Diamondbacks vs Twins Series Thread

[WizardOfAz]

KEY MATCHUP

Luis Gonzalez never has made an out against Twins closer Joe Nathan: five plate appearances, two home runs, one single and two walks. Gonzalez hits third in the Diamondbacks order, and he's seeing good pitches batting in front of Troy Glaus and Shawn Green. Nathan took the loss Saturday, when he gave up a 10th-inning run against the New York Yankees.


TWINS UPDATE

After going 4-2 on a homestand against the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees, the Twins climbed a season-high 11 games over .500 at 33-22. But they need to get healthy. Joe Mauer (strained left groin) and Shannon Stewart (bruised left calf) should return to the lineup tonight. Justin Morneau (sore left elbow) and Juan Castro (strained left ankle) are questionable.


DIAMONDBACKS UPDATE

Arizona is enjoying a turnaround season after losing 111 games last year, but the Diamondbacks had a five-game losing streak before they beat Philadelphia on Monday. Arizona needed a spot starter for Wednesday's game after playing a doubleheader Saturday, so it picked Vargas, who was waived last month by the Washington Nationals.


http://www.startribune.com/stories/509/5443107.html

 

[Dback Jon]

Beat them Twinkies!!

 

[WizardOfAz]

I was just looking at the stats page on MLB.com and the Twins have a pretty good pitching staff. They lead the majors in fewest walks allowed (92) and, not surprisingly, they have the lowest ERA in MLB (3.32).

 

[MigratingOsprey]

I'll be there tonight

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[AZCB34]

I was just looking at the stats page on MLB.com and the Twins have a pretty good pitching staff. They lead the majors in fewest walks allowed (92) and, not surprisingly, they have the lowest ERA in MLB (3.32).

They also have something like the 4th or 5th best record in the league right now too. These Twins aren't slouches.

Radke v Estes
Santana v Vargas (?)
Lohse v Vazquez

Dbacks may be lucky to get one win this series.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Santana v Vargas (?)

NL Notebook: Arizona picks up two pitchers

6/4/2005

The Arizona Diamondbacks added two pitchers yesterday, getting reliever Matt Herges in a trade with San Francisco and claiming starter Claudio Vargas off waivers from Washington.

The Diamondbacks sent minor-league outfielder Doug DeVore to the Giants for Herges.

Herges was designated for assignment Sunday, a day after San Francisco acquired reliever LaTroy Hawkins in a trade with the Chicago Cubs. Herges, 35, was 1-1 with a 4.71 ERA in 21 games for the Giants this season.

Vargas, 25, was 0-3 with a 9.24 ERA in four starts with the Nationals. He began the year on the disabled list with a sprained right elbow and was activated May 10. He was designated for assignment by Washington May 26.

The past three seasons with Montreal, he was 11-16 with a 5.03 ERA in 72 appearances, 38 starts. In 34 relief appearances, he was 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA.

Herges and Vargas will join the team today in Philadelphia. The Diamondbacks will have to make two roster moves at that time.

DeVore will report to Class AAA Fresno.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05155/515905.stm

 

[Lefty]

Great start, 4-0 Diamondbacks after one. Gonzo, Green and Clayton with the rbi's.

 

[Lefty]

Koplove comes in and gives up a 2-run single solid hit up the middle as the Twins tie it. He then balks.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Torii Hunter just yoked one to deep left. I love watching the Twins play but not against the Dbacks. 6-5 Twinkies.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

The front office tried to solve the bullpen problem from within and that didn't work. It's looking more and more like scavenging the dead carcasses left by other teams isn't working either. Anybody got any more ideas other than praying Lyon and Aquino are healthy?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Tony F'ing Clark.

8-8 in bottom of the 8th.

 

[Lefty]

Tony Clark does it again!!! 3-run homer to tie it. Bear Down Tony! You are the best pickup the Diamondbacks had during the offseason.

 

[CardinalLaw]

Unbelivable is an understatement for Clark.

Keep it up.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Cintron = moron

Valverde ain't much better

 

[CardinalLaw]

Nice!!!

 

[Lefty]

Crap. Dumb play by Cintron and now the go ahead hit.

 

[devilalum]

Cintron = moron

Valverde ain't much better

Who was it that wanted to see Cintron in the field everyday?

As bad as Clayton may be at the plate he would have tagged Hunter out at least one out of two tries.

 

[CardinalLaw]

Have no fear Gonzo is here.

 

[Lefty]

What has happened to Glaus?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

That was pathetic. How much further can our garbage bullpen take us away from the division leader until meaningful changes are made? I'm going to chalk up tomorrow's Johan Santana vs. Claudio Vargas matchup as a loss so Vazquez has to be a stopper on Thursday.

 

[Lefty]

I bet some of those pitchers the Diamondbacks took today will be tried as relievers.

Scott Hairston is hitting very well in Tucson. Maybe they can package a deal of Hairston, Cintron and Koplove to someone for pitching help.

 

[CardinalLaw]

That was pathetic. How much further can our garbage bullpen take us away from the division leader until meaningful changes are made? I'm going to chalk up tomorrow's Johan Santana vs. Claudio Vargas matchup as a loss so Vazquez has to be a stopper on Thursday.

Well 1 out of 3 ain't bad.

Hopefully they bounce back.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Tony F'ing Clark.

11 game hitting streak!

 

[AZZenny]

Scott Hairston is hitting very well in Tucson. Maybe they can package a deal of Hairston, Cintron and Koplove to someone for pitching help.

Hairston is playing very solid OF and is flat raking in Tucson. I'd like to see him up here next time any of our OF get dinged up because we know his bat translates decently up here. He has also been working on more disciplined strike zone judgment with good effect - they were saying he tended to reach for outside pitches even when he knew better, and now he just watches them go by and waits for his pitch - can't help but see Conor's influence in that. If Terrero's groin ache turns out to be DL-able, could be real soon. Hairston may be a definite keeper after all, in the OF.

Hmmm - who in their right mind would want to take Koplove off our hands? We'd have to PAY some team a prospect to take him.

Glaus had a great April - but May he's sucked, and he looks very discouraged. I noticed he was shaking out his right shoulder a couple times last night, plus he has that knee strain - maybe he should just go on the 15-day, let Cintron play 3rd, bring up Scotty...or let Tracy play 3rd and start Clark.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Tough loss last night. Fortunatley, the D'backs did not lose any ground as every NL West team lost to their AL Central opponent.

KC really kicked the Giants at Pac Bell - surprised me.