I’m sitting next to Joe C. in the pressbox here as we prepare to cover the Twins-Pirates game. But I’m also keeping up with the Netherlands-Dominican Republic game.

Former Twin Sidney Ponson has just been lifted from the game with two on and no outs in the fifth - and the Netherlands leading 3-1. The DR made a couple defensive mistakes early in the game and fell behind 3-0.

Here’s the entertaining part: Ponson was on the bench after leaving the mound. I guess the parabolic mic was a little too close to him because I heard some rather colorful language from Sir Sid about the strike zone.

Even more entertainment: Ponson was replaced by former Twins prospect Alexander Smit, who ended up in a bases loaded, no outs situation.  He gave up a sac fly to make it 3-2, but, while facing David Ortiz, uncorked a wild pitch that allowed a runner to move to second. Smit issued an intentional walk then gave way to Rob Cordemans, who is a veteran of international competition.

And Cordemans got Miguel Tejada to ground into an inning-ending double play. Nederlands 3, Dominican Republic 2 heading to the sixth inning.

 Speaking of Dutch baseball, I heard that the Twins are anxiously waiting for 7-foot-1 righthander Loek Van Mil to arrive to camp. Van Mil was expected to make the Dutch team but strained his ulnar collateral ligament just before the Olympics. If it flares up again, he will have Tommy John surgery.

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