Spring Training Game Thread: Twins @ Cards, 3/19/14 @ 12:05pm (CDT)

[Squirrel]

I'm not sure who will be watching/listening today after last night, but it's a new day and life goes on. And it's only ST after all, so here we go.

 

Twins:

SP, Gibson

 

Aaron Hicks (S) CF

Jason Bartlett ® 3B

Chris Colabello ® DH

Oswaldo Arcia (L) RF

Wilkin Ramirez ® LF

Chris Parmelee (L) 1B

Josmil Pinto ® C

Eduardo Escobar (S) 2B

Pedro Florimon (S) SS

 

 

Cards:

SP, Martinez

 

Matt Carpenter (L) 3B

Kolten Wong (L) 2B

Matt Holliday ® DH

Allen Craig ® RF

Yadier Molina ® C

Jhonny Peralta ® SS

Matt Adams (L) 1B

Peter Bourjos ® CF

Stephen Piscotty ® LF

 

 

Let's play ball!

[ppearson50]

Who are the other pitchers for the Twins listed for today? Haven't seen it yet. It makes no sense to me that Deduno is never scheduled to start. It makes me think they want him to start the year as a reliever so they can have one left handed starter - Diamond.

[Squirrel]

I didn't see who else was slated to pitch today. Personally, I think Deduno is headed for the pen, at least to start the season, but we'll see.

[JB_Iowa]

Looks like Gibson plus Deduno, Thielbar, Hoffman, Tonkin (in some order on the last 4).

[JB_Iowa]

• Mike Berardino ‏@MikeBerardino 12m
  Gardy says he's "a little leery of our offense." #MNTwins
   
   
  

 

 

 

I hope Gardy just loves understatement.

[Hawkeye12]

If we don't need a fifth starter for awhile in April, it could be that Deduno is on a different timetable to get stretched out and will be in the pen regardless the first couple weeks. By the time we need a fifth starter, he'll be ready to go.

[Squirrel]

I still think Gibson will be the 5th starter, but then what do they do with Diamond? Stick him in the pen, too? Dunno. But I just don't think Deduno will last as a starter but maybe on occasional spot starts.

[Craig Arko]

Pretty clear these Cardinals announcers know nothing about the Twins. Nice first inning for Gibson. Not being behind Many-nothing really helps.

[ashbury]

Nice DP by the Cards to end the Twins half of the 2nd. Pinto fooled badly by the pitch.

[big dog]

Cards announcers and fans alike went "oooooooh" after a nice play by Florimon on a bouncer up the middle. I thought he had a chance, he made it look easy.

[ashbury]

Too bad Parms didn't get the tag down, on that nice snap-throw by Pinto. They had the runner.

[Squirrel]

The replay I saw looked like he got him. Pinto looked as if he thought so, too. But Gibson took care of the batter so no matter.

[ashbury]

Florimon looks at a strike down the middle. Still knocking the rust off - not easy to come back after surgery, even of the routine variety.

[JB_Iowa]

Florimon looks at a strike down the middle. Still knocking the rust off - not easy to come back after surgery, even of the routine variety.

 

Even without the effects of the surgery, his timing is what? 3 or 4 weeks behind everybody else?

[ashbury]

Even without the effects of the surgery, his timing is what? 3 or 4 weeks behind everybody else?

 

I'm not a big Florimonster supporter, but I certainly give him slack. That doesn't mean there isn't a decision to be made for how to start the regular season. That probably will come down to the final day of ST; hopefully the decision then will be clear.

[ashbury]

Kolten Wong is little. I just looked him up and he's 5'9" - maybe on 70s night at the discotheque in his platform soles.

[ppearson50]

Can Bartlett make it to 30 at bats without a hit? I think he can.

[ashbury]

Can Bartlett make it to 30 at bats without a hit? I think he can.

 

He needs to avoid falling into a slump.

[JB_Iowa]

He needs to avoid falling into a slump.

 

What is there to slump from when you start at 0 fer?

[Riverbrian]

Arcia must have lost that in the sun. Otherwise that's a catch that needs to be made.

[JB_Iowa]

Florimon does look good in the field.

[ashbury]

What is there to slump from when you start at 0 fer?

 

He's got the three walks. Those could dry up in a hurry, once pitchers figure out he's not swinging well.

[stringer bell]

Nice outing for Gibson through four. He's facing a pretty good lineup and holding them down pretty well.

[zchrz]

Gibson is looking good today, that sinker is nasty when its on. I hope he takes the 5th spot, Worley is toast and we already have plenty of bullpen lefties to make Diamond expendable.

[ppearson50]

I don't understand why they are hanging on to Worley and Bartlett apparently until the last day of Spring Training when both do not look like they will contribute positively at all to this team this year. Why not let them go now and get more at bats/pitches for the younger guys still with the team in Spring Training?

[ppearson50]

Also, if Deduno only pitches an inning or so today, that tells me he is likely starting the year in the pen. They are not setting him up at all to be the fifth starter with the way they are using him in games.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Bartlett with a hit.

Bet he's glad he's got that behind him.

[iatwins]

Sounds like Gibson looked really good today. Gladden made it sound like the pitch he gave up the tater on was pretty decent as well, just that Adams is a good low ball hitter and it broke into his swing zone. For a guy in a competition for the final rotation spot, Gibson had a really nice outing.

[zchrz]

Good to see Neshek is still hanging around with someone, he looks the best I have seen him in years not just throwing sliders. He is about my all time favorite twin that delivery is just so funky.

[JB_Iowa]

Good to see Neshek is still hanging around with someone, he looks the best I have seen him in years not just throwing sliders. He is about my all time favorite twin that delivery is just so funky.

 

Can't help pulling for him. He was so much fun to watch in 2007 and 2008. And he has always been fun to follow on Twitter -- such devotion to collecting (and to sharing). And congrats to him and his wife on the recent birth of their son.