Notes from Inside Twins (with Corey Provus and Terry Ryan)

Inside Pitch is beginning and I will make some notes from the show. (listen on your Twins Radio Network station or at www.1500espn.com).

• Faced some pretty good competition, but not excuses. We had a chance to put up some runs and we didn't do it.
• Defense - We have had a chance to turn a lot of DPs and haven't got it done. Some have been routine. Extends innings.
• Played decent defense in the OF. Obviously Span needs to cover ground.
• Valencia makes good plays going forward, struggles side to side, but he's improved of late.
• Might take offensive struggles to the defensive side, needs concentration and to be ready. No quesiton that he's capable of being good defensively.

More:

Blackburn had a spasm in the shoulder. Right thing to take him out. MRI showed no damage. He's more sore today. May back him up. Hope we don't have to DL him.

Marquis will be activated and start on Wednesday.

Hendriks is on the staff based on spring and what he did last year. He made the team due to spring. FB, CB, SL, CU, throws all for strikes. He adds and subtracts with each. Strike Pounder.

Darvish - saw him in Japan, but he's got all kinds of stuff... he's inventing things out there. Great body, velocity, cutter is his best pitch. Wiggled out of some jams.

Denard Span defensively can cover ground and can throw. He's got some sock in his bat. He can drive the ball. Can steal bases. Can do everything you look for in a leadoff hitter and centerfielder.

Question - With Willingham's power, why not hit him cleanup?
Answer - Always gone with Mauer and Morneau... Manager decides. Chose to go as current, but it's working well for Willingham now.

Clete Thomas - drafted in HS, went to Auburn, then the Tigers. Seen him a lot. Can do everything (throw, run, pop in bat, play all 3 OF spots, steal a base), Ideal 4th OF

Ben Revere - needs to play. CF, catalyst, wasn't playing enough. Options didn't factor in. He needs to play. Needs to learn how to bunt. OBP is another thing he needs to improve upon. Numbers last year OK, but not where they need to be.

Revere probably play CF mostly, with Benson in the corner.

Ideally, Revere hit 1, Dozier hit 2... Push Nishioka down to 8-9. (Nishioka playing better defense.)

Question: Concerned about Baker and Blackburn. Depth of SP?
Answer: don't have to go to rochester, get Marquis. We do have depth issues. Already have two young guys up with Hendriks/Swarzak. Could stretch out Maloney and Duensing if necessary.

Swarzak - Not afraid of anything. Swarzak has enough stuff, enough fastball, can spin it, and can slow it down. Frame and mechanics to be a starter. Has the guts, strength and competitiveness to pitch in the 7th or 8th.

First Commercial.

Thanks for posting the updates, Seth. I'd much rather skim through your notes than listen to the whole thing.

Continued (feel free to discuss):

Question: Will Blackburn have a 2nd MRI?
Answer: No. Don't know why we'd do a 2nd one. Sometimes they miss things, but we're fairly confident.

Trevor Plouffe - Still OF first, infield second. He missed about 10 days in spring training, which hurt. They just like the way he swings the bat. RF more than other places. Could put him at any of the 4 IF spots.

If Carroll needs a day off, Gardy woudln't be afraid to go to Casilla, Plouffe or even Hughes for a day.

Ryan Doumit - done fine behind plate. Can throw. Has power. Appreciate that he's a gamer, they've moved him all over, changing leagues isn't easy, but eventually he'll be a good player for us.

Question: Update on Kyle Gibson.
Answer: Get a daily report. Have him slated to pitch competitively in August. Everything points to being on schedule.

(just lost the feed on 1500espn.com! UGGH!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JB_Iowa

Thanks for posting the updates, Seth. I'd much rather skim through your notes than listen to the whole thing.

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It's totally must-listen though. Very entertaining. Ryan is very honest. Fun to hear... and interpret for yourself.

Why do they keep talking about stuff that should be questions for Gardenhire (playing time, batting order, bullpen use) instead of focusing 100% on GM related topics?

Why have a 2nd MRI? The ones on Baker and Zumaya worked out so well. Where is the accountablity Ryan promised? How about the middle infield being so much better?

When the show came back, Ryan was talking about the upcoming draft. He said they had a 2 1/2 day meeting with all scouts to make sure they had all names, weren't missing anyone. He said that this draft could very well shape the future of the organization, with 6 picks in the top 100. Mike Radcliff will be on it 100% at this point, and Terry Ryan himself will be focusing on it as well.

Mauer and Morneau are healthy and that's all he's worried about. If they're healthy, they'll be fine.

Chris Parmelee will be fine as long as he doesn't let the game get too fast for him.

The bases loaded hitting with less than two out has to be a concern. Morneau has not been getting it done. He's not alone but I think that he's failed the most. I think Gardy should give him a day off or at least drop him a spot or two. I also think Gardy is out thinking himself, making moves for no reason, not making moves, leaving pitchers in, taking pitchers out, etc... Pulling Carroll yesterday stands out. Maybe a couple of times Doumit or Willingham could have been pulled for defense when they weren't due to bat. I don't know... just a couple of observations.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

(Nishioka playing better defense.)
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I witnessed that last night. He was solid on second base, robbed a batter with a diving catch on a line drive and excuted a rundown between 2nd and 3rd (which has not been trivial for him) perfectly. I think that him not Dozier will be the first middle infielder up from Rochester (no matter how unpopular this may be)

I don't listen to the radio very often - doesn't Gardenhire have his own show, too? I still can't quite figure out why Terry Ryan would be asked where Willingham will hit in the order, or how the bullpen guys will be used. It seemed listening to what Ryan said about Doumit that they aren't overly pleased with his start this year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kirby_Waved_At_Me

I don't listen to the radio very often - doesn't Gardenhire have his own show, too? I still can't quite figure out why Terry Ryan would be asked where Willingham will hit in the order, or how the bullpen guys will be used. It seemed listening to what Ryan said about Doumit that they aren't overly pleased with his start this year.

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Gardenhire's show is on Sunday morning's at 9:30. Not all fans/listeners understand the distinctions between manager and general manager... or they feel like the GM will take their comments and relay them to the manager who will immediately impliment their suggestions.

Makes sense to me

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

When the show came back, Ryan was talking about the upcoming draft. He said they had a 2 1/2 day meeting with all scouts to make sure they had all names, weren't missing anyone. He said that this draft could very well shape the future of the organization, with 6 picks in the top 100. Mike Radcliff will be on it 100% at this point, and Terry Ryan himself will be focusing on it as well.

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That's interesting. I wonder what Johnson's standing is with Ryan. Smith promoted Johnson to draft guy when he became GM. His drafts have been well received when they happened but the results haven't been great so far.