1390 THE FAN » Joe Nathan

Rebuilding the Twins: Bullpen

Seth B. Toupal — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:18:03 +0000

In this installment of “Rebuilding the Twins”, we will take a look at the Twins bullpen. The bullpen was a very glaring weakness for the Twins last season. The lack of hard throwing arms frequently cost the Twins wins and the loss of Joe Nathan certainly doesn’t help change that.

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Rangers Sign Nathan To 2-year Contract

Jay Caldwell — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:20:40 +0000

The Texas Rangers signed closer Joe Nathan to a 2-year contract with a club option for 2014. He'll make $7 Million in 2012 and 2013 and $9 Million in a club option in 2014. Nathan was 2-1 with 4.84 ERA with the Twins in 2011 with 14 saves in 48 appearances.

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(Poll) Which Twins Free Agent Would You Sign?

Jay Caldwell — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:53:17 +0000

What Free Agent Twin Would You Bring Back?

Twins Decline Option On Nathan

Jay Caldwell — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:30:13 +0000

The Twins have declined the club option worth $12.6 Million on closer Joe Nathan. Twins General Manager Bill Smith says the team is interested in bringing him back for less money. Nathan receives $2 Million in the buyout when the option was declined.

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Twins Beat Red Sox 5-2 To End Skid

Jay Caldwell — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:32:04 +0000

The Twins defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-2 Wednesday night to end their 6-game losing streak. Jim Thome went 2-4 with 2 RBIs including a RBI double in the Twins' 3-run 8th inning. Minnesota broke the 2-all tie with 3 runs in the 8th. Glen Perkins allowed a solo homerun to David Ortiz in the 8th inning but got the win in relief and Joe Nathan threw a scoreless 9th inning for his 9th save this season.

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Twins Rally To Beat Texas 9-8

Jay Caldwell — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:30:56 +0000

The Twins scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning to beat Texas 9-8 Tuesday night. Joe Mauer had the pinch-hit RBI double to score the go-ahead run in the 9th. Tsuyoshi Nishioka had 2 RBIs including the game-tying RBI in the 9th. Ben Revere and Delmon Young were each 2-4 with a run scored for Minnesota.

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Rays, Damon Edge Twins 4-3

Jay Caldwell — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 13:34:11 +0000

The Twins lost 4-3 at Tampa Bay Saturday afternoon. Joe Nathan blew his 2nd save of the season when Ben Zobrist hit a solo homerun off Nathan to lead off the 9th inning. Jose Mijares replaced Nathan and gave up a RBI single to Johnny Damon to end the game later in the 9th. Minnesota led 3-2 entering the bottom of the 9th.

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Bullpen Fails Twins In 4-3 Loss To Rays

Jay Caldwell — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:22:38 +0000

The Twins had 2 blown saves in their 4-3 loss in 10 innings to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida Thursday night. Matt Joyce doubled off Joe Nathan in the 9th inning to tie the game at 2 apiece before Danny Valencia hit an RBI single in the 10th inning to give the Twins a 3-2 lead. Johnny Damon hit a 2-run homerun off Matt Capps in the 10th inning to win the game.

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Twins Win Is A Relief

Jay Caldwell — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:39:19 +0000

The Twins not only beat the Yankees Tuesday night but they overcame some of their biggest concerns in the process. The Twins just haven't played well in New York losing 14 of their last 15 games there. Tuesday night they scored on the Yankee bullpen and closed the game out in extra innings. Joe Mauer had really struggled to start the year and he got the game-winning hit and Joe Nathan looked like a mess in his first save Sunday against Toronto.

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Twins, Nathan Escape With Win In Toronto

Jay Caldwell — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:32:24 +0000

The Twins escaped Toronto Sunday with a 4-3 win over the Blue Jays to avoid a 3-game sweep. Joe Nathan recorded his first save of the season despite allowing 2 hits and 1 earned run in the 9th inning. Adam Lind grounded out to first base to end the game. Nick Blackburn started the game for the Twins and threw 5 2/3 innings with 6 hits and 1 earned run allowed to get the win. Both Denard Span and Danny Valencia hit solo homeruns for Minnesota and Tsuyoshi Nishioka and Matt Tolbert had 1 hit and 1 RBI.

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Twins Split Two Spring Games

Jay Caldwell — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:36:55 +0000

The Twins split a pair of spring training games in Florida Sunday. The split squad Twins beat the Yankees in Tampa, Florida 9-2 behind Brian Dinkleman's 3-run homerun. Denard Span added 3 hits and 2 runs scored and Luke Hughes was 2-4 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. Scott Baker threw 4 innings with 2 hits and 1 earned run allowed to get the win.

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Cardinals Rout Twins; Nathan Looks Good

Jay Caldwell — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:21:36 +0000

The St. Louis Cardinals routed the Twins 10-4 Monday afternoon in Fort Myers, Florida. Scott Baker started for the Twins and threw 3 innings with 2 hits and 1 earned run allowed. Joe Nathan threw 1 scoreless inning for Minnesota. Luke Hughes had 2 hits and both Jason Kubel and Trevor Plouffe had a hit and 1 RBI for the Twins. Minnesota is 6-3 this spring and will host Pittsburgh at 12:05 today, pregame on WJON at 12:00.

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Red Sox Blank Twins; Nathan Makes Spring Debut

Jay Caldwell — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:28:34 +0000

The Twins lost 5-0 to the Boston Red Sox Tuesday afternoon in Fort Myers, Florida. Scott Baker started the game and allowed 1 earned run in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss. Joe Nathan made his spring debut and threw 1 shutout inning with 1 walk allowed. He missed all of last season after having Tommy John surgery. Danny Valencia went 2-2 for the Twins. Michael Cuddyer had a wart removed from his left foot and will miss 1-2 weeks and Justin Morneau has been seeing a concussion specialist to determine when he can play in spring training games.

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Twins Lose To Red Sox; Nathan Pitching Today

Jay Caldwell — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:38:04 +0000

The Twins lost 7-6 in Fort Myers, Florida to the Boston Red Sox Monday afternoon. Former Twin David Ortiz hit a 3-run homerun off Kevin Slowey to help the Red Sox to the win. Jason Kubel went 3-3 with a homerun and 2 runs scored and Luke Hughes was 2-3 with a homerun and 3 RBIs for the Twins. Nick Blackburn started the game and threw 2 shutout innings with 2 hits allowed.

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Twins' Mauer Wants To Stay Healthy; Nathan Throws Bullpen Session

Jay Caldwell — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:57:40 +0000

Twins catcher Joe Mauer at Twinfest this weekend said his top goal in 2011 is to stay healthy. Mauer wants to stay fresh throughout the summer. He had minor surgery in December and says he's ready for spring training to begin. Twins' closer Joe Nathan is coming back from Tommy John surgery and threw a bullpen session Saturday.

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