twins get back a needed bat in the lineup today....
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Ortiz coming back today
BY GORDON WITTENMYER
After Friday night's shutout loss to Seattle, the Twins decided to stop waiting for designated hitter David Ortiz to get his timing back in the minors and announced he'll be activated from the disabled list today.
It was one of four moves announced Friday night, including the recall from Class AA New Britain of Australian-born pitcher Grant Balfour, who will go into the Twins' bullpen and return the pitching staff to 12 strong.
To make room on the roster, the Twins optioned infielder Casey Blake and outfielder Quinton McCracken to Class AAA Edmonton.
Another move to clear space on the 40-man roster must be made before Ortiz joins the team today. That could mean the release of a pitcher or the dropping of a minor leaguer from the roster.
The bigger deal is getting the burly Ortiz back in the lineup. He was hitting .311 with six homers when he broke his wrist sliding into home May 4 at Kansas City. He's so strong and was swinging so well at the time that he homered in the at-bat after breaking the wrist, then left the game.
"Getting Ortiz back is huge," said Joe Mays, who sustained the loss Friday. "It puts a little fire in us. It's another log on the fire."
Ortiz has been healthy for weeks, but until Friday night he struggled during his minor league rehabilitation assignment. In eight games since being transferred from Class A to AA New Britain, he was batting .188 until going 3 for 5 with a double Friday.
Balfour, who will become the second native Australian to pitch for the Twins this season when he makes his major league debut, was 2-1 with a 1.10 earned-run average and 13 saves in 49 innings of relief pitching at New Britain.
McCracken was hitting .219 in 24 games for the Twins, and Blake .318 in 13.
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Ortiz coming back today
BY GORDON WITTENMYER
After Friday night's shutout loss to Seattle, the Twins decided to stop waiting for designated hitter David Ortiz to get his timing back in the minors and announced he'll be activated from the disabled list today.
It was one of four moves announced Friday night, including the recall from Class AA New Britain of Australian-born pitcher Grant Balfour, who will go into the Twins' bullpen and return the pitching staff to 12 strong.
To make room on the roster, the Twins optioned infielder Casey Blake and outfielder Quinton McCracken to Class AAA Edmonton.
Another move to clear space on the 40-man roster must be made before Ortiz joins the team today. That could mean the release of a pitcher or the dropping of a minor leaguer from the roster.
The bigger deal is getting the burly Ortiz back in the lineup. He was hitting .311 with six homers when he broke his wrist sliding into home May 4 at Kansas City. He's so strong and was swinging so well at the time that he homered in the at-bat after breaking the wrist, then left the game.
"Getting Ortiz back is huge," said Joe Mays, who sustained the loss Friday. "It puts a little fire in us. It's another log on the fire."
Ortiz has been healthy for weeks, but until Friday night he struggled during his minor league rehabilitation assignment. In eight games since being transferred from Class A to AA New Britain, he was batting .188 until going 3 for 5 with a double Friday.
Balfour, who will become the second native Australian to pitch for the Twins this season when he makes his major league debut, was 2-1 with a 1.10 earned-run average and 13 saves in 49 innings of relief pitching at New Britain.
McCracken was hitting .219 in 24 games for the Twins, and Blake .318 in 13.
