NewsBig Rauch making big impact in 'pen
Minnesota (68-68) at Toronto (61-75), 12:07 p.m. CT
At 6-foot-11, Jon Rauch is the tallest Major Leaguer in history. (Tom Olmscheid/AP)
By Matt ODonnell / MLB.com
09/06/09 4:41 PM ET
CLEVELAND -- Jon Rauch has made a big impression in a short period with his new team. Not only has Rauch pitched well for the Twins going into Monday's series opener with the Blue Jays, but he's also impressed his manager in another way since coming to the Twins in a late-August trade. "He's big," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Really, really big." Rauch is the tallest player in Major League history. His 6-foot-11, 291-pound frame dwarfs any other player on the Twins roster. The Giants' Randy Johnson and the Padres' Chris Young are the only two active players that come close to his height. They are both 6-foot-10. Just 151 players 6-foot-6 or taller have played in the Majors since 1876. And oh yeah, he can pitch, too. Rauch has been as close to perfect as a pitcher can get since coming to the Twins in a trade with the D-backs for pitcher Kevin Mulvey on Aug. 28. After another scoreless outing Saturday against the Indians, Rauch has pitched four shutout innings, giving up just three hits with four strikeouts and a walk since the trade. "I've liked what we've seen from him," Gardenhire said. "He has a different angle. He's not overpowering. At times, his fastball can get up there and he has a good breaking ball." Gardenhire said the Twins had been looking to trade for Rauch since the All-Star break, but nothing came to fruition until the D-backs placed him on the waiver wire a little more than a week ago. He's already helped stabilize the American League's ninth-ranked bullpen this season. But because he's signed through next year, it looks as if he will become a large part -- both literally and physically -- of the bullpen for the foreseeable future. "That helps," Gardenhire said. "We didn't just make a move and lose a person or have to negotiate with him at the end of the year. He's locked in for next year, too." Pitching matchupMIN: RHP Jeff Manship (0-0, 3.75 ERA)
Manship made his first Major League start on Tuesday against the White Sox, lasting five innings and allowing just one run -- a solo home run by Alexei Ramirez -- on four Chicago hits. He walked two and struck out two but he did not factor into the decision. Prior to his starting debut, Manship had made five relief appearances for Minnesota, allowing four runs in seven innings. Hell be facing Toronto for the first time. TOR: RHP Scott Richmond (6-8, 4.53 ERA)
It's been a tough stretch for Richmond, as he's allowed a home run in each of his past three starts. He allowed two homers to the Rangers in his last start on Wednesday, lasting five-plus innings, allowing six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits with three strikeouts and four walks. Toronto, though, is committed to letting Richmond finish the season in the starting rotation and hopes he can turn things around against the Twins. In one career start against Minnesota, Richmond went 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on four hits with three strikeouts. Tidbits
The Twins announced that they will call up Justin Huber and Armando Gabino from Triple-A Rochester when the Red Wings' season is over Tuesday. Gabino will be on his second stint with the team. He had a 13.50 ERA in just 2 2/3 innings in a spot start earlier this season. Huber was hitting .271 with 22 home runs and 76 RBIs at Triple-A. "We want to bring him up and reward him," Gardenhire said of Huber. "He's a great right-handed hitter off the bench." ... Both Francisco Liriano and Joe Crede will participate in simulated games Tuesday in Toronto. ... Justin Morneau is mired in a bad slump. He is hitless in his last 19 at-bats. His longest hitless streak was an 0-for-21 stretch in 2005. Tickets
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• Tuesday: Twins (Brian Duensing, 2-1, 3.81) at Blue Jays (Ricky Romero, 11-7, 4.15), 6:07 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Twins (Carl Pavano, 11-11, 5.09) at Blue Jays (TBD), 6:07 p.m. CT
• Thursday: Twins (TBD) at Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 14-8, 2.98), 11:37 a.m. CT
Matt O'Donnell is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
