Sunday lineups: Twins/Rangers
Posted on July 20th, 2008 – 10:25 AMBy Joe Christensen
So, how about those Tigers, eh? Did I tell you to watch them, or what?
That team is simply determined to defy everything I write. Like my infamous 2006 World Series prediction: Tigers in 4! Still haven’t heard the end of that.
I wrote, “Tigers look poised to finally run away from the pack” — just before the Twins swept them in early May. I predicted a post-break surge, and they’ve dropped two of three in Baltimore.
Anyway, there won’t be a prediction in this space today. Just the hard facts. Two games into this series, the Rangers have been outscored 20-2. The vaunted All-Star quartet of Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley is a combined 4-for-30.
Kinsler, the AL batting leader, doesn’t have a hit. Hamilton, the RBI leader, hasn’t driven in a run. Today, Scott Baker will try to keep them at bay, as the Twins go for a sweep.
Updates to come…
Update (12:10 p.m.): Nick Punto has made enough progress with his sprained knuckle that Manager Ron Gardenhire doesn’t expect to make a roster move. Punto is not in the lineup today, but Gardy said he might be available as a defensive replacement and should be ready to play in New York.
Rangers (50-48)
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Brandon Boggs, LF
3. Michael Young, SS
4. Milton Bradley, DH
5. David Murphy, RF
6. Hank Blalock, 3B
7. Marlon Byrd, CF
8. Chris Davis, 1B
9. Taylor Teagarden, C
Starting pitcher: RH Vicente Padilla
Twins (55-42)
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. Brendan Harris, SS
9. Denard Span, RF
Starting pitcher: RH Scott Baker
Metrodome. First pitch: 1:10 p.m.
169 Responses to "Sunday lineups: Twins/Rangers"
all the passionate, all-knowing predictions are what make these blogs endlessly amusing.
Joe-
Why stop predicting greatness for the Tigers? Maybe they’ll continue to lose! We don’t want the Tiggers doing well, here in Minnesota.
“Anyway, there won’t be a prediction in this space”
Not a bad policy to adopt - forever!
Meanwhile, the Twins All-Stars have been kicking butt (well, except for Nathan…who’s hoping they maybe don’t score THAT many today so he can get some face time this series as well).
Perk and Livan have put together two great starts, Baker’s got a tough act to follow.
Hopefully the offense doesn’t go cold like it sometimes does after a big night. But what I find most amazing is that the Rangers have only been shut out ONCE this season (Friday) vs. however many the Twins have.
And yet at the moment the Twins have the better record. I think a bit of proof that shutouts (and blowouts) alone aren’t a sign of a good or bad team.
Still hope the Twins can bring in some help. It’d be nice to have a new bat or arm to greet Chicago when they stop by the Dome later this month.
Span and Buscher need to be in the everyday lineup. Prior to the Twins outstanding winning streak, Gardenhire was shuffling players around like an idiot. Lets hope he stays with those left handed hitters in the lineup.
Lamb and Everette were apparently poor choices by the Twins organization. Harris and Young were very good investments. Cuddyer and Bonser should be traded for a relief pitcher.
Gardenhire needs to obtain help for his anger problem. He frequently embarasses the organization by his crude and thoughtless remarks. Why he remains as manager of the team is anybody’s guess. You would think the Twins organization would have the financial resources necessary to get Gardenhire some psychological help before his condition results in more serious problems.
Mr. Baseball,
Get your butt home and finish cleaning out the garage!
Gardenhire got mad at sports reporters for asking him about Liriano. He doesn’t seem to realized that he must answer questions concerning the team’s future. It is part of the job of being a team’s manager. Maybe he thinks he is above the writers and the fans, and is too important to be bothered by people who are interested in improving the team. Gardenhire seems unfit to be a major league manager. The team has had some of the best talent in all the major leagues during his tenure, but he has never won a pennant. The organization could do alot better without the bum.
Joe, you need to fix the headline.
“Gardenhire seems unfit to be a major league manager”
wally
This is crazy talk!
He should have been mad, maybe not at the reporters, but at the situation. I would be p!ssed too.
But, to say he is unfit to be a major league manager. dude!
crazy!
The Tigers aren’t going anywhere unless Sheff, Pudge, Magglio and the gang find the fountain of youth.
I think Punto should have made the all star team. He is a team player and always tries to help the team win by playing lots of different positions. He also doesn’t ask the Twins organization to pay him very much money to play for them. It’s too bad he is injured and not playing second base or center field. Punto is the fastest runner in the American League and the manager knows he is good and puts him on the team all the time. Also, I heard that he is an outstanding pitcher. He can strike out about twenty hitters in a game. Maybe during the stretch race, Punto can pitch in the rotation. He can throw over 110 miles per hour, and hitter are not good at hitting that fast a pitcher. He could also be a relief pithcer, since they haven’t been doing good and he has a fast pitch that the catch can hardly catch. The reason is he can really throw fast. Punto is amazing since he is only 18 years old and just up from the minor league. He will probably be the all star pitching player for 2009. I heard he is being trained by the manager to become the team manager in two or three years. He has agreed to be the new manager for the Twins.
This is crazy talk!
Don’t mind wally/steve/Mr. Baseball/jack. He tends to transplant his own psychosis onto those around him.
How that’s therapy going herb?
I don’t think I can read the comments on this blog anymore. My IQ drops precipitously every time I do. Who are you people, a bunch of 6th graders? Jeez.
Really don’t get you Punto haters.
He most definitely had a bad bat last year - but never left his glove and range with it in his locker like some of the Twins fielders do.
I consider him to be part of glue that makes the Twins go the way they do…which I perceive is why Gardy has the guy around.
What he is not - is a cancer for this club.
What has gotten into this blog today? Someone talking about Little Nicky Punterrible as an all star? 3-4 people talking about Gardy unfit to manage…
This is worse than when Craig was trying to argue how Justin Morneau was worthless over the winter.
I am Mr. Negative around here, and I hate to remind some of you, but:
This team is a 1/2 game out! The Pitching staff is doing very well. There is no room for Liriano in the rotation, and a year after having Tommy John surgery he needs INNINGS, and he needs a consistant approach…he would not get that in the bullpen here. Keeping him in AAA is the best option until one of these pitchers falter, or god forbid an injury should occur. Putting him in the bullpen is the worst possible answer. Look how inconsistant Crain is this summer… lights out, lights not coming on… He’s not the future of this franchise, and he did his rehab properly, and he’s still struggling as a life long reliever… you want to take a chance on Liriano’s future for a few weeks of greed now? News flash, Livan Hernandez is 10-4 (8-1 at home), and the team loves him. Liriano is immature, selfish, and his talent makes him the most important pitcher in the organization, but you don’t risk him now when you DON’T NEED HIM!!! He helped put himself into this mess now he has to grow the hell up, and wait his turn.
Making fun of Punto has become a bit of a cliche, but he makes it so easy. He is the Mark Madson of the Twins.
If he was a GREAT defensive player he wouldn’t need to be diving all over the place. Ryne Sandberg NEVER got dirty playing 2nd base. Brooks Robinson didn’t have to dive for 8 balls a game. So he gets more credit than he deserves on that. That being said so did Robin Yount and Jim Edmonds… making diving plays gets you on sportscenter, and baseball tonight. Joe DiMaggio never dove for balls… Punto is a MAX EFFORT guy, and that is awesome to have on the bench, and that is a good clubhouse guy… but how many times has he injured himself diving into first base head first? How many times has he injured himself because he had to dive to the left, or to the right for a ball that a normal SS/3B/2B would have either gotten on a routine play had he been in better position? He is a great defensive person to watch play the game from a fan standpoint, but I would just as soon stick to fundementals when it came to teaching my kids how to play the game.
He is not as bad this makes it look, I wish there was a middle ground of explaining it, or that I was better at explaining it, but if you put Punto on any one of the other other 29 teams in baseball… he is a bench player for almost all of them. Gardy loves him because he’s a glorified AAA guy that puts out 200% effort all the time. Every team needs that spark plug… it’s just better suited for a team 1-2 games a week instead of having to count on it for 500 plate appearances.
He can’t stay healthy, and last year wasn’t a bad year. Bad means it was a down year. Until the last 3 weeks of the season Nick Punto was batting .191 which would have ranked 3rd worst in the last 75 freaking years for players with over 450 PA’s. He finished with the 33rd worst season in the last 40 years offensively, and that is disputable because Rob Deer was on that list twice, and both times he hit over 20 homers with 70 RBI’s, and Ivan DeJesus was the 2nd best defensive SS in the NL in his playing days.
There are a lot of disillusioned hater out there. Imagine how you’d feel if you sunk the emotional investment of treating Punto like he’s Lou Ford, only to have him perform like a big leaguer? Same thing with the Livan contingent of the nattering negative krew. How much virtual ink was devoted this last week to impassioned pleas that the team throw Livan overboard and call up that kid who had the arm wrecking invisible slider for part of the season back in ‘06? And then what does Livan do? Dominates, gets his 10th win and moves him home record to 8-1. That had to sting, eh?
Fear not, haters. While I feel your anguish regarding the Twins failure to (not)perform to your expectations, I suspect that the Vikes will meet your bizarro “suck at any cost, I follow sports to complain” expectations…
Average Joe,
“I don’t think I can read the comments on this blog anymore. My IQ drops precipitously every time I do”
Reading this blog is not dangerous.
If you find yourself believing any of it, THEN you are in danger.
If you find yourself buying into this crap, ALL IS LOST!!!!
BC
Well said! But to remain on this blog you have to throw in something completely “out there”. You know, like Bonser,Everett and Lamb for Beltre. Livan and Cuddyer for Holliday.
You made WAY too much sense. It was refreshing. Thank You!
Punto is better than Lew Ford
Livan belongs in this rotation, and Franchise belongs in AAA until a spot arises. Liriano just needs to shut up, and relax and do his thing.
Thank you Wipron. I am sure I will say something to piss someone off here shortly so not to worry.
Kind of like how the Twins should look at Kevin Kouzmanoff, Khalil Greene, and possibly Greg Maddux if they should need another starter… he is pitching amazingly well for a guy that can’t win, and at his age he would be dirt cheap, and as a ground ball pitcher with this defense, and a chance to go to the playoffs I think he could be a great asset, but he’s not needed now.
A couple of others I would like to see them go after is Buddy Carlysle from Atlanta, or Houston Street from the A’s
Two notes of interest w/ the lineups today.
1) Mauer playing a day game following a night game (got 1 1/2 innings off last night-if thats what it takes, do it more often)
2) Hamilton out of lineup (concession?-didn’t he just get a day off after the AS game? Perhaps all those dingers took even more out of him than thought)
BC BENEKE, sorry I have to disagree with you. Franchise could be a lights out 7th & 8th inning bridge to Nathan. You just don’t pitch him on consecutive days. Just like the Yanks did with Joba last year. He is better than anyone we could pick up in a trade unless we traded away half the prospects in the minors. Franchise strengthens the bullpen big time & the team can work on a RH 3rd baseman or SS with some pop. Enjoy the season, this could be “magical”. 
Here’s one that is kind of puzzling me. Parmalee is out, Benson is out, Winfree is mediocre, and Matt Moses is failure…
Why hasn’t Ben Revere been moved up to AA?
BC,
Revere is a beer league player who SHOULD NOT have been drafted. He’ll be out of baseball in 12 months.
Regards,
Coco-
It’s ok to disagree with me, lol.
I’m a lefty that hurt my arm when I was 19 years old, and I’m probably over protective.
that is the worst post of the day so far
Dragon…
He is hitting .397 with a .451 OB%, with 31 steals in 42 attempts.
Shawn… which one?
BC,
the beer league Revere
He doesn’t seem to realized that he must answer questions concerning the team’s future.
Really Wally? At least use proper grammar if you are going to criticize the manager of the year to be.
Mike,
Gardy isn’t going to beat Joe Madden for Manager of the Year.
I agree that he would have had the award at the all-star break. There is a lot of ball to be played, however, and I would take Gardy by the time all is said and done.
If that is his real opinion of Ben Revere, the Dragon’s credibility and his ass are a’dragon.
sid,
my rose colored glasses got broken last night.
Just trying to fit in
Regards,
Guys:
Dragon was joking.
Really? No one got that?
Look at his post from 12:45.
Padilla looks like a guy that hangs out at the bars up in Fosston MN
Sorry Dragon.
There are serious posts that look just like yours did.
NO MORE SERIOUS POSTS ! ! !
now THAT is the worst post so far!
Mudcat,
Have there been any yet?
“that is the worst post of the day so far”
We’ve only just begun!
fur sure, sid. Two innings does not a game make. Git ‘R Done!
Hopefully D. Young serves up some more crow for the haters.
Yikes! DY was only half way down the line when the first baseman got it.
SPAN!
SPAN ROBS A BATTER OF ANOTHER……………foul ball?
or another chance
anybody remember this?
just wondering.
blew Bradley away
Baker is dealing today. Great pitching contest today. The exact opposite of what is happening in Chicago today.
he deserves some runs
man,
my bad shoulder could still probably throw harder than that slow curve
ME TOO:
5-2 Kansas City in the third. Twinks could possibly be in first place today.
If not, that’s OK. The Red Sox were only in first for a very short time this week.
if the Sawks lose Twins could be tied for the wild card also
dang, it looks like they left the pitchers at the hotel in Chicago. 5-5 in the third.
Hey, if you want to see the “stupidest” comment, I could always resurrect my trade proposal from yesterday. I am sure Craig was proud.
doh!
Torii would have caught that.
GoGomez needed a Go-Go Gadget arm there.
“if you want to see the “stupidest” comment, I could always resurrect my trade proposal from yesterday.”
This blog should never be reduced to resurrecting previous stupidity.
We can produce an endless supply any day of the season.
DON’T CHALLENGE US!!!!!!
ok, lets get some runs
John Gordon, during Teagarden’s last at bat, said that Baker nearly struck him out on a 1-2 slider on the outside corner. Does anyone remember the pitch and was it that close? Thanks.
i don’t think it was that close Daniel
The way Baker was pitching, I honestly thought that a shutout was possible, with a chance at a no-hitter, but that I thought was EXTEMELY remote.
This Texas team has the ability to put alot of runs on the board, fast.
Good take there Span. Way to work the walk.
sh*t
ugh
Yup, Torii would have caught that. And is anyone else sick of that little drama queen Gomez acting like he’s severely injured every time he has to give a little extra effort in center? Jesus, Gogo, just do your f’ing job.
I think the Twins are worn out from all the hits last night. If they lose this game 1-0 another good game by Baker will go by the wayside.
Thanks, Shawn!
Dye just got plunked HARD on the side of the knee in Chicago.
He’s being assisted off the field. Thats going to hate for awhile.
its not my bday and i am not at the game….
Baker can’t lose 1-0 this time
Tori would have caught that? I hope these posts are not serious.
Of course Torii would’ve caught that. If we agree that he couldn’t have how can we blame Gomez instead of Baker/Teagarden?
They didn’t show a side-view, but it looked like it was well beyond the wall where it came down. Go-Go Gadget would have needed to call out his Gadget arm to catch that (nice one T). Torri, yeah right.
who cares if Torii would have caught it? he makes 18 million to be very average someplace else
Solarte has moved from Ft Myers to Beloit. Revere might be promoted after today’s game
Ok, Torii probably wouldn’t have caught that, and now that my disgust has lessened, and i’m thinking a bit more clearly, it doesn’t matter, cause he’s not here, so it doesn’t matter. But the fact remains that Gomez needs to stop acting like he just got drilled by Ray Lewis every time he dives or runs into the wall. And he really needs to start hitting better than a half drunk softball player.
Now the Sox are throwing at the Royals. Guillen aways had a penchant for retaliation. Seem to recall him actually blasting one of his pitchers a few years ago for not throwing at a player on the opposite team.
One thing I find funny though, the Sox announcers are talking about how the Sox have OWNED the Central this year.
Hunter is hitting .272 12HRs 43 RBI
GOGO is hitting .252 5 HRs 32 RBI
Twin’s don’t miss Hunter as much as everyone thought they would
yeah JJ, cause Torii never acted like that
every time he dives or runs into the wall
Ever run full speed into a post? No particular reason…just wondering.
Whatever the case, Twins need to pop one over the fence to bail out Baker.
This kinda reminds me of that start in Detroit where Baker lost 1-0 or 2-1 on a Thames homerun.
JJ of NP,
“is anyone else sick of that little drama queen Gomez acting like he’s severely injured every time…just do your f’ing job”
No, but I’m sick of computer geeks unable to understand that Gomez’s job is a hell of a lot tougher then theirs.
Even if you include feeding the goldfish in their parent’s basement.
Gomez (or Tori for that matter) would have needed a seven foot vertical to catch that ball.
Ah, JJ, when was the last time you laid out to catch a ball off a dead sprint? Have you ever ran into a wall with your body contorted looking for the ball?
I have done both, and I can tell you with ABSOLUTE certainty, it hurts like HELL. In my case, the wall was chain-link mesh with padding, but it still hurts, and sometimes it takes a second or two to get your wits back about you.
Torii may have acted like that, but he also actually caught most of the balls he dove and ran into walls for. I think that Gogo will be a star, but its going to take time, and right now, that one part of his game really irritates me. That, and every time he sees a breaking ball, it’s like the first time he’s seen a breaking ball.
Oh PLEASE go to Eddie!
GOMEZ SUCKZ!!!!1
Gotta hand it to Baker. Hasn’t let that homerun discourage him.
JJ, nice to see your revisionist history working so well for you.
I’m sorry jon, i’ll bow to you, and take a step back while you impart your vast knowledge of major league baseball to the rest of us. And i’ll feed my goldfish while you demonstrate your intelligence by denigrating other people’s opinions by taking the thinking man’s approach, and insult people you have never met.
This game is reminding me so much of the 1-0 game he lost to Detroit last year. The guy has simply dealed tonight.
Sad to see it spoiled like that. Come on guys, get a couple across the plate here in the 8th.
All of the fielding rankings have GoGo #1 in range… if he reads the wall and jumps does he have a chance at that ball? maybe, but on the defensive side i will take him over Torii any day.
JJ, go run into a street lamp post at 3/4 speed while looking the other way.
Then come back to us on Gomez.
Baker deserves some of Livan’s run support
Everytime Eddie in. Lets hope our luck changes.
EDDIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love Eddie and i hope we beat him
Buscher and Washington both look at the ump?
Buscher, you got a walk…don’t make him angry.
JJ,
Sorry!
My first reaction was over-the-top to your over-the-top first reaction.
I’ll take my medication now.
who does Grady bring in top of 9th? NATHAN?
he’ll probably go Crain
good call Fire
Nathan? Good choice. Close game late, Nathan hasn’t worked yet this series. Can’t be a save situation anymore from here on out.
Gardy finally listened to us!!!
facing Ranger’s top of the order with Twin’s top of the order coming up in the bottom frame probably made it easier for Gardy to justify Nathan
I haven’t heard any news about this is Nathan’s velocity down. I haven’t seen 97, 96 in a long time.
Will Monroe PH for Gomez?
it must be ASB related.. like HR Derby curse!!
nope GOGO will attempt a weak bunt
Gogo is better v Lefties
Nathan does not look right!
Nathan…wow. That was close.
makes the big catch and then up to bat
anyone wanna bet that Go-go tries to bunt on the first pitch, then takes a three pitch swining strike out?
Yeah what was wrong with that? He didn’t look right he was working off his breaking stuff instead of his fastball.
All Star Game threw off Nathan’s mechanics.
…What? Hitters use that excuse.
Nathan went b/c he hasnt pitched (all star not included) in at least a week.
revdrev,
You are right.
Nathan’s arm extension looks restricted and his mph is down.
He looks he did in like spring training.
What did I say? At least he took a pitch. They guy needs to be sent down
wow this kid can throw a fastball!
Yeah! Wilson’s fastball just explodes toward the batter. Can we trade for this guy?
Twins take the series vs. Texas to keep pace with the Sox taking the series vs. KC?
I think the Twins had the tougher task.
I hope Gomez is taking notes on how to get in an effective at-bat, cant give these guys easy three pitch at bats like he does. Now it is time for baby Jesus to do something…
“Yeah! Wilson’s fastball just explodes toward the batter. Can we trade for this guy?”
Before the end of THIS game I hope!
gee, i wonder if they walk Morneau
Funny:-)
MVP with an UGLY swing there.
This is the situation we want…Monreau with one on…
If only this were with ONE out instead of TWO.
That was NOT a swing!
Looked like a swing.
Oh yeah…that was. Good catch on the replay.
oh well
Cancel Vavra’s book contract.
What a disappointing AB by Morneau. Swung at ugly for strike 1. Swung/checked on a pitch tat was going to hit him…
Very unMVP like.
Baker pitched ok but did a crappy job getting his offense to score. He obviously still has alot to learn from Livan.
oh no! how dare the twins lose! trade, demote or release all the players! dump the manager and the coaches! fire the front office! tomorrow is a must-win game!
Well after the discussion of last week. I guess 1-0 losses are much better than 6-0 or 14-2 wins…far more exciting.
Regards,
Once again Morneau works himself up for a big at-bat, loses control of his emotions, and decides to swing at pitches before the pitcher even pitches.
today was a predictable letdown game especially facing Ranger’s best pitcher
You’re right Tom. He needs to either be sent down, traded, or benched in favor of Lamb for a few days.
Gardy just doesn’t have the guts to do it.
Terrible AB by Morneau!
i am having a hard time b*tching about this one. sucks to lose, but the Rangers pitched well
Just like the Vikings do to us. Build us up to let us down!! I’d rather lose 14-2 than 1-0. What a waste of a great pitching performance.
Morne got himself out on four really bad pitches. Hopefully he will learn from this at bat.
KC just took an 8-7 lead in the top of the eighth in CHI.
the twins take 2 out of 3 and pretty much shut down the best hitting team (by a lot) in the majors. and all you can say is “what a terrible at bat by morneau”. give me a break. wilson just got the best of him, it happens.
come on royals, keep it at a 1/2 game clip.
What to do with Gomez, what to do. If you didn’t have anyone else that could bat lead-off, that would be one thing… When you’re in a race like this and you have other options you have to do what’s best for the team. It would have been nice to see someone like Span come up in the ninth and been a little more patient, who knows, maybe take a walk and come in to score on that wild pitch.
gatty790-A past MVP gets himself out on 4 pitches and you hope he learns from it.A lot of gall.buster!
Whalefeet, what are people supposed to say when someone has a terrible at-bat, that it was a good at-bat? People just said it was a bad at-bat. Not that the sky has turned red… not that locusts have overtaken the earth… not that Seventh Sign has appeared and the world is coming to an end… all of which you apparently think happens every time someone makes even the least bit of a critical remark against the Twins. It WAS a bad at-bat, period. And he’d probably be the first to admit it.
Let’s hope the Texas bats can heat up in Chicago
and the twins can some how beat Sid the kid
nows a good time to make a trade….damn that was a tough loss…now on to new york…can we possibly get 2 of 3 there
tom, what are you talking about? i don’t have any problem with anyone saying it was a bad at-bat, it wasn’t the best. gomez had a bad at-bat leading off as well, where’s his comments? but morneau came up knowing wilson just threw 19 fastballs out of 19 pitches, and went up swinging at the first thinking it was a fastball over the plate, but it ended up being the first slider down. then he got morneau out on a pitch inside, oh well. i guess i’m just not focusing on the one negative aspect of the game, that morneau got out, and focusing on the good the twins showed as a whole in this series. got a problem with that?
gomez now batting under .250 …that is no leadoff mans # - the speed means zero…he has to come out of that spot..its sad because i dont see any improvement in him..his bunting is awful, and that should be easy to learn if they are working on it, but it sure doesnt look like it…he may take a pitch here and there that he never used to, but thats about all i see….i wouldnt care if they sent him to AAA, but i know they never will…22 or not, i am not sold on this kid yet, but right now in a pennant race, i would like someone a little more professional in the leadoff spot….
W.Sox Lose! 8-7
No ground lost!
sweet
“tom, what are you talking about? i don’t have any problem with anyone saying it was a bad at-bat…”
whalefeet, July 20th, 2008 at 3:53 pm,
says:
“…and all you can say is ‘what a terrible at bat by morneau’. give me a break.”
It should not be assumed that just because someone “focuses on the one negative aspect of the game” that they’re automatically dismissing all the good in the entire series. It generally doesn’t work that way. I disagree that Morneau’s at-bat was the “one negative aspect” of this game however. They did after all get shut-out by a pitcher fresh off the DL while they’re starter pitched a GREAT game against the best hitting team in the league. As for Gomez, people criticize his at-bats all the time… at this point they come to expect them. Morneau on the otherhand is the Twins best hitter and yet he continues to demonstrate this propensity in high-pressure situations of flailing away at anything a pitcher gives to him (just watch for it the next time). He needs to understand that in the situation you described the chances that a pitcher gives him a hittable fastball are not very good. Does that mean he sucks and we ought to trade him? No. It just means he has room for improvement is all.
Is this the third time the twins have failed to score a run and lose 1-0 when scott baker pitches? At least the Royals beat the white sox two out of three games in Chicago. I didn’t know they had it in them.
This just in:
Baseball has just changed its rules and it now allows batters to steal first base. Gomez is now the perfect lead-off hitter and no further commentary or suggestions to move him down in the order are necessary.
This just in:
Gardy’s reaction to the news of the rule change: “Phew.”
Is this the third time the twins have failed to score a run and lose 1-0 when scott baker pitches?
Yup, third time, and Baker got the “loss” in two of them. Ridiculous.
Here’s a sample of Baker’s non-Livan-veteranness.
5 starts, 35 innings, 26 hits, 7 walks, 6 earned runs
What is his record in these fantastic starts? 0-2 with 3 ND’s.
GATTY:
If Kansas City can get 5 or 10 runs every game against the White Sox, I like Texas’ chances against them also.
Give Morneau a break, he got hit on the hand by a pitch by Wilson, which also hit his bat (ruled a foul ball) Might have been a problem after that to swing the bat with any authority. Can’t blame Morneau, didn’t see anyone else drive in any runs today! And the Gomez at bat in the ninth? Pathetic! Should have pinch hit Monroe, he at least might have hit the ball.
