Twins fans...first Johan Santana, then Francisco Liriano...and on deck...

[SaveElmer]

Matt Garza...

Gone from Single-A to AAA in half a season, Liriano like stuff. 98 mile an hour fastball....

3-hit the Top team in the International League tonight...

Look for him to get called up if Baker or Silva tank big time!!!

[CatholicEdHead]

1. Silva did decent tonight

so hold off on the callup unless Silva goes on the disabled list soon, as he has been fighting some nagging injury.

[SaveElmer]

2. My blood pressure always goes up...

When Silva is on the mound...

If that sinker is not working to perfection he can really get knocked around...

Perhaps if the Twins can unload Loshe in the next week ( I hear the Twins might still be in the Soriano chase), Garza could get called up to work middle relief!

[WeRQ4U]

3. I am REALLY excited about this guy.

I don't want them to rush him into it though. But it couldn't be much worse than our current 5th starter situation. Baker just isn't that great, Lohse is absolutely TERRIBLE and Bonzer showed that he wasn't quite ready yet.

Silva just labors this year. It's so odd. Last year he could pitch complete game shutouts on 85 pitches. This year he can barely get out of the 5th before losing touch. He's just lost the sinker almost altogether. He's been throwing more changeups lately, trying to keep people off kilter. He gets no ground balls anymore. I'm with you...I'm always on edge when Silva's out there. After hopping on Buerle early, all I could think about was the last time he and Silva matched up in Chicago...9 runs against Buerle in the 1st and we lost the damn game because Silva served up tater after tater after tater. He almost did it again.

[SaveElmer]

5. I know...

I had to close my eyes...but to his credit he sucked it up after the one bad inning.

That's the problem when you only have one really good pitch...

I'm hearing rumblings that the Twins are still in the Soriano sweepstakes...

Do you think Loshe, Ford, Perkins and Slowey might be worth it. It would all depend on whether Pohlad would actually try and sign him after this year. Too much to pay for a 2 month rental...but I thought now that he got the stadium a little wallet opening to show some goodwill might be in order

If they could dump Loshe, they could call up Garza to work middle relief...get him some playing time in the bigs without a ton of pressure! And if he handles it ok, stick him in the 5-spot. He could go back to the pen if the Twins make the playoffs (can't believe that is possible...amazing)

[WeRQ4U]

12. Those four wouldn't be a bad trade at all.

But, like you said, the problem would be signing him in the offseason and also getting him to park his ass in left field. He may not like that again. He'd be one hell of a rent a player though.

I'm not sure you mess with the chemistry TOO much though. Unless you can get someone with instant impact, like Soriano, then I say forget it unless it's a decent prospect for a Lohse or a Ford.

Anyway, I thought Chicago had all but sealed the deal on getting Soriano?

[SaveElmer]

13. I think that was a ruse...

To drive up the price...

White Sox need starting pitching...not another slugger...

Slowey is a great prospect...would be tough to part with...and Glenn Perkins has real potential...

And I think Ford, if given a chance to play every day would be a better than average player...high .200's

Nats would be getting some good players there!

[WeRQ4U]

14. They definitely would be getting a lot...

Especially for what may simply be rented for 75 games or so (If you make and do well in the playoffs).

There's also Carlos Lee as a possibility. They've been tossing his name around today quite a bit as well.

[SaveElmer]

16. Yeah I've heard that too..

And he may be easier to sign as well...

[WeRQ4U]

18. And like they said on ESPN tonight...

If he IS placed on the market, Soriano's price goes down dramatically. It helps even if you don't sign him.

[SaveElmer]

22. Well I trust Terry Ryan to do the right thing...

He makes the occasional boner (Tony Batista), but he can usually be depended on to do whats best...still can you imagine Liriano in that lineup?!!

[RevCheesehead]

4. Even though I'm not a baseball fan, let me just say,

"Go, Twinkies!"

This cheer brought to you by proxy of KitchenWitch, whom we all miss. :hi:

[SaveElmer]

6. Ahh...thanks!!!

I'll tell her you did that...whenever she gets back!

[RevCheesehead]

8. Well, she's gotta unpack.

I told her not to move, but she didn't listen to me. Something about wanting to live with her family. :eyes:

[oberliner]

7. Where is Brad Radke?

Is he no longer in the mix?

[SaveElmer]

11. He's still there...

He won last night...pitching pretty well...9-7

He is retiring after this year, so if Garza isn't up this year, there will be a slot for him next!

[WeRQ4U]

17. Still around.

Fastball locating well...still throws meatballs at least twice a game...getting better as the season progresses...guy you can always count on in the playoffs for a decent performance.

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Is there such a thing as a Twins fan?

:shrug: This mother of a rabid, Magglio Ordonez loving Tiger fan wants to know. ;) I'm kidding.

Good luck! :hi:

[SaveElmer]

10. Thanks...and watch your back...

Tigers are next!!!

[WeRQ4U]

20. Mother's don't let your babies grow up....

To be Tigers Fans.

;-)

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. I grew up on the Brewers...

No hope, no hope at all. I don't really watch, but ever since my daughter has become involved (Maggs coming to Detroit) it's been fun. :) Don't let WillPitt or matcom or any of them know I'm watching though, k?

I am really thrilled for the diehard Tigers fans who are few and far between. Everyone here is on the bandwagon now. :)

[WeRQ4U]

24. The Tigers are a great story this year.

And you're right...there can't be too many true fans left. It's tough to stay in touch with a team that bad. Believe me, I was a Twins fan in the 90's.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. Hey! I've been a Packers fan my whole life...

...because I wanted to be able to talk to my dad. ;)

[Strawman]

15. Tigers fan, a little worried about the tomorrow night's pitching matchup

Miner, who has struggled lately vs. Liriano.

We have to face Liriano and Santana and you guys don't have to face Verlander who just beat Cleveland yesterday. Bonderman vs. Santana this Sunday should be a great matchup.

[ScreamingMeemie]

But, Miner is doing excellent for a rookie pitcher...plus he's got a

bullpen of slingers behind him. :hi:

I am looking forward to Sunday's game even though my daughter is the fan. Bonderman reminds me a little of Eminem. :hi:


6 wins and 2 losses is a pretty good record for a rookie starter.

[SaveElmer]

19. I think the Twins rearranged the pitching rotation...

Just for that reason!

It's gonna be a big series...

Proof of just how good the Twins have been lies in the fact that the Tigers are still hot, and have lost 4.5 games of their lead on the Twins!

[WeRQ4U]

23. Actually, I predict a battle of bullpens...

Liriano, although electric at times, throws a LOT of pitches lately. He stuck out a zillion but lasted only 5 innings last outing. If Miner gets roughed up early, we could see who's vaunted relievers comes out on top. Beware of Neshek...that sidearm has been filthy so far.

[SaveElmer]

26. Yeah Neshek is another....

Someone in the scouting department deserves a raise....


Didn't Liriano go 8 2/3 last time out?

[WeRQ4U]

27. Nope, that was against Tampa

He almost got the shutout but got yanked after giving up a run in the 9th.

He went 5 innings against cleveland after throwing 95 pitches.

[SaveElmer]

28. Right...

The older I get the faster time flies by!