It's About Damn Time

Welcome back to the action, Justin Morneau.

After being sidelined by a season ending concussion just before he was set to play in the All-Star game last July, Justin Morneau FINALLY played ball today. During the first half of the 2010 season, the Twins first baseman was on his way to another MVP caliber season, batting .345, hitting 18 bombs, and 56 RBI before sliding headfirst into the knee of Toronto shortstop John MacDonald.

Our Canadian Crusher played in his first game this spring in a B-squad game against the Pirates. His first at bat was nothing to write home about, other than he actually had a first at bat. But on his second trip to the plate, he cracked a bases loaded double. Welcome back, indeed.

Morneau is in Justin Bieber's Wolfpack

I'm sorry, but this made me laugh super hard. Thanks to @anniekiecker for re-tweeting this gem.

Of course, RandBall beat us to the Bieber punch[line]: If the Twins walk up to bat tonight to Justin Bieber songs.

Justin Morneau: Pumping Iron with Grizzly Bears

Canadian Crusher Out for the Season

Due to a stress fracture in his lower back, Justin Morneau’s season is over.

The Minnesota Twins first baseman hurt himself while attempting a Nick Punto-style headfirst slide into first base last Friday, but has been playing through the pain much longer than that.

The good news for my Canadian Crusher and the Twins is that he doesn't need surgery. In fact, all he's supposed to do is rest for the next few months. Morneau, batting .274 on the season with 30 bombs and 100 RBIs says he's "99% sure" he'll be ready to play at his team's spankin' new stadium this Spring.

It Ain't Over Til It's Over

Three hours, 32 minutes, 39 hits and 27 runs. Yikes.

Justin Morneau crushed a carer-high seven RBIs, but it wasn't enough to stifle Matt Holiday's bat and some horrible Minnesota Twins pitching Monday night. A combined eight longballs, including two grand slams, made up the Oakland Athletics' 14-13 dramatic rally.

Combined with the Cleveland Indians' 11-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays back in May, this crazy game marked the first time two teams overcame 10-run deficits in the same season since 1989.

Busy, busy day today... see ya tomorrow! I know, I'll miss you too.

[Star Tribune] | [Twins MVB] | [Cheap Seat Chronicles]

No Morneau in This Year's Homer Derby

My Canadian Crusher has declined his invitation to the 24th Annual Home Run Derby, to be held next Monday night on ESPN.

"They asked me yesterday," Justin Morneau said. "I said I wasn't going to do it."

And that's that.

Josh Hamilton to Return After All-Star Break

Josh Hamilton thanks you for drafting him so early.

The Texas Rangers outfielder will sit out for the next 5-7 weeks after undergoing surgery today to repair a partial tear in an abdominal muscle. Hamilton, injured May 17th after making a leaping catch and crashing into an outfield wall against the Los Angeles Angels, landed on the disabled list last week.

That's a Dozen Cousin

Of course the last All-Star game ever to be played at the historic Yankee Stadium went into extra innings. Would we have it any other way? I'm sure a few of the folks in the sellout crowd of 55,632 who paid over $700 per lower club ticket appreciate the free baseball.

Among poor pitching and bench management on both counts (12 NL pitchers, 11 AL hurlers and 63 players in all) the longest All-Star game in history saw a record-setting night for both teams, who recorded 34 strikeouts and left 28 men on base.

Holy Smokes, Eh?

Josh Hamilton's awesomeness knows no bounds.

The Texas Rangers center fielder's impressive, 28-bomb first-round performance in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium Monday night shattered the previous record of 24 set by Bobby Abreu in 2005. He nailed a few more going into the final round against Minnesota Twins slugger Justin Morneau, who hit 8 in the first and 9 in the Semis.

And I Got Mad Hits Like I Was Rod Carew

Justin Morneau (a.k.a My Canadian Crusher) matched a career high Thursday afternoon by going 5-for-5 with a walk to aid in the Minnesota Twins come-from-behind victory over the Detroit Tigers in the first of a four-game set, halting the club's three-game skid.

After crushing a 425-foot double to deep center in the eighth, a ball that may have been gone in just about any park but Comerica, Morneau lined a two-out bomb into the right-field seats in the 11th to give Minnesota a 7-5 lead.

The extra-inning heroics, made possible by Todd Jones' mustache, came after the closer failed to convert a save for just the second time in 18 opportunities. Nick Punto -- WHO IS BATTING .320 -- singled to lead off the ninth and ended up scoring on a single from Denard Span, who went 4-for-4 with his hot bat that he's been swinging ever since being called up to replace the injured Michael Cuddyer in right. Span was awarded third after the ball got away from Matt Joyce and crossed home on Joe Mauer’s pinch-hit sac fly that tied the game.

Joyeux Anniversaire!

Justin Morneau,

You're fricking awesome. Since you're my Canadian Crusher, I thought I'd learn how to wish you a Happy Birthday in French.

Ummm... fin.

Babes Love Lumberjacks

Justin Morneau went 3-for-4 with a walk, a run, a grand slam and five RBIs for the Minnesota Twins Friday night in their extra-inning loss to the Texas Rangers. This more or less is a good enough reason to post his picture, even though they lost. You did all you could, buddy.

In other Twins news, struggling lefty Francisco Liriano was sent packing for the AAA Rochester Red Wings Friday after sucking like you would not believe since returning to the rotation.

And by "sucking," I mean posting an 11.32 ERA over 10.1 innings -- 3 starts -- all of which he lost.

During his latest debacle, Liriano couldn't even make it out of the first inning alive. He surrendered six runs and failed to locate that pesky thing umpires like to refer to as the strike zone. Time to rehab, pal. Seriously, this time.

Right-handed closer Bobby Korecky (2-1, 0.68 ERA) was recalled from Rochester to take Liriano’s place on the roster. He's jut a little guy, but he pitches like a bean pole.

[MLB]

Is it Hot in Here?

Curtsey to the boys over at [Home Run Derby]

Twins Marry Justin Morneau

My Canadian Crusher, Justin Morneau and the Minnesota Twins have finally taken the plunge, tying the knot on a six-year, $80 million deal Friday. Chalk that up to the longest and richest contract in franchise history, and you have yourself one pumped up slugger.

The 26-year-old lumberjack first baseman, who reportedly turned down a four-year, $33 million offer from the Twins last winter, settled on arbitration after signing a one-year deal worth $7.5 million a week ago. Morneau hit .271 with 31 homers and 111 RBIs in 2007, a year after winning the AL MVP award.

The Twins also signed cannon-armed right fielder Michael Cuddyer to a three-year, $24 million deal, including a club option for 2011. Cuddy, who may see some time in center, hit .276 with 16 longballs and 81 RBIs over 144 games last season - his seventh with the organization.

Obviously, this begs the question, will Minnesota still be able to afford to lock up Johan Santana for the six years he demands? All offseason, rumors have flown that the two-time Cy Young Award winner is seeking a long-term commitment worth upwards of $140 million. The Twins reportedly made Santana a four-year, $80 million offer, which doesn't quite cut it.

But GM Bill Smith is confident these two most recent deals will not affect negotiations with Johan, offering this comforting quote:

"We've had extensive negotiations with Santana. Our goal is always to keep him in a Twins uniform. If we can, we will. If we can't, we'll move forward."

[MLB]

My Canadian Crusher Gets Paid

Standing alone in the limelight, surrounded by the many players avoiding arbitration this weekend, stands my Canadian Crusher, Justin Morneau.

The Minnesota Twins first baseman and 2006 AL MVP agreed to a $7.4 million, one-year contract Friday, receiving nearly $3 million raise from the $4.5 million he made last year. Morneau batted .271, crushing 31 longballs and 111 RBIs last season.

Here's to at least 40 bombs in '08, Justin.

Reliever Juan Rincon, who went 3-3 with a 5.13 ERA for Minnesota last season, was apparently worth roughly $2,475,000 to the club. He is eligible to earn an additional $25,000 for pitching in 65 games in 2008.

Two more Twins' salaries still need to be dealt with by the organization: right-fielder and cannon-armed stud, Michael Cuddyer, asked for $6.2 million while the team offered $4.7 million; and righty reliever Matt Guerrier, requested $1.15 million, as the Twins proposed $750,000.

Furthermore, Jason Kubel, who has bad knees and sucks at DHing but is good at standing around in left, reached a $1.3 million, one-year deal on Thursday.

[MLB]

Travis Hafner is a Monster, Tribe Wins Again

After beating Johan Santana for the fifth time this season on Monday, Travis Hafner and the Cleveland Indians defeated the Minnesota Twins for the 13th time (out of 17 games) to pad their AL Central lead to 7 games over the Detroit Tigers and 11.5 ahead of the Twins.

Aaron Laffey lasted just four innings for Cleveland, allowing five runs and six hits with a walk and a strikeout. Four relievers combined for five scoreless innings after him, including Rafael Betancourt for the win and Joe Borowski with the save.

Kevin Slowey pitched five innings for the Twins, giving up 2 runs -- 1 earned -- on five hits with three strikeouts. Six different relievers followed him, with Joe Nathan getting the blown save and Julio DePaula earning the loss.

Hafner nailed a solo shot in the first inning and Kenny Lofton scored on a fielding error in the second, but Jason Kubel got one back in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI double for Minnesota. Justin Morneau nailed a three-run two-bagger in the third to give the Twins a 4-2 lead before Luis Rodriguez drove in the fifth run on a single to center the following inning.

Fun With Polls: Midsummer Classic

In our most recent poll, we asked who you thought would win the Home Run Derby. Turns out, 6% of you were right on the money. Good job!

The larger 32% of the voters (and I) bet on the Canadian Crusher - hoping he'd hit more than 5 bombs all night - to win it all. The event turned out somewhat anti-climactic for Justin Morneau and us as well.

We Like a Man With Stamina

After going 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored in the first game of a double header against the Chicago White Sox, you'd think my Canadian Crusher would be tired. Well, he would be if he were an average man.

Good thing Justin Morneau is a lumberjack. He could roll logs from dusk til dawn and still go yard three times in one night.

In the nightcap, the reigning American League MVP went 3-for-5 again, this time with 6 RBIs coming on 3 longballs. Ya know, just warming' up for the home run derby there.

The first - the hundredth of his career and 21st on the season - came off starter Gavin Floyd with 2 on and 2 out in the first. He smashed another two-out bomb off Floyd in the third and tattooed his third off Boone's Farm Logan in the seventh.

Morneau became the first Minnesota Twins hitter since 1973 to hit three longballs in a single game. Twins legends Bob Allison, Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva are the only other Minnesota players to accomplish the feat. That's some good company, eh?

Man, you thought I loved this guy before yesterday? Wow.

The rest of the Twins did a great job spanking the Sox as well, going a combined 36-for-87 Friday with 32 runs to Chicago's 14. Morneau is batting .293 on the season with 23 homers and 72 RBIs.

*The Dugout recaps the near-decapitation of Mike Redmond by the bat of JI-
JIM THOME.

Justin Morneau: Hoodoo Voodoo

Written to the tune of Ween: Voodoo Lady

It seems the power of candlelight vigil mixed with Voodoo and kickass, old school tunes may or may not be helping to get my Canadian Crusher back in the Minnesota Twins lineup.

A CT scan of Justin Morneau's chest (performed yesterday) showed that his lung is still bruised, prolonging his return for a few more days.

The AL MVP first baseman was slated to make his comeback as early as today, but apparently, we may be forced to wait until the weekend.

A trip to the DL is unlikely, but Morneau doesn't want to rush himself into a return, to avoid worsening the injury.

[RandBall]

Hard Lumber: Players of the Month

Ladies and gentlemen, your Players of the Month.

American League

Minnesota Twins hunky first baseman Justin Morneau was named the American League's Player of the Month for May.

The 26-year-old Canadian Crusher smoked 10 homers, hit .380 and nailed 29 RBIs for the Twins, who went 13-14 for the month.

The reigning AL MVP had a slugging percentage of .667 and scored 21 runs, compiling a 10-game hitting streak in the middle of the month. This marks the first career Player of the Month award for Morneau, who had three multi-homer performances in May.


National League

Milwaukee Brewers monster first baseman Prince Fielder was named the National League's Player of the Month for May.

The 23-year-old slugger hit 13 bombs, had a .755 slugging percentage, and drove in 28 runs for the Brew Crew, who went 14-15 in May, but still managed to maintain a comfortable lead in the NL Central.

The 6-foot, 260-pound slugger batted .321 in May and leads the NL with 20 longballs, tied for the best in the majors with New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. This marks Fielder's very first Player of the Month recognition.

More AL vote-getters
Kevin Youkilis
Mark Teixeira
Magglio Ordonez
Gary Sheffield
Ichiro Suzuki

More NL vote-getters
J.J. Hardy
Ken Griffey, Jr.
Carlos Lee
Rafael Furcal

[Past Players of the Month]