That had to be your best birthday ever Candace!
Posted by: Renae at August 21, 2005 09:55 PMHappy birthday Candace! I can only hope your next birthday can somehow top this one!
Posted by: ndtf at August 21, 2005 09:59 PMHAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!
Jealousy I must add, jealousy.
Yeah, that was the best birthday ever. There were a lot of things to go right on that day. Minus the game, but hey, Lew hit a solo home run! :-D
I don't think any birthday can top this one! :)
Posted by: Candace at August 22, 2005 12:21 AMAnd thank you!!! :)
Posted by: Candace at August 22, 2005 12:21 AMHappy Birthday, Candace! I'm glad you got to meet Michael for your birthday!!
Posted by: Just Beth at August 22, 2005 08:49 AMHappy Birthday Candace--any day where you get to see a Twins player up close and personal is a good day, Make it Michael and his smile---well I am not going to say this is as good as it gets, but good luck trying have a better birthday next year!
Posted by: Sandee at August 22, 2005 11:28 AMNotes: Twins reportedly claim Soriano
08/21/2005 2:30 PM ET
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS -- According to a report in Sunday's Fort Worth Star Telegram, the Twins have claimed second baseman Alfonso Soriano off waivers and have until Monday to work out a trade.
The claim probably wouldn't yield a deal with Texas, the newspaper reported, but was likely done to block another contending club from acquiring Soriano. However, talks were believed to have started up again between the two clubs.
In the days and hours leading up to the July 31 non-waivers trade deadline, the Twins were in discussions with the Rangers to deal for Soriano to improve their lineup.
Those talks broke off when Texas demanded top prospects, namely left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano. Before the deadline, Minnesota was reportedly offering veteran pitchers J.C. Romero, Kyle Lohse and Joe Mays.
Soriano entered Sunday batting .282 with 30 home runs and 84 RBIs this season. If a team places a player on waivers, it has up to 48 hours to make a trade. If one can't be reached, the player can be pulled back or let go to the claiming club. Once a player is pulled back, he can't be dealt for the rest of the season.
When contacted about the report, Twins general manager Terry Ryan declined to comment.
Other than what he read in the newspaper, manager Ron Gardenhire hadn't heard of any impending moves involving Soriano.
"Terry hasn't told me anything," Gardenhire said. "I'm sure if something was going on, he'd say something to me."
Coincidentally, Liriano struck out 12 batters over seven scoreless innings with four hits and a walk allowed in Triple-A Rochester's 3-2 win over Pawtucket on Saturday. The 21-year-old is 8-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 12 games for the Red Wings.
Over his head: An odd situation developed in the seventh inning of Minnesota's 8-3 win over Seattle when rookie reliever Clint Nageotte skied his first pitch over Lew Ford's head and was immediately ejected by home plate umpire Larry Poncino.
Ford hit a three-run home run in his previous at-bat and had three homers for the series. Using discretion from the league crack-down on head-hunting, Poncino skipped the warning and went straight to ejecting the pitcher.
Catcher Yorvit Torrelaba told Ford the pitch was an accident. Nageotte was called up from the Minors late Saturday night.
"I told him I understood," Ford said. "I wouldn't have cared if he had hit me, as long as it wasn't in the head."
Gardenhire has been handed several ejections in his career because of his loathing for bench warnings after plunkings. He had no issue with Poncino's decision, but also knew it wasn't an intentional pitch.
"He looked like he spun out on the mound and let it fly," Gardenhire said. "I don't know what really happened. I feel really bad for that kid. He threw one pitch. He's going to get fined. And he's going to get suspended."
Playing through: Jacque Jones entered Sunday 0-for-11 with seven strikeouts since he returned from sitting out with a strained right oblique muscle. While still bothered by the injury, Jones told the club he wants to play through it and not go on the disabled list.
And that's OK with the club.
"I'm sure he's not 100 percent, but it's not to a point where he needs to be put on [the DL]," Ryan said.
"I don't think it has anything to do with him swinging or missing," Gardenhire said. "I think he's just not seeing the ball well."
Jones snapped his skid, which was 0-for-16 overall, with a single in the second inning Sunday.
Twins briefs: Left fielder Shannon Stewart, who came down with leg cramps in Saturday's loss to Seattle, was fine Sunday and back in the starting lineup.
With Joe Mauer in the lineup as the DH, hot-hitting slugger Matthew LeCroy was shifted to first base and gave Justin Morneau a rest. LeCroy has hit safely in seven of his last eight games with three home runs.
Coming up: After an off-day Monday, the Twins get another look at the White Sox for three games. Minnesota, which swept three games at Chicago last week, will start Johan Santana against Freddy Garcia.
Venezuelan television sets will likely be tuned in to watch two of the nation's biggest baseball stars. Santana and Garcia both began in the Astros farm system together and played winter ball on the same teams.
"It's always good for our country," said Santana, who is 5-1 with a 1.82 ERA in his last seven starts. "I don't know who they're going to root for but it's going to be entertaining. We know we're enemies as professionals, but we're also friends. I wish him the best, but hopefully it will be our day."
The last time the two pitchers faced each other was Sept. 14, 2004, when Santana allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings in a 10-2 victory.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Happy belated birthday, Candace!
Posted by: Skorch at August 22, 2005 12:59 PMMays? Romero? AND Lohse? I don't know... Kyle's been pitching pretty well lately.
Posted by: Haplo at August 22, 2005 01:00 PMDearest Mr. Plo,
Lohse and Romero didn't clear waivers and cannot be traded. Please see Twins Geek today (http://www.twinsgeek.com/ ) for the whole story.
Sincerely,
BG
Happy Birthday Candace!!
Posted by: Mrs Mauer at August 22, 2005 01:04 PMSelig is an ass; this message was not approved by the office of the commisioner of baseball or any major leage teams, though it's still true
Posted by: Dan in London at August 22, 2005 01:23 PMOh, and a happy belated birthday, Candace!
Posted by: mk at August 22, 2005 05:09 PMCandace-
I'm sure Lew won player of the week as a birthday gift to you too!
Happy Birthday Candace!!
Isn't Cuddy the sweetest??? My sister and I met him at Cub in Monticello-we have a great picture with him. He was soooooo nice to us! What a great birthday present!
