Twins top Reds, FIL information released

GCL Reds 5 at GCL Twins 7

W: A. Sanchez (4-3, 3.62); L: L. Machuca (1-3, 6.48); SV: B. Pugh (2)
HR: RDS: D. Lutz (1). TWI: R. Tosoni (1).

The GCL Twins were ahead when a late afternoon thunderstorm interrupted, and then ended the game at the Lee County Sportsplex early.

Angelo Sanchez took the start for the Twins, picking up his 4th win of the season.

Aaron Hicks doubled to lead off the bottom of the first. Juan Sanchez struck out, but Rene Tosoni singled to score the Twin's centerfielder. Mike Gonzales hit a grounder to right to move Tosoni to 3rd, and Josmir Pinto singled out to left to drive in Tosoni. Tyler Ladendorf hit into a double play, giving the Reds a turn at the plate.

Sean Conner would lead off with walk and Frank Pfister doubled him in. Samuel Vasquez singled, moving Pfister to third, but Donald Lutz lined into an unassisted double play with Vasquez being doubled of first. Mariekson Gregorius poped up leave the Twins with a slender lead.

It would not hold up past the top of the 3rd however, as Mauricio Pimente and Alexis Oliveras hit back-to-back singles. A throwing error by Tosoni allowed Pimentel to score, tying up the game. Kevin Coddington's line drive to right put Oliveras on 3rd, and he'd score on Humberto Sosa's ground out. Conner and Pfister would both fly out, bring the Twins up to bat.

Tosoni launched one over the right field fence to tie up the game.

Lutz followed suite in the top of the 4th to put the Reds on top again.

Jakub Hajtmar singled, and moved to 2nd on Javier Brown's sac bunt. Herbert Lara reached on a fielder's choice that netted Hajtmar at 3rd. Lara then stole 2nd, and advanced to 3rd when Coddington over threw 2nd on a caught stealing attempt. Hicks singled, driving in Lara, then stole 2nd. Juan Sanchez's line drive to center plated Hicks. The Reds would call for a pitching change, bring Brodie Pullen in to replace Luis Machuca. Sanchez then stole 2nd base before Rene Tosoni singled. A wild pitch by Pullen put Tosoni on 2nd, and Gonzales walked to load the bags. The mounting excitement went for naught though as Pinto struck out, stranding the runners.

Danny Ortiz would replace Tosoni in the top of the 5th. Coddington would draw a walk sandwiched in between strike outs to Oliveras and Sosa. Conner double him in, but Pfister went down on strikes, making it a short inning for the Reds.

Bruce Pugh replaced Sanchez in the top of the sixth. Following a fly out to Vasques, Lutz would single and then move to second on Pugh's throwing error during the pick off attempt. Gregorius took a walk, as did Pimentel. Oliveras would ground into a double play though with the bases loaded to Pugh out of his jam.

Neither team would threaten much in the next 1 and a half innings before the rains, so the Twins were declared the victory. Sadly however, the Pirates defeated the Red Sox, so the Twins did not make up any ground in the standing.

Tosoni was 3-for-3 at the plate with 2 runs and 3 RBIs, including the home tun. Hicks was 2-for-3 with walk, a double, a pair of runs and a RBI. Pinto and Hajtmar were 2-for-4 each, Pinto with a RBI as well. Brown and Ortiz were 1-for-1 each, Brown with a walk and a RBI to leave Ortiz as the one hit wonder of the contest.

Juan Sanchez finished of 1-for-4 with a run and a RBI. Ladendorf was 0-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run. Lara was 0-for-4 at the plate, but had a run as well.

The Twins play a double header tomorrow against the Red Sox at the City of Palms Complex, they must win their next two and the Pirates much lose their next to for them to tie the division. Game time is 11:00 AM for the Twins final contests for the 2008 regular season.

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DSL Mariners 0 at DSL Twins 1

W: P. Guerra (1-0, 0.00); L: H. Perez (0-1, 1.42); SV: E. Alvarez (1)
HR: None.

Jairo Perez doubled in the bottom of the 4th, moved to 3rd on a wild pitch by Seattle's Henry Perez, and came home on Jairo Rodrgiuez's line drive to left.

It was the only run for the DSL Twins, but it was the only one they needed as Pedro Guerra scattered nine hits and a walk across 8 innings while striking out six to keep the Mariners off the board. Edison Alvarez shut down Seattle for the final inning, to give the Twins a win in game one of the best-of-three wildcard round of the 2008 DSL playoffs.

The Twins won on only three hits - two came off the bat of Rodriguez.

The series now shifts to the Eppy Guerrero Complex in Villa Mella for Tuesday's 10:30 AM rematch.

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DSL

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The 2008 Fall Instructional League preliminary Roster and Schedule is now available online. As always, these things are set in pixels, not stone, and are therefore subject to change without notice.

You might note that Mark Hamburger's name is on the list, but he was traded this afternoon to the Rangers for Eddie Guardado (LEN3), so obviously, he won't be coming.

Of note is the position switch for Juan Richardson from 3rd base to catcher. Also making a position change is Danny Santiesteban, who will begin pitching full time after joining the organization as an outfielder in 2005.

The two new signees B.J. Hermsen and Blayne Weller will getting their first taste of the majors at the camp as well.

Game times are nominally listed as 1:00 PM expect for Saturday which some sadist has scheduled for 10:00 AM. I should not that the games NEVER start at 1:00, usually more like noon, but the official start time is "whenever the other team shows up".

Days list as "Game Day" usually but not always include an inner-squad scrimmage which can start at any time.

There will also likely be a few prospects at camp that are not on the list and while which be rehabbing injuries, most notable would be Pat Neshek, although Tyler Robertson said he'd probably pitch instructs as well.

As always, there are no official game reports being posted, nor are any stats from FIL going to be made available, much the chagrin of all you stat watchers. I will however be bringing you pictures and video from the camp so we can get a subjective look at our new draftees.

Nelson Prada will be the field manager this year, aided as always be an able coaching staff including Eric Rasmussen, Milt Cuyler, Jim Dwyer, Jose Marzan and Jeff Smith.

(Note: the printable version of the roster in in Excel spreadsheet .xls format.)

Schedule / Roster / Printable Roster

Red Team, Blue Team

Cole Devries

"Camp Day" started out Saturday morning with the Twins pitching staff engaging in a game of whiffle ball. Played on field 2, the pitchers used a wooden bat on poor little plastic balls that took quite a beating.

For the pitchers, it seemed like a lot of fun. Short little underhand tosses and great big hits. Charles Nolte distinguished himself as the premier whiffle ball hitter in a contest with a made up score of 26-3 at the end. No one was really keeping track, and it really didn't matter.

It was just a fun way to get a bit of work out, and to do something just slightly different from that the guys have been working on all through camp.

And yes, it seems the pitching staff knows how to run the bases too.

The "real" game, came later. While the Saturday games are slated to start at 10:00 AM, this one got underway at 1:00 PM, with Team Red taking on Team Blue in Hammond Stadium.

Cole Devries took the start for Team Red. For my second look at the former Golden Gopher, the Eden Prarie native was throwing like a candidate for a Miracle starting spot, which he is. He worked 3 solid innings, giving up 4 hits, and striking out only 1, but he kept Team Blue off the board.

Miracleman Brian Dinkelman greeting him with a single to start the game, but Ben Revere flew out, and Rene Tosani hit into a force out that nabbed Dinkelman at 2nd. Deibinson Romero struck out to retire the side.

Team Blue would put Appalachian Pitcher of the Year David Bromberg on the mound. Bromberg issued three straight strike outs, sitting down Esterlin De Los Santos, Alejandro Machado and Brandon Roberts to end the inning.

Chris Parmelee would hit a single to start off the second inning, but Devries got Angel Morales to hit into a double play and Jon Waltenbury ground out. Bromberg went back out and started up right where he left off, by striking out Juan Richardson. He then got Matt Moses and Garrett Olson on line outs to end the inning.

Ben Petsch and Roldolfo Palacios both singled, but Petsch would be taken out attempting to steal, James Beresford would fly out and Dinkleman ground out to end Devries stint on the mound.

Bromberg made short of Greg Yersich (fly out), Alex Soto and Reggie Williams (both on ground outs to end the inning.)

Southpaw Henry Reyes took over for Devries in the fourth, going 3 up, 3 down with Romero picking up his second strike out of the game.


Curtis Leavitt

Team Blue retaliated by putting Mike Tarsi on the mound. This would be my first look at the lanky lefty.

Tarsi got Mark Dolenc to ground out and De Los Santos popped out before putting Machado on base by plunking him, while Roberts drew a walk. He would strike out Richarson though, to end the inning.

Reyes got Parmelee on a ground out, then walked Morales. Waltenbury hit into a double play and I was beginning to wonder if the Twins pitching staff could blank each other for nine innings. I shouldn't have wondered.

Richardson lined out with an arrow to 3rd, but Olson then slugged a pitch over the right field wall for the first run of the game. Yersich would ground out, Soto would pick up a walk and Williams would fly out to end the inning.

With the fifth over, several new players made their way into the game. Ben Petsch started out by striking out for Team blue, and Palacios never made it to the bag either, but then Parmelee jumped in there for an extra at bat, picking up a walk. James Beresford would then line out and Danny Rams would get his first at bat, picking up a walk. He'd take over behind the plate for Rocky as well.

Nick Papasan replaced Williams in the line up, grouding out for his first at bat. Dolenc struck out, but De Lo singled his way onto the plate. Machado would hit over to short though, so De Lo was taken out at second to end the inning. Danny Lehmann would replace Yersich in the line up and took over behing the plate for the seventh, which also saw Tyler Robertson take to the mound for Team Red.

They're going to have to fix the Kwick Kopy "K" board if Robertson is going to pitch for the Miracle this season. They may even want to consider making it larger. Frank is certainly going to have his work cut out for him.

Dinkleman ground out, but Robertson got Revere and Tosoni out on strikes for a quick top of the 7th. Curtis Leavitt would come in to handle the pitching for Team Blue.

Brandon Robertson singled his way onto base and moved over to second on Richardson's ground out. With Moses batting, he would then steal 3rd. Leavitt would unleash a wild pitch that would put him over the plate to make it 2-0 Team Red. Moses then hit a double, but he'd be stranded when Olson ground out and Lehmann flew out to end the inning.

Romero and Parmalee both hit singles off Robertson to end the inning. He'd take Morales out on strikes, but then Waltenbury slammed a ball out to center field for a triple to tie up the game. Petsch and Rams would both be issued strikes though, leaving Jon standing on 3rd with no where to go.

Leavitt would get Soto to ground out and Papasan and Dolenc to strike out for a quick bottom of the 8th. He didn't want to kill off Team Blue's offesive momentum.

Caleb Moore would come into the game in relief of Robertson, who'd be awarded the blown save. He allowed a single to Beresford, but got Dinkelman to ground out. He then walked Revere. Tosoni hit a single to load the bases. Romero then followed that up with another deep single that saw Baby Bear-Cat Bearesford, and Speed Demon Revere over the plate to make it 4-2 Team Blue. Moore would get Parmelee and Morlaes out on fly balls to end the inning.

Rob Delaney came in to close out the game for Team Blue. You know how Delaney is, he HAS to make things interesting.

He got De Lo to ground out, but Parmelee would not handle Machado's hit, putting the man on base on a fielding error. Roberts then drew walk to put a man in scoring position. Juan Richardson and Matt Moses would both fly out though, handing the loss to Moore, and giving Delaney the win, and sending Team Blue back to the locker rooms quite happy.

The Twins play at home Monday and on the road Tuesday before another camp day on Wednesday. Fall Instructional League closes out at home Thursday with a game against the Reds.

NOTES: Joe Benson "did something" to his elbow. It's not serious, but he's exited camp early. Former Miracle slugger Brock Peterson is in town "working on his shoulder".

Click here for Game Shots

Instructional League winding down

James Beresford, Matt Moses and Chris Parmelee

With my vacation days limited at this time of the year by the fact that I'd taken time off while I had the plague (which I caught from Justin Morneau) earlier in the year, plus the time I'd taken off for GCL, I looked at the schedule and decided that I could take 4 half days instead of 2 full days and pick up the games which supposedly start at 1:00.

I know better. I knew better when I made that decision. It's like extended spring training, the games start when the umpires get there. Camp days, which I like even better than game days, are even worse, because they're getting off right around 1:00.

In any case, I believe last week Friday they beat the Orioles, 5-3. This week Friday, the also won by 5-3, this time over the Red Sox. Boston is breaking camp and wished to leave early, so the game started at 11. I got there around noon and it was half over. Last Friday, I got to see Jon Waltenbury knock one over the right field wall. That was nice, because when I congratulated him on it, he wasn't a Crabby Tabby because I wasn't around to see it.

This Friday, I got to see Chris Parmelee hit one over the right field wall. Parms has never pulled the Crabby Tabby routine on me. (He's a NICE boy.)

Last Friday, I'd showed up at 12:30 for the game in progress.

"Whatever happened to the 1:00 start times?" I ask Joe Benson as I sat down in front of him.

"We've been all over."

"When did you start?"

"Noon, and it's the 8th inning," one the pitchers chips in, a refrence to the fact that when I'd showed up on Wednesday they were just starting the 8th inning of a simulated camp day game, which utilized a pitching machine instead of real live pitchers.

I laughed. "None of you can pitch well enough to get us into the 8th inning in half an hour," I told him. "Even Slowey doesn't pitch that well."

"Slowey walks too many guys."

"Riiiiighhhttt." Really, they need some instructional work on their jokes.

I made it last Wednesday for the 5th inning, but they were only playing six. Still, it was interesting as the coaching staff had some new high tech equipment they were trying out, which lead to some laughs.

Today I made it for the 5th as well, but at least they were playing 9.

"Why is Moses at second base?" I ask. It's not like he can play 3rd, I can't image that he'd be any better at 2nd. Parmelee was playing first and with the exception of one ball he couldn't get a handle on, played well enough while I was there.

Mike Allen had pitched three innings and was just finishing up on the mound. Luke Van Mil came on for the sixth.

I like Luke well enough from a personal standpoint, but he's not going in and attacking the strike zone. He got 2 outs before he surrendered a run, and struggled with the 3rd. He had lasted only one inning last Saturday as well. They put him back in for a second, but Blair Erickson was brought in to finish off the 7th inning with 2 outs. The trainer visited the mound as well, as Van Mil appeared to be in some distress.


Blair Erickson

Of the "new" guys I've seen thus far in camp, Erickson is probably the most interesting.

A side-arm style right-hander out of UC Irvine, he made a name for himself in NCAA baseball as one of the premier closers in the league.

Erickson surpassed the 50th career save mark in April of 2007, giving him the new mark in the college record books.

He picked up 11 saves in 18 games with the Elizabethton Twins in 2007, posting a 1.53 era along the way, walking only 3 in 17.2 innings pitched. He will likely start the 2008 in Beloit and will be looking to surpass Rob Delaney's 36-save mark. It's probably that the soon to be 23-year-old California native will also spend some time with the Fort Myers Miracle next season.

Delaney, on other hand, who was 2-0 with 7 saves and a 1.54 ERA in 17 games with the Miracle will be taking his soft pitch show up to the AA level. Whether the 'stach will go as well, remains to be seen.

I got another video of Erickson today, this time of the 8th inning as he pitched 2.1 to finish up the contest.

The Twins have a camp day tomorrow and on Wednesday and will play either Baltimore or Cincinnati on Monday at Noon. I suspect Thursday's game will be early as well as the teams will be breaking camp after that and will want to get out of town. Some of the boys haven't seen home since March.

Meanwhile, I heard Tyler saying something about "Blog tonight" so I wanted to make him happy. I think they read this on Myspace. That's the only way I can account for hits there.

I stopped to talk to David Bromberg on the way out, in part because I want to know what JuCo his little brother is going to. The answer is Pierce, in California. Rams was coming off the field and said "Your brother got drafted?

"What round, by who?"

"32nd," Bromberg mumbles.

"Us," I chip in.

"Why didn't he sign?" David mumbles something about the signing bonus not being the kind of money they were looking for.

"He's not ready yet anyway," Bromberg says. "He's only 17."

I point out the idea behind getting rid of the Draft and Follows was the keep the signing bonuses down, but I know that boys don't want to hear that.

"We'll redraft him," I say.

"Maybe not," David warns. "The Tigers have been looking at him," as well as several other teams.

Pierce is the same Juco that Danny Berlind pitched for last season.

Anyway, I will try to get some type of a coherent story of out camp day tomorrow. At lease all know who all the guys on both teams are, and maybe I'll get a look at some of the kids I've yet to see play.

In other news...

Lara 5 at Aragua 3

W: J. Carlson (1-0, 0.00); L: J. Guanchez (0-1, -.--); SV: R. Houston (1)
HR: LAR: L. Jimenez (1). ARA: L. Maza (1).

The Tigres de Aragua fell 5-3 to the Cardenales de Lara at Aragua. Former Miracle pitcher Jose Mijares allowed a home run to Boston's Luis Jimenez for the blown save. He faced three batters, struck out one and took the other on a ground out.

Jose Guanchez suffered the loss for the Tigres. Twins prospect Bobby Korecky finished off the game, allowing 2 runs on no hits and 1 walk as he fell victim to throwing errors by 3rd baseman Mike Aviles (Kansas City), 2nd baseman Alex Nunez and shortstop Jose Martinez (St. Louis).

Twins prospect Brian Buscher was 2-for-4 at the plate with 1 run and 2 doubles in the designed hitter role. Former Miracle Luis Maza was 1-for-4 with a home run, while Fort Myers alumni Alex Romero was 0-for-4,

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Twins instruct Red Sox on shut out, 6-0

Caleb Moore

Caleb Moore throws funny. It's like a half-side arm thing at about shoulder height. Video is uploading, but...style not withstanding, he was pretty effective for his two innings on the mound has he started of Saturday morning's blanking of the Boston Red Sox in Fall Instructional League play.

Greg Yersich hit a pair of doubles to lead the offense with 1 run and 2 RBIs in rout to the 6-0 victory.

Moore allowed a single to the first batter he faced, but Yersich took the man out when he tried to steal second. Moore then struck out the next batter before hitting the 3rd man he faced. He would then strike out the fourth batter to retire the side. Brian Dinkelman got on base on the single in the bottom of the inning, but Estarlin De Los Santos and Rene Tosoni posted strike outs on either side of him, and Dink was taken down when he tried to steal 2nd with Deibinson Romero at the plate for a quick first inning.

The Red Sox saw three-up and three-down from Moore in the top of the second. Romero struck out to start the bottom of the second, but Joe Benson singled his way onto base. Juan Richardson hit an outfield fly that moved Benz over to 2nd, before Yersich smacked the first of his pair of double to drive Benson in. Greg Olson fouled out to end the inning.

Rob Delaney would take over for the 3rd in the 4th inning. He walked one man in the top of the 3rd, getting the other 3 on a pair of ground outs and a fly out. Designed hitter Danny Lehmann would crack a pop up that would be caught in foul territory before Mark Dolnec singled his way onto base. Dolnec would be left stranded though as De Los Santos lined out and Dinkelman flew out to end the inning.

Delaney felled the next batter he faced, hitting him the side of the helmet. It's a good thing Delaney doesn't throw hard though, as the man was not seriously hurt. I'm sure he'll still have quite a headache tomorrow. Delaney, sans mustache, then induced the following batter to hit into a double play, and struck the last man he faced to redeem himself. The Twins offense followed that up with 3 strike outs.

Blair Erikson was an interesting fellow up on the mound and he worked quickly too, taking out 3 men on damage control, before the Twins offense got another chance. There is video and film of Erikson, it's worth a look in both cases. Richardson singled, and Yersich followed that up with another double. Richardson would then try to come home on a wild pitch with Olson at the plate, but he'd be taken out at home. Olson would strike out, but Lehmann singled his way onto the bags. Dolenc then smacked a nice double that went under the fence and became unplayable. After a brief argument from the visiting bench, the umpire awarded the Twins with an extra base, which put Lehmann over the plate as well. De Los Santos stuck out to end the inning.

Usually I don't have a problem with De Lo, but he wasn't hitting the ball today, and we got into some problems fielding wise in the next two innings. There was high school "Perfect Game" tournament going on and there were a lot of people around as we were on field 4 and they were using field 3. I ran into them yesterday when I went to the game, so today I parked on the side and came in the "Players Only" entrance - no one pays attention to those signs anyway - to avoid the admission booth for the tournment. So there was certainly a lot of possiblity for distraction.

Distracted is what De Lo looked like when a ball just to the left of second surprised him and when into left-center field for a single, the only one that Erikson would allow in the sixth inning. The Twins 10th round pick in the 2007 draft would use a pair of ground outs and a strike out to retire the side without an ill side effects from the single. Dinkelman struck out to the start the bottom of the sixth, but a Rene Tosoni double got the twins rolling. That would be followed up by a Romero single and a Benson triple to tack two more runs onto the Twins lead. That also finished off Hunter Strickland's stint on the mound for the Red Sox. Richardson would take a ground out off the incoming reliever before Rodolfo "Rocky" Palacios, who was inserted into the game for Yersich, smacked a single to bring in Benson. Reggie Williams would replace Olson in the line up, and he would strike out to end the inning.

Danny Berlind took the mound for the 8th. He stuck out the first man he faced, but the second Red Sox batter hit one to left that De Los Santos ran after but couldn't get under, allowing yet another single for the Red Sox. I think Benson, who was playing left field today, could have handled that, but he pulled up with De Lo running hell fire after the thing. In the end, it wouldn't matter as Rocky took the runner out trying to steal second and Berlind ground out the last batter. Dolnec would take a walk in the bottom of the inning and Dinkelman would hit a single, but there would be no additions to the 6 run lead as Lehmann struck out, De Lo flied out and Tosoni ground out to strand the runners.

Berlind's 8th inning would be be three quick fly outs. Romero would single to start off the twins, but Benson struck out, Richadson flew out and Rocky ground out to end the inning.

It would then fall to Alex Burnett to end the game, which he did in short order, striking out 2 and taking the last man down on a ground out.

The boys had an interesting time with the tournament as they found the balls the kids were using to have overly large seams and to be heavier than the Apply League balls the Twins have been using for Fall Instructional League. The tournment kids on the other hand found the Twins camp endless facinating because "That guy throws his off speed stuff harder than my best pitch!"

Fall Instructional League - Schedule - Roster - FAQs - Video

Alumni News: Miracle alumni Luis Rodriguez was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres. Rodriguez was one of four players the Twins the removed from their 40-Man roster on Thursday. Riverdale grad Tommy Walkins along with former Miracle outfielders Lew Ford and Josh Rabe were all outrighted to Rochester, effectively becoming free agents. Watson will likely be invited back to Twins Spring Training as a minor league player in March.

Right-hander Eduardo Morlan was added to the list of players that would be participating in the Arizona Fall League, replacing former Miracle Brian Duensing on the roster. Duensing will be pitching for Team USA in the IBAF World Cup in November instead of going to AzFL. Miracle alumni David Winfree will not be participating in the Arizona Fall League either due to a strained left shoulder. He is being replaced by Matt Macri, who the Twins acquired from the Rockies in exchange for Ramon Ortiz earlier this year.

Former Miracle outfield Eli Tintor was given a 50-game suspension for violating MLB's drug of abuse rule. He is the 3rd Minnesota player and the 2nd former Miracle to be suspended for recreational drug use. Anthony Swarzak was suspended earlier in the season for violating the same policy.

Minnesota prospects pick up 9-5 FIL Win

The fourth game of the 2007 Minnesota Twins Fall Instructional League was played Saturday at the Lee County Sportsplex, with the Twins taking a 9-5 victory over the cross-city rivals the Boston Red Sox.

One of the most notable things for those fans who turned up for the game was the new pavilions that are being put up in the Twins training area to offer shade to spectators. Unlike the Boston Complex, these are not canvas structures, but more solid aluminum structures going up. Additional bleacher seating is also being installed, especially behind the plate which was being utilized by the scouts as well as the team charters.

The game featured a look at what is most certain to be a good chunk of the Miracle starting pitching rotation next season, with Beloit ace Alex Burnett making the start. He allowed 2 runs in the second inning off a Boston triple, but was otherwise solid, posting 4 strike outs during 2 innings. He was relieved by Henry Reyes, who went three-up and three-down for two innings. Reyes pitched largely with Elizabethton last season, posting a 7-2 record with a 2.7 ERA in 53.1 innings worth of work. He struggled through 4 inning at Low A Beloit and is expected to begin the 2008 season with the Snappers.

He was relieved by Mike Allen another Elizabethton pitcher who'll likely be joining the Snappers for the start of the 2008 season. Aside from a couple of walks in the fifth inning, Allen looked good on the mound with 3 strike outs in 2 innings.

Meanwhile the Minnesota offense had gone into work. Rene Tosoni singled his way onto base and was doubled in by Jon Waltenbury in the 2nd to put the Twins on the board.

Nick Papasan got on base on a throwing error in the 3rd inning, taking 2nd base when the ball went into the visitors dugout. Esterlin De Los Santos singled to score the runner to tie the game.

A pair of walks to Waltenbury and Joe Benson, and singles by designated hitter Ben Petsch and De Los Santos helped the Twins nab 3 points in the 5th for a good lead. Greg Yersich relieved Danny Rams behind the plate in the sixth and promptly put one over the wall for his first at bat.

The four run lead quickly evaporated through when Cole Devries was brought onto the mound for the Twins. Devries struggled, allowing 3 runs on five hits. Devries 9-5 record and 3.41 ERA will probably land him a spot in the Miracle starting rotation last year, but the Miracle faithful's preview look at the former Golden Gopher was not particularly promising.

The Twins then turned to 6'5" lefty Tyler Robertson for the final two innings. Robertson was tops on the Snappers last season in strike outs with 123, despite joining the team mid season. His 2.29 ERA was second only to Miracle Jeff Manship among Twins starters at the low A level. The 19-year-old Simi Valley native really showed off his stuff, striking out 5 of the 7 batters he faced, allowing only one single in the 8th inning.

The 8th would be good for the Twins offensively as well, as Benson lead off with a double, followed by a Juan Richardson single. Yersich would be hit by a pitch to load the bases, and then Waltenbury would crush the ball for his second double of the game, scoring the three runners to give the Twins back their 4 run lead.

Aside from Burnett, Devries and Robertson, Matt Fox, who is not in camp, is a possibility for another of the Miracle starting jobs.

Benson will likely join the Miracle in the outfield, while Tosoni, De Los Santos, and Yersich will likely start the season in Beloit, but if they may all make it to Fort Myers before next season is out if they continue to hit well.

Richardson and Waltenbury were both part of the GCL squad this season and will like begin next season, most likely in Elizabethton, but a strong camp and a good spring training could see them make the jump to Beloit.

Brian Dinkelman and Ozzie Lewis were also in the game, but Lewis was 0-for-4 in the contest. I have Dinkleman down as 0-for-3 but I missed one of his at bats so I'm not sure what the final was.

Minnesota plays at home Wednesday Friday and Saturday this week and take on Boston at the City of Palms Complex on Monday and Thursday. Game times are 1:00 pm for all games except the Saturday game, which starts at 10:00 AM.

Puppy the Stealer Stopper

Iris wanted the roster and schedule for instructs because "I'm the most important person who needs them." I corrected her, as I'm the one that provides the info to people I'm the one that needs them the most.

In any case, in an attempt to yank her chain, I walk by later and say "Dog the Bounty Hunter is coming to instructs."

"Who?"

"Dog. The Bounty Hunter." I was wondering if she lived under a rock or something.

"You mean that guy from TV?"

"Yeah."

"Who's he coming to catch?"

"He's not coming to catch. He's coming to watch."

"Well, why would he do that?"

"Because we signed his nephew."

"Wait a minute," says Ed, breaking into this conversation. "Who signed him? The Miracle or the Twins?"

"The Twins." It was a stupid question. The Miracle don't sign players but it's kind of pointless sometimes to argue with Ed.

"What's his name?" Iris asks. "Puppy the bounty hunter?"

"Lehmann," I answer.

"What's he play?" Ed wants to know.

I thought that was obvious. "Catch. He's a puppy. He plays catch."

Geez.

GCL Twins top GCL Orioles, 6-5

GCL Twins 6 at GCL Orioles 5

Current Record: 37 - 19

W: J. Eacott (3-0, 2.28); L: L. Madrigal (2-1, 1.65); SV: L. Martin (1)
HR: None.

The GCL Twins capped off their regular season with another win, defeating the GCL Orioles 6-5 at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota.

The Twins took an early lead in the first when James Beresford and Ben Revere both drew walks off Baltimore's Leonardo Madrigal. A wild pitch moved the pair along. They would be plated by Yangervis Solarte's single to short. A throwing error by Robert Vasquez would give Solarte an extra base. That proved dangerous as Juan Richardson brought him in with a line drive out to right. Richardson would be caught stealing through, and Madrigal found a pair of outs to retire the side with.

The Twins added to their lead in the 3rd, when Revere singled, stole his 21st base of the season and came home on an Angel Morales line drive.

A wild pitch by Winston Marquez, and a walk led to a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd for the O's.

The Twins took advantage of a pitching change in the top of the 7th, when Andrew Conklin hit Danny Rams with a pitch. A pair of singles by Nick Papasan and Beresford, and another plunked batter, this time Revere, lead to 3 more runs with the last coming on Solarte's sac-fly out to left.

A fielding error by Papasan, and pair of wild pitches and a balk by Jose Acosta lead to 2 more runs. Then with Lee Ellis at bat, Acosta let loose three straight wild ones to move Robert Vasquez around the diamond and bring him home. Ellis would end up walking, but Arthur Bonevacia lined out to end the inning.

Richardson was the only player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 as the Twins used the final game of regular season to give a lot of the players work, with many players rotating out during the game.

Charles Nolte, Rodney Guessman, Dominique Rogers, Jarrad Eacott and Lee Martin each pitched an inning for the Twins.

The Twins travel to Tampa on Tuesday to face the GCL Yankees in the first round of the playoffs. The winner of today's contest will progress to the best-of-three championship series against the GCL Dodgers.

Boxscore
Log
MiLB

End of Regular Season

Instructs: Members of this years GCL team that have been invited to instructs are pitchers Danny Berlind and Charles Nolte, catchers Danny Rams and Alexander Soto, infielder James Beresford, Jeanfred Brito, Nick Papasan, Juan Richardson and Jon Waltenbury, and outfielders Angel Morales and Ben Revere. Also included is infielder Reggie Williams who has not played previously this year.

Hibbing, revisited

Joe, my little friend from Wisconsin, was asking about autographs from Fall Instructional League -- mainly Parmelee, Benson and Brandon Roberts, but he included some words about Eli Tintor as well.

"Also watchout for Eli. He's got pop he hit 3 homers this two weeks that ended up game winners. I was there for the first, he was estatic. He had a smile from one ear to the other. I talked to him the day after and he said he didnt know how long it be before it ever happen again like that. a few days later in the playoffs bang. So watchout hes a 'Special Player'."

As if anyone needs to tell me about Eli. Tintor was drafted into the organization as a cather in the 18th round of the 2003 draft and played the 2003 and 2004 season with the Gulf Coast League Twins. 2004 was kind of a special season for him, as he got loaned up to the Miracle partway through, in part because the organization was a little thin catcher wise with Joe Mauer hurting his knee at the major league level.

Generally speaking, I'm tickled to death when we get any of the GCL boys on the Miracle squad, but I loved having Eli up. I bounded over to the gift shop, got a Miracle ball and had him sign it for me. Still have it too, and it's the only autograph on that ball.

Eli was a little tickled about being called up as well. "It was everything I could have imagined — playing in front of 1,000 people and all that stuff," he told his hometown newspaper.

He got to play in seven games before they sent him back down. "It was brutal (going back). Now I have to be up at 6:30 a.m. to be on the field by 7 a.m. With the Miracle, we were on the field at 3 p.m. I'm down a little bit, but I got the experience."

He was here when Terry did a group sales with the French foriegn exchange students, a game which left my friend Aaron majorly pissed off as they were seated in our section. They knew nothing about baseball, where all dressed like little tarts and refused to stay seated during the game.

And when I say they knew nothing about baseball, I mean NOTHING. They had to give them sheets with with lyrics to take me out to the ball game on them, so they could sing the seventh inning stretch.

However, they did enjoy getting this pictures taken with "real baseball players" and while Eli may not have been Derek Jeter, he was the next best thing as far as these girls were concerned. So I did get a laugh, watching him down on the field with girls just dripping all over him as he kept possing for pictures.

(If you want a laugh, ask him about the incident.)

He was here for Hurricane Charley too, an experience for anyone in the GCL class of 2004.

"We were right in the middle of it," Tintor said, again to his hometown newspaper. "There were 130 to 140 mile per hour winds. It was pretty nuts.

"Trees were down. Wires were down," Tintor said. "Houses were torn down. I guess there were casualties, too.

"Some stoplights came flying through the parking lot. You couldn’t get outside without getting hit by debris."

The boys lasted four days without electric and there had been some talk of transfering them over to the clubhouse to stay instead of at the host hotel, but it never came to that.

Lots of experience all in one year. I was pretty bummed when he was back with us for extended in 2005 but in the end he went up to Elizabethton. I has hoping they'd move him to Beloit, but his batting, .228 in GCL, probably wasn't up to snuff.

He did well in Elizabethon though, hiting .281 and earning Appalachian League Player of the Week honors. He was considered the the third string catcher at the time although some of his fans felt otherwise about the situation. But the bat is the key thing and the bat was coming around.

I told him that in spring training this las year too. As long as you can hit...he assured me he had the batting thing figured out. Evidently he did. It was the catching thing that was a problem and Eli was moved to the outfield for 2006 as a member of the Beloit Snappers.

I have no clue how his fielding was (10 errors seems like a lot for an outfielder, even in Beloit) but he hit .285 with 12 home runs, making him second on the team behind Erik Lis in the home run department. 54 RBIs sent him third in the team in that department was well. Not a bad plate perforance at all.

So he's here for Fall Instructional League to work on his fielding skills and perhaps I can now look forward to him gracing the Miracle roster again -- even if it is as a outfielder. I'll have to ask him how he likes being way out in the field, as opposed to being part of all the action behind the plate.

Of course, on a personal note he's a fun guy too, especially has he kept telling me that he's from so far up north -- Hibbing, Minnesota -- that it never unfreezes up there and they play baseball on ice covered fields all of the time. I'm quite certain he's pulling my leg, as I've since heard that it does unfreeze, for about a month and a half over the summer.

And that yes, air conditioners are luxery items in Hibbing and the only people that have built in swimming pools have them so they can play hockey on them in the winter. I wonder if he's every played hockey. Shall have to ask him that as well.

So, I'm hoping to get autographs for Joe at Fall Instuctional League (if I survive that long) and I will certainly keep an eye on his "special player", Eli Tintor.