Glen Perkins feels much better, and the Twins will have him start Saturday’s game against the White Sox.

Tonight’s it’s a rematch of Game 163 from last season, Nick Blackburn vs. John Danks.

Joe Mauer is going to be in Monday’s Home Run Derby. Heading down for his press conference now.

Don’t miss today’s earlier post: Should the Twins trade for Freddy Sanchez?

You can follow us now on Twitter (@JoeCStarTribune, @LaVelleNeal).

Update: HR Derby officials want both Mauer and Morneau to compete. Morneau agrees it would be cool but said he’s already decided against it.

Update: Mauer on why he’ll be in the Derby: “I just think it’s a great event. Home Run Derby — I always told my buddies when we were younger, we always played it in the back yard and stuff like that. I always told them, if I ever had the opportunity to do it, I would jump at it, and it happened this year.”

Gardy said, “[Mauer] told me it’s a single-up-the-middle contest, and that’s why he joined. … I don’t hold these guys back. I know Joe’s got a great swing, and he’s going to do what he needs to do. I don’t think it’ll affect him. He’ll go out there and probably put a few in the seats, and I think the greatest thing about it is his high school coach [Jim O’Neill] is going to throw to him. That’s probably about as neat as it gets.”

WHITE SOX (44-41 ) 

1. Scott Podsednik, CF
2. Alexei Ramirez, SS
3. Jermaine Dye, RF
4. Jim Thome, DH
5. Paul Konerko, 1B
6. A.J. Pierzynski, C
7. Chris Getz, 2B
8. Gordon Beckham, 3B
9. DeWayne Wise, LF

Starting pitcher: LH John Danks (7-6, 3.76)

TWINS (43-43)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Brendan Harris, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Michael Cuddyer, RF
7. Joe Crede, 3B
8. Delmon Young, LF
9. Nick Punto, 2B

Starting pitcher: RH Nick Blackburn (7-4, 2.94)

Metrodome. First pitch: 7:10 p.m. TV: FSN

This entry was posted on Friday, July 10th, 2009 at 4:04 pm and is filed under Twins thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.