Wednesday lineups: Twins/Tigers
Posted on July 2nd, 2008 – 11:17 AMBy Joe Christensen
The Twins have won their past five series, and today they can make it six, when they play the Tigers in the rubber game at the Metrodome.
Manager Ron Gardenhire said Michael Cuddyer had an MRI exam on his left hand, and the new diagnosis is a sprained knuckle on his left index finger. That sounded like good news.
Cuddyer is eligible to come off the disabled list on July 13, the day before the All-Star break. It’s a good bet that the Twins will give him the three-day break, as well.
Today’s starter for Detroit, Eddie Bonine, is a control specialist with two walks in 20 1/3 innings this year. Gardy said he’s going with Nick Punto at shortstop, simply to give Brendan Harris a breather.
Tigers (42-41)
1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Carlos Guillen, 3B
4. Marcus Thames, 1B
5. Matt Joyce, RF
6. Gary Sheffield, DH
7. Clete Thomas, LF
8. Edgar Renteria, SS
9. Dane Sardinha, C
Starting pitcher: RH Eddie Bonine
Twins (46-38)
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Brian Buscher, 3B
8. Nick Punto, SS
9. Denard Span, RF
Starting pitcher: RH Nick Blackburn
Metrodome. First pitch: 12:10 p.m.
418 Responses to "Wednesday lineups: Twins/Tigers"
PLaying Monroe again would be just silly since he had a great night last night, better sit him another week or two. Glad to see Punto back in there again…. NOT
Punto’s 1 hit gets him another game.
2-starts in a row by Punto? Well, I guess this is the end of the world.
Whatever the case, at least it doesn’t come at the expense of either Buscher or Mauer. Harris has been hitting well of late, but if I had to pick one to get a day off today it’d be him.
Let’s hope Punto keeps the damage minimum (if you must make an out…just K or hit a fly ball, nothing on the ground please)
Still no Cabrera….who’s obligue (or whatever was “hurt” yesterday) is apparently healthy enough to PH?
The Twins need this win tonight. Keeps the momentum going and sends the message that this team didn’t just feed on the NL. And it’ll be a BIG series win leading into Cleveland’s visit over the weekend. (Here’s hoping they can pull off a win and not turn the Tribe series into another Jays/O’s mess)
Derek, Monroe had a good game last night…but Kube’s been having good games for a while now.
Despite his 8 dingers, Monroe’s still has an abysmal average.
I continue to be amazed at the high level of performance by Alexi Casilla, and by how much he has helped this club. I watched him throughout Spring Training and certainly didn’t see this coming. He may be the ‘08 version of the Twins ‘06 Liriano or even the ‘03 Marlins Willis.
I like how Monroe is used. Glad he had a good game last night. Its nice to have power on the bench for once.
well punto battled and got after it last night, put a good swing on his helmet and overall looked like he wanted to be somewhere else. i don’t remember him having this bad body language before.
is ullger the worst 3b coach in the ml?
leyland seems to out coach gardy at every turn, reyes against cabrera? got lucky no nathan again. must be in nathans contract he can’t pitch except in the 9th.
the tiger lineup really doesn’t look that imposing, so they’ll probably score 10 runs today.
Gomez could use a day off sometime here also. Put span in lead off and Monroe in right.
Let’s go Twins!
gobble, I think it was Howard who noted that kind of behavior in Punto’s start on Saturday against the Brew.
But I totally agree, whatever spark he had is totally gone.
And Shaun, no kidding. Redmond has been doing surprisingly well in his spot starts…hitting 3rd of all places. And Monroe, while struggling as a regular starter, has good PH ABs (how many PH dingers does he have this season…?)
Even if it’s not perfect, looking at Redmond/Monroe/Lamb….*cough*….Punto, it like that a lot more than Redmond/Ford/Rodriquez/Tyner.
I called it. My line-up prediction for last night’s game was dead on (except I had Span and Punto flip-flopped in the order) and then I predicted Pun-terrible would play SS or 2B today depsite his abysmal performances of late.
Un-frickin’-believeable. It’s a full blown conspiracy.
All the “compliments” about Nick Punto so far reminds me of last night’s play at the plate. Pudge must be a pretty stout fella! Punto slid into him and bounced up like a trampoline and came down on top of Pudge’s head draped over his shoulders like a rag doll. It’s funny now, but I wasn’t laughing when it happened.
Hey Jimmy Bee,
I know we don’t usually hear from you at night… but how about this stretch of beautiful weather???
Don’t mind it at all Carlos G. My S.A.D is starting to go away thank gosh. It actually starts to drive me a little buggy. I can’t wait to see the Twins beat up on Boston and we throw out Ellsbury trying to steal.
Gardy sticks with guys like Rincon until it’s painfully obvious that he has nothing left. With Punto, it’s is the same way. We all know he has nothing left. He’s shown next to nothing for more than a year. Yet Gardy will stick with him until he strikes out 20 times in a week and smashes his helmet into home plate 10 of those times. At that point, Gardy will get the intervention from the front office, Punto will be DFAd, and we can all breath a little easier to finally be rid of this bane of Twins fans’ existence.
As far as Cassila is concerned, I saw flashes last summer of his potential, but what I didn’t see coming was the his high level of maturity he has shown this year.
“Bill Brasky’s poop is currency in Argentina.”
I couldn’t resist. I love that sketch.
T,
I was thinking the same thing about the bench last night. Such an upgrade to not only have some power off the bench, but just having a decent player helps. Lamb and Monroe are guys that can occasionally rake it. Punto and Red Dog are good enough.
Compare that to last year with guys like Ford and Lou Rod, and we have an upgrade. Heck I’m even OK with Monroes abysmal average if he is going to come in and hit the occasional homer. Remember 2 years ago, I think we got 2 homers out of our DH spot.
Is there a way we could have the same lineup as listed but have DY on the bench and have both Kubel and Monroe in the whole game.
“Despite his 8 dingers, Monroe’s still has an abysmal average.”
Except against the Tigers. He is 9 for 27 in his career against the Tigers, with 2 home runs.
I don’t usually call for Monroe to play, but I think today would be a good chance for him. I agree with Greg - give Gomez the day off, play Span in center, and let Monroe go against his former squad.
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Craig Monroe, LF
7. Brian Buscher, 3B
8. Nick Punto, SS
9. Denard Span, RF
It should be noted that Monroe’s .729 OPS is fifth on our team among players with at least 100 plate appearances. I’d say he’s been playing well for his bench / platoon role on this team.
Here is a lineup I would like to see at some point
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Michael Cuddyer, RF
7. Craig Monroe ,LF
8. Brian Buscher, 3B
9. Brendan Harris, SS
gobble,
“who’s in charge of IT for the trib?”
I called the guy in charge of HR for the TRIB (some guy named BC something) and he told me that Joe Vavra was the TRIB’s IT instructor, but they fired him last night for moonlighting as the Twins batting coach…..and they blamed him for the IT problems.
When is Tolbert supposed to be playing again?
Yeah, whatever you do, let’s bench a guy who went .321/.341/.476 for the month of June.
Monroe’s one good game means he’s hot and should play… but Young’s month of productivity means he should sit.
OK
jimmybee,
“Is there a way we could have the same lineup as listed but have DY on the bench and have both Kubel and Monroe in the whole game.”
After trashing Kubel for 3 months, now you want him to play the whole game?
JimCrikket says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Yeah, whatever you do, let’s bench a guy who went .321/.341/.476 for the month of June.
Monroe’s one good game means he’s hot and should play… but Young’s month of productivity means he should sit.
OK
Just as a power lineup. Keep an open mind and don’t be so closed to different ideas
open mind on this blog?
sid DY is boring the bejesus out of me.
who the hell said harris needed a rest - tomorrows an off day….ill bet harris didnt say so…gardy just has to get his man in…isnt he so sly..do ya suppose he thinks he is fooling us????
Craig Monroe without a question should be in today’s starting line-up. Who care’s what is AVERAGE is.. he has half the a’b’s that Kubel has and has slightly less h’r’s then Kubel. This should be a no-brainer.
what do call a toothless piranha? Punto
After trashing Kubel for 3 months, now you want him to play the whole game?
That ugly little troll with fetal alcohol syndrom can hit homers pretty well. Also Dy and Cuddy lately are like watching the grass grow.
Punto needs the rest.
He will get his rest on the field.
Someone will wake him up for his walk to the batters box….and back.
sit delmon’s sorry ass he hasnt earned an inning of playing time compared to monroe there just playing delmon because of the stupid ass trade they made
There goes Gardy again with experiments and small ball…
After trashing Kubel for 3 months, now you want him to play the whole game?
Are you familiar with the book “Of Mice and Men” sid. Kubel has the HR strength of 10 Lenny’s
Thats because Monroe has more home runs and thats all you look at when deciding a lineup.
i would love to see kubel and monroe in this lineup together….alternate sitting down young and gomez and let monroe get some at bats…together monroe and kubels homerun total would be fairly impressive
Punto hasn’t impressed me in the last year and a half. He should be nothing more than a defensive replacement in late innings.
mj1,
how about sitting Span and give Monroe the starting RF job until Cuddy comes back? Span can fill in for all 2 OFs on occasion.
I think we got 2 homers out of our DH spot.
I do remember that. And none too fondly. And wasn’t it made worse by the fact both of them were from Morneau hitting in the DH spot on a “day off” no less?
“Are you familiar with the book “Of Mice and Men” sid. Kubel has the HR strength of 10 Lenny’s”
I guess you hadn’t read Steinbeck as of last month when you had Kubel pegged as the mouse.
Can Monroe play RF? I know there were talks last time Cuddy went down that they could slide Gomez over and put Monroe in CF for a spell.
Kubel is the the mouse. He has yet to prove anything.
Nah sid more like the puppy
I think I was about ready to show him the rabits out back
I just realized…not only is there no Cabrera or Maggs, but there’s no Pudge.
Gardy gambled and won last night, as his *primarily* A-Sqaud will face off against the Tigers B.5-Squad today thanks to Redmond playing.
Still, wish Cuddy was healthy.
While Cuddyers injured this would be my line up for everygame with Mauer and OF’s getting a day off now and then.
CF Gomez
2B Casilla
C Mauer
1B Morneau
RF Monroe/Kubel
DH Kubel/Monroe
LF Young
3B Buscher
SS Harris
thrylos - normally i would have said yes to that anytime, as i was down on cuddy for his lack of production, but i am one of the few i guess that loves what i see from span, and i dont want to mess with him yet, that might not last, but i like what hes given us so far in two games, but i would give young and gomez nites off, one at a time and let monroe get some nites in a row and see what he brings, as i love his new swing…he was all over everything they threw at him…….
damn double plays…whats with this bunch and dps….gotta stop that shit…
Inning ending double play, here we go again.
What, nobody bitching about Gomez sliding into first? Gotta be kidding me? Remember the last time that happened, people on here were talking about fining players for headfirst slides. Wait, what is that? Sometimes you need to slide to be safe? Whoa, can’t be true, all those commenters on the Strib bloggs can’t be wrong, could they?? 
Hooray for completely unnecessary sacrifices in the first inning!
I love giving away outs, especially at the start of the game for no good reason when the batter has been swinging one of the hottest sticks on the team.
they have misused monroe all year so i dont expect that to change too soon…it wouldnt hurt to rotate him into that outfield and rest everyone now and then…between of play and dh they could all get good at bats and rest ……
David, good lineup…though as a fan I’d have concerns for Monroe in RF.
Though I’m guessing that’s where you’ve built in Kubel/Monroe alternating in the 5 and 6 spots.
I’d go with essentially the same thing, but with Kubel everday RF and Monroe always DH. Kubel’s not doing too poorly in the field, so my own opinion would be to keep him playing there everday while Cuddy’s out and let Monroe get his swing in DH. Might as well not worry about having two guys learning a position.
My bad, the alternating 5/6 thing should be in regards to LHP/RHP. At least I think that’s what you were shooting for.
Me Too: I can’t complain about this one…I’m watching it via Gameday.
You’ll have to let me know what’s going down so I can complain then. 
“damn double plays…whats with this bunch and dps”
Best way to prevent DP’s?
Keep the bases empty.
right, sane. sac bunts result in dp’s also sometimes.
Assuming the Twins don’t skip anyone in the rotation due to the off day, looks like i will get Baker when i go to Fenway monday…. i can live with that.
snepp, why would you consider it a useless sacrifice? Was the end result of the inning what made it useless? The double play was taken out of play with the sacrifice.
Mauer did his job, and got on. Can’t complain about a major-league hitter getting on, except in this case, a walk wasn’t the same as a hit since the hit would have scored the run(assuming the hit was to the outfield). The double-play killed the inning, the sacrifice DEFINITELY didn’t.
“Hooray for completely unnecessary sacrifices in the first inning!”
Casilla was bunting for a hit.
He just bunted it too soft and the catcher jumped on it.
T, the alternating thing was more on the lines of who would be the LHP/RHP thing and the DH/RF thing would be based on who Gardy feels is the better feilder.
I just feel with Cuddyer out the Twins need to have their best sticks in the lineup until the all star break.
Why do sac in the 1st inning, sometimes you have to wonder about Gardy’s managing tactics.
Me too - There is a difference in sliding into first to avoid a tag, and sliding into first because you think it helps you get there faster.
Casilla was bunting for a hit.
Dan and Gordo gave the impression that it was a straight sacrifice.
Starting LNP again, you have to wonder about Gardy’s managing tactics.
Memo to BS: please trade Punto, Gardy has repeatedly proven that he cannot resist sticking him in the line-up.
snepp,
“Dan and Gordo gave the impression that it was a straight sacrifice.”
I’m watching on DIRECTV.
Looked like a base-hit bunt to me.
snepp, why would you consider it a useless sacrifice?
Because it throws away an out. Casilla is HOT, the last thing I would want to do is take the bat out of his hands.
If you want Gomez on 2nd that badly let him steal. His speed is his calling card is it not? Because his ability to get on base sure isn’t getting it done.
I think these guys speed pretty much can make a sacrifice bunt look like a bunt for a hit attempt. If the bunt is hit towards first base, you can assume it is a sac, but in this case, he deadened it too much, giving the catcher a shot at throwing him out. Good throw, and he was out.
Speed is a wonderful thing, and can make for some exciting innings.
Too bad he didn’t beat it out. In my opinion, it was a sacrifice, but such a good one, it gave him a reasonable shot at getting to first too.
BTW, Casilla sure has gotten the bunt to work for him. He is able to absolutely deaden that ball. Must hold a VERY soft bat on those bunt attempts.
right, sane. sac bunts result in dp’s also sometimes.
And sometimes they lead to triple plays *thinks back to Castillo’s disasterous bunt in 2006 vs. White Sox*
…
I just made myself sad.
I’m watching on DIRECTV.
Looked like a base-hit bunt to me.
That’s what I get for trusting Dan and John’s game calling abilities. Can’t say I’m surprised though, neither one of them are very good at letting the listener know what’s going on.
T: watch the game! think good thoughts!
T,
“And sometimes they lead to triple plays *thinks back to Castillo’s disasterous bunt in 2006 vs. White Sox*”
That never happened!
That never happened!
That never happened!
That never happened!
Your 50 minutes are up.
Same time, next week.
Starting LNP again, you have to wonder about Gardy’s managing tactics.
Blackburn is a groundball pitcher who doesn’t strike anyone out and Punto does have considerably more range than Harris does.
As much as it pains me to say, the decision to start my favorite whipping boy is probably a no-brainer.
Yeah snepp, a steal is such a sure thing too. Much, much better success rate than sacrifice bunts(yeah right). BTW, let Casilla swing away, and you still have a huge probability of a DP, especially if the ball is on the ground. I can’t find fault with that call. This team was stung bad by DP’s last night, and I was actually expecting the sacrifice there, to get that first run across the plate. Even with the Sac, the DP was still turned. Dang, sure sucks that the other team is actually allowed to play on the field to.
BTW Sane, I rewatched it, I think your right, it appears that he was trying for the hit there. Kinda makes the sacrifice conversation mute if thats the case.
Hey snepp, I honestly think that Dan and Gordo do a pretty good job of painting the picture. Heck, I thought it was a sac at first, and I think we have a better view of the play on TV then the guys up in the booths do.
NICE play Punto. Way to go.
Span cuts off a gapper.
Cuddaver would have chased it to the wall and cost a run.
Punto just won an ESPY!
UN F-CKING BELIEVABLE!
“isnt he so sly..do ya suppose he thinks he is fooling us????”
yes, i’m very certain gardy runs into the clubhouse between innings and refreshes this blog. it’s all about us.
Ouch! 51 pitches for Nick through 3 innings.
that play was on Casilla, if he had not dived so effectivele the ball was going to be by the Tigers’ dugout with 2 runs scoring…
Was Nickys play that good?
punto, span, gomez, casilla due up.
three bunnies and a guy who bugs us.
(bugs bunny, get it? oh nevermind!)
LNP walks, they fear the power!
Span’s and Punto’s plays just assured us that Craig will ride blogs tonight.
snepp, dontcha just love when it takes all of about 60 seconds for your observation to be validated?
everyone hates punto playing now I bet….
Same crap every single day, then he goes and does what he just did and saves a run and every body goes eh?
“sit delmon’s sorry he hasnt earned an inning of playing time compared to monroe ”
Delmon’s June #s: .321/.341/.476 (.817) with seven doubles, two homers and 13 RBI.
Monroe’s June #s: .125/.176/.313 (.489) with two homers and 5 RBI.
I have no problem with Monroe getting a few more at bats, and playing again against his old team today, maybe… But it certainly shouldn’t be at the expense of Young.
what’s up with all the bunting?
Pun-tastic!
I guess that toothless piranha has some claws - WOW! That’s why he should have been a defensive replacement Monday
Hey, GOMEZ.
how doesn’t Span score there?
“Was Nickys play that good?”
With points for creativity, it was off the charts.
DP #2, whats the record in a game?
Master Ninja: Moment of the year 2008 is still IBB to Punto to face Lamb (who actually made it a SMART MOVE! by promptly making the final out)
Notice I didn’t attach and adjective to describe what type of Moment it was.
oopd, my bad. not a DP, just can’t read.
LNP alwasy has been the master of showboating.
tim: A toothless Pirahna with claws?
Wow, I guess I have to give credit to Punto for at least being an evolutionary marvel.
Well - nuts!!! Casilla had a .447 RISP before the out. Last nite, they said batting left-handed is very painful for him
YES Mauer. Thats the way to get the runners home:)
I wish we has a real number 3 hitter.
Nice hit Joe… but of course, it’s not really all that important cuz it’s not in the 9th inning, yanno.
PS: I’m picturing Punto’s play as involving fireworks and at least two elephants.
Am I close?
Yeap. Officially Punto is the missing link
T- If you’re gamecasting it, they do have the video of Punto’s play available.
Me Too, Tony, Crikket,
You guys are all homers!!
So am I.
BTW snepp, the out by Casilla is why a sac is often employed by small-ball teams to get the run across. That would have been a wasted at-bat in the first if that would have been the result as he had this inning.
Nice defense there Kittys.
Well no wonder he’s in the lineup then the last couple of days.
Cavemen kicked tiger butt all the time back then.
Yep he is all kinds of terrible…
Again, nice defense kittys
Keep on scoring! Nice.
The bats are alive, very nice.
Saw the Punto play thanks to the new (and continually improving) GameDay.
Wow, definately see the style points. I’m disappointed by the lack of fireworks and elephants however.
Nice grab by Casilla on the other side to keep that one from rolling away.
We need to keep piling on because I don’t think anyone trusts the bullpen even with this tame lineup.
And it all started with a Punto walk…
Gladden is saying all this offense is thanks to Punto’s defensive play exciting the team.
Prediction:
A toothless Pirahna will not do well in the evolution scheme.
Forget the “Punto has lost the fire” crap.
He was just playing possum.
He is a toothless possum.
Also, not good in the evolution scheme.
harris will never see the light of day again. gordo and glad declared the play of the yr will turn the whole season around!!!
i was wrong to think he isn’t the best player in twins history, sorry, sorry!
Wow, we batted around. Go Twins!
along the animal kingdom line……..
Bovine getting knocked around, should go to the BULL pen
ok that was dum
We may as well trade Harris, Gardy will never take Punto out of the line up now.
Yep, Harris is officially Mr. Splinterbutt.
The only way to get out of the inning is to throw gomez 3 straight”Torri’s”.
LNP! LNP! LNP!
bases loaded, 2 out. Lefty pitching. Who do you want at bat:
Span
or
Monroe?
gobble,
We now have a Harris-Buscher platoon at 3B.
The once and future King is, now and forever, the SS.
Even knowing what happened I would have left Span in.
Gardy said Harris is sitting to get a break. I for one believe him.
Which means I’ll be disappointed if Punto starts once the Tribe series starts up (I believe they have an offday tomorrow)
Great inning for the Twins. Let’s not give any runs back now.
Punto should be batting 3rd after today.
T,
“Gardy said Harris is sitting to get a break.”
I believe he was speaking of a two-year break.
I think we face two lefties against the indians, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see punto at 3rd for one or two of the games.
no doubt the radio guys will be talking a punto contract extension very soon.
there goes Butcher again
Nah. Bat Punto cleanup. Morneau needs a day off coming up here anyway…
You know what this means. They’re going to have to clone Punto so he can play both 3B and SS.
Sane - you are really on fire today!
sane seems very….un-sane today.
sane says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Span cuts off a gapper.
Cuddaver would have chased it to the wall and cost a run.
Punto just won an ESPY!
UN F-CKING BELIEVABLE!
Everything on the planet rolls by DY
“there goes Butcher again”
Buscher made an excellent diving stop in the 5-6 hole, got up and his throw was off the mark.
Should have been ruled a hit.
great pitch by Nick Radkeburn!
T - I think the word is “insane”.
If Punto bats, it will be Fossum versus Possum.
You’re right Tony. I was just trying to avoid the obvious pun.
sane how slow would a ball have to be rolling to not get by DY
The Detroit FSN announcers just compared Clete Thomas to Mauer…
This game is boring. Get Crain up
sane, take that back. a historic ballpark in south dakota is named “Fossum Field”
probably a local boy
i really like the nick “possum” punto name.
Hey snepp, I honestly think that Dan and Gordo do a pretty good job of painting the picture. Heck, I thought it was a sac at first, and I think we have a better view of the play on TV then the guys up in the booths do.
They’re constantly missing pitches and plays that occur. During that Casilla AB in the first not only did they not call the first pitch ball, but they didn’t mention the pickoff attempt either. If it weren’t for Gamecast you wouldn’t even know they game was still being played.
I’m not against sac bunts, so long as they’re not overused. Late in close games or poor hitters at the plate fine, early in the game with the meat of your order up? Waste.
Sane - see yellow beachball
The Detroit FSN announcers just compared Clete Thomas to Mauer…
Well that’s just riddiculous.
Who’d want Mauer in the lineup. 2 homers and only 30 RBI? From the #3 guy.
If I’m Thomas I’m insulted.
At the rate he is going and when all is said and done will Mauer have less HR’s then Gwynn, Boggs and Carew
jimmy,
“sane how slow would a ball have to be rolling to not get by DY”
You are asking the wrong guy.
I have been a Delmon fan since he was 15-yr-old playing for Camarillo(CA)HS.
If Minnesota discards him, they will be unspeakably stupid.
I can tell Young’s truly become a Twin. Mostly because everybody hear hates him and has lost all faith in him.
I hear Morneau comes to these blogs hoping for the day everybody hates him as well. He must feel left out.
Well, I wouldn’t mind if he has the career of Boggs, Carew or Gwynn… would you?
jimmy - and they can have a skylight in their wing at the HOF - no power
I hear Morneau comes to these blogs hoping for the day everybody hates him as well. He must feel left out.
Mourny is horny for Marney.
boggs, carew, and gwynn are once in a lifetime talents.
twins don’t have anyone like that at this time.
Note on the Cleveland series…Cliff Lee pitched last night and CC goes tonight, so our bats should stay hot against them.
“At the rate he is going and when all is said and done will Mauer have less HR’s then Gwynn, Boggs and Carew”
Thats a shot?
That’s the best you got?
When I come back as a hitter in my next lifetime, I HOPE thats the worst thing you can say about ME!!!!!!!
“tim says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
jimmy - and they can have a skylight in their wing at the HOF - no power”
power
Like this one
If Punto gets a hit here Gardy will demand he is on the all star team.
That out by Punto was comical.
Forget it, LNP is a man among boys out there today!
Well, it was a stupid play that almost cost us a run. Nice hit, but if he’s out before Delmon touches home… Mr. Fundamentals.
kirby; age 24 2nd yr w/twins: 691 ab, 4 hr, 74 rbi, .288 ave, .330 obp. he turned out alright.
young’s #’s from a few days ago age 22, 2nd yr.: 288 ab, 2 hr, 28 rbi, .281 ave, .329 obp.
how close are these #’s?
sane it was not meant to be a shot. They all fit in the same category of high avg’s and no power. The players I listed are all in the HOF. It was never meant to be a shot. Here is a shot you asked for. Mauer couldn’t hold Piazza’s jock as far as batting #’s
Some of you should go worship at the Temple of the Home Run Cult.
Niiiiiiiiiiiiick Puuuuuntooooooooo!!!
He is trying to stretch a single. Stops 4 feet short of second base when the second baseman got the ball in his glove, drops on his knees and tries to tag the bad with his noggin.
Piazza carried the Dodger’s for years Mauer doesn’t carry the Twins
And Piazza never had a jock that wasn’t stolen by all the basestealers he could never throw out.
jimmy,
where exactly did Piazza carry the Dodgers to?
Now Gladden is defending his smoking buddy Punto by saying that Young should have hustled home. That’s just BS. Punto should never have tried for second.
What is Gardy doing, 6th inning no outs runner on 1st, where is Crain!
I’d rather have a team of guys like Mauer and Morneau that work together vs. one guy that carries everybody.
Because if that one guy goes cold, g’night team.
And since everybody appears to be ticking everybody else off today…why not toss some bait out there.
If Kubel puts one over the fence before Morneau can get another one, how long will it have been since somebody OTHER than Morneau lead the team in homeruns (and I’ll make it more specific by putting it at a minimum of 81 games [half a season])
Pitching change soon, please
Need Blackburn to go 6 today. 89 pitches so far with one out in the 6th.
Blackburn needs to go one more inning here without more than a run or two given up.
Gomez with the superman grab…sounds like a game full of web gems from the twins…
sane says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
And Piazza never had a jock that wasn’t stolen by all the basestealers he could never throw out.
You ever watch Mauer tag out a runner on a close play at the plate wheeeewy stinky cheeses
So did Gomez dive or slide to catch that?
Dan decided calling it a “Superman-type slide” would be sufficient.
“bases loaded, 2 out. Lefty pitching. Who do you want at bat:”
If the Twins are ahead… Span.
If they are down by 0,1, or 2… Span.
if they are down by 3, 4 or 5… Monroe.
if they are down by 6 or more… Span.
check the replay of Punto’s dive to second at Gameday. Highlight material
Punto should have stopped and gotten in a rundown to score the run.
FIRST RULE OF BASERUNNING:
NEVER run into a tag.
If the ball is in a fielder’s possession ahead of you, RETREAT!!!!
There’s the QS. Whoopdee doo……
Thanks thry.
Boy, that Punto’s a one-man highlight machine. Though for good or bad I can’t decide…
i don’t think delmon will ever hold kirby’s jock either.
i felt a need to get that off my chest.
Play ball!
how long before the ‘Blog Monitor’ attempts to pick apart someone else’s opinion?? over/under at 2 minutes?
Did gameday just miss 2 outs, I’ve got a walk, then ground out 2nd, 3 outs?
Wha’ Happened?
So did the run score or not? MLB.com and Gameday say 6-0…
if three runs or less in six innings is a quality start, then what’s zero runs and three hits or less in six innings?
Master Ninja: after the Walk, there was a fly out to Gomez (apparently on a great catch), and a ground out.
Hi FIRE, welcome to the discussion. You’ll find I’ve been here since the lineups were posted and am doing just fine.
I think Lamb will be cut/traded when Tolbert comes back, even if we have to eat his contract.
sane you keep forgetting that the game is won by who its the most homeruns. total runs scored is a minor detail.
another great pitcher molded by Dr. Frankenstein AKA Rick Anderson!!!!
Cookie,
“i don’t think delmon will ever hold kirby’s jock either”
Nor do I, but worse than Kirby is a pretty good complement.
gobble,
“sane you keep forgetting that the game is won by who its the most homeruns. total runs scored is a minor detail.”
My bad!
I thought the game is won by which team has the highest batting average.. regardless of the score??
mickey: “then what’s zero runs and three hits or less in six innings?”
Awesome.
Hey,any thoughts on how Gomez is developing as a hitter. I know he had 2 walks last night and seems to be working counts a lot more when I follow games online. I just dont get to see the boyz that much. Span needs a real, prolonged chance at this level.
Can’t wait till they come to Fenway!
I thought the game is won by which team has Punto in there lineup
Speaking of Tolbert, when’s he even due back?
The game is won if ESPN is excited about your result regardless of who scores the most runs.
the point is nobody thought kirby would be as good as he was, nobody thought he’d hit 31 hr’s the next yr.
lots of people on here want young’s head for being so bad, in comparison is he that bad? how he turns out remains to be seen.
T- Last night they said august 1st for tolbert and everett.
I hope to see Gomez out in center. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see Span move over and Monroe in right. Danny mentioned that Gomez limped off after being out at second.
yes!! the team with ‘little nicky’ is always the winner!!
Really thought Gomez needed a day off a few days ago. Now he’s on fire and proved me wrong.
I thought they were talking late July or early August for Tolbert. If so, it would make some sense to just let him rehab and play in Rochester until September call-up time. He’s going to need time to shake off the rust anyway.
“I thought the game is won by which team has the highest batting average.. regardless of the score??”
Wrong.
The game is won by the team with the hitting coach and pitching coach who were the most famous and best players when they played.
T&E on 8-1? That sucks. Just past the deadline. Though I suppose they’ll know before hand if either will be more able to contribute.
Deal Lamb, call up Macri. Tolbert will likely not be @ 100% and can go back to AAA while he gets his swing back (it’ll have been like 2-3 months by then won’t it?)
Punto keeps his spot on the bench warm, and Everett gets a handshake and a polite (yet firm) boot out the door.
Keep going Blackie!
Soon the Boofeteria will be closed and he’ll actually be attempting to earn his pay.
7 complete!
“Morneau is the next Jay Buhner”
Tiger tails between their legs…..
I thought they were on a hot streak!
You’re all wrong. It doesn’t matter who wins the game because back at their respective blogs all their fans will hate them anyway.
Well, Blackie is having a pretty good game. Can’t complain about this start, now can we.
Let’s hope the Bullpen takes care of business. I am hoping that Nathan will get to sit today
I must say, it was a pretty good move in hindsight, that Gardy sat Mauer last night, getting the win with his “B” lineup, and setting up a game against Detroit’s “B” lineup against the Twins “A” lineup (Still don’t see how that could be with Punto in there, but hey, he’s had a pretty good day)
I got it the team that ‘plays the game the right way, that gets after it, that just keeps battling, fundamentally sounds - does the little things’ is the team that wins
Delmon is so awful we should just cut him and have him be the bat boy.
Yeah romer. I did think it was funny how all of the experts said the Twins were winning because they were playing the NL… but the Tigers were winning because they were finally playing the way they were expected to.
It’s nice to look at the lineup and see 9 guys all hitting .260 or higher. (And all but 2 hitting .280 or higher)
Dang Young, why not advance on that fly?
Also FIRE, you have to play with abandon and you’re a winner in the Gardy house.
Casilla and Morneau so far the only guys without a hit today. Their averages have now “plummeted” to .321 and .310 respectively.
Gomez could use a day off sometime here also.
He can have tomorrow off.
Gomez’ last 3 game results: 7 for 12 (2 doubles), 3 Runs, 2 walks, 1 K, 1 SB plus more highlight reel catches.
The 3 cheetahs with 3 of 6 runs scored yesterday and 3 of 7, so far today.
didn’t you hear the wisdom? twins are winning because detroit has inferior pitching.
reminds me of when george costanza is giving unsolicited hitting advice to the yankees and a yankee says, “hey, we won the world series last year.”
with utter disdain, george replies, “yeah, in six games.”
A combination of Crain and a member of the B-Squad (Bonser/Breslow/Bass) should be able to wrap this one up.
baseball was invented so people had something to complain about.
what would it be like on here if we were 8 gms under .500 instead of 8 over?
“baseball was invented so people had something to complain about.
what would it be like on here if we were 8 gms under .500 instead of 8 over?”
omg. i’d be doing something else!
The Twins just got lucky, getting to face over-the-hill pitchers, and getting a couple top-knotch pitchers on their “off”days. Lucky for the Twins, they didn’t have to play well, the other teams just gave them the wins. Too bad that our unqualified pitching/hitting coaches do such a bad job, otherwise, we would have easily won 20 staight at this point.
/note, this is a sarcastic post/
blackbird out. whooping crain in.
hope the tigers don’t give him a whoopin’.
i’d like a ten run lead better.
“t’s nice to look at the lineup and see 9 guys all hitting .260 or higher. (And all but 2 hitting .280 or higher)”
I thought today was a must win. mickey mental said otherwise. So, looks like he’s right? We’re a run-producing club that doesn’t need momentum because we’re so dangerous offensively.
:)>
gook: See last year’s comments.
gobble… probably be a lot emptier.
oops…….”it’s nice to look at the lineup…”
Another highlight play bu LNP
whats the score?
“baseball was invented so people had something to complain about.
what would it be like on here if we were 8 gms under .500 instead of 8 over?”
Or have Barry Zito on your team
I would really like a report on Crain.
Can anybody tell if he’s throwing a sharp slider today?
Just got a chance to check in. Haven’t had a chance to read all the posts.
Could someone summarize the Top 10 Complaints for today.
Today was still a must win, more for mid-season and trade market posturing.
Twins would like to be either looking back at Chicago or right up on their back going into the ASG. I don’t think they actually play them until then so they at least have to keep even.
Crain threw one slider and one curve, both for balls. Alls his other pitcher were his straight as a BB fastball at 93-96
Dragon, read the lineup and you should be able to guess 90% of them.
For all the people riding Gardy for having Punto in the lineup…I wonder what the Tigers blogs look like with both Pudge and Cabrera sitting in a rubber game.
Not to mention the mighty Tiggers are being shut down by some nobody named Blackbourne or something.
Nice to see that Crain still can throw some BP.
maybe bs should try to pick up silva to help out.
Could someone summarize the Top 10 Complaints for today.
In no particular order…
Sac bunts
Nick Punto
Gladden and Gordo
Feel free to add on.
OK, I take it back.
Ninja - I was thinking nice to see crain can still strikeout one of the hottest hitters in baseball. I guess it’s all perspective.
how many “must-win” games did the twins lose before they made the season-ending run in ‘06? how many “must-win” games did colorado lose before they made their run last year?
a must-win game is when the other team’s magic number is one.
FIRE,
“the team that ‘plays the game the right way, that gets after it, that just keeps battling, fundamentally sounds - does the little things’ is the team that wins.”
If only.
The Twins would finish 162-0!!
mmmmmm…….
maybe not.
snepp DY LNP uh any more
“with utter disdain, george replies, “yeah, in six games.””
George Costanza, the ultimate blogger contributor!
Actually brings tears to my eyes, mickey mental.
Top Ten Complainst
1)Twins have no future hall of famers
2)Twins have no one to carry HOF’ers jocks.
3)Something has gone terribly wrong in the animal world.
4)The spelling on this blog is atroshis.
5) through 10) Nick Bunto
I wish Zumaya would pitch. I want to make Guitar Hero jokes…
romer says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
“with utter disdain, george replies, “yeah, in six games.””
George Costanza, the ultimate blogger contributor!
Actually brings tears to my eyes, mickey mental.
I still like the episode where George is trying to get Steinbrenner to fire him by wrecking old Yankees memorabilia
Biggest complaints - Punto, Span and Young.
Worst players in the game - Punto, Span and Young.
Best players in the game - Punto, Span and Young.
Should be cut, DFA’d or optioned - Punto, Span and Young.
We don’t have a real consensus here.
DY is secretly one of the Williams sisters in drag
Casilla gets a hit…now we need Mauer to get on base so Morneau won’t be the only guy without him.
Are we the only fan base in the world that actually hates to see our guys do well?
BOOF sighting. Add it to the list of complaints!
Time for the Boof complaints to break into the top 10
I’m not sure if anyone has mentioned today but All-Star voting ends today. The races for AL catcher, 1B and 2b are still relatively close. I would like to see both of the M&M boys make the team. How about it?
T:
” Morneau won’t be the only guy without him.”
i still know what you meant. LOL
if only lamb could have entered as a defensive replacement …
Thanks for the update.
Notice I didn’t ask what people were happy about. Even during a win, would hae gotten NO RESPONSE.
I have no problem with Youkilis starting over Morneau. I think he deserves it. Morneau still could make the team as a reserve.
We’ve got Boof!!
BOOF sighting. Add it to the list of complaints!
I was wondering why Boof didn’t come out for the 8th. Or can he not pitch 2 innings in a blowout?
*deep breath*
Boofateria, fat boy, can’t throw, option him, trade him, demote him, cut him, execute him, he sucks, he stinks, BP, Gardy-lover, Pohlad’s cheap, Anderson’s lousy, dutch elm, FLUSH!, loser!
Did I get them all….
*passes out*
no Blog Monitor but we are the only fan base that mistakes calling bad players - (PUNTO, LAMB, EVERETT) as hating the entire team.. also the only fan base that embraces being average and doesn’t want their team to improve because then feelings could get hurt..
No he has the Nathan syndrome, 1 inning only.
GO TWINS!!!! WOO-HOO!!!!
mickey, for the record…..
*I was initially thinking this is a must win game only because we must continue to take every series.
*And I really was actually reconsidering that this is a must win, which means I’m reconsidering that this team is a better than .500 team.
Considering his performance of late, it’s probably best to keep Boof to an inning at a time.
I think the fear is he implodes and wreck’s his trade value…
41 hits in the series.
17 LOB today.
Who would take the Boofeteria? Who needs pitching? Just curious
no Blog Monitor but we are the only fan base that mistakes calling bad players - (PUNTO, LAMB, EVERETT)
Don’t forget the piling on Young, Mauer, Gomez, Buscher, Harris, Monroe, Kubel, Gardy, Anderson (this is new actually), Nathan, Bonser, the Bullpen, Vavra, Pohlad, Smith, the Annoucers…
Not everybody piles on all the players, but it comes from all directions at all of them.
Except Morneau. Looks like the Twins have their own Teflon Boy.
His trade value is crap the way it is, implosion or not.
I just don’t understand the team’s “need” to keep 12 pitchers around to avoid an “overworked” bullpen, but then they burn an inning on Crain when two innings from your current mop-up man would be sufficient.
the awesome possum was the star today!! his web gem turned the wole season around!
I was wondering why Boof didn’t come out for the 8th. Or can he not pitch 2 innings in a blowout?
IMO, It was more than justified to use Crain in the 8th today, even in a 7-0 game. This is the tiggers. They can score runs in bunches. And, we do have tomorrow off to rest Crain.
If Boof pitches two innings and gets lit up and we end up using several relief pitchers, wow, I can’t imagine the comments here.
PS: And all of that piling has been within the past few days.
we are winning because detroit lit a fire under us. one pitch at mauer’s
nut cup and the next one at his knees. not like a catcher uses his knees anyway. on top of that, the pitch at the tiger player wasn’t that close, he started grandstanding and mauer didn’t even try to catch it, it was so wild.
There, I said it! ! !
Careful Carlos, you’ll get pegged as a Blog Monitor if you dare to voice your opinion around these parts…
“T says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Considering his performance of late, it’s probably best to keep Boof to an inning at a time.”
Or he could be like reyes and pitch to 1 or 2 batters every 3-5 games
I think the fear is he implodes and wreck’s his trade value…
The other thing about a pitch at Mauer’s knees…not only does a catcher need those, but Mauer has a history of knee problems.
The last thing he wants is to reaggravate it.
It’d be like if when Cuddy came back somebody threw in at his hands. Just as important to a player, but even more significant considering his injuries this year.
T:
so you’re saying a nut cup isn’t………what are you saying? ? ?
mathematically there maybe enough Twin fan’s that there is someone that complains about everyone… I see alot more positivity about the team in general and concentrated passion about weak links like - PUNTO,LAMB, EVERETT
so cheer up! Twins are at their high water mark for games over .500 !!! considering this is a rebuilding year it is quite a luxury to be contending and sticking it in the ear of MLB experts saying Twins would be fighting for last place in the division..
Blog entry for October30th:
I don’t care that the Twins won their 80th consecutive game and swept the ALDS, the ALCS and the World Series.
WE NEVER BEAT A GOOD TEAM!
WE NEVER BEAT A GOOD PITCHER!
WE PLAYED ALL THE TEAMS WHEN THEY WERE PLAYING SHITTY!
TRADE EVERYONE!
CUT EVERYONE!
FIRE ALL MANAGERS, COACHES AND FO STAFF!
KNEECAP THE REST!
How are the Vikings doing?
I’d never visited one of the Twins’ Strib blogs for live in-game comments before today. I will from now on keep it to myself that I visit these blogs and occasionally add my own comments.
vikes play the pack on MNF to start the season.
BE THERE!
ok, whatever, klein-saucer
sane I spent some time on the Timberwolves Blog and that is much worse. They want to decapitate McFail
T-Wolves picked up a SD boy, probably the best ever, and his first thoughts were now he can go to twins and vikings games!
Kleiner,
” I will from now on keep it to myself that I visit these blogs and occasionally add my own comments.”
None of us talk about these things to other people.
Why is that, Kleiner? After all, the people here are friggin geniuses! If Gardy and Smith were as smart as people here, the Twins would have won 15-0 today and would be 10 games up on the rest of the division by now. You should be proud to be counted among the mensa members here.
the radio re-cap says the “awesome possum” made the play of the year today!!!
Cookie-Sam-Cal-Billy says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
T-Wolves picked up a SD boy, probably the best ever, and his first thoughts were now he can go to twins and vikings games!
Gummy, gum, gums McGee
Does anyone even REMOTELY think Everett has a chance to ever play for the Twins again?
Well, Blackie had a good game today. Baker had a good game yesterday. Perkins had a good game on Monday. Slowey had a good game Sunday.
Seems like the Twins have had a pretty good run of pitching lately. If it wouldn’t have been for the bullpen issues Monday night (the source of alot of complaints the last couple days), this team would be on another streak right now. Gotta think that this team is playing well above their heads right now, but I will take it for as long as it continues.
Kleiner,
Why do you think we all use fake names?
We are all scared shitless that we might get “outed”.
i try not to think about everett!
Fake names? You mean we’re not suposed to use our real names?
If Everett regains his arm strength, I fully expect him back in the lineup, at least on occasion. He is a whiz with the glove, and he had a strong arm. The problems we saw earlier this season with errant throws is not his norm. The guy has a strong arm and good accuracy. Weak bat, but hey, Punto has made a career of a weak bat and a good glove.
Everett has a better glove, and probably the same bat, maybe with even a bit of pop too. Anyway, yes, I think Everett will play in some Twins games if he comes back healthy.
Gotta go to “work”, teaching at a baseball camp.
Again, apologies to my parents for calling it “work”.
Had a good time this morning (your afternoon).
Thanks and later!
?? I legallly changed my name to FIRE VAVRA & GARDY !!!! I will also be amending my name to add PUNTO now that he is back in the saddle!! AHYEAH!!!!!!!!!!!1
“Gotta think that this team is playing well above their heads right now…”
I dunno, Me Too. Andy has his perfect pupils in Baker/Slowey/Blackburn. And considering the fact that they’re similar type pitchers, the League has had plenty of time to figure them out.
It’s not too much of a stretch that all of Baker/Blackburn/Livan could win 15 games this year, with Slowey right behind them.
And the offense sure isn’t the typical hot/cold HR-hitting type, but rather a steady run producer.
It all comes down to the BP…..
Just took a look at the INTERNET link from the twins page to Mike Vandermause’s column in the Green bay paper.
Seem to true right now. The Twins are streaking, playing some good teams, but can’t seem to get fans to the games.
I am partially responsible too. Instead of going to the games in Minny, I have went to the open-air stadiums this year. Went to KC and Denver, and don’t feel the least bit guilty about it either. I probably won’t be going to the Cities this year, and quite frankly, the Dome just doesn’t feel right to me for a baseball game.
I am a big Steeler fan, and have went to several away games, in KC, Denver, and in Minnesota in the last few years. The Steeler fans make for some pretty large contingent of fans, and when I have went to Twins games on the road, I can say that the Twins are very well represented as well.
Seems like the dome is the issue, and once that is corrected, it should be a different story.
Kinda funny how he was comparing the attendance of Mil to Minn for baseball games. They have a relatively new stadium, and the Twins are playing in the Dome. Of course the attendance numbers are gonna reflect those issues.
Wait a darned minute, Me Too. Who goes if Everett returns?
Both Lamb and Tolbert? Punto? Buscher?
Those are your options.
Gardy just now said Punto is the best infielder there is.
And they’d actually send Buscher’s bat back to Rochester?!!?!!!
Sure, get rid of Lamb. But forbid Tolbert off the 25-man? He’s easily a better all-around player than Everett.
And the Twins have their starting SS’s now with Harris and Punto, right? And Casilla goes at SS if those two can’t.
Hmmm. I like seeing Blackburn being able to go that extra inning. I figured he would have been yanked, but he was sent out to pitch the 7th with a 95 pitch count. Hopefully more trust will be put on the young starters in the future as well instead of pulling them just to get the pen in the game.
romer, funny thing is, earlier this off-season, after the Santana trade, people would be laughed at if they even suggested that the Twins starters were capable of winning 15 games. The bullpen was considered the strength of the team, and some wanted to trade Nathan too.
Sure is nice to see that some of those pre-season predictions aren’t the case right now.
Pretty much have given up on Cuddy and his year lost to injuries. Sure he could come back, but I have played with a bad finger myself, and the hitting is definitely gonna suffer.
The way the season has been going for the middle infielders, I am pretty sure there will be a spot available for one or both of them.
If the young guns keep pitching reasonably well, I fully expect the staff to drop to 11 after the allstar break. Alot more off-days equal more rest for the pen, and less reason for carrying extra pitchers.
i really enjoyed reading the comments during today’s games, and a co-worker caught me laughing out loud, so that was funny. i’m pretty sure everyone here bleeds twins blue so that’s a common bond. but it’s a free country so pick a name and start posting! ! !
Romer, don’t know if Tolbert is a better all-around player than Everett if Everett was healthy. Honestly, I am pretty sure that Everett would be the more valuable player. However, with Tolbert you have a younger player who would still be a Twin next year. Some definite value to that.
That being said, for some reason, I just don’t see all these guys staying heathy all season, considering how they were falling like flys for the season so far.
Just for the record, I think that Lamb needs to stay. He has a good part-time bat off the bench, and that is something that this team needs to keep around. Can’t have a bench of Punto, Tolbert, Redmond and Span. The Twins want and NEED some pop off the bench.
yes gardy did say that punto was the teams best fielder wherever he plays, so for those that think he will not play on a regular basis ….
it may be time to give morneau a day off, he could use it probably won’t get the as break off so maybe sunday against lee. let nicky play first he can play anywhere at a hof level.
i’m telling you he gets a contract extension soon.
we seem to always under estimate the relationship between gardy and nicky, birds of a feather!
How the he_ _ did Mauer hit 13 HR’s in one year other then that one year he avg’ 6. Steroids I tell you he was on the 13 hr juice that year
Sane’s 2:53 post is great satire! Best laugh I’ve had all day aside from the Twins taking the series. I’m as glass-half-empty as any of you regulars, but I appreciated the comeuppance that sane…and the Twins…gave me today. Here’s hoping they don’t help the Indians get healthy this weekend.
The Twins have now scored more runs than anyone else in the division. Mauer is on track to win his second batting title. Blackburn has pitched better than Santana this year. Go Twins!
twins have scored fifth-most runs in the majors. maybe they should change the name to the minnesota vavras?
Punto needs to play SS. 2 singles and a walk, today. He is superior to Harris as a hitter, fielder and base-runner.
Harris can play some at third. Buscher is too erratic in the field, especially his throws.
Gladden said, earlier in the year, that Punto was as fast as Gomez or Ellsbury going from 1st to 2nd. He said the two outfielders would be faster in a longer sprint. I don’t know if I believe Punto is that fast, but Gladden might be right. Punto is plenty fast.
“Gladden said, earlier in the year, that Punto was as fast as Gomez or Ellsbury going from 1st to 2nd.”
Why has Gomez stolen one base per 14 MLB at bats while Punto has stolen only one base per 27 MLB at bats?
Someone is screwing up.
Either Gladden is full of it: or
Gardy is negligent by not attempting more SB with Punto.
My guess is that Gladden is full of it.
OBP SLG AVG AB/K
.304 .346 .245 4.08 Harris
.346 .361 .278 6.55 Punto
Harris whiffs in 25% of his AB. That’s terrible. Harris has one stolen base, despite playing almost everyday. He doesn’t get on base, and his range in the field is awful.
Harris might be better than he has played, but he belongs at 3B. He isn’t a middle infielder, except in a pinch.
“Why has Gomez stolen one base per 14 MLB at bats while Punto has stolen only one base per 27 MLB at bats?”
Because there are other variables.
I would wager the lack of Punto steals is that Punto on base is a rare enough event that you’d hate to see him get himself out when he finally gets on.
———-
On a side note: ESPN now drinking the Rays Kool-Aid while riding the bandwagon.
Today’s hyperbole.
“The Rays are rolling along, and then Pedroia homers to put the Sox up 1-0 and you’re thinking ‘Oh no here it goes again, here comes the Red Sox and there goes the division…’ But then they manage to answer back…”
Or something like that. WOW. A solo shot in the top of the first and already it’s a sign the Sox are going to steamroll right over the Rays and back into the division? But oh wait, in their first ABs of the game they are able to push one across so all is SAVED!
Yikes.
“Why has Gomez stolen one base per 14 MLB at bats while Punto has stolen only one base per 27 MLB at bats?”
“Because there are other variables”.
Thats true.
The major variable is that Gomez is faster and Gladden has a minority opinion.
Gomez only looks faster because Puntastic is just playing opossum.
Fire-You are not the weak link,you are the missing link!
Here’s the video of Punto’s play in case you missed it. That is one dam good ump, also.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200807023049905
and here is the video of Punto’s memorable head first slide to second
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200807023050030
I’m getting really sick of extra inning walkoff homers for the Sox! AGHHHHH
A.J. Pierzynski sucks.
There, I said it.
aj is the eddie haskell of mlb.
My guess is that Gladden is full of it.
Good guess. He loves his smoking buddy. Today he was just embarrassing in his praise for Punto and his near scorn for Delmon Young and Carlos Gomez.
Pretty good game to watch today. Three plays were on ESPN Top Ten Plays of the Day. I THINK they called Gogomez Carlos “Guillen” though. I’m probably wrong.
That’s OK. They’ll learn his name soon enough.
(i think favre will stay retired. jeez, gimme a break already)
That was as good a play by Casilla as it was by Punto. And the video of the death slide did not match Gladden’s call at all. Gladden blamed Young for not hustling, not Punto for trying for second with two outs when he had no chance.
Nick has lost a step. Shouldn’t have tried scoring yesterday either. Some say he was waved around, don’t know.
the thing about punto’s play is that he invented something new. casilla only reacted (has anyone seen it done quite like that before?).
but a great play no matter how you slice it. and there’s no denying — that’s when the twins woke up.
i still picture the guy as a super sub and late-inning glove man. but if they stick nick at shortstop, well, pretty hard to complain when the club is keeping pace with the white sox and two behind boston for the wild card.
Punto should have stopped and gotten in a rundown to allow Delmon to score the run. It is elementary fundamental baserunning.
THE FIRST RULE OF BASERUNNING:
NEVER run into a tag.
If the ball is in a fielder’s possession ahead of you, YOU MUST RETREAT!!
On the other hand,there is no defensive stat or metric which covers the play that Punto made at SS today.
IMO every defensive stat, that I have seen, is flawed. I don’t want any statistical “proof” that shows he is overrated.
In football, someone who makes plays like that would be called a playmaker. In baseball that guy is just called a player.
Gladden doesn’t have a high tolerance for players who make a lot of fundamental mistakes. Not hustling, is another thing that miffs Gladden. I didn’t hear what he had to say about Young and Gomez, but those two players have bungled plenty of plays this season. His patience is probably wearing thin.
well, craig — and to be fair — nick seems to have made a few fundamental mistakes in the last coupla days, too.
but it’s good to remember that none of the boys are perfect.
“Gladden doesn’t have a high tolerance for players who make a lot of fundamental mistakes”
How was Gladden’s patience last year, when Punto couldn’t bunt the Queen Mary if it floated through the strike zone.
I’ll bet Gladden was St. Daniel of the Dome when patience was required to support Punto in his desperate days.
How about the Rays sweeping the Red Sox?
The Rays need to send Billy Smith a bouquet of flowers and a great big thank you. Bill’s greatest claim to fame, so far, is being the general manager who turned it all around for the Rays.
again to be fair, craig, bartlett almost blew that game with an error in the ninth.
sane, that’s funny about the queen mary.
Hi mickey,
I’m not totally objective about Nick. I’m just balancing the scales a little.
The irrational hatred for Nick, that I read on the blogs isn’t justified.
He’s not a fabulous player, but he is not a bad player either.
i like nick.
although i hope it’s just rumor about his bad new attitude. this team don’t need none of that.
mickey,
Bartlett is a little like Zoilo Versailles in at least one respect; that is, he makes the sensational play and will flub the routine.
I think what the Rays wanted was a solid guy with excellent range, who could make the big plays at SS. They have that in Bartlett. He will make 20 errors. If he does the rest, you can win with that.
Punto was both fantastic and flawed today, much like Gomez on many days.
His supporters only acknowledge the fantastic and his bashers only acknowledge his flaws.
Those who downgrade his defensive skills are wrong IMO. He makes plays that don’t even occur to average players.
He also has brain gliches, but no one will never convince me that he is not an MLB player.
Careful Craig, I’ve tried to balance scales before and got labeled the Blog Monitor for it.
Though admittedly it’s only from people I’ve disagreed with. I don’t see much in the way of nickname flinging from people such as jama, sane, mickey, even thrylos for all the differences we have.
bartlett can drive the gaps. good player on his way to very good.
but try not to discount delmon.
as far as bill smith’s best move? i think it’s a tie between finding (or lucking into) an interesting deal for santana and shedding hunter’s ridiculous contract.
my first baseball glove was a zoilo versailles autograph.
Nick is an intense guy. Someone said he was scowling on the bench. He’s mentally into the game. Somebody tried to draw conclusions from the look on his face. That’s silly.
When Nick wasn’t playing, he said he knew Gardy well enough, that he knew Gardy wasn’t going to change things up, in the middle of a winning streak.
Nicks been around for years, and has never complained about anything, to my knowledge.
People throw crap out there about him because they hate him.
To make a long story short:
1) Punto deserves a bench spot to finish out his Twins career. Unless Smith somehow works out a miracle trade.
2) Everett is done. He can live on the DL for the rest of the season to keep his spot available for somebody else.
3) Tolbert should get a trip down to AAA. Not because he sucks, but because he’s been out for a WHILE by the time he gets back….and he’ll need to get everyday play to shake off the rust. He can get that in AAA.
4) When Cuddyer comes back, Span will either need to be traded or sent back down. Unless there’s something brewing with Cuddyer or Monroe on the trade block (I can’t see them trading Kubes now that he’s finally doing what they’ve been waiting for him to do) He’s just like Tolbert. He needs everyday play time at this point, and he won’t get that with the big club as long as they’ve got the five OF options they do.
I like Delmon and Gomez, even though it’s kind of fun to be critical of them. They both have bright futures. I just think Span is better than both, at this point. He’s more polished. More fundamentally sound. More mature. There’s no reason to trade him, or send him down. Sending him down again, is going to discourage him.
it would indeed be a shame to send span back down. the guy has really fit right in and quickly. three doubles in three days, no? but he also seems like the odd man out. i hope they can find a way to work him into some kinda rotation. maybe lamb is the even odder man out.
The field staff is really impressed with Tolbert. Gardy really likes him. He’s a fine young talent, with a great attitude.
Once he finishes rehab, he will play a few games in Florida, and be ready to play for the Twins. There is plenty of room, in the majors, for a player like that. He should return in August.
… of course, if they dump lamb for span, they’re short of infielders. so maybe it’s monroe. nice problems to have, i guess.
it’ll be hard to work tolbert in as long as the team is contending. my hunch is that, unless there are more injuries or more losses than i care to imagine, 2009 will be tolbert’s year.
The biggest shame in sending Span down upon Cuddyer’s return, is that Cuddyer’s injured (healed?) hand may continue to handicap his hitting for a long time (maybe all year)
Span may be far more valuable than Cuddyer to the Twins in that time interval.
Maybe an extended rehab should be prescribed for Cuddyer for whatever time is required to make him more effective than Span. Maybe until the September 1st call-ups.
mickey,
I don’t think Lamb will be going anywhere. They still owe him 3 mil for 2009, plus they will have to buy out his 2010 contract. They still owe him about 1.8 mil for this season.
They only owe Monroe about 1.9 mil. He’s more likely to go.
They could also send Delmon or Gomez for a stint in AAA. I doubt if they would do that. I think either Monroe will be released, or Span will be sent back down.
yeah, craig, i always forget how big lamb’s contract is!
but for the twins to send either delmon or gomez down after being a major part of this unexpected half season would crush their baseball spirits.
I think Gardy is already souring on Buscher. Those throws have to be grating on him. When you throw the ball up the line, you put your first baseman on a collision course with the base-runner. Gardy isn’t going to like that. I think Buscher’s time could soon be up. The guy can swing the bat, though.
I personally love it that the Twins have the problem of too many players to fit into too few holes. Shows that they have a much better bench situation than in the last couple years.
I have the feeling that they may be moving the pitching staff down to 11 after the break, especially if the starters have similar success to what they have been enjoying over the last couple weeks. With the number of off days over the course of July and into the middle of August, I think that the team should be able to do it without any issues. The main problem at that point is what pitcher gets sent down. Again, not a bad problem to have. If the decision was easy, the players involved aren’t very good to begin with.
If the Twins stick to a 12 man rotation, I have the feeling that Tolbert is gonna be relegated back to AAA. I kinda doubt that Everett will be back with the big club anytime soon, and he will only be back if his shoulder is in good shape. His strong point is his defense, and if he can’t throw with power and accuracy, he has no business being with the big club.
No way do I see the Twins dumping Lamb or Monroe. I’m pretty sure that Gardy likes having players on the bench that have bats, and not just defensive specialists. Kinda nice to bring in a bat like Monroe in the bottom of the ninth when you need a run or 2. He has already proven that he is capable of delivering off the bench, and I am sure given the chance, that he would do it again.
sane,
I agree with you, that Span is more valuable than Cuddy right now, with the beat up fingers. I’d like to see Cuddy take his time and get healed up good. He’s going to play. Like you, I’d like to see him at 100%.
i agree sane. and i think cuddyer has two bad fingers now. that only leaves eight!
plus, as a hitter you tend to get a little gun shy because you know how bad it’s gonna hurt every time you connect wrong.
Craig Monroe vs. Left handed pitching:
OBP SLG AVG
.200 .233 .133
If Monroe gets released, it’s not going to kill this team.
my hunch is that buscher’s bat trumps tolbert on this team.
but you’re right about those throws up the line, especially when it’s morneau being put in harm’s way.
The return of players FROM the DL is often balanced by players going TO the DL with new injuries. Between now and the returns of Cuddyer and Tolbert, we may learn that no one will have to be sent down, released or traded.
Just hope that any new injuries don’t hit irreplaceable players.
Mike Redmond vs. left handed pitching:
OBP SLG AVG
.364 .400 .333
Buscher’s throws also put Casilla in danger on DP’s.
sane,
That’s right. Somebody else come up with a sore something. That’s often what happens.
if not for money, i agree that span trumps monroe. like i say, these are some nice problems to have.
sane, aside from pitchers, who is irreplaceable? mauer and morneau. and casilla if this is really the player he is. but then who?
mickey,
You may have already identified all the “irreplaceable players”.
Tolbert’s injury was nasty. His rehab could go until Sept. At that point rosters expand.
Everett could come back sooner. Does Everett get handed the SS job?
i think everett’s injury is worse than he realizes. if you know what i mean.
I would add Nathan to the irreplaceable group. Casilla? I don’t know about that. He’s looking like a good one, though.
“Does Everett get handed the SS job?”
Not unless Harris AND Punto BOTH disappear!
Funny, mickey. I hear you.
That shoulder of Everett may need all of August to heal, as well. Does he get the job come September? Maybe it will need all of September to heal, also.
I think Everett is being handled like a mushroom.
They keep him in the dark and feed him sh-t.
they’re making everett smoke cigarettes and eat tomatoes.
Ha-ha!
When they come with the cigarettes and tomatoes, it has to raise questions in a players mind, about how he fits into the teams plans for the future.
span has a short time to demonstrate he belongs this time. So far, so good. If he continues near this level of performance through All Star break, I think he stays even when Cuddy comes back.
Then, it looks like Monroe is odd man out. We can play 4 outfielders in a bit of a rotation, with Kubel as full time DH (he actually likes that role better than OF) and we spell Kubel against at least some of the lefties.
Or, we cut Lamb and go with an extra OF with Monroe. I don’t see Gardy in favor of that move unless he sees Cuddy spending some time in the IF, which Cuddy doesn’t like.
So, bottom line for me… span stays if he performs at this high level. A lesser performance and he may go back down.
Nothing could be accomplished by sending Span back down. It would only hurt him.
Gomez could go down and work on three big problem areas: 1) Cutting down on his strikeouts. 2) Drawing some bases on balls, to help him get on base more often. 3) Running better routes on fly balls.
Sending Gomez down for a month, could help him, and help the team, in the long run.
Craig. You’d rather the Twins send down a rising latin star than Gomez than release a washed up white has-been like Lamb?
And all to make room for injured white-boy Cudyer?
Oh that is SO racist of you!
T,
No, I would rather release both Cuddyer and Lamb before sending down Gomez. Unfortunately Billy Smith has your Uncle Carl’s money tied up in the 2 white boys.
I’m just accepting the reality that all the money is spent on the white boy players, in order to please white boy fans like you, so you will bring all your white boy dollars, and spend them to watch crummy white boy players. Understand, white boy?
Span should be the regular right fielder for the Twins. He is a much better all around baseball player than Cuddyer. Cuddyer is vastly over-rated and very inconsistent in the clutch. Span is a much better base stealer, faster on the bases and in the outfield, hits left handed and hits for a much better average than Cuddyer. His on base percentage really helps the Twins. Cuddyer should be send to the minors or traded. Span could end up being one of the most valuable players in baseball because of his skills.
Awww. How cute. Craig managed to work in both the “your racist” card AND the “you’re related to the Pohlads” comeback in the same post.
Our little troll’s all grown up.
herb, while Span has shown a lot of promise in his second stint with the team, don’t forget that its also only been a series worth of games.
Span should get more opportunities, but not at the cost of Cuddyer. Remember when we all thought Lew Ford was the future DH after his explosive first season…then the league figured him out.
Span needs more time with the big club. The problem is finding that time when you’ve got a strong OF already, a DH that’s finally acting like a DH, and a guy who’s giving us some pop off the bench that we haven’t seen in a LONG while.
Honestly, I think the best choice is to trade him somewhere that’s less congested in the OF. Give him the play time he deserves with SOMEBODY if it won’t be with the Twins.
*Sorry: I should add that this is all AFTER Cuddyer gets back.*
In the meantime, I agree Span should start everyday until he’s hurt or sucks it up big time.
I like the Twins team better with Span in right field. Cuddyer seems to have the mentality of a little league player. Also, he is inconsistent at bat and often strikes out with runners on base. He falls down frequently for no reason and appears to rather clumsy. I think the Twins should have him checked for a neurological condition. The Twins will win alot more games with Span as the regular right fielder and Cuddyer playing for some other team.
Would it be possible for the Twins to trade Michael Cuddyer for another relief pitcher to strengthen the bullpen? Span is very good a player already and has a tremendous potential to become an all around outstanding major league right fielder. Cuddyer is only baggage.
I don’t think the Twins can trade Cuddyer. They are stuck with him because they signed him to a long term contract–a big mistake. No team would take hime because they would have to pay him the salary and they know he is really not very good.
I think it is a shame that the Twins will send Span back to the minor or trade him. Cuddyer is not going to help the team much in the future. What the Twins needs is someone like span who can get on base alot and score alot of runs. I think that with Span in the regular lineup in right field and Tolbert starting at shortstop combined with Casilla and Gomez, the Twins can create real problems for other teams. The speed would be absolutely outstanding.
T, the Blog Cop, is at it again. “Troll” is today’s weapon of choice. I’m not impressed.
As blog cop, and the self designated apologist, for both cheap Carl, and Gardy the field general, you have lots of responsibility.
Make sure everyone says the right thing today, Blog Cop. Everyone knows you will be monitoring them.
Your surprisingly out of form today Craig. Normally you come up with your own comebacks vs. going to the well.
I have to agree with T on this one Craig. The whole blog cop monitor insult is pretty dried up. Not to mention that he isnt the only regular commenter around here who disagrees with people. Since that appears to be the criteria and all for the title.
I got a Troll ticket from, Blog Cop. I call it as I see it.
Lay off T. For all the things we sometimes disagree on, the guy isnt the only person who finds fault in peoples opinions. Just because he called you out on the whole racism thing doesnt mean hes suddenly a hall monitor.
Who ask you, herb?
Who asked you, herb?
Who was it that inquired, as to your opinion, Herbert?
IMO when Cuddyer returns (probably not soon) Span will stay and the lowest pitcher on the totem pole (probably Bass) will be sent through waivers.
The Twins will then try to make it to September call-ups with an 11-man pitching staff.
You guys are way too serious, about a child’s game, played by a bunch of pampered, low IQ, jocks. Lighten up.
I have to laugh at the Blog Cop, Blog Monitor, Pohald’s boy stuff around here. It’s downright riddiculous.
I agree with just as many as a I disagree with around here. Just ask people like jamar (who appears to have taken the sanity preserving route and left), sane, even thrylos (who I’ve locked horns with as often as I’ve agreed with)
I just don’t feel the need to take something that somebody has already said and immediately repeat it. I’ll probably reference the point later in the evening or in the future (sometimes different people have a better way of putting something) and then credit who said it originally (or if I don’t recall I make sure to point out “as somebody said earlier”)
But no. If I dare to disagree with the vocal majority around here I get labeled as the villian. I never disagree with anything happens, even when I do. And I never find fault with anything that happens…even when I do.
Just glaze over the posts where I make a mistake so you can cherry pick the one where I disagree with you. Because if I disagree with you it’s obviously because I hate you…or because I’m paid to do so. It has nothing to do with the concept that out of all of the Twins nation there are people out there that *shock horror* don’t share your opinions.
And with the exception of Craig (who really is just a troll), I do everything I can to avoid attacking the poster, instead making sure to focus my response on the arguments being made.
Find fault in comment, not the commenter. And yet no…all I ever get in response “Well your opinion doesn’t count because your Pohlad’s boy” or “Your a blog cop”. Never an actual response to the argument.
I have called out Jason a few times this week (now that Kubel’s doing better) and hopefully am doing it in a way that’s more fun than jabbing (sarcasm detection is pretty crappy on the internet)
But no. No. Just keep lobbing the Blog Cop title. If it helps you avoid writing a real intelligent response go right ahead.
But like I’ve said in the past. For all the crap I get around here, at least I have the guts to come back after I’ve made a mistake instead of fading for a week or hiding behind a new name.
sane: Do you think with the way things are going Bass will clear?
I used to think so, but after watching Rincon get picked up (by a divisional rival no less) I think that’s less so.
T,
We are all in awe of you. That was an incredible post.
I think it’s funny that everyone is saying play Span and get rid of Cuddyer. I know Cuddyer is having a rough year, but it’s hard to say how healthy he’s been. That and this is the first year Span has shown anything above being a first round bust. Sure, he is having a great year, but it did kind of come out of nowhere.
Sorry to post something about baseball. You guys can return to your completely pointless back and forth.
T,
There is a chance that Bass will NOT clear waivers, but the Twins can pick his replacement off waivers (like Breslow) or call up Korecky/Mariano Gomez/Daigle/Duensing/Barrett from Rochester.
We are not talking about replacing Joe Nathan.
T,
There are important things going on in the world. You are so wrapped up in yourself. All we are talking about here, is chasing a little ball around in the grass, and hitting it with a stick.
Do you know what an egomaniac is? Look it up in the dictionary. I did. There is a picture of you.
Craig got hit with a troll ticket by MR. T, he had every right to defend himself.
Tony,
“everyone is saying play Span and get rid of Cuddyer”
Here in blogland, there is no such thing as “everyone”. No one agrees with anyone on anything.
I think Span and Cuddyer will both stick upon Cuddyers return. (and FULL RECOVERY)
I think Bass will be waived before Span is sent down. (providing Span plays as he has all year - from spring training, AAA and MLB.)
Anyone who can’t see that Span2008 is much, much, much improved is NOT paying attention. (or stubborn, or blind, or not baseball savvy) Forget his stats from 2007 and prior years. They are meaningless when a young player (ala Casilla, Blackburn, Baker, Slowey,etc.) finally figures it out.
MLB will adjust to Span and then Span will readjust to MLB. And Span2007 has no relevance to any of that.
I wasn’t worried about losing Bass, sane. Just wondering if it’d happen.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Korecky back up here. He had some flashes of brilliance in his time up. (Though rose-colored glasses may be blocking the uglier moments)
Craig got hit with a troll ticket by MR. T, he had every right to defend himself.
Craig also whipped out the “racist” card, which got us into this mess. I think comparitively speaking calling somebody a “troll” is far less problematic.
Craig is no troll!
Craig, T,
Can’t we all just…..
Never mind.
I am losing track of who is the racist, Craig or T and who are they racist against. Personally I dont have a problem with chinese people.
That was two Troll tickets in one day, from Blog Cop.
I’ll bow out of the squabble, so people can get back to baseball.
Talk baseball, gents (and ladies). It’s the greatest game in the world.
Buscher looks good at the plate. I think he and Tolbert have the two best eyes(for young guys) at the plate. It is a bit crowded now, but the future of the Twins is starting to shape up.
new blog from Joe C
