Off Day Blues

This is the first post on this web site, but I have a few others on CBS.Sportsline.com, where I started this blog up Monday. Check 'em out! I'll be posting on both sites for another week or so, then moving full-time to this site. On with Thursday's post...

It's a quartet of losses for your hometown Twins! The day off couldn't come fast enough after an Alexi Casilla blooper cost the Twins an inning-ending double play (and the game) in the fifth inning yesterday. If you listened to or watched the game, you know that Glen Perkins proceeded to fall apart after the error, surrendering five runs before the sixth inning expired.

The Minnesota bats failed to show up this past series as well... they went a combined 24-99 (.242 BA) while leaving an eye-popping 45 men on base. FORTY-FIVE. Makes my stomach turn just to think about it.

Meanwhile, the three likely candidates to be sent to the bullpen to make room for Liriano each failed to make a case for their respective rotation spot. Perkins, Slowey and Blackburn were pretty bad at Yankee Stadium, which further muddles the situation... which one is going to move? All I know is I'm sick of writing about it, and a decision needs to be made.

The Twins send embattled starter Livan Hernandez to the hill to face AL All-Star starter Cliff Lee on Friday night in what could prove to be a decisive series for the Domers. Hopefully they can snap this awful four-game slide.

It's a short entry today, but there were some fun minor league rumbles last night:

• The Rochester Red Wings, a day after Liriano went nuts on Toledo, got an offensive explosion from CF Jason Pridie and C Ryan Jorgenson. Both players smacked a pair of homers to lead the Twins' Triple-A affiliate to a 9-6 victory. Keep your eye on Pridie as well - he's got 11 home runs and 19 steals, and has been one of the better speed/power guys in the minors over the past two seasons. In fact, he finished with 14 homers and 26 steals in AA and AAA action last year. This 24-year-old has been on fire in June and July with 10 homers and 10 SB with 23 RBI while batting .293 in 46 games. Pridie could certainly be a September call-up.
  
• Staying in Triple-A, Philip Humber has started to get going after a largely terrible year to date. He had a brief three-week stint in the bullpen after stinking it up on July 1 (eight earned runs in 1 2/3 innings), and bounced back with five scoreless innings last night. Humber allowed just five hits while striking out five, and hopefully is ready for a nice run of good outings.

Thanks again for reading, and enjoy the off day!