Twins-Yanks: Stepping up in class - Lineup change
Posted on February 28th, 2009 – 9:49 AMBy La Velle
Lots of reasons to watch today’s game on the MLB Network.
It will be Francisco Liriano’s spring debut.
Luke Hughes gets the start at third.
Jesse Crain, the key to the bullpen, and newcomer Luis Ayala are scheduled to pitch.
While it’s early in the schedule, I’m sure the Twins want to get on the bus back to Fort Myers after seeing some encouraging signs from these players and others.
The pitchers will be tested in the early innings - because the Yanks didn’t fake the funk with their lineup today.
Lineups
Twins: 1. Span, RF. 2. Punto, SS. 3. Young, LF. 4. Kubel, DH. 5. Buscher, 1B. 6. Luke Hughes, 3B. 7. Tolbert, 2B. 8. Drew Butera, C. 9. Go-Go, cf. Pitching: Franchise, followed by Crain, Ayala, Keppel, Jones, Henn, Gabino.
Yankees: 1. Damon, LF. 2. Captain America, SS. 3. Tex, 1b. 4. A-Rod. 5. Swisher, RF. 6. Cano, 2B. 7. Molina, C. 8. Duncan, DH. 9. Melky, CF. Pitching: Joba.
Update: Posada out. Duncan in. So a tad less funk.,..
275 Responses to "Twins-Yanks: Stepping up in class - Lineup change"
That looks like the Yankees A squad
Seems awfully early in ST to field what should be the entire starting lineup for the Yankees.
Lets see if New Britain can take it to the Yankees today!
Yankees reportedly taking this game seriously…
GO TWINS!
Yep, they take it so seriously that a-Roids cousin has been moved to a secret location where he can play doctor.
Can’t play doctor that is….
Punto batting second? Hope that doesn’t catch on, but hey LNP has competition this Spring, Gardy’s other son Toby
That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Why would this game be taken seriously? And how serious? Is A-Roid playing 5-7 innings? Joba gonna pitch 5+ or leave after 2 head to the strip club and do Jager shots?
I can see it now, the New Britain Twins clobber the Yankees in ST.
The loss is so disheartening, the Yankees go into an emotional funk from which they never recover, finishing dead last in the AL during the ‘09 season….Proving once again that throwing money at a problem doesn’t necessarily solve it.
Looks that way to me as well. Leave it to the Yankees to try and stack the deck - even in a meaningless spring game. On one level it kind of makes sense though … I mean why play a bunch of prospects that you never intend to promote up to the bigs, right?
Judging by the Yankees’ lineup, they apparently took yesterday’s loss rather personally.
Judging by the Twins’, this looks like a road game.
Wouldn’t worry too much about Punto batting second, since Casilla is still with the team. But I like seeing Young getting in the #3 spot for a bit.
Shazel,
You don’t find it puzzling the entire opening day lineup for the Yankees is starting this early in ST?
Besides, mocking the Yankees is standard for baseball fans.
That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.
You don’t get jokes…do you?
Gardy should employ the exact opposite strategy as the Yankees tonight.
Let the Yankees A-Squad get their swing in, and then once the B-Squad starts coming in bring in Morneau, Crede, Cuddyer, etc…
“Why would this game be taken seriously?”
Just look at their line up. Why would they run their whole starting team out there this early in spring?
“New Britain Twins clobber the Yankees in ST. The loss is so disheartening, the Yankees go into an emotional funk from which they never recover”
I like this scenario better: The loss is so disheartening, that Hanky Panky panics and signs Manny to a 4 year, 100 million dollar deal. The end result is quite possibly the worst defense in baseball history. It’s a defense so awful that no offense, no matter how well stacked, can possibly make up enough runs. The Yankees not only finish last, they make a serious run at 120+ loses.
Shazel, Typically in spring training games the home team will start more of the regulars. The Twins like most teams don’t even bring most of there regulars for away games. This is the first weekend home game for the Yankees and I believe there second home game overall so it is really not too surprising they are starting most of there regulars for a couple of at bats.
Oh yeah, and Manny, so upset with all the negative press and bashing from the fans for their lack luster season, returns to being Manny.
Jeff in So Cal …
Dude! C’mon! Get with the program!
This is the Yankees we’re talking about here. Enough with this home game wishy washy talk. They are stacking the deck and that’s all there is to it.
[…] Twins Insider – […]
It was a stretch for the Yankees and their 5 “big” leaguers yesterday.
I hope Liriano shows up in a big way for his two innings.
If the Yankees are going to be that way and start all of there starters this early in ST. …. I hope they dont get hurt and miss the start of the season or WBC
sploorp
I like that scenario
makes a person cheerful when the Yankees struggle
if the Yankees think stacking the deck is the only way to win they have another thing coming …… young raw talent that has more than 3 years left in them
The game is being shown on the YES Network. My guess is that they are trying to give their fans a reason to watch.
sploorp,
Get with the program?? It is simply Marketing 101 guy. Especially if it is (as La Velle just pointed out) being shown on the YES Network in New York. They want to show off there team is all to the fan base.
Lets just hope Liriano does great and then we can watch New Britain beat up on Trenton!
Jeff,
I think you misunderstand Sploorp…we want to mock the Yankees and no amount of logic is going to deter us from our appointed task.
Blake,
Very well said! Just so you know I personally do not like the Yankees at all and would like nothing better then to see the Twins sweep them this year and for them to miss the playoffs once again.
I hope liriano has regained his velocity
Lineup change for the Yanks noted..
La Velle,
So which of our regulars did not even make the trip to Tampa today besides Mauer and Crede?
Who the hell is Captain America? Posting lineups is worthless if no one but you can read them, La Velle.
Thanks LaVelle.
This should be interesting. Probably good for the Twins pitchers to face some real hitters one after another.
Captain America would be Derek Jeter.
Lighten up Paul. It’s all good.
The games at noon but MLB network says its on at 4. So are they showing it at 4 or 12?
u can also watch the game on mlb.com ..is that correct …does anyone know for sure?
[…] for all of us the game will be on YES. He’ll be opposed by some guy named Liriano, and according to LEN3 ex-Yank Sean Henn is scheduled to make an […]
SkipsScramble -
I’m getting a live radio feed on MLB.com right now. It’s all pregame stuff, but they are on the air right now. It’s supposed to be televised, but I’m not seeing the “live” icon. It’s still a little early, so that might change.
Skips, the game will be on tape delay. We wont be able to watch it until 4, but it does start at 12.
Blake -
Thanks for having my back!
Jeff in So Cal -
Are you on board with this Yankee bashing thing? Let ‘er rip with a good one if you are.
From what I understand the MLB channel will televise it but it is being delayed two hours. The YES Network is showing it live but for most markets (besides New York) it will be blacked out.
Sploorp, Jeff, et al..
Just think, if the Yankees do win it all, but, just barely, we can mock them “because they were supposed to run away with it.”.
If the Yankees run away with the Series title, we can shrug our shoulders and say “Eh, that’s what you guys were supposed to do.”
And, finally, if the Yankees fall on their collective face (desired scenario) we get the satisfaction of hahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Sploorp
I will say that the Yankees are the definite “Poster Child” of why there should be a salary cap in baseball! If the Twins were given an extra 100 or so million to spend on players I wonder what our lineup would look like with a Sabathia. Or for that matter have him followed up by Santana, Peavy, Hallady, and Webb.
I would like to see a line up like this sometime in the season.I think span could be a better RBI guy then castila
and there is protction for the heart of the order.
1.castila 2b
2.span cf
3.mauer c
4.crede 3b
5.morneau 1b
6.young lf
7.kubel dh
8.cuddy rf
9.punto ss
Top 1st
Span on 3-2 count, chopper to 3rd 1 out
CoachCal,
I don’t think you’ll ever see Young and Cuddyer on the field together. (barring injuries, of course)
I think you’re giving up too much range sitting Gomez.
Punto on 1-0 count back up the middle single on 1st. No slide 
Way to go Delmon!!
Punto scores off a double by Young.
The YES network is showing it live and fortunately there is no black out here.
that Young still is hitting soft singles… darn
Delmon is on fire, though he was last spring training too.
that looks good from dy.
Back to back RBI doubles by Young and Kubel!!
Young batting 2-0 count deep off the wall in center left…double, Punto scores.
On 1-0 pitch , pick off attempt by catcher…Punto slid back to First
Kubel, double to gap/wall in right center. Young scores.
Kubel just doubled in Young!
Buscher moves Kubel to 3rd…2 outs
Hughes on 3-2 count grounder to short. 3 outs
2-0 to Twins
gameday actually is loading pretty fast today. (the action is ahead of TRN of mlb.com) here is the link
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_02_28_minmlb_nyamlb_1
Liriano gets Damon on a fly to Gomez
Bottom of 1st
Damon on 2-2 count skys to Gomez in center 1 out
There goes the no hitter for Liriano
Jeter on 1-0 count single in the hole
Blake,
Range yes, but there could be alot of runs scored and more ballance. I would not want to see it every day but against the Yankees and RedSox it would be fun to see.
Teixiera double to right center, Span cuts off to hold Jeter at 3rd.
A-Rod deep fly to Young in left. Jeter scores, Tex to 3rd.
Swisher grounds to 3rd, Hughes throw in dirt…Buscher can’t dig out of dirt. Tex scores
The Hughes 3B/Buscher 1B combination is lethal.
we don’t need crede great d at 3b. gave buscher some of his own meds.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/stealthshot
has the YES network feed streaming
These two will have plenty of time to get those plays working in Rochester this season.
4 pitch walk to Cano…Swisher to 2nd…2 out’s
Twins are going to be fun to watch either way. Could be a great year.
yankee guys are very nice to the twins not salesman hawking tickets and jerseys like the sox guys.
hows liriano throwing…it doesnt really matter the runs or anything right now but hows his velocity/movement
Molina grounder to 3rd. Out
After 1
Twins 2 - 2 Yankees
corndog,
they are showing hockey
Top of 2nd
Tolbert Skys to center 1 out
Butera high fly to short center 2 out
Go go gone!
gomez hits a solo!
GoGo..Hr to left 3-2 Twins
go-go goes yard!
Gomez just homered!! Woo Hoo!!!
Span on 2-0 count line drive to Jeter 3 outs.
3-2 Twins
wow, the radio feed for the game is way behind that stream by about a minute or two.
hows liriano throwing??
I know 1 er run walk…not good but hows his VELOCITY
CoachCal…you were saying about Cuddyer versus Gomez????
I know it’s early, but Young seems to be hitting the ball pretty well.
Bottom of 2nd
Duncan on 0-2 count single to left
Sploorp,
Delmon may very well be on a mission this year.
Why doesnt FSN televise any of thes games???
Yankee broadcasters were joking that when Liriano approaches free agency the Mets will be calling the Twins again like they did with Santana.
the guy keeps going to hockey or basketball during commercial breaks in the game.
Cabrera bunt base hit…runners 1st & 2nd
hughes may need another year or so in the minors!
Liriano still pitching?? Hes getting rocked…
Damon sac bunt, runners 2nd & 3rd
Cabrera was trying to sacrifice and Hughes was late getting there.
Lirano’s velocity…anyone???
Jeter, sac fly to right. 2 outs
Yankees playing small ball?
Looks like Liriano is throwing hard but they don’t show the MPH on the overhead. Doesn’t look like he is throwing many sliders if any at all. Fastballs and changeups mostly.
????
liriano looks like his first start. not up to speed yet. change looks good.
Thanks Jeff in So Call
Twins probably told him to work on his control with his fastball and change. That is also probably why he hasnt finished a couple of guys.
Tex grounder to SS. 3 outs
End of 2 innings
Twins 3-3 Yankees
Lirano’s velocity…anyone???
fastball hit 92, slider hit 86 (small sample size)
Would someone say something about Franchise’s velocity?
Top of 3rd
Geise pitching for Yankees
Punto…pop up to shallow left 1 out
Tanner— I think FSN is going to start carrying the game on the 14th…. there aren’t too many but I think I heard the 14th was the first one
Young single to center
Corndog, thanks for the link… the stream works well… love watching baseball even when there is snow on the ground…
Another base hit for Young - a single to center.
Young’s ST stats last year:
.361 avg, 36 abs, 2 runs, 2 doubles, 1 hr, 7 rbi’s. He was the third best hitter behind Mauer and Morneau in ST last year.
tanner, FSN will be televising games. March 14, March 26, March 30
Kubel… on 0-2 count passed ball/wild pitch Young to 2nd
Delmon to 2nd on a wild pitch.
Kubel just missed that one!!
Kubel…walks…runners 1st & 2nd … 1 out
Buscher is pounding the ball this spring!!
Kubel walks.
Buscher…double into right field gap, Young & Kubel score
Kuble and Young score off a double by Buscher.
to bad buscher can’t field. he may end up being a better hitter than kubel.
Buscher has been looking pretty good at the plate so far this year as well.
young and buscher are pounding the ball
Hughes falls behind 0-2 then ultimately works it to a full count before driving in Buscher with a solid single to left.
Hughes…on 3-2 count…single down the left field line…Buscher scores 6-3 Twins
Hughes singles in Buscher. Twins lead 6-3.
Not exactly a pitchers duel so far today..
On the live stream of YES, (now switched to a hockey game) Liriano hit 93… so not too bad. Most fastballs were 92 mph.
C’mon Sals kid!! Almost a strikeout then he comes back and does strikeout with Hughes getting thrown out at second.
Tolbert…Strike Out..Throw ‘em out 3 outs.
Twins 6 - 3 Yankees
What did Joba hit on the gun?
Bottom of 3rd:
Jason Jones pitching for Twins
A-Rod…Walks
I think it is great that the Twins have Jones and Henn pitching today as they are both former Yankee property. I am sure they will be pumped to do well against them.
Nice double play started by Tolbert!
Swisher…4-6-3 DP
Cano…single to left
Molina just missed a double down the line and comes back with a broken bat grounder to Hughes for 3 outs.
Molina…Broken bat nubber to 3rd. 3rd out.
End of 3
Twins 6 - 3 Yankees
Geez… so far it really seems young wants a place in this outfield…
Nice link corndog!
You da man
Young is a special talent!
One bad year when he was 22 and everybody forgets.
yeah it’s nice when he’s not watching hockey… but he only seems to want to watch baseball when yanks are batting now
Hey Dragon, I think I might be getting the telecast slightly ahead of you so what are you watching? Either that or I am just a little quicker on the keyboard. 
It does not make sense for both of us to do play by play so you go ahead for the people who are not watching.
Top of 4th:
Butera…K
Gomex…K
Jeff, let’s switch off innings…I am getting off MLB.tv (internet)
i just hope we have heard the end of trading delmon chants..those comments were driving me nuts, as this kid is so young and so much ahead of him thats great if he keeps his head on and his waistline trim….his waist scares me more than anything….maybe dh material somewhere down the road….jus think of his brother….
Jeff,
It’s the YES broadcast. I didn’t catch who the new Yankee pitcher is.
Jose Veras. Span on 3-2 count pops out to center.
That Veras guy looks really strong out there today. He blew away the first two batters and should have had Span too!
Bottom of 4th:
Duncan …single to center (?)
Cabrera…K’s
Damon…K’s
Runner on 1st 2 out
Jeter…Flies to Right…3 out
End of 4
Twins 6 - 3 Yankees.
Jeff the 5th’s all yours
Jones looked great today and I am happy for him that he did it against his former team and to top it off .. The Yankee regulars to boot! I do like the look of the Twins version of Murderers Row….
Young Buscher and Kubel!!
Are you going to take the 6th then Dragon??
Zajak and Parise of the Fighting Sioux gave the Devils a comfy lead and now Brodeur has lost his shutout, no reason for the dude to leave the Twins/Yanks stream anymore…
Jeff, works for me
Punto leads off and bunts it on a fly to Tex. first out.. 
DY is 3-for-3
Young is up and line drive up the middle again base hit!!
Go SIOUX!
Gardy takes Young out for a pinch runner Pridie
Yow! Another base hit for Young! The guy is hitting pretty well this spring.
Young is playing out of his mind so far… save it for when it matters homeboy!
Pridie is thrown out by two feet trying to steal second
Pridie was actually thrown out by about four or five feet
Pridie out by a mile! Looked slow!
Kubel walks with nobody on
I like to see Kubes is taking pitches.
Buscher up with two out Kubel on first lines a shot off of Cano for a single!
That’s great! Their all praising Cano’s D then he biffs. lol
Its good to see that Liriano had two groundball outs in the 2nd inning. Also they should of got the guy that got the bunt single out in that inning…then liriano would have gotten out of it…
Hughes up with guys on first and second two out falls behind again 0-2 before he strikes out swinging
Buscher and Young are CRUSHING the ball so far! Again, to bad that buscher cant field. Kubels doing pretty well too
Buscher hit a rocket shot at Cano and it was also against a left hander to boot! Buscher is definitely on fire so far!!
Young is playing out of his mind so far… save it for when it matters
He is playing for a starting job this spring. It does matter.
Tanner
Like I had said earlier.. The Twins new version of there own Murderers Row.. YOUNG BUSCHER AND KUBEL!!
So what is young so far this season like 9-10 or something?? Mostly singles but hes still getting on…
I’m a Delmon fan, but I think we need to be realistic with him. He was killing the ball last ST too. People were disappointed with him last year during the season, though I wasn’t. I just didn’t like him in LF.
He has to prove he can do it during the season or this will be last year again.
haha who need morneau and mauer
Crain in for the Twins as well as Ramos in at catcher
Crain strikes out Tex!!
A-Roid up against Crain.. Falls behind 0-2 before he pops out to right second out..
DY and Buscher may be benefiting from being pushed for their spots. Competition makes everybody better and gives the team depth. Hope that is the case.
Swisher up and gets ahead 2-0 before he pops out to end the inning.. Crain looked strong again!!
Crain’s curve has some bite tonight and his FB is up to 94
Dragon where are you????
Jeff I got your back
Crain looks like he is a natural for that 8th inning bridge to Nathan so far this spring!!
Top of the 6th
Igawa pitching for Yankees
Tolbert singles to center leading off.
Thanks Dragon as it is a beautiful day here today so I gotta get at least some of my stuff down outside today.
is gomez still in??
Ramos…on 3-1 count pops out to center 1 out
Tanner
Gomez is now batting
Olney is saying that the Royals are close to singing Cruz…
Gomez at bat
Gomez…5-4-3 DP
Middle of 6th
Twins 6 - 3 Yankees
Plouffle at SS
Pride in left
Brock Peterson DH
Macri 1B
Valencia 3B
Bottom of 6th
Ayala pitching
2 things…
1.Koskie signs minor league deal with Cubs
2. I am a flex 40 ticket holder, today is presale… started at 9. I have been calling every 5 minutes all day. I just got through. Home run porch for opener, sold out. Only a few cheap seats left. What a ficking joke.
Cano…3.2 count grounds to Macri at 1st…1 out
Valencia…excellent stop and throw out at 3rd
Duncan pops out to Macri in Foul territory.
3 outs.
Jeff, you got the 7th
Do I have to??
Good luck to Koskie
Twins bullpen has set down ten straight
what does it mean when it says your comment is awaiting moderation
Yes, it is imperative that you do the seventh!
Span grounds out to short on first pitch
Plouffe gets ahead 3-0 and pops out .. two away.
Pridie in against the left handed Igawa and strikes out while not looking too good.
The way Ayala and Crain have started there spring they are definitely laying a claim to the 7th and 8th inning guys!
Dickey in
RA Dickey in for the Twins against Cabrera..
Dickey gets Cabrera to tap to short with a an error on Plouffe (throwing) Cabrera safe at second on the overthrow
A Trenton guy batting for the Yanks (Curtis) and gets ahead 3-0 before walking
Men on first and second no out.. Pena batting
Dickey gets ahead 1-2 before Pena flys out to Pridie in center one out
Miranda batting for the Yanks.. Dickey gets ahead 0-2
Dickey gets Miranda on a come backer for a easy double play!!
very impressive DP started by Dickey
Dragon ?? Anything??
I’ll do the 8th and you can bring it home
Thrylos who would you guess that Kansas City will give up for Cruz?? They do have a surplus of 1B DH types there.
“Dickey in”
That comment should be awaiting moderation.
Now that our B team has already beaten the Yanks A team lets see if New Britain can beat Trenton now!!
is that lil dickey or big dickey??
Top of 8th:
Texeria pitching for Yankees
On 3-2 count Brock Peterson K’s
Definitely a slow Dickey but at least he does not throw a “screw ball”
who would you guess that Kansas City will give up for Cruz??
a draft pick. It doesn’t look like a sign and trade
Macri…groundout to short
i just hope he pitches lites out because i think a good knuckler is a great weapon in the middle of some games..screws them up for an inning or two…i wish him well and a spot on this roster….
Arizona should love that deal as there draft pick I would guess would be high unless they fall into the top 16 category and then it would be a 2nd rounder
Valencia…high hopper to SS.
3 outs.
Macri was robbed as he hit a shot !!
maybe he can take boofs spot in the pen….
unless they fall into the top 16 category and then it would be a 2nd rounder
yes they do (AZ would get a supplemental 1st round and KCR’s 2nd round picks)
Keppel pitching
Barroa grounds out to 1st
Gold glove for Macri at first!! Nice play on the grounder!
J. Rodriguez flys out to left
Bernier…HBP
Heck of a play by Machado at 2B (actually RF)
Machado was very lucky there!
Cervelli…circus catch in short Right field by Machado
3 outs
End of 8th
Twins 6 - 3 Yankees
Who is playing right for us?? Looks like he got a very poor read on that ball as it was closer to him then Machado
Rosenthal reports that the Royals signed Cruz to a 2 year $6 million deal… pretty amazing…
Jeff.
Twins only up by 3 so you can earn a save
Winfree…
We go to the ninth with the score
New Britain 6
Trenton 3
Robertson pitching for the Yanks..
Fellas,
Just sign up for the Directv Sports Pack. Case closed. You get a bunch of ST games (some like the YES Network in HD). Well worth the $12 for the month. No need to be at the mercy of MLB Network….
Machado strikes out looking One out
Oopppps correction that was Tolbert who struck out looking
Wilson Ramos up the middle for a base hit!! The 2010 ROY !!
Machado can get another crack at it as he is NOW batting.. 2-0
anyway to get direct sports pack without having direct tv… am stuck here with cable and no direct tv because of directional problems….its sucks…
Machado grounds it through the right side for a base hit. Men on first and second
wheres mauer when ramos comes on?? 3b?? left field?? too talented to just dh - my idea is 3b but then what happens to all the prospects like valencia , hughes..etc….nice trade bait..will say the twins are young and have alot of good young players to create some log jams….
Winfree batting in place of Span.. Machado steals second
Missed tag at second otherwise it looks like they would have got him
Long drive to left for a sacrifice fly for Winfree .. Ramos scoring and Machado out with the Yankees catching him leaving too soon on a appeal play
wheres mauer when ramos comes on??
either C or traded if they cannot re-sign him at what they deem a reasonable cost.
Bottom of the ninth ..
Yankees - Trenton 3
Twins New Britain 7
Former Yankee Sean Henn pitching for us
I just posted breaking news….
Montero batting for the Yanks… Henn gets ahead 0-2 before a slow roller to the left side that cannot be handled by Henn.. Montero safe at first
Henn facing Austin Jackson for the Yanks..
Henn gets a come backer for a 1-6-3 double play!!
They gave Montero a generous hit on the play by Henn previously otherwise that would have been our 3rd error
Henn gets ahead 1-2 before a weak ground out to second ends the game!!
Twins bullpen gave up no runs for there seven innings of work today!!
Good job Jeff,
Winning Pitcher .. Dragon
Save……………Jeff
Twins go to 4-0
Play of the game they are saying was Gomez’s moon shot to left in the second inning! I think that Buscher hit the ball harder when he hit it off the wall in dead center
the new britain twins destroyed the opening day overpaid yanks
Following today’s loss, the Yankees will announce the firing of Joe Giradi. Tomorrow they’ll sign Manny.
