Twins send Rincon packing; Buscher promoted
Posted on June 12th, 2008 – 2:50 PMBy Joe Christensen
CLEVELAND — As expected, the Twins cut reliever Juan Rincon today.
No announcement has been made, but Rincon’s locker has been cleaned out here at Progressive Field, and he left the ballpark before the media was allowed into the clubhouse.
The Twins had planned to make an announcement after tonight’s game, as they prepare to add a position player from Class AAA Rochester. No official word yet, but it’s expected to be infielder Brian Buscher.
I’ll give you the specifics as they come.
Update (2:52 p.m.): La Velle just heard from a Rochester source that Brian Buscher is indeed getting promoted.
Update (2:55 p.m.): Also a busy day on the Cleveland side today. The Indians have placed catcher Victor Martinez (inflamed right elbow) and second baseman Josh Barfield (strained finger) on the 15-day disabled list.
Update (5:45 p.m.): The Twins offered Rincon an outright assignment to Class AAA Rochester, and he now has 72 hours to decide whether to accept the assignment or become a free agent.
Most players in Rincon’s position take free agency.
Buscher will meet the Twins in Milwaukee on Friday.
Twins (32-34)
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Jason Kubel, LF
7. Craig Monroe, DH
8. Brendan Harris, SS
9. Matt Macri, 3B
Starting pitcher: RH Livan Hernandez
Indians (30-36)
1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Jamey Carroll, 2B
3. Ben Francisco, LF
4. Ryan Garko, 1B
5. David Dellucci, DH
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Shin-Soo Choo, RF
8. Casey Blake, 3B
9. Kelly Shoppach, C
Starting pitcher: LH Aaron Laffey
Progressive Field. First pitch: 6:05 p.m. (Central)
223 Responses to "Twins send Rincon packing; Buscher promoted"
thanks t glad you straightened me out!
uno
So, are we to assume he was DFA?
I was really hoping we could have gotten a bag of balls for him thru a trade, but I am certain that BS was hitting the phones pretty hard to try to get that salary off the books, cheap owner and all 
its good to see that we finally got that wait off our back. Now lets demote Bonser and bring the “Franchise” back to the bigs
Good Luck Juanie
and I meant weight not wait
can’t demote Bonser, he’d actually get claimed.
All of the following offers for Rincon were rejected:
1. Bag of balls, price way too high
2. 5 gal. Premixed Gatorade, price still way too high
3. Dry mix to make 5 gal. of Gatorade, price high but getting closer
4. Sleeve of Gatorade cups, getting warmer
5. Nada, we’ve got a bingo!
I like to see Gardy has some confidence in Kubel against a lefty. He has been killing the ball.
Ha, gotta love it, the Sox swept us, then promptly got swept by the Tigers.
Guess you can’t tell the true state of a team by one series. Take that, all negative ninnies.
just noticed no Delmon again.
You would have thought that the Twins would have offered to pay part of his salary instead of just getting hit with the whole thing.
I guess we will see if he gets claimed off waivers or not.
What happens if he isn’t claimed, can he be assigned to the minors, or is he a true free agent?
He has been in the league long enough where he would become a free agent
Rincon wasn’t the same after no juice. He shouldn’t have come north out of spring. Why does it take so long for the Twins to cut their losses.
He has the choice to refuse the assignment to Rochester, New Britain, Fort Meyers, Beloit, or E-Town if they tried to send him anywhere.
He may have some redeeming value if he went to Rochester and got some confidence back, but I think he had a plane ticket home and not one to Rochester.
Hmmm… Wonder what’s going on with Delmon… Time off due to suckage? Day off to clear his head? Maybe he’s in charge of making sure Juanie leaves peacefully?
That’s awesome! Now we don’t have to endure the agony of hime dragging his sorry arm out on the mound and serving up batting practice. Things are looking up!
that’s right… Good luck, Juan! Hopefully he will latch on with another team and regain what he once was.
Wow, Wagner is looking pretty shaky in the Mets game. Santana is starting to look abit concerned.
Man, look at Santana’s face, priceless.
good move resigned rincon 2.5m +/- and let dickey go to the mariners for next to nothing he has a 2.67 era in 27 inn.
of course hindsight is always good.
Better yet Seth, he will latch on with another team and throw gas on the fire against us for a change.
Good Riddance Roidcon. Thanks for ruining the Twins best chance at the World series in the last 20 years by throwing that donut to Sierra.
Then a 4 pitch walk to load the bases with nobody out, man, maybe Wagner caught Rinconitis. Gotta love it when a high-priced team gets hit by a young, cheap one
The Twins lost the series in 04 when Gardy didn’t dare use any of his remaining relievers and Nathan couldn’t hold it down for a 3rd inning in game 2
John Rambo -
Was winning the ‘91 series not close enough to the World Series for you?
BoogieNeedsAGoal-
The Traverse City Beach Bums of the Frontier League wanted to give us a bag of Diamond Dry for Rincon. Smith almost accepted, until he found out the bag was ripped and had been left out in the rain.
Amazing how some “juice” can transform a “AAA” player into a successful big leaguer. At least he got paid.
So will Buscher be joining the pitching staff? How can they function with only twelve pitchers?
it may be gardy/smith are trying to find out if monroe has anything left by getting him some at bats. if he doesn’t get going he’ll be next on the dfa wire. lamb has a contract for next yr so i think he’s safe.
Hey, guys, seriously. I didn’t like Rincon as a pitcher anymore, either, but, try to remember that he used to be really good. He gave the Twins a lot of good innings until last year.
But the way some of you are treating him is disgusting. The guy just lost his job. Remember, this is baseball (a game), not murder (something that would deserve the disdain you guys are throwing at him).
Good luck Juan, and I hope you get back what you had before… in the National League.
Monroe has shown more power than Delmann
looks like the mets can use some relief help, poor johan!
bc: they will have to start using nathan more than once a week. i think the 13 pitcher thing was so he could have a weeks vacation this summer.
>BC of ND says: So will Buscher be joining the pitching staff? How can they function with only twelve pitchers?
lolololololololol
“i think the 13 pitcher thing was so he could have a weeks vacation this summer”
I love it gobble thats awesome. Seriously though why Buscher won’t we have like three 3b’s now with him Lamb and Macri?
Gooble, Johan is many things, but POOR is not one of them
The thing that really bugs me about this is all the close games he pitched in when everybody in Twins Land (not quite a nation) knew he didn’t have it anymore. I can see letting him pitch his way into form in blowouts. But why bring him in when the game is still within reach, as Gardy did FOUR TIMES last week?
I don’t have any sympathy for a guy who’s made $5 million playing a kids game one inning at a time. He’s one of the lucky ones.
good luck juanie- you did have a nice run for the twins in the past, but today is a new day and hopefully you will catch on with someone else, if thats what you want…thx for the good years…..
I just cannot feel sorry for Rincon. He got to the bigs by cheating. By him being there he cost a job from a clean pitcher for the several years he was there. Dan Naulty had the balls to apologize for that; Rincon didn’t.
It was a long time coming for Rincon, after the ‘roids debacle he was never really the same. I think it is better for the team and bullpen.
There is no way they are going to bring Liriano up yet if not at all this year. He needs to get more and more game time against lower level players to get that dominant feeling back in his cabasa. We are deep enough at SP, so we can just let him get stronger.
Well, Santana is 7 and 4 right now, and he hasn’t even started to heat up like he normally does after the all-star break. I really wonder if he is a cinch to make it to 20 wins this year? The Mets are 9 and 4 in games that he started, not including today, so he has probably been worth it to them, especially considering that he beat the hated Yanks.
BTW, our players really need to watch some national-league games, so they can figure out what it means to lay down a sacrifice bunt.
I just signed on with KC…and I’m going to pitch you Twins to oblivion. Ok, I will suck.
BTW, open question to the blog, with Franchise down in the minors right now, is his service time still counting, or is it suspended until he gets back to the bigs?
its suspended
Me Too….Just an educated guess here, but since he appeared in a major league game and is still on ther 40-man roster, I think the service time continues to accrue.
Rincon is off to the NL I bet
bc i think 3 - 3b just show how weak the minor lieague system is for infielders who can play up here or are on the 40 roster. with rincon gone they will have a spot open for a possible trade or bringing one of the young guys up from aa.
That is why I was wondering, he is on the 40 man, but back in the minors. Seems like either way would make sense, and I figured someone on here would know the rules of this.
I guess I am just hoping that his minors time is not counting against arbitration years.
I am pretty sure last year was counting towards his service time, and I would hate that another lost year this year, would count as well.
sergio santos, i have no idea who he is, is the only other infielder on the 40 man roster not now with the twins or on the dl. not much to pick from.
lucky the skippers little buddy is coming back soon.
Wow some of you are just horrible
I’m not one to kick a man when he’s down, so I also wish Rincon the best of luck, even though I believe it is the right move given the current bullpen situation. From a business perspective, you sometimes have to make difficult personnel decisions that you’d rather not have to make. That his performance has declined over the past few years is unfortunate, no matter what the cause. But I’m not one to simply dismiss his contributions to the team when he was in his prime as one of the best setup relief pitchers in the league. So good luck, Juan, with whatever fate has in store for you. It was a good ride while it lasted.
gobble correct me if i’m wrong but neither Macri nor Buscher can play short and i don’t want to see them mess with Casilla at 2b so i’m really confused by the Buscher call up.
Didn’t realize that Santos was on the 40 man roster… Looks like he took Howie Clark’s spot. What a waste of a spot and to think that players like McDonald and Ruiz do not have a spot. Santos is batting .183/.224/.237 in Rochester
Wow, I thought that Livian was doing worse than that.
The game is a TEAM sport, and the team is 10 and 4 in his starts.
In contrast, the Mets are 9 and 5 in games that Santan started.
I guess it doesn’t matter how many runs you give up, all that matters is if you keep your team in the game.
Livian has an era of 5.32 and a whip of 1.61 and has a team record of 10 and 4
Santana has an era of 2.85, whip of 1.18 and for that, the team has a 9 and 5 record.
Sometimes, all you need is abit of luck.
Macri started out as a SS in the Colorado organization and actually played a few games there this season in Rochester
Clearly it was time for him to leave the Twins (frankly, in looking at his stats from 04 to 07, he should not have been re-signed *gleeman’s site), but, come on, why are you being mean? There is no reason to be mean. nm - preachy sermon about acting like you want your kids to act (if you have them now or some day) erased.
Jenny says:
June 12th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Wow some of you are just horrible
Good job Jenny on your baseball contribution and by the way you aaint seen nothing yet.\
GGG lucky the skippers little buddy is coming back soon
I got to like that one ala Gilligan’s island.
Eff you Rincon, good riddance! Thanks for all the losses, ya roid boy. Finally Bill Smith cut this guy loose…who’s next?
which centerfielder would you rather have:
Player A:
Avg .264 HR 7 RBI 41 Runs 45 SB 7
Player B:
Avg .280 HR 5 RBI 24 Runs 38 SB 18
Probably A, based on runs and RBI, right? what if A cost several millions $$$$ more and is a veteran and B is in his true first year as full time player and going to be better with time? Obviously B is Gogomez. A is Beltran, his former teamate.
better be able to score at least 7 runs with livian on the hill, i’ll be glad when the twins dump livian
sorry, that was off topic. but happended to be going through the mets stats.
seth earlier this morning broke down the infield options that may help but probably not until next yr at the earliest. cupboard is very bare at this point.
i did mention yesterday that on trade rumor last week there was speculation of a brent lillibridge (extra ss braves) for boof trade.
It’s a shame that his career spiraled into the abyss. He really was a big help during the good times. But it’s time to move on. Maybe a new venue can change his fortunes.
thats cool danimals
i’d rather have Gomez…. but then i am a Gomez jersey wearing homer.
On another note, Jacque Jones got DFA’d by the Marlins today
danimals
When you consider that Beltran bats in the middle of the lineup and Gomez bats leadoff, I’d say Gomez wins even if you don’t figure in the $$$$$$$$ difference.
Too bad we lost Juanie - he was one of the top set up men and then the last two years . . . yuck! I watched the Brewers game vs. the Astros and that Brew Crew has some hitters - long ball hitters! Would love to have Counsell*, Cameron, Hart* and Braun*. The guys with the * are what and who we need!! Pitching will solve itself in a year or so with one two other changes (Boofer included). Our minor league is going to produce some really good players in a couple of years (or sooner).
Johan really heated up last year in the second half:
5W 7L 98IP 4.0 ERA 88H 47R 44ER 16HR 22BB 110 SO
If he does that again, he’ll finish at 15-14 with an ERA around 4. Hardly worth all the money and prospects.
It was past the time for the Twins to cut the ties - glad to see they finally did. I sincerely hope though that he is able to find his pitching ability again with some other team … just as long as it’s not in the Central Division. You don’t become a MLB pitcher just on the strength of roids. He has something, he just has not been able to find it lately on the mound for the Twins. Good luck Juan.
gobble,
“let dickey go to the mariners for next to nothing he has a 2.67 era in 27 inn.
of course hindsight is always good.”
On that one, I am going to claim forsight.
I recall a week-long rant that I had after they let Dickey go.
I just don’t have the energy for another one.
What’s up with Jacque J?? You think he could help, like now?
Shawn in Bing,
good for you! i’m looking to get my jersey soon. the guy is a joy to watch - i dont care (for a while anyways) if he corkscrews himself into homeplate every couple games swinging and missing! i think he’s the freshest thing since Kirby.
I don’t think Buscher will accomplish squat with the Twins this year, but really, who could have been called up instead?
I don’t see that as a complete indictment of the Twins’ system, though — how many systems could have four of their middle infielders hurt and still have someone MLB-ready to call up at that point?
Twin Fan in So Cal
Do you think JJ can pitch out of the bullpen for us?
saam,
true enough…
Is there anyone like Shannon Stewart for this year we could snatch and hope for the same results he gave us back a few years ago? I do not see any pitchers that could help us now.
I get a kick out of Minnesota fans…only AFTER he leaves do we break out all the ‘roids cheap shots…
That’s classic Minnesotan, wait until they leave, then talk about them…
This isn’t about ‘roids; this is about an overpaid pitcher who was overdue to be sent packing. His lasting legacy, unfortunately, will involve one Ruben Sierra.
So who do we have in the bull pen? Boof (ouch!), Crain (my arm is still recovering), Reyes (do not get to 3 ball count), Bass (ackwards - so/so pitcher), Guerrier (our new steady Eddie), Breslow (surprise!) and Nathan (at his professional prime now). Rincon (me gone!) is history and hope he does not come back to haunt us.
Rincon is the example of what steriods can do. I remember early in his career he was pretty blah and he wasn’t much. Then Hawkins left and I was upset, and then out of nowhere Rincon was throwing fire, mid 90’s and Hawkins wasn’t missed at all. Then Rincon gets busted, and we’re back to blah.
Re: Dickey,
I claim foresight too
http://tenthinningstretch.blogspot.com/2008/03/some-preseason-tidbits.html
danimals
my fiance got it for me for my birthday.
I can live with Gomez’s foibles too, if he is still like this when he is 25, not so much.
the yanks are looking to onload hawkins and i think every day eddie could be had, bs go after them make it just like old times, maybe bring back dick such to.
gobble,
“the yanks are looking to onload hawkins and i think every day eddie could be had, bs go after them make it just like old times”
If by old times, you mean the day before yesterday, or the White Sox series….uh..yeah!
Anyone have any numbers on Kubel’s performance when he’s playing in the field versus when he’s just DHing? Anecdotally I seem to remember him swinging a hot bat when Cuddyer was on the DL and he was playing in right.
Just curious.
danimals says:
June 12th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
which centerfielder would you rather have:
Player A:
Avg .264 HR 7 RBI 41 Runs 45 SB 7
Player B:
Avg .280 HR 5 RBI 24 Runs 38 SB 18
Probably A, based on runs and RBI, right? what if A cost several millions $$$$ more and is a veteran and B is in his true first year as full time player and going to be better with time? Obviously B is Gogomez. A is Beltran, his former teamate.
How about Player C (Torii):
Avg: .267 HR 8 RBI 31 Runs 34 SB 9
Twins Conversation and Gardy interview:
http://media.myfoxtwincities.com/livestream/webcast/archive.htm
What is Torrii usually batting this year? 5th behind Vlad or something?
thrylos98,
Ask and we shall receive.
The Baseball America draft database has indicated nine signed Twins draftees as of today.
Maybe I have friends in high places.
Or maybe June 12 is the magic day.
Or maybe nothing…..
sane, me-thinks you have friends in high places
go twins tonite!! more W’s in a row before Ozzie blows his jugular again to set whities back on track!!!
That website is:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/draftdb/2008team.php?team=1023
thanks sane
That’s classic Minnesotan, wait until they leave, then talk about them…
We didn’t wait. Many of us were calling for his release last year. It shocked me that they tendered him a contract over the winter. Then this year he had his good moments in April, but he was not ready to assume the role they thrust him in as Neshek’s replacement. And it was obvious a month ago. Yet they persisted in putting him in tight games. None of this is news. Most on this blog and elsewhere have been calling for his release for a long time.
It’s classic Minnesota Twins: Irrational loyalty to players beyond their useful life to the club. Juan Castro, Luis Rodriguez, Lew Ford, Joe Mays, yada yada yada.
The only exceptions I can think of are Ortiz and Blake, unless you want to go back to Kaat.
AS to steroids, I don’t think there’s a clearer case of the effects of steroids on a player. He was a AAAA pitcher. Then he adds 4 MPH to his fastball and his slider and he becomes a bullpen stud. Then he’s busted and, slowly over three years his fastball and slider went back to AAAA levels. You’d have a hard time convincing people that any of his success was legitimate.
Too bad the White Sox wouldn’t sign Rincon. Although Ozzie does like those Venezuelans!
MJ1 and Kay-A nice and positive assessment of Juan’s Twins career.I don’t understand why some of these clowns have to keep trashing him,as he’s heading out the door?
In the last seven days, opponents are hitting like this against Rincon:
.471/.500/1.118/1.618
It doesn’t get much better over the last 14 days:
.481/.517/ .926/1.443
Or even the last 28 days:
.389/.492/.648/1.140
I really don’t understand why people are outraged at our approval of his release. I’d think he’d be sent out of town RD style, under armed guard.
In my mind, the two choices the Twins had were Buscher or Ruiz, who is hitting well right now. Buscher can man third base and play a few innings at first. He is a LH bat and has been up with the Twins twice. Ruiz has more power, no position, no experience and hits righty. Both would probably act only as pinch hitters anyway. The Twins backup middle infielder right now is Macri, who has quite a bit of experience at second and third and has played a little short in the minors.
cmath,
“I really don’t understand why people are outraged at our approval of his release.”
Compare “approval of his release.” to “reveling in his misfortune”.
The first is acceptable.
The second shows a disgusting lack of character you would not want to see in your own children.
IMO, if the first quote characterizes someone’s feelings, then he doesn’t have to question himself.
here is a scoop:
the Twins have signed
Tyler Ladendorf
Danny Ortiz
Dan Osterbrock
Evan Bigley
Michael Harrington
Steven Blevins
Alex Curry
Javier Brown
You want a shocker, check out Rochester’s lineup tonight. They are so depleted that ______ is the DH!
I meant that there is no DH tonight!!!
La Velle,
I thought that the Twins are trying to see if Danny Graves is the next incarnation of Rich Ankiel 
Juan Rincon never reached the level he did while he was on the juice.
By the way, let’s all refuse to call Jacobs Field by that other name.
Corporate names on baseball stadiums has been one of the worst aspects of baseball in recent decades.
If that’s what MLB wants, then we should refer to the Astros’ ballpark as Enron Field.
As soon as Denard Span’s finger is fully healed, he needs to come up and play every day.
According to Gardy, they wanted to call up Howie Clark, but Howie has sore ribs.
They apparently had no better 2nd choice than Buscher. Ugh!
Just posted some breaking news on my blog.
BTW, thrylos98, the Twins have already announced those signings. It’s not a scoop if the club announces it. Stay out of our realm!
“They apparently had no better 2nd choice than Buscher”
I am not sure about that. Buscher will be a pinch hitter at best (Macri can platoon with Lamb if necessary). McDonald and/or Ruiz wound have been better choices for PHs… and there is an extra roster spot open
btw, what a great move to start Kubel at LF against a lefty tonight…
LaVelle,
I meant to put a ‘the’ instead of ‘a’ in front of ’scoop’ to explain sane’s spot, but I don’t have an editor
man, i so don’t want to be in your realm
There. It’s over. I welcome our Brian Buscher overlords. Hopefully he can take over for Lamb and give this team another young guy to watch develop.
On a side note, what a great chance for the Twins tonight. Get swept in four, and if they play well tonight they have a chance to get two of those games back in the very next series.
Apparently Ozzie needs to go on a second tirade….the effects must wear out after a week.
T,
Buscher is not a ‘young guy’… He is older than Mauer, Morneau, Harris, Young, Gomez, Kubel, Casilla, Tolbert, Span and Macri, as far as position players this year for the Twins. He will be 28 in a month…
Telly Hughes, your comment about not being surprised to see Monroe in the DH spot as the Twins move on to Milwaukee is ridiculous. Did you forget that the Brewers are in the NL?
My mistake.
He’s still younger than Lamb, and thus far more likely than stick around.
Here’s what I don’t get….if Rincon is technically a Free Agent if he turns down the trip to Rochester, why do the Twins have to pay him if he ends up with another team?
I know that’s the rule, but I don’t get why. Is that to prevent teams from signing guys and then dumping them midseason or something?
T,
that’s the collective bargaining agreement that baseball got after the ‘94 strike. If you sign someone to a contract (player, coach, manager, ground grew, whatever) you are responsible to fulfill that contract no matter what. The NFL doesn’t have it (and the players’ association wants it, that’s why there will be a mess once the agreement expires), the NHL wanted it (but didn’t get it)
See that’s what I don’t like. To me a contract is a job offer. You sign it, you agree to do your job.
If you suck, you lose your job. Rincon sucked, he lost his job.
I know that players are at extra risk due to the sometimes pressure put on the team by outside forces to make moves, but sometimes it just seems really messed up.
Ay yiyi…lots of fumbled catches this inning. Eck.
I think if a team signs a guy, the team DFAing him should at least save whatever the signing team pays him.
Here’s hoping Juan shows a little loyalty to the team & accepts demotion to AAA. Get some innings & come back & help the team. Don’t be another mercenary.
T,
One of the union’s motivations is to prevent a team from cutting a player whose performance has declined because of job related injury. That may not apply in this case, but it is common practice in the NFL.
A contract is a contract. Different than a job offer legally. A job offer does not have ending terms, it is until either of the parties want to break it. A contract is like buying a house or a car. Once you sign it you cannot break it.
It’s not baseball only. TV news anchors and personalities, actors, and some of these great people on whose blogs we are commenting are having contracts. Contract is a sweet thing to have. A job is a job
2-0 count and this guy has been all over the place, why is gomez swinging at that garbage and popping out?
Coco,
“Here’s hoping Juan shows a little loyalty to the team & accepts demotion to AAA.”
That would make Rincon a rare exception to the norm. I read that Mark Redmond accepted demotion ahead of free agency, but it was written into Redmond’s contract, which is also the exception to the norm.
see Tolleson got pulled from the game…. is he on the way to AAA?
Hernandez starting to show his wear. I think the AL caught up with him.
It was a good run while it lasted.
I think that the Graves experiment as a hitter should be over soon. On his first AB he pulled a Punto and grounded into a double play on a bunt
Ramon Ortiz Part II
yeah, he is done
Livan is an absolute bum. Allows 6 runs in 2 and 1/3 to a weak Cleveland lineup right now without Pronk or Victor.
hey, there is still time left…
You know its a bad sign when Shin Soo Choo, Ben Francisco, and Kelly Shoppach are tattooing the ball off you
Shawn, the New Britain announcers said that they believe Tolleson came out of the game with a possible injury. They believe he got it while attempting to steal 2nd base. Hopefully if it is an injury, it’s nothing serious.
I am so tired of Twins FO bringing in these husks of former ballplayers to fill gaps that could be more ably filled by their vaunted minor leagues.
Bill Smith is Terry Ryan, part deux. He has done nothing to show that he thinks differently or has balls that are brassier than his predecessor.
It is unfortunate that Jim Pohlad couldn’t sell MacPhail on the idea that he can come home again instead of working for that idiot in Baltimore.
I think Livan and Juanie should be sharing a cab tonight out of Cle.
Cripes this is tiresome.
6 er 3 ip
7 er 4 ip
5 er 6 ip
6 er 8 r 6 ip
5 er 6 r 5.1 ip
last 5 starts….. ugly
Looks like we need to dump another pitcher, Livan just sucks.
Good Riddance Rincon. He was done last year. And now it looks like Livan wants to follow Rincon out the door. Will Billy Smith and the Twins ever figure out how to obtain decent free agents?? The team has so many failures during the past few years in the FA market (probably due to their cheap ways), you would think Pohlad actually makes money when the team loses.
Just for the sake of an argument. You get rid of Livan, who do you replace him with?
Boof first, Liriano 2nd
Any AAA pitcher.
ugh
“see Tolleson got pulled from the game…. is he on the way to AAA?”
That would make sense though!!
Yes bring up AAA pitchers
“Will Billy Smith and the Twins ever figure out how to obtain decent free agents??”
“You get rid of Livan, who do you replace him with?”
“Any AAA pitcher.”
And you think Bill Smith hasn’t figured it out.
This should pretty much wrap up Livan’s Twins career.
Odd isn’t it? Didn’t it take an equally ugly start against Cleveland for Ortiz to get pulled from the rotation?
He did well for awhile…. its too bad, you can’t cut the cord quick when its going bad.
Well. That was fast. Thank you Mr. Bass.
2 nice pitches by Large Mouth Bass! ! !
But Livan IS toast.
He is going to get his infielders killed and his outfielders exhhausted.
Ant rain approaching Cleveland?
Meant to say any, not ant..oops
“AAA pitchers”
whom exactly? 2 of the starters in Rochester are actually relievers, another one has never pitched above AA before this year, the fourth is getting back from injury and stunk up the place in the majors this year and really needs to work up his confidence and the last one is a maybe.
Who would you bring up? Give me names…
I would talk to NL teams and take anything for him. He has some use when he is on.
congrats Matt!
Well, there’s something celebrate.
you stink, when RINCON, toward his work was good, but has had bad days and until they are able to verbally and physically assaulted? That was kind humans are? You do not comment on mistakes? in their work have no bad days? only the worst fans I have met. I would remind you that only God is perfect … Thank God Rincon is out of this hole. And you do not need to see them face of disgust you.
So what’s the exchange rate for a guy’s first HR ball?
Jersey? Signed/dated maybe?
That was Macri’s first ML home run!
thrylos98,
Duensing at least will fool hitters until they learn about him.
Then the hitters and Duensing can race to make adjustments to each other.
“I would remind you that only God is perfect …”
I dunno…he DID make the platypus.
I think even he’s still trying to figure out what the deal was there.
T,
I’d take that for sure!
I am happy Juan is gone, but wish him well… what more can ya do?
I remember when they interviewed the guy who got Thomas’ 500th at the Dome.
I think he got a signed jersey and bat. The best part was that was all he was asking for.
thrylos98,
I have a name for you.
RA Dickey.
Oh, yeah.
Everyone told me there was no room for that guy.
How about Jair Fernandez?
Since we don’t have Dickey we can pitch the Low-A catcher we got for him.
Just have him wear full catcher’s gear on the mound.
Would have been a great idea for Livan.
i think thats all thata i’d need for a milestone HR, although, i’d really rather get the ball signed and keep it. I understand people getting everything they can, but i don’t think i would.
unless i really didn’t like the player
“i’d really rather get the ball signed and keep it.”
Unfortunately the player would never let that happen.
oh, i know, but
wouldn’t that be the greatest?
T think what you want, but I assure you that Juan Rincón is much better than your around. They believe that the twins have only lost by Rincon? Until ill are criticizing
THE NINE:
I am not bilingual, I just know you are nuts when you say Juanie was “verbally and physically assaulted.”
“but I assure you that Juan Rincón is much better than your around.”
Around what? Around the plate? I bet we’re about equal in that regard.
sane,
I hear you and I do respect your judgment because you know the game. I am frustrated with Livan’s last few starts, too.
Let me give you the question in a different way:
a. The Twins won a higher percentage of the games that Livan started this year than those that Santana started last year
b. Let’s say that a kid you are coaching has a 3-4 game bad pitching streak but he is the kid that won most of the games he started
based on that, do you still want Duensing instead of Hernandez?
I take that back. Juanie was roughed up pretty badly by the White Sox, et al.
I say skip a start for Livian and start Boof
(at least he’s pitching inside!)
Re: Dickey
sid, don’t let me start… just read this post on my blog from March…
http://tenthinningstretch.blogspot.com/2008/03/some-preseason-tidbits.html
Shift Livan to the pen? That’d be interesting. Maybe if teams see him less he’ll have a better shot.
T,
that post was a flame bait. Quit biting
This team is a joke. There are a handful of guys that shouldn’t be here.
ya know,
Bass fills a role that is needed, but he never pitches terribly well
“that post was a flame bait. Quit biting”
I prefer to call it “rolling with it”
But Shawn, that’s the best part of Bass’s job…he doesn’t have to be terrbily good at it.
so far i am a Breslow fan
That’s pretty bad when a guy claimed off waivers looks better than guys from the Twin’s farm system.
Bass needs to go the Rincon way sooner that later
it is bad, but at least we have him if he insists on pitching well
Prediction: Liriano replaces Hernandez in the rotation after the All Star break.
Lumpy, I actually find it encouraging. Shows maybe the FO has developed a better sense of who on other teams can be brought in to help.
Captain America,
I wouldn’t bet the farm on that
T:
Then scour the waiver wires and replace Bass. (I’m sure we are! LOL)
i think Hernandez only has one more start… if its ugly again they will have to do something else.
Lumpy, what guys from the farm system?
As for Smith being Ryan, no.
He traded Santana, unlike Ryan who kept Torii too long.
He traded Garza (excess pitching) for OF help.
Yes, he signed Livan, and yes, it was a mistake. But, who in AAA would have been ready at the beginning of the year? Yes, he brought in Lamb, but given what Ryan left him with, what should have been done? Lamb was pretty good on O the last couple of years. Smith took a shot on a guy that wasn’t old and washed up.
At least Smith tries. If he fixed LF and CF in one year, that is a good year.
thrylos98,
“Let’s say that a kid you are coaching has a 3-4 game bad pitching streak but he is the kid that won most of the games he started
based on that, do you still want Duensing instead of Hernandez?
My feeling is that the guy who gets lit up, but wins games is up on the high wire without a net and is destined to crash. He is getting breaks that he doesn’t deserve, to win the games despite his poor performance. Its going to catch up with him because the baseball gods don’t smile on the same incompetent every day.
The exception is a pitcher, who when staked to an early lead, throws hittable pitches to avoid walks, and wins that way.
Bottom line, if Livan can’t get the hitters out, he will fail in the long run.
Bring in Duensing.
Twins need some morality boosters at this point…and I don’t mean the kind that come in needles.
I whole-heartedly agree with Sid says and others! Can we PLEASE finally end with this Ponson/Ortiz/Hernandez charade/prayer every year???
It has proved to be a miserable failure, so let’s just stop it! I don’t care if we have to suffer through the kids developmental years, at least they’ll learn and improve. (Remember the kids of ‘82 developed into the WS Champs of ‘87, so it takes patience, but is possible.
I am so sick of these “veteran” stop-gaps, let’s step into reality. Bill Smith does not impress me, so far.
12 hits in THREE innings tonight??? Good Gawd, I thought Boof was baddddd!
Mark
Twins All You Can Eat Seats!
I don’t know about you guys, but I can eat a helluva lot more than this:
http://www.startribune.com/galleries/19084734.html?location_refer=Local%20+%20Metro
I think we should send Bass out as well. I know it’s maybe not the most popular decision, but he has not been clutch at all, and now even in mop up games he’s getting pounded.
I would like to see them bring up Danny Graves so we can audition him to the Yankees as they need bullpen help (then we could bring up Korecky again after trading Graves. Maybe we could get Mitch Hillgoss and Eric Wordekemper The Yankees now have 3 3rd basemen ahead of him on the foodchain, and Wordekemper is a AA closer.
Mohica, the Last of the Indians.
(sorry)
The Twins DFA’d the wrong guy. Livan Hernandez is the biggest joke in major league baseball. Cut him and put Boof back in the rotation until the Franchise is ready. Billy Smith quit making our guys face guarnteed losses. What poor free agent pick ups. Lamb, Hernandez, Everett.
Livan wasn’t a mistake. The mistake will be if they continue to keep him on the roster now that he’s started to lose whatever spark made him so strong early this season.
Someone tell me which FA’s BS should have signed that were available this winter. With the benefit of hindsight, you will still struggle to find anything worthwhile that was available at the time.
Give me alternatives or stop wasting our time.
yesterday everyone was saying was a great signing b/c he’s coaching the Latin guys in the dugout, speaking their language, etc. i think an actual latin coach would be cheaper?????
sorry: *yesterday everyone was saying *Livan* was a great signing ……
is atkins available?
i see on mlb.com that twins are conducting BP… when’s the game start??
that was a great play by Kubel [/sarcasm]
If Rochester is pissed at the Twins now just wait till they get Rincon. They’ll beg to be under-staffed more often.
“*yesterday everyone was saying *Livan* was a great signing ……”
He was a great signing. He gave this team what they needed while they assessed their young rotation.
Now that the young rotation appears to be stabilizing, Livan’s role on the team is no longer required.
That was an unusual DP.
Love the plunking by Reyes by the way. Pissed of Wedge (I could hear an F-Bomb or two)
Beanball war in a 12-2 game on getaway day. Must be a bunch of wusses.
Umps are scared of a brawl. They want to get this game OVER!
Who’s up this inning? Think they’d throw at a guy like Gomez if he got up?
Mauer?
Shoot! I wanted to see a brush back.
Unless we got to the top of the order.
There. It’s over. Let the bandwagon to get the next player DFAed begin.
tomorrow is another day…
If tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life, then what is today?
(sorry)
Breslow was the only effective pitcher tonight. He is the only one Anderson hasn’t had a chance to coach.
Relax, THATS A JOKE!!
I think you may keep Livan through the IL series, because of their weaker #8 & 9 hitters. Beyond that, if you keep them, you’re basically giving up on this year. Hoping they’ll rebound is a joke. It’s like Reusse said, they’re seeing him for the second (or third) time now and hammering him. He had a 5+ ERA in the NATIONAL league, so don’t look for less than 6+ here.
I am sick of the Batista, Ortiz, Ponson, Hernandez, Lamb, et al, I could toss cookies. Let’s bring up the farm hands and let them play. That’s how we used to do it.
Mark
The verdict is “OUT!” Out with Livan Hernandez (El Batting Pratice Machino). Out with Boof (Whoof, we’ve had ENOOF) Bonser the Bozo. Out with (the Something Smells Fishy) Bass. If these have not become OBVIOUS, then a whole lotta Twins front office folks need a lobotomy, be committed to the funny farm, or be indicted for crimes against (Minnesota fan base) humanity or common sense!!!!
So I stopped watching the game due to the blowout, so who did Reyes bean and how did it start?
Happy days are here again,the Twins got killed.The rippers had nothing to complain about for a day.Let’s start the mantra again,Fire Vavra,Anderson and of course Gardy.So many of you are happy when the Twins lose.Very interesting!
HUH?
Does can anyone inform me on what happened at the end of the game? Who beaned who and how did it start? Was it intentinal?
Jimmy Bee -
You’re welcome, yes sarcasm.
I felt no need to join in the Juan Rincon bashing - there were enough people to do that.
btw - I’ve been following the Twins now for 25 years so yes I’m more then a bleeding heart
Somebody explain the beaning at the end of the game… dont make me beg.
Tyler,
there had been two hit batters earlier and Reyes hit the first batter up in their 8th and the two managers were yelling at each other over it. The ump warned everyone and it was pretty much over after that.
Tyler,
The Cleveland pitcher in the Twins 9th was spoken to by the ump before the inning started, probably trying to keep things from getting out of hand, but that was pretty much it.
T, Get it right…..Buscher just turned 27. He should be our next 3rd baseball as long as hes healthy and Grady gives the time like he did Alexi.
