Three thoughts as Twins prepare to face the Royals
Posted on April 4th, 2008 – 11:14 AMBy Joe Christensen
Our editors wanted a quick chart with some first impressions of the Twins after watching them lose three of four to the Angels. The chart ran on the front page of sports but couldn’t be reproduced on the web.
Anyway, here’s what came to mind:
1. Their offense looked weak, but Justin Morneau won’t go 0-for-12 every series.
2. The infield has less range, and that became more evident on the Dome’s FieldTurf.
3. Carlos Gomez can change a game for better or worse. The Twins will see both sides of that all season.
Also, here’s Thursday’s game story, which ran in our first editions but wasn’t posted online until a few minutes ago. As a reminder, the best way to catch up on all the Star Tribune’s Twins content is to bookmark our Twins page. (After saying that, I realized there was no obvious link to today’s notebook and the latest Kevin Slowey update. Another glitch that’s being addressed.)
La Velle is back in the saddle for the Royals series, so check out his blog for updates over the weekend, and I’ll catch up with you again Monday in Chicago.
83 Responses to "Three thoughts as Twins prepare to face the Royals"
I think the offense will wake up, but man its disheartening since the offense always seems to be the weakness of the Twins, even back in the division winning years.
Knowing the fans that usually frequent this blog, I’m sure that plenty of people are going to completely overreact and write the season off after just four games. We lost a series to a very good Angels team, that’s all there is to it. Nothing more, nothing less, so let’s all try not to jump off the bridge just yet.
Why is there no update on Slowey?
Are you guys reporters or what?
Lew hit the first HR in Japan!
Any fan who knows anything about baseball should realize that a 4 game series is nothing to get too excited about. If anything I’m very impressed with how the young starters performed. I feel the future is bright, and the bats will come alive. The Angels are a contender this year and we played them very tough. We will be fine. People just need to relax a bit and not make judgments based on the first four games of the year. Go Twins!
I actually was pleased with what I saw of Lamb’s glove so far. Harris, has some flaws, however.
Harris made a couple nice pays and a couple not so nice. Young looks tentative in the Dome but time should cure that. I am excited to take the family on Sunday and watch the boys.
you guys do a great job, thanks for all of the coverage.
Young looks a little unsure out in the field, but that will get better. I am actually impressed with Gomez’s defense. He might be a better defensive CF right now than Hunter is… he for sure covers more ground (again, now… I will take 2002 Hunter 10 times out of 10, but 2008 Hunter isnt exactly the same guy)
“Why is there no update on Slowey? Are you guys reporters or what?”
JoeC,
mike wants you to get Slowey out of bed to go outside to pitch - RIGHT NOW!!!
Enquiring minds must know!!!!
Will we see a repeat of Wednesday’s lineup vs. a lefty tonight? (Punto in place of Lamb, Monroe in place of Kubel, etc?)
Why is there no update on Slowey?
Probably because nothing has changed. They can’t make news happen. They’re not CNN or ESPN.
Yea, you’re right Sy, mike asks “why is there no update on Slowey? Are you guys reporters of what?” exactly 12 hours, to the minute, after the posting that Joe C. put in his blog for us. Jeez, what a slacker reporter not having another update after 12 hours! Perhaps Joe should have slept outside Slowey’s house and brought him bagels and coffee this morning and gotten the update.
I think Harris is playing with his glove on his wrong hand.
Now that Vancover is out of the playoffs, maybe Morneau can focus on baseball instead of his hockey team. :o)
Here’s a fourth thought - Cuddyer is terribly miscast as a #3 hitter.
The public needs to know if Slowey’s bicep strain will require rotator cuff surgery or an amputation if not treated immediately.
Has he been vaccinated for Tetanus?STD’s?
Good point, Ben.
Perhaps Cuddy in the three hole helps keep the pressure off of Delmon.
Didn’t Cuddy struggle hitting third last year?
Let’s give this some time. Morneau and Cuddyer will hit. Gomez has a lot to learn-the more you have to learn the more you can improve. Punto is one of our leading hitters - what could be better?
Didn’t Cuddy struggle hitting third last year?
I don’t think Cuddy ever hit third. Or if he did, it wasn’t any sort of regular plan. He was primarly 4th, and then 6th when Hunter took over midseason.
Mauer was the regular 3-hole guy, with Morneau batting 5th. I think that was one of the few constants through all of 07.
Put Tolbert at 2B. Better bat, glove and speed than Harris.
SLIPPING
The Detroit Tigers managed just five runs in getting swept in a three-game series by the Kansas City Royals. The highly touted Tigers hit .206 with 24 strikeouts.
SLUMPING
The defending NL champion Colorado Rockies managed five runs in losing two of three games in St. Louis. The Rockies went 3-for-25 with runners in scoring position in the series.
Today’s lineup should be:
Gomez, CF
Tolbert, 3B
Mauer, C
Morneau, 1B
Young, LF
Kuebel, DH
Cuddyer, RF
Harris, 2B
Everett, SS
If infield quickness becomes an issue, Tolbert and/or Casilla would fix middle infield with Harris/Lamb at 3B.
1.Gomez,cf-if he hits .280 this year it
should be considered a
success.
2.Mauer,c-has got to start driving the
ball
3.Cuddyer,rf-I hope he hits .280 w/20HR
4.Morneau,1b-Should hit
5.Demon Young,lf-I’m looking forward to
him.
6.DH-Kubel needs at bats
7.Lamb,3b-should hit eventually
(Hopefully)
8.Harris, 2b- He will hit
9.ss-.250 out of that spot would be great.
Tolbert needs to start getting work at 2B. IMO 2010 middle infield will be Casilla SS/ Tolbert 2B. Then the twins can go buy a power hitting 3B.
Infield defense……..Harris hasn’t looked awful, he made one bad flip. Lamb looks like Castro, no forward range either. Everett’s arm isn’t working very well, not as much range as Bartlett.
I said it last week, IF defense will the the Twins achilles heel this year.
My reaction to the Top 3:
“1. Their offense looked weak, but Justin Morneau won’t go 0-for-12 every series.”
He won’t? Was that reported as fact or opinion :)?
“2. The infield has less range, and that became more evident on the Dome’s FieldTurf.”
Is this a hidden plea for more Punto? If so, please disregard the observation in its entirety.
“3. Carlos Gomez can change a game for better or worse. The Twins will see both sides of that all season.”
Hmm…that’s like saying sometimes a hitter will strikeout, sometimes they will reach base. Not exactly something Bill Gates needs to decode. Unless, of course, we are to take the statement literally–meaning, with Gomez, baseball can actually be a 12-inning game (changing it for the worse) or it could include no post-game segments with Bert and Coom acting silly on the field (changing it for the better).
My three observations after one series is much simpler:
1. Justin Morneau has been horrible…saying that it won’t continue to be that way doesn’t change what happened or the fact that we’re 1-3 (all at home).
2. Michelle is not a No. 3 hitter.
3. Carlos Gomez makes the game fun, even in a losing effort.
They don’t have a prototype for the 3-hole. Mauer and Young haven’t shown the power. Gotta go with Cuddy unless he doesn’t get it together.
RyanW is right about Gomez. Looks like he owns CF out there.
romer,
If we go Punto-3B, Casilla-SS, Tolbert-2B, at least we will return to last year (or earlier this week) when our Achilles heel was offense.
Craig - I have to disagree with you about Tolbert and Harris, time will tell, but as of now and past performance:
Harris hit .286 last year with 12 HR’s and 59 RBI as essentially a rookie (first full year in majors) on a very poor Tampa Bay team, I’d say that’s pretty good.
This is Tolberts first chance in the Majors, and there is always a transition period, but I don’t think he’ll hit at least .286 this year, in fact I don’t think he’ll hit .265. I would love for him to improve on harris’ numbers from last year and hope he does (I also hope harris improves on his own numbers), but I’ve got to be realistic.
Tolbert barely cracked .300 in the minors, and Harris’ stats are far better in those leagues, better avg, more HRs, more 2Bs, more RBI’s, more experience.
Tolbert is a bench guy for a reason, but lets hope one of ‘em really steps it up and is a steady contributor as the year goes on.
tolbert will have ss by midseason if he continues to do what hes doing… casilla will probably at some point come to the majors and share ss/2nd with tolbert.. one will take ss one will take 2nd.. also.. i think knott deserves to be on the bench… he knocked 3 homers in spring training in part time role.. he didnt even play many games… he should be the power hitter off the bench and the part time dh with kubel not monroe… monroe should have been cut after spring training… knott deserved it
Gomez (1) and Mauer (2) are fine. Try Young (3) in front of Morneau (4). Righthanders are pitching around Morneau. Try Kubel (5) after Morneau, followed by Cuddyer (6). Tolbert (7) is a better hitter hitter than people realize.
Jason,
1. MVP can do nothing but improve. He’s gonna get some hits at least, right?
2. Nothing to do with Punto. Lack of range etc in the infield reminds us that the Twins still have long-term problems there. Short-term concerns too.
3. Gomez will soar, and sometimes he’ll be making rookie-type mistakes. Far different than your strikeout v. base hit mentality.
One thing you can count on with the Twins every year: They will ALWAYS drag in a bunch of junk, to play in front of, and impede the progress of, their young players.
just looked it up.. in 35 abs in spring training he knocked 3 homers and had a .300 ba with 5 rbis and 2 walks
its much better then monroe…
49 abs.. 2 homers 7 rbis 2 walks..
knott if you turn 35 abs into 49 with monroe…(this is about)
4.5 homers 7.5 rbis 4 walks
and… knott had a .942 obs while monroe had a .737 obs….
you guys tell me which deserved it more..
Jon Knott has also never played a game in the majors. I don’t even think Jon Knott was with Rochester last season.
But they talked about him a lot between the various Twins analysts. He sounds like one of those guys that can tear the cover off the ball in the minors but can never make the transition to the big league.
Try Kubel (5) after Morneau, followed by Cuddyer (6).
That doesn’t sound too bad (provided neither Kubel nor Young have troubles adjusting to their new spot). Wasn’t 6th were Cuddy was spending most of his time in the later part of 07?
Sy, I’m disappointed in Everett. A good player who’s been doing slightly better at the plate than expectations.
But I was expecting near perfection on defense from him. Not even close. It’s possible he’s worried to death about his family situation. But he looks on the old side and weak (his arm).
It’s like the last nail in the defensive coffin, with Harris being average and Lamb being below average.
God knows you’re right, we need the offense. Get it from Casilla. He’ll be as good as Everett has been on defense.
“Jon Knott has also never played a game in the majors. I don’t even think Jon Knott was with Rochester last season.”
thats cause he played with the sd padres and the orioles before we took him this year as a free agent minor leaguer.. last year he had 14 abs for the orioles.. 1 homer 4-5 rbis not a big sample but something.. he also played in 04 and 05 for the padres.. idk if he was in triple a ball for the orioles or not.. but he looks like he should be given a try…
lets hope baker detroys this number 4-5 pitcher 
LETS GO TWINS!!!!
Didn’t Knott get a lot of his ST success off of AAA pitching?
I would have rather had Tolbert (2B) and Casilla (SS) start this year, with Punto (already signed) as the backup. Sort of a play and learn season. The team still might have been competitive.
Everett, Lamb, Monroe and Harris appear to be dead weight. I don’t see what the point was, in bringing in those players. TK likes Everett, so maybe he is better than he currently appears.
“Jon Knott has also never played a game in the majors—but can never make the transition to the big leagues.”
Does that make sense?
Pro baseball pigeon-holeing very often makes no sense. I know many plyers who never got their shot because of logic like that.
Where else can your level of incompetence be the level you have NEVER reached?
After 4 games it’s tough to evaluate individual players let a lone an entire team. It’s one series very early in the year. Let’s at least give the lads a few weeks before we pass judgment. Or maybe I just have a little more tolerance because I was not that enthusiastic about the free agent signings and predicted a 70 to 75 win season. Nah, it’s just too early to evaluate this or any other club based on one series.
The Twins want a player with some HR power to play 3B. I don’t have a problem with that, but isn’t there a young 3B somewhere, the Twins could obtain, who can hit AND field?
i want kubel gone and replaced by a very short person with a big life like Eddie Gaedel, who measured 3 feet 7 inches and weighed 65 pounds. Gaedel pinch-hit for the St. Louis Browns (AL) vs. the Detroit Tigers (AL) on August 19th, 1951. Wearing the number 1/8, and using a toy bat, the batter with the smallest ever Major League strike zone, walked on four pitches. Just think almost a walk everytime. we could have punto and Kubel pinch run for him. They could alternate running for him
Gardy has Rookiephobia. I forgot. No chance Tolbert and Casilla would be starters. Not with a youngster also in CF. What was I thinking…….
Are there any height restrictions in Baseball or could we legitamitely have a midget aka short person as a DH
Craig,
That 3B would have to be Tolbert on (non-detectable) HGH or Deibinson Romero in 2010-2011.
Considering most experts picked the Angels to win the AL west I think the Twins did all right, they very well could be 3-1 and very well should be 2-2. The team is trying to rebuild without a total overhaul so they are going to have some rought times this year. By May we should have a better idea of how the team will be. If our fan base was the Tigers fan base half of our fans would have killed themselves after going 0-4 to start the season. Give it some time we will be a close to 500 team this year they are who we tought they were.
Craig, what would it actually take for the Twins to get a true DH in the Lineup. We have needed one for years but it seems like a lost cause. What should we do, and who could we get. I felt like we could have afforded Adam Dunn but we would have had to give up to much probably.
Jimmy,
The “short person” might have a 1.000 OBP but it would take a HR to score him from first. And anyone following him who gets on base would be going station-to-station.
The twins are expecting Casilla, SS and Tolbert, 2B next year then they can spend the money on a power hitting 3B and Punto will be gone. I wish they would have done it this year, but they were (not any more) sure about Tolbert.Our starting 3B, SS and 2B and Punto will not be here next year, good move just wish it would have been this year.
Plus, Gardy would feel compelled to play the “short person” in the field once or twice a week, even if he was “range challenged”.
How am I doing with my PC’ness?
Sane - The “short person” could be followed at bat by Adam Dunn. It would look strange but would be very effective like on the movie Mad Max Beyond Thunder Dome. Remember the short person riding on the shoulders of an adam dunn in the thunder dome.
i can not believe that after 4 games, 3 for everett and lamb people want to blow the infield up and out punto in at 3b full time? what the hell are you smoking?
harris, everett and lamb are all playing for a new team, new field, new turf probably haven’t unpacked thier bags yet. let’s wiat a month or so a see how things go.
what you should be worried about is morneau 0-12 with one ball out of the infield and cuddy looking lost at the plate. these are guys who have been on the team for years if they had hit at all we would be 3-1.
Enough of that discusion. Craig what about a good DH. What would it take and who could we really get.
I think Adam Dunn would be called out for “passing a preceding runner”, if the short person was on his shoulders.
Have we gotten off the subject?
gobbledygookguy Morneau and Cuddy are just pressing. I think the new contracts actually have them so nervous and thinking that they have to have an immediate impact that they are playing unnaturaly. Give them time. I am a little nervous regarding Morneau though.
Kubel hit a homer yesterday. Monroe, I am not so sold on. If Monroe doesn’t hit, give Kubel the DH job full-time.
Our problem is our infield, not our DH.
jimmy bee,
I’m not too worried about DH, because the DH doesn’t have to play in the field. The Kubel ship might finally come in. We could also always try Knotthead.
Welllllll, way I see it you’ve got these guys on this ballclub who are fighting. Fighting for position, jockeying even what with the batting order in ahh fluxuation likeittis. In Lamb you have this hiiiittter who is loooking to find his place among the pack of wooolves if you will. The raaaange is tough when the ball is bouncing clear over on the third baase line! heheheh *COUGH*
Kubel is batting .333.
SLG=.778
OPS=1.111
THERE IS NO DH PROBLEM. (today)
Morneau is still recovering from the derby. Cut him some slack.
exactly! a little time, but if cuddy or morneau had done anything we would be 3-1 those loses where not lamb, everetts and harris fault. they all actually have hit the ball.
and the pressing part could be said for all these new guys, new team, new city, new field ….. trying to hard to make a good impression …
The way Lamb and Harris field, the Twins might have designated hitters up the keister.
Maybe Morny, like Hunter, can’t hit in the 4 hole and would do better in the 5.
craig how long do you think it will take for morneau to recover from the derby?
Will Morneau’s SWING change if he dropped to number 5?
I doubt it.
No change in pulling off the ball?
No change in results!
Mourny will be fine batting 4. You can’t expect a guy to go through a HR derby, and then bounce right back.
gobbledygookguy When Morneau starts to figure out swinging for the ball and not just the fence every time. He ( Morneau ) has the size to knock the ball out by just making contact. He is trying to be a hero every at bat.
I actually heard a quote by BC yesterday that mad me laugh. Joe Vavra is like Dutch Elm Disease to the Twins
Craig is still guh guh guh good to the bone guh guh guh good to the bone
The infield has less range
well, it’s still early in the season but here are the range factor numbers
2B 2008 RF= 4.75, 2007 RF= 4.84
3B 2008 RF= 2.00, 2007 RF= 2.66
SS 2008 RF= 6.00, 2007 RF= 4.68
Total 2008= 12.75, 2007= 12.18
Everett is way above and beyond Bartlett and Harris is pretty close to the 2B combo last year (and he made a couple of spectacular plays) Lamb is worse than Punto was last year, but overall the numbers say that the 2008 infield has more range than last year’s…
It is disheartening to be 1-3. But just think about Tiger fans. They’re expecting to win every time out, and the Tigers are 0-4.
The Tigers are a very flawed team. They might no even break 500 and I seriously expect the Twins to finish ahead of them
we’ll just ignore what thrylos98 said. they have a weak bullpen but that offense is bound to wake up soon enough.
i’m expecting a 4th place finish for the twins, sadly. let’s hope they prove me wrong. Everett has a pretty good glove but a weak arm. maybe that’s from the elbow injury he had last year? either way, i think putting punto at short wouldn’t do any worse damage at the plate and be much better in the field.
They’re expecting to win every time out, and the Tigers are 0-4.
Don’t look now, but the attitude around here is about the same unfortunately.
The only difference is this isn’t realistically expected to do well.
Not only are the Tigers 0-4, but the skanks just got routed by the Rays. Kennedy and Hawkins gave up six earned runs a piece. I’m lovin’ it!!
well span will finally get that look he’s always wanted. Good thing we added all that outfield depth in the off season because injuries happen. Better to see Monroe then Garret Jones/ Darnell McDonald/Tyner/Ford.
Joe C, I just found this article you wrote in September with quotes from Gardy about Bonds becoming a Twin. I know LaVelle hates the idea of Bonds on the Twins, but have you asked Gardy or Smith recently about it? If the Twins are “serious” about scoring runs, and Gardy, from these quotes, doesn’t seem to mind the idea of the Bonds “circus,” the Twins should grab him before someone else in the AL (probably Detroit) does.
Bonds a Twin? Ridiculous, but …
By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune
Last update: September 27, 2007 - 11:50 PM
The Twins can’t speak about Bonds right now without tampering, but Twins manager Ron Gardenhire left some strong hints Thursday when asked about the team’s DH wishes for 2008.
…
“I guarantee we would find a way,” Gardenhire said, laughing. “We had [Ortiz] once. I’m not tampering. I’m just saying: I would find a way.”
…
Gardenhire was then asked, hypothetically, what he thought about getting a DH who hits more home runs than anybody but doesn’t have the greatest clubhouse reputation.
“Hypothetically, I think we could try to make just about anything work,” he said. “I think if people come here and get with our system, I think they’d enjoy it.”
Seriously, though, Bonds? Indications around the Twins are, yes. Maybe they’ll never get him, but that’s how serious they are about scoring more in 2008.
actually lamb looks as good as punto in the field and much better at the plate.
harris has done some great things defensively thus far. he looks like the guy for the position. this infield will be just fine. as for centerfield…superstar says it all.
Lamb is batting .100 and has no range. Sparky is ready to lay some piranha action on Ozzie.
Harris can’t turn the DP. His range is marginal, and his hands are slow. Tolbert is the man for the job.
CF, superstar? hmmm… maybe AAA by the end of May. We will see.
