Sunday pregame: Twins/Angels
Posted on August 24th, 2008 – 1:30 PMBy Joe Christensen
ANAHEIM — Joe Mauer is starting at catcher again today, as the Twins look to win this series against the Angels.
Mauer is 6-for-9 with four RBI in his career against hard-throwing Angels righthander Ervin Santana.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he’ll have more chances to give Mauer a break with the Twins facing six consecutive lefthanded pitchers starting on Tuesday. Look for Mauer to get Tuesday or Wednesday off in Seattle.
(*) To make room on their Class AAA Rochester roster for Brian Bass, the Twins released reliever Casey Daigle.
(*) Matt Tolbert remains on track to be activated from the DL on Sept. 1, when rosters expand. He will likely move from Class AA New Britain to Rochester for the final week of the minor-league season.
Twins (74-55)
1. Denard Span, RF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, LF
6. Randy Ruiz, DH
7. Nick Punto, 3B
8. Adam Everett, SS
9. Carlos Gomez, CF
Starting pitcher: RH Kevin Slowey
Angels (78-50)
1. Chone Figgins, 3B
2. Erick Aybar, SS
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Vladimir Guerrero, DH
5. Torii Hunter, CF
6. Garret Anderson, LF
7. Juan Rivera, RF
8. Howie Kendrick, 2B
9. Jeff Mathis, C
Starting pitcher: RH Ervin Santana
Angel Stadium. First pitch: 2:35 p.m.
498 Responses to "Sunday pregame: Twins/Angels"
I predicted 14-0 on this road trip, but 13-1 is pretty darn good too!
“Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he’ll have more chances to give Mauer a break with the Twins facing six consecutive lefthanded pitchers starting on Tuesday.”
Mauer is hitting lefties better than anyone in the American League. Where is the logic behind that statement?
DY is 3-10 vs Santana in his career, would like to see him in there today.
Steve:
The logic is in whom you want Redmond facing, not who Mauer may face or sit against. If you are going to put Red Dog in, you want it to be against a LHP
Gardy went with his best infield.
I wonder if Machado gets the call in September. He’s hitting .350, stealing bases, and has only one error. He is very sure-handed.
would like to see delmon in there rather than ruiz and have kubel at dh. maybe harris at 3b and punto at ss.
Gardy is certainly giving Ruiz lots of opportunity.
One thing you can say about Ruiz, he is a vast improvement over Monroe. Of course, most any player would have been from day one. Craig knew that when they signed him.
Though he has had limited playing time, Ev is hitting .294 with a .381 OBP in August. He rarely strikes out, which is a big advantage over Harris, who is a whiffmeister.
Buscher’s not in? What a surprise…
Sox are rallying against the Rays 3-2 in the 4th
Why did we release Casey Daigle?!
I’m sure all of the fans in Rocheter are going to miss seeing Jennie Finch (the amazingly hot and talented softball pitcher and wife of Daigle) at the games.
I was hoping he would someday be able to make the big squad so that we would have some major league eye candy in the stands.
Sox up now 4-3 Thome blast
Daigle had decent stats plus the hot wife, DePaula or Cali should have gone.
I wonder what Daigle will be doing with all of his spare time?
I know what I’d be doing.
Hope that Slowey keeps on pitching well, but against the Angels he has problems. Let get some OFFENSE against “Little” Santana because I do not believe Slowey will last 5 today.
Great to see Ruiz in there today. Kubel needed playing time on the field, but not sure that Young should have sat instead of Gomez. Maybe the ankle needs rest…
New and Improved Craig. Easy to be sure handed when you only DH. He has a major shoulder problem worst than Everett’s………Can’t make a hard throw.
If you were New and Improved you would know. You must be the same old and sorry Craig…..Don’t know a thing about the Twins.
Rays rallying now
Boys, Boys, Boys, fighting with opinions is not good. Let’s let Gardy’s lineup today do the job. WIN TWINS!!!!!!!!!
BTW….GO RAYS!!!!!!!
[…] Originally published by Around the Majors […]
Cabrera is the best shortstop the Twins have on the White Sox team.
Craig,
Machado cant throw. He has been DHing until his shoulder heals, which is why he has very few errors. He might get a Sept call as a pinch hitter or runner, but I can assure you that he will not play in the field for the Twins as long as they are in contention.
Read a newspaper once in a while.
It’s about game time here in Fargo…..I will be switching back and forth from FSN (MY 29 today) and the Sux/Rays game. Win Rays…WIN TWINS!!
“Easy to be sure handed when you only DH.”
“Don’t know a thing about the Twins.”
John Q,
According to baseball reference Machado has played 20 games at DH and 23 games at 2B.
My farts know more about the Twins than you do.
Reading the comments here, sounds like New and Improved Craig is getting scolded, and well he should. Ryan and John Q… a person has to be able to read to read a newspaper. LOL. WIN RAYS, WIN TWINS!!!
Craig, that’s because your rectum is more valuable than your brain. Cool It, big guy.
How them Hawaiians in Little League baseball tilte game? Oh, no interest?
It’s fun to talk to the little kids on the weekend.
Damnit Lexi
What the heck? Casilla running like Kubel - thoughts he had speed????
More-no
Nice baserunning Casilla, and way to get yourself down 0-2 Mauer.
Santana took Mauer to handling school…nice hit by Justin!
More-hits!! 
MVP comes thru.
Liberal strike zone today
Hard to tell…the boys are swinging at about everything.
And Santana embarrasses Kubel…
K K K K K K U B E L
Kubel needs to be non-tendered after the season. The Twins need to dream bigger dreams.
I agree and have believed that for 2 seasons - move Kubel - he is good bait
Hey Gatty790… betcha Mauer beats Santana thru the course of the game. WIN TWINS!!!
Mauer will be a more effective hitter when he learns he can’t give away the first strike in every AB, particularly in RBI situations.
He’s a good hitter, he can be better. He’s own 0-1, 1-2 too much, ends up swinging at pitchers pitches too often.
Man…Punto really sucks.
Punto is sensational.
Now we know why Punto and Morneau are in the game today…
That is why punto is at 3rd
Why does he have to showboat like that?
PUNTO!!!!!!!!!!
gotta say, Punto saved probably both of those.
Punto is far better than Buscher could ever dream of at 3rd
Just don’t allow a HR Slowey…
Craig,
Remember this, it is better to be thought an idiot than to open your mouth (or type the words) and prove it. Now, take your nonsense somewhere else.
Were did Texeira go to college?
Twins have 3 of the top 6 in Sac Flies and Mike Lamb is second in the league. Nuts.
Slowey is Mr. HR (donator)
Georgia Tech
somewhere in georgia
Rays up 5 to 4…Win Rays, WIN TWINS!!!
Come on Slowey
PUNTO!!!!
Chief,
Joe does so well because he almost always looks at the first pitch. He has to see the ball off the pitchers hand. He has to take a measure and process the information in his brain. Then he is ready. It works for him. That is part of the reason he is so good. Other players do the same.
Just don’t allow a HR, Slowey…
Gotta go down and away to Hunter
Punto in at 3B and almost immediately makes an impact over Buscher.
ALso, where was that ball 1 pitch to Hunter? He should be out.
Throw the Torii!
He Gone
c’mon, Slow…get ‘im. YESSSS he listened…like Radke listened to me. LOL
Good job slowey, just got a bad break on guerreros duck fart
Didn’t even need to throw the Torii or the Hunter to strike out Torii!
Hunter K’s with 2 runners in scoring position….have we seen that before?
“c’mon, Slow…get ‘im. YESSSS he listened…like Radke listened to me.”
How stupid.
Hit a HR ruiz!
It’s about time for Ruiz to get his first ML HR today, right gang?
Guess the zone changes for what team is pitching
And the strike zone opens up immediately after slowey leaves the mound…
Bot 7 and Tuberculosis is still up
Thanks Craig…. like I said, your rectum is more important than your brain. Geeeezzz, lighten up, or sober up, your choice, my friend. WIN TWINS!!! Rays still up 5 to 4.
What a horrible play by the SS.
Pulled a “TO”
mackdaddy says:
“Remember this, it is better to be thought an idiot than to open your mouth (or type the words) and prove it.”
Now I know why we never heard from “mackdaddy” before. Glad you live by the words you speak, mackdaddy.
Gomez intentionally watching a pitch. Rare.
Gatty
I have noticed in this series that Gomez seems to be a bit more disciplined
Wild man
I remember when Delmon Young was instructed to be more patient at the plate and he walked twice on 8 pitches…
Like he processed that 1st inning AB with a runner on third and one out, Craig? Where he looked at 2 pitches for strikes, then K’d on a pitch in the dirt, when all the team needed was a fly ball?
I stand by my opinion, and I’ve had it for a couple years now.
Gomez has to be one of the easiest guys to pitch too, just throw it in the dirt somewhere near the plate
“Thanks Craig…. like I said, your rectum is more important than your brain.”
I’m sure it is to you sweetheart, but I don’t go that way.
Gomez has not been swinging at the crap breaking stuff off the plate very often and the last couple of games he has been fouling most of them off. Swung at that one though.
Is it me, or does the Ump have different strike zones today?
Who is better looking Johan or Ervin? Or who would you rather have in the next 5 years?
Chief,
I don’t argue with a the hitting approach of a guy with a .400+ OBP.
Nice to see slowey starting off the hitters with a curve versus fastball, fastball, fastball.
Nice quick inning
Craig,
Yet you would trade Morneau and Kubel and keep Punto? Your astute baseball knowledge should land you a job in the front office of Pittsburgh or KC sometime soon.
Span did not swing at that ball.
That is what I thought!!!
Dick sounds a bit frustrated having to read that promo.
I think Kubel gets the Ford and Tyner treatment after the season. Ford would like having his old teammate playing with him over in Japan.
Fool me once shame on you, try to fool me twice I get a base hit
Does any one know Ford’s line in Japan? Just wondering?
Rays still leading starting the 8th
Mauer is such a great hitter. So close to perfection.
I think ford was send down to the japanese minors wasn’t he? That was really bad defense.
What the hell was matthews doing there, oh i know, his best delmon impressions
I remember reading on Lavelles blog that Lew was sent down in the Japanese minors as gatty said, lew probably doesn’t care though hes probably making 2-3 times what he was making last year
Delmon at least gets behind the ball most of the time…
Kubel’s at bat was laughable
You think he would see that Slider coming
And Kubel leaves a hanging change up and is at the mercy of the pitcher.
If Kubel has to play, he should bat ninth.
Lay off Delmon…The kid is coming on. Way to go back to back hits for M and M for a 2-out run…Win Rays, WIN TWINS!!!
The rays pitching has to get through the homer zone: Quentin, Dye, Thome, Ramirez
Morneau with a couple of RBI this afternoon. Good to see.
Kubel has to do better than an occasional, often meaningless, home run.
Quentin has 36 HRs. That is pretty impressive…
Slowey’s fastball has a lot of tail today
5 TO 4 Rays after 8 in Sux Town. Win Rays, WIN TWINS!!!
Nice play by Morne
Catch catch up to that 96 mph fastball
Craig, would you please be quiet. All you are looking for is arguing. Please stop it. Win Rays, WIN TWINS!!!
correction: Cant catch
Ruiz, catch a flight to Rochester.
Nice hit by Punto, 12 games!
Atta Boy, Puntz…
Punto extends his hitting streak. He is sensational.
DrDon/others lay off Craig…you guys seem to be the ones picking fights and being ridiculous.
Let’s see if Gomez can smell a hit instead of his bat.
Why even waste a pitch for a pitch out against gomez?
You guys (and gals) kill me…
Craig, at 1:54: “One thing you can say about Ruiz, he is a vast improvement over Monroe”
Craig, at 3:29: “Ruiz, catch a flight to Rochester.”
Yup, new and improved all right.
Tuberculosis bases loaded in the 9th with 2 out
Hey Chief! Where might you be? I’m heading up to Minnesota on Friday!
Rays still up in SuxTown….last of the 9th, coming up.. 5-4 Rays…Win Rays, WIN TWINS!!!
Aw TB cant come up with the runs. Just gotta hold on now.
Tucson.
Slowey took Vlad to handling school in that at bat.
Oh well… If I ever get back to Fort Huachuca, I’ll look you up… I’m retired AF (MSgt)…
Was Bert’s time on the Angel’s network last night great, or what?
That was the exact same pitch. One is a ball, one is a strike.
Razz,
Thanks, but they don’t bother me. The banter is just for fun. For me it is anyway.
I usually don’t trade barbs. Sometimes it’s funny for awhile, but it gets boring.
I’m focusing on the game and baseball now.
Most Ks in game this year is 13, by many pitchers.
Hunter struck out and on the next pitch hits a single. Next hit is a broken bat single. Thank you Home Plate Ump!
bare down kevin!
And for the Punto, Cuddy and Gomez bashers… “You think you know, but you don’t know…”
If I may offer a little advice… sit back and enjoy this ride, regardless of the outcome…. It could be worse. We could be Cubs fans.
Nice work by Slowey
really really nice job again by slowey with a good pitch count!
Swisher swings for the fences and strikes out. Idiot.
Question… how many more years does Bert have on the HOF ballot until he has to be selected by the “Old Timers”?
I don’t have any idea why Sox fans think Swisher is so good, he’s an average player who is a fruit loop
The strike zone is wider for Santana today for no good reason.
What a terrible throw by Zobrist in the rays game, he was out by 20 feet!
SOX tie…dammit
The catcher DROPPED the ball. He had him out by a country mile and he dropped the ball.
Wide strike zone? What are you talking about?
Regards,
Greg Maddox
GRRRRRRR OUT BY A MILE but safe
The throw was fine, that’s why the catcher caught it… for a second… ggrrrrrr
Riggans should have caught it on the bounce, but Zobrist wasn’t deep at all and that ball skidded into home. I think Shannon Stewart could have got that one in there on the fly
how is the TWINS game going?
Wicked second strike by Kevin…
Bob… up two to zip… bottom 5.
Span tries to bulldoze the wall again
Tampa Bay allows the White Sox to tie it up…
Wow, nice pitch by Slowey
Man, he has got that curve working
Only 65 pitches through five, I’m just saying…
Watching Quentin and Dye butcher plays in the outfield to let the Rays score thier runs and Zobrist throw a three bouncer up the line into home(with the runner on third base still), really makes me appreciate the defense of the Twins outfielders.
I think he is back on track
Morneau is a triple away from the cycle
MVP is back!!!
BAM MVP!
Justin!!!! What a player, “eh?”
Craig,
We better trade Morneau before he loses anymore trade value!!
09 blog fantasy/prediction - all 5 starters’ ERA under 3.5 with 2 under 3.00. We argue all year “who is the ace?”
Appears Morneau is tired of being in a slump!!
Ruiz going deep?
he has no trade value
Ruiz fouled two pitches straight back…
Nice hit by Ruiz
Can Punto hit a double now?
PUNTO!
I was wrong, it was a single.
Punto!!!!
Nice quality AB by Ruiz.
Adam going deep?
WHAT? Where was that 1st strike at???
tim,
that would be fantastic but prob unrealistic.
1 below 3(liriano)
2 more below 3.5(baker, slowey)
2 between 3.5 - 4.5 is more realistic given some of the youth, bad luck, injury concerns etc….
Too bad that ball bounced off of Everett…
Santana didn’t even throw a strike against Everett and he struck him out…
That was ridiculous… come on Adam!
Gomez thought he hit it out…
I give kudos to gomez. He guessed change up and he got it…
This Arby’s commercial makes me want to never eat there again…
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR bad call in Rays game
AJ was OUT OUT OUT
AJ being AJ again god damnit are you guys gals watching this?
Nice to see the blind ump deciding the game in Chicago.
Okay, so what are the odds that Morneau is able to leg out a triple this afternoon?
and they gave him a base???
Shawn - you are probably right but I will stick with it. 2 of the 3 you mentioned under 3.00. One offset to injury might be Humber.
they better get this call right in the rays game
AJ reached out to hit the player and they call interference on the Tampa player what a dumb call.
wheres the replay when you need it lol
Umpire conference in CHicago
If AJ is not out, this is the worst call I have seen all year…by far…
And slowey give up a HR. What a surprise.
So Tex accounting for all three LAA dingers this series.
ALL solo shots.
Wow what a joke, aj being a little bitch again
And slowey give up a HR. What a surprise.
To Tex. It’s not exactly hard to do.
AJ sticks out his arm…trips over his own feet…and is called safe and given 3b. Wow…
LETS GO RAYS GET FIRED UP NOW
Explosions when a HR is hit is the dumbest thing. Maybe playing Star Wars music is a little dumber.
Last year Slowey was on pace to break the all time home run allowed record. Thus what a surprise.
AJ is bush league. that is freaking ridiculous.
At least it was a solo shot
In nearly 50 years of baseball, that was probably the worst call I have ever seen.
What will AJ do when instant replay is used. He will be out of a baseball job when he doesnt get those calls anymore
That call by the ump has to be up there with a couple of first base calls against the twins…
Bob- that call will not be reviewable…
Where is Nora, who just a week or two ago was saying that she had never seen a 5 man infield? Turn it to TBS to see it again.
If the rays lose this game, the umpires better offer a public apology.
sox win
what a joke. the rays got absolutely robbed
Well the umpires took it on themselves to decide a game. Yuk.
Damn Sox
what a joke
Or Span being hit by a pitch and being called for a strike. NOw that was a bad call.
Sox get a win because of a bush league play by AJ. I am telling you, for those that did not see that replay…it is as bad as it gets.
A mockery of major league baseball.
With Santana at 97 pitches, could span make him throw more than one, no.
That call in the 10th inning at US Cellualar was bad, but we would never be talking about it if the Ryas don’t blow it in the 9th.
Just more support for extensive instant replays
Kevin!!! Stop throwing the Blyleven! Hmmmm - why is it called a gopher ball?
Note to Twins baserunners: When in a rundown, simple throw an elbow and fall over.
The Span bunt was pretty bad, but the AJ play is worse.
That was a really poor inning by the Twins hitters. After 97 pitches they make him throw 8 more, come on.
Umpires are just like Supreme Court Justices… what are you going to do to me??? There is NO accountability… They do there little Lidsey Nelson routine with the punch outs…
Singing “Take me out to the ballgame” is a baseball tradition, but “God Bless America” has to go. The Yankees, I’m pretty sure, have already gotten rid of it. No more soldiers on the big screen please.
markinmn says:
August 24th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Note to Twins baserunners: When in a rundown, simple throw an elbow and fall over.
*simply* A simple mistake, I guess…
This is a big inning for Slowey and for the twins.
Pretty cheap win for the Sox.
Hold on, Twins.
What was the TBS take on the play?
What a Debbie Downer NI Craig
That is was a horrible call
Nice K for Slowey, can’t help but laugh at that!
Nasty Pitch
That’s a hard luck strike.
Craig,
Would you prefer the old USSR anthem?
Craig,
the Yankees have not gotten rid of “God Bless America” in fact they make a big production out of it.
gotta hand it to AJ, he helps the sox win games via cheating if he must.
If AJ’s play happens against the Yankees or BoSox, it’s national headlines IMMEDIATELY.
Also, that ump is fined.
Where was that PITCH!?
Okay Shawn, maybe it was Boston.
the Yankees have not gotten rid of “God Bless America” in fact they make a big production out of it.
And I think many a team have complained about it.
It did happen to the media darlings though. I bet it is the lead story on SC.
What position does Melvin Mora play? Maybe the Twins could get him from the O’s?
We need a DP for slowey, just don’t allow a HR…
Well as much as some people crack on Derek Jeter, Adam Everett looked brutal attempting the play that Jeter regularly makes.
Gardy/Radke complained about it in the 04 playoffs
Get Slowy out before the Gopher comes
Wow. TBS is COMPLETELY glossing over this…
ugh
Kubel, that is a STUPID throw. Now the tying run is in scoring position.
Slowey better pick it up. If the Twins get out of this inning, they win the game.
Wow. Off the SHOE? What are the odds of that?
T, Mora plays third.
Not sure why Gardy is bring in the bullpen, I don’t think Reyes can hold the lead with RISP.
gatty. Slowey’s hit a wall. And has a tendancy to give up the dinger.
And slowey will continue to hit the wall if he is not allowed to break through it.
Punto again one-upping Buscher’s glove.
Ball and runner arrived at same time, unfortunate play, Kendrick didn’t score though……Til now.
Punto is sensational. How many times a day do I have to say that?
And slowey will continue to hit the wall if he is not allowed to break through it.
With the Sox winning, the Twins need this victory. Let Slowey work on his “wall” when there’s a slightly bigger lead.
Nice play Punto
WOW!
PUNTO…MORNEAU!
Oh holy CRAP that was close!
Punto has been spectacular at third today. I cannot say enough about his play there today.
There punto goes…showboating again.
Craig, now you and Bert are both going to try and tell me that was a great play by Punto? C’mon Punto got saved big time by Morneau with a HUGE pick at first.
Yep… that Punto guy really blows… Chuckleheads…
Now Punto. We’ve been here before. Love the glove…just DON’T STOP HITTING!
Who pitches the 8th?
can we finally put to rest the punto bashing?
game saver.
Punto is sensational. Morneau is sensational. The New and Improved Craig is sensational.
All three of those guys are so important to this team.
C’mon Punto got saved big time by Morneau with a HUGE pick at first.
Both corners turned a great play. Punto to field and fire, Morneau to dig.
Buscher doesn’t get to that ball. Nor does he make the throw.
Guerrier in the eighth. I think the Angels might tee off on Crain’s fastball.
Let’s see if Morne can hit for the cycle
Craig, give it a rest.
Morneau leading off? Forget the cycle, just put it over the fence again.
no one on base for Justin, he will strike out this time
Craig, give it a rest.
Pot, meet Kettle.
Morneau hit a ball that could have been a triple…
Matty G should be plenty rested after his work on Friday.
That is a HR
Well we will see an umpire conference here I bet.
MOAR KUBEL!
Wait, Guerrier pitched Thursday. Not Friday.
Two balls have been smoked off of the Angel’s pitcher
Kube’s YESSSSS
Guerrier for the 8th, maybe Crain.
Not a HR I guess
ooooopppppsssss
Umps give Chicago one…will they give the Twins one?
Or did it hit the pole?
T, yeah you are just brilliant yourself. Nobody should ever disagree with you.
Kubel. Release him. Another K.
The least the Umps could do is even the playing field with that horrible call in Chicago.
He should have put his arm out in front a little more. Just like AJ
Even the umps have instructions to make sure the White Sux win the Central….
Craig should be happy with the result of that at bat.
Nobody should ever disagree with you.
And yet people do. And life goes on just fine.
11 K’s for the lads so far today. Not good.
get a hit Ruiz!
Even the umps have instructions to make sure the White Sux win the Central….
Or is it to make sure the Angels get the best record in AL? 
Wow, I am sick and tired of hearing people whine about the result of the White Sox game. Sure Chicago got a break, but deal with it. The Twins will just have to fight through it.
not Strike Out!
Ruiz, catch that flight to Rochester.
…and take Craig with you.
So, how chaotic are things going to be once they start messing with Dingers on replay?
I can’t wait for the first time they overturn a homerun and have to spend 10 minutes figuring out where the baserunners should be.
Man that was a bad call in chicago. I just can’t stop saying that. That call was blown call. What a missed call that was…
Ben, that play was ridiculous. I will complain about it as much as i would like. In order to make a call like that…you have to see it. Obviously their was nothing to see…so why was the call made?
Reyes to pitch to Tex, Guerrier to Vlad and Nathan to Hunter Nathan finishes the 9th and win
Craig plus $5 million for Beltre
First time the Rays lost this year when leading after 8. They were 69-0. Took the umps to make it happen.
Ho, now there’s a managerial move. Putting Delmon into left for defense.
That friggin’ Tex. Thank god he’s done all his hitting with nobody on. *knock wood*
AaronK, is that the very first blown call you have seen in a MLB game? If so, you better start watching a little more baseball. Get over it!
Should have left Reyes in to intentionally walk Vlad, he’s killing the Twinks as bad as Tex is.
Why not bring Crain in to start the inning? If you don’t want Crain to pitch to the HR hitter, then walk him…
Man that was a bad call in Chicago!
“Ho, now there’s a managerial move. Putting Delmon into left for defense.”
That is pretty funny. Poor Kubel. What an insult.
lukebrayden says:
August 24th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
“Reyes to pitch to Tex, Guerrier to Vlad and Nathan to Hunter Nathan finishes the 9th and win”
Agreed…Based on Tex’s numbers, he is a little better against RH…so leaving Reyes in might be the best move.
AJ is a thug
Ben, no and it won’t be the last bad call I see. However, it is much more than a bad call. It is a bush league play by a bush league player. That is not a professional effort. That is not how major league baseball is played.
That is international freaking soccer!
I don’t think you walk the tying run on intentionally in the 8th with no out.
There goes Gomez again…
Gomez…you don’t know where the wall is!
Can Gomez mess fly balls up any worse.
Looks like Gardy might have given K-rod another save. What a dumb move.
Gomez has looked completely lost in center a couple times this series.
Obviously that had to happen….oh well
Move Span to center.
Well there goes the game…
AaronK, is that the very first blown call you have seen in a MLB game?
“They happen all the time” is no excuse for lousy umpiring.
I wondering if Gomez is a little wall-shy after Cleveland.
It aint over till its over…
Sure wish we still had Grant Balfour!!
sliders away to Torii
I would have rather dealt with Hunter with the DP set up rather than let Vlad hit.
You guys are all over Gomez for that play? that was a shot right over his head…it is amazing he had any shot at that ball. Give me a break people.
That was an UGLY play by Gomez. Almost identical to the one he made last night.
Horrible pitch by Crain. 0-1 fastball “cockshot.”
Aaron, I’m on Gomez for trying to leap instead of getting ready to play it off the hop.
AaronK, most CFs make that play.
That’s what I’m talkin about - the big K
Damn this bullpen.
Anybody else think they should walk him to set up the DP for Riveria who is slow?
Where was THAT pitch?
This is the classic case the statheads have been talking about this year — saving your closer to protect a ninth-inning lead that you apparently won’t have to protect, thanks to the work of your less stellar relievers in the 8th. Why not use Nathan to face the heart of the Angels’ order, and if he gets through it, then let Crain try to save it in the 9th against the bottom of their order? Because The Book says you have to honor the almighty saves statistic. This is a case where throwing the book out the window would have been a better idea.
Yeah, done.
Exactly why you walk him there.
Boy, would’ve been nice if we could’ve gotten that blown call.
Gardy and the BP cost the team another game.
PD, you are correct.
Gardy blew this game by keeping Reyes in there and not replacing him with Guerrier when he allowed the double. Really dumb managing in a big game.
They are just trying to save nathans arm and give him a day off without pitching.
Gas-can Crain
It will be up to Punto in the 9th.
T, fair enough…
Ben,
No CF gets to more balls then Carlos Gomez. You are out of your mind if you think most CF’s make that play. Most CF’s wouldn’t even be close to that ball.
FSN’s field mike is turned way too high
Okay…where did my29 put the mic tonight? Whenever the crowd cheers it sounsd like the mic is going to break.
Oh yeah, and Gomez too.
This game is officially over. The game ball goes to Gardy.
Way to give it up blowpen. These runs are charged to gardenhire.
The Twins can’t play Kubel and Ruiz and leave better hitters on the bench.
Hey look. It’s the split everybody figured the Twins would be lucky to get.
AaronK, were you watching that play at all? He played that ball terribly. Did not get back fair enough and seemed to be afraid of the wall. Just because Gomez is fast does not mean that nobody else would have gotten to that if he does not get a good read off the bat and then plays it terribly on the warning track.
Another game lost thanks to Gomez’s “defense.” Span needs to be playing center.
You can’t give too many more games away if you want to go to the playoffs…
Another let down for a Minnesota sports team, typical, our teams can never seem to stay in first place
I think having a lefty face Tex was the right move…it just didn’t work out. Reyes got burned–it happens. We all know the BP is shaky…there just are not many good options other than Nathan.
If anything, I think Breslow’s recent pitching might make him the LH choice over Reyes in the 7th/8th.
gatty, yeah the Twins are in such serious trouble. They lose this game and they are down 1/2 in the division and WC.
For goodness sake the season is not over if they lose.
Another let down for a Minnesota sports team, typical, our teams can never seem to stay in first place
Go home troll.
Buscher needs to hit this inning for Everett, maybe Lamb for Gomez.
Wow. Two hits off K-Rod for Punto this series.
Well I am not afraid to say it, GREAT game by Punto today.
Punto is absolutely sensational.
PUNTO!!
Ben, just a question, but have you EVER played baseball? Liners hit right at you are probably the hardest to judge. To complain about a play that you watched on a screen at a large angle is completely different than actually seeing it coming at you. A fly ball is easy to judge because of the arc on the ball, a liner is coming in on a rope, and, well, it is hard to really know where it is going to land. To say that it was a bad play is simply WRONG.
“Guerrier in the eighth. I think the Angels might tee off on Crain’s fastball.”
One of my many predictions finally comes true. Dang.
Gardy REALLY doesn’t want Gomez in there against Rod.
It must be nice to consistantly get that outside corner.
“For goodness sake the season is not over if they lose.”
Here we go with this shit again — the mantra of the apologist. No one said it would be.
Here comes the bearded one
Where was THAT strikezone when the Twins needed it?
Seems the umps wanna leave for the plane already.
The moving strike zone makes another appearance.
Steve, Nora is FAR from an apologist.
Me Too, in that situation, the absolute last thing you can afford is for the ball to get over your head and to put the go ahead run at third with nobody out. You have to know the situation. That is a just inexperience. In regards to your question, I have played more baseball than you have watched in your lifetime.
Gomez needs to be in the minors…period. If he doesn’t have the intelligence to know how stupid he looks sniffing his bat, how is he ever going to be smart enough to recognize pitches?
Span, can you hit another HR?
Span needs a HR here.
Steve, some of you act as if it is. That is why I said it not because i am an ‘apologist’ or whatever you want to label me.
I’ve said it in the past and I’ll say it again.
I’ve got nothing aginst a bad strikezone. But I have no respect for a MOVING strikezone.
If you’re going to call it wide/narrow, at least be CONSISTENT.
Come on Span, hit it over!
Scratch that, walk if the pitch is crap span!
Here comes the pitch that rang up Buscher…
BS!!!!!
Not a strike! Grrrrrrr
Friggin’ called it.
And seriously, K-Rod needs to be fined for his showboating.
That is a really bad call by the ump, how can you honestly call that a strike?
Ben, so let me get this straight, he needs to go back on that hit because the worst thing is to let it get over his head. So, if that is true, what happens if it falls at his feet, your reply would be what??
The ball is hard to track when it is hit on a rope right at you. You need to get a feel for it, and it took him a sec to do that. You do NOT get a good break on a liner hit right at you, NO fielders do, simply because it is impossible to just instantly where the ballflight is going to take it.
Try it once yourself. Before making these foolish statements about bad fielding, you really need to understand that all balls are not hit the same way.
Easy to get a good break on a ball hit in the air, no way to get a good break on a liner. End of Story.
Nice strike zone ump. Me thinks you need a fine, not Span.
Unbelieveable strike zone there…just pathetic!
the call for AJ was a worse call
K-rod is a douchebag.
The ump was hungry and wanted to go get a beer and a sandwich. You can’t win them all.
Upon further review, that last BALL thrown by K-Rod was in the batters box.
Twins get the split, which is a good start to a LONG road trip.
And thankfully the homer/foul reversion didn’t end up making the difference.
K-Rod
“Thank you Jesus for the inconsistant strikezone that made my save that much easier”
It sucks to lose the last two games, especially today’s, but considering almost everything I read on here never predicted the Twins doing anything better than 1-3 in the series, I think it is safe to say that if you had told us all that we would split the series in Anaheim before it started, we all would have taken it.
Brutal call to end a brutal afternoon.
Ben, you are an IDIOT. No way have you played in the outfield and still make that statement.
Stupid, Stupid man.
Angels don’t need umps to help them out. Angels are comfortably in the lead in their division. What BS by that ump deciding the game instead of the players.
Actually the last Two balls were in the batters box.
The only reason K-Rod showboats like that is because he knows there’s NOTHING that at team can do to him for it. He never has to stand at the plate and get pitched to.
It sure is nice that the umps can affect a pennant race like they did with AJ again today. Note to umpires: make your dinner reservations for later and then you want be in such a hurry to get the games over with.
Anyone think the strikezone looked mighty big for K-Rod there. It’s easy to strike someone out when the strikezone suddenly balloons when he comes in. I would say about half the ’strikes’ he threw looked like balls.
Me Too, my response for a ball that falls at Gomez’s feet in that situation is “Oh well”, at lesat the go-ahead run is on 2nd (or probably first since it was Vlad that hit it). No need to worry, Gomez isn’t coming back to stay at your house tonight, the Twins are on the road.
Do you think being named Wendelstadt or Gorman has anything to do with your chance to being a ML umpire? Legacy is pervasive. And Dana DeMuth and Doug Eddings in CHI should both be thrown out of the profession. What a fiasco!
The umps must be from the south side of chicago
I think it is safe to say that if you had told us all that we would split the series in Anaheim before it started, we all would have taken it.
Exactly. It was a TOUGH split against a tough team. Hopefully these last few games have made the Twins a bit humbler so they don’t look past the Seattle series like they did the last time they were in Safeco.
If the Twins keep winning series, they’ll make the playoffs.
I think K-Rod has earned the right to be a hot dog after recording so many saves…
Here is why the Twins will not win the division and the Whities will. And before people tell me I am wrong, I hope I am wrong.
You cant win a race down the drive like this without some big boppers like the Sox have too many of and we dont have any of.
This team NEEDS more bona fide power. Not some 30 year old who hit homers in AAA, not some prospective power hit, they need POWER
2 things:
Gomez: you HAVE to know where you are on the field. Absolutely unacceptable not making that catch.
The strike zone was absolutely pathetic. Blue must have had a plane to catch.
Or getting paid by them, LOL
Sure there’s something they can do, T. Bunt up the first base line, make him cover the bag and then run right up his back.
Leave it to T to make a spin.
Yes, we all would have been happy to know they split, AHEAD of time. But after you win the first two, a split is no longer good enough. That “good enough” attitude is what gets you in second place.
The sad part is that the rays had the out at third in the ninth and coughed the ball up. Oh well, I hope the twins don’t lay an egg in their next couple of series…
nice work today reyes & crain! oh, and FU billy smith and the rest of the front office for not picking up a reliever to replace pat neshek. your unwillingness to deal is going to cost us the division in the end if our bellpen continues to falter in key situations like this.
Here’s a reason Sox will lose the division they just lost 2 Almost3) at home. And they play the Twins at the metrodome which they have trouble playing.
I mean the out at home, not at third. I was thinking third out…
Someone like Ibanez would look pretty good in the Twins lineup now, left handed and all. We cant be picky as to which side of the plate the power comes from.
Instead, we now have to face Ibanez for three games, because the Twins were once again too cheap to make a bold move down the stretch, like championship teams do,, Angels get Texiara, White Sox get Griffey, and the twins call up Ruiz. What a bold move.
This is why we do not win championships.
Tough loss.
Nathan for the 8th, and we might be talking about a tough win.
Would you rather Nathan pitch to the middle of the order with a one run lead, or the rest of the bullpen pitch to the middle of the order?
And the problem with Guerrero’s AB was much more Crain’s pitch, than Gomez’ defense. The ball was hit to the wall for pete’s sake.
You don’t have to throw strikes to get Guerrero out, why would you throw one down the middle on 0-1?
gatty
Worse..Sox had the out at home in the ninth
good point USAF, the way they stick to Nathan in the ninth religiously is beyond belief.
Why not secure the win in the ninth, then take your chances later. As is, Nathan does not pitch at all.
Mariners demands were beyond ridiculous for Ibanez.
The umps are supposed to send the home fans home happy, if they can. More people come out to the game that way, and everyone makes more money. It’s nothing new.
On top of the White Sox win, the Red Sox had to win 6-5 in extra innings, Too bad
Let’s see here… the pen blows it once again. Where have we heard that happen before? The pen needs an overhaul this offseason but I’m don’t think they have anyone in the minors to bring in.
The umps are also supposed to do their job right, which they clearly failed to do.
At least this game went into the tank at around 5:00 pm instead of 1:00 am, thus wasting my entire night. At least I don’t have to work tomorrow…
Umps should not decide games.
I blame this on the front office. They did not get any more power at trade time. They did not get a relief pitcher.
You say they are not out there? How can other teams do it? This team will always be a division champion at best because of this cheap owner and lousy front office.
We all would have been happy with a split coming out of Anaheim, but after winning the first 2 games of the series and having a 3-0 lead today this series has been a big disappointment.
I am more mad at the FO for sitting on their heels when it was clearly obvious the team needed a reliever.
The Twins definitely need to sweep Seattle or Oakland because right now we are a 1/2 game back of the Sox and we aren’t leading the wild card either as were one game back of the Red Sox
“You don’t have to throw strikes to get Guerrero out, why would you throw one down the middle on 0-1?”
Exactly.
Who do the White Sox play next?
Yep, Totally UnKevin, I knew, just knew that the “Cheap” owner thing would show it’s ugly little head again. Why do so many peeps on the blogs still insist on the cheap theme that keeps showing up? Honestly, what trades didn’t happen because of the money thing?
They were trying to trade for Beltre, Seattle said no-go unless you give us your young pitchers. Twins tried to get a HIGHLY paid pitcher (Washburn) and for some reason, again, Seattle said no-go unless you give us one of your young pitchers. Either the Twins young pitchers are phenomenally good, and the Mariners are hoping that the Twins FO is incredibly stupid, or the Mariners are asking way, way too much for these overpriced players.
No matter what, the Twins were looking to take on salary, and not trying to cut it like they did last year. Definitely not the act of a Cheap owner if you ask me.
The umps did their jobs today, in Anaheim, and not in Chicago. That is the glory of human error and maybe when it matters more than August 24th the Twins will get a gift wrapped present from the umps, maybe it being a blown call in their favor or an overturned gamewinning HR in chicago, it works itself out if it is supposed to. geesh
Mr. USAF Chief, (5:20) You are so correct! First, Crain throws a fat one to Guerrero, then, after getting Hunter, throws another cookie to Matthews. Vlad’s triple was a shot and probably uncatchable by anyone, particularly not a kid playing his first series in the nooks of the Big A’s centerfield.
I know everyone is mad at the umps…that call in the Rays/Sox games WAS the worst I have seen in the last couple years…it was shockingly bad.
But the Rays should have Anderson out at home in the 9th by 10 feet. They didn’t execute. The Twins hitters scored 2 in the first 3 innings, then didn’t do much for the rest of the game. The much-discussed medicore Twins BP didn’t protect the lead. The umps are not to blame for these things.
A split is not bad…if, and this is a big if, the Twins go 5-2 against the M’s and A’s…and then 2-1 against the Jays, this will have been a great trip.
What happened to using Nathan more often? When did he last pitch in the last week, and how much? Sigh.
I do not understand the thinking of having Nathan pitch the least amount of innings on the roster. I do not understand why he can’t come in during the 8th inning. BS on “roles”. Your best pitcher should pitch in the highest leverage situation.
Also, I’ll repeat what I’ve been saying for about a month now - send Gomez down, bring up Pridie. Gomez will be in AAA next year anyway (unless they do something with Cuddeyer), send him down now and get him working on actual fundamentals.
I definitely agree with those of you who want Nathan used more…it can be tricky though. On Thursday, a lot of posters wanted Nathan to be used in the 9th and/or 10th in a tie game. Then today, people want Nathan in the 8th to protect a lead. So if Nathan is brought in both times, he pitches 3 or 4 innings. So if the Twins are in a tough spot tomorrow in the 8th, should he be used again? It is easy for me to say bring Nathan in for this specific game or that specific game, but if Gardy did it every time I, or another poster on here, wanted him in, he’d end up
pitching 1 2/3- 2 innings at least four times a week.
This would be a situation to use Nathan though. I know they can’t do it everytime but with Twins having the lead and White Sox winning it would have been a good time to use him I think.
“Either the Twins young pitchers are phenomenally good, or Mariners are hoping that the Twins FO is incredibly stupid.”
After the Santana deal, my money’s on the latter.
Nora- I tend to agree with you about today…but people were saying Gardy was an idiot for not using Nathan on Thursday and they will say it again tomorrow if it is a precarious situation in the 8th…and the next time…and so on and so forth…it is not easy to know when.
markinmn: Here is my theory, a theory backed up by vast statistical analysis:
If you have a closer that is way better than your other relievers, and the heart of the order is coming up in the 8th, you bring in your closer there. Then, you bring in your stiff in the 9th to face the lesser batters. It is pretty simple stuff, actually.
Not a bad idea, Mike. Best pitcher against their best hitters. Instead we use Crain. Twins are paying Nathan big bucks I think they should make him earn it more often then they have this season. He is the best we have in the bullpen.
Mike- As I said, I agree about today…but again, people were calling Gardy an idiot on Thursday for not pitching Nathan 2 innings…and they will do it for today’s game…and they will do it the next time the situation arises where the Twins are tied or barely ahead in the 8th….
Guess what? If Crain was brought in in the 9th after Nathan got out of the 8th, people would be saying Gardy is an idiot for using Crain/Guerrier/ etc.
the twins have 7 away games this week against the mariner’s and a’s. the white sox have 8 away games this week against the orioles and red sox. the extra game is a postponed 3-3 game in the 11th inning against the O’s that was rained out in april. the twins have a chance to move 2 or 3 games up if they play the way they’re capable of against 2 inferior teams.
Plus, what if the best hitter comes up with the bases loaded, 1 out in the 7th? Twins up by one or tied. That could be the biggest at bat of the game…I’m not saying you’re wrong, but it is more difficult than people on here make it seem.
Wow Craig 43 AB’s. You do know it all.
I don’t think they brought up Ruiz to hit singles. And your Twins wonder boy Gomez can’t play defense a lick. Span would have eatn’t that fly ball up…..
You are so, so smart. Just what the Twins need…..
all this negative talk about the twins is ridiculous. yes, they had the game today, but then again it’s the angels. they are where they are because they are a great team, and they battled back and won. a 2-2 split is a lot better than what a lot of people were thinking.
meanwhile, the white sox looked HORRIBLE against the rays this weekend at home. the defense was bad, the bullpen blew 2 leads and almost blew another today. the white sox tied the game because of a dropped ball from the rays catcher and from a horrible call by the umps in the 10th. but it doesn’t look good for the sox this week, they have 4 in fenway.
Ruiz was brought up to hit against lefties. And he is. Ruiz is not a top prospect.
Craig, Craig, Craig……..
Well, the Twins lost. I hate these kind of games. One where the Twins were in it (in this case winning virtually all game long) and lost it basically at the end.
One thing, yes, I do agree bringing Nathan in to start the 8th. sounds like a good idea. Only problem I have with that is, who comes in the 9th. to pitch?? No way that he pitchs 2 full innings when they have that many games to play back to back. Do you bring in Crain? What happens if/when he implodes? Guer, what happens if/when he implodes, etc. etc.
The closer is probably where he is for a reason. He is the best man for the job. When was the last time Rivera was brought in to start the 8th. inning of a game? When was the last time he was then removed to start the ninth?? Not going to happen. The high leverage situation may have been the 8th. today, but guess what, the Angels have a good team, and last I checked they don’t have too many “mediocre” players to throw out there with the game on the line in the 9th.
Leave it to T to make a spin.
Your new “Unoriginal” moniker is completely appropriate. You may want to go ahead and read the posts before mine to see I’m not the only person happy to walk out of there with a split.
But go ahead, get your scapegoats ready.
WHALEFEET:
I had to check out the White Sox game and the bad call. AJ was caught off second and in the run-down Pierzynski initiated some contact, hitting the third baseman with his left elbow and AJ fell to the ground.
Tampa Bay infielders and manager Joe Maddon argued vehemently to no avail, and Pierzynski was awarded third. He scored the winning run.
AJ is dumb.
- Twins did better in this first series than I was expecting although they totally booted away a realistic series win. Even a series sweep was not a fantasy except for….
- Given Twins on the road against the winningest team going into the series vs. Sox with their record at home, to be back to just 1/2 game back again is minimizing damage.
- Speaking of boot, I’m eating both a crow and my hat right now because I’m willing to admit that, even though I’m still not an LNP fan, if the Twins make it to the postseason, it would be a scary thought to start Buscher at 3rd. If Punto can keep up his hitting and not go into a horrible slump in the next month, I would have to absolutely agree he has to start somewhere in the infield and that Buscher be available to PH.
- Can Gardy and staff please make Buscher throw several dozen additional tosses to first in practice each day?
- What’s with Go-Go and two blown catches in a row? Today the excuse from Bert was bright sunlight. The first one however was at night (lights??). As a counterbalance I totally did not agree with sending in a PH for Gomez yesterday…he had been hitting well lately. Today I was in complete agreement as he was pretty cold with the bat.
- What happened to Gardy’s “revised” strategy of bringing in Nathan in the 8th. Wasn’t today a time to do that?
you can’t bring nathan into the 8th with 7 games in a row on the road this week. if he pitched 2 innigns today, he’s not available tomorrow or perhaps even tuesday. crain also had been looking good his last 2 outings so bringing him in wasn’t a bad call, the angels just got some hits. they’re a good team.
Again, bringing Nathan in occasionally in the 8th should not be a problem. Twins have to do it sparingly and many, including me think this was good time to do it.
yeah, you could’ve brought him in there. but, then you don’t have him tomorrow night for sure and possibly even tuesday night. the bullpen didn’t look good last time they were in seattle so gardy probably had it in mind that he might need nathan 2 or 3 times. once again, crain has looked good his last few outings, so you can’t argue with gardy’s call. if crain gets out of that situation, then gardy’s not such a dumb guy.
i think the orioles will tee off on richard tomorrow and beat the sox. hopefully, they also take the remainder of the makeup game. it’s 3-3 in the 11th. the twins will also have a nice batting practice session against miguel batista tomorrow night. pair that with hopefully another dominant start from liriano against the mariners (they couldn’t hit him at all last time) and the twins could be up by 1 game tomorrow night.
Why would he not be available Tuesday. No matter what he would be available after one day off. Can’t think of a reason he would not be.
Also Mike had the suggestion of bringing in Nathan for the 8th against their best hitters and then bring someone else in for the 9th. Very unusual thing to do but in this situation, I would ave rather had Nathan pitch to their best hitters.
throwing 2 innings for a guy used to 1 inning is more strenuous than you think. most bullpen pitchers who throw 2 innings are rarely used with less than 2 days off. nathan rarely throws 2 innings in the first place, so i think the 2 days off would have to be a necessity.
it’s easy to say bring in someone else for the 9th, but realistically, when’s the last time someone other than nathan pitched for a save? the last 3 outs are the toughest.
I bet he would have pitched after 1 day if needed.
Well, they had no chance for a save because of the 8th. I think in the situation today the 8th was the toughest.
Their best hitters were up in the 8th.
Terry Francona hasn’t been reluctant to bring Papelbon in for the 8th.
I would have preferred that Gardy risk bringing in Nathan to pitch to the Angels BEST hitters in the 8th and if he couldn’t get them out quickly bring in Guerrier to pitch the 9th to batters lower in the lineup. I know he’s not used to closing but for god’s sake can’t he pretend the game is tied or something so that the idea of closing doesn’t totally screw up his brain??? It can’t be that much more nervewracking to pitch when the game is tied and you’re the visiting team than it is to close when you’re the visiting team.
Whale, hope the Birds do better against Richard than the M’s. We teed off Richard very nicely but he shut out the M’s even though Hernandez was pitching for the M’s. That’s baseball…never a dull moment and never any moment that’s totally predictable.
live podcast with chat room and call in abilities, listen to Marty Andrade, Seth and Josh…
I don’t get why you’d not pitch him here, just in case you need him the next two days. This was a game to be won. They should pitch him when they need him. If he goes two innings today, and is not ready tomorrow, oh well. They would have gotten today’s win. Again, it is simple game theory. When you have a chance to win, take it (I’m not suggesting bringing him in in the 3rd, please don’t straw man this argument). If he pitches today, they probably win. He may not even be needed tomorrow or Tuesday. They are better off, statistically, getting today’s win, and letting something else happen tomorrow.
What kinda stinks is we lost first place in the division AND in the Wild Card standings. Oh well. Got to gear up for Seattle. That team is nearly forty games below five hundred, and over thirty games out of first. That is really BAD. So that means we’re going to have three really hard fought games against a P.O’ed. team that probably thinks they are better than us and better than their record indicates. It doesn’t get any easier from here on out.
Seattle can’t think they are better then anyone with their record. LOL
In case anyone cares, here’s the video with the (sh!tty) called third strike, the bat and helmet toss, and the (hot dog) celebration by the (azzclown) Angel’s closer I call KRud:
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?categoryId=2521705&videoId=3551759
There is finally joy in ripville.the Twins lost 2 in a row to the best team in baseball.All the little league rejects are having a field day!
BILL SMITH SUCKS
