Twins vs. Puerto Rico: Nathan, Harris updates
Posted on March 3rd, 2009 – 9:02 AMBy Joe Christensen
FORT MYERS, FLA. — Joe Crede will play third base for the first time as a Twin, and Scott Baker will be on the mound today against a star-laden Puerto Rico team that is gearing up for the WBC.
Brendan Harris was scratched from the starting lineup (presumably because he was drilled by a pitch in the back the other day), and Matt Tolbert takes his place at shortstop.
Chilly here by Fort Myers standards. There were frost warnings for inland areas overnight, but it’s supposed to reach 70 degrees today. I’m not complaining.
La Velle has more spring jottings in his latest blog post, so be sure to check that out. We’re also contemplating our first video effort — that is, our first effort without one of our expert photographers behind the camera. I’m sure it’ll be a cinematic masterpiece.
Note: Today’s statistics will not count toward the team’s official Grapefruit League stats. (As if that matters.)
Update (11:20 p.m.): Joe Nathan threw full-speed in a bullpen session today and said his right shoulder felt good.
“Today gave me a lot of confidence,” he said.
Nathan plans to throw live batting practice Thursday and return to Grapefruit League action on Saturday.
Brendan Harris has a sore left shoulder after being plunked by a Takashi Saito pitch on Sunday.
Update (1:30 p.m.): The Twins have agreed to terms on a minor-league deal with LHP Carmen Pignatiello, who made the Cubs roster out of spring training last season and has posted a 6.75 ERA in six major league appearances.
Pignatiello, 26, won’t report to the Twins’ major league camp, but he’ll pitch for Class AAA Rochester. The agreement was originally reported at SethSpeaks.net, by Star Tribune “Our Voices” contributor Seth Stohs. Another scoop for Seth!
PUERTO RICO
1. Bernie Williams, CF
2. Ivan Rodriguez, C
3. Carlos Beltran, CF
4. Carlos Delgado, 1B
5. Alex Rios, RF
6. Hiram Bocachica, LF
7. Felipe Lopez, 2B
8. Mike Aviles, SS
9. Ramon Vazquez, 3B
Starting pitcher: Ian Snell (Twins prospect Carlos Gutierrez is on the roster.)
TWINS
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Michael Cuddyer, RF
4. Jason Kubel, DH
5. Joe Crede, 3B
6. Brian Buscher, 1B
7. Delmon Young, LF
8. Mike Redmond, C
9. Matt Tolbert, SS
Starting pitcher: Scott Baker (Also on the list: Brian Duensing, Kevin Mulvey, Anthony Swarzak, Jason Jones, Ben Julianel, Armando Gabino, Sean Henn.)
Hammond Stadium. First pitch: 12:05 p.m. (Central)
106 Responses to "Twins vs. Puerto Rico: Nathan, Harris updates"
Is Puerto Rico’s lineup really star laden?
I’ll give you Beltran, Delgado, and Rios, but the rest of that lineup is garbage. Bernie Williams? Pudge? Are they trying to resurrect the 1995 All Star team?
Boy, there are some big names on Puerto Rico’s roster! If today’s statistics don’t count toward the team’s official Grapefruit League stats, will the game be called if they 10 run us?
It’s certainly a lot more “star laden” than the Twins’ lineup. Snell is no slouch. Should be a fair test for the Twins pitchers.
don’t you love Pudge at the #2 hole?
The Twins normal roster would be favored over the Puerto Rico team. I think people think Pudge is the catcher of 10 years ago. He isn’t even a top 20 catcher any more.
Hell, that team is inferior to the Red Sox team the Twins have beaten already - whoop do doo.
Jim
I agree that Snell is a fairly good pitcher but how many innings is he going to pitch? 2 or maybe 3?
I’m curious about Young hitting behind Buscher. Though it’s nice to see him getting starts even with Cuddy in the lineup.
The speed at the top of their order leaves something to be desired…
I’m curious about Young hitting behind Buscher
that lefty righty thing 
still, glad to see Redmond not at the #3 hole
Now that’s a line-up……..
I am Topp Dogg.
[…] Joe C’s lasted entry discussing today’s game against Puerto Rico […]
Span better get his hammys good and loose before the game. He’s going to need to cover both gaps in the OF.
Wow PR is skipping the DH in exchange for 2 CenterFielders. No way the Twins get anything in the gaps this afternoon….
Max,
Bernie will probably be a DH…
is the game on the radio today? i don’t see it listed on the mlb network.
Is Jason Jones still in the mix for Boof’s spot?
As old as it maybe that lineup for Puerto Rico is still very good.
I wondered what the name of the Puerto Rico team is. The national mascot is a frog, so I guess Twins take on the Frogs at 12:05. Here’s a Coqui Frog, looks a little like Pudge:
is the game on the radio today?
it looks like no radio, no tv, not even gameday. I hope that at least they have live box scores…
Good news concerning Nathan as that would change everything for this year if he is unable to go. Lets hope for his continued health and he looks and feels great on Saturday.
The only Puerto Rico player i’ve never seen before is Bocachica everyone else is a MLB player. I’m sure Bernie will DH but why are they putting all the slow old guys at the top of the order?
Saw somewhere the game is being broadcast on 1500AM, but not through mlb.com. I doubt you’ll even get box scores through mlb.
Good news, indeed, on Nathan.
“I’m sure Bernie will DH but why are they putting all the slow old guys at the top of the order?”
Maybe because it’s an exhibition game and they put the guys at the top of the order that they want to have get a couple of ABs as early as possible and then substitute for? Just speculating.
BCND: I’ve heard Bocachica’s name before, I think associated with the Royals.
Nope…not Royals, but the A’s for a while: http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?playerID=150375&statType=1
For what it’s worth, Bocachica is a former first round (21st pick) draft choice, 1994.
Drafted/signed by Montreal, debuted with the Dodgers in 2000. Grand total of 535 MLB ABs since then.
“but why are they putting all the slow old guys at the top of the order?”
They flipped a coin, and the slow young guys lost.
Im hoping today is the day Cuddy comes up lame in the outfield. He could hit .205 through June and still be Gardys right fielder. Its funny becaue 3 years ago KFAN used to joke that Gardy blamed everything on Cuddy.
Ian Snell for Puerto Rico?
How about Eric Perkins last night on KARE 11? He follows up Shaver’s feature on R.A. Dickey by saying Dickey worked with former Twins knuckleballer Joe Niekro during the off-season. Hey Perk, Joe Niekro is dead, maybe try brother Phil. What a tool!
buuftwins do people make fun of you when you miss up
thrylos98, here is the gameday link:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_03_03_purint_minmlb_1
Thanks CC!
it looks like Baker did a good job in the first
ugh…3 strikeouts…has cuddy had a hit yet??
Gameday says Snell struck out the side on 9 pitches.
is there a link for gameday, all i’m getting is the box score
preseason gameday pitch count isn’t accurate.
the link is in my 12:12 pm comment
CC, that’s what I was hoping.
If it was accurate that’s as ugly as you can get.
pretty good inning for Snell, jeez…
Watching Team Canada vs. the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Koskie hit by a Mike Maroth pitch on a 3-1 count and scored on a double by Pete Orr. Great to see Corey back in uniform! Morneau struck out on a questionable check swing in the 1st. Randy Ruiz playing 1B for Toronto and flied to left in his first at bat. I believe Crain is scheduled to pitch. 2-1 Canada bottom 2.
Morneau RBI single in his 2nd at bat. Should have been ruled an error on Toronto 2B Russ Adams.
Spring training gameday does not show actual pitches thrown or pitch counts. It could very well be that he also went to three balls on each batter but it only shows that he threw three pitches for the strikeout.
I was under the impression that D Young would play more RF this year instead of LF. Yet it seems like he has only played LF in these games so far. Does anyone know if he has played RF at all this spring?
MH: I think he played RF in one game over the weekend (there was one where Cuddy sat I think)
Cuddyer’s best position is RF. So if Cuddy’s in the lineup that’s where they’ll put him.
MHFESQ
With Cuddyer in the lineup at the same time they are only going to play him in right. That is why Delmon has been seeing most of his playing time in left this spring. I believe he did play some right field in the second game this year.
According to the iffy Gameday stats, Baker threw 20 pitches, 15 for strikes, and got 9 outs.
Joe C, I hope you have time for a detailed report today. That PR lineup is a good acid test for the Twins.
Punto is the leadoff hitter for Italy.
Looks like Delgado didn’t dare try to score off Delmon’s arm on the erswhile SF.
Gutierrez is pitching now
Jason Jones is definitely still in the mix for a 12th pitcher.
Cuddyer, Winfree, Span and Matos are the only ones to play RF this spring. Delmon has only played LF.
Punto is the leadoff hitter for Italy.
And Everett is the leadoff hitter for Detroit
Duensing throws a scoreless inning.
Wow, what a lineup! Italy’s #4 hitter, DH Valentio Pascucci has a .177 career batting average in the majors.
“And Everett is the leadoff hitter for Detroit”
It must be upside down day.
In Dunedin, Koskie hit a bullet, but lined out to 2B in his 2nd at bat. 3-2 Canada heading to bottom of the 4th. Sunny, but only 49 degrees in Dunedin!
Twins winning, but all runs are off our prospect Gutierrez
good news - twins are scoring runs.
bad news - it was off gutierrez
Well, WAHOO! Nathan’s arm is okay, and Crede knocks in 2 on a double!!!
Gutierrez beaned Delmon…
Crede with a two-run 2B. Too bad it came against a Twins prospect.
Prospect plunks Delmon and is yanked from the game.
gutierrez must have impressed the twins with that outing. guess a few years away yet.
Morneau base hit to left. 2-3 with an RBI.
Geez, Ronald Reagan doing play-by-play from the teletype like 70 years ago was faster than Gameday.
ES16,
“Italy’s #4 hitter, DH Valentio Pascucci has a .177 career batting average in the majors.”
Lighten up on Val Pascucci.
He is one of my ex-players.
His AAA numbers the last two years are:
.284 34-98 and .290 27-81.
am i missing something or is span scuffling a little this spring?
Bet Gutierrez was nervous as hell pitching against his own organization. I know I would be. Hopefully a few years from now, he’ll be able to look back and laugh about this.
lol @ romer i just spit my pop out thanks.
I haven’t seen it as of yet on either blog. Why haven’t either beat writer said anything about the Twins signing Justin Huber to a minor league deal ? Guy was a huge prospect a couple years ago until he had a rough season and got blocked in KC, moved to San Diego, and got blocked there too.
the Twins signing Justin Huber to a minor league deal
They also signed:
Ben Hendrickson
Carmen Pignatiello
and Kris Honel
Punto is 0-3 for Italy.
Is anyone concerned with the lack of power displayed thus far in spring training?
no meatballs with his pasta tonight for nicky!
“Punto is 0-3 for Italy.’
One more bad at-bat for Nick and the manager is going to give him a big kiss, before he goes to swim with the fishes.
Stugots.
Michael, the Twins haven’t hit many…but I don’t think they’ve given up that many either.
“One more bad at-bat for Nick and the manager is going to give him a big kiss, before he goes to swim with the fishes.”
No, they won’t do that — yet. First they chop off a finger after each hitless game
i’ve just been watching from Florida and I was expecting more hits…still early though.
What a coincidence: Joe Nathan develops a sore arm, gets his release from the WBC, and today his sore arm feels much better.
a big thing about hitting home runs is timing. At this point the pitchers are way ahead of the hitters. It takes a couple of weeks for the hitters to catch up to live pitching. The ST leaders in HRs just have 2. Kubel has been belting the ball this spring.
It looks like Crain pitched pretty well, scoreless inning with 2K.
Here’s an ex-Twin matchup for you. Monroe hit a double off Ponson (Netherlands).
Yeah I noticed Kubel has been hitting the ball well. Anyone watch 30 clubs in 30 days on the mlb network. They predicted the twins will finish 3rd. what the hell??
Sweet, Twins just beat Puerto Rico
Who’s the idiot that let Monroe get away?
Justin Huber
Ben Hendrickson
Carmen Pignatiello
Kris Honel
These newly signed Minor league FA’s… have any been invited to ST?
Pitching depth is always a plus, but signing Huber means to me that Morales and Butera are not what the Twins need in a AAAA Catcher this year.
It’s inconceivable that Huber would get blocked in the Twins organization. We really need a 1B/OF type.
Its a minor league contract.
Huber will most likely see the Big Leagues on Direct TV, only, this year.
Koskie hit in his first at bat…thats gotta be a great welcome back… but he had a great day, as did Morneau and Crain for team Canada
Ponson…Netherlands?
WHA?
Huber is the new Jon Knott.
First they chop off a finger after each hitless game
One would think that’d be rather counterproductive to a hitter…
Carmen Pignatiello sounds like a character straight from “Happy Days”
Can you think of a place with more temptation than Amsterdam for the fun-loving Ponson? Where is this guy’s support group?
So get ready for the s**tstorm:
Orlando Cabrera signed by the A’s for 1yr/$4MM.
“First they chop off a finger after each hitless game”,
thereby reducing the injury risk of Nicky’s headfirst slides…
“So get ready for the s**tstorm:”
Let’s get it started. I wouldn’t trade Trevor Plouffe for Orlando Cabrera and $4M cash.
So how did Nick end up? I’d hate to see them have to do a “take Fredo fishing” thing with Nick.
The name “Nick” is not Italian. It’s English. It’s short for “Dominick” and an abbreviation of Nicholas. The Greek goddess of Victory was “Nike” and the root origin of ‘Nicholas.’.
Nick should be playing for England. Or playing Cricket. Although that is very dangerous right now.
First they chop off a finger after each hitless game
One would think that’d be rather counterproductive to a hitter…
Ha…sounds like NCLB.
Crede and Buscher; Buscher and Crede.
What a team. Lockers next to each other at ST. They like each other a lot.
Both just want to help the Twins Win…..
I am Topp Dogg.
Sorry… I thought Huber was still playing C… I see is is more a LF and 1B now.
If we can get Crede to replicate Corey Koskie’s 2001 season (.276/26 HR/103 RBI), I think it will be a great success for the Twins. Crede will also not be sticking around with the Twins, as noted earlier, the Twins have a lot of arbitration eligible players next season, along with hoping to sign Mauer to a long term deal.
Ponson…Netherlands?
WHA?
I believe Sir Sidney is from Aruba, which, if I remember my geography, is somehow part of the Kindom of the Netherlands.
In terms of the WBC, it all makes sense. Sort of. After all, Alex Rodriguez (born in NYC, grew up in Miami) is apparently Dominican. And if your last name ends in a vowel, you can play for Italy.
