Greetings from Target Field where Boston College product Pat Dean (1-2, 4.75 ERA) will be facing the Boston Red Sox, Byron Buxton is coming off of a game where he took a 12-pitch at-bat and Byung Ho Park will be sitting.
“Pat’s got Massachusetts ties and everything, I’m sure it’s gonna be a big day for him pitching against the Red Sox,” said Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor, “but we need him to give us some length, our bullpen’s a little bit depleted, as it’s been most of the year, but try to find a way to win.”
Dean will be facing righty Rick Porcello (7-2, 4.04 ERA), who spent the first six seasons of his major career with the division rival Detroit Tigers.
“We’re facing a guy we’ve had a lot of experience against, a lot of guys have a lot of at-bats,” said Molitor. “So hopefully we can score some, and Pat gets us deep into the game.”
Byung Ho Park will sit today, and Robbie Grossman and Joe Mauer have been flip-flopped again. Also Juan Centeno is getting the start over Kurt Suzuki.
Park gets the day off
Byung Ho Park has been scuffling at the plate lately, striking out eight times in the past three games and is only hitting .212/.298/.451 on the season.
“We talk a lot about how the game can beat you up a little bit, and the strikeouts, more frequent as of late. You see a couple times where you hit some balls good prior to the last couple days,” said Molitor.
“But I think he’s just really battling his confidence and trying to make adjustments day-to-day to who he might be facing. We’ll give him the day, and decide how we want to go forward and get him back on track a little bit better.”
Asked if Molitor is playing Park, rather than Joe Mauer, at first to keep him mentally engaged, Molitor demurred, saying it’s more of an effort to keep Mauer in the lineup.
“It’s looking at the stretch of games, staying it touch with Joe, but trying to keep him in there everyday for the most part, and I think the best way to get the most at-bats out of Joe is to DH him when I can — some of these days and things like that,” he said.
“I think Park enjoys playing defense, and he’s done okay over the for the most part. The other night wasn’t his best, but I don’t have any … it doesn’t scare me to have to put Park at first base, it’s just one of those things where I can keep Joe fresh. That’s probably a good thing.”
Max Kepler also has played first recently, a position he hasn’t played since Double-A.
“We’ve talked to him about the possibility of having to get over there from time-to-time — we’re limited in our bench options,” said Molitor.
“He’s played enough to where he should be okay in short spurts, whether it’s a couple innings in a given day. I don’t envision him starting over there. I guess it could happen, but I get into a situation where I gotta pinch hit, depending on who I have on the bench that day. as it was yesterday.”
Buxton’s 12-pitch at-bat
Byron Buxton has been a wizard on the field and possesses superhuman speed, but his bat has held the uberprospect back early in his career. Last night he had a 12-pitch at-bat that resulted in a walk, a sign things are turning around.
“It’s a continuing sign or trend that his at-bats are improving — pitches seen, fouling pitches off, understanding the strike zone to finish it off,” said Molitor.
“We’ve seen some at-bats where a two-strike approach seems to be better. Yesterday he was able to finish it off with a walk, which was good to see.
“I think that affirms him a little bit in some of the things that he’s trying to get done.”
Wonky schedule
The Minnesota Twins have a quick three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, which does not include a getaway day on Wednesday, meaning they will play a 9:10 pm central game and then have to get back to the Twin Cities for a 7:10 pm matchup against the New York Yankees the next day.
“They give you a schedule, and you’ve gotta play it. I used to think it was kind of part of the challenge,” said Molitor. “You get into a city at 3:00 am, 5:00 am, you’ve gotta play the next day. Okay, what are you made of? Let’s go.”
“So I kinda look at it that way. It’s not the best scenario, you’d like to see a day game out there in Anaheim on Wednesday, obviously”
Kyle Gibson will remain in Minnesota in order to be prepared for his start on Thursday.
On the Neil Allen situation
Molitor says he and suspended pitching coach Niel Allen, who had a relapse and DWI in late May, talk or text almost every day.
“I’ve seen him face-to-face, he looks good,” said Molitor. “He’s doing what he needs to do, and hopefully he’s taking care of what he needs to take care of, and we hope to see him back.”
Asked if he and interim pitching coach Eric Rasmussen speak, Molitor says he doesn’t know.
“I know Eddie’s been over there a bunch and talks to him,” he said. “I’m not sure if him and Raz have had a lot of communication.”
Allen remains in Minnesota, and the Twins have not ruled out bringing him back this year.
Molitor and Arcia have not talked after flub
Oswaldo Arcia was visibly distressed after dropping a fly ball he should have had after calling off Byron Buxton last night. Molitor says he has not talked to him about it yet.
“I’m sure Butch [Davis] has,” said Molitor, referring to Minnesota’s first base coach. “What do you say? Take 101 fly balls instead of 100? I don’t know what you say.”
Asked what he should do about a player who routinely makes mistakes in the field, Molitor said he didn’t have a great answer for that.
“I don’t think I have an answer to that. You can only work on what you work on, and you get out there, and you get a chance to make plays,” he said.
“If you’re young, you’re probably gonna get more opportunities. And if you put your work in, you’re probably gonna get more opportunities.
Injury report
Miguel Sano is hitting off a tee.
“He is testing stronger,” said Molitor. “I think the activity level will just keep increasing because he says he feels good in doing what he’s doing. So when you feel good, you keep adding on.
“Danny [Santana] I think is still slated to maybe go out tomorrow,” he added. “Perkins has not established exactly what he’s gonna do here, as far as potentially getting a second opinion and doing some other things like that.”
