Game 22 - Twins @ Angels - 4/30/12

[Seth Stohs]

Twins Lineup:

Denard Span CF
Jamey Carroll SS
Josh Willingham LF
Justin Morneau DH
Danny Valencia 3B
Ryan Doumit C
Trevor Plouffe RF
Chris Parmelee 1B
Alexi Casilla 2B

SP: Nick Blackburn

First day off for Joe Mauer... Well deserved... They're going to have to get a day off for Carroll and Span at some point too.

[ashburyjohn]

Wonder if Mauer will pinch hit, to keep open the option of appearing in all 162?

[J-Dog Dungan]

Paraphrasing Carroll "I sat for the first several years of my MLB career. I don't need to rest much anymore." Span will only take a break when one of the other outfielders show some kind of ability to play center. Mauer is taking the day off because he and Morneau are a combined 4-42 against C.J. Wilson.

[James]

I could see Mauer making a pinch hit appearance once Wilson is out of the game. He may even stay in to play 1B, but there would probably end up being some sort of defensive substitution as well... I don't see Gardy pinch hitting Mauer for Parmelee. Maybe for Casilla if the game is close near then end.

[thrylos98]

I think that this game shows how short-sided was the Luke Hughes DFA by the Twins. Today they have 3 lefties on the bench Mauer/Burroughs/Thomas and another (Morneau) at DH who has not been hitting the cover off the ball off LHPs... That bench was nicely balanced at the begining of the season. They need to get back to that.

[Top Gun]

Just end April on a winning note.

[asmus_ndsu]

Looks like Blackburn is getting some really good movement and location on his pitches tonight... Batters are doing well against it but I'm feeling fairly vood about this start if we can get some offense going

[nicksaviking]

I'm pretty sure every downtrodden Twins fan has already internally resigned themselves to the fact that Albert Pujols is going to break his homerless streak against our favorite club. Anyone want to venture which pitcher will give it up during which game and in which inning?

My money is off Burton in the 7th tonight.

[glunn]

I am having the same thought, Nick, and hope that it does not happen. If it does happen, I hope that it's off a reliever, not Blackburn.

[glunn]

Nice strikeout of Pujols by Blackburn. Now we need some RUNS!

[Kanonen80]

Uh oh, why is Morneau being pinch-hit for in the middle of the game?

[nokomismod]

With Mauer out of the lineup, it feels eerily like last season. He is key.

[stringer bell]

All I have for today is Gameday. I am wondering the same thing.

[Seth Stohs]

Morneau's got a sore left wrist, according to Bremer. Concerning, for sure.

[stringer bell]

Gameday says the problem is Morneau's wrist. Well, he has admitted that the wrist has bothered him and it is not more concussion symptoms......but still, I wouldn't be surprised if he goes on the DL.

[glunn]

Willingham can tie this game with one bomb.

[ashburyjohn]

Wonder if Mauer will pinch hit, to keep open the option of appearing in all 162?

Hadn't seen until late into the game that Mauer fouled a ball off his knee in Sunday's game. That justifies a full game off.

[striker_86]

Cmon doumit, tie this thing up!

[glunn]

It looked like it probably bruised his knee.

Nice at bat by Valencia, but Borroughs did not look good. We could use some better bench players.

[twinsnorth49]

Hadn't seen until late into the game that Mauer fouled a ball off his knee in Sunday's game. That justifies a full game off.

Actually Pena fouled it off the inside of Mauer's knee...............ever had that happen?