Mauer not in the lineup for series finale
Posted on June 15th, 2008 – 11:32 AMBy Joe Christensen
MILWAUKEE — Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he would have gone with Joe Mauer behind the plate today had Saturday night’s 9-4 victory not taken 12 innings.
Mike Redmond gets the start at catcher, batting third, and Mauer will be available for pinch-hit duty.
Gardy said the bullpen is in pretty good shape. Jesse Crain went two innings Saturday night, so the Twins might stay off of him. The rest of the relievers should be good to go.
Today, the Twins will end another stretch of 20 games in 20 days. They are 9-10 in this stretch. In their stretch of 40 games in 41 days, the Twins are 18-21.
With a win, the Twins can return to .500 again today and salvage a 10-game road trip that started with that horrendous four-game sweep at Chicago.
Twins (34-35)
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Mike Redmond, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Jason Kubel, LF
7. Brian Buscher, 3B
8. Brendan Harris, SS
9. Scott Baker, P
Brewers (35-33)
1. Hernan Iribarren, 2B
2. Gabe Kapler, RF
3. Ryan Braun, LF
4. Prince Fielder, 1B
5. Russell Branyan, 3B
6. Mike Cameron, CF
7. Jason Kendall, C
8. Craig Counsell, SS
9. Seth McClung, P
Miller Park. First pitch: 1:05.
77 Responses to "Mauer not in the lineup for series finale"
Didn’t Guerrer, Bass, and Reyes get through the 10th, 11th, and 12th innings pretty quickly last night? It was the Twins loading the bases and putting up runs that made the game last almost four hours. I don’t think Gardy ever intended to put Joe in the lineup today. He is just using those three extra innings as a cop out to avoid critisism.
that’s pretty dumb to say mike. catchers play a pretty demanding position and need days off. i like how he is sitting delmon more now, make him earn his playing time.
I am fine with babying him if it keeps him healthy because he sure can’t help us if he is on he DL and redmond is a fine catcher.
I realize that catcher is a very demanding position, but the Twins have an off day tomorrow. I just don’t think that those three extra innings alone are enough to keep him out of the lineup today. Especially when the team is going for a sweep of a rival and trying to gain some momentum at the end of a road trip that got off to such an awful start.
IMO a day off before a day off is not necessary.
Until recently, I have been completly fed up with Delmon Young. However, in the last couple of days, he has been on fire. Now, he is on the bench after going 6-10 in the first two games. And Cuddyer is back in there even though he is still a little dinged up. I will never understand this manager.
just when a guy gets hot this manager sits him down! this happened to mauer a few games ago when he should have been DH. i thought they play ball to WIN!
A manager cant win in the blog world, if Kubel was sitting there would be just as many people complaining about that. when they get home and get the DH back Young will be playing everyday again.
“A manager cant win in the blog world”
Roger, that!
He might be benched by the way he handled his at-bat in the 12th inning. Taverez’s pitching was not under control and he was walking batters. He should have taken a pitch or two to see where his count was at instead of swinging at that first pitch. He could have put himself in a good 2-0 count that would be very advantagous for us. That first swing could have damaged our teams chance at winning even if it was the first out. Whose to say the next batter woulnd’t ground into a double play?
“A manager can’t win in the blog world.”
No, not when said manager hits his backup catcher third. No other manager does this. I’d maybe swallow hard and say nothing if the Twins were facing a lefty. But, nope, Gardenhire just goes by the old baseball axiom that the batting order is dictated by position.
If you’re a starting catcher on the Twins, ye shall bat third. SILLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree swinging at the first pitch in that situation was horrible, but he would have been down 0-1 in the count, it was a strike 
For arguments sake…
Redman in small sample size for this year
Batting 3rd
BA OBP SLG OPS
.583 .615 .750 1.365
Batting 6th
BA OBP SLG OPS
.143 .143 .143 .286
Batting 7th
BA OBP SLG OPS
.286 .304 .381 .685
Nothing against Redman in the lineup. Great guy and a pretty good catcher. I just don’t get why Mauer isn’t in the lineup when there is an off day tomorrow.
AaronK,
Redmond probably hits better in the 3-hole, because pitchers won’t risk walking him ahead of Morneau.
That results in pitches to Redmond that cover more of the plate.
Liriano looking good today
5 ip
53 pitches
1 er
3 so
0 bb
so far
No, not when said manager hits his backup catcher third. No other manager does this.
Actually, that idiot out in Seattle makes Gardy look like a genius with his lineup decisions.
How about this. Mauer’s not in the lineup today because he’s not having the best of series.
“But, nope, Gardenhire just goes by the old baseball axiom that the batting order is dictated by position.”
Or he doesn’t want to disturb the rest of the lineup too much. The Twins don’t have a guy like Mauer that can bat third, and Morneau’s been doing just fine in the #4 spot so why disturb him?
What’s funny is that Redmond has hit in day games after night games since he came to the Twins.
And it’s only suddenly the most dire of problems and a sign of Gardy’s idiocy this season.
“And Cuddyer is back in there even though he is still a little dinged up. I will never understand this manager.”
Mauer’s out, so Cuddy’s in. It’s not a straight 1 for 1 replacement, but it’s better than having Mauer out and Monroe in.
I love Gardy and would never call him an idiot. I just don’t like that he came out and said that he would have played Mauer had the game not gone into extra innings last night. I don’t think he ever intended to play Mauer today and I didn’t like that he used those three extra innings as an excuse.
Liriano looking good today
7 ip
88 pitches
1 er
5 so
0 bb
4 hits
so far
” I just don’t like that he came out and said that he would have played Mauer had the game not gone into extra innings last night.”
It’s too bad that the game went into extra innings. Because now we’ll never know.
I love 4 strikeout innings.
Yeah, that’s good point. I just had a problem with the comment because the 10th, 11th, and 12th were a breeze (with the exception of the Fielder triple). If the extra innings were the only reason he isn’t in the lineup today I just don’t think that is a valid reason.
I know half you guys have to be negative to make yourselves feel better. But really, before the season if anyone thought the twins would in 2nd place you would have called him crazy.
What’s the record for most strikeouts in an inning?
crazy? nah we’d have been more negative than that
think the Twins will use the day off to skip Livian’s turn?
for heartburn sake
4
i have never heard of a 5 strikeout inning, but i am sure it has probably happened in the history of baseball
I’m not being negative at all. I just wanted to see Mauer in the lineup today because this is a big game for the team. I don’t disagree with Gardy much, but I just don’t see why Mauer isn’t in there today (Redman is 0-2 so far). When Red Dog drives in the winning run I will be the first one to admit I was wrong, however.
snepp, I’ll have to start paying attention to Seattle’s lineups.
T, I can’t say I buy the argument that Gardy keeps the catcher in the 3-hole so to “not disturb the rest of his lineup.” These are professionals. They are paid to hit baseballs. Would a professional hitter like Morneau all of a sudden forget how to hit if he was moved up one spot?
“I know half you guys have to be negative”
That’s the OTHER half!
I am sure Mauer is available to PH and maybe late inning replacement
“Would a professional hitter like Morneau all of a sudden forget how to hit if he was moved up one spot?”
Forget how?
No.
Be affected?
Yes.
Need More Kubel
Liriano another good start
7.1 innings 2 runs on 5 hits and only had given up 1 when he left the game. He gave up a 1 out double and was pulled and Korecky let him in so those are the 2 runs. O walks and 5 strikeouts.
I think he is ready, skip Livian with the day off and go from there
so “to “not disturb the rest of his lineup.”
Are you familiar with the following baseball saying?
“Don’t think.
You’ll hurt the team!”
Comfort is unbelievably important to hitters. Its best not to change anything that might affect an MLB hitter’s comfort level.
“I think he is ready, skip Livian with the day off and go from there”
The challenge is what to do if Liriano comes up. Can they move Livan before his next scheduled start (provided they skip him in the ‘rot)
snepp, I’ll have to start paying attention to Seattle’s lineups.
You missed out on the “Miguel Cairo hitting 2nd, Jose Vidro hitting 3rd” gems that got sent out there a few times a couple weeks ago.
Neither of those guys belong in a major league lineup, let alone hitting in those spots. Oh, and Cairo was playing first base of all places.
That would be the equivalent of Gardy putting Nick Punto at first base hitting 2nd, and Jason Tyner at DH hitting 3rd.
If nothing else, skipping Livian prevents him from burning the stadium down for 5 extra days
There is no way they skip him because his extra long bullpen is going to help him get that 82 mph fastball by guys.
i am sure they won’t skip him, just wish they would
Casilla the RBI guy!
great at bats by both castilla and gomez
wouldn’t it be nice to have mauer up right now to continue the rally???
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a pitcher that wouldn’t give up the lead right after the Twins get it back.
nice play
Wouldn’t it be nice if the Twins could score two runs in an inning without having to string together half a dozen hits?
This has been that kind of series. Hopefully that catch will turn the momentum back in the Twins favor.
That was the exact same pitch as the 1st one of the at bat.
Double switch eh? Do what you gotta do.
Twins should come back in the top of the next inning and just chuck one home when the hitter’s not looking for it.
There is no reason that he doesn’t get time there.
Yeah. And now the umps kicking into Showtime Mode.
Mota could roll it over home and get the strike at this point.
Unbelievable. Can’t beat the umps.
Umps should be required to meet with the media after games because I want him to explain why he doesn’t get time late in the game on an 0-2 pitch.
Like I said before. A Twins pitcher should throw one over home plate as the batter’s getting set in the box.
Please not Boof.
Way to go BOOF!
The Twins have just Boofed up another game!
It’s a Boof Job NO TEETH PLEASE!!!!!
GOD HE SUCKS!
Should have brought in Guerrier or even left Breslow in.
Well as much as it sucks to give up a run there if Boof gets out of it with only one run that’s actually a marked improvement over his recent appearences. Hopefully Reyes and Mauer hitting for Reddog will pick him up!
The first thing I thought when I saw Bonser was in was that they must want to lose by more than one run.
You know, for how horribly they got pounded on this road trip…to end up only losing two games in the standings isn’t that bad.
Especially after they got swept in four by the team they were chasing.
Heh. Sox win 7 in a row (3 from KC and 4 from the Twins) and then win one out of the next 6.
Oh yeah. Guillen’s tirade sure fired them up. For all of a week.
Just like Leyland’s earlier this season. They took two from the Twins, and then went back in their cave.
Hmm…the common factors were the Twins. I wonder if that means it’s less about the tirade and more about the team they’re playing…
You know, for how horribly they got pounded on this road trip…to end up only losing two games in the standings isn’t that bad.
Not bad at all. There is lots and lots of ball to be played yet. If they play as well as they did this series they will be fine. Problem is, we always manage to a few clinkers in there. Not sure if we have the starting pitching to make it over the top, but I think we can remain within striking distance until the end.
And who knows what will happen the rest of the way? Maybe Franchise comes back, maybe we can find some production from 3B, maybe Harris and Cuddyer get back on track, maybe Delmon starts to swing like a man, etc. etc. etc. There are a number of things that are not entirely out of the realm of possibility that could ignite this club and turn them into a division winner. It will be fun ride, nonetheless, for which I am thankful for.
right on T, right on LVDave. all things considered, only two games below .500 is not too shabby. twins are much more interesting than i ever expected.
damn positive comments! what the hell?
Hopefully Livian can hold the damage on tuesday… maybe he will be inspired going at one of his old teams
T-
That’s a great point to only lose two games after one of the UGLIEST road trips I have seen in a long long time by the Twins is a remarkable statement of how terrible the Central Division is this year.
The Twins are in it by default.
BC BENEKE-Can’t you cut a little slack on Father’s Day.How would you like it if your kids told you sucked on Father’s Day?A tad heartless,man!
opps-i meant in regards to Boof,bc.
Geno, it’s ok, Boof doesn’t have any kids.
My son did say I suck today. I told him that just because it’s Father’s Day doesn’t mean he didn’t have to clean his room. I had to mow the lawn, do the dishes, wash the clothes, wash the car, and make supper so believe me I worked a heck of a lot harder than Boof Job did today, and I am a father.
Think about this: The Brewers have kept the roof open for only six of their first 30 home games. That’s a harrowing stat for the Twins, with an open-air ballpark being built for 2010. WHY BUILD A NEW PARK IF NO ROOF
“The Twins are in it by default.”
I get the feeling that whoever makes it from the Central this season is going to be a one-and-done. There isn’t a team yet that’s played well for an extended period of time.
Twins got hot against Boston and fell on their face. Sox got hot against the Twins and fell on their face.
It’s actually starting to look like the five Central teams are built well enough to beat each other up…but then get them out of the division and it’s a crap shoot.
