Minnesota Twins Fan Blog» GameSetMatch

Twins’ rebirth on Target

GameSetMatch — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:36:46 +0000

Except for the early morning, when sunlight bakes the place like a greenhouse, Jerry Bell’s office down the left-field line at Target Field offers a comfortable and spectacular view inside the Minnesota Twins new ballpark. On the highest shelf behind his desk, Bell keeps three souvenirs of his 23 years as the club’s top executive.

Two are obvious: small replicas of the Twins’ 1987 and 1991 world championship trophies. In between, however, is an inside joke: a model of the Titanic.

That, Bell says, was a Christmas gift from his two daughters, late in the club’s 11-year pursuit of financing for a new stadium. At times, Bell thought the Twins’ effort was as doomed as the ocean liner that sank on its maiden voyage in 1912.

“I’m going through the Legislature. It’s not going well. The next thing I know, they buy me the Titanic,” Bell says. “It was pretty funny.”

Nine years after Twins owner Carl Pohlad offered the club to Major League Baseball for contraction because it couldn’t make enough money in the Metrodome, the Twins will play their first regular-season game Monday in a $545 million open-air downtown stadium.

Click here to read the full article – By PAT BORZI of USA Today

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Nathan has torn elbow ligament

GameSetMatch — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:02:04 +0000

Minnesota Twins reliever Joe Nathan has been diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right elbow, leaving the team without a proven closer less than a month from Opening Day.

Nathan has a torn ulnar collateral ligament and will decide whether to have surgery within two weeks, the team said. The Minneapolis Star Tribune first reported the injury.

The team announced Nathan has a “significant tear,” but will not immediately opt for surgery. He will rest and rehab the elbow over the next one to two weeks, then determine whether he can pitch with the injury.

Nathan may get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews, the surgeon who operated on his elbow last October to remove bone chips.

Surgery would likely cost Nathan all of the 2010 season — a potentially devastating turn of events for a team expected to contend in the AL Central Division. Injuries to the ulnar collateral ligament have led to season-ending Tommy John surgery for other pitchers.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

Agent says Sano, Twins reach deal

GameSetMatch — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:49:16 +0000

The agent for Dominican shortstop Miguel Sano said the Minnesota Twins have agreed to sign his client for a bonus of $3.15 million.

Sano’s agent, Rob Plummer, said Tuesday that he expects an agreement to be signed this week.

”I’m very thankful to get this chance to sign with the Twins,” Sano said. ”I’m going to work very hard to try to get to the majors in two years.”

Twins General Manager Bill Smith declined comment.

Major League Baseball, as it does with many young Dominican players, investigated Sano’s age and identity earlier this year. His identity was verified, Plummer said, and the age investigation was inconclusive. Sano says he is 16 years old.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of Ohio.com

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Twins turn to Cuddyer at first base

GameSetMatch — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:25:20 +0000

Word spread quickly through the Minnesota clubhouse before Monday’s game against Cleveland that Justin Morneau would miss the remainder of the season with a stress fracture in his lower back.

Michael Cuddyer, filling in for Morneau at first and in the cleanup spot on Monday night, was among the players who had heard the news before game time. So what did Cuddyer do in place of the All-Star slugger? The new first baseman hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to tie the game, propelling Minnesota to a 6-3 comeback win.

For the rest of the season, much of the time at first base will continue to fall to Cuddyer, who has spent most of his career in right field but has played at almost every position.

Click here to read the full article – By Tyler Mason of MLB.com

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GameSetMatch — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:28:36 +0000

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Mauer muscles Minnesota to opening win

GameSetMatch — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:24:04 +0000

After watching his club muster just three hits in a loss at Cleveland on Sunday, in a continuation of its recent offensive skid, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire decided to switch things up a little in his lineup for the series opener against the Blue Jays.

On Monday, he gave Orlando Cabrera and Brendan Harris the day off and started Nick Punto at shortstop and Brian Buscher at third. It was just an attempt to “mix it up,” the skipper said.

“Some really slow bats yesterday and some guys looked a little worn out, so you just try to shake it up,” Gardenhire said before the contest.

Click here to read the full article – By Kelly Thesier of MLB.com

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Twins kick White Sox when they’re down

GameSetMatch — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:43:32 +0000

With the Tigers and Twins pulling away in the AL Central race, the White Sox began cleaning house late Monday night, after their 4-1 loss to the Twins at the Metrodome.

About 90 minutes after the game, word came that the White Sox had traded Jim Thome to the Dodgers for minor league infielder Justin Fuller and Jose Contreras to the Rockies for minor league pitcher Brandon Hynick.

The Thome rumors had been swirling through the Twins clubhouse, as players celebrated their 10th victory in 13 games.

Nick Blackburn, who hadn’t won since the All-Star break, pitched seven strong innings, and the Twins used third-inning home runs from Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel to help pull within 3 1/2 games of the first-place Tigers. Meanwhile, Chicago remained six games back after falling to 1-7 on its 11-game road trip against the Red Sox, Yankees, Twins and Cubs.

Click here to read the full article – By JOE CHRISTENSEN of StarTribune.com

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GameSetMatch — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:29:03 +0000

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Young’s walk-off lifts Twins to cardiac win

GameSetMatch — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:15:19 +0000

Minutes after scoring the winning run in the ninth inning Tuesday against Baltimore, Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer made a bold statement about teammate Delmon Young, who drove in Cuddyer in walk-off fashion.

“Obviously, since he’s been swinging great we’ve been playing better,” Cuddyer said. “I think that’s a direct correlation with wins and losses.”

Young’s hitting certainly had an impact Tuesday, as he capped a 4-for-5 night at the plate by recording the game-winning RBI off Baltimore’s Kam Mickolio. The Twins’ designated hitter was able to drive in Cuddyer from second with a full count and two outs.

Click here to read the full article – By Tyler Mason of MLB.com

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Morneau may return for homestand

GameSetMatch — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:00:29 +0000

The Twins are still hanging on in the American League Central — and they’ve done it the past six games without Justin Morneau.

Morneau is recovering from an inner ear infection and hasn’t played since Aug. 17. But how about this? The Twins are rolling without him, improving their record to 5-1 without Morneau after Sunday’s 10-3 win in Kansas City.

“Let’s trade him,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire joked. All kidding aside, Gardenhire got some good news this weekend when Morneau, who was at home in Minnesota, sent word that he was starting to feel better.

Click here to read the full article – By Rustin Dodd of MLB.com

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