winning way about yourselves
absolutely… And I think that this is the reason the Twins’ regular season records correlate so well with their spring training records. They have young teams. As a matter of fact, the Rays (another young team) were 18-8 last spring training. For a settled veteran team it does not really matter that much, but for young teams, it seems that it matters. I don’t know what it the root cause might be, but it does matter for the Gardenhire era Twins.
Thrylos
Heard you on Seth’s podcast last night and you were as informative as ever. I enjoyed it very much and hope your on again in the near future.
Buscher has a lot to play for considering all the worries over Crede’s back. Crede will likely get a decent amount of days off as well. Gardy will have a lot to work with this season in the outfield and infield. With Kubel being able to play OF, and Buscher pounding the ball, there will be times where Buscher can start at Third, Crede can DH, and Kubel can be on the bench. And if late in the game, we need some power off the bench, Gardy can pull Gomez or Span, hit Kubel and be confident that Kubel will be solid in the field.
Jeff, that was a disaster 
I was utterly unprepared for that (didn’t even realize that I was going to be on until about a minute before I went on…) I’d love to do it again, but’s up to Seth.
I think he realized you were a last minute fill in for him. Sounds to me that you kind of bailed him out a little so I am sure he will give you a little more advanced notice next time. I look forward to it as I understand the circumstances last night.
Kubel can only really play RF. He doesnt have the speed to play LF or CF. If it’s span or Gomez, a shift would need to occur.
Is Carlos Gomez playing in the WBC or did Gardy just give him the day off?????
I think against some tough right handed pitchers you are going to see a lot of Buscher in the lineup along with Kubel, and all of our left handed bats. Mauer, Morneau, Kubel, and if Buscher continues to hit well should do well offensively for us against righties.
This win looks like a Twins win from previous years - good pitching, good defense, a big hit and hold on for the win.
Jon
he’s only got about 10 other OF’s to try out. I am sure Gomez was given the day off for a reason (He’s not in the WBC last I heard).
Gomez is not in the WBC
Thanks for the information medschoolmatt!
Jeff
good point; not to mention we’ll have the left handed Span, and switch-hitting Casilla and Punto. you can have a lineup with only about 2 righties (a Combo of Young, Cuddy, Gomez in the OF).
Speaking of outfielders, after the Huber signing, dollars to donuts, Matos will soon be history.
Thry
One comment you made that irks me is about Gomez developing power. The issue with that is he’ll be hitting way too many fly balls and not using his speed to leg out a ground ball like we want him to.
From what I have seen so far this year Matos does not look all that good especially defensively. I remember a few years ago the Orioles thought he was going to be a star! I think that Huber also plays 1B too right???
Matos is downright horrible from what I’ve read/heard. I’d rather see Cuddy get more time to see if he’s back or not. As much as I want Young to win it, I want to see Cuddy and Young duke it out.
“Gardy will have a lot to work with this season in the outfield and infield.”
What a difference a year makes. And last year the AAA replacements were guys like Macri, Heintz, and McDonald, not Plouffe, Morales and Martin. Huge upgrades.
98:
Tolleson? The kid hasn’t even seen the playing field because of an injury. Never played AAA ball so what makes you think will be go up North? What are you smoking again? And Machado: Have you seen his throws? Apparently not.
Buscher is the man.
The game winning RBI today but nobody takes notice. Joe and Neal and you have this man crush on Crede and Valencia.
I do agree that the WBC is a waste, just like you….
I am Topp Dogg.
And Machado: Have you seen his throws? Apparently not.
Buscher is the man.
So Machado’s throws are worse than Buscher’s? He does not have Buscher’s arm strength but he is not going to castrate the first baseman or hit Wally the beer man in the front rows, like your man.
One comment you made that irks me is about Gomez developing power. The issue with that is he’ll be hitting way too many fly balls and not using his speed to leg out a ground ball like we want him to.
Like “we” want him too?
You may want Gomez to settle for ‘legging out ground balls.’
Not me.
I think that Huber also plays 1B too right
Huber came up as a catcher, then became a C/1B then an 1B/LF. Nothing pretty on the field (think Winfree and Peterson, if you saw those two guys in ST, but he can hit). At this point, he’ll probably be in Rochester.
chief, I think that msm was being sarcastic
I can see Gomez turning into a Eric Davis type of player. I am all for that as he has all the tools to be a five tool player for years.
Gomez is 6′4″, right? He has plenty of power potential.
I just want the guy to get on base and steal some more
I’m thinking Willie Mays, Jeff.
whoa
Perkins = Koufax? Gomez = Mays? WS here we come! 
medschoolmatt
I am with you on that I would love to see Cuddyer and Delmon duke it out for playing time this year. If the first round was just completed it was unanimous for Delmon as it looks like Cuddyer still has to get the bat going.
Gomez=Bo jackson with the bat breaking Gomez=Lou Pinella with the helmet throwing.
Speaking of getting on base and stealing more bases.. Span and Casilla are both off to very slow starts. I hope they can turn it around and start off the year in a great way. If those two guys don’t get on base much we will be in trouble from the outset.
I wonder who would win a race with Bo Jackson, Deon Sanders, and Gomez in there primes? If Jackson wouldn’t have had the injury I wonder how good he would have become.
Perkins = Koufax?
I’ll take Perkins=Alan Anderson (hopefully in one of the latter’s good years; they have similar stuff)
Jeff,
Casilla will be the starting second baseman, unless he really stinks. If Span does not pick it up, he will be the odd man out in the outfield warming the bench.
Don’t forget SLowey = Maddux.
Machado has never darkened the left side of the infield. Anybody can throw from 2nd. But, of course, Machado.
You have to admit Buscher is much improved AGAIN this year. And I mean defensively……
Buscher will make is up north. I promise you.
I am Topp Dogg.
I haven’t paid much attention to Twins blogs this Spring.
Man are the responses getting concise and entertaining…….
Until the regular season begins and out of the woodwork they come, probably.
thrylos, I saw Alan Anderson make one of the best plays I’ve ever seen by a pitcher. He cleanly caught little popup (basically a popped up bunt) while diving for it, rolled and doubled the man off of first.
I also remember Mickey Hatcher (I believe it was Hatcher) was involved in one of the strangest plays I’ve ever seen.
He was diving for a ball in the outfield, rolled, came up, ball not in his glove and no where to be seen. Well, his hat had come off during the dive and roll and the ball was under his hat.
Blake,
I have not seen that Anderson play, but I do remember the Mickey Hatcher play. The guy was comedy on the field (and back then there were not so many things for the Twins’ fans to laugh about…)
i’m going to say gomez = paul blair for those old enough to remember him.
It appears that with nobody to bid against but themselves…the Dodgers cave in to Manny’s demands:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/03/manny-dodgers-a.html#comments
[…] Around the Majors – […]
T,
same deal different payment options. Now the Dodgers are the team to beat in the NL West.
Dodgers
why did you do that? no one else was even going to come close to paying that; you blew giving him a take it or leave it type deal, and you could have had a guy like Dunn for half the price and signed another electric player or 2 for that 15 mill. instead you are stuck with Manny. yes, he was a stud, but let’s see how he is after the honeymoon is over (and the fact that he gets 45 mill guaranteed).
What a coincidence that Crede got a couple RBI against a Twins pitcher…
I would rather sit out than allow Torii Hunter be paid more than me.
I would take Sanders in a foot race, especially if it were 100 yards. I remember seeing him catch up to wide receivers like they were standing still. To 1st base maybe Gomez gets the nod.
I commend Royals fans for being just that. Royals fans. You are truely loyal fans.
Though young, I was still liked the Twins even during the mid-late 90’s. I didn’t really get into baseball (big time) until I was maybe 14 or so. Sorry you Royals fans have had it rough for so long. I’m not scared of your team right now, but that could change quickly.
here is a slightly different subject. Let’s play a game
name that guy
he is a Twins player (current or former) who had the following prospect rankings from Baseball America:
1999 - #36 ranked MLB
1999 - #1 ranked for MIN
2000 - #18 ranked MLB
2000 - #1 ranked for MIN
2001 - #55 ranked MLB
2001 - #2 ranked for MIN
2002 - #27 ranked MLB
2002 - #3 ranked for MIN
2003 - #17 ranked MLB
2003 - #3 ranked for MIN
who is he?
Bust or not?
Name that guy? I’ve no stats to look at, nor do I know how to find them if I could, but my guess is Adam Johnson. I would have said Cuddyer, but he doesn’t fit your ‘bust or not’ (the jury is still out on him) inquiry at the end.
Joe Mauer.
…or Morneau.
Definitely not Mauer…
If he’s former I have no idea, but if he’s current I’ll go with Michael Cuddyer
or if he’s former, my best guess is David Ortiz
Its Cuddyer.
Can’t be Ortiz as he was a Big Leaguer and not a prospect for most of those years.
Can’t be Mauer either as he wasn’t drafted until 2001.
Could be Morneau though.
It’s Cuddyer.
Based on the prospect rankings (17 and 18 in the whole league twice), bust or not?
Bust. Mostly due to injuries and position changes.
Bust, mostly due to the fact he can’t hit with any consistency and he has no range in the field.
I’d say he certainly didn’t live up to his billing, but I wouldn’t call him a bust.
I hate to call Cuddy a bust, but he’s had one freak injury after another ever since his “breakout” 2006.
The position changes I think have come more or less from the team just not having room for him.
He was an infielder first wasn’t he? I recall him playing 2B during the playoffs against the Yankees before sliding over to 3B and then finally settling in at RF.
When Cuddyer first came up, I pegged him as the second coming of Denny Hocking, no more. But, all-in-all if healthy I think he is a decent player deserving of starter status. He has always done pretty well against the White Sox, which scores alot of points in my book.
Cuddyer’s numbers in the minors were awesome. He has never lived up to what one might have projected.
That said, I would be happy with another 2006-like year from him.
Wouldn’t we all?
In 2006, BA’s #17-#18 ranked prospects from three different BA analysts:
Andy LaRoche,3B
Howie Kendrick,2B
Chris Young,OF
Joel Guzman,SS
Neil Walker,C
Conor Jackson,1B
Not an exact science.
I remember when Cuddyer was coming up. They did give him a lot of hype, and he didn’t really deliver until ‘06. Some might call him a bust, but the second coming of Denny Hocking?? that’s just stupid..Cuddyer is twice the player hocking was..i’d take rivas over hocking
The #1 prospect from ALL BA analysts in 2006:
Delmon Young
I agree calling Cuddy a bust is a bit unfair. However, based on the criteria of this conversation he is a bust. However, he is a solid major leaguer and any team in MLB would love to have him on their team. So in that sense, he is not a bust.
I just happen to think he is the 4th best OF on this team. Although, I have a bad feeling Span is gonna regress this year while Gomez and Young start to live up to the hype a little more.
When Delmon Young is Cuddy’s age we can talk about if he is a bust or not. As of right now he is way ahead of the curve.
Denny hocking at Visalia in 1992:
.331 7-81
Agree, Aaron, based on this conservation. But I don’t know who would trade a whole lot for him. It is kind of fun to see him use that cannon though.
Cuddy #17, Delmon #1, geez, these Baseball Analysts out to do their homework a little bit! There’s only thousands of guys to scout, LOL!
Although, I have a bad feeling Span is gonna regress this year while Gomez and Young start to live up to the hype a little more.
That’s not exactly a bad problem to have.
If Span fades and Gomez picks it up, Gomez would essentially replace Span.
T,
I agree, the thing with Span is he is about as good as you can expect. He played very solid/consistent baseball last year and it was still just “good”. It isn’t like he completely lit the world on fire. He has his limits and I just happen to think he came close to hitting them last year.
Whereas Gomez hasn’t even come close to hitting his limits. He just has tremendous talent, the question is will he ever realize it? I dunno, but I would rather take my chances with him then Span. Gomez is already functional as a major leaguer (not by much, LOL) and his upside is out of this world.
I just think by the end of the year Span is gonna be the odd man out, but I have been wrong lots of times before.
Prospect lists are a lot like draft picks in that there can be a considerable drop-off after the first few. I don’t consider Cuddy a bust because I don’t think a player ranked #17-18 is a sure thing to have a great career.
Cuddyer was probably a prototypical 1st round choice. As sy points out, BA’s rankings aren’t perfect. He’s not a bust. He was overrated early and is underrated now.
Hocking’s two best years with the Twins:
1999 G:136, HR:7, RBI:41, BA:.267
2000 G:134, HR:4, RBI:47, BA:.298
Cuddyer:
2004 G:115, HR:12, RBI:45, BA:.263
2005 G:126, HR:12, RBI:42, BA:.263
Just for the heck of it Wally, Cuddy in 2006: 24 homers, 109 RBI’s, .284 average. Numbers a lot of players would kill for.
New blog.
