Tampa Bay Devil Rays @ Minnesota Twins (April 12-15)

[boblee]

Tampa Bay (2-5) @ Minnesota (5-3)

April 12 7:10
Casey Fossum (0-1) 17.18 ERA vs. Carlos Silva (0-1) 1.80 ERA

April 13 7:10
Scott Kazmir (0-1) 6.75 ERA vs. Johan Santana (2-0) 2.77 ERA

April 14 6:10
Edwin Jackson (0-1) 6.35 ERA vs. Sidney Ponson (0-1) 12.71 ERA

April 15 1:10 (Boblee's birthday)
Jae Seo (0-1) 9.64 ERA vs. Boof Bonser (0-1) 7.61 ERA

[Irishmans Shanty]

As the beast of the East leaves town, the least in the East rolls in.



Why not?

[nikebauer_07]

This series is also the "awards series".. each game will feature a presentation of either Hunter's Gold Glove, Santana's Cy Young, Morneau's MVP, and Mauer's Batting Title.. should be some good stuff at the dome..

[Neutron 14]

As the beast of the East leaves town,

Yeast on 'em....

[NightRider]

The Devil Rays can Play Spoiler, Twins will need solid pitching from Silva, Bonser and Ponson but i Say

SWEEP

[boblee]

I hope for a split, but realistically, 3 out of 4 will suffice.

[Blue Breeze]

The D-Rays offense is scary but their rotation outside of Kazmir is brutal. Hopefully the team continues the hitting from late in the game last night, I could see this being a high scoring series sans the Friday night game. Lot of young talent on the field tonight that's going to be fun to watch.

[Govs93]

Didn't think I'd be saying this much this season (especially this early), but great outing for Silva.

To me, this is a better start for him than the ChiSox game. I think the weather really helped him out in Chicago, but he went 6 2/3 tonight without giving up a run to a team that has a bunch of speedsters and can score runs.

I still have this sinking feeling that the bottom will fall out at some point, but through 2 starts, Silva is making us all look like idiots... and I, for one, couldn't be happier about it!

[Bash Brother]

Didn't think I'd be saying this much this season (especially this early), but great outing for Silva.

To me, this is a better start for him than the ChiSox game. I think the weather really helped him out in Chicago, but he went 6 2/3 tonight without giving up a run to a team that has a bunch of speedsters and can score runs.

I still have this sinking feeling that the bottom will fall out at some point, but through 2 starts, Silva is making us all look like idiots... and I, for one, couldn't be happier about it!

Despite Silva's hot start i still think we are gonna see some Garza

[Zamboni Guy]

Silva did pitch great today. Which is fantastic for the Twins, but was somewhat unexpected from most of the Twins fans that I know. I wouldn't be suprised if Garza ends up taking Pontoon's spot in the rotation, especially if he gets rocked in his next outing.

Side Note: The Rays may have just given this game to the Twins with the baserunning blunder by Crawford that led to a very unconventional double-play!

[Zamboni Guy]

Walk-Off Jack for Morneau, Twins win game 1 of the series 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th.

[Blue Breeze]

Worst base-running play I have ever seen. That was ridiculous, and from an All-Star nonetheless. Morneau coming up big, nice to see a dramatic walk-off win.

[boblee]

Silva was outstanding. He has been the Silva of old so far. Rincon was awful. Gardy should have gone to Neshek earlier. Great job by the middle of the lineup tonight. Put together a lot of good at bats. That third basemen for TB is very good.

[Joey (nine toes) Marcoux]

Good pitching

Timely hitting

WALK OFF

Life is good

[Irishmans Shanty]

Alexi Casilla's arm strength far exceeds our old SS's.

All Nick Punto has to do is hit Nicole Ritchie's weight to stay in the lineup, his defense is outstanding, any O from him this year is a bonus. Time to move him down in the order.

The itchy, twitchy, herky, jerky, jittery, sweaty, nervous, gum chewin side arm slinging Pat Neshek is the goods.

Dennys Reyes took a step to get out of my doghouse in the 7th.

Juan Rincon is buying tonight for the pitchers who threw on either side of him.

[packerboy]

Rincon wasnt any good and neither was Nathan.

Neshak was great.

As I sit here right now, if my life depened on it, I couldnt think of the name of the DRays starting pitcher....Russo or something.

But he shut down the Twins.

Hit the Boofin ball.

[Govs93]

Rincon wasnt any good and neither was Nathan.

Nathan will usually have a couple of outings like last night each year, but fortunately the Rays were still willing to hand over the win. If Joe got one of his two or three bad outings out of the way last night, we should all be pleased.

[Blue Breeze]

Nathan's bad outings usually come in when he is brought into a non-save situation. Tie games or blowouts just don't produce the same results for him and unless the team is out of arms I would rather not see him late unless it's a save situation.

[State Champ 97]

A lot has been said about the potential of Glen Perkins. I know he has a good curveball. What else does he throw and how hard does he throw it? What type of movement does he have on his pitches? Anybody know?

[boblee]

Fossum was the DRays starter.

[ChrisK]

From the man himself:

BYTO: Glen, give us a scouting report on Glen Perkins. What are your best pitches, and what is your main strike out pitch?

Glen Perkins:: A scouting report would be 3 pitches that I throw for strikes in any count. FB 89-94. I keep the ball down and change speeds but get mainly fly ball outs. Main strikeout pitch is my fastball. I think in the big leagues I will get more K’s with the curve.

Who did Perkins replace in the roster?

Nathan seems to thrive on pressure, my sister feels that he purposely puts guys on to ramp up the tension. His tics and facial twitches don't seem to be as bad this year but it's early. I still feel that he's the best closer the Twins have ever had.

[State Champ 97]

From the man himself:

BYTO: Glen, give us a scouting report on Glen Perkins. What are your best pitches, and what is your main strike out pitch?

Glen Perkins:: A scouting report would be 3 pitches that I throw for strikes in any count. FB 89-94. I keep the ball down and change speeds but get mainly fly ball outs. Main strikeout pitch is my fastball. I think in the big leagues I will get more K’s with the curve.

Who did Perkins replace in the roster?

Nathan seems to thrive on pressure, my sister feels that he purposely puts guys on to ramp up the tension. His tics and facial twitches don't seem to be as bad this year but it's early. I still feel that he's the best closer the Twins have ever had.

Thanks for that ChrisK. Perkins replaced Chris Heintz the third catcher on the roster.

[rbkhockey]

It's pretty embaressing when your closer (Nathan) hasn't had a 1-2-3 inning in 5 appearances. You should get that at least 5 times out of 10.

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

It's pretty embaressing when your closer (Nathan) hasn't had a 1-2-3 inning in 5 appearances. You should get that at least 5 times out of 10.

Spoiled aren't we?

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

Twins not looking good so far tonight. Johan had a little trouble in the 5th, but hasn't gotten any help from the bats. Crawford just got an inside the park HR on us... can't wait for tomorrow.