We're Comin'!!!

I was sitting on 94 going east last night during innings 7, 8 and 9 of Slowey's complete-game shutout last night, and I have to be honest... I didn't expect it. And I'm not sure anyone did. The guy had allowed 15 runs in his past three trips to the mound (9.00 ERA), and looked nothing like the starter who blanked Milwaukee on June 29. But we were all wrong. Thing is, being wrong never felt so good! 

The Twins knocked off Chicago 7-0 last night on the strength of Denard Span's first MLB homer and Morneau's 17th of the year. Gotta like the longball accounting for our runs once in awhile. And it was good to see Carlos Gomez jump into the mix as a defensive replacement late last night. He even hit a solid single (not a bunt!). The team said he might not play till next series, but I knew better! Crazy overprotective management.

One gigantic step forward for the Twins... three more sizable hurdles to come. It's Glen Perkins (7-3, 4.08 ERA) vs. lefty Chris Richard (0-0, 9.00 ERA) going at 7:10 CST tonight, and it should be a fun one.

Finally, a Michael Cuddyer update from Lavelle E. Neal of the Star Tribune - Cuddyer put a glove on his hand for the first time since June 28, and took 25 soft swings. He'll need more pain-free days before he can go on a rehab assignment, but the good news is that he's progressing. Mid-August is still a possibility, but it's looking more like late August for a return, at this point.

No update on the "Liriano" front, but with the trade deadline looming this weekend, there's a good chance he joins the team within the next seven days. He's scheduled to pitch for Rochester this Friday vs. the best team in the International League this year, Pawtucket (Red Sox). 

Trade notes: 

I'll be doing a "trade notes" sub-section of this blog until August 1st, and I'll update this part of the post as I get information. 

11:53 a.m. - LaTroy Hawkins might be in a Twins uniform to "help" out the bullpen. I'm not a fan of this rumor, or the man named. For the Twins to even consider bringing Hawkins back, he'd have to promise not to throw ONE pitch. Just moral support . 

Minor League notes: 

• Fort Myers OF Eli Tintor has a 11-game hitting streak going right now, and has hit .378 with one homer over that stretch, raising his average from .250 to .279  in just two weeks. 
• SP Phil Humber picked up his second win in a row last night, pitching 7 2/3 impressive innings for Rochester. Humber struck out 10 batters and allowed three runs on five hits. 
• Our favorite minor league speed and power guy, Rochester OF Jason Pridie, stole his twentieth base last night and belted two hits to raise his average to .259 on the season. Seems to be heating up... over his four-game hit streak, Pridie is batting .389. 
• I mentioned him earlier last week, but Jonathan Waltenbury is on FIRE for the rookie league Elizabethton Twins. He's homered in three straight games including last night's contest, and has a nice little seven-game hitting streak going (.428 over that span).