Spring Training Report: Game Three

Sad to say that tonight's game wasn't available on MLB.tv, but I did listen to it on Gameday Audio and so have a few comments to make:

1.) First things first - I'm glad to hear that Torii Hunter seems to be fine after Kyle Lohse drilled him in the back of the head. Frankly, I don't know whether I'd rather see something like that on TV or hear about it on radio - at least with TV, you can get an instant view of whether the guy is alright, while on radio you're forced to listen to the description. Although, with radio, you don't have to see it if anything truly bad happens (I'm flashing back right now to Kirby Puckett being drilled in the jaw). I'm sure Hunter will be fine, but if I were the Twins I wouldn't take any chancees, and I'd rest him for at least three days before I put him back in the lineup.

2.) Ramon Ortiz wasn't too bad, from the sounds of things. I had a bit of an audio issue and missed the first half inning of the game, but it sounds as if he threw just 6 pitches and didn't have any problems. He did give up a gap double and an RBI single in the 2nd inning, but I would take 1 run allowed every 2 innings from Ortiz - that would be an ERA of 4.50, in case your math is rusty - and that would be perfectly fine. More than fine, actually - it would be thrilling. The Twins will only be asking him (more than likely) to go about 6 innings in his starts anyway, so 3-4 runs allowed per start is not insurmountable. Not a great performance today, but not "Carlos Silva Bad" either. In fact, I'd go so far as to call tonight's start "encouraging." Now we just have to find out if he can do it again.

3.) Glen Perkins pitched the 3rd and 4th innings, and had an overall solid performance. He did give up a homerun, but it sounds as if that was wind-aided. And, frankly, everyone gives up a homer once in awhile - that's not going to kick him out of the competition for the fifth starter role by any means. However, you'll notice below that I have him listed as the big loser of the day . . . and there's a very simple reason for that. First, there were no other obvious candidates. Second, Matt Garza threw down the gauntlet on Wednesday, so Perkins respectable outing tonight still makes him look bad in comparison to Garza. Sort of an exercise in jogging in place.

4.) After three games, there are still several players who have yet to get involved in the springtime action. They are:
(1) Johan Santana (starting on Sunday)
(2) Boof Bonser (starting tomorrow)
(3) Sidney Ponson (starting a "B" game on Monday)
(4) J.D. Durbin (still getting his arm in game shape)
(5) Alexander Smit (also likely still strengthening his arm)
(6) Oswaldo Sosa
(7) Juan Rincon (still working on some things in bullpen sessions)
(8) Dennys Reyes (celebrating the birth of his child)
(9) Jose Mijares (left camp to be with his family after the death of his brother)
(10) Alejandro Machado (sore shoulder, according to LaVelle)

5.) Let's hope the guys get the bats going tomorrow when they face the Reds again, this time in Sarasota. Today was brutal - five singles was the extent of it. Gotta do better than that . . .

Today's Big Winner: Ramon Ortiz (see above)
Runner-Up: Pat Neshek (2 K's and just 13 pitches in a solid first inning of Spring)

Today's Big Loser: Glen Perkins (see above - not really any fault of his own)
Runner-Up: Torii Hunter (getting hit in the head can't be any fun)