Spring Training - Game 1 - vs TB - 3/3/12

[Seth Stohs]

Lineup courtesy of Joe Christensen:
Twins lineup vs. LHP Price (Sat.): Span 8, Carroll 6, Mauer 2, Morneau 3, Willingham 9, Doumit DH, Valencia 5, Plouffe 7, Casilla 4 (Pavano)

Looks like the regular, every day line... encouraging to see Plouffe get the start instead of Revere against a left-hander.

[glanzer]

Yeah that is encouraging to see. Might Gardy really stick with the platoon in left if things pan out for Plouffe in spring training?

[Seth Stohs]

Game time is 12:05 central time. Unfortunately, the Gophers basketball game will be on 1500espn until about 2. At that time, they will start airing the Twins game, tape-delayed. I am hoping that I can listen to the Twins game live on mlb.com.

[Parker Hageman]

Just saw that Francisco Liriano and Terry Doyle will flip-flop. Liriano to start against Red Sox while Doyle will get the Rays.

[Parker Hageman]

Per Tampa Bay Times beat writer Marc Topkin (follow him on Twitter), here's the Rays starting lineup:

"#Rays lineup v. Twins: Jennings lf, Upton cf, Zobrist 2b, Joyce rf, Molina c, Lobaton dh, Miranda 1b, Johnson 3b, Brignac ss, Price p"

[Parker Hageman]

BJ Upton smacks a one-out double off of Pavano down the left field line with one out in the first.

[Parker Hageman]

Ben Zobrist taps a ball in front of the plate that Mauer had to jump out of his crouch to field and fire down to first. Rays broadcasters are giving Mauer a ton of credit for looking much better and more mobile getting to that ball. Two outs in the first, Upton on third.

[Parker Hageman]

Matt Joyce rocks a two-run home run off of Pavano, deep beyond the right field fence.

[Seth Stohs]

Listening to Cory Provus describe the Twins and Rays uniforms is pretty cool. Very detailed. Yoo much Gladden!

[Parker Hageman]

Wow. Rays broadcasters just said that the Win-Loss record is "too archaic". I'm impressed.

[Parker Hageman]

Jamey Carroll takes a 94-mph David Price fastball off the helmet. He stays on his feet and takes first base. Tough as nails. Gritty. Punto-esque.

[Seth Stohs]

It's a new year for the Twins!! Jamey Carroll hit in the helmet by a David Price fastball. He bounces up, goes to 1B and says he's OK!!!

[Seth Stohs]

Provus tells us that Joe Mauer is working this spring on taking a lot of pitches. Just took a called third strike.

[Seth Stohs]

Not to be outdone, Morneau takes a called third strike on a full count to end the 1st inning.

[Parker Hageman]

It think it's safe to say that it's going to take Mauer/Morneau a few PAs to get into game shape at the plate.

[Parker Hageman]

I'll say it: I have a huge crush on the Tampa Bay Rays organization. They do things right - using both scouting and stats to get an advantage.

[denarded]

Was it me, or did it seem like Morneau got a bigger applause in his ab than Mauer?

[Seth Stohs]

It think it's safe to say that it's going to take Mauer/Morneau a few PAs to get into game shape at the plate.

Maybe even a couple against guys not in the David Price category.

[Seth Stohs]

Was it me, or did it seem like Morneau got a bigger applause in his ab than Mauer?

It definitely sounded like it to me.

[Jim Crikket]

Bit of a breeze blowing out in Ft Myers today apparently.