Friday pregame: Liriano to pitch Sunday
Posted on August 1st, 2008 – 5:49 PMBy Joe Christensen
Francisco Liriano will pitch Sunday against Cleveland, with Glen Perkins moved to Monday at Seattle. Manager Ron Gardenhire said he will eventually split up the two lefties, but it doesn’t matter this time, as they’ll be playing different teams.
Randy Ruiz was very excited, of course, as he’ll be making his major league debut tonight. He’s wearing No. 56.
Liriano said he isn’t upset with the Twins for waiting so long to promote him, though he said he would have accepted a bullpen role just to rejoin the big league roster. He’s wearing No. 47.
Alexi Casilla said on a scale of 1 to 10, the chances of him playing again in September are about 6 or 7. He’ll find out next week when he’s re-evaluated by the hand specialist. The Twins are cautioning that he could still need surgery.
Indians (47-60)
1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Jamey Carroll, 2B
3. Ben Francisco, RF
4. Shin-Soo Choo, DH
5. Kelly Shoppach, C
6. Ryan Garko, 1B
7. Andy Marte, 3B
8. Franklin Gutierrez, LF
9. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Starting pitcher: LH Jeremy Sowers
Twins (60-48)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Nick Punto, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Delmon Young, LF
6. Randy Ruiz, DH
7. Brendan Harris, 3B
8. Adam Everett, SS
9. Carlos Gomez, CF
Starting pitcher: RH Nick Blackburn
Metrodome. First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
254 Responses to "Friday pregame: Liriano to pitch Sunday"
everett again?
Everett probably has better range at shortstop than Harris, and it adds another right-handed bat to the lineup against a lefty. Otherwise, Harris would be at short and the lefty Buscher would have to face the lefty Sowers. Remember, Gardy loves the defense.
We’re giving Everett a chance to prove himself…I kind of agree with the move. He could have had a couple of hits last night, but he was a part of some tough luck outs.
I would imagine if Everett proves healthy he’ll be at short at least against LH pitching. Maybe full time.
That’s the cost of losing Casilla.
Glad to see them move Liriano up in the rotation for Sunday. Not to mention, that should put a few extra butts in the seats at the Dome.
Thanks for the great updates today, Joe. You’re the best!
The fact that Liriano says he isn’t upset with the team just reiterates that the grievance that was filed was purely a Greg Genske’s brainchild.
Go Royals!
“Glad to see them move Liriano up in the rotation for Sunday. Not to mention, that should put a few extra butts in the seats at the Dome.”
No kidding. It would have been stupid of the Twins not to take advantage of the situation.
Brad,
I would have preferred to see Liriano pitch Saturday. (Simply because I live in Arizona and don’t get to see many games. I’m in town this weekend but have to leave on Sunday.)
But a series finale at the Dome is a great way to take advantage Liriano’s presence. I would have been disappointed if they had chosen to wait until Monday.
Are there any updates on when Tolbert or Cuddy are going to start their rehab stints?
Lets see if Ruiz can give us some righthanded pop from the DH slot.
Using minorleaguesplits.com, Ruiz is predicted to hit .282/.282/.458 with the Twins. Not bad…
Twins Fix,
got to put the whole stats in the thingy at minorleaguesplits.com. What I got as an equivalent after I put in the BB and Ks is: .283/.326/.459
not bad at all.
but all the AAA players who were called up this year either matched or exceeded their AAA numbers.
I frankly expect Randy to hit .300 with 1HR/10PA
Thrylos98,
Thanks, I guess I skipped that. I doubt Ruiz will hit .283, but that’s just the pessimist in me.
Noooo. Liriano pitch Monday. I guess that’s what I get for being a Twins fan in Seattle.
But yes, getting Liriano his first start in the Cities makes the most sense. I think he should be starting Saturday night, that way you get that break between him and Perkins, but its not that big of a deal.
Ruiz won’t hit at that level thrylos98, but it will be close. Close enough that taking Kubel out of the game against a LH pitcher won’t be such a touch decision.
“but all the AAA players who were called up this year either matched or exceeded their AAA numbers.”
Howie Clark
MLB .250
AAA .288
jon,
Howie Clark had a whole of 8 ABs…
I’m also a pissed Twins fan in Seattle, I got good seats for Monday… bummer!
Unfortunately for Twins fans, Adam Everett — at the age of 31 — didn’t wake up this morning with a productive bat.
Bill James has done the work for us. Let’s put it in layman’s terms here. If you’re not doing steroids, the very high probability is that you are going to lose productivity at the plate after the age of 30.
The Twins do so many things right — great minor league system; great hitting and pitching coaching; great fostering of team dynamics. It’s just a beautiful team watching our team excel.
But we do make some indefensible personnel decisions. We can reach back farther than this weekend, but there simply is no reason that Hernandez should’ve started against the Sox (unless there is an arbitration issue that the front office isn’t disclosing).
And here we are with Adam Everett. I know he’s a very likable guy. But he’s not a major league baseball player. He is the rebirth of Lenny Faedo — or a distant cousin of Houston Jimenez. There simply is no defense to his being on this team today. . and no reason for him to be in the lineup.
With Buscher up and Macri in Rochester, alongside Punto and Harris. . we have what we need. True, we’re not talking about great fielding. But the loss of fielding range is more than made up for at the plate.
Everett is a circa .200 hitter for whatever days his career continues.
Go Twins.
T-Mouse walkin da House
very exciting. the only concern i have is one of our young guns wearing down near the end of september. none of these guys have pitched 200 innings and none have had to ever handle a pennant chase. livan would’ve been good insurance.
randy ruiz- phil nevin…..take your pick—
this is bill smiths answer to his failures- its disgraceful and typical twins f.o. bullshit- but gang we are stuck with it….im sorry for the team that plays so hard and gives so much, and gets nothing in return from the f.o.- as much as morneau was pleading for help, i dont think this is what he had in mind…. but what can ya do now but live with it and hope other teams falter…..good luck……
griffey…..r.ruiz….about equal…lol
“but all the AAA players who were called up this year either matched or exceeded their AAA numbers.”
Brian Buscher
MLB .313 3-27
AAA .319 8-30
Jacoby Ellsbury is starting in CF and batting ninth for the Bosox. He is hitting .262 entering tonight’s game. The Red Sox announcers are saying that Manny had lost “the clubhouse”. Enuf about them. Let’s go Twins!
mj1,
“this is bill smiths answer to his failures- its disgraceful and typical twins f.o. bullshit- ”
Bitter yesterday.
Bitter today.
Bitter tomorrow.
Bitter forever!
griffey…..r.ruiz….about equal…lol
I am willing to bet that Ruiz will be more successful with the Twins than Griffey with the Sox.
We’ll be here at the end of the season and see the results.
jon … yes jon- i dont like to see a 1st rate major league team, treated like a 2nd rate AA team….whats next lecroy??
griffey of today is not griffey of 98
Ruiz might be a better hitter
souhan really doesn’t know much about baseball
shawn, i am laughing to hard to respond to your post…c’mon, i am as big a twins fan as you are, but i cant even go that route……
“i dont like to see a 1st rate major league team, treated like a 2nd rate AA team”
What does that mean?
What are the similarities in treatment to a AA team’s treatment?
Payroll?
Stadium?
Meal money?
Clubhouse?
Travel?
What does that mean, specifically?
my beef is not ruiz, as i wish him all the best in this situation, my problem is having to live with a nitwit for a gm….trust me, we are all going to be disappointed and i really hate saying that, but i think the reality of this team is about to set in and i hate it
Everett has hit .368 against lefties as of yesterday. Ruiz pounded it pretty good in spring training & in Rochester.
ok dude,
Griffey has a big name and Ruiz could be a crappy career minor leaguer.
Griffey could also be the .249 hitter with some pop or worse now that he may expend more energy in center
Ruiz could be the 2nd coming of Jack Cust that gives a team a couple month lift….
thats why the play the games
my first reaction in a text to my buddy when griff got traded to whities “that doesn’t help them much”
he disagreed, but i digress, i loved griff back in the day, just doesn’t do much for me
dude???
if hes the second coming of jack cust, the beers on me, but are you old enough to drink it??
i will always drink beers… 
The Twins just dumped $8.82 million in payroll, and counting Rincon over $11 million which they paid for FA, which did not work out.
Does that make them smart as in foreseeing future player failures?
NO!!
Does that make them cheap, as in failure to pay up for their mistakes?
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THEY PAID FOR THEIR MISTAKES!
Stupid if you prefer, but not trying?
NONSENSE!!!
i really wouls have liked to see the team get Brian Roberts…. but i understand not giving up 1 of the 4 starters
well shawn dont stop drinking waiting on me, you might die of thirst, but i will pay up if and when…..
sane,
that was almost “in”sane
mj1,
Like I asked you yesterday, who should we have traded for and who should we have traded. If we would have traded 1 of our 4 young MLB starting pitchers than we would have Liriano and Livan or Boof in the rotation, how would that have made us better? Get over the Griffy deal he is old and his bat is still strong once in a while but it is slow and it will be interesting to watch him in CF.
didn’t predict, more of a top end scenerio
he could be complete sh*t but i think he deserves a shot
oh Sidney is throwing a no-hitter
call me a jinx
and there it is
“David says:
August 1st, 2008 at 7:13 pm
mj1,
Like I asked you yesterday, who should we have traded for and who should we have traded.”
David,
Ask him again tomorrow when he re-rants.
david, gotta run right now , but i liked souhans column for one, and if not that there are numerous names and people in our minor league system that some kind of package could have been put together - and theres always starting pitchers to go out and find. much easier finding pitchers than a gold glove, homerun hitting 3b-
jon…kma….thats all
MJ1,I am still waiting on your response from yesterday on what trades you thought were doable. Why no reply??? You remind me of all the people that like to bitch about the government, but can’t take the time to actually go out and vote. 
Another thing that is worth mentioning about Livan’s departure is that with Livan, the use the cut off vest uniforms departed as well… good riddance…
from espn.com fan post too funny
“I would not want to make the Twins fans angry. They might … throw baseballs and hats”
Umm, MJ1, you LIKED his column??? What part, pray tell?
The part of trading away Young?? You know, the part of trading away one of our few good right handed bats to try and get a pitcher to replace the one that he traded away in the previous trade he made to get a right handed bat?
He had to go.
So unfortunate.
I guess I have to report a bitch-and-run incident.
Well, MJ1 is one of the few Twins fans in this blog, since, well, nobody else seems to care.
we could have traded liriano…i dont think liriano is the same as we remember and as gleeman said today on the fan that he may be a good 3-4 starter and thats what i am saying is easy to replace or much easier than a 3b described earlier- and i know thats unpopular with a lot of people, but morneau needs some protection 7 days a week …and liriano is no guarantee of anything….we will see
what souhan’s article said to me is that, souhan doesn’t like liriano…..
the trading him to make the team better arguments, i will listen to those…. but he doesn’t like the couple missteps, so he uses the fact he might not be the same guy as in 06 to bag the kid…
guess thats why he writes opinion pieces and not game stories….
we all have opinions, we’re not all baseball writers
So, who do we replace Livan with in the rotation, mj1????
I’d have actually traded Liriano if we could get the farm from some team, and my guess is 1 out of 29 would have seen his 06 and sold us the farm
so “me too”
where would you like to see Livan end up?
That’s the million dollar question. I know we could replace him with Boof….
me too–god almighty, they would have to go out and find someone, i dont know all the damn rosters, thats their job and yours to speculate..
I agree we could have traded Liriano and than when he returns to 06 form for someother team we would have had to listen to how dumb Smith was for trading him like we do now about trading Garza.
how odd
wow, just woke up and realized the FO did what I asked for on LENIII blog this morning, bringing up Randy Ruiz, nice.
See ya’ll at the game on Sunday. I predict Liriano shuts them down.
Trading Garza for Young was a ballsy move that long term should benefit both teams….
I have no problem with BS doing it, even if it fails
mj1, The bottom line is the only thing the Twins had of real value to trade were Liriano,Baker,Slowey,Backburn and maybe Span not alot to work with to get a quality player back and to much to give up for a rental.
long term that young trade will be very good for the twins…we have not seen the best of young yet…the long ball will come back…and the average will stay high…this kid will probably reach all-star status in short order…jmho
I honestly don’t know if Livan is going to stay in the AL. I am pretty sure that he will sign on with somebody in the NL. I am pretty sure that there is no way that either him or Monroe will bring anything back in the way of a trade at this point. Too bad too.
As far as Boof in the rotation, probably not a bad stopgap, but that is all he would really be. I would have been in favor of maybe trading Liriano for Beltre, but I would need to see abit more than just Beltre for him though.
The part that made me laugh at the column was wanting to trade Young to bring back in a pitcher. Seems a zero-sum trade to trade away a good pitcher from the rotation(Liriano was coming up sooner or later, he had to know that) and then trade away our other good right bat for a pitcher to replace Liriano. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Pretty much would be like Detroit trading away a catcher to get a reliever, and then trading away a reliever to get a catcher. Seems pretty stupid to me.
Peterson and Lis with HRs, trying to get called up
i would rather protect morneau 7 days a week, than worry about a guy with tj surgery pitching every 5th day….id take my chances on finding a #3-4 off someones roster for prospects maybe…something like that…thats all - enough said….
griffey didnt look to bad in his first at bat for the effn sox
he did
no Revere again
Does anyone know if there was any sort of comment from the ump last night on the blown bunt/HBP call?
2 good plays by Everett
dang, a no hitter going right now. Comeon guys, get your bats going.
Yeah, i blew that call, but I gave you a call later when Justin swung and I didnt call it a strike…we are even pal.
Wow, Ponson pitched a heck of a game for the Yanks tonight, Santana is still pitching for the Angels. Good games tonight in baseball.
looks like the Twins signed Tom Shearn out of the Red organization and he started tonight in Rochester in Liriano’s spot. Any more info on that?
this is the inning…..
this talk of Cust earlier tonight must have been a good luck charm. He just homered for the A’s to pull the A’s even with the BoSox
that nothing happens…the good source doesnt feel it
Ruiz looks lost…..Gardy what kind of line up is this? Punto in the 2 hole…Adam Evrett still playing…why not put Lamb chop in there.
why can’t we hit this guy???????
Meatball pitchers! Why do the Twins have such a hard time getting any production against meatball pitchers? This Sowers loser, he of the 5 run ERA, is once again pitching a perfect game against the Twins. This guy is a freakin’ loser, yet i classic form, the Twins go limp against him. Yet another time the Twins go limp against a meatball pitcher. Stick with the Twins!
I like meatballs…..I want some spaghetti and meatballs….yummy
It is official. Delmon Young will not win a gold glove this year. Also, Craig Monroe can’t break up the perfect game today…
actually what do you expect with Gardy’s lineup tonight 10 runs?
It is amazing they are where they are…just wait, 2 years from now they will be World Champs
So far, if anyone wants to complain about a batter, the least on to complain about is Ruiz. His first freaking start in the majors and had home run swings in all at bats. What did LNP do so far in the game? Or Span for that matter?
Why not bat Kubel as DH? He played last night against a LH. This offensive display is embarrassing! Don’t waste a quality start boys!
Okay, ebough of the BS against the meatball pitcher. Time for a rally. Stick with the Twins!
agrees with Whattodo…Kubel should be in every game…either as left field or DH…
If Kubel was in every game Jason and Justin would be 30 HR boys…
Here comes the meat of the line-up…the dead meat…
This lineup needs Steve Smith of Carolina Panthers…at least he hits!
The rally has started
Finally
Yes!!!!!!!! A runner!!!!!!!
woo hoo
There goes the perfect game. Here come the bats.
Craig Monharris breaks it up
good source- are you aware that this team is in a pennant race? or are you just one of these 2010 dreamers— and i would love to know whats going to happen that you know thats the year of a world series….do you not want to win this year when we are this close– you must think this comes automatic- ill clue you in- there are no guarantees and 2010 could be a disaster-there could be injuries and countless reasons why –the time is now, not 2010—–just checkin to see if youre with us
can everett bunt?
An effective bunt.
thunderingherd- is that name in ref to ndsu?? curious
Please put the ball in play Carlos!
Gomez need to connect on a pitch inside.
Whoo Hoo
Yes I am totally with run mj1….but I just don’t think we have what it takes to run with the Angels, Sox (both teams) and whoever comes out of National League. I hope they win it all every year…but I am a realist…YOU have to agree Punto batting second is a horrible move…and playing Evrett is just plain dumb. Adam got CUT from the Astros last year, in the middle of the season, because he sucks…a player doesnt get cut for money..they get cut because they suck..ie Livan, Monroe…stick around…you might learn something.
Not exactly connected upon but I’ll take it
Now we got it going! About time. Apparently they got sick of making this meatball pitcher look good. Stick with the Twins!
Good Source, check your sources. Adam was hurt last year.
Kind of agrees with Good Source…Adam does suck…Punto at 2 really hurts
When was Carlos’ last SB? I am probably forgetting one but it seems like forever!
Has his sources correct…he sucks…and ty Freddy
Gomez was safe
hey, we take a run…we are golden…
A little outside????????
“thunderingherd- is that name in ref to ndsu?? curious”
Yep
about a foot outside…
Those plays look to me like the tag is on the back after the hand is JAMMED into the bag. Most are outs, or so it seems.
What does everyone think about Gomez hitting second….he has a little power…great speed…Span, Gomez, Joe and Justin…that seems to be ok.
I have a feeling we may see that if Gomez gets his confidence back…I dont think it would hurt. At least until AC gets back
Hunter singled in the winning run for the Angels against Mariano. The Angels won 1-0. Boy are they hammering the big boys of the East!
yikes…pull a hrbek would ya
good…yes that is reality, and thats why adding only ruiz to this lineup is not the answer — just too bad that bill smith isnt convinced of that- but that arguement is already overdone and old in just one day…ive had enough of it already and will just have to live with the consequences of this…maybe there will be some waiver things that can happen…just have to wait and see- but im not thinking like shawn from bingham or whereever that jack cust is in our lineup…i may owe him some beers, but i dont have my wallet out yet….looks like he will buy his own for awhile anyway…lol
Come on Nick! I hate it when we give up runs the very next inning after we score!
And the Cleveland rally has started
Good one, Good Source! ! !
I agree mj Terry would have made a move…but it is what it is…
Might be a good time to bring in a reliever, but who? There is literally no one in the pen who would be better than leaving in Blackburn. Sad state of affairs. Stick with the Twins!
Blackburn, the Twins give you a lead and you waste it away. Get out of this jam.
Had Punto pulled a hrbek there..it would still be 1-0
gomez in 2 spot…no - he cant bunt well enough….9 is the spot for him at least til next year or later..
herd,
do people still drink in downtown Fargo?
Oh no, please do not bring in Brian Bass!
good play
Nice play Blackburn.
We will get out of this…
no i wouldnt have bet on terry either - at least bill had the guts this spring, but im not sure of terry either- one learned from the other…..trouble is he still has alot of input…
Whew! Good, its Crain and Breslow warming. One or both will easily take care of this jam… NOT!
Come on Blackburn, get out of this inning.
Good Source has it on a good source that he better get to Sweeny’s or Mrs Good Source will be mad….You all have a good night!!!!Go Twins!
Assuming Blackburn gets out of this with no further damage, does he come out for the 8th? I hope so.
That is funny good source, you better go.
fargo used to be a great drinking town and im sure its probably even better today..i just dont go out anymore…i filled up in the 70s-80s…..
look out for ndsu again this year…too bad the gophers arent on the list , but back to baseball
Blackburn you better not walk anyone with bases loaded. Unacceptable!
i doubt it johnny
i lived in fargo in 95, was a pretty good drinkin town then too
….joe told nick..get this guy out…it is that simple
That was 7 pretty damn good innings for Blackburn. The Twins need to score next inning to get him a win.
clutch pitch …awesome
Nice! Stick with the Twins!
Let’s see if the Twins hitters can respond
used to be a good ladies town also…3 good size colleges, for starters….oh the memories….damn
i went drinking in downtown fargo back in May, and its hopping on the weekend. Heck I live in Oklahoma!
i have lived all over America… but Syracuse and Richmond have been by far the best ladies towns
Griffey drove in a couple of runs already. Sox 4-0 sixth.
He’s only got 93 pitches and who in the bullpen is going to be as good or better right now? Sad to say, but true.
we need one of these freak homeruns from punto or everett….thats karma and we need some
How dare Punto get a hit, he sucks you know
We’ll see if that continues. Nice 1st game with the Sox though.
Griffey is a millimeter from being washed up. If he ends up making any significant contributions and the sox get into the playoffs, I for one will be surprised.
Freak HR!
Mauer Power! Woohoo!
well i will settle for that instead…kid knows how to hit
MAUER POWER ! ! !
Mauer doesnt hit enough homers
you know what is not a good drinking town? Binghamton NY
Mauer!!!!
Fargo is a great drinking town. Lots of good bars downtown. It is too bad that the Gophers won’t play them this year or any time soon. Both games they played were really good and the crowds in the Dome were awesome.
Nice shot Mauer. Hopefully thats enough for a win for Blackburn.
Woohoo, go Joe Mauer! Stick with the Twins!!!!
Back-to-Back?
(nora is a genious)
mj1,
Looks like the Twins just might win this game…no matter how hard you wish for the opposite result.
Regards,
my cleveland buddy is pissed
Now I really lean toward letting Blackburn start the 8th.
herd,
keep your team away from my Gophers!
Call me crazy, but I think this Mauer kid just might make it in the Bigs.
His homers this year have tended to be pretty clutch. None of those Torii Hunter-type garbage time jacks.
i want Blackie back out there, just don’t see it happening… as Guerrier warms
Come on Randy, don’t become Monroe 2.0
Delmon Young and his lackluster batting efforts make me wanna puke.
Way to go Ruiz!
drag- youre out of your mind, ive been pulling for these twins big time since the days of bill tuttle and lenny green playing in cf—used to drive to metropolitan stadium and sit in 30 degree weather to watch killebrew park em in the left field pavillion……..
there ya go shawn, but not quite cust yet…but good for him….no beers for singles tho
Harris has been a double machine lately.
Nice! Let’s keep it going.
Now I really really really think Blackburn should start the 8th. That Ruiz looked like a Sherman tank coming around third.
That last at bat wasn’t that bad for Delmon.
guess i will have to buy some beer
will go well with my “Harold and Kumar” movie tonight
gophers are damn glad ndsu is not on the schedule this year…
“keep your team away from my Gophers!”
Its funny, thats what Marquette and Wisconsin said about our basketball team the past couple years.
Ruiz= a Latin Prince Fielder
ruiz has a much better smile….
That;s one way for Everett to get onbase.
There goes… perfect opportunity for Gardy to make a difference: Pinch hit Buscher for Everett, slide Harris to SS, but…
Jack one Carlos!
“Its funny, thats what Marquette and Wisconsin said about our basketball team the past couple years.”
Miles left for Colorado St. Colorado St!!! SHows you where NDSU ranks.
Harris is not a very good short stop. I think that might be a case of over managing.
“There goes… perfect opportunity for Gardy to make a difference: Pinch hit Buscher for Everett, slide Harris to SS, but…”
Well said.
White Sox pitcher Valdez gave up two seventh inning runs. 4-2 Sox.
thrylos98,
AND…what would Buscher have done?
Regards,
“Harris is not a very good short stop. I think that might be a case of over managing.”
I agree - defense is more crucial at 4-1 in 8th.
Let’s see if the Royals can score 5 runs in their next inning.
Sox pitcher is Vasquez. Valdez is a ship wreck I think (twin’s pitching?)
eaa,
you’re obviously wrong…just ask the 2nd guessers…defense unimportant.
regards,
Holy crap, I didn’t realize R2 was so big!
thunder- do ya predict playoffs for the herd?
To the few posters who have been saying that Ruiz will be more of a contributor than Griffey (way at the beginning of the comments): do you truly believe that or are you just hoping that’s the case? We all know he’s washed up, but come on, he’s not chopped liver. The fact that he’s already got 2 RBI tonight proves he still knows how to hit. I don’t feel he’ll be the deciding factor in the division, but it’s ridiculous to think he has absolutely NOTHING left.
They make the playoffs…….just like the Twins will.
definition of sweet……vikings game at 3:00 followed by twins playoff game at 8:00….that makes for a good day
That would be one heck of a good day at the dome.
griff has alot of bat left in him…especially in that lineup….
Looks like the Sox bullpen is on the brink of collapsing again…
J. Peralta is pitching right now against the White Sox. I thought he was leading off the ninth for the Indians.
get that 1st out and your home free….
Hold on a sec,
I am on the record saying that Ruiz will be a better contributor that Griffey. Let’s talk about it when the season is over. I’ll be here.
Definition of stupid:
Royals two on, no out, batter with a 3-2 count. They put a bunt on and the batter bunts it foul.
How about Punto’s defense there? The guy sucks. He is a circus act
GATTY:
Royals are dumb.
Dumb Royals can’t score with two on and no one out.
do the wsox ever play anyone tough…i havent seen their sched but besides the twins it seems they play pushovers always except tigers
Does that run mean anything at Third?
Good win for the Twins. Nice way to start the series. Now we just need a Royals comeback so we can wake up in 1st tomorrow morning.
homeruns win ballgames….amazing stuff
“homeruns win ballgames”
And so does good pitching.
twins arent exactly getting alot of help from other clubs when it comes to the wsux
mj1, I wonder that too. It seems they have played 10 games at least against the Royals. But that only means they are going to have some tougher games coming up.
pitching always, just making a point how much better we would be with a bit more power….we would be in 1st place by 10 games if we had 1/2 of the wsux hr totals- thats why its so damned important we find a way to fill that gap
nora thats what im hoping that they have alot of east coast stuff yet….
The white sox still have 7 games vs the Red Sox, 3 vs the Angels and 4 at NY.
thats what i wanted to hear thunder thx for looking that up….those are good #s because we have a very tough road trip even tho they are supposedly weaker teams - we all know how those games sometims go for these twins…hopefully not the rest of this year….
Sox have three guys with 20 plus homers. Swisher and Griffey have 15 each.
Good for them. Twins still only down 1/2 game. HRs aren’t putting them over the top.
we could also be 1st in the WC by nights end, go oaktown
every game from here on in is virtually a playoff game..thats just the way they have to play it….
why isnt gomez in on that bunting class
Ruiz will better contributor than Griffey? …
thrylos98 says:
July 30th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
alrighty,
the Manny trade is done:
Marlins get Manny Ramirez, one prospect (Red Sox), and cash
Pirates get Jeremy Hermida and three prospects (two Marlins, one Red Sox)
Red Sox get Jason Bay and John Grabow
Prospect names yet to be released and the comish has to approve the trade because there is more than $1 mil cash transfer to the Marlins…
Shawn:
Red Sox new guy Jason Bay tripled and scored winning run in Twelfth.
Nice to see the Twins give Ruiz a chance to have a few major league AB. He will always remember them. I read a story about how Josh Rabe (retired) said his life would not be the same if he had never gotten to the bigs, even though it was brief. This was a nice time to bring in Ruiz, as a sort of interim transition player, between Monroe and Cuddyer.
Liriano gets another shot, with Bonser in the wings in case he flops. The starting pitching is now very slim. The Twins better hope there are no injuries.
“the Manny trade is done:
Marlins get Manny Ramirez, one prospect (Red Sox), and cash
Pirates get Jeremy Hermida and three prospects (two Marlins, one Red Sox)
Red Sox get Jason Bay and John Grabow
Prospect names yet to be released and the comish has to approve the trade because there is more than $1 mil cash transfer to the Marlins…”
Why are we talking about trades that never happened?
Ruiz finished 2nd in avg in spring training behind Mauer … its about time he was given a chance
Any one here disagree with me when I predict the Halos to win the World Series?
ruiz looks like he has a nice little swing on him. after one game of watching him, i feel more confident in him than i ever did in monroe. ron coomer said he was hitting some BOMBS in batting practice. let’s hope he can contribute.
the angels are the team to beat, that’s for sure. i still don’t think they needed teixera, because they’re already in the playoffs as it is, but they are the best team in the AL. they play better on the road than at home! that’s insane.
You are right. Without Teixera they are still Series contenders, IMO. With Teixera they could be a force for a long time.
That would be the obvious choice to win but the team with the best record does not always win it.
True, but they are not only the team with the best record, but they are obviously the best team all-around.
What one move would you make right now if you were Smith?
The team with the best record which is also the best team doesn’t always win it.
…obviously.
But that doesn’t lower my predictions for them.
“What one move would you make right now if you were Smith?”
Trade Mike Lamb plus a mid-level prospect (plus cash?) to the Royals for Mark Grudzielanek who leads the AL in hitting vs LHP’s.
Designated for assignment, and subsequently released, is the only possible way Mike Lamb could leave the Twins. Because he is signed through 2009, he isn’t going anywhere this season.
There is a remote possibility that Monroe and/or Livan, could be claimed by a team, before they pass through waivers. This could save the team lots of money. Otherwise, if no one claims them, the Twins are on the hook for the remainder of their contracts.
craig,
““What one move would you make right now if you were Smith?”
“Trade Mike Lamb plus a mid-level prospect (plus cash?) to the Royals for Mark Grudzielanek who leads the AL in hitting vs LHP’s.”
If I were Bill Smith, that is the trade I would make right now. (just like the question was asked)
The owners might fire me tomorrow, so the REAL Bill Smith might not make that trade.
But hell, I would be spending the owners imaginary money, so I am going for it!
I have enough imaginary money to buy out Lamb and make the deal, before I file for unemployment benefits tomorrow!
sane,
Ha-ha. Okay, I get it. Yeah, that is the move to make, if job security isn’t an issue.
I wouldn’t make any move. At all. This team is pretty good…
