Archive
Blackburn’s gem gives Twins series win
MINNEAPOLIS — A lot of people will tell you that good pitching, or hitting, can be contagious. Nick Blackburn is not one of them.
Over the last four games, the performance of the Twins’ pitching staff might suggest otherwise. It was another fast-paced pitchers’ duel at Target Field on Thursday — the fourth in a row — and once again, the Twins came out on top, with a 1-0 victory.
Thanks to a solo home run by Michael Cuddyer and eight shutout innings from Blackburn, the Twins swept the rain-shortened series against the White Sox. Twins closer Matt Capps also pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save since June 6 and his ninth of the season.
“Blackie was a great story today, threw the heck out of the ball,” said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. “Good sinker, slider, he had it all — changeup — working. … A heck of a game.”
Blackburn followed up dominant performances by Scott Baker, Francisco Liriano and Carl Pavano with one of his own. The right-hander scattered seven hits over eight scoreless innings of work, with one strikeout, a walk and a hit batter. He needed just 95 pitches to get through eight, before the Twins called upon the bullpen to close out the game.
One of the keys for Blackburn was the aggressiveness of the White Sox at the plate, which he used to his advantage.
“No one is up there trying to work the count too much, a lot of first-pitch swingers and guys who kind of put it into play early in the at-bat,” Blackburn said. “When everything’s coming out of my hand pretty well, that can sometimes play into my advantage.”
After Baker allowed one run in a complete game on Saturday, Liriano followed by giving up one run over eight innings while flirting with both a perfect game and no-hitter on Sunday. Pavano followed with another complete game on Wednesday night, and Blackburn continued the trend with his performance.
Over the last four games, Twins starters have allowed just three runs over 34 innings of work, posting a 4-0 record with a 0.79 ERA. Blackburn improved to 6-4 on the season, while lowering his own ERA to 3.16.
Minnesota entered the game with a Major League-leading 1.94 ERA in June, and lowered it to 1.80 with Thursday’s shutout of the White Sox.
“It kind of reminds you of ’06 — that run that we had in ’06 where you felt like you were going to win,” Cuddyer said. “You felt like, no matter what, you were going to win the game. And all that is, is just confidence.
“You get that confidence and you start feeling like you can win every game, and that’s kind of how we feel right now.”
During that 2006 run, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen dubbed the Twins the “piranhas,” because they just kept coming after opposing teams again and again with bloopers and infield singles — with players like Jason Bartlett, Nick Punto and Luis Castillo.
Asked about what the 2011 Twins were, if the 2006 club was the piranhas, Guillen had a new label for the current Minnesota ballclub, which featured a speedy center fielder and two quick infielders batting 1-2-3 in Thursday’s lineup.
“These are the little sardines here,” Guillen said. “They are sardines … but they can play. That kid who is the leadoff guy … pretty good. When you’re missing [Justin] Morneau, [Joe] Mauer, [Jim] Thome and [Jason] Kubel and you’re still winning games, you have to give those guys credit.
“They never sit back and say ‘We’re missing the big boys.’ They continue to play. That’s the reason Gardy is the most underrated manager. … I think Gardy makes those guys play, and play right. He gets the most out of his players, and they will be in the pennant race.”
Shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka made his first start for the Twins since suffering a fractured left fibula on April 7 in New York, batting third behind Ben Revere and Alexi Casilla. Nishioka went 1-for-4 at the plate, singling in the eighth — while showing excellent range in the field and improved arm strength, though he was also credited with a sixth-inning error.
Leading off the bottom of the second inning, Cuddyer crushed a 2-2 fastball from lefty Mark Buehrle into the bullpen in left-center field. It was Cuddyer’s 10th home run of the season and his 27th RBI.
Buehrle gave up just the one run on three hits — two by Cuddyer — in seven innings, but took the loss.
In his career against Buehrle, Cuddyer is batting .344 with three home runs. His 33 hits are the most for Cuddyer against any pitcher. Cuddyer is batting .340 with five doubles, seven home runs, 22 RBIs and 11 walks in his last 28 games, dating back to May 14.
“I feel good right now,” Cuddyer said. “It’s all cyclical, you’ve got to ride those good times out. Right now is a good time — and fortunately, we were able to get wins to go along with it.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Indians beat 4/23
Hannahan embracing his return home
By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com
Hannahan last faced the Twins in 2009 in Oakland. His last games at the Metrodome came on Aug. 18-19, 2008, when Hannahan went 2-for-8 with a double and an RBI in the series.
While they didn’t get to play Friday, Hannahan made sure his teammates got a taste of the Twin Cities in the clubhouse. A few hours before the game’s scheduled start, Hannahan had “Juicy Lucy” cheeseburgers brought in from Shamrock’s in St. Paul, a Twin Cities specialty.
While others claim to have invented the burger with cheese inside the patty rather than on top, Hannahan says Shamrock’s makes them the best, though he may be a little biased.
“I got the boys locked in on it,” Hannahan said. “I usually do it anytime I come in here. I tell these guys it’s the best Juicy Lucy they’ll ever taste, so I always bring in 30 of them.
“Mikey Runyon and Teddy Casper, who I graduated with at Cretin, they own it. They always hook me up and bring it in for the boys.”
As Hannahan referenced, he attended high school at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, which also is the alma mater of Twins catcher Joe Mauer and Hall of Famer Paul Molitor.
While Hannahan’s teammates, especially the pitching staff, may be glad to see Mauer out of the lineup this weekend, it’s a bit disappointing for Hannahan that he won’t get to see a familiar face behind the plate when he goes to bat.
“We never played together, but I graduated with Billy, his middle brother, and then Jake was a year older than me, so I played with those guys growing up,” Hannahan said. “I haven’t talked to Joe since I’ve been home, but we text throughout the year and I get to see him in the offseason.
“Hopefully he can heal up. I heard he’s pretty banged up, but Joey’s a tough guy. Hopefully he’ll be able to get back out on the field soon.”
Acta expects Central foes to make a run
MINNEAPOLIS — By the end of the season, the first-place Indians and last-place Twins very well could switch places in the American League Central standings.
At the very least, Indians manager Manny Acta expects the Twins — and the White Sox and Tigers — to figure things out and make a run at some point.
“Absolutely,” Acta said. “Those teams, they’ve done it in the past. Some of them made additions in the offseason and it’s still very early. A lot of the guys that are struggling right now are not going to struggle the whole year, and vice versa.”
Still, it would seem that the Indians have an opportunity this weekend at Target Field to take advantage of a Twins squad that isn’t playing up to its potential early on in the season.
Acta doesn’t necessarily see it that way, but he likes the way his team is playing so far. In order to stay at the top, he knows they’ll have to continue to play consistently at the same level, while the young players on the team continue to improve.
“You can’t compare yourself to others, you’ve just got to continue to get better yourself and see where that takes you,” Acta said.
One thing Acta does not want to discuss is what constitutes a “good start.” The way he sees it, with how long the baseball season is, if the Indians played poorly over the next few weeks or month, that could become a “bad start” to the season.
What does matter is where the Indians are in the standings at the end of the season.
“It doesn’t make any sense if we go out next month and have the same type of month the other way around that we’re having right now,” Acta said.
“To me, it’s playing consistent baseball throughout the year. It’s a long season. Would you want to go over and ask the Rockies if they would rather have a good April in 2007 and not win the 21 out of 22 that they won to go to the World Series? You think they would trade that? The World Series for starting 7-0 in April and then not making the playoffs?”
Acta very impressed with Gordon’s defense
MINNEAPOLIS — After their 3-2 loss on Thursday to the Royals, defense was a topic of discussion for the Indians. In particular, the notable difference in the outcomes of the throws by Royals center fielder Melky Cabrera and Indians left fielder Michael Brantley.
Whereas Cabrera managed an excellent throw to retire Indians catcher Carlos Santana at the plate to save a run, Brantley had trouble getting a grip on the wet ball, allowing Mitch Maier to score and tie the game.
Had it not been for the defense of Royals left fielder Alex Gordon, however, the Indians may have come away with a sweep, rather than splitting the series in Kansas City.
In the Indians’ 5-4 loss Tuesday, Gordon had a diving grab in the ninth to save a run and preserve the Royals’ one-run victory. Thursday night, Gordon had another defensive gem in left field and also made a diving grab at first base for an inning-ending double play in the ninth, to save at least one more run.
“He might have saved more than two runs [Thursday night],” Acta said. “He not only saved runs there, he turned that into an out. He played tremendous defense in that series.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Manny sits as trade reports swirl
MILWAUKEE — While he got Thursday’s day game off after being an integral part of the Dodgers’ win over the Brewers on Wednesday night, the waiver-wire trade rumors surrounding Manny Ramirez were out in full force once again.
The latest rumors concerning Ramirez involve the Dodgers, who finished a series sweep of the Brewers with a 7-1 win, having reportedly already discussed a potential trade with the Chicago White Sox, even though he has yet to clear waivers. Additionally, USA Today reports that friends of Ramirez have said the 12-time All-Star has told them he would waive his no-trade clause to approve a trade to the White Sox.
According to a report from FOXSports.com, part of the deal with Ramirez waiving his no-trade clause to go to Chicago would require a one-year contract extension. In the same report, the Dodgers are said to have had trade talks about Ramirez with at least one other team, and may not even trade the left fielder if they continue to improve in the Nationals League Wild Card standings.
With all that, it would be easy for Ramirez and the Dodgers to be distracted by what’s going on off the field. Asked for his thoughts for a third straight day in Milwaukee, manager Joe Torre pointed to Ramirez’s past experiences.
“He’s been around,” Torre said. “The type of marquee player he is and the places he’s played, he’s certainly used to distractions. You don’t play in Boston without having to put yourself in a shell.”
Teams have until Friday to make a waiver claim on Ramirez, and then until Tuesday to work out a deal. If a team is rewarded the claim, Los Angeles has three options: It can try to work out a trade with just that team, reward Ramirez to the claiming team outright – meaning that club will absorb his remaining prorated salary – or pull him off waivers.
If Ramirez winds up clearing waivers, then the Dodgers can negotiate with anyone.
Clubs normally have two business days to work out a trade with a claiming team, but since Saturday and Sunday fall in the middle in this case, the Dodgers have two extra days – four total – to make a deal work if they choose to. That could explain why Los Angeles waited until Wednesday to put its slugger on waivers.
Tuesday is also the deadline for new players to be eligible for postseason rosters.
The waiver system goes in reverse order of the standings and starts with a player’s current league, meaning all the National League clubs have to pass on claiming Ramirez – starting with the last-place Pirates – before AL clubs have a shot.
The Rays have also been seen as a potential suitor, but since they have a better record than the White Sox, Chicago has first dibs.
A team that claims a player on waivers runs the risk of absorbing unwanted payroll. Ramirez is making $20 million in the final season of his contract, which comes out to a prorated salary of a little more than $4 million (though some of that money is reportedly deferred).
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Manny reportedly hits waiver wire
MILWAUKEE — He has reportedly hit the waiver wire, but Manny Ramirez does not want to talk about it.
FOXSports.com reported Wednesday that the Dodgers placed Ramirez on waivers, meaning the Dodgers outfielder could have a new home within the week. Does Ramirez have anything to say about a potential trade?
“No,” Ramirez answered. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Teams now have until Friday to claim the 12-time All-Star. If only one team was to claim Ramirez, that club would have until Tuesday to work out a deal with Los Angeles. The Dodgers can also simply award Ramirez to the claiming team, who would then take on his salary, or they can pull him off waivers.
Should more than one team claim him, the team with the worst record in the National League would have precedence. If the claims were only made by clubs from the American League, the one in that bunch with the worst record would get first crack.
What does Dodgers manager Joe Torre think about the potential move?
“I can’t comment,” Torre said. “Waivers are something that’s supposed to be very confidential. I’m certainly not privy to it other than the fact that I know a lot of clubs do something. But it’s something that’s not supposed to be talked about.”
The White Sox have been seen as a potential fit for Ramirez. If he falls in their laps and the White Sox opt not to get him, the Rays, who have a better record, have also been speculated to be a possible suitor.
“Manny’s a great hitter,” outfielder Jay Gibbons said. “He could certainly help any team offensively. It would definitely be tough to lose a guy like that.”
The 38-year-old Ramirez returned from the disabled list on Saturday and is batting .313 with eight homers and 40 RBIs in 64 games this season. He’s making $20 million in the final season of his contract this year, though some of those payments are reportedly deferred. The prorated portion of his 2010 salary is a little more than $4 million.
The Dodgers are 12 games back in the NL West and 5 1/2 back in the NL Wild Card race. In their first two games with Ramirez back in the lineup, the Dodgers were victorious both times, despite his 0-for-7 mark at the plate. He went 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks and the game-winning RBI in a 5-4 victory over the Brewers on Wednesday.
“He helps our chances to win and he’s a good guy,” third baseman Casey Blake said. “So yeah, I wouldn’t want to see him go.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Alden Gonzalez also contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
A Schelling For Your Thoughts 