All-Star Sunday has a Minnesota feel
Posted on July 13th, 2008 – 5:10 PMBy Joe Christensen
NEW YORK — I landed at JFK this morning and made it to Yankee Stadium for the All-Star Futures Game.
Twins prospect Luke Hughes started at third base for the World Team. He went 0-for-2, with a line out to center field and a strikeout.
I spoke with some scouts who said Hughes put on quite a display during batting practice, hitting several long home runs. Caught up with the Perth, Australia native later, and he said, “I’m at Yankee Stadium, and my heart is just pumping. It’s probably the best BP I’ve had in a while.”
Neat guy. I wrote more on Hughes for the print edition. Before I left, I caught some of the Legends & Celebrity Softball Game. Among the participants were Hall of Famers Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield. They did St. Paul proud.
Best part, though, was listening to the Bronx cheers for Access Hollywood correspondent Maria Menounos. She showed up wearing a Red Sox hat. She also had trouble catching the ball at second base. Each time she missed, the crowd erupted with boos.
Anyway, I’ll be back with more on Monday, including the Home Run Derby with late entrant Justin Morneau.
68 Responses to "All-Star Sunday has a Minnesota feel"
September call-up for Hughes?
I know this is petty, but it feels kind of wrong to have Joe Vavra at the 2nd most important All Star game of the last 30 years. It’s kind of like putting a port-a-potty in the Metropolitan Art Museum.
Yep, that was pretty petty. But I’d expect nothing less (wait no…more).
Guys who deserve a little break from the constant sniping: Joe Mauer, Joe Vavra, Nick Punto, Delmon Young, Jason Kubel. Mauer got voted onto the All-Star team and people still write smack about him. Vavra’s team of “two regulars and a bunch of bench players” is third in the league in runs scored. When healthy, Nick Punto has exceeded everyone’s expectations. And both Young and Kubel are hitting well over .300 since June 1.
Lots of guys are not performing up to snuff (Monroe, Lamb, Hernandez). If criticizing is like breathing to you, why not focus on those guys and give the guys who are doing well a break?
T -
Thanks for the personal slam. I make sure I stick to not going after individuals on here, and allow everyone their opinions. I have never said anything about you, or your character.
I might upset some people with my opinions, but my opinions are on the athletes, on the team, on politics, what have you. I don’t remember ever throwing personal digs at people on here. The only person I have ever gotten personal with on here at all is Arenal on the Wolves blog, and even then even in the right, I apologized because it’s just wrong to go after the people posting on here. At least that’s my opinion. I’m just a sports fan with opinions on sports. So I take back my comment about petty… Because you out did me big time.
cmath,
have you noticed that Punto is “exceeding expectations” only when his contract is up? I am glad about his performance so far, and I think that he could be a great trade bait to bring in something useful to this team.
I agree that Mauer, Young and Kubel deserve a break, but Vavra (and Gardy) doesn’t, unless this team has a OPS ranked at least as high as their W-L record in the league. If you look at the numbers, other than Mauer and Morneau, the hitters who have been carrying this team have been minor league call ups. Riccardo Ingram deserves more credit than Vavra on that. And, yes, I’d rather have Ruiz in the majors than Monroe or Lamb, but my magic eight ball says Very Doubtful…
BTW, the team of two regulars and a bunch of bench players was an ignorant quotation propagated by the East coast SPorts Network and it is extremely superficial (you can say this for about every team in pro ball - e.g. give me another team that has a second baseman with higher OPS than Casilla, this side of Texas and Baltimore)
Christy,
I made fairly nice comments about Punterrible the other day either here or on LaVelle’s blog.
I even said that Delmon Young should be listening to Vavra which must be saying something nice about Vavra…
Do I have to like Vavra?
Joe Mauer is finally starting to hit the ball with some pop… As a number 3 hitter that was his job from at bat 1, not at bat 301… so all star or not, he is not the second coming of christ, and minnesota gives him too much slack. He’s an all star, but he is revered here like he’s walked on water, and that’s too much. When he hits 20-25 bombs, and drives in 100 runs I will stop. Before then… no shot. Get him out of the 3 hole and I will stop. But as a 3rd place hitter, anything less than 100 RBI’s isn’t a great year. That’s just baseball 101. You know that as well if not better than I do.
Monroe was a starter that didn’t grasp the bench role for a long time. Give him time.
Lamb is a huge disappointment, but he was never hyped, never lauded, and never thought of as a savior. The columnists and the commentors love to praise Punto and Mauer, and give them too much, so I rip them a little harder..
Delmon still should be fined 10K every single time he swings at the first pitch. He’s too thick headed (stubborn, or immature) to learn how to have a decent atbat… he’s got so much skill that he doesn’t know how to use his brain!
As for Livan Hernandez. Who the hell thought he’d get 9 wins for the Twins if he had 35 starts? He has 9 wins now. Bill Gullickson won 20 games with a ridiculous ERA, and I think Morris did the same thing with the Jays… Just win baby… right?
I’ve praised Blackburn, Baker… I haven’t slammed Slowey for his inconsistancy… and I’ve always said nice things about Rick Anderson who I think is the best pitching coach in baseball.
Vavra bothers me, Mauer bothers me, and Punterrible bothers me.
Oh and I’ve even apologized for referring to Denard Span as Flush because of his laser eye surgery he’s become a solid citizen…
And if they play well, that’s nice. If they play poorly, that’s to be expected… but to cut them slack? that’s easy… letting them off the hook… no, not too likely.
As far as Livan goes, here is my take:
Livan: 9 wins, 6 loses, $5 mil
Jonan: 8 wins, 7 loses, $19 mil
’nuff said
It just doesn’t make a lot of sense to bash one of the team’s top two hitters for not being what YOU want him to be. He’s an All-Star, and he’s the best catcher offensively and defensively in the AL. Why isn’t that enough? He’s never hyped himself. So, why the personal attacks on Mauer? I don’t understand.
Seth,
Mauer might yet win another batting title and people will bash him because “he does not hit home runs” or because “he grounds into too many double plays”. The reality is that he is a Wade Boggs-type of player (minus Margo Adams) and some people don’t get the value of getting on base practically every other at bat. Boggs is a first ballot HOFer. Mauer could be too.
Mauer very well could be a hall of famer… and if I had a vote… I would not hesitate to have him as teh 2nd best catcher of my era… Ahead of Fisk, and behind Rodriguez… however Wade Boggs was a number 2 hitter, Tony Gwynn was a number 2 hitter, and Joe Mauer is a Number 2 hitter in the line up. So Please realize that a good percentage of all of my slams towards Mauer are going directly at Gardenhire…
but a good portion of it is also that if a song is popular and over played… I learn to hate that song. I like variety, and Mauer-sota, Mauer this Mauer that. If Mark Rosen and Sid, and Ruesse, and everyone else would just quit worshipping him… part of it would probably go away, but if someone is going to be talking about how great he is it’s going to get as sickening to me as my comments might be to some of, or even all of you… yet unlike T I don’t make direct comments about anyone on here’s character…
People complained about my talking politics here, and I stopped damn near on a dime no matter how right I was… I wasn’t trying to go after anyone directly.
I rarely bring anyone else’s name into my comments unless I’m directly addressing them…
thanks for the ‘backup’ thrylos, but I would put not understanding the value of OBP right up there with thinking that W-L record has anything to do with how well a pitcher pitches…
Johan: 19 GS, 126.1 IP, 2.84 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, Opponents - .241/.294/.376 (.666 OPS)
Livan: 20 GS, 120.2 IP, 5.44 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, Opponents - .342/.368/.506 (.871 OPS)
I argue that the Twins are better off having not signed Johan to that kind of crazy money, but there is no comparing him to Livan!
Say I like the idea of having Luke hughs be a sept callup. But if you call him up then Im sure there are a few others that should come as well….
BC, I understand what you’re saying and appreciate the music/overplayed analogy. That makes sense, but again, he isn’t the one hyping himself. Secondly, Morneau gets more love than anyone on here, so why not bash the fact that he only has 14 homers this year? That’s not enough for a cleanup hitter.
I can’t imagine Hughes coming up for a couple of reasons. First, he has been hurt so much. Second, his numbers have come down since he’s been back. Third, and maybe the most likely thing, is that they won’t/don’t need him at all, so they will let him play for Australia in the Olympics instead.
Seth,
that was an exaggeration. Livan and Johan do not belong in the same room. Livan is actually the weakest link in the Twins’ rotation whereas Johan is the strongest in the Mets’ rotation (whatever than might mean). My point is that Johan did not deserve that much money and that a below replacement level inning eater pitcher (Livan) is actually more successful than Johan is this year and was last year (the Twins were .500 when Johan started in 2007).
I think that the Hernandez singing was part overreaction part “security blanket for the ‘young’ rotation” by the FO during the off-season. Unnecessary, yes; soothing, yes. It’s about time to break the cord with Livan, too (I hope he pitches a no hitter next time up so his trade value would be as high as Punto’s) and bring Liriano up after the all-star break (his super 2 would not take into effect if he is up after the 17th)
Avg MLB 3rd place hitter:
15 HR, 55 RBI .276/.355/.452
MN Twins ( Mainly Mauer)
5 HR, 41 RBI .327/.413/.438
I’ll take those numbers from Mauer, higher AVG & OBP and about the same SLG
as the average 3rd place hitter.
kmack,
But some people around here are only interested in HRs. Home runs are simple, and easy to understand, plus they have the added benefit of appealing to a macho instinct.
KMack… where did you get your info from?
from the American League number 3 hitters
Average #1
Slg% #8
OB% #1
Doubles #5
Homers #14
Runs #6
RBI #12
this has nothing to do do with the simple homers… it has everything to do with driving in runs.
And as for Morneau… he doesn’t get near the hype that Mauer does. He also does have an MVP that he deserved for carrying a team on his shoulders as a legit cleanup hitter.
He hasn’t hit enough homers for the cleanup spot, but the main most important thing is to drive in runs and he is second in the American League in RBIs so he is doing his job.
I know that part of the problem is that we have a number 9 hitter leading off, and that is Gardy’s fault as well, but Mauer is not a clutch hitter. He does hit into too many double plays considering how fast Punto, Gomez, and Casilla are. The fact that he hits them to the shortstop is the biggest problem because when you have a runner on base you should be trying to pull the ball behind the hitter to avoid a DP! So while it seems easy to bash me for my Mauer issues… you are going to have to try harder.
So… i guess it is being reported now by the Strib that the Twins have contacted the Mariners about Beltre. Thoughts?
In other news, although I generally have respect for Gardy, I am sick of the BS that the “pitching rotation is set”, it is not set my friends. 4 out of the 5 positions are set, but can you guess who does not belong in the rotation? LIVAN!!! If the Twins do not trade Livan and bring up Liriano by the 31st of July that would be an absolute shame, embarrassment, and travesty.
Thankyou
Mauer is not a clutch hitter
Mauer’s stats in late & close situations this year(7th inning or later with the batting team tied, ahead by one, or the tying run at least on deck):
.300/.403/.540 4 out of his 5 HRs
overall he is .324/.417/.458
If anything, in clutch situations, Mauer is trying to get things happening rather than taking walks…
2008 Twins RBI by batting order
1 - 36 (20th in MLB)
2 - 56 (T3rd in MLB)
3 - 41 (T29th in MLB)
4 - 69 (6th in MLB)
5 - 48 (T23rd in MLB)
6 - 59 (2nd in MLB)
7 - 43 (T16th in MLB)
8 - 52 (3rd in MLB)
9 - 38 (3rd in MLB)
Looks like the #2 batter has taken some RBI opportunity’s from the #3 position.
Tyler.
There is a serious case to be made for bringing Liriano up here, and trading Hernandez, but it also comes down to that TEAM factor which all the Terry Ryan lovers last year ignored factoring into the Castillo trade.
The other pitchers on the staff, and the coaches lot Livan Hernandez.
Franchise has lied to the coaches, and the manager, and has never come across as a TEAM guy.
Now if the Twins can trade Hernandez, and pick up an 8th inning guy, while calling up Liriano I have no problem with that.
If they pick up Beltre they’d hopefully better be getting rid of Lamb in the deal, and a sizable amount of cash.
Also as much as we all bitch about our defense at 3rd.
Macri 1 error, Buscher 2 errors, Lamb 4 errors, and I’m not sure if Punterrible, or Harris have made any errors at 3rd base. That is all less errors than Beltre has committed at 11 errors. He is also hitting .259
I have a suggestion for another bullpen arm.
He has a 3.86 ERA with the Mariners.
That ERA is better than Perkins, Slowey, Bass, Neshek, Boof and Livan.
He has pitched more innings (60) than any reliever on the Twins staff except Boof. (ex-starter)
He has pitched more innings than Guerrier, Bass, Nathan, Crain and Reyes.
He can pitch almost every day because his best pitch puts very little strain on his arm.
He is knuckleballer RA Dickey and he was Twins property this winter before they pissed him away to the approval of nearly the entire blog.
Everyone told me he was a career MLB failure with the Rangers and wasn’t good enough to even be kept at Rochester. If he made the Twins, he would just be taking away innings from Brian Bass. (5.31 ERA)
Just freaking brilliant!
Twins have 9 errors at 3B with a fielding pct of .964, while Seattle 3B have 11 errors and a .956 fielding pct.
BC
Just answer me this. Are the Twins better 5 ERA Livan or “ACE” Liriano? “Questionable team work” aside.
Also, back to Beltre trade talks. While I really like what Harris and Buscher have been able to do platooning 3rd, do you really think that production is going to near the same as it is now? Do you think that either of those players are close to as good as Beltre?
In my opinion, if the twins decide to get Beltre, i believe he would be rejuvenated and start hitting for better average, constant great defense, and 25-30 typer HR power.
The Twins NEED another HR threat, and especially a starting right handed power threat, they also need a bonifide ace at the top of the rotation, who i feel could be Liriano who is near unhitable right now in AAA
Kmack… now it’s just spin. We have seen the numbers, and he deserves his all star start as with having Martinez and Posada hurt most of the season there isn’t another catcher in the American league close to him… except maybe the kid Navarro from the Devil Rays if he is healthy? But that being said… I am not knocking Joe Mauer the slap hitting number 2 hitter.
This line up should be
Casilla
Mauer
Young
Morneau
Cuddyer
Kubel
Buscher
Gomez
Shortstop
And with Cuddy hurt… Span should be leading off. Gomez should be in a spot in the lineup without any pressure on him because he’s choking right now, and that is not fair to him because the kid is an amazing talent.
sane,
I’ve been screaming about Dickie since last March (http://tenthinningstretch.blogspot.com/2008/03/some-preseason-tidbits.html) 
BC,
Franchise has lied to the coaches, and the manager,
ouch! lemme see: Cuddy didn’t “lie” about his pinkie/knuckle/whatever this season or Punto didn’t “lie” about his hammy when they felt ready to come off the DL… Frankly, Gardy can simply not communicate with the hispanic players in the staff. Period. There is some problem there. Look at Gardy’s quotes during the preseason…
Tyeler,
I have little doubt that Beltre would produce offensively for the Twins out of the 5-6 hole… with Mauer and Morneau having the years they are having Beltre would see runners on base ahead of him all the time, and having Kubel hitting behind him that should help him too. So I see your point, and I agree.
But Beltre is getting paid like a superstar, and unless the Twins have a secret Balco lab, I don’t think Beltre will ever be close to a superstar.
Remind you, I said he is getting PAID… so the Twins naturally would not take him because Pohlads are as cheap as can be. If Beltre were a white man they’d pay him without question.
Now that comment was uncalled for.
sane,
I was one that liked the signing of Dickey. I was intrigued by what was being reported as an 80 mph knuckleball. But it’s not that he didn’t make the team. He was taken in the Rule V draft about a week after the Twins signed him. He wasn’t worth a 40 man roster spot at that time, and the Twins got a prospect for letting the Mariners keep him. They could probably get him back by sending back Jair Fernandez, but that seems too steep for a slightly better version of Brian Bass or even Philip Humber.
hey, how about a moderator reviewing BC’s comments. That’s WAY over the line.
which comment was uncalled for?
The fact that Beltre’s only truly good year came during the Steroid haydays, and then he got paid, and has played at a sub-stellar level.
and if it was about the white man aspect…
They let Hunter go
They trade Castillo
They traded Santana
They signed Cuddyer, Mauer, and Morneau…
Seems kind of odd… it was meant as cruel irony… I am sorry that it came across 10 times meaner than I expected it to.
Hunter’s not worth 5 years and $90 million.
Santana got about $140 million, so that was just smart.
Luis Castillo is not good.
Cuddyer/Mauer/Morneau - good players, deserving of keeping around. All signed to extensions before they were free agents… the Twins did the exact same thing with Hunter and Santana at the same times in their careers.
BC,
Beltre this year (post steroids and greenies) is batting .351/.467/.554 against LHPs. He has 16 home runs overall. He is due the remainer of $12 mil this year and $12 mil next (that is less that the Twins offered Hunter). Next year is his walk year and he has been lights out on every walk year.
It’s a no brainer trade if BS has the cajones to make it happen.
BC-What makes you think Mauer should be the #2 hitter?
Mauer is the best hitter on the team not Young. Really confused by your logic on that one. Sure he is a singles hitter, but it seems to me it is working, and that you cannot argue about.
I have been saying for the entire year to put Gomez in the 9 hole. The only problem was we didn’t have someone who could be in that spot before Casilla came up and now that Casilla is here and playing well, he should be lead off. That I do agree with.
But Mauer in the #2 spot, don’t like it at all.
Please stay away from the attacks on Mauer, seems to me he is the best catcher in baseball.
Also please stick to baseball talk BC and not complaining about someone “personally attacking” you when you personally attack someone who cannot defend themselves.
GO TWINS!!!!!!
I don’t know if Beltre is a no brainer to acquire, but it would not be because of money because that isn’t an issue. It would be a matter of what the Mariners would be asking for. The M’s won’t want Lamb or Livan. They would want names like Guerra and Valencia and several others.
Seth,
do you really think that Cuddyer is better than average? Methinks that his extension this year is probably the second-worse move that BS made after signing Rincon. Cuddy is (and has been) bellow average in pretty much any statistical category other than OF assists
If he’s average, then the extension makes a lot of sense. If he’s below average, he may not be. It’s hard to judge that based on him in an injury-plagued season. In general, I was and am completely fine with the deal.
If the Twins eat Beltre’s contact (and they can do because they are under budget), a couple of prospects/marginal players like (pick any 2 of) Buscher/Swarzak/Duensing/Lis/Peterson/Martin would probably do it. Heck, throw in Bass/Humber or any pitcher in the Rochester roster not named Liriano for free if you have to…
“. He wasn’t worth a 40 man roster spot at that time, and the Twins got a prospect for letting the Mariners keep him. They could probably get him back by sending back Jair Fernandez, but that seems too steep for a slightly better version of Brian Bass or even Philip Humber.”
You are not even close.
Dickey could have taken Mijares roster spot if the Twins had put him on the 60-day-DL after the auto accident.
Compare Dickey’s MLB numbers and durability to that of Bass and take another look at Humber, a AAA failure.
I think it is ridiculous to judge Cuddyer in an injury plagued year. He is a solid defensive RF and is a decent hitter. I think, it was a good signeing because we need someone who is personable and is able to talk to the media, which Mauer and Morneau have trouble doing, the M and M’s are great guys and great ball players but Cuddy is a great personality that plays the game well.
Alright, here is a toughy, Seth:
would you trade Cuddyer straight up for Beltre?
This speaks of their relative values (they are owned the same money, Cuddy a year longer and he is blocking people like Span and Revere, while Beltre’s contract would end just about the time Valencia would be ready for the bigs…)
Cuddy is a great personality that plays the game well.
The Twins did lose at the Billy Crystal sweepstakes, too.
That is an intersting scenerio, that would never happen. But it certainly is interesting. I would have to say no, don’t do it, Span is fine and dandy, but he is not ready to be everyday. But hey I could be wrong.
1.) They couldn’t put Mijares on the 60 day DL before the Rule V draft.
2.) Dickey has had so many arm/elbow injuries in the past that he has basically no ligaments and cartilege in his right arm. Bass has been a disappointment at times recently this season, but 1.) he had a solid year last year for AAA Rochester, both out of the bullpen and in several starts, 2.) He was incredible pitching down in Venezuela and really earned the 40 man spot.
3.) Humber came to the Twins in the Johan trade. He still has potential, even with his AAA struggles. He’s a former Tommy John guy who got back just over a year and made it to the Mets in 2006. He was solid in 2007 at AAA New Orleans and again got to the big leagues. He may no longer fit into starting rotation plans, but I think he can still be a very good late-inning reliever now that the Twins have done that. He had to be on the 40 man roster. That was a no brainer.
Hindsight is a beautiful thing though. I don’t think there is anyone in the Twins organization who is terribly upset over the loss of RA Dickey.
“would you trade Cuddyer straight up for Beltre?”
Presented like that, it’s tough. In reality, it’s 50/50 in my mind. Cuddyer is better than Span, so that’s not an issue. And Revere is at least two years away, so that’s not worth worrying about at this time. In reality, the Twins have a solid platoon situation with Buscher/Harris/Macri/Punto/Tolbert. No, they aren’t Beltre (and for the record, I really do like Beltre), but they aren’t hurting the Twins either.
Seth,
“I don’t think there is anyone in the Twins organization who is terribly upset over the loss of RA Dickey.”
Especially Brian Bass.
“Hindsight is a beautiful thing though”
I am calling foresight on that one. Dickey was offered back to the Twins AFTER (not before) Rule V and they took Jair Fernandez instead of paying $25K for Dickey (or DL’ing Mijares). That’s when I screamed bloody murder.
That’s not hindsight, that’s just normal sight.
the Twins have a solid platoon situation with Buscher/Harris/Macri/Punto/Tolbert
not sure how solid that is. Let’s leave Macri and Tolbert out of the equation for now (because Macri is in the minors and Tolbert is AWOL). Given that Punto will most likely play SS that 3B if and when healthy, here are the splits of the potential 3B against lefties this year:
Buscher: .118/.118/.118
Harris: .242/.289/.352
Lamb: .074/.107/.185
(as a reminder Beltre’s splits against lefties are .351/.467/.554)
I don’t know. I guess I’m not too worried about RA Dickey pitching in Seattle. That isn’t making or breaking the Twins season.
ok, make the trade then.
That list of players for Beltre is too steep. I would not trade half of those players for him straight up if we were not given 12 million dollars in the deal as well.
Beltre is not worth 18 million (which is what we’d owe him over the next year and a half.
His walk year last time was most likely juiced on steroids before they were illegal.
Would Beltre help this team - yes
Is he worth trading Swarzack or Dunesing 1-1 on absolutley not! We are talking about the 4th and 6th best pitching prospects in the organization.
Hunt, Robertson, Guerra, Swarzack, Manship, Dunesing
I certainly am not losing sleep about not having RA Dickey on this team. While he would have been nice over Bass Ackwards, but again… unless the Twins get massive amounts of cash, and give up next to nothing (Drew Butera and Martin) kind of trade… it’s not a worthy deal.
This is a sports blog… so my picking on sports related people ie: owners, gms, managers, players, prospects, scouts is fair game. Making comments against other posters however is pretty low class. I’m sorry if you disagree
Just in case anyone needs a little chuckle, these guys have been hilarious:
OBP SLG AVG
.287 .351 .253 Gomez
.257 .292 .220 Lamb
.280 .419 .203 Monroe
.235 .324 .189 Everett
1.364 OPS for Hughes against lefty’s… that’s incredible. This guy could help the middle of the order in 2010. Let’s hope he stay’s healthy
Great job:
OBP SLG AVG
.429 .423 .324 Span
.418 .455 .322 Mauer
.391 .512 .323 Morneau
.383 .471 .324 Punto
.357 .440 .315 Casilla
They can hit:
OBP SLG AVG
.337 .410 .313 Buscher
.331 .461 .262 Kubel
.330 .386 .286 Young
.324 .376 .252 Cuddyer
.346 .521 .290 Kubel vs. RHP
Adequate:
OBP SLG AVG
.315 .376 .262 Harris
.315 .338 .279 Redmond
.307 .337 .265 Tolbert
.250 .500 .250 Clark (8 AB)
.406 .500 .367 Macri (30 AB)
Harris in July (33 AB)
OBP SLG AVG
.371 .576 .364
I have never said anything about you, or your character.
Nope, never directly. But you yourself mentioned it could be petty and I simply confirmed that your observation was correct.
But at least your not wishing death or injury upon people associated with the Twins. That goes beyond petty and right down to rotten.
And as for Morneau… he doesn’t get near the hype that Mauer does
Not this again…I thought we were over this. Did anybody watch FOX Saturday baesball? All week long the leadup was “Morneau and the Twins”, then the day of it was “All-Star 1B Justin Morneau leads the Twins”, then in his first AB they played a highlight reel and talked about how “unknown” he is on a national scale.
I agree with that much. On the national front Morneau is less recognized than Mauer. But here at home the two of them are equals in the eyes of fans.
Heck, I’d wager Morneau is moreso. Just take a look at these blogs. Aside from Craig, how often do you ever see anybody bad mouth Morneau?
Never. And even when I jokingly say something bad about him it’s immediately dismissed.
The guy is Minnesota’s version of the Teflon Boy. You don’t get that way without having some level of respect beyond the norm.
Let the argument rest. Mauer and Morneau are the Faces of this franchise. Which is great. Because as we all know, there’s no rule stating a team can only have one.
Just saw the Twins made their desire to get Beltre official. Also saw this (regarding the Morneau/Thames play at first)
“He couldn’t change his call,” Gardenhire said. “He told me, ‘I made a mistake. I just have to live with it.’ How are you going to argue with that?”
Wow, now I hate that guy even more. He made a mistake, he knows he made a mistake, he admits he made a mistake…and he won’t overturn it?
Calls get overturned all the time. Heck, he even met with the other three umps. Did he just “neglect” to tell this to any of them at the time?
He should have to at LEAST sit out his next series. I don’t care if he was man enough to fess that he “made a mistake”. The fact that he told Gardy IMMEDIATELY after it happened and still didn’t do anything to remedy it is riddiculous.
T,
“Calls get overturned all the time.”
Safe/out, fair/foul (not at the wall) and ball/strike don’t get oveturned all the time.
And thats not totally the umpire’s fault.
If the umpire “corrects” those calls he gets ripped by both teams in baseball.
In the NFL and NBA, getting the call correct is the number one priority.
Not in MLB.
Evidence - Gardy ejected after the umpires corrected the catch-trap mistake last week.
If MLB managers would accept call reversals that ultimately “get the call right”, then the MLB umpires attitude toward call reversals might change.
Until then, Gardy “lives with” the umpires first reaction f-ck up yesterday, but acts like an ass and gets ejected on the catch-trap reversal, even though the umpires ultimately get THAT call correct.
Thats MLB’s “code of the West”
Stupid!!!
Morneau gets more national media…
In Minnesota it’s Mauer and it’s disgusting…
Morneau is the most valuable Twin. He did win an MVP which is more important than a batting title. He does drive in runs, and still scores a decent amount of runs considering that the back of the lineup isn’t as loaded as the top of the lineup…
dont forget that morneau has like the same batting adverage as mauer atm.. lol
“…port-a-potty in the Metropolitan Art Museum.”
Good one, BC.
I still think you’re wrong about Vavra, but at least you’re not mindless about it.
