Another showdown with Bannister for Twins
Posted on May 27th, 2008 – 3:40 PMBy Joe Christensen
KANSAS CITY — The Royals take an eight-game losing streak into tonight’s game against the Twins, but tonight Kansas City will send Brian Bannister to the mound.
Bannister is 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA in four career starts against the Twins, including a three-hit complete game on April 13. Here are the lineups, with a look at how the Minnesotans have fared against Bannister for their career.
Update (5:45 p.m.): The Twins will flip-flop Boof Bonser and Glen Perkins this time through the rotation. Perkins will stay on regular rest and pitch Friday against the Yankees. Bonser will be pushed to Saturday, which just happens to be the same day Scott Baker makes his next rehab start, this time for Class A Fort Myers.
The writing appears to be on the wall for Bonser. He’s likely headed to the bullpen once Baker returns from the DL. Bonser is out of options, so he’ll go to the bullpen instead of the minors.
Saturday sounds like the new target date for Nick Punto to be activated from the DL. He has had 19 at-bats in simulated and extended spring training games and is scheduled to play in another seven-inning game Wednesday.
His wife, Natalie, is due to give birth to the couple’s first child on Friday, so he’ll return to Minnesota on Thursday evening. Saturday would be the soonest he’d rejoin the Twins.
Twins (25-25)
1. Carlos Gomez, CF (0-for-4)
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B (1-for-5)
3. Joe Mauer, C (1-for-6)
4. Justin Morneau, 1B (4-for-13, 1 RBI)
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF (0-for-5)
6. Jason Kubel, DH (3-for-10, 2 RBI)
7. Delmon Young, LF (0-for-6)
8. Mike Lamb, 3B (0-for-2)
9. Brendan Harris, SS (0-for-5)
Starting pitcher: RH Nick Blackburn
Royals (21-30)
1. David DeJesus, RF
2. Joey Gathright, CF
3. Alex Gordon, 3B
4. Jose Guillen, LF
5. Miguel Olivo, DH
6. Mark Teahen, 1B
7. John Buck, C
8. Esteban German, 2B
9. Tony Pena, SS
Starting pitcher: RH Brian Bannister
Kauffman Stadium. First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
251 Responses to "Another showdown with Bannister for Twins"
So is punto back since ya know, they said he’d be back by today.
ROAR.
Gardy,
Why is Cuddy batting 5th??
Hello Gardy, check the stats page. Give Monroe the start in RF and let Cuddy think about it for another day.
I said this when they went up against Ponson and the Rangers, but this is a game/series they need and should be able to win. Whether or not they follow through with that is another story…
Punto is busy having a baby with his wife. They say he’s still rusty.
I leave the double entendres to you, Karlee…….
Thanks Joe but if you had said Bannister has dominated the Twins in 4 starts they would have a better chance of beating him.
I am more concerned with Blackburn pitching tonight than I am with the Twins against Bannister. A team that has lost 8 straight isn’t exactly quaking thinking Nick Blackburn and how they are going to avoid losing 9 straight. I think this has all the makings of KC having and early run explosion.
Punto is back Karlee…back where he belongs, on the bench.
Cuddy gets the 5-hole again????
Now we have TWO things to bitch about on a nightly basis with this lineup…Mauer at 3 and Cuddy at 5…since it’s abundantly obvious that Gardy would rather have Bat Boy as his DH than remove Mauer from the coveted 3-hole (throne), I vote to start the movement for someone else at 5…even Brendan Harris would be better. I’m tired of teams pitching around Morneau to get to the double play.
BC can we get Cuddy to stop hitting like a sissy
for the record, my lineup would be:
Gomez
Mauer
Young
Morneau
Kubel
Cuddyer
Harris
Lamb
Casilla
Jason how bout this one
Casilla
Gomez
Mauer
Young
Morneau
Kubel
Monroe
Harris
Lamb
Some teams have DH’ that bat 3rd or 4th but not us Twins
Also note: this is a much better Royals team than the one we faced in April due in large part to David DeJesus being back…I know they’ve cooled down overall, but this series will be no pushover, especially if the lineup doesn’t produce and the bullpen continues to struggle.
A couple of 8th inning appearances by Joe Nathan wouldn’t be the end of the world considering the state of our bullpen…
And Joe C., you are a lucky man…Tues/Wed/Thurs at a beautiful ballpark while the rest of us suffer at work…not bad, not bad.
We’ve tried jimmy but he insists on wearing the women’s lingerie under his uniform and he thinks the high heels help him rob home run balls.
This match-up has the look of a pitchers’ duel. Hopefully Blackburn can hold up his end of the deal. If he pitches well, I think the bats can break through against Bannister
absolutely not jimmy bee…you don’t push Morneau further back (to the 5 spot).
I would go with an alternate if you had to keep Mauer at 3:
Gomez
Casilla
Mauer
Morneau
Young
Kubel
Cuddyer
Lamb
Harris
If Punto would stop hitting like a sissy he could be the power threat we neeeded all this time.
there’s no right or wrong answer because it varies from night to night, but i can’t imagine putting two guys in the 3-4 hole that haven’t even hit a HR yet this year. c’mon even casilla and everett have long balls. it wouldn’t kill him to swing for the fences on a couple favorable counts would it?? singles only move runners over so far; far enough for cuddy to double them up a couple hitters later.
Young
Gomez
Mauer
Morneau
Kubel
Cuddyer
Casilla
Lamb
Harris
bring back tyner for the 5 hole!
how many teams have we played that were in a losing streak and we made them well?
i can think of tigers, rangers and jays. any others?
I like Jason’s lineup… if you move Mauer to #2, you can have Kubel at #5 without 3 lefties in a row. Monroe/Cuddy split at 6
gobbledygookguy says:
May 27th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
bring back tyner for the 5 hole
Yeah, bring back Tyner he was a solid little ball player
Morneau hits like a sissy too he’s just a bigger sissy then most.
Jason “hitting sissy like” Kubel
Tony Gwynn hit like a sissy how did he ever get into the HOF.
BC of ND says:
May 27th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Tony Gwynn hit like a sissy how did he ever get into the HOF.
Bunch of sissy’s voted him in. Steve Garvey I think was on the commitee
punto can hit in the 5 hole when he gets back, that would scare them into pitching to morneau!
My lineup would be
1.Gomez
2.Harris
3.Mauer
4.Morneau
5.Young
6.Kubel
7.Cuddyer
8.Lamb
9.Casilla
lnp is no sissy
http://autographedpc.home.att.net/TTM/images/steve_garvey.gif
My lineup would be this
1.Gomez
2.Harris
3.Mauer
4.Morneau
5.Young
6.Kubel
7.Cuddyer
8.Lamb
9.Casilla
My lineup would be this.
1. Mauer
2. Harris/Casilla
3. Morneau
4. Kubel
5. Young
6. Lamb
7. Overpaid right fielder who shall remain nameless
8. Casilla/Haris
9. Gomez
Here’s a question: Gardy seems to really be favoring Mauer and Cuddy in keeping them at 3 and 5 respectively (as if their established careers render them such so as to assume those positions regardless of 2008 numbers)…have Mauer or Cuddyer contributed to a team that won a playoff game? Think about it:
The only playoff team that Mauer and Cuddyer were instrumental on was 2006–a magical season for sure (career year for Cuddy and batting title for Mauer); a team that didn’t win a single playoff game.
Cuddy has been in full-fledged regression mode since 2006 and Mauer’s numbers have been slipping, although not alarmingly so…he never had much power to begin with and whatever power he had apparently must drop to nothing if you want to keep that above .300 average that we all love.
So all that said, the point is, why are we being so stubborn with our usage of these two? What about them in their careers would lead you to believe that they should be given the same premo spots in the order regardless of recent production? Am I missing something? I think Gardy HAS to mix it up…and it’s baffling to me why he is reluctant to do so with these two players.
As long as you guys want to be managers in fantasy-land. Here is my fantasy lineup:
1. Gomez cf
2. Nicky ss
3. Joe c
4. Morney 1b
5. Morney clone dh
6. Cuddy rf
7. DY lf
8. Nicky clone 2b
9. Nicky clone 3b
Did I mention how much I like Nicky?
well skip, i will say i like the back-to-back Morny’s part of the lineup…I’ll take about seven of those in my lineup, thank you very much.
Jason, do you really have that big of a problem putting the guy who gets on base at the best rate directly in front of the guy who hits for the most power? I understand the Cuddy complaint, but disagree with anyone complaining that Mauer is batting ahead of Morneau.
I would like to point out that Delmon “I love the double play” Young maybe isn’t the best guy to hit #5…
By the way the team leaders for hitting into the doubel play are (drum roll please): Morneau 7, Young 7, Mauer 6, Cuddyer 5, Harris 5, Gomez 3, Tolbert 3, Lamb 2, Redmond 2, Punto 2, Kubel 1, Monroe 1, the rest 0.
My lineup:
Casilla
Mauer
Gomez
Morneau
Young
Kubel
Cuddy
Lamb
Harris
Nah, Gomez and Casilla have to be at the top of the order.
Casilla executed a perfect hit and run the other day. The next day, he got an RBI.
Get these two going right away and take Bannister out of his game.
Why would you want to move the guy who is leading the American league in hitting out of the 3 hole. I think we want to give Mourneau as many RBI oppurtunities as possible and if anyone can think of someone better than Joe please inform me?
My lineup
1.GoGo
2.Lexus
3.Reddog
4.Everett
5.Morales
6.Munoz
7.Gagne
8.Rat
9.Wrench
Smells like runs!!!!!
I predict Twins will get to Bannister tonight. In 34 innings of day games (including that complete game against Twins in April), he’s 4-1 with a 2.36 ERA. In night games (27.2 innings), he’s 0-5, 8.13.
the Twins will win 2 out of 3 in this series. hopefully a sweep.
Is Baker going to be ready to take Boof’s spot this week?? I sure hope so because Boof is supposed to start the 1st game against the Yankees. I want the Twins to atleast have a chance at win the opening game of that series.
That’s that with the Twins and Bannister, but its worth mentioning that the Royals never scored a run against Blackburn and the only Royals to ever get a hit against him are Joey Gathright, Mark Teahen and Alex Gordon.
Just putting things into perspective…
The two posters who are obsessed with sissies can now be married to each other.
Its legal now.
Can’t complaint about Mauer in the 3 spot, or Gomez at top or order. Mauer takes enough pitches to give Gomez a chance to steal, and Gomez is what is driving the energy on the team this year. As Gomez goes, so goes the Twins. Sounds crazy, but he gives us the energy. But for the love of god, let’s put somebody behind Morneau for a little protection. Why do you think he has hit into the most double plays? He doesn’t get but maybe one pitch per at bat that is hitable. But is there anyone on this roster to protect Morneau? Maybe Young in the future, but not today.
I would say that Morneau hits into so many double plays because he has the most opportunity to hit into them. Mauer ends up at first base after 36% of his at bats.
It’s time to flip-flop Delmon and Cuddy. Not so much to reward Delmon but because Cuddy’s been atrocious.
The two posters who are obsessed with sissies can now be married to each other.
I find it amazing how they can have a conversation with each other without actually ever saying anything new.
Poster 1: Man, Mauer sure is a sissy.
Poster 2: Yeah, and that Cuddyer sure can’t hit either.
Poster 1: And you know who else can’t hit? Mauer.
Poster 2: Very true. Also I think Cuddyer’s a sissy.
etc etc etc.
“have Mauer or Cuddyer contributed to a team that won a playoff game? Think about it:”
Oh. Yep. Definately right there. The Twins haven’t won a playoff game with Mauer on the team. So obviously he sucks.
In that case. Carl Crawford sucks. I think Mark Texeria would suck. Scott Kazmir would also suck. I’m pretty sure Morneau would suck (though I could be mistaken)
And by the way. Your personal golden boy Morneau only played in 40 games in 03 and 70 games in 04. Mauer played in 34 in 04 my comparison.
So I guess it comes down to your definition of “instrumental”…though judging by it’s current application it’s something along the lines of “A stat I make up when I’m trying to prove a point.”
Ugh I have tickets to saturdays game that really sucks. Hopefully he will pitch better knowing it is his last chance.
glad to see that finally boof goes to the bullpen- i think he will do well and eventually maybe slowey will follow him to the pen- we need the help there too….
So if Boofster goes to the pen…who goes down?
Korecky hasn’t been used much, but it’s not like Rincon’s impressed.
I think that would be a more interesting story at the moment.
this is one of those wierd series, where the twins should win, but??????? i hate these games we should win, because we so often lay eggs, but i want to stay optimistic,but the royals personell seem to do well against the twins….i know they have been playing horribly but i dont think we will not see that, as it just seems thats the way things go with these twins…so they must be at their best to win this series…..i wish them luck
T,
The Old Man just needs to eat Rincon’s contract. I am sick of seeing Rincon go out there with matches and gasoline to make the fire bigger.
Although Milwaukee is still looking for bullpen help-even with them signing Julian Tavarez. Maybe we can trade Rincon for a Racing Sausage?
Switch two players in the lineup: Put Kubel in the three spot and Mauer in the six hole.
Kubel is a great fastball hitter, has power and makes contact consistently, so hit and run is in play still He will see more fastballs if Gomez and Cassilla can get aboard. Can be, in my opinion, a 100 RBI guy. Downside: lacks speed.
Mauer in the six spot does two things: provides a threat behind Cuddyer which should help Cuddyer see better pitches. Second, it keeps the lefty–righty–lefty–righty…combo down the lineup, from Morneau on.
Usually, you want your best hitter in the three hole; however, I would change that, obviously, with this team. I’d sacrifice some average for power and RBI’s.
Dropping Mauer would be the absolute worst thing to do with your team’s best OBP threat, it would be akin to dropping Morneau to 9th so that “he could empty the bases before the top of the lineup comes up”, it doesn’t make any sense at all.
Toby,
I’m in the same pickle, had tickets for Friday, but due to schedule conflicts I had to sell them and get tickets Saturday BOY WHAT A MISTAKE!
Snepp,
I don’t disagree with your numbers, but I believe Kubel’s OBP would increase, alot, along with his average, and I certainly believe Kubel would be a better run producer. Just my personal opinion.
You want a guy who hits about 100 points lower than Joe hitting in front of Mourneau. You want the guy leading the American League in hitting batting 6th in your lineup?
Where did that curveball miss?
Don’t waste energy blasting Mauer batting 6th.
It’s just a bratwurst-induced fantasy.
Not going to happen.
“should help Cuddyer see better pitches”
As if he could do anything with better pitches beyond SEEING them.
There he got two hits in one at bat.
Cuddy!
Who the hell is this Cuddyer guy who is 2 for 2 and where has he been for 2 months?
that Cuddy ‘foul ball’ was so fair…
MLB should get an instant replay
anther bad call thats what 20 missed calls by the umps the past two weeks
after 4, Blackburn: 46 pitches, Bannister 79 pitches
That was a horrible decision by the SS to try and make that throw, no chance to get Gomez and if its wild the runners move up at least a base.
Tony Pena, Jr. makes the entire middle of the Twins look like Alex Rodriguez when he was a SS.
How can you not give Casilla a starting position no matter who is and who’s not on the DL?
He’s looking just as ready as Gomez was at the beginning of the season, home runs and all.
romer,
i hear you. Casilla should be with the big club and starting as much as possible
How can you not give Casilla a starting position no matter who is and who’s not on the DL?
He’s looking just as ready as Gomez was at the beginning of the season, home runs and all.
Casilla isn’t the center piece of a trade where you gave up the best pitcher in baseball and just have to push a guy out there to show the fans you didn’t screw up.
Wow, another quality start for one of our no-name starting pitchers.
“quality start” is putting it mildly (so far, anyway).
And they showed the fans they didn’t screw up.
Another word for that is “success”. And that word applies to Casilla too.
fyi, the White Sox lost tonight. If the Twins keep it up for 2 more innings (Blackburn has 78 pitches and he should go all the way), that’s a good thing
romer,
I have been one of Casilla’s biggest critics the last two years. After he made a couple more simple errors about 10 days ago or so, I was ready to dump him for anything.
But, I am giving him credit for getting it together since then. We’ll see if he can get more consistent in the field. He definitely has the skills. If only he will make the routine plays.
At the plate, I don’t know what happened from his first couple of weeks from the left side until now. Must be Vavra (lol), but he looks pretty darn good.
Confidence is not a problem. So, long story, but I agree that now is the time to give him an extended trial. Let’s find out if he has the ability to hit for a couple of months and the ability to stay in the game mentally. Results are looking pretty good lately.
Didja hear the Indians got a triple steal tonight off the White Sox.
Waiting for Ozzie’s comment…….
You know, if Billy Smith would get a wee bit creative and find a way to get Garrett Atkins and Jimmy Gobble I’d take my chances in this division.
I hope he has more imagination and huevos than his mentor…but I doubt it.
I’m still not sold on Baker’s reliability this year.
I think it’ll be hard to trade starting pitching.
Please tell me Nathan is warming up!
Please tell me Nathan is warming up!
Thank You!
Gardy trying to get the young guy a complete game. That is so un-Gardy like. I like it, even though it didn’t work out. Would have been a nice confidence booster for Blackburn. Hopefully Nathan shuts the door quickly.
why is Gardy don’t let the kid fishing the shutout and bring in Nathan?
Sorry but I think you have to let Nick go until he gives up a run. On good sinker and he gets the shutout.
Thank you gardy
WOW, just WOW
Come on Delmon PLAY THE GAME!
Are you kidding me
Young looked like a complete doofus on that play.
Bench him.
Bringing in Nathan was the right move, Why Young looks to the umpire like “WTF FAN INTERFERENCE???” is assinine and why He insists on SLIDING for everything LAY OUT!
Put Nathan in at the beginning Gardy!
Should have left Blackburn in there!
That should have only been 2 runs. What was Delmon thinking? He looked like he was in slow motion. GRRR Way to ruin Blackburns night.
sarcasm intended
Young is the worst outfielder the Twins have put on the field in years.
How was bringing in nathan right? blackburn has a good sinker and has gotten how many double plays tonight and in other starts. he has been in and out of jams all night and hasn’t given up a run so until he gives one up you should not pull him.
I’m done with this team. Until Gardy gets a F-ing clue I’m done. Nice effort DY. Can you jog any slower to get that ball? I’m tired of this $hit. 2010 can’t get here soon enough.
I don’t get why they didn’t put Nathan in at the beginning either. They should have just let Blackburn in. It was his game to win or lose.
Wow. Turned it on just in time to see the inside the parker.
Young misplayed that REAL ugly like. He’ll hear it tonight in the locker room. That’s for dang sure.
What was Blackburn’s pitch count going into the 9th? I’m assuming if they had him going for the shutout it must been low 80’s.
You play to get the win… we signed nathan to a contract for a reason…put him in at the beginning of the inning and this game is over
“I’m done with this team. Until Gardy gets a F-ing clue I’m done.”
YEAH! Curse Gardy for making Young slide for that! That TOTALLY makes sense.
Here I thought I tuned in too late to see the game.
Looks like I tuned in just in time for the second guessing though.
Not Nathan’s fault. Hit it off the end of the bat. Blooper down the line. A major league outfielder gives him a double. We win.
Delmon has done that stupid little slide where he try’s to catch the ball on his hip so many times this year and it never works. Someone should tell his if he is not going to go all out and dive for a ball that he should just stay standing up. What a joke, is the coaching staff to worried about getting Delmon mad at them to call him on that. I am a fan who never “played the game” and I can see that is a stupid way to catch a ball.
I am actually going to defend Gardy Here.
He is in a no win situation. If Blackburn gives up the inside the park 3 run HR everyone screams for his head “why didn’t he bring in the Million dollar Closer” and if he brings in Nathan which he did everyone screams for his head asking why didn’t he live Nick in. Nick gave up two solid hits and Gardy took him out.
I think the biggest error in the situation was the way DY played it. Then looking to the umpire before going and getting the ball in right away. Fortunately the game was only tied and the twins can still win.
Agreed. Delmon has an over agressive approach to fielding.
Reminds me of Crawford’s play earlier this year against the Twins.
Makes me wonder if it’s something in their system in that regard…
fire Gardy
resurrect Ray Miller or whomever.
Gardy just sucks. Period. He just lost that game…
you think that the TC media are gonna talk about his mistake tomorrow?
ha
PDX Twin says:
May 27th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Young is the worst outfielder the Twins have put on the field in years.
Marty Cordova II
Somebody check to see if DY has a pulse– I don’t think he does. He’s got a completely lethargic swing, he’s a lazy fielder (my grandma could’ve gotten to that ball faster), and absolutely no intensity…
Another good swing Cuddy!!
I’m guessing the problem with Young’s fielding is that it’s like that danged headfirst slide.
You can pound it into his head as much as you want that it’s not the way to do it…but in the heat of the moment his instincts kick in and he does what he always does.
If he doesn’t learn his lesson after tonight he needs to be benched.
watch the air come right out of the twins…now ….especially cuddyer…i still say he needs to hit the pine for awhile…..
Gosh dangit Cuddy
Blackburn’s pitch count was low. If you’re gonna send him out in the 9th with a short leash, why send him out at all?
Because he had 8 great innings. He doesn’t need a CG for a confidence builder at that point.
Kubel is gonna make us forget about DY’s silly mistake right here
Gardy has to bring in Nathan to start the 9th. He is your closer whether or not the starter has 82 pitches or 102. It was a save situation, that is what Nathan is best at doing.
Gardy just sucks. Period. He just lost that game…
you think that the TC media are gonna talk about his mistake tomorrow?
WHAT MISTAKE?
Delmon Young botches that play regardless of who’s on the mound.
i am just sick for blackburn, and all twins fans….this one sucks and will really hurt if we dont find a way to get it back…
This Soria might be the best closer in baseball - he has great stuff
So prior to the 10th, who goes out there?
Does Nathan go out for a second inning, or does he go to the rest of the pen?
I’d say let Nathan go at least part of the 10th (if he doesn’t get into trouble). He had a day off between outings here.
@#$^#$@#$@$@$#@$#@$#@ !
Nathan should go back out, probably won’t
What the hell
How’s that for those asking for some emotion from Kubel? The bat throw?
I’m still sick to my stomach. We are handing a game to a team on an eight game losing streak!!
I don’t agree with this decision…but when it comes to the closer you could need him every night or never again.
We’ll have to see how things go the next couple of days.
Let’s start this over Reyes. Worst case scenario…who started Sunday?
The one, definite, unforgiveable mistake Young made was waiting and looking towards the infield right after the ball bounced by him instead of chasing the ball down immediately.
THAT’s what made a triple turn into the HR.
T.
the starter has 80-some pitches and been pitching great.
Gardy lifts him
that mistake
get it?
It’ll be interesting to see if the Royals go back to their closer if (hoping when) this goes to the 11.
Diving for that ball wouldn’t have been any better he misplayed it by not getting behind it and holding teahen to a double.
Well, like I said BEFORE the HR, I agreed with Gardy tonight. Didn’t see too many other calls until AFTER the HR.
He tried to get Blackburn the CG. But, you don’t want to leave him in to get the loss after his great outing. You have one of the best closers in the game so you try to shut the rally down. Good hitter gets a good and a bit lucky hit with placement. That’s baseball.
On Gardy’s behalf (and I criticize Gardy a lot on his pitching moves), all you have to do is look at the opposing thoughts entered here to know that he was in a no-win situation. Bring in Nathan and Blackburn doesn’t get the CG (bad Gardy). Or, Nathan gives up the lead (really bad Gardy). Leave Blackburn in and give up the lead (bad Gardy). Every decision, if it doesn’t work out = bad Gardy.
hindsight is sooo easy.
Nathan had a nice 10 pitch workout. Hit the showers buddy!
“Gardy lifts him
that mistake”
Gardy was stupid to not pull his pitcher after putting two on in the bottom of the first?
Are you serious thrylos? I mean seriously? Aren’t you the person who whines when Gardy doesn’t go to Nathan in the 8th when a guy is struggling?
I mean come on. If you’re going to blame somebody at least point it right at the guy who botched the play.
Bottom line is you let blackburn give up a run before lifting him. Or don’t send him back out and let nathan toss the entire inning.
“Well, like I said BEFORE the HR, I agreed with Gardy tonight. Didn’t see too many other calls until AFTER the HR.”
If only you could win the lottery by picking the numbers after the drawing.
Half the posters here would be millionaires by now.
We better end this game quick so we don’t need to turn to rincon.
Gardy did not lose this game. De’mon did. How many games has he won for us this year? Any?
“Bottom line is you let blackburn give up a run before lifting him.”
I really should save the link to tonight’s comment thread the next time Nathan doesn’t come in to start the ninth in a save situation.
I have a feeling the inconsistencies would make Carlos Silva jealous.
Carlos G
I agree with Gardy’s pitching decisions. One of the few times I miss Punto. A defensive replacement at 3rd might have been the difference to on getting to the grounder Lamb had not shot. Young def pulled a Hunter in overplaying the ball to left and then made it worse by just sitting there watching it.
Reyes is a situational lefty I don’t like when he’s out there for extended periods.
Did I mention that KC is on an 8 game losing streak?
Actually…I don’t need to save it. I can just go find the copy of that one start Perkins had were Gardy “left him in too long” and it cost him his win.
Boy, were people PISSED when he didn’t go to his pen.
Maybe i am not focusing blame enough… but my biggest gripe is this Xtra inning game is keeping me up late here in the east…. was shutting down to go to sleep…. lets get a makeup HR DY.
geezz - quit the 2nd guessing - it was a HBP, soft single and a bloop - KC got lucky - we just need to finish
geezz - quit the 2nd guessing - it was a HBP, soft single and a bloop - KC got lucky - we need a run
Save the link. Blackburn was tossing a gem and whenever he got into a jam he got a groundball or K to get out of it and if you send him out until the 9th you don’t have him on a short leash.
i would have left Blackburn in until the HBP. Guess that seemed a logical time to make a change…..
T,
i don’t whine when Gardy doesn’t go to Nathan in the 8th when a guy is struggling.
I mean come on. If you’re going to blame somebody at least point it right at the guy who botched the play.
That’s what i’m doing… Gardy botched the play…
Wow! A closer starting another inning. Unheard of in these parts.
fishsox — finally, a voice of reason!!
“2010 can’t get here soon enough.”
Don’t see how that will help considering that means two more years of Bill Smith making moves like the one that got us Delmond.
Soria can’t be out there for two innings!!!! Thats not fair!!!!
Nice job, De’mon!
I have a certain opinion about Mr. Young. He had management by the shorthairs. No matter how horrible he is at the plate(0-5 tonight) or in the field(TONIGHT AGAIN!) Gardenhire has said on at least one occasion(Probably more) that they are going to let Mr. Young learn as he goes and play him everyday in left. SHOOT ME NOW! After a horsePOOP performance like tonight his cocky ass should be benched tomorrow. Give a guy like Monroe a shot, for gods sake he couldn’t do any worse
Go to bed Shawn. Don’t let Delmon control your life!
Yeah after 2 months we can judge trades now I forgot.
nah, i have spent all night watchin…. i dun’t wanna miss nothing. 
nothing like hearing in an extra inning away game, ‘jesse crain in the pen’
Wow can Gomez look anymore foolish in this at-bat?
DOHeth!!!!
Monroe is an arrogant a** and the only area his numbers are significantly better is hrs. He doesn’t have delmon’s arm or youth and he has been attrocious at the plate after his mothers day performance.
Hopeless
How many times did they replay that swing? It must have been at least 8 times. Can’t blame them. Can’t say that I’ve ever seen a swing like that in the big leagues.
T
Gardy made the right call to go to Nathan in the 9th when he did. But I guess the Perkins game will go down in infamy. Big difference between a guy going into the 7 inning with over 90 pitches against the Boston Red Sox and this situation (Blackburn with low pitch count going for CG SO against the Royals). I wanted Perkins replaced in that game before the inning started, and was vocal about it. I will be vocal defending Gardy in this situation, I thought he absolutely did the right thing.
Yeah after 2 months we can judge trades now I forgot.
Minnesota Twins: Small market team…New York market fans.
CarGo swings twice as hard at strike two. Nothing left for strike three.
“But I guess the Perkins game will go down in infamy.”
I’m glad I’m not the only one remember the second guessing that went on in that game.
The team he’s facing doesn’t matter. The Royals just managed a double (regardless of the misplay it was still a 2-run hit) off of Nathan in the 9th.
What’s Nathan doing giving up hits to these slouches?
Lamb is just atrotious at third any groundball to him is an adventure. Every throw to Morneau i have seen tonight has been offline or in the dirt.
By the way, what’s the Over/Under on when Brasky comes back with another name?
Or are we working on the assumption that Brasky is/was somebody that’s still here.
Good game until the mishap in the bottom of the 9th. Ugh!!
this is all i have to say…
we deserve to lose… blackburn derserved a win…
end of story
ROFL headfirst slide.
Wow. Look at all these drama queens. I think the Miss America pageant is missing some contestants.
They’re a young team. This stuff’s gonna happen.
Lay off the Mountain Dew and count to 10. I hear it’s good for the high blood pressure.
I have a feeling Nathan will be buying Blackburn a steak dinner after this game.
He’ll likely split the bill with Young.
As far as the delmon trade being a bust Garza is still walking 4 guys per 9 and striking out less than that. He is also averaging less than 6 innings per start. Not awful but still not very good.
Mr. Bartlett is hitting a hefty .247 with 5 errors including a costly throw into the dugout at the dome.
mr. Morlan has an ERA over 8 and is currently on the Dl.
Every time Gardenhire tries to conserve his bullpen, he ends up using three or more pitchers and, usually, garners a loss from the “jaws of victory”. He’s an idiot, more so, an unlucky idiot. How many times does this need to happen before clueless Gardy figures it out. Go to Blackburn after eight innings, thank him and let Nathan start the ninth. What the hell are you paying your closer for if you’re hesitant to use him? Listening to the smug comments of Gordon/Gladden, you could smell this coming. Dumb/Dumb and Dumber!
If I’m around tomorrow night, I think I’ll blog from the perspective of a KC fan. See if I can get into their heads on how they’d view plays from the opposite side of things.
ok heart of the order…. lets put this thing to bed
They just showed a replay of the dugout after Nathan finally finished the 9th.
Young and Nathan kind of bumped into each other, Young looked at Nathan, and Nathan refused to make eye contact with the lazy MF.
JP - you and I agree on those two games. Gardy right tonight; Gardy not so good in the Perkins/Sox game.
Re. Soria pitching two innings and Nathan only one — Soria is 23 years old, Nathan is 33. The Royals probably believe he can bounce back tomorrow after a two-inning stint, and the Twins obviously believe Nathan cannot.
It’s not just the number of pitches he throws. There’s warmups in the pen, warmups on the mound before his first inning, then the time off as the Twins bat, then more warmups and more pitches.
The Twins have managed their closers this way all the way back to Reardon and save for the Dave Stevens Era, they’ve done OK with it.
the team he’s facing doesn’t matter???
What??? Thats crazy talk. Red Sox vs Royals doesn’t matter?? Quality of opposition definately means something. Same as whether or not your facing the bottom, top, or middle of the order.
My point was, you were comparing apples to oranges.
IMO Gardy made the wrong choice with Perkins in his first start. And the correct decision in this situation. And both times they ended up with poor results.
Irregardless. I’m not going back there again.
Question is: will De’mon learn from this mistake. He’s a kid. 22-year-olds make mistakes. But will he ever grow up???
T
I think Young owes them both a steak dinner.
P’X…I think you’re missing the L button on your keyboard there.
T,
What do you mean by this: “Minnesota Twins: Small market team…New York market fans.”
First off, they’re not small market (that’s just propaganda the Twins put out themselves to justify signing Tony Batistas’ and Mike Lambs instead of really FA’s that can help the team), they’re mid-market (Forbes rated the TC area the 15th largest sports-market this year… there’s thirty teams). All the same, are you saying that small market fans shouldn’t have any expectations for their team to the extent that all criticism is unvalid?
Gee, a LF that screws up and not wearing an “M” hat.
Cuddy. Think deep sac fly.
DEEEEP sac fly.
cuddyer better come through so kubel doesn’t have to
“All the same, are you saying that small market fans shouldn’t have any expectations for their team to the extent that all criticism is unvalid?”
Nah. I’m going with the “Never good enough, always second guessing, everybody sucks, and I can tell EXACTLY which players were mistake aquisitions immediately.”
I was going to make it a longer post inquiring as to if Mets fans are all uppity about the Gomez trade considering they’re apparently ready to chase Santana out of town already.
It has nothing to do with “expecting to lose”…and everything to do with the “Everything about this team sucks if they don’t go 162-0″ thing.
What that means is that twins fans are like new york fans in that they are spoiled and impatient. A guy goes from god to loser with one strikeout. And a trade goes from bust to genius to bust to genius.
Cuddy! What a hitter!
Thank you Cuddy.
So. Who’s the Twins backup save guy? Oh man I bet Gardy misses Neshek right now.
Oh, and I suppose we can insert the obligatory: “See Gardy would have Nathan if he hadn’t pulled Blackburn!” comment.
Cuddy!!!!
T,
so far the Mets aren’t bitching about Gomez….. mostly about Randolph & Delgado
Now kubel puts one in the gap and there is no drama in the bottom of the inning.
Irregardless is a great word.
So a bobbled play by the KC OF puts the Twins back in front.
Who’s this pitcher, I want to write a post about how he should’ve never been brought in.
He should stick korecky in there but I would imagine he goes with guerrier.
yes it is
“so far the Mets aren’t bitching about Gomez….. mostly about Randolph & Delgado”
So they’ve moved on from Santana finally? Good.
JP, I am partial to nevertheless.
Well Mr. Young has a chance to really bust this open, but who am i kidding?
Well, well, well, what do we have here? Mr. 0 for 5 is up.
nice AB by Kubel.
Toby. I like Guerrier. He’s a pitcher that a lot of people have confidence in, and *god forbid* he can go longer if he has to.
Wow…did the wind seriously just blow that one like that?
Another botched play by the KC def.
yeah, the rational mets fans are off Santana.
OK, that was hilarious by the 1st baseman Teahan. DY looks great in comparison. At least he goes for the ball.
I’d settle for any kind of RBI from Young.
DY was going 4 the GS on first pitch…. it wouldnt have made up 4 anything!!!
“yeah, the rational mets fans are off Santana.”
They make those?
Seriously, we need another run. Mark my words.
thats a good one too CG.
Toby…
Garza is now pitching against teams like the Red Sox and the Yankees (whom he shut out for seven innings a couple of weeks ago). Moreover, he was the only pitcher in their entire organization that could break 91 mph, which is exactly what they need in the rotation right now. Furthermore, the Twins DIDN’T want Young until the Rays made it clear to them that Upton could not be had. Only then did they aquiesce in Young. Hmm? The Mets told Smith they couldn’t have F. Martinez and Smith backed down… the Rays told him that he couldn’t have Upton and Smith backed down. If you don’t know how to play chicken then don’t do business with talk to Col. Sanders.
serious … serious - DY needs to sit.
sure there are rational mets fans…. just like there are rational Twins fans.
We won’t need another run.
From watching F. Mart play…. he doesn’t look very close to me…. I am happy with Gomez.
If Gardy doesn’t sit him after tonight, he never will.
Delmon has done nothing positive this whole game.
DY should sit and Cuddy right behind him/ Not much of a nite.
i’d love to see a DY flyball out for once!
is there a batting stat like this: fly ball out to ground ball out ratio???
The mets never said we couldn’t have Martinez just not him and gomez. We had a choice and we needed a CF now so we went with gomez. The other pieces may have changed but martinez was not off limits. And getting 4 guys in return with none of them ready to contribute now would not have gone over well with twins fans.
“sure there are rational mets fans…. just like there are rational Twins fans.”
I know, I know. I kid.
Toby, I was thinking Crain would still be pitching.
Looks like Gardy made the right move with Guerrier.
I think Twins fans are used to the “fleecing” days when we’d pillage a team’s minor league system or something like that.
Teams aren’t stupid. There’s only so many times you can pull an AJ for Boof/Nathan/Liriano trade before people catch on.
And I’d hate to have a GM that would give up whatever the other team’s demanded. Then what’s the point of negotiating in the trade.
We may know that they tried for Upton, but do we know what it would have taken?
Greg, agree on DY, but Cuddy “not a good nite”? He has 3 hits tonight and 2 RBIs. He had 2 hits in one at bat earlier tonight. Not had a good month, but tonight was great for Cuddy.
Guerrier is absolutely filthy right now.
Ah, sweet end to a rough game. Too bad for Blackburn. Glad to see the boys pick each other up.
An hour longer but a W
Lamb has been smothering some stuff lately.
What a lucky win…
Well done by Guerrier. Good to see the pen bounce back. And Cuddy was able to come through in the 12th.
How was it a lucky win? They got lucky that they scored three runs.
Every time I plan to go to bed on time…this happens.
I should stop making these plans, they apparently catch on.
thank goodness! 
I probably shouldn’t open this box…but how long until we hear something about “Blackie” as a nickname?
ok
Twins win
that’s good
but now please fire Gardy…
Toby, I believe Mauer had rounded second on the ball the leftfielder missed and turned it into a single for Morneau.
Mauer was about to get doubled up, and the leftfielder panicked and missed the ball.
Now hoping the Yanks lose in the 11th, then i can happily go to sleep.
Thrylos98, AMEN!!
and there it is
But I haven’t seen the replay of the Morneau “single”.
Just saw the replay of the HR…….Young looked embarrassed and like he didn’t want to play anymore he was running so slowly.
Kick his ass and put him back in the lineup.
Shawn in Binghamton, I trust you’ll be sleeping better tonight than any New Yorkers named Steinbrenner. Too bad it had to fall on LaTroy Hawkins, a guy who has seemed to have a cloud over his head ever since leaving the Twins.
tyrylos98-ok twins win.A half hour early you said they lost,which is it.I wasn’t able to hear the game,i really want to know,just messing with your mind,which probably should be considered a crime.
Morneau 2nd in All-Star 1B voting.
Mauer 3rd in All-Star C voting.
First place in both? Youkilis/Varitek.
I wonder if I could get voted into the All-Star Game just by wearing a BoSox jersey…
Gardy is voicing his displeasure very well.
Disappointment that Blackburn doesn’t get the win after pitching so well. Disappointment that Young went for the ball the way he did.
I really do think Young is going to hear it tonight.
I didn’t read the whole conversation here, but HAS FOOTBALL STARTERD YET… that is a great point.
The Twin Cities are not a small market demographic. The Pohlads just care about putting just enough money into the team to make a profit, and not about taking a chance, and making a run for a title. They proved that every season so far by not making a midseason trade to add that bat that was needed.
The Twins are always going to be entertaining, and a cute little club, but unless all the numbers line up on the lottery ticket… this team isn’t going to be a WS contender because the Pohlads won’t put the money into the team to make it so.
They won’t trade their prospects to make a run, and they didn’t trade Hunter when they should have before the deadline last season. All the while knowing full well that they would low ball the free agents.
If a guy wants 5 years and 100 million dollars they will offer 3 years and 60 million or 5 years and 75 million, all the while knowing that the player won’t take that offer, and most Twins fans seem gullible enough to think that it’s then the Player’s fault for not taking the money to stay here. It’s a very German approach “the bigger the lie the more people will believe it”
Youkilis deserves it — he’s having a massive year. Varitek? Not so much. And how about The Catcher Formerly Known As Pudge Rodriguez in second place? What a joke. The All-Star Game is a worthless exercise in popularity, not a true look at who’s playing the best. Although this one time, the voters are getting it right with Youkilis.
I wonder if I could get voted into the All-Star Game just by wearing a BoSox jersey…
Possibly, but having one of the top OPS’s at your position never hurts.
So Gardy sounds displeased. With whom? Obviously, it’s the 22 year old leftfielder’s fault that the game almost got away. Blackburn pitched well enough to win, but failed. Must be the 26 year old pitcher’s fault. Nathan hasn’t had a save in almost two weeks and is coming off an open date. Why not bring him in at the beginning of the inning for a chance at a gimme save? He gets a blown save on a fluke and the resultant downer that goes with it. But, you can rest assured that Gardy did everything just right!! Uh huh.
Second guessing is great sport for pseudo-fans who don’t know enough about how the game is played to comment on that aspect.
Second guessing the replacement of the starting pitcher every game based on HOW IT EVENTUALLY WORKED OUT is safe, but GUTLESS.
But that is all that you have left if you don’t know sh-t!
“Possibly, but having one of the top OPS’s at your position never hurts…”
True enough, but I’m guessing stat-heads aren’t the majority voters when it comes to the All-Star game. 
I wonder if Hamilton will win a starter’s spot. The guy’s been a stud thus far.
