Sunday lineups: Mauer catching again
Posted on August 17th, 2008 – 10:38 AMBy Joe Christensen
Joe Mauer will start at catcher again today, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said on his Sunday morning radio show on KSTP, AM-1500.
Gardy also said Alexi Casilla will head to the minors to face live pitching before rejoining the Twins for their road trip in Anaheim, Calif.
Updates to come…
Update (11:50 a.m.): Casilla actually will join Class A Beloit in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He’ll play Monday and Tuesday, and if all goes well, he’ll rejoin the Twins on Wednesday, before they leave on their 14-day road trip.
If Casilla has any pain in his right thumb, he can continue playing for Beloit.
The Twins’ scouting report describes today’s Mariners starter, Ryan Feierabend, as a poor man’s Jeremy Sowers. His name is actually pronounced FEAR-bin. He’s 22 and went 7-1 with a 2.16 ERA for Class AAA Tacoma (75 IP, 64 H, 15 BB, 48 K).
Mariners (46-76)
1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2. Miguel Cairo, 3B
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Adrian Beltre, 3B
5. Jose Lopez, 2B
6. Wladimir Balentien, CF
7. Kenji Jojima, C
8. Bryan LaHair, 1B
9. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
Starting pitcher: LH Ryan Feierabend
Twins (69-53)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Nick Punto, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Delmon Young, LF
6. Jason Kubel, RF
7. Randy Ruiz, DH
8. Brendan Harris, 3B
9. Adam Everett, SS
Starting pitcher: LH Glen Perkins
Metrodome. First pitch: 1:10 p.m.
555 Responses to "Sunday lineups: Mauer catching again"
Yey for Casilla! Got anymore new Fun waiver news you can share with us Joe?
Nice to see Kubel get some at-bats against the lefty with the way he has been swinging the bat.
Meanwhile the Mets added Luis Ayala to their bullpen today. Doesn’t affect the Twins, but it shows that there is some help out there. Ayala isn’t great, but has a 4.29 ERA and isn’t terrible.
Doesn’t affect the Twins, but it shows that there is some help out there. Ayala isn’t great, but has a 4.29 ERA and isn’t terrible.
You can generally add a half-run or so when comparing ERA’s from the NL to AL. He isn’t great, but also probably not “help.”
Does this mark the beginning of the end of Carlos Gomez’ time as starting CF, or just a day off for the kid?
Let’s hope the latter. Too bad that it’s too late in the season for CarGo to get some badly needed tutelage at Rochester.
Oops, I mean the former. 
I think when (or if) Cuddy gets back, he’ll be back in RF, Span in CF and Young in LF. Go-go will be late inning speed with spot start to let Cuddy DH some. They can do this for the final week or two and hopefully playoffs, but what about next year?
Lavelle predicts they will trade one for 3B or bullpen help. I would hate to see Cuddy go and they are not going to part with any of the other three. It will be interesting.
cuddyer will have very low trade value with his injuries and his salary, so they won’t get much in return. span is the one who will bring the most in return, but would have to be put in a package with minor leaguers. looks like the twins are going to have to spend money this offseason on a reliever or two.
I doubt the Twins are going to trade any of their current outfielders. Right now, Denard Span looks great. However, this is only his first year. Pitchers are going to make adjustments when pitching to him.
I hope they’re not rushing Casilla — injuries like his tend to recur if not fully healed.
Good to see Span in CF.
Hopefully they can get some bullpen help. Bass does not seem to be much help — surely they could do better, even with Korecky or others from AAA.
I hope Twins fans show up in force in Anaheim next week there are lots of transplants out here. After the game we can go over to Berts house ha! ha! I was at the Padres/Phillies game friday and was all over that BUM! J.C. Romero he is still an arrogant GOON! who disrespected Gardy and the Twins organization. Lets keep this thing going Twins the White Sox will choke.
Let’s bring out the broom today, PUPS. Keep fighting and scrapping like a pack of junk-yard dogs. Sweep ‘em today, shut ‘em down, Perk!!!! GO MUTTS!!!
[…] Originally published by Around the Majors […]
Hopefully all will be fine with Casilla and he can return and provide a boost. The lineup will be that much better with him at second and Harris, Punto and Everett rotating at short.
Trust me, Span has been around the league long enough for opposing pitchers to make their adjustments. The kid keeps on ticking with adjustments of his own. GoGo is getting some tough love right now, just as Torii Hunter did when he was sent back to the minors early in his career. Hunter continues to make some wild swings but steadily improved by cutting them down. Don’t agree that any trades are eminent involving one of our outfielders. This is one area where the roster is pure quality and set.
Are we that good of a bunting team that the Mariners are playing two 3Bs? I would rather just have Beltre playing there than have Cairo get in his way.
Go Twins!
I need to see more than a half season of Span to know that he is “for real”, but if he can hit right near .300 next season, they need to do something with an outfielder.
Its very important we take care of business at home. Menards has BROOMS on sale bring them to the dome today. Then bring them to the last Oakland game. DOUBLE SWEEP!!!!!!!!
J.C. Romero is a DING BAT!!!!
With 36,000+ fans at the game yesterday, the Twins have now had at least 30,000 fans at the last 18 home games.
Denard Span is silky smooth he is going to be fine both on D and O. no need to worry. Gomez needs to be more patient at the plate . When you have 2 burners in the outfield your future is set. These are 2 kids that should only get better. Plus you have kid Young and Casilla. Its all good in the Twins neighborhood
I’d really like to be 73-53 heading into the long trip out West/Canada. We need to keep that alive today.
Well, the loss of Santana hasn’t hurt the attendance at all this year. Guess a winning team does wonders for the attendace, huh?
Truth is, to me at least, people would rather see youthfull exubernace winning than a bunch of highly paid primadonna’s complaining about no help from the front office. Winning masks alot of problems, but right now, this team is very, very popular, despite what some commenters on these blogs seem to think.
Cool about Lexi. I went to the Kernels/Snappers game last night and was planning on trying to get to at least one more during the series. May have to try to get to both Monday and Tuesday now that he’s going to be here.
It’s a Homecoming, of sorts… Casilla played for the Kernels back when he was in the Angels’ farm system.
JimCrikket — was Shooter’s stuff good after the first inning or was he just getting by? When where the HBPs/WPs?
When WERE the hbps/wps?
His first inning was atrocious, after that he barely got touched. Still was pitching behind in the count more than he should be. I don’t know enough about him to know how hard he supposedly throws, but he was clocking at 88-89 most of the time. I saw 2 hit 90 and one called strikeout that hit 92 in the third inning. Had a very nice breaking ball that had guys flailing at it a few times.
Joe, any indications on who would go when Casilla returns?
It likely won’t matter to much since the Twins can bring them back up when September rolls around. Would that make them lean toward Ruiz since he has options?
The curveball is sick. Is that what he’s wild with when he’s wild, or is everything? Also: was he getting tagged in the 1st or just walking/hitting everybody?
BTW, I went to a Canaries/Wingnuts game in Sioux Falls last Sunday(election bobble head night, lots of fun ), and had the pleasure of getting Pat Mahomes and Dustan Mohr’s autographs. Gotta say there is alot of charm to going to a game at a city stadium like that.
Gotta love Independent league ball.
As for the WPs… I’m an old pitcher so I have an admitted bias, but I felt his catcher coulda-shoulda blocked the ball. Its not like he had to reach or anything, ball went under his glove and between his legs. No excuse for not getting down to block those, imo.
I suppose Punto hitting 2nd’s already been beaten to death…
I don’t get it with no NoGo in the lineup: that takes away the 789 black hole, so what gives other than Gardy’s hatred for Harris?
Gomez might start 2009 in Rochester, the way Span started there in 2008. The Twins have little minor league OF depth, and Gomez starting in AAA would give them some. No reason to trade away an outfielder.
Gardy has done an excellent job of mixing, matching, switching and platooning. He goes with the hot hand, and rewards players with opportunity if they accomplish something. Kubel is an example. He gets a shot today vs. LHP after putting up recent strong AB against them.
Gardy has taken players who have some holes in their game, and blended them into a winning combination. Gardy stresses having fun, and these guys seem to truly enjoy playing together. Individually, only a few hitters have had big years. Collectively, the rest are excellent.
JimC: were the WPs breaking balls or not? I’ve been wondering about the catcher factor. He’s had a ton of WPs including E-Town, but with that breaking pitch I’ve been curious how many were “blockable” and how many were True Result WPs, so to speak.
Shooter got tagged in the first. Not only the couple of hits but Revere had to go run down a shot in to the RCF gap, out to the warning track, or it would have been worse.
The WPs I remember were low fastballs.
Kubel’s had a couple rips against southpaws lately. It’d be fantastic to see him get it going there — his splits have been more extreme this year than in the past, so there oughta be a bit of regression.
Shooter’s innings started in February, so his arm may be maxed out soon.
thanks jimcrikket. what were your impressions of Revere in the field?
Very true, sane.
No comments about Nick today? Oh, yeah, I heard it was the Repetition and Redundant Club’s annual picnic.
I liked Revere out in CF. Showed great range tracking down deep drives in the gap a couple of times and while he never had to make a long throw, the couple he did make (like to 3B to keep a guy at second) were right on the money.
Double for Punto…
Lucky that bounced over or Span would have scored.
JimCrikket: it’s nice to hear a CF in the Twins system can hit the target.
I thought Ibanez should’ve caught that. It hung up a bit, but I don’t think he got a good read/jump.
cmon MVP, lets get those RBI up
yeah… but I have to be honest and say he also overshot his cutoff man once… so I guess that makes him a true Twin CF prospect.
Early jam for the rookie. Morneau needs to break out of the slump one of those famous clearing doubles
95
In case people missed it, Angel Morales (aka Morales: El Angel de la Muerte) his 2 more home runs for Elizabethton last night. He’s 18 and absolutely killing it against a lot of college-age pitchers.
That’ll do it. Will DY stay hot?
Come on Delmon.
Wow, what a terrible AB!
looking forward to seeing Morales someday
Kubes doing it and doing it well against the lefties!
that’ll get you more play vs lefties
Twins better get their runs when they can. This guy settles down, we could be in trouble with our bullpen.
Randy, Randy, Randy, Randy.
Kubel is on fire right now. Especially against Seattle.
Like I said:
Randy, Randy, Randy, Randy!
Ruiz has been as advertised
Boy Jason has to be feeling like a tool again regarding Kubel. Going 3-3 against lefties this series. Big double today. Kubel now batting .273. Not too shabby.
Shawn: Pure hitter. It almost seems like he has two swings: 1 is the kill it or strikeout swing (unsuccessful so far in MLB) and the other is easy, even and produces looping line drive after looping line drive.
Gardy is a baseball genius.
I guess this is about where you say “welcome to the Show, kid”
Only 22 pitches for the rookie with all this damage. We’ve really jumped on the early pitches.
Kubel continues to “get it going” this series. Great weekend for him.
And after the last few games aginast Seattle, Twins looking at the score and saying “Let’s try this again…”
JP: I say the same thing about Kubel he does, albeit with far less vitriol since I think Kubel’s ability to kill RHers makes him a perfectly good player. But I agree that he ain’t EVER gonna be Good over any kind of term against LH pitching. He’s not a total loss against it, but his career numbers are never gonna be great.
Over under on where punto’s batting average ends up. .250 is the number
i think he ends up below.
After watching this kid, I can now appreciate why the M’s didn’t trade Washburn, unless they received a large return.
Depends how many ABs he gets the rest of the way.
If Casilla successfully comes back and Punto is limited, he might eek out .260.
What’s everybody drinking?
Toby,
I bet people said the same thing about Morneau after he hit .201 against lefties in 2005…
Nice inning Twins! Now let’s keep putting them up, because we apparently need a 10-15 run lead against Seattle to know that the game’s safely put away, haha…
toby
really? Aint EVER? lots of players learn skills as they go along. not a question thats going to be answered today, but i disagree with you and Jason.
Ruiz is fun to watch. He seriously makes me smile every time up. It’s weird, cause he’s 30, but I sense FAR more *genuine* wonder and enthusiasm from him than I do from NoGo.
toby,
The words “EVER, never and always” should be avoided in baseball and Final Exam answers.
Steve, I have addressed that cherry picked Morneau 2005 number every time you have posted it. Do I really have to do it again.
Kubel will get better As I’ve said in your defense on here, his numbers this year v. LH are down from the other years and we can expect regression (i.e. improvement). He will NEVER be good against them. I don’t “know” that, obviously, but I’d bet on it and feel comfortable.
sane: Ok, add “I don’t think” in front of it… Obviously I don’t have a crystel ball.
Perkins is getting tagged a bit.
crystal even
I think we could get an average minor league player from the Mets or Diamondbacks this winter for Cuddyer. Both teams have been, and will be looking for a right handed outfielder and money isn’t an issue for either teams. It would be nice to use Cuddyer’s money to sign a 3B (Crede) or get a 2B (Hudson, Roberts) and move Casilla to SS.
Is it me or did that look like a poor effort by Young to get to that ball and possibly catch it or cut it off?
Punto seems to have recovered the fine stroke he had before his finger injury.
Punto will lead the Twins to the promised land.
Good come back inning by Perk. Team scored big, he shut them right back down and got his offense back up to hit right away.
matt, Crede has had injury problems this year. Plus I dunno how easy it would be for the Twins to sign him away from the Sox.
As for Roberts or Hudson. Sounds like the Twins have tried for Roberts a couple of times here (before 07 and now at the deadline).
What do you think it would take to move him from the O’s?
Matt: love it.
But I really don’t get locking in Luke Hughes at 3rd given that at present Buscher/Harris are a fine platoon there, Casilla can play short and they hence need a 2nd baseman. If Hughes keeps it up I’d rather see him up here by the 31st than wait for Winter Ball. He just hasn’t lost a thing from AA to AAA.
Punto is a lifetime .256 hitter. Plenty of offense to go with his glove!
Let’s get this straight: LNP singles, Gardy bunts Span.
Span singles, gardy gives LNP the green light.
Why does Yahoo! have the Twins with only 3 runs?
johnny: Maybe they’re Seattle fans?
No head first slide from Nick??? I’m shocked!
Toby,
Sacrificing when you’re up by 5 is a bit unnecessary. I don’t think that one’s Gardy favoring Punto any.
Thanks, Nick.
Steve: Really? Gee, I didn’t know.
I was attempting to “poke fun” at Mrrs. Gardenhire and Mr. Punto.
Perk has his ERA under 4.00 again. Hope he can keep it there.
JP,
I’ll take the over for a C-note. Will be fun collecting, just as my Twins wins Over 73.5 wins should be cashed within a week.
Regards,
Ft. Myers 14 Sarasota 0, top 5th
matt: “I think we could get an average minor league player from the Mets or Diamondbacks this winter for Cuddyer. Both teams have been, and will be looking for a right handed outfielder…”
No one will want Cuddy’s contract. Delmon Young is a right handed hitter some team would want. You have to trade away the guys you want to keep. The ones you want to get rid of, no one else wants them either.
Is Everett’s arm getting stronger? Or is the ball just getting to him faster lately?
actually, the mets might take a look at CudDLs, doubt AZ would
Agree with Shawn.
Steve Singleton, who I love for some reason, is 4-4 for Ft. Myers. The Twins have a TON of promising infield talent coming up.
Dragon
You weren’t the only one to say over 73.5 wins. As far as punto goes, I’ll still take the under. Cnote? Why not keep it friendly. I don’t root against ANY Twins player or coach. If Punto proves me wrong, I’ll gladly admit it. And the Twins will have benefited from his production.
Regards
I’m sure that they don’t “want” his contract (just like the Twins didn’t want Washburn’s contract), but if they could get him for basically nothing, I’m sure they would take him. Look at Xavier Nady a few years ago when the Mets went after him from San Diego (.261 avg, 13 HRs, 43 RBIs his final year with San Diego - pretty similar to Cuddyer’s last year)
That Kubel fellow is a machine.
I sort of hope Cuddyer makes it back and produces huge in a very short term in order to give him a glimmer of value.
Kubel is an animal against LHers, like I’ve always said. 
If Cuddy starts 2009 in RF with the Twins and is hitting really big at the trade deadline, some team may want him at that point. Of course, then no one here will want to trade him.
Bert worked at Orange Julius! I loved those things when I was a kid.
Kubel update.
4-4 against lefties this series.
You weren’t the only one to say over 73.5 wins
Very true. But those who suggested the team could finish around even .500 were treated like Koolaiders.
I think Everett’s shoulder problem still pops up from time to time. No doubt he’s playing better in the field and at the plate. Not the first Twin to make the most of a second - or last -chance.
Okay, while Young MAY have come off the bag in that play yesterday…I get the feeling that was more out of LUCK that it happened and not anything to do with a good eye by the ump.
Yep T. That was quite the hot discussion around here. I hope as the Twins pass the predictions, the predictors man up. I think I had them for 84 wins. AND I can’t wait for my time to admit I was wrong!!!!
We need this run. Never know what might happen.
Kubel loves hitting against the Mariners so much, he might end up demanding a trade to the Rangers, A’s, or Angels…
The puts him up to 11-16 against Seattle this season, haha.
Nice AB Harris… let’s keep adding to it!
Good job Harris. See offense, it’s a BLAST to score more runs even after one of those big innings you’ve been having lately.
Nice. Like the way that ball slowed down as it hit the outfield, letting Kubel come around.
I don’t think the Twins will trade any of the OFs. Gomez just hasn’t proven himself to be someone they can rely on and they won’t go in to next summer needing him to fill a spot full time. He’s got promize, but so far he’s a bit of a novelty act. If anyone gets dealt, I’m guessing he’s the one.
Perk is at a very economical 12 pitches/inning. Keep it up!
Dang….
All Harris does is hit.
“All Harris does is hit.” ~JP
Harris BA .264
-A
Dustin Martin and Danny Valencia have homered for New Britain against Akron.
Double dang! I give Everett a pat on the back, and look what happens!
Sorry Jim and Craig. I just don’t see the FO trading talented young players like Young or Gomez. I hope they don’t either, the ceiling is so high for each of them that I would like to see how they develop. Their progression might not be as dramatic as Span but give them two years of baby step improvement and they both could be All Star players for us.
Jim: I’m HOPING he’s the one.
Gomez’s ceiling is NOT that high.
Aaron
How did Harris do last year? How has he done in July and August? And from a middle infielder. Harris can hit.
-J
BAD miss by Perkins on that pitch; got away with one.
Nice try. But no.
Harris BA .264
The numbers for Harris in August: .313/.361/.563 and July .294/.355/.456
*that was to Punto BTW*
JP,
We can keep it friendly Sad to miss an opportunity for profit 
Regards,
Nice try, Nicky! LOL
Toby
His ceiling is that high. Whether or not he reaches it remains to be seen.
Anyone else cringe each time Everett goes to throw the ball to first?
A bit onspot, but less so lately. Mostly in a tight situation…
I think BS will make a move similar to the Garza/Young deal this winter. We had a bunch of young starting pitching, so trade one for a need - a right handed bat.
OFs: Young, Gomez, Span, Kubel, Cuddyer
We also have Pridie (who would be an ok 4th or 5th outfielder), Revere (who should be in AA/AAA next year and challenge for a spot in 2010), and Hicks (who should be in high A next year and maybe be ready for mid/end of 2010 or start of 2011).
No complaints about Brendan’s bat here. He’s been moved around all year and he’s been hitting just fine in spite of it. He went through one bad slump, and has bounced back quite nicely.
As for Gomez, his ceiling isn’t nearly as high as someone like Delmon.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Gomez will undoubtedly improve, and I don’t want to see him traded, but I don’t think he’s going to turn into a perennial all-star.
I hope he proves me wrong, but I’m not holding out hope.
Boy. Look at this Punto fellow this series.
JP: I just disagree and think his power potential is overrated. He’s got a good not great ceiling.
JP,
I don’t see the Twins trading Delmon or Gomez either. I think Gomez needs to start 2009 in Rochester.
Young, Span and Cuddyer will be an excellent OF, in 2009. At least to begin the season. Cuddy may become trade bait, if he does well.
And Punto continues to show that even when he gets hits, he’s still perfectly capable of erasing them…
Revere will start the year in Hi-A
Hicks, maybe lo-A
I don’t think any of the starters should be traded for a RH batter. We will be saving money on these starters for a good while since they are far from free agency. So take some of those savings and go out and find a RH power hitter. Just wanna go on record and say that I have never been a Punto basher.
Agree with Steve.
Matt: Add Angel Morales to that list. In fact, I can’t see how he doesn’t have the biggest upside of the bunch. Like: HOF upside. Obviously the odds are not good of that, but the potential is there.
i didn’t think at 6-0 that Punto could screw up on base
i was wrong
matt: “I think BS will make a move similar to the Garza/Young deal this winter. We had a bunch of young starting pitching, so trade one for a need - a right handed bat.”
Considering the Twins interest in Washburn, I think you are swimming against the current.
Tigers losing 13-5 to the O’s.
McCardell gets the start for Beloit. Revere lineout to center in his first AB.
Never, ever miss an opportunity to criticize Nick Punto. I wonder what his next mistake will be, and who’ll post first to take a shot at him….
I stepped away for a minute. What did LNP do on base?
johnny,
I was saying that last offseason we had a bunch of young starting pitching and was comparing that to this offseason where we will have a bunch of major league outfielders with a couple studs doing well in the minor leagues. Sorry if my post was confusing.
And how NOT did Dick and Bert get on him?
Steve
Do you mean the whole package? Because Gomez has a chance to earn quite a few gold gloves in CF. Something Young does not. Young has higher potential as a hitter, I agree. But even in the A.L. with a DH defense is important. Thats why I view them with similar ceilings.
Well done Punto. Well done.
Baltimore leading the Tigers 13-5…
Yeah. Detroit sure could’ve used Ibanez alright.
JP, I think I started my comment by saying I don’t think they’ll trade any of the OFs. Just saying that if they do, I suspect it will be Gomez.
Cuddyer’s contract and injury history will mean he’d get the least in return.
Young has, imo, the highest ceiling… he won’t go.
Span has demonstrated he’s the more MLB-ready between he and Gomez.
Gomez’s potential is less certain, imo. I’d like to see them hold on to him and find out what that potential is.
Injuries do happen… and to be honest, the idea of having Young-Gomez-Span in the OF with Kubel and Cuddyer primarily platooning at DH (and giving guys a rest in the OF or filling in when the inevitable injuries occur) sounds like a pretty decent lineup to me for 2009.
Matthew Fox with a shutout through 7 complete for Ft. Myers.
Punto got a little over aggressive. Gardy wants the guys playing aggressive, and taking some risks. No big deal. It looked like a hit up the middle.
WHAT DID LNP DO ON THE BASEPATHS? I missed it.
toby: DnB were talking about how Punto needs to look in and watch the ball. They didn’t just let it slide.
JimCrikket,
I agree, I think it’s highly unlikely that we trade an OF unless they can get kings ransom for one of them.
toby,
he was thrown out at third on a tapper to the pitcher…. no biggie, but not a surprise either
toby: Mauer hit a grounder up the mound. Dickey managed to snag it in his glove and caught Punto going to 3rd off guard.
DnB talked about how Punto should be watching the ball more closely and then moved on to call the game.
werbellik
yes some of us are overzealous in pointing out mistakes by punto. because the press, gardy and some around here ALWAYS give him a free pass. for a veteran player to make the mistakes he does is inexcusable (like his baserunning gaffe) Gardy has thrown casilla, harris, gomez, and others under the bus.
Craig routinely calls out (and rightfully so) Morneau on his base running mistakes but always is quite when Punto makes them.
Hypocritical. And it really irritates me.
Thank you Shawn.
He went to third with one out on a ground ball back to the pitcher. And instead of trying to get in any kind of rundown and let the hitter get to second, he just kept running and basically walked into Beltre.
JP & Shawn
Are you folks even watching the game? OR are you typing before brain engaged?
Regards,
It was a dumb out at third.
Craig routinely calls out (and rightfully so) Morneau on his base running mistakes but always is quite when Punto makes them.
Craig does, however, give credit to Morneau when he does something to help the team.
watching the game. you defending a guy getting thrown out at third?
Regards
Okay. Big inning coming up for Perkins in the 6th. Well, for Perk AND the Pen after how things have gone against Seattle before.
That’s gritty veteran hustle baseball, I guess.
Gotcha JP. I find it interesting in the ig scheme of things how Punto has become this lightning rod of angst. I think we all know who he is, which is pretty decent utility infielder. Excellent with the glove and average at the palte. Due to injuries, we’re seeing him a little more than we should be imo. But, I still think he gets way too much negative attention. Maybe people just haven’t forgiven him for last year.
Everett’s a moron. Wastes a perfectly good hit and blows a scoring chance by getting thrown out on a stupid play at 2nd.
He should be BENCHED. Yeah I said it.
Perk is steady.
big scheme…sorry
He is on fire. Locked In. Etc.
ACK! Jim Rich just said what i typed.
JP, I don’t disagree that Harris can hit for a middle infielder, however the problem is he isn’t a middle infielder.
I like him at 3rd as a platoon partner with Buscher for now. Otherwise he is a nice option off the bench to play a few days a week giving the regulars a day off.
werb, don’t even bother. There’s a fixation on Punto. Yeah. He screws up, but it seems like there’s this need to point it out as though they’re the only ones that see it.
Meanwhile, Twins are winning 6-0 and Kubel’s like 3-3…
RISP for Randy.
T
When Punto was had his stretch of hitting that brought his average over .300 I was there rooting for him and commending him. I’m not petty.
I have never heard or seen a quote from Gardy on Punto’s baserunning mistakes, bunting adventures, or errors in the field. Thats my point.
T, and the Twins and Punto are far exceeding almost everyone’s pre-season expectations…
JP,
HOW?
Smash up the middle that Dickey stabs.
I guess Punto should stand on 2nd until ball goes through the infield? Then you would be bitching about that.
Dickey made a very good play. Accept it. If the exact same play happened with Span on 2nd and Punto hitting you would be blaming Punto for getting Span out.
Regards,
I think he’s almost exactly in line with his Marcels, isn’t he?
So 3-4 with like 3 RBI on Friday.
1-1 with an RBI on Saturday.
Now he’s 3-3 with 2 RBI today.
KUBES!
….And now Ruiz 2-3.
Red Sox down 9-1 to Jays.
JP,
No one criticizes Morneau when he make a base-running gaffe, but 20 people point out every less than perfect play by Punto.
It irritates you because I don’t pile on Nick?
I praise Morneau and point out his flaws. I praise Punto and rely on an avalanche of posts from Punto haters to point out his flaws.
It’s like I always said, Punto should play every day and bat 2nd, Kubel should always start against LHP, Mauer is the perfect #3 hitter. In the spirit of “kicking my own a**”, I need to call myself out here.
For a guy who’s supposed to be “Mr. Hustle”, once he see’s that the pitcher has the ball, the least he could do is make the defense work a little and get in a run down (and maybe getting Mauer to second) instead of just giving himself up. Every run against Seattle is important.
I think Ruiz is the likely choice to go down when Casilla is activated… but he’s sure not going to make it an easy decision.
JP, you may be right about Gardy and how speaks about his players. Personally, I don’t spend much time listening to Gardy’s comments on the air or in print. I do however pay attention to the games and the results. That said, I can’t find allot to complain about these days.
Dickey’s been having some control problems….perhaps Depends are in order?
“pretty decent utility infielder. Excellent with the glove and average at the palte. Due to injuries, we’re seeing him a little more than we should be imo”
I agree with everything that you posted. except the “average at the plate”. He is a versatile, good defending, utility player. I don’t hate him. I don’t! I blame the FO and Gardy for running him out there this much. And I haven’t forgiven the FO and Gardy for last year. None of my issues are with Punto. Even T can back me up on my opinions on this one. I’ve stated them many times.
I’ve said it before, I’ll keep saying it everytime it’s pertinent:
the reason people pile on subpar players (i.e. LNP) is because they want the team to be better and believe there are better options than those players. The reason people DON’T pile on players like Morneau is because they are not engaged in an academic exercise geared towards perfectly apportioning blame to each and every player for each and every play. They are, rather (as just stated), voicing concerns about areas that need improvement but which inexplicably go begging. What is difficult to understand about this?
Fair enough Craig.
I’m done with Punto. Perkins is looking fantastic for the second game in a row. Kubel is mashing. Twins are winning.
I’m pretty happy.
I’ve never heard Gardy throw ANYBODY under the bus. 9/10 I hear him point out the issue as a team issue (”we”, “us”, “our”).
He’s commented on a starter’s struggles as an individual issue, but that’s about it. If the lineup or pen struggles he wraps it around the whole team.
And that’s how it should be. A good manager/boss will use the team as a buffer to absorb damage, and then in private will address specific players.
Gardy, however, does a good job of calling out individual performances when there’s success.
Praise in public, criticize in private.
JP,
In regards to Gomez, as an entire package, his range is obviously superior to anything Young ever will have (still can’t wait for Delmon to go back to right). I don’t think that gives them similar ceilings, however.
Delmon’s ceiling as an offensive player is much higher, and his arm is stronger and far more accurate. Gomez will have the upper-hand in SBs, and I do feel like Gomez can eventually be a reliable source of 15-20 HRs, but I think you can see the difference in Delmon’s home runs and Gomez’s. Gomez hits them 4 rows into the seats in left, Delmon hits them 430+ feet to center.
I’m excited to see what happens to both of them over the next several years, but I think Delmon’s got far more potential.
Three more hits for Kubel already today…
AGREED TOBY!! WELL SAID.
oh sorry. I’m supposed to be done on this subject.
Whenever I look in the mirror and start feeling old, I picture RA Dickey and know I’m doing alright. Guy’s like 33 but looks like 45. Nothing like a beard to make you look old.
punto made a slight gaffe in a 6-0 game that i didn’t think he’d make…. difference was only 1 on 2nd vs 1 on 1st with 2 outs… not a big deal
Wow….Dickey.
JP, I define average at the plate as a .260 hitter who for the most part looks pretty average to me. I am not a fan of him as a number 2 hitter, but again I defer to the Twins results and the fact that Punto has played a role in the success including with his bat.
I think the home dugout must be on the 1st baseline in Rochester. That’s like the 3rd time I’ve seen Ruiz go that way after he crosses the plate.
Gardy hasn’t thrown guys under the bus this year like he has in the past.
I’m really glad I’m not a Seattle fan today!
Wow…runners have advanced like three bases without a HIT.
wheeeee… this is ridiculous.
Looks like Riggelman is having a great time this weekend!
Steve
I’m not going to disagree. You make some good points. But no one knows how power will develop. Did anyone think Kirby would ever hit 30 HRs? But by engaging in a discussion like this would make me point out flaws in both players, and like I said they both have the ceilings (tools) to develop into all stars. I stand by that.
I love the black screen break/pause between Coleman’s negative ad and his “I approved this message”.
I haven’t been around much lately, but has there been any discussion on the blog about possible relief pitchers in the minors that could help this year?
Remember back in the days when you could watch a campaign ad and actually learn where politicians stood?
I miss those days.
Walking Punto to get to Mauer? It’s just ballsy enough to work!
Humber’s going good.
Korecky REALLY has it going over the last couple weeks.
Barrett’s been great all year but is blacklisted for unknown reasons (and has had two bad outings).
Rob Delaney is killing in 2 inning appearances at New Britain.
T, I have become incredibly cynical about politicians the older I get, just like my Dad and his Dad did too. GO TWINS!
Twins have scored two runs and loaded the bases with a HIT.
…
It’s a good thing they held on to Beltre, Washburn, and Ibanez. Otherwise they’d be in trouble…
werbellik
punto’s career OPS is atrocious. he is not an average hitter. he is below average.
NOW quit dragging me into this!!!! haha
Shawn
Gardy threw Harris under the bus earlier in the season about turning double plays at second.
werbellik says:
August 17th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I haven’t been around much lately, but has there been any discussion on the blog about possible relief pitchers in the minors that could help this year?
It would be nice to see Mariano Gomez or Ricky Barrett just to see what those guys can do and see if we need to go after some relievers in the offseason.
Pardon *without* a hit. This is insane.
2008 Player Salaries (Cot’s baseball contracts):
117,666,482 - Mariners
56,932,766 - Twins
56,932,766 X 2 = 113,865,532
TRADE MAUER!
toby, I’ve been hoping that Humber and/or Mulvey would contribute sometime in the not distant future.
werbellick,
the Twins best reliveres are in AA & A.
Korecky and Barrett would be AAA options
T,
Just playing the %’s and it worked.
Regards,
somebody please invent an automatic device that blocks out all political campaign adds…I can’t wait until they’re over with.
Korecky has been up once and wasn’t that impressive. His AAA stats are very similar to Bass’s AAA stats were last year.
This series has felt like a fair measure of revenge for the last bout with Seattle.
Kubel responsible for more than 50% of today’s scoring. So he’s got men on and the guys below him are getting the job done as well.
Mariano Gomez’s peripherals aren’t strong and he got positively shelled a few nights ago. UGLY. Still, gotta love 6-6 and skinny.
Damn but Old Style is a tasty beverage on a sunny sunday.
Korecky’s peripherals are WAY better than Bass’s.
Twins are batting .520 in this game.
.600 OBS.
Is it me or does Beltre like to flinch at pitches that aren’t anywhere close?
Ump wouldn’t give him anything. Saw that coming.
1st two pitches looked good on tv anyway, flinching aside.
Perk’s ERA back above 4.
Good play by Everett backing up BUscher.
Damn!!!
PUNTO’s fault for Beltre HR.
Regards,
ps: Just wanted to be 1st on this point.
I should’ve added: “anywhere close to hitting him”
“whatever happened in seattle” dick?
he’d given up 10 h/bb through 28 batters when anderson visited the mound. he didn’t have good stuff, hit a wall and gardy didn’t recognize it. that’s what happened.
Beltre: A .250 AVG and an occasional bomb, is nothing impressive.
That ball went far.
Here we go again boys….
PUNTO strikes again!!! Twice in 1 inning!!!
except hit gold glove defense, 20 HRs, and his .350 avg against lhp
sigh of relief..Boof is gettin’ up
Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof! Boof!
What is it with the Mariners and the 6th inning?
this is crazy…
Get him outta there NOW!
GET PUNTO OFF THE FIELD!!! He’s going to lose this game for the Twins!!!
One thing in Perk’s defense. He’s gotten squeezed outta NOWHERE this inning.
There was at least one pitch that could’ve been K3 on Johjima.
But seriously, what the heck is up with the starters?
there goes the quality start right down the drain…
Thank you ump. Could’ve used that a few batters ago…
Now go get Perkins like 4 more runs to help him calm down.
Will Perkins ever pitch 7 innings?
Ok…time to sit Perkins…..3 HRs in the inning????
Perkins needs to exract his head from his posterior and finish this inning.
Beloit post a 3 spot in the top of the 2nd (revere single), back in front 3-2, McCardell now with 4 Ks through 2 IP.
T, I think this is what you get with relatively young starters..
Duensing pitching well in relief at the Olympics
Perk pitched 8 shutout innings against Yanks last week.
Perk did pitch 8 on monday
perkins was just dominant through 5. 3rd time through the lineup, mariners just adapted, i guess.
You’d think a guy that goes 8 against the Yankees could handle 7 against the Mariners…
I mean, the Yanks 1-9 are far more dominant than the M’s.
Unless Perk let himself get complacent…
He wasn’t dominant at all. I don’t think he had a strikeout through 5, did he? I can’t think of popouts, either.
GET OUT! Yeah buddy.
that big Canuck can hit
That ball was crushed.
The 9th inning hit yesterday, bases loaded hit today, now a dinger.
Maybe Morneau’s busting out of that funk?
I hope so T
Here’s the deal. The Twins have this stupid 100 pitch limit thing they apply in a reflexive, kneejerk manner, which results in the starters never gaining the stamina to go past that. So what happens? They begin to weaken at around 80 pitches and by 100 are tanked, thus reinforcing the stupid 100 pitch limit. It becomes a self-fulfilling phrophecy. If you want to be going strong still at 100 pitches, what would you do? Well, try making 120 your target, so that 100 is nothing more than a nice round number, at which you are still strong. Does a miler train in 1-mile increments? No. So why should a pitcher make 100 the target and be gassed at 80?
15-2 Final in Ft. Myers. Gutierrez got the save, walking 1 of 3 BFs in 1 IP.
I generally don’t take the time to post here during games. Does this officially mean I need to get a life?
“does a miler train in 1-mile increments? No.”
seems logical to me.
Great point johnny. I was thinking the same thing but didn’t know how to word it.
the twins are keeping a low pitch count for their young starters so that they have enough stamina to get through their first full season, let alone a pennant chase and possible october starts. seems like a good idea to me.
Versus RHP (2008):
OBP SLG AVG
.279 .391 .221 - Beltre
.370 .467 .342 - Buscher
Since most pitchers are RHP, I’ll take Buscher. A little better fielding by Beltre, can’t make up for his pathetic hitting.
If Beltre batted behind Morneau, what RHP would give Morneau anything to hit?
there was a save in a 15-2 game?
And they say the save is an over rated stat.
Seriously, if you told Jack Morris he had to come out of a game because he had reached his hundred pitch limit, he’d have picked you up and stuffed you in a freakin’ coffee can or something.
Good LORD Kubel save some of it for the rest of the team.
Great at-bat from Kubel… on fire, indeed, Mr. Bremer.
I guess you have to pick your poison. Either don’t let a pitcher pitch more than 100 pitches and overuse your bullpen or let them pitch 7-8 innings and maybe have them get tired in September.
johnnyonspot, that’s an intersting take.
Kubel. I like him.
Ramon Santana home run for Beloit, 4-2, bottom 4, man on 3rd for Ceder Rapids.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/27058059.html
“The 12 doubles drives me crazy,” Kubel said.
It’d be nice to get to 10 runs here, at least get half that originall lead back.
Whalefeet, I see your point, but you can’t on one hand criticize the starters for hitting a wall at 80 pitches while on the other not allowing them to build themselves up enough to get past that in good fashion. I say ride your horses as far as they take you, in both a game and a season.
You know, it’s time for the Punto haters to just pack it in and zip it up. There’s not fairness at all in their treatment of Punto. Every time they bash him it shows a) their narrow minded understanding of the game of baseball, and b) their “pack” mentality which exposes them as the “bullies” that they are. Either they have displayed this kind of bully behavior of attacking someone who they perceive as being weak or different their whole lives or they were the constant victims of this kind of verbal assault as kids and this is their way of fighting back.
Nick Punto is proving every day that he is a solid major league baseball player who has value to his team. Nothing more, nothing less. He sometimes makes mistakes by being overly aggressive but he’s not alone in doing that…it’s just that he’s the only one who is criticized by the pack animals that post here every single time. Others often get a free pass from the jackals and hyenas. The only thing that I can see that can legitimately be criticized about his play is his penchant for diving head first into first base, but even that is no reason for the hostility of the pack. Enough is enough.
when these 5 guys have another year or two of experience, you’ll see them throwing more than 100 pitches. Even now, they’ve been getting 110 or so if they’ve been getting guys out.
but I personally don’t see anything wrong with being a bit cautious with a young arm you’ve invested a lot of time and money in developing… and are counting on for several more years.
JimCrikket: Duh. No Save. Pitched the ninth. Sorry.
Beltre’s D is A LOT better than Buscher. But they still absolutely shouldn’t have given Seattle much for him.
McCardell strands a runner on 3rd with 2 Ks, now 7 Ks in 4 IP.
onspot: I think considering the Twins current bullpen issues, being able to keep the starters going at least 6 would be a BIG thing as they get deeper into the hunt.
Wow. Throw strikes much?
I’m starting to get a bit of a perspective on the Twins bullpen woes.
They could be a LOT worse. (Still not super, but wow…Seattle…)
dknute
good post. don’t know if you are trying for the satire approach but it got me laughing. don’t even know where to start. twins are winning. i’m happy.
Maybe with a little experience they will be allowed to go further, but IIRC they’ve been applying a nominal 100-oitch limit for a while now, even with Santana unless he was throwing a shutout or something.
How do you know when Perkins is in trouble?(a) it is the 6th inning,(b)obviuosly losing command - deer in the headlights,(c) manager and pitching coach ignore what is happening,(d)manager and pitching coach want to see if he can work out of it(e)all of the above
Boy. If Boof’s warmed up he has a chance for a three inning save here.
Dknute: He’s not a “solid” ballplayer. He’s a barely passable ballplayer. Like all players, he occasionally gets hot, but not often enough to have anything other than very ugly career hitting numbers.
His RZR is .784 at 2nd, 55 points below MLB average. That’s bad for a supposedly superior defensive player.
Revere lead off triple for Beloit.
Mark Lowe:
46 Pitches -
21 Strikes
25 Balls
Tim, with an 8-0 game..they can give him some room to wiggle.
But the starters NEED to give at least 6 innings to help out the bullpen down the stretch.
Like I said when Perkins had that quick 5th, the 6th inning was going to be the crucial one.
I don’t see Boof being left in more than a couple innings, assuming he is effective. With a lead like this, I think Gardy will want to get Bass a powderpuff inning too, if he can do it, to help build confidence and keep them both sharp. I use the term “sharp” relatively.
Fielding Pct:
.960 Beltre
.956 Buscher
Beltre has a .956 career fielding pct.
Fielding Pct. is very subjective and only part of the story, but Buscher has not been as bad as some suggest.
Wow, here’s a fun number. Brendan Harris’s RZR at 2nd base this year is (drumroll) .864. CRUSHING LNP.
I think Perk got complacent. Pitching against New York, he was likely far more cautiuos and was actively thinking about the pitches he was throwing.
With Seattle, he may have been looking at 8-0 and started thinking about his next start, or perhaps if he was going to watch Summerslam tonight.
That could exlpain his ability to go 8 easy against the superior Yanks lineup and then struggle against the M’s.
Twins OBP this game is .611
Good point onspot. Use the big lead to get some innings out of the “other” guys and keep your more key pitchers rested up.
Let’s hope Boof can actually do that now.
T - you are right!! But, if the Twins make the playoffs, please get him out of there before the the dam(n) bursts. Another multiple choice should have been:(x) ERA temporarily drops below 4.00
An excellent defensive infielder. A career .256 hitter. Great speed. Apparantly a good tem/clubhouse guy. What is uit that makes him NOT a solid ML player? You’re insatiable hatred of him?
Craig:
Interesting that Beltre’s RZR is actually only 694 vs. Buscher’s .732. Beltre out of zone rate, though, is twice Buschers, which more than cancels that out.
Tim: If some of its mental, it’s possible in a playoff game he’ll be far more focused (better team, bigger situation)
ALso, 16-6 O’s over Tigers. Yep, DEFINATLEY a good idea to try and aquire Ibanez.
Uh oh, Boof.
Okay…seriously. It’s a 6-run lead. Bonser, this is the type of game you’re supposed to pitch in.
Good lord.
DKNUTE: What did you not just read? LNP’s RZR at 2nd base this year is .784. That’s NOT excellent. It’s not even close.
“Brendan Harris’s RZR at 2nd base this year is (drumroll) .864. CRUSHING LNP”
So, what does that teach us about RZR?
I think Boof will set up the save for Nathan here….
Thank god the offense didn’t take the rest of the day off after the 1st.
There is no way that Ruiz goes down when Casilla is back, if this team wants to be successful… One of Everett/Punto/Harris/Buscher/Lamb will have to go (don’t need 6 IF for 3 spots). The most likely person to go is Everett (he almost went before Casilla went to the DL), then Buscher (who has options)
5 managers in a 6 year span?
I wonder if that might have anything to do with a team’s struggles? Kinda hard to get any sort of structure in place if you keep booting the manager after a season.
I think the most likely to go would be Lamb. The Twins are actually using Everett where as Lamb has pretty much been on the week since August started.
If they can send Lamb down somehow, he could come right back shortly when September callups come.
thry: As much as Everett has picked it up offensively, I think it’s his butt when Casilla comes back.
Ruiz is the righty off the bench with Monroe gone (and now Cuddyer not coming back this year). They were ready to DFA Everett if they had to earlier this season.
But Everett might just accept the assignment, considering he’s found some measure of success with the Twins in the last few weeks.
And Boof. Not cool buddy.
For one thing the sample is too small for it to mean anything at all….except that it provides fodder for the haters. You can get statistics to back up anything you want to especially if the sample is small. I go by what I see. I’ve been watching, playing, coaching, etc.. baseball almost all of my life and I’m over 60 years old…….he (Punto) could play second base (or shortstop) for me any day of the week. But then, I’m not full of hate.
Gonna be save situation here real quick.
Bonser ERA Watch: 6.38
Isn’t that awesome!
ignore it toby we have insatiable hatred of punto. dknute only has blind love of punto.
funny thing is the more punto lovers promote punto, the worse i come across on my opinion of him.
he DOES have value to this team. he’s very versatile, decent defender.
i put all the blame on b.s. and gardy for his overuse. thats all.
Nothing Craig.
The salient number is that Harris has made all of 4 OOZ plays vs. Punto’s 5 in a little less than half as many innings.
In other words, exactly as his critics claim, LNP is overrated defensively but has a propensity for making web gem spectacular plays.
Beltre can’t hit RHP, but at least he put the ball in play. Give him credit for that.
what we are doing is giving the Mariners good batting practice in preparation for the White Sox series.
Everett will not go. Gardy loves him now, almost as much as he loves Punto. Gardy was quoted as saying Everett is doing now, what they signed him in the offseason to do. I think Buscher or Lamb would be the ones to go. To add to your IF point - we don’t need 3 third basemen.
Make that 6.45!
And, if he can allow one more, Nathan will be able to come on for the save…
As much as Boof sucks in these situations, its a damn good thing the “situation” is typically a HUGE lead to begin with.
But this is just riddiculous.
clarification: PUNTO has less than half as many innings as Harris. So his rate of OOZ plays is better than twice as good.
Okay, just keep beating up on the M’s bullpen.
This can be back out of reach the way things have been going for their staff…
It isn’t going to be Buscher. He starts at third unless there is a leftie on the mound.
Lamb will go. Unfortunately.
Toby,
Does this mean Harris plays out of position. He probably takes more out of zone high risks because of his lack of range.
16 ER given up by Detroit!
it’s obvious everett is on his way out. lamb has some left handed pop off the bench, so he’s not going. everett has been bad more often than good this year. he gone!
I work with grade school bullies every day in my job….and some of you guys fit the profile exactly. Some self reflection would be good for you, in my opinion. But, I’ll get off of here now and let you have your fun. I guess, in the long run, you’re not hurting anybody….unless (and I sure hope he doesn’t) Nick Punto ever reads these blogs.
Man, Rene Leveret’s got some kinda awful glove.
I give up! Whatinhell is RZR and whyinhell should I care?
Craig: Sorry, I didn’t word this well.
Basically, Harris’s RZR is better, Punto OOZ rate is more than twice as good. Punto has MORE OOZ plays in half as many innings. Spectacular plays, but his zone rating is subpar this year. His career RZR numbers aren’t exactly glittering, either.
Dknute: You seriously believe we ought not criticize a professional athlete’s performance? To do so is to be a “bully”?
It comes down to who the Twins feel they will need on their playoff roster. Who fills what roles in the playoffs? I don’t think Ruiz is going to be counted on to be on the playoff roster. That’s the reason I expect him to be the one sent down.
Harris could be the one to go, with Punto moving between SS and 3B, playing often, beefing up both Buscher and Everett.
Lamb is going nowhere. The Twins are still on the hook for 3.1 mil in 2009.
I gotta come down on Punto’s side. he is a net positive for the team IMHO. I recall the first year we had him, once he began playing a lot, the team took off. Punto went down with a broken arm or whatever it was, and the team immediately went in the tank. It was clear to me then that the guy can be a real sparkplug at times. Is he perfect? No. Is he a better than average utility man? Yes. If the Twins released him, would he end up with another team? I bet yes.
Punto safe? Wow. You sure?
RZR is Revised Zone Rating: “the proportion of balls hit into a fielder’s zone that he successfully converted into an out.”
It’s a much better fielding indicator than FP.
Good hustle LNP.
I can’t help myself….I’ve got to add one more thing. How can everybody be so sure that Gardenhire “loves” Punto? Are you guys in the dugout every day? In the clubhouse? Do you know what goes on there? Do you have inside sources that you are friendly with? I’m guessing none of these things is true. It’s your impression…based on what? The fact that you hate Punto yet Gardenhire continues to play him? Could it be that Gardenhire knows something…dare I say knows more….than you do? I think, perhaps that might be so. You guys sit on your couch everyday and watch the game on TV and you know all the answers. You obviously are geniuses.
That non-major lreaguer just stole a base
Punto is most definitely a step up from Denny Hocking and Chip Hale. Probably a step up from Al Newman too.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/fielding-stats-at-the-hardball-times/
that’ll tell you what you need.
“I give up! Whatinhell is RZR and whyinhell should I care?”
mnmkyf,
It means absolutely nothing, and there is no reason whyinhell you should care.
I don’t think Ruiz is going to be counted on to be on the playoff roster
If Cuddyer does not come back by the last day of August, Ruiz will have to be in the postseason roster (unless you want to see the likes of Everett or Gomez DH against lefties)
I’d rather have the Twins eat the $3.1 mil and have a guy in Ruiz contribute to the team than have $3.1 sitting on the bench. Whats the difference between eating $3.1 million or having Lamb and his $3.1 million sitting on the bench?
Gardy’s love is obvious in his interviews and in his failure to EVER criticize LNP.
Toby - thanx for the info, I think. Who decides what the “zone” is. Too many stats nowadays. Mark Twain said it best, ” There are lies, damn lies, and statistics”.
That was an…awkward DP….
Ruiz BETTER be on the postseason roster. If Casilla comes back it’s gotta be Everett or Punto. I know who I’d dump.
toby: Gardy rarely criticizes ANY player publically.
Young is S-L-O-W!
nice hustle Delmon
Yes….whenh the “pack” mentality takes over. When it becomes “fun” to bash that player…then it is no different than the bully behavior of a 12 year old. There is no difference in my professional opinion and I get ver upset about it because AI find it totally unfair. I surre hope that if you have kids you are not exposing them to your hostile comments regarding Punto. Bullying breeds bullying. There is no question about that. I see it everyday.
Did he dog it there?
Okay, can we all just agree Punto has played well this series??
I love what Joe Maddon is doing with BJ Upton these days, after Upton has been dogging it.
mnmkyf: the good people at Baseball Info Solutions. UZR is suppsedly better, but RZR is better than simple FP.
onspot: We’ll have to get ESPN out here with their stopwatches to time his run to 1st.
Lamb is the emergency catcher and will allow Morneau to have a DH day at 1st. Its not much, but the Twins need that for the playoff roster.
LNP would’ve ran that out…
Guess we know where Guerrier stands on the depth chart these days. Right where he belongs, coming in with a significant lead.
dknute,
Save your breath, reality means nothing on this site.
Yet heckling is fun
I need to refresh to find toby & JP posting that it’s Punto’s fault for that last double play.
Regards,
And please accept my apology for my terrible typing/spelling on some of my posts. I’m a bit fired up here…and I’m typing too fast.
That was a swing no doubt.
“Punto went down with a broken arm or whatever it was, and the team immediately went in the tank”
the Twins were 18-5 when Punto was on the DL and Harris was playing SS?
Where do you guys get this stuff.
Thanks dknute. yeah i guess managers aren’t human and play favorites. no player was ever underplayed and then went to a different team or different manager and then excelled.
i’m glad that was your last post.
onspot: It’s a 4 run lead, with Boof having failed to maintain the blowout.
What Guerrier is doing right now is pitching in a “close” to save situation so that Bass doesn’t come in.
a 4 run has not been significant against Seattle this year
I agree with Mr Crikket. Ruiz is the one to miss a postseason opportunity.
He will go down, and return Sept 1 when rosters expand.
Hopefully Guerrier’s five-day rest help get him back on track.
JP, read the post again, but more closely. I referred to the first year we had Punto, not this year.
Why do people cherry pick the obviously outlandish comments when there’s so much more intelligent discussion going on?
johnnyonspot says:
August 17th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
“Guess we know where Guerrier stands on the depth chart these days. Right where he belongs, coming in with a significant lead.”
Agreed…problem is, the Twins currently have 3 RH in the BP filling that spot on the depth chart- Bonsser, Bass and Guerrier.
i imagine Buscher goes down. gardy does like everett. and if his arm isn’t a problem, i like him too. buscher and lamb are close to the same player, and buscher has options where lamb doesn’t. the twins will probably try and trade lamb in the offseason but he makes too much just to cut when there are other options and we are so close to the sept call ups.
Wow. Anderson with his finger on the button (so to speak)
Nathan could be warming up shortly…
JP…so you know for certain that Gardenhire “loves” Punto…that he is his favorite? Show me the proof? You have inside information? Or did you manufacture that on your couch? NO, I’m guessing you heard it here, on these blogs…and in you mind it has become fact. Very astute….and very fair minded of you.
Buscher is NOT going to go down. He is our starting third basemen, we aren’t just going to send him down.
Ladies and gentlemen…the save is in order.
This is insane.
markinmn, I’d add Crain to your list.
And that IS my last post.
Guerrier has to be hiding some kind of injury… this collapse is unbelievable…
TT is right. Ruiz is a bench option/spot starter.
Ruiz will be back in September, but you can’t send down the regular 3B in favor of a righty DH.
Buscher and Lamb are close to the same player? What are you smoking?
dknute is Nick Punto’s father.
I guess Guerrier’s break didn’t help, he still sucks.
And we’ve given Nathan a chance for a save. That’s what you do when you lead by six right?
ANOTHER run allowed by PUNTO!!!
Nathan hasn’t pitched in a few days…
JP,
Buscher is one of their best hitters. He won’t go down to keep a guy (Ruiz) with 20 AB.
I think common sense shows that when a player (Harris) goes 3 - 6 then sits 4 games and Punto goes 2 - 25 and stay in the starting lineup shows some favoritism.
I just think Guerrier has always gotten by with his stuff and it’s caught up to him. He has nothing that can blow guys away.
Okay, seriously. That last pitch was a strike. Ump has to help the guy out a bit.
johnnyonspot says:
August 17th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
“markinmn, I’d add Crain to your list.”
You might be right…Breslow and Reyes may see their work significantly increased over the next 40 games.
Isn’t it time to bash the FO? or Pohlad? Someone has got to pay!!!!
Guerrier is merely coming back down to his appointed talent level. Anytime he looked like a better pitcher than we’ve seen over the last month or so was abberational. He’s just getting back to what he truly is: a third-flite reliever.
This is so sickening to watch the bullpen blow games (or even make them close) night after night.
I think a lot of it falls on Gardenhire. Why does he continue to trust Bonser?
Let us piiiiiicthch. Yeeees that’s a “p”
Harris needed to eat that. It’s Ichiro…
Why does Gardy continue to trust Bonser? Why does he trust any of the clowns in the pen? Because he has no choice, thanks to a derelict FO.
Gardy loves Punto because of what he does for the team on the field.
I don’t know if putting Boof in the game with a 6 run lead means that he trusts him.
Time for Nathan. I don’t care how many outs he has to get. Bring him in NOW!
Why can we NOT put the Mariners away?! Auuuuggghhh!!
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! How about you bring in Nathan Gardenhire. He can frickin pitch in the eight inning, he won’t die.
TT: It was a 10-4 game. You can’t rightfully expect Gardy to march Reyes/Crain/Guerrier out there in a game that shuld be a simple mop job…
Bonser and Bass are the guys that are supposed to handle situations like that.
Call in Nathan now or accept a loss.
dknute
Do I need inside info to see Gardy love punto? um no. I do read and listen to his post game comments. I’ve also read Craig’s posts that say gardy loves punto and so does he.
But thanks, I do think I am rather astute.
And just because i think Punto should not be a starter for the Twins, how is that unfair-minded????
glad that one is finally your last post.
Guerrier went in the tank the day his adoptive child was born (August 1st–also his birthday the next day). . .Check out his stats since he started changing diapers. . .If I remember, Nathan had a similar a couple of years ago after his wife gave birth, but this is ridiculous. . .btw Johan three hit the Bucs today. . .
Forget the DP. Just get two outs without another run scoring… I don’t care HOW.
Face it people. Regardless of whether the Twins make the postseason, if they don’t vastly upgrade in the bullpen any postseason will be very short.
not good harris. not good.
I do read and listen to his post game comments.
Then you’ll note (as I said) that Gardy rarely calls out any player specifically when there’s struggles.
I’ve also read Craig’s posts that say gardy loves punto and so does he.
Craig has also suggested that Morneau be traded for more pitching help. So I fail to see how Craig is any sort of reference here.
Smith deserves the blame! He’s the one that failed to trade for another bullpen arm.
It’s funny cookie, Silva and Perkins both dominated in the days following a child birth.
I wonder if that’s a sign of they’re contributions to the new arrival at home.
You are right Johnny…ole….
I just except Gardenhire to know by now that Bonser can’t protect a six run lead. He is that bad.
There’s a difference between pointing out the logical conclusions of things people say and just misrepresenting their positions.
People point out good, statistically-based reasons why LNP = no good for the Twins. Punto defenders spout non-sense like “I suppose he’s responsible for that home run”. It’s not a debate, really, and it’s not LNP’s critics that are being juvenile.
Reyes. Hellvua try by Punto, I gotta say.
Boy, would’ve been nice if that would’ve hit the runner…
you’re right Craig. Ruiz makes the most sense.
This team will not go any further than the first round..you want to know why. Ron Garendhire. He just does not have the eggs to get this team to where they need to be. Plain and simple
Gardy gets his head out of his azz to bring in Nathan now.
toby,
I post those absurd comments, because it is in line with your & JP’s comment of the Punto out at 3rd.
You make idiotic comments, I reply in kind.
Regards,
People point out good, statistically-based reasons why LNP = no good for the Twins.
And they also often overstate Punto’s “contributions” to a loss. It goes both ways.
The “defenders” comments are far more often parody/satire of that mentality. That ANYTHING Punto does must be called out and drilled home for the next six innings, while a different screw up elsewhere sucks, is commented on, and moved on from.
Case in point, the almost completely glossed over 0fer day Kubel put up in KC behind Morneau’s 3 walks because Punto also went 0-4.
T: “Craig has also suggested that Morneau be traded for more pitching help. So I fail to see how Craig is any sort of reference here.”
Blog Cop,
Just to clarify, Craig would trade anyone for high quality pitching, not just Morneau.
Sure hope Oakland rolls over for us the way they have for the Sox.
maybe starters do well with new kids and relievers struggle…. Rincon struggled after his kid was born the same day as Silva’s kid was born.
bring in Senor Smoke…I still got it…ole’
McCardell gives up 2 more for Beloit, now 4-4 after 5, 8 Ks 23 BF.
T you taking up the torch on this one all of a sudden?
“I do read and listen to his post game comments.
Then you’ll note (as I said) that Gardy rarely calls out any player specifically when there’s struggles.
I’ve also read Craig’s posts that say gardy loves punto and so does he.
Craig has also suggested that Morneau be traded for more pitching help. So I fail to see how Craig is any sort of reference here.
Gardy has done a good job this year on handling his “throwing players under the bus” I still maintain he was pretty harsh with Harris.
As for the Craig comment, that was supposed to be a bit of humor. Can anyone honestly argue that Gardy doesn’t love Punto?
Today’s game is on Perk and Boof. Perk appeared to lose focus with a big lead, and Boof couldn’t even come in and mop up right.
Its not that hard for the Sox (and should not be for the Twins) as the A’s only have one player hitting over .265
Dragon: My comment about the out at 3rd was “What happened, I didn’t see it.”
Multiple people said he made a blunder and made it worse by not getting in a rundown.
ole”’go joe
Nathan vs. Beltre = Total mismatch
Nathan’s biggest K of the year!
And that does it for the much-vaunted Beltre. Way to go , JoJo!!!!!!!!
At least our one good bullpen pitcher saved us in the eighth.
I wanted to know how stupid the front office really is. They can make some sweet moves but can’t realize that Bonser is done?
why do you guys keep pulling me into this d*mn punto debate? i am honestly trying to leave it alone. theres a baseball game still going on!!!!!
Joe-mentum!!
And they also often overstate Punto’s “contributions” to a loss. It goes both ways.
The “defenders” comments are far more often parody/satire of that mentality. That ANYTHING Punto does must be called out and drilled home for the next six innings, while a different screw up elsewhere sucks, is commented on, and moved on from.
Case in point, the almost completely glossed over 0fer day Kubel put up in KC behind Morneau’s 3 walks because Punto also went 0-4.
I’m just going to quote myself from above.
I’ve said it before, I’ll keep saying it everytime it’s pertinent:
the reason people pile on subpar players (i.e. LNP) is because they want the team to be better and believe there are better options than those players. The reason people DON’T pile on players like Morneau is because they are not engaged in an academic exercise geared towards perfectly apportioning blame to each and every player for each and every play. They are, rather (as just stated), voicing concerns about areas that need improvement but which inexplicably go begging. What is difficult to understand about this?
We really need to sweep the A’s this week before The Trip.
It’s more of a meta-Punto debate at this point, isn’t it?
JP,
You are right on this one. Gardy is very fond of Punto. TK used to be very fond of Randy Bush. Managers have their favorites. That, in itself, doesn’t make Punto a bad player.
Wow, I went out to mow the lawn..6-0 TWins..come back in 10-8? What happened, then I looked at the box score…Goof and Gurrier…why not bass. When will Gardy realize that these guys suck?
I find it hard to believe that one of the rumored trades was Goof for Washburn. Why would anyone want Goof?
Twins WILL lose this game….Nathan will give it up in the 9th.
what does any of this have to do with Punto?
damn thats well said toby.
toby,
HOW many of those commenters saw the play.
It was an excellent play by Dickey. IF Dickey doesn’t make that play it’s a single up the middle and Punto scores easily. IF that play happens 100 times, the result of Punto out at 3rd, maybe happens 2/3 times. It’s baseball, yet your hate is palpable. You accept an analysis that fits your World View on Punto, on a play you DID NOT even see.
Punto today has 2 doubles 2 walks in 5 AB. At least a passing grade YET constant drivel about ALL of his inadequate play.
Regards,
JP, the only thing I take particular issue with is this claim that Gardy throws people under the bus.
Even during the chaos that was Delmon’s play during the KC series, I felt Gardy managed it well. He absorbed the damage coming from the media, and did the best thing he could, which was sit Delmon for a brief period.
Gardy strikes me as the boss that will not chew a guy out in public if he can avoid it. This is likely why it appears he “loves” certain players while ignoring or hating others.
It could also be that Gardy (who knows the players better than we do) knows how different players respond to diffrent forms of crtiicsm and praise better than we do. Which is why you may see him praising one guy more than another.
Does Morneau need to be told he’s a good player?
There is now way Harris is going anywhere. Ruiz has options he will go down.
Harris is now tied for second on the team with 25 doubles.
It certainly doesn’t. It’s more the part where he’s bad.
Let’s be upbeat. In the minors Luke Hughes, Steve Tolleson, Steve Singleton, Trevor Plouffe and Brian Dinkelman will all be looking to obviate Punto’s further “usefulness” to the ballclub in the very near future. Unless they refuse to move Casilla to short, just so somebody can keep his job only make more money.
ChiSox up 8-0.
Heatonator says:
August 17th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Harris is now tied for second on the team with 25 doubles.
And yet Harris might not get any ABs in the next series.
Craig
No that, in itself doesn’t make punto a bad player. And TK really did love Bush didn’t he? That guy could come off the bench and hit like no other!
Again I really don’t like being pulled into this punto debate. i do think he has value. just not as an everyday player. casilla can’t return fast enough IMO. Everett, if his arm holds up, can man SS. And Harris can platoon at 3rd and get some PT at SS. I’ll be happy with this situation.
Toby - Why not give it a rest. Punto is in the team and will stay on the team. BTW - Greg Gagne - good glove, .254 lifetime average - TWO World Series rings!
toby: I think Casilla will be taking care of the Punto problem eventually.
His contract is up this year, and the Twins have PLENTY of infield options available to continue rebuilding around.
I am, however, more than a bit curious as to what role Punto plays in the majors starting next season. Somebody’s going to sign him, and I honestly can’t see the Twins doing it.
Span the Man. Great job by the Twins tonight to keep pushing runs through.
Spantastic!
If Punto and everette are so good at defense why didnt they just jump up and rob beltre’s homer earlier in the game? huh answer that
hahahahahhahahaha what an idiot
what set off the punto debate or is it just still going from a 3rd inning out made?
Dragon: I assume they all saw it since they all knew what happened. Maybe you’re right and Punto didn’t blunder and moreover couldn’t have gotten into a productive rundown. Maybe their hate got in the way of their perception. I just asked what happened, that’s it. It’s OBVIOUSLY the case that minimally Punto didn’t make a GOOD play on the basepaths. Basehit here and I sign him to a lifetime deal.
Okay, all of the fake names and crap don’t help the problems either…
I honestly think if the Strib made registration mandatory to comment it would cut back a bit on hostilities, as you wouldn’t have random people interjecting trollish stuff jsut as things calm down.
Not to mention the countless times somebody’s poked the fires by pretending to be somebody else.
I’d bet Punto is re-signed by the Twins. Why not, when they re-signed Denny Hocking a few years back.
Shawn- the Punto debate is a continuation from April, I think.
Shawn, I don’t think the Punto debate has ended from the first time he was in the starting lineup…
T,
i see Punto signing with a big money team as a utility guy or a terrible team with no decent IFs, prob for about 3 mill
LNP: K-time
Do our advance scouts tell Gardy and Anderson anything? How can Ibanez raise his average 20 points in 6 games against the Twins. Someone has gotten him out. Guerrier has hit a wall and as someone wrote earlier, the league has finally caught up with him. He will be of little value down the stretch. Hope we can hang on until Sept 1st when we can call up a few reinforcements.
Sorry T
We can agree to disagree. Your perception on Gardy is much different than mine. I thought he handled the Harris situation at 2nd and when he moved him to 3rd to make room for punto very poorly!!!
I also think Gardy has a very poor track record of this in the past beyond this year. A good example of this is Casilla last year.
We can agree to disagree.
LNPK
onspot: Punto is going to be an expensive bench player if they do that. And with them in rebuilding mode (And REALLY high on Casilla) I don’t think he has a home here.
He WAS a bench option until Everett and Tolbert went down. Then Casilla got hurt.
TK was perhaps the Twins greatest manager, but when Shane Mack sat on the bench while Bush played, I scratched my head.
Nobody who is very good sits on the bench while Punto plays. It’s not like Gardy is playing Punto in front of a vastly superior player. I would say Punto is a better player than anyone who sits behind him.
Guerrier might need a phantom DL trip
i bet the mariners will sign Punto for 12 million
Shawn: Punto will end up in Pittsburgh next season.
About 6 months after that, we’ll start getting daily updates on how awesome he’s hitting and how he’d be a perfect pick up for the Twins.
toby,
WHY be upbeat? The FO sucks, Gardy sucks, PUNTO sucks, bullpen sucks…
More accurate…Strib bloggers suck!!!
Regards,
You can be pretty certain either Punto or Everett will be back to help Tolbert and Harris handle short. Plouffe definitely will not start the year with the big club, unless they think Machado can do the job.
Idiot seriously your a clown hahahah
I can respect that JP. Just thought I’d put it out there so we both know where the other stands.
How much did we pay Denny Hocking when we re-signed him? We will pay Punto a couple million but no more, and yes, he will be a bench player who, like most bench players with the Twins, gets significant playing time. Just my prediction. Could be wrong.
i was thinking about Rivas and Douggie as i typed up on Punto.
nibbler: If it’s Punto or Everett…I’d honestly expect Punto to get the nod.
Mostly because (as I”ve said in the past) Punto’s far more flexible defenisvely (2B, SS, 3B, OF in a pinch). That makes things easier on a manager when it comes time to make defensive moves or when considering PR/PH options.
“what set off the punto debate……?”
You see it all began back when the Twins made this trade with Philadelphia………………..
I see Punto’s salary this year is 2.4M. He got that after his big year. So I would renew him at no mkore than 2M.
Span not doing himself any favors by leaving his feet there. Ouch.
Oh dear. The suckbug is spreading…
Fair enough T.
AND YOU KILLED ME WITH THE JASON AND PUNTO UPDATES. I was rolling laughing.
Good stuff.
Kubel got out in his last AB. Which just proves how inconsistent he is. Right?
No kidding JP. And a TRUE starter doesn’t get swtiched out for Gomez late in the game either.
But all kidding aside, Kubel had some kind of weekend didn’t he? 7 hits, a homerun, a couple of doubles, and what…7 RBI?
Tolbert is flat out a better option than Punto either starting or as #1 Utility. Punto will not be a Twin next year.
The Dragon,
You really have a problem with blog posters dont you? My recommendation? When I dislike something I avoid it.
Regards
New Britain 8-2 over Akron, final.
Winfree, Martin and Valencia homer.
I disagree with a few of those balls there…
Man is Winfree hot lately.
JP,
That is one way to handle it…another is to join the fun and heckle it!!!
Regards,
”
And a TRUE starter doesn’t get swtiched out for Gomez late in the game either. ;)”
Stop it!! hahaha, you’re killing me!
JP,
Heckling with a strong dose of sarcasm.
Regards,
You know, for what people say about DnB…you have to give them credit for being able to go out there and call almost every single game all the way through regardless of how its going.
The fact they can put up with the ups and downs that come with 162 games without going bats**t insane is a testament to their integrity.
We can all turn it off if we don’t like how its going. Not those two.
I sometimes think that’s why they adopt some of the habits. Coping mechanisms in part.
Looked like the flipside of the pitch Ruiz got rung up on.
put in bass
will it end?
Yikes. That was close.
See, I think the “phantom call” there was more Dick letting his inner tension out a bit. He can’t really breathe a sigh of relief like we can.
Finish this OFF Nathan.
Can’t tell if Nathan slowed it down or deflected it. Either way that was gonna be tough.
Good deal.
Oh thank god.
Sanity check. Everybody still there?
Intentional walk!
One of the worst baseball games ever played. Glad it’s over and the Twins won.
Nice to sweep series. And who knows, maybe this three-day debacle by the pen will finally shock the idiot FO into doing something, whether it be bringing up some fireballer from single A or AA or whatever, just get it done.
Just a walk in the park. . .The Athletics next to taste the broom! How sweep it is!
How dare you say “idiot FO”, johnny? They are GENIUSES who are there by merit. Everybody knows that’s how business runs: the cream always rises and never just kinda backs its fat overpriveleged butt into place.
Seriously: Bobby Korecky. Ricky Barrett. Rob Delaney. NOW.
Does Guerrier have any options left?
has anyone looked around the majors today? toronto 15-4 over boston with beckett starting. baltimore 16-8 over detroit. yankees 15-6 over royals. white sox are up 8-0 over a’s. it wasn’t just the twins today.
Seattle FO is really idiots. I know the bullpen has not been good lately but they still caused trouble against Nathan.
if billy smith does not do something via trade very, very soon to get a LEGIT veteran middle relief picter onto this squad then he needs to be fired a.s.a.p. matt guerierre (sp) is a shell of his former self, brian bass is a joke and boof bonser isn’t going to get it done down the stretch. do your job billy smith and help this team win. we are tied for first place at the end of august for god’s sake!
I think Gardy will want Punto back next year. He isn’t that expensive and he can plug a lot of holes. Extremely versatile. Managers like guys like that.
Seattle FO didn’t get any good pitchers to back up that lineup
The trade deadline is passed! Smith’s ability to upgrade the team through a trade is not that good. We have to hope they make it until Sept. and somebody from Rochester can do something.
“cookie lavagetto says:”
I wonder how many Twins fans are even familiar with this name. Great choice for a user name, cookie.
do you know how hard it is and what it takes to get a “legitimate” reliever at the trade deadline let alone AFTER? the only options now are has beens or struggling guys. the price for legit relievers was outrageous. why does it make sense to give up top prospects for relievers? i don’t think a lot of twins fans on here understand that.
I am now listening to the radio and Dazzle Gladden just uttered the following: “I’m not concerned with the starters, nor am I concerned with the bullpen.” What? Not concerned with the bullpen? I think Dazzle needs to extract his head from his boot-tocks.
The sky has indeed fallen. With the Twins undeserved win today and Boston’s loss today put’s the Twins 1/2 out in the wild card.
Regards,
Wow can’t believe Dazzle would say that! Does he watch these games?
Undeserved? Twins scored 11 Seattle only scored 8. I think Twins ‘deserved’ to win.
Whale, obviously there are not any topflite relievers available. But we need to try something. Whether it be calling up someone from AAA or below, or finding a serviceable guy from someone else. Quite simply, standing pat is not an option.
boston got gagne last year for top prospects, he bombed. atlanta got dotel last year, he got hurt. the yankees got marte this year, he’s bombing. the tigers got farnsworth, he’s MORE than bombing. the only trade that has worked out for a top reliever was jon rauch, which the diamondbacks had to give up a top infield prospect for, and that’s just because the nats are idiots. giving up top prospects for relievers is lunacy, and i think in the long run, the twins were smart not to do so.
Nora,
I was channeling the thoughts of many posters on this blog
Regards,
Exactly, Could some of the AAA relievers be worse. Can’t imagine so. Why not try something.
I don’t think they deserved to win this today, at least not as a team. Sure, the offense did well, but this is a team sport and the team did not deserve to win this mess. Seattle also did not deserve to win. But someone has to win, and was the Twins, and that’s good, regardless of whether it was deserved or not.
finding a serviceable guy from somewhere else? care to give me some names?
Oh ok Dragon, didn’t catch the meaning.
Names? Heck I don’t know, but I do know there are numerous teams out there with no hope of making the postseason, and they all have bullpens, and some of those bullpens have serviceable relievers. Surely if BS wanted to he could pry one loose. Instead he sits on his fatazz in his air conditioned office, cashing large checks from the Twins, and does nothing, which given his record thus far might be a good thing.
you make it seem so easy. “there are plenty of people out there so if he wanted to he could pry one loose”.
yes, it’s a simple as calling up a GM of a bad team, and saying i want this reliever and you’re going to give him to me for nothing.
johnnyonthespot,
I humbly disagree.
This is a team sport. Sometimes the offense picks up the pitching, sometimes the pitching picks up a weak offense.
The win wasn’t pretty, YET it counts as a win. That makes #70. With 5 or 6 more wins, they will surpass the combined wisdom of these blogs, AND we are still in August…NOT the last week of September.
Regards,
the twins just tried to get washburn, who has a hefty salary, so don’t throw out the crap of not wanting to spend money. the twins just want to spend money wisely. they would’ve moved a starter to the bullpen and that would’ve helped the problem. but the mariners wanted one of our young major league starters along with paying washburn’s salary. does that make the least bit of sense?
Nora,
No problem…I should put a sarcasm alert on 90+% of my posts
Regards,
If our boys make it to the playoffs, which starter goes to the bullpen: Slowey or Blackburn?
whalefeet says:
August 17th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
“the twins just tried to get washburn, who has a hefty salary, so don’t throw out the crap of not wanting to spend money. the twins just want to spend money wisely. they would’ve moved a starter to the bullpen and that would’ve helped the problem. but the mariners wanted one of our young major league starters along with paying washburn’s salary. does that make the least bit of sense?”
Actually, trying to acquire Washburn is a perfect example of NOT spending money wisely. Given his contract, his past arm problems and his numbers, it is a questionable move at best. I don’t see Washburn helping the Twins this year or in the future (his salary for next year could certainly be used to a at least a couple holes).
Kubel had a great day with 4 hits, but Span’s 3 hits and a base on balls, should not be overlooked. It was a fine team effort.
Craig-
Agreed…it is amazing how comfortable Span looks in the leadoff spot–like he’s been doing it for years.
‘they will surpass the combined wisdom of these blogs’
STAGGERING!!
That was an entertaining game to watch, just for some of the wrong reasons.
It’s quite evident that the Twins have alot of outfield and SP prospects in our system.We seem to be set in the outfield,1b.2b and catcher.I think BS could package excess talent at these positions in the off season,to address our needs on the left side and relief pitching
So Chicago and Minnesota are tied atop the division, and both are 1/2 back of Boston eh?
Man. As much as I’d love to see the Whities out of the playoffs…wouldn’t it be cool to have a postseason without either Boston or New York?
ESPN wouldn’t know what to do.
Punto is one of the top rated utility guys in MLB. If 3rd, SS, 2nd, and even outfield goes down he can play those positions. He is a top rated defensive player and a average to better than average offensive player, when compared to other utilty guys.
I definetly feel if the money is right they should resign him, especially when dealing with young players and you don’t know if they are going to be successful.
If the Twins don’t sign him, he will not have any problem finding another team as he will have multiple teams to pick from. IMHO.
“ESPN wouldn’t know what to do.” AGREED
I didn’t read the entire game board– but did you guys agree on who goes when Casilla comes back?
My guess is Ruiz. Buscher, Span and Gomez are the only other ones with options left. I would be surprised to see anyone but Ruiz out of that bunch go down–
Other option would be a waiver deal– Lamb, Everett or Harris. Harris is probably the only one that would attract a claim– because he is the best of the three. But they probably want to keep him as the right handed 3b option. Punto might get claimed on waivers– might get a mediocre relief pitcher for him– with Tolbert coming back soon, LNP is expendable. (I know 90% of the board would say that without Tolbert coming back!)
I also agree with posts that I read that Korecky, Barrett and anyone else is better than Bonser, Bass and Gurrier at this point. I would be suprised if anyone but Bonser would get claimed off waivers. I would replace Bonser and Bass with Barrett and Korecky immediately unless we can pull off a waiver deal for Harris or Punto for some one better. Gurreir needs to be put in mop roles only for now.
