Ben Revere Poised to Play Right Field

Minnesota Twins fans have grumbled that Ben Revere just doesn't have the arm to play in center field. He's got the stuff to be a great defensive player... except he probably couldn't throw out a guy at home.

Ron Gardenhire acknowledges this. However, he said his arm is good enough for right field. Right field at Target Field is the shortest place to throw the ball home.

Gardenhire revealed that Josh Willingham will play left field will Revere will likely be in right.

Twins Beat Roy Halladay!

The Twins have certainly been up and down throughout spring training. Their most recent 'up'? Beating Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies. Boom.

Halladay was yanked in the third inning after getting rocked in the 6-4 victory.

Twins starter Jason Marquis gave up four runs and eight hits in four innings.

Josh Willingham hit a solo shot off Halladay in the first. His RBI single in the third tied it 202. Willingham is certainly showing his stuff early on. Let's hope he can continue that to the pitcher-friendly Target Field.

Minnesota Twins Approach 100 Losses

Ron Gardenhire: 'No one ever wants to see 100 losses.' No kidding.

The Twins are slowly crawling to the end of their disastrous season. If Gardenhire had been told during spring training that his team would be closing in on 100 losses, he would have asked what we were smoking.

The Minnesota Twins only have one team in history to reach triple-digit-losses.

Another quote from Gardy, "You have to cope with them (injuries) the best you can. We haven't done a very good job of coping with all the injuries. I read earlier in the season where the Twins didn't have a Plan B. Plan B to replace the whole lineup? I don't think too many teams have that."

Touché. No worries Gardy, I still have some Twins baseball love!

Justin Verlander Just Kills the Twins

Poor Twins. The Twins had their best chance in the first inning when they had two runners on with one out. Verlander got out of the jam and looked to be in some trouble when he had already thrown 60 pitches through three innings Clearly, that wasn't the case. He buckled down and dominated the Twins lineup and they were toast from there. Manager Ron Gardenhire seemed to agree with my analysis.

"You saw us get dominated by Verlander over there," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He was pretty filthy."

Verlander has two wins in two starts against the Twins this season with a 1.15 ERA.

Justin Morneau Set to Return Monday Night

Justin Morneau is hitting the stuffing out of the ball as of lately. Morneau has been rehabbing from his injured neck in Triple A and has been on a tear. He is 8-14 in his last three games and is getting really excited about coming back and playing for the Twins. He is expected to play Monday night against Detroit. Morneau wishes he was getting back sooner:

"Everybody who's come up here not ready hasn't helped us, so we're going to try to make sure he's ready," Gardenhire said. "I know he's champing at the bit. He texted [Bill Smith] that he's going to be here [Wednesday] to face Lester. Billy told him see you in Detroit [next Monday]."

I love it! I can't wait for Morneau to get back in the lineup. I know the Twins are pretty much out of it this year, but it will be good if Morneau can get back in the groove of baseball so that he is ready for next season. He hasn't played consistently for so long that it would be nice if he could just get his legs under him.

Denard Span Not at 100% Yet

Twins' Outfielder Denard Span only has one hit in his 24 at bats since returning from the disabled list so the Twins gave him the day off on Tuesday to get his head straight. Ben Revere started in his place and played really well for the team. Here were manager Ron Gardenhire's thoughts on Span's day off.

"[Span's] still coming back from that [concussion]," Gardenhire said. "It's not perfect. He still has his moments. I talk to him daily, and today was a good day. Seeing the ball -- he talked about not really seeing the spin real good yet ... We'll back him off and see where we go from there."

I would like to see Span get in a little bit of a groove before the season ends. It's pretty important that he plays well because Ben Revere has played well enough to challenge for playing time and the Twins have plenty of depth in the outfield.

Scott Baker Heads to Disabled List

Scott Baker has been placed on the disabled list and the Twins will call up Kevin Slowey from Triple A to start for the Twins this Sunday against the Cleveland Indians. Baker was placed on the disabled list because of a strained flexor muscle. This is the same injury that forced him to be on the disabled list in July. He won't throw a baseball until the Twins return from their next road trip on August 18th.

Slowey will be making his first major league start since September of 2010. Ron Gardenhire thought it would be better to have Slowey start than have Anthony Swarzak take Baker's place in the rotation.

"Honestly, when you've got a pitcher down there like Slowey, who's throwing the ball well and healthy ... this is the right thing," Gardenhire said. "Just bring Slowey up, slide him into the rotation, keep Swarzy where he's done really well."

Joe Mauer Playing First Base Tomorrow

According to the Startribune, Joe Mauer is playing first base tomorrow. This is great news for the Twins because it allows Mauer to get some more at bats and rest his body. Mauer hasn't played first base in ten years, but he's gotten some help from teammates. He said he has spent a lot of time talking to Michael Cuddyer about how to play first base. Mauer had this to say about playing 1st base tomorrow.

"I want to do anything I can to help the team," said Mauer. "Obviously for me personally, it’s going to be a grind the rest of the way, physically. So if this allows me to take a day from behind the plate and give your body a little break, it’ll be a good thing."

Gardy thought he looked okay out there"

“We won’t really know until we get him over there and see, but honestly he’s pretty fluid over there,” Gardenhire said. “He’s got soft hands, he moves around there pretty well, all the fundamental parts of it.”

It's about time Mauer starts to sacrifice to the team. He needs to realize how important his bat and his health are to this teams success. There's no place for his selfishness. Don't be afraid to DH or play some first base every once in awhile.

Joe Mauer Takes Grounders at First Base, It's About Time!

Joe Mauer took grounders at first base yesterday and Ron Gardenhire was right next to him the whole time giving the 3 time batting champion advice.

With injuries to Delmon Young and Justin Morneau, there is a big hole at first base. Cuddyer is needed in the outfield because Span and Young are injured, leaving Luke Hughes to play first base. No one is asking Mauer to become a full time first baseman, but with so many injuries on this team, they can't afford to have his bat out of the line up, which is why Gardenhire has suggested that he play some first base so that he can avoid the rigors of catching, while still being able to stay in the line up.

Message to Mauer: The Twins are paying you 180 millions dollars. You are the face of this franchise and this team. If you don't sacrifice for the better of the team, than who will. You're not a great public speaker so lead by example. You need to be tough and show that you'll do whatever it takes to win because this team desperately needs you not to take off days right now with your mysterious injuries. An injured Joe Mauer is better than most substitutions Gardy is going to be able to put out there.

Ron Gardenhire Wins American League Manager of the Year

Ron Gardenhire is pretty familiar with the American League Manager of the Year. He was a 5-time runner-up until last week when he was named the American League Manager of the Year. Ron Washington of the Texas Rangers finished in 2nd place. Gardenhire led the Minnesota Twins to a 94-68 record and another American League Central Division Title. Even with injuries to Joe Nathan and Justin Morneau, Gardenhire found a way to get the 6th AL Central Title in 9 years. Congratulations to Ron Gardenhire!

Minnesota Twins Swept in Detroit

The Minnesota Twins were swept by the Detroit Tigers over the weekend. It was a weekend to forget and hopefully it will not carry into Cleveland or back at Target Field. Some high notes though included Danny Valencia's two home run day on Saturday, including a grand slam to bring his season total to 7. The lineups the team was using was a little different this weekend, as manager Ron Gardenhire wants to give adequate rest to the primary starters. Fortunately for us, we have already clinched and this series should not be pivotal for going into October.

Minnesota Twins Spring Training Games Start Thursday

The Minnesota Twins have been in Florida for a few weeks now, thawing out their game and getting ready for Twins Spring Training 2010. With just a few days left until the first Minnesota Twins Spring Training Game, things are starting to become more and more real for the Twins Roster.

One Twins Roster decision that has been made already is the pitching rotation for the first six games in Florida. Starting things off for the Minnesota Twins Pitchers on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox will be Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey. On Friday Carl Pavano will have a shot and Saturday's game will feature Minnesota Twins Pitcher Francisco Liriano. Rounding out the rest of the pitching rotation will be Scott Baker and Brian Duensing.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told press, "There is some competition here with some depth. There is going to be some pretty good pitching going to (Class) AAA that won't make our staff and that you have to have. I think we are solidifying that depth problem by getting a few people healthy. We'll have some options."