Folks, you can feel the tension in the clubhouse today. I can tell that a bunch of players are worried about getting traded, and I don’t blame them.

Torii Hunter said he’s prepared to be dealt if it happens. He wants to stay but understands the business side of baseball. If the club decides to use him to get other players, he hopes he winds up in the postseason.

Luis Castillo, Juan Rincon and Lew Ford are other players who could be dealt if GM Terry Ryan decides to build for 2008. To me, it makes too much sense for Castillo to bat second behind Jose Reyes for the Mets. The Mets have scouted the Twins recently so you’ve got to wonder just want type of discussions Terry Ryan may be having with Omar Minaya.

Kenny Lofton - an old Twins’ nemesis - has arrived and is in the starting lineup. Tad Iguchi has been dealt to the Phillies. Will the Twins’ join in the fun? 

Onto the lineups: Brian Buscher is here and is starting at third base. He’ll probably start tomorrow then get Sunday off when C.C. Sabathia starts.

Bartlett is 1 for 15 against Paul Byrd, so he’s not starting.

Twins: 1. Castillo, 2B. 2. Tyner, RF. 3. Mauer, C. 4. Morneau, 1B. 5. Hunter, CF. 6. Kubel, LF. 7. White, DH. 8. Buscher, 3B. 9. Punto, SS. Pitching: Bonser.

Cleveland: 1. Sizemore, CF. 2. Lofton, LF. 3. Martinez, 1B. 4. Hafner, DH. 5. Peralta, SS. 6. Blake, 3B. 7. Nixon, RF. 8. Shoppach, C. 9. Barfield, 2B. Pitching: Byrd.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 27th, 2007 at 4:57 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.