Twins Sign Joel Zumaya

Could Joel Zumaya come back to haunt the Detroit Tigers? That day could be coming as Zumaya signed a one year deal with the Minnesota Twins. The Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres were also teams named on his short list.

According to MLB.com’s Jason Beck the deal is for one year that could pay him anywhere from $800,000 to $1.7 million if he reaches incentives.

Zumaya is coming off elbow surgery that cost him the 2011 season. This is a typical low risk Twins signing that always seems to pay off for them. I’m glad to see Zumaya come back and get another shot, but as a Tigers fan I hate to see him signing with a division rival.  

A Viola Grows In Brooklyn

I haven’t heard the name Frank Viola in years. Even when I think of the Minnesota Twins his isn’t thefirst name to come up. He was a long time Twin and tormented my beloved Tigers for years. He was one of the best pitchers in the American League and won a Cy Young in 1988. He was one of the main cogs when the Twins won the World Series in 1987.

After retiring in 1996 you didn’t hear much of him. He has resurfaced again as the new pitching coach for the  Brooklyn Cyclones, the New York Mets Class A outfit. Before that he was coaching high scholl ball in Orlando, Florida and doing some work for Red Sox broadcasts.

“We are excited to welcome our new staff to MCU Park,” said Cyclones General Manager Steve Cohen. “It’s a wonderful thing to have a Cy Young Award winner like Frank Viola guiding our young pitchers, and we look forward to a great 2011 season with all of our coaches.”

The Mets are betting there will be some “Sweet Music” in Brooklyn.

Morneau Wants Some Home Cooking

Being a Detroit Tigers fan I’ve seen how your home field can be a detriment to some of your big bats. That’s whta happened when Comerica Park first opened. Eventually they shortened the fences, but it’s still regarded as a pitcher’s park. Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau isn’t taking a liking to Target Field.

 “Right-center to left-center is ridiculous,” Morneau said in an e-mail to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “(It’s) almost impossible for a right-handed hitter to (homer to the) opposite field and very difficult for lefties. It affects the hitters a lot, and you start to develop bad habits as a hitter when you feel like you can only pull the ball to hit it over the fence. You take those habits on the road.”

Be careful what you wish for. If you move the fences in, it could give visiting teams the same advantage that your looking for.

There are discussions about moving the fences in, but it’s not imminent.