The Good:
Justin Morneau: Morneau has been on an absolute tear this season and even more so in the month of May: .400 AVG/ 6 HR/ 19 RBI .496 OBP. Morneau currently leads the league in hitting with a .377 AVG overall.
Denard Span: Span didn’t get off to the start most had hoped for but he has been turning it on as of late with a .353 AVG in May with 10 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Span was hitting just .211 in April with 9 RBI and 6 stolen bases. He also improved his on base percentage to .403 from .339 in April.
Nick Blackburn: After a brutal start in April (1-1 with a 6.85 ERA) he has been on fire in the month of May going 5-0 with a 2.65 ERA.
Team batting AVG: .283 – 4th in MLB
63 doubles – T-1st in MLB
12 Errors – Fewest in MLB
16-12 in May with a current five game win streak
15 wins by starters
The Bad:
Joe Mauer – Mauer is hitting “just” .293 in May with 1 HR and 11 RBI versus .414 in May of ’09 with 11 HR and 32 RBI.
Jim Thome – .217 AVG in May with just 7 RBI and 1 HR. Although he lacks the plate appearances and opportunities he is still disappointing so far this year in the power and run production.
Francisco Liriano – Liriano was the AL Pitcher of the Month in April going 3-0 with a microscopic .93 ERA in April but is 2-3 with a 5.15 ERA in May.
Jon Rauch – 7-for-8 saves with a 4.09 ERA in May vs. 1.80 ERA in April going 6-for-7 in saves. Rauch was fantastic in April but the saves have gotten a little more nerve racking ever since.
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The Minnesota Twins will continue their search for starting pitching. Today’s deadline to reach a deal with the Cubs for Rich Harden came and went with the two clubs unable to agree on terms. The Twins other interest in Brad Penny has also evaporated as the San Francisco Giants snagged the righty from the Red Sox.
Since the Twins were unable to land either starter they will have to look to the current, inconsistent rotation to carry them to the division title. The struggling Nick Blackburn (8-9) takes the mound tonight against the White Sox as they look to cut the Tigers’ lead to 3.5 games as the Tigers lost earlier tonight.
The ever changing Minnesota rotation will see Armando Gabino make his major league debut against the Orioles Tuesday night. Gabino has made a majority of his minor league appearances as a relief pitcher, but as of late has gone 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA as a starter.
It’s hard to say what the Twins are expecting from Gabino as their options are fairly limited at this point with Swarzak being demoted and Liriano landing on the DL. The Twins will be happy if Gabino can eat up some innings and put the Twins in a position to win. He will have to battle some nerves as he tries to help the Twins carry on their four game winning streak.
Gabino will be facing the Orioles’ lefty Brian Matusz (2-2, 6.75 ERA).
UPDATE: Gabino only lasted 2.2 innings giving up four earned runs on 5 hits while walking 3. He now holds a 13.50 ERA.
Justin Morneau will return to the Twins lineup tonight to face righty Chris Tillman and the Baltimore Orioles. Morneau missed six games battling an ear infection that was causing dizziness. The Twins look to keep their three game winning streak alive tonight against the Orioles at Dome.
UPDATE: Morneau went 0-for-2 with two walks in his return to the lineup.
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