Minnesota Twins Daily Clips Thursday, June 11, 2015 Polanco in lineup as Twins look to avoid sweep. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 2 Souhan blog: Frustration leads to Hunter's meltdown. Star Tribune (Souhan) p. 2 Postgame: Thoughts on Stauffer, Polanco and Twins' ejections. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 3 Wednesday's Twins-Kansas City game recap. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 3 Reusse: Providence benefits from ex-Twin Tapani's coaching. Star Tribune (Reusse) p. 4 Twins notes: Jorge Polanco continues to work on defense. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 5 Frustration boils over as Twins swept by Kansas City. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 6 Twins: Ricky Nolasco testing sore ankle after cortisone shot. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7 Twins: Jorge Polanco feels more prepared in third call-up. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7 Torii Hunter has an on-field meltdown as Twins swept by Royals. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 8 Tom Powers: Twins' Mike Pelfrey is healthy and happy for first time in a long time. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 9 Twinsights: Multisport background appeals to Twins scouts. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 10 Twinsights: Twins draft two with Minnesota ties on Day 3. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 11 Postgame Twinsights: Tim Stauffer ready to move on. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 11 Torii Hunter strips down in epic ejection tirade -- so bat boy cleans up after him. This is his story. MLB.com (Clair) p. 12 Milone, Twins aim to get on track against Rangers. MLB.com (Helfand) p. 13 Twins designate Stauffer, will recall Tonkin. MLB.com (Helfand) p. 13 Twins fan Sawyer drafted by hometown team. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 14 Plouffe's homer isn't enough to slow Royals. MLB.com (Flanagan & Helfand) p. 14 Torii, Molitor ejected for arguing balls, strikes. MLB.com (Helfand) p. 15 Twins prefer flamethrowers in '15 Draft class. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 16 Recent re-stock on pitchers had Twins turning focus to other positions. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 17 GM Ryan willing to make move to upgrade Twins if opportunity exists. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 18 What to make of Omar Infante getting voted ahead of Brian Doizer. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 18 Twins recap from Day 3 of MLB first-year player draft. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 19 Torii Hunter, Paul Molitor ejected after arguing umpire’s strike call. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 21 Tim Stauffer designated for assignment, Twins to recall Michael Tonkin. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 21 Wetmore’s 5 thoughts: Hunter’s tantrum, Polanco’s stint, early deficit. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 21 Royals top Twins, complete sweep. Associated Press p. 23 Twins tweak roster following loss, designate Stauffer for assignment. Fox Sports North (Mason) p. 24 Veteran Hunter throws a fit during Twins' setback. Fox Sports North (Mason) p. 24 Torii Hunter tossed for arguing third strike, unloads batting gear on field. ESPN.com p. 25 Twins' Torii Hunter throws batting gloves, jersey after ejection. Sports Illustrated p. 26 Torii Hunter tears off jersey in epic meltdown following ejection. Yahoo! Sports (Townsend) p. 26 Twins draft Illinois left-hander Tyler Jay with No. 6 pick. Minnesota Post (Gleeman) p. 26 Kolton Kendrick likely to sign with Minnesota Twins after 8th-round selection in 2015 MLB Draft. The Times-Picayune p. 27 Polanco in lineup as Twins look to avoid sweep La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | June 10, 2015 Just finished watching Jorge Polanco take grounders at short as Twins manager Paul Molitor looked on. Not sure if he's in the lineup or not, We are all anxiously awaiting the release. The MLB draft winds down today with rounds 11-40. The Twins did select Gophers lefthander Dalton Sawyer in the 27th round, Will check back later with lineups and updates UPDATES Yes, the plan is for Jorge Polanco to play one game, then head back to Class AA Chattanooga. But it's strange sometimes how things pop up in baseball that will lead to a different roster move, just sayin.' ``The plan is right now for him to play today then just go ahead and head back, at least for the short term,'' Molitor said. One interesting thing Molitor said is that the jury is still out if Polanco is a shortstop or second base. He did point out that Polanco is bigger, stronger, faster has better footwork, but there is not a consensus within the organization if he'll be a shortstop in the majors. Minor lineup tweak tonight. Trevor Plouffe is batting third, Joe Mauer second and Torii Hunter cleanup. Kennys Vargas spent pregame today working on getting his timing down on fastballs. Said he saw few fastballs while at Rochester. Twins are trying to avoid losing three straight for the third time this season. Souhan blog: Frustration leads to Hunter's meltdown Jim Souhan | Star Tribune | June 10, 2015 Torii Hunter argued a strike call late in the Twins' loss on Wednesday night. Then he got ejected. Then he stripped off his various pads and threw them before taking off his jersey and throwing it. Of course, social media erupted. Anyone who doesn't like Hunter or doesn't believe in clubhouse chemistry or leadership in baseball attacked him for behaviour that did not seem leader-like. Anyone who likes him, like me, found the moment entertaining and indicative of the kind of fire he's shown throughout his career. Both camps are probably wrong in some way. In a 162-game season, sometimes things happen that mean nothing or close to nothing. This was probably one of those moments. It wasn't leadership. It wasn't irresponsibility. It was just a guy getting frustrated and angry and doing the kinds of things that baseball players and managers have been doing for more than 100 years. I grew up watching Earl Weaver. He was one of the smartest managers in baseball history. He also turned his cap backward so he could scream in umpires' faces. He also kicked dirt on home plate. He was brilliant and he acted immaturely at times and in baseball those are not contradictory behaviour patterns. We react so quickly to any vivid moment these days. I believe in judging a person's body of work. Hunter has thrown a few tantrums in his career. He also rose from poverty in Arkansas and spent most of a decade bouncing around the minors to turn himself into an All-Star player and, yes, a true leader. His teammates love him. Every organization that has employed him has revered him. What he did on Wednesday night shouldn't be conflated as leadership; nor should it diminish what he's done this year or in his career. It was just a moment - a frustrated moment at the end of a frustrating series for a player who cares deeply and always has ------------------------------- For decades, the Royals would put together a half-season of competence, then market themselves as the next great team. I still remember the ``Blue Wave'' marketing in the mid-90s. 2 The current Royals are worthy of the hype. I love watching this team. They win with brilliant fielding and play with obvious energy and passion. I would love to see the Twins and Royals playing meaningful games down the stretch in their two beautiful ballparks. Let Red Sox and Yankees fans watch the MIdwest for once, instead of the other way around. Postgame: Thoughts on Stauffer, Polanco and Twins' ejections La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | June 10, 2015 ROSTER MOVES: The Twins are sending Jorge Polanco back to Class AA Chattanooga, as expected. But they also designated rigthhander Tim Stauffer for assignment. The Twins are paying Stauffer $2.2 million this season because he had a 93 miles-an-hour fastball and good breaking stuff. But his fastball rarely reached 90, and everyone was baffled why he lost his heater. The Twins have 10 days to trade him, release him or send him to the minors. In a move that was overdue the Twins have recalled Michael Tonkin. He wasn't pitching that bad when they sent him out a few weeks ago. He can help the bullpen. ABOUT JORGE: He takes good at bats and shot a single up the middle. Defensively he showed why he has to clean up some things. He had a routine double play grounder hit to him in the fifth and he booted it into right field. Yes, Joe Mauer committed a throwing error to second in the seventh inning, but Twins manager Paul Molitor said Polanco had time to come off the bag, catch the ball and tag the bag instead of trying to lean for the ball with a foot on the bag. He almost pulled off a nice play in the first inning on Alcides Escobar's grounder up the middle, gobbling up the grounder, spinning and then throwing to first. But he hesitated just a bit, and that cost him. All things that can be corrected the next time he's called up. And he will be called up. EJECTIONS: Can an ejection fire up a team? Was what Torii Hunter did an attempt to get the club going? I think he was legitimately angry with Mark Ripperger behind home plate and just didn't care after he was tossed. ``He's been emotional this series,'' said Molitor, who has been ejected five times as a player, three as a coach and now once as a manager. ``I think he's trying to bring out a part of this team and how to respond. I think that was a little bit more related to his own situation, maybe as it went on possibly.'' I was wondering what would be the circumstances behind a Molitor ejection, and now we know.