Denard Span News

The Minnesota Twins are running their first television commercial for the 2010 season, featuring Joe Mauer and other Twins being moved to the new stadium in much the way a family moves into a new home.

Now that everyone is starting to calm down over the initial reports of dealing fan-favorite Carlos Gomez for JJ Hardy, it's time to evaluate the trade from several angles.

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We don't know yet whether Joe Mauer will be selected the American League's Most Valuable Player.

Note: This is the fourth installment in a ten-part series analyzing the Twins' 2009 season.

The first season at Target Field will undoubtedly be full of excitement due to the return of outdoor baseball to Minnesota.

The purpose of getting Carlos Gomez into the Twins' starting lineup for Friday's Game 2 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium seemed to be two-fold. Take advantage of his defensive range in center, with the equally adept Denard Span moving to right and Jason Kubel sliding into the designated-hitter role.

Like every other team, the Minnesota Twins position a coach near third base to direct runners.

Reggie Jackson didn't give himself his most famous nickname; it actually came from a teammate.

At about 11 a.m. Monday, a sleepy, sore, bespectacled Joe Mauer ambled into the Twins clubhouse to do some packing, say some goodbyes and, to his chagrin, field a stream of questions about his hours-old offseason.

Alex Rodriguez hit a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning, and Mark Teixeira hit a laser shot in the 11th to lift the Yankees to a 4-3 win over the Twins in Game 2 of their American League Division Series.

I watch a lot of sports and I'm a pretty laid-back person, so it takes a rather unique play for me to respond with an audible "Wow!" But that's exactly what happened in the bottom of the eighth inning during the Yankees' American League Division Series clinching win over the Twins on Sunday night.

It was the first inning of the opening game of the American League Division Series on Wednesday night and Yankees starter was in trouble.

Start your morning off on the right foot and enjoy the magic that is Denard Span's frozen rope loogie.

Denard Span can still remember the bitter taste of the moment, one he now credits for helping him grow -- not just as a baseball player, but as a person.

Denard Span trudged in from right field. Carlos Gomez shuffled in from center. Around them, Yankee Stadium shook, and Mark Teixeira made his way around the bases with a walk-off dogpile awaiting him at home plate.

For the Twins, the new Yankee Stadium has yielded the same dismal results as the old one.

For Yankees manager Joe Girardi, the choice came down to having an extra pitcher or an extra pinch-runner. And after watching the Twins win their epic showdown against the Tigers on Tuesday night, the manager's decision became easier.

The tables might have been turned on the Minnesota Twins. For all their success at the Metrodome and the funny quirks that have swayed in their favor, the Twins have found playing at new Yankee Stadium just the opposite.

Jorge Posada might want to keep his mouth shut about not catching A.J. Burnett in Game 2. Posada suffered a passed ball in the first inning, allowing Denard Span to move from second to third.