Sunday's spring training game against the Yankees was televised here in Minneapolis, so some Twins fans got their first chance to see the team play this year. Here's a few observations from watching the game.
*Boof Bonser is noticeably thinner than last year. In the long run run, that should pay off in increased stamina and strength as the season wears on. Sunday, though, the most evident thing about Bonser was his inability to get his breaking ball over the plate. The result was a second inning with two walks, two hits, and three runs scored. No wonder Boof was seen in the bullpen workiong on his control immediately after leaving the game after three innings pitched.
*With Delmont Young in left and Michael Cuddyer in right, the Twins may have the best throwing outfield that Twims fans have seen in years. Cuddyer didn't polay Sunday, but in the second inning Young fielded a hard-hit ball down the left field line and came up throwing. His no bounce, on a rope throw to second base held the hitter to a single and was a thing of beauty.
*Although the Twins eventually rallied for two runs each in the eighth and ninth innings, the story for the Twins offensively was one of futility at the plate. Two at bats in particular, when Carlos Gomez and Jason Pridie each came up in successive innings with the bases loaded and two outs were disappointingly reminiscent of last year's hitting woes. In each case the result was the same, a routine, inning-ending ground ball.
Keywords: Carlos Gomez, Delmont Young, Jason Pridie, Michael Cuddyer, twins, Yankees
