Twins rest hot-hitting Mauer
Posted on May 7th, 2008 – 3:45 PMBy Joe Christensen
CHICAGO — Joe Mauer is getting an expected break tonight, with the Twins facing White Sox lefthander Mark Buehrle. This will be Mike Redmond’s fifth game at catcher.
Tough to sit Mauer considering he is batting .407 over his past 16 games. But the Twins have a day game tomorrow and will face lefthander John Danks. As they enter a stretch of 20 straight games, Mauer was going to sit one of these two games.
For his career against Buehrle, Redmond is batting .474 (9-for-19), compared to .267 (4-for-15) for Mauer.
Update (5:30 p.m.): Manager Ron Gardenhire has had flight delays coming from Tulsa, Okla., and isn’t expected at the ballpark until at least mid-game.
Kevin Slowey is here and looking forward to Thursday’s start. He had nine strikeouts in five innings in his last start for Class AAA Rochester and said his right biceps muscle is pain-free.
Glen Perkins will likely join the Twins in Minnesota on Friday, but pitching coach Rick Anderson said a roster move won’t be announced until after Friday night’s game.
Twins (16-15)
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Brendan Harris, 2B
3. Craig Monroe, DH
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Mike Redmond, C
8. Matt Tolbert, 3B
9. Nick Punto, SS
Starting pitcher: RH Livan Hernandez
White Sox (15-16)
1. Orlando Cabrera, SS
2. Carlos Quentin, LF
3. Jim Thome, DH
4. Paul Konerko, 1B
5. Jermaine Dye, RF
6. A.J. Pierzynski, C
7. Nick Swisher, CF
8. Joe Crede, 3B
9. Juan Uribe, 2B
Starting pitcher: LH Mark Buehrle
U.S. Cellular Field. First pitch: 7:11 p.m.
33 Responses to "Twins rest hot-hitting Mauer"
I like this lineup, except sitting mauer.
Monroe hitting in the 3-hole? Wasn’t it a few games ago he was hitting 9th?
gotta sit Mauer from time to time though, so no problem really. Maybe flip Monroe and Cuddyer, but not a huge deal.
That’s about as right-handed a lineup the Twins can get.
Leyland needs to watch the twins, to know how to shake up a lineup. Except we do it every 3 games.
I am alright with it as long as they are not afraid pinch hit for tolbert/punto/redmond once a righty comes out of the pen if needed.
Win Twins!
I actually like Monroe in the 3 hole. He is the hottest RH hitter on the team right now. Hopefully he will keep it up and get more playing time.
It is the first time (and about time) that the Twins made significant changes when facing a lefty. The team OPS has been .698 vs RHP and .592 vs LHP, which is not a very good split.
What bc?
There not gonna pinch hit for redmond. Tolbert and Punto are switch hitters. Lamb and Everett are right handed. Can Kuebel play SS or 3B.
I would let one of our pitchers pinch hit before Lamb or Everett!
Lamb is a lefthanded bat.
only 1 lefty - no Buehrle magic tonight
I am saying that if it’s close later in the game I would like to see Lamb over Punto/Tolbert and Mauer over Redmond.
Why wouldn’t the pinch hit for Redmond James?
Who will catch?
They are not gonna play Mauer, if he has to catch.
The same guy who pinch hit for him. You may have heard of him. His name is Joe Mauer. I think he is from around here.
James,
I think they would be okay with Mauer catching an inning or two if it increased their chances of winning the game.
Why would you prefer Lamb, bc of his .209 Avg and 0 Hr or his remarkable glove.
Perhaps I really shouldn’t have scratched my head over Monroe being in the 3-hole. I just remembered suffering last year when it was a Twins mandate to have the catcher, any catcher, hit in the 3-hole.
James,
He is fourth on the team in RBI’s and he has a least some history of being a decent hitter.
james,
Are you saying they shouldn’t pinch hit for Punto because he is a switch hitter?
I believe he hits left-handed, right-handed and seldom.
You pinch hit Lamb or Kubel for him and Everett finishes at SS.
“I believe he hits left-handed, right-handed and seldom”
I’m not dissing Punto.
Just goin’ for the laugh.
I enjoyed it, sane. But there are quite a few Punto apologists who want to ruin our fun and will surely say no more cheap shots at Punto.
Aw, Punto.
I’d rather be seeing Punto/Tolbert than Everett/Lamb.
The line-up looks like Gardy e-mailed it from the airport.
This Twins team reminds me of 1987.
I don’t mind the 1 hitter last night. Would have been a shame to waste a few extra knocks last night.
Win 5 in a row and then get blown out. I could take that pattern all year. I might even be ok with win 5 in a row and drop 2.
How is Mauer supposed to get better against a guy like Burhle if he never gets ABs against him?
Whatever the case, I’d rest him tomorrow. Put the best lineup possible out there tonight to get at least on game, and then tommorow they’re playing to win the series vs. potentially avoiding the sweep.
But whatever.
Should be: “I’d *rather* rest him tomorrow”
love monroe in the 3 hole…good luck to him tonite..hope he takes this dh role and runs with it…god knows the twins have suffered in that spot for years, and i think monroe is the man for the job…sorry kubel, you had a chance…
start a new streak tonite guys…division game, get 2 and go home…..
love the line-up
who’d win a foot race?
Reddog or Leyland?
Who’d win a race around the bases Thome starting at 2nd or Carlos at home?
Go Go!
6 million a year and he needs a day off-REALLY??? Hes what 24 or 25 , really , he needs a day off. He cant Dh ,that would be physically exhausting, really???? I dont get it-330 batting average sitting on the bench, really??? I dont get it??
