Twins Insider » 2007

April 2007

Bonser v. Greinke: News and lineups

Saturday, April 21st, 2007

Jason Bartlett, who missed a couple plays on Friday, will not start today. “He had a little bit of a rough time out there,” Gardy said. The manager thinks Bartlett is still feeling the effects of a sore groin muscle.

Luis Castillo and Rondell White have no idea of when they’ll play. I’ll just leave it at that.

Anthony Swarzak was very remorseful about his postitive drug test, as he tells the New Britain Herald.

Twins (10-6): 1. Casilla, SS. 2. Punto, 3B. 3. Mauer, DH. 4. Cuddyer, RF. 5. Morneau, 1B. 6. Hunter, CF. 7. Kubel, LF. 8. Redmond, C. 9. L-Rod, 2B. Pitching: Boof.

Royals (5-11):1. DeJesus, CF. 2. Grudzielanek, 2B. 3. Teahen, RF. 4. Sweeney, DH. 5. Gload, 1B. 6. E. Brown, LF. 7. Gordon, 3B. 8. LaRue, C. 9. Pena, SS. Pitching: Greinke

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Breaking news: Twins minor leaguer suspended

Friday, April 20th, 2007

Righthander Anthony Swarzak, one of the Twins’ better minor league prospects, has been suspended for 50 games for violating the minor league drug testing policy.

Swarzak, currently at Class AA New Britain, will be allowed to work out before games but can’t be in uniform for games. Swarzak. 0-2 with a 11.12 ERA for the Rock Cats, tested positive for a drug of abuse and not a performance-enhancing substance.

“It’s disappointing,’’ Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. “We take a lot of pride in making sure the players are educated. A mistake has been made here and players need to be held accountable for their actions.’

“Unfortunately, 50 games of a season is quite a bit of the season. It’s going to cost him development time. There’s consequences of him not being able to go out and take the mound. He isn’t developing. That’s what sad.’’

Jim Rantz, the Twins’s director of minor leagues, will stay in touch with Swarzak and his family on how he should proceed. For now, Swarzak has been turned over to the Twins’ Employee Assistance Program, which specializes in helping players and staff through situations like Swarzak’s.

“This is bigger than baseball,’’ Ryan said. “This is an education in life, in what’s right and what’s wrong. Everyone knows the rules. There aren’t any surprises. People have been educated.

“I feel sorry for his family. We’ll stand by him and help him and make sure he gets the proper guidance.’’

Swarzak, 21, was the Twins’ second round pick in 2004 and was 11-7 with a 3.27 ERA last season for Class A Fort Myers.

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Twins-Royals: Pregame

Friday, April 20th, 2007

Torii Hunter (left shoulder) has returned to the starting lineup. Rondell White (right calf) still needs some time. And Luis Castillo (left quad) will miss at least a couple of games.

Twins: 1. Casilla, 2B. 2. Punto, 3B. 3. Mauer, C. 4. Cuddyer, RF. 5. Morneau, 1B. 6. Torii Hunter, CF. 7. Mike Redmond, DH. 8. Jason Tyner, LF. 9. Jason Bartlett, SS. Pitching: Sir Sid.

Royals: DeJesus, CF. 2. Grudzielanek, 2B. 3. Teahan, RF. 4. Sweeney, DH. 5. Gload, 1B. 6. Sanders, LF. 7. Gordon, 3B. 8. Buck, C. 9. Pena, SS. Pitching: Odalis Perez.

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Friday morning foggies

Friday, April 20th, 2007

Just landed in Kansas City after one of the worst red-eye flights I’ve ever taken. I was the one in the same row with the explosive two-year old. I was the one sitting in front of two guys who, all of a sudden, started dropping f-bombs on each other, freaking out everyone around them.

I was the one who was bumped three times by either a flight attendant or someone going to the bathroom. And I was the one who was rousted awake once I managed to fall asleep by the passenger next to me so she could use the bathroom.

Consequently, I’m the one with about 90 minutes of sleep last night.

I’m going to take a nap, wake up, gather my thoughts and try to make it through a podcast before I head to the ballpark. I don’t expect Luis Castillo to be in the lineup today because of a strained quad. I expect Alexi Casilla to be in there. I expect Torii to play, but I’m not sure on Rondell White. I could be wrong. After all, I can’t think straight right now.

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Santana vs Washburn: Notes and lineups

Thursday, April 19th, 2007

Update: Luis Castillo left the game in the fifth inning with a strained right quad and is day to day. He was replaced by Alexi Casilla. Castillo hurt himself while running out a double to right.

Rondell White and Torii Hunter could be back in the lineup Friday in Kasnas City. White is nearly recovered from a rught calf strain. Hunter needed a second day off because of a bruised left shoulder.

Josh Rabe is in left field instead of Jason Kubel. Rabe is a fastball hitter, and Gardy wants to give him a shot at Jarrod Washburn. Redmond is DH-ing because he swung the bat well on Wednesday. Gardy thinks Kubel can hit lefties but wanted to go with the righties against Washburn.

Oh, Ty Cobb Punto is back in the lineup.

And the Mariners think King Felix should be O.K. He will be shut down for five day before throwing in the bullpen again.

Twins: 1. Castillo, 2B. 2 Punto, 3B. 3. Mauer, C. 4. Cuddyer. 5. Morneau, 3B. 6. Redmond, DH. 7. Rabe, LF. 8. Tyner, CF. 9. Bartlett, SS. Pitching: Santana.

Mariners: 1. Suzuki, CF. 2. Beltre, 3B. 3. Vidro, DH. 4. Ibanez, LF. 5. Sexson, 3B. 6. Guillen, RF. 7. Johjima, C. 8. Betancourt, SS. 9. Lopez, 2B. Pitching: Washburn.

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