Spring Training - Game 23 - 3/23 - vs Tampa

[Seth Stohs]

What is this? A backup catcher that can hit? I don't think I've ever seen that...

I don't know that I wold say that Towles can hit... even Butera has a couple of big league HR...

[Seth Stohs]

Matt Maloney continues to impress with a 1-2-3 inning and a strikeout. Is he a legit bullpen option (SP turned BP, like Glen Perkins) or this year's version of Dusty Hughes (who was great last spring to 'earn' an Opening Day job)?

[Seth Stohs]

Mauer 1B, Morneau BB, Willingham 1B loads the bases. A Wild Pitch scores Mauer.

[jorgenswest]

Going into the season last year, I think it was clear that Hughes was not a major league pitcher. He walked too many guys and gave up too many hits as a starter in the minors. Maloney's numbers are more encouraging (especially in terms of control). It may also be encouraging that Maloney's name also made the BBA reds top 10 prospect list twice. I did not find Hughes on a Royals list. I think the Twins should have known that Hughes was not a solution.

[Seth Stohs]

JR Towles with a double off the top of the LF wall... Luke Hughes backs it up with another double.

[jorgenswest]

Interesting Maloney trivia...

Traded to Reds for former Twin Kyle Lohse. He also made an appearance on a Phillie top 10 list.

[Parker Hageman]

Perkins is warming up in the pen.

[Fanatic Jack]

Seth,

Drew Butera has done nothing for two seasons now! Pick you poison. Remember when you said Butera was not a problem as a backup catcher because he would only get 50-75 at bats in a season. He tripled that last year and was terrible. Time for a change. Parmelee means no Butera!!

[Seth Stohs]

Justin Morneau with a 3-run blast to give the Twins 10 runs off of Jeremy Hellickson. It's his second home run of the day, and after the double yesterday, it's fair to say that it is at least encouraging!

[Seth Stohs]

Seth, Drew Butera has done nothing for two seasons now! Pick you poison. Remember when you said Butera was not a problem as a backup catcher because he would only get 50-75 at bats in a season. He tripled that last year and was terrible. Time for a change. Parmelee means no Butera!!

I would agree that a backup catcher should have less than 100 at bats, as Butera did in 2010. When he got 400 plate appearances, obviously his offense matters. But I'll stand by my thoughts that if a backup catcher gets less than 100 at bats, the effect is pretty minimal. And, the hope for 2012 would be the Butera, Towles, Rivera, whoever the THIRD catcher is would also get less than 100 plate appearances in the season... which is why of course I agree (and have written, mind you) that I think the idea of the third catcher is ridiculous. My point on Parmelee is that I'm fine with him being up as long as he's playing pretty much every day.

[Fanatic Jack]

Seth,

I agree Parmelee needs to play everyday. I would leave Morneau at DH after a performance like today. Don't mess with success.

[Seth Stohs]

Uggh, why would they put Benson in LF and Revere in RF?!!? (except that maybe Willingham is now a LF and Revere is now a 4th OF?)

[Seth Stohs]

Parmelee continues to make Ryan's and Gardy's decision to keep him around tougher... or easier? HR off a tough lefty in Jake McGee...

Now Luke Hughes hits another one.

[Seth Stohs]

Speaking of making decisions easier for Ryan/Gardenhire... see Burnett, Alex.

[Mr. Ed]

Great day for Morneau. Nicely done Towles/Parmlelee, Hughes.

It would mean a lot to the bullpen to have a couple of bodies that can give them 2 innings in a game. Looks like Maloney may be one of those.

Cannot imagine them breaking camp w/o that guy.

[Seth Stohs]

Yeah, I think that Maloney has earned the long relief job. It'd be nice to find another 2-3 inning guy out of the bullpen.

[Mr. Ed]

Maloney

11.1IP 5H/2BB/14 Ks

No way guys like Burnett/Manship make it ahead of him.

[Seth Stohs]

Luke Hughes just hit a ground-rule double... he's now 5-5 with 2-doubles, a home run and five RBI. I think he's going to be on the roster.

[Seth Stohs]

Maloney

11.1IP 5H/2BB/14 Ks

No way guys like Burnett/Manship make it ahead of him.

They won't... Maloney's already a given. It's Burnett, Manship, Burton and Waldrop for the final two spots.

[wagwan]

Sure is hard to judge these pitchers like Fein who only pitch in the late innings of ST games where everybody swings at the first pitch to get it over with.....