Correa Set to Return for Big Weekend Matchup at Target Field

[Nick Nelson]

Image courtesy of Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

I can see clearly now the rain is gone.
The past week in Minnesota didn't feel much like summer. Temperatures dipped into the 40s as a constant deluge of rain fell upon the Twin Cities, creating tough circumstances for a scheduled three-game series against the Guardians at Target Field. All things considered, the two teams were lucky to get in two complete games, splitting them 1-1. Now, following Thursday's off day, the Twins are set to face off against another key division rival, and the forecast is looking much more favorable. 

The chances of rain on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are in single digits, with an expectation for partly-to-mostly sunny skies and temps in the 60s/70s. Memorial Day weekend is viewed by many as the unofficial start of summer, and so the conditions at Target Field will be very fitting. As will the meaningful context of the on-field action.

I can see all obstacles in my way.
There's a long-standing truism in baseball that the season doesn't really start until Memorial Day. Once teams have had the opportunity to work through their early streaks and slumps, to settle in and establish themselves a bit, you start to have a clearer picture of how the races will take shape. 

The Twins this year have been a perfect case in point. They started out almost unimaginably cold, then got almost unimaginably hot, and after it all they are about exactly where you would expect them to be: five games over .500, very much in contention for the AL Central.

Entering play on Thursday, Minnesota is in a dead heat with the Kansas City Royals, who are coming to town this weekend for three games. The two clubs are tied for second place, 5 ½ games behind the world-beating Tigers and just a half-step ahead of Cleveland. It's gonna be a divisional dogfight, with Detroit's surprising ascendance sprinkling in an added challenge. 

The Twins will look to make a statement this weekend against a team that, in similar fashion, aims to win on the strength of its pitching but often struggles to score. The Royals are one of only two MLB teams with a lower ERA (3.03) than Minnesota (3.23). Runs will likely be hard to come by at Target Field this weekend, but luckily the Twins are getting back a crucial lineup fixture to aid in the effort. 

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
On Thursday the Twins optioned Ryan Fitzgerald to Triple-A, setting the stage for Carlos Correa to be activated from a minimum-length stay on the 7-day concussion injured list. Correa is expected to be in the starting lineup for Friday night's series opener against Kansas City.

 

Correa went on the IL after being shaken up in an outfield collision with Byron Buxton one week ago. Twins head trainer Nick Paparesta gave a positive report on the shortstop's progress Wednesday, indicating his symptoms were gone, and sure enough it now looks like Correa's on track to return after missing just five games. His presence is obviously important to the team for more reasons than just offensive production, but the shortstop was showing signs of awakening at the plate before his injury, with a .323 average in his past 16 contests.

Buxton, unfortunately, still does not appear to be out of the the dark clouds quite yet — there's no indication he'll be activated on Friday, with Paparesta noting that the center fielder was "a little behind" Correa's recovery timeline. It sounds like Buxton's history of concussions and migraines are a factor. But it also sounded like he himself was beginning to ramp up on Wednesday so hopefully Buck is not too far out.

It's gonna be a bright, bright (partly) sun-shiny day.
As I write this article on Thursday afternoon, the sun is pouring through my apartment window for the first time all week. There should be plenty more brightness ahead at Target Field this weekend and this summer, both literally and — we hope — figuratively. Health is of course going to be a decisive force in guiding the outcome of this season (as the next line goes, "I think I can make it now, the pain is gone") but right now it's a sunny vibe with Correa making an expedient comeback and Matt Wallner kicking off his minor-league rehab assignment in St. Paul on Thursday night.

Let the summer begin.

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[Linus]

Here, here. Hoping Buck is back and neither have any long term consequences. I can’t get the thought out of my mind how badly Mauer and Morneau were affected by their concussions. It took quite a while and I don’t think either were ever the same after. Both probably had more previous brain trauma then Correa or Buxton so maybe it’s different. 
Anyway should be a great weekend at Target  Field. 

[Patzky]

It will feel better with Correa on the field. I expect the hitting will be around Lee's efforts. A few weeks ago I'd say DH Royce but he has been making some plays of late!

[thelanges5]

What’s our best defensive alignment now? 
Jeffers C, France 1B, Clemens 2B, Correa SS, Lee 3B, Castro RF, Bader CF, Larnach LF, Lewis DH.

Bench: Bride, McCrusher, Keirsey, Vazqy

[jmlease1]

Happy Correa doesn't appear to have any lingering issues and has recovered well. Hopefully some of what's going on with Buxton is precautionary and being properly concerned about a player's overall and long-term health.

It is a big weekend for the Twins: they need to show they're not going to fall over now that the streak is done. got to find some offense to go with the good pitching, and Correa can be a real difference maker there. Looking forward to getting Wallner back too.

[stringer bell]

2 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

What’s our best defensive alignment now? 
Jeffers C, France 1B, Clemens 2B, Correa SS, Lee 3B, Castro RF, Bader CF, Larnach LF, Lewis DH.

Bench: Bride, McCrusher, Keirsey, Vazqy

Purely defense? Probably Vázquez (C), France (1B), Clemens (2B), Correa (SS), Lee 3B, Bader (LF), Keirsey (CF) and Castro (RF). Maybe the outfield configuration might be different. According to BBRef, Clemens has positive fielding marks at all positions he's played except right field. 

Eyeball test for Jonah Bride is that he's a very capable corner infielder, perhaps better than France or Lee. Lewis has looked much better in the field since his return--no bad throws and getting to every ball that he should get to.  

[Patzky]

2 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

Happy Correa doesn't appear to have any lingering issues and has recovered well. Hopefully some of what's going on with Buxton is precautionary and being properly concerned about a player's overall and long-term health.

It is a big weekend for the Twins: they need to show they're not going to fall over now that the streak is done. got to find some offense to go with the good pitching, and Correa can be a real difference maker there. Looking forward to getting Wallner back too.

Master Wallner has gone yard tonight. 🙌

[DocBauer]

Great news on 4 fronts:

1] The fact that Correa is back means he wasn't injured badly. That's great for hum, but also great to have him back on the field.

2] Buxton being a little behind is actually good news. That would mean he's doing OK vs them being worried about the affects of the collision.

3] Wallner being a couple days behind on his rehab do to the weather stinks, but it shouldn't affect his time table all that much. I'd say a reasonable chance all 3 are back on the field by June 1st.

4] The defense, lineup, and depth are suddenly better just with Correa back.

The KC series doesn't make or break the season. But winning 2 of 3 makes a statement and keeps the momentum going. But I'd try to keep Clemens engaged as much as possible as he's hot. And with 2 LH arms from the Royals, I'd really like to see McCusker get shots, whether he's in the OF or at DH. (I think he can potentially hit RH arms as well based on his MILB track record).

The arms should be treated with the off day. Everyone should feel a "lift" having CC back. They just need to play the same good ball they've been playing, and take advantage of opportunities. They've done really well at home.

Go Twins!

[minman1982]

7 hours ago, Linus said:

Here, here. Hoping Buck is back and neither have any long term consequences. I can’t get the thought out of my mind how badly Mauer and Morneau were affected by their concussions. It took quite a while and I don’t think either were ever the same after. Both probably had more previous brain trauma then Correa or Buxton so maybe it’s different. 
Anyway should be a great weekend at Target  Field. 

The way we treat concussions today is very different from what was done when Mauer and Morneau had their concussions. Mauer likely had two successive concussions since he actually fouled two separate balls off his mask. Today, the first one would likely have gotten him pulled and put on the 7 day IL. Morneau also had several concussions in 2010 and 2011. I am a bit concerned about Buck given his previous concussions and history of complications like migraines. I would have to believe that catcher and first base are the two positions with the most concussions given the number of times that the ball gets thrown in their direction on any given day.

Credit goes to the Twins training staff here for making sure these guys were taken out of the game and protecting from further harm. Gone are the days of "getting your bell rung" and playing through it. I remember from my football playing days in the mid to late 90s, if you weren't unconscious, you didn't have a concussion and were still good to play. That is simply not true. We know so much more about concussions and take them more seriously today than we did even a decade ago.

[thelanges5]

3 hours ago, Patzky said:

Master Wallner has gone yard tonight. 🙌

X2

[JD-TWINS]

IMO, our best Defensive Line-up (with offense in mind) this weekend:

Lewis at 3B - CC - Lee - France ….. Vazquez - Jeffers at DH……Larnach - Bader - Castro

Bench … Clemens - Bride - Kiersey - McCusker

Seems that if Wallner hit 2 HR on Thursday night he’ll be on Roster by Monday……Buxton “hitting on Wednesday”, also back by Monday. May see either of these guys for the Sunday afternoon game as well!

[JD-TWINS]

With Buxton & Wallner, both a few days away, who gets sent down or released?

#10-#13 Kiersey - Clemens - McCusker - Bride

I can’t imagine Clemens or Bride getting DFA’d at this point.

OF: Larnach - Bader - Buxton - Castro - Wallner going forward, with guys having options going  to St Paul.

#10-#13 Castro - Larnach - Clemens - Bride …….this is a big step up from where Team has been operating lately!

[madtowntwin]

"Look Straight Ahead - Nothin' But Blue Skies."

Watched a bit of the Guardians vs. Tigers last night - Cleveland had to play another game under rainy conditions...Talk about the proverbial Black Cloud!! They shut-out Detroit 8-0 however.

"I Think I Can Make It Now - The Pain Is Gone."

Welcome back CC. One thing I've learned in almost 40 years of Trauma / Critical care is that not every brain bounces equally...Some patients have tremendous amount of symptomology from what appears to be minor insult while others crawl from the wreckage with little apparent insult. As variant the damage the same hold true for the recovery. I will never forget mine after a bike crash in which a helmet saved my life. Koskie, Morneau, Mauer, Buxton, Correa - What a talented bunch to share an affliction. It seems to me that Byron had quite the issue with Migraines earlier in his career which might make his recovery more challenging. In addition - With his immense talent leading to crashing into walls and second base he will have to be very careful which is so hard to do. 

Lastly, with all the opportunity we have been blessed to have enjoying Justin in the booth - Has he ever elucidated on his concussion - What he recalls happening / His recovery / Present side effects." 

"All Of The Bad Feelings Have Disappeared."

Here's to hoping Byron continues his recovery with no further such injury to any other Twins player this season. 

Great Song. Great article - Talk about starting one's day with an "Earworm"! Win Twins!!

 

[LambchoP]

Hopefully Correa has no lingering effects and can get his bat going. With Royce heating up and Buxton and Wallner nearing a return, the offense should be able to start pulling their weight 

[bean5302]

7 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

Hopefully Correa has no lingering effects and can get his bat going...

That's what concussion protocol is supposed to address. The 7 day IL is to ramp up baseball activities while continuing to review for any concussion related symptoms. Still don't know squat about concussions overall, but it's a good step.