Monday pregame: Lamb designated for assignment
Posted on August 25th, 2008 – 5:24 PMBy Joe Christensen
SEATTLE — To make room on their roster for Eddie Guardado, the Twins designated Mike Lamb for assignment.
Lamb was in the first year of a two-year, $6.6 million contract, so the Twins are eating $3.8 million with this move.
Signed to be the everyday third baseman, Lamb struggled through April and began yielding playing time to Brian Buscher. Lamb is batting .233 with one home run and 32 RBI. The Twins now have 10 days to trade him or release him.
“I’m disappointed it didn’t work out,” Twins General Manager Bill Smith said. “I’m disappointed for Mike, but I’m happy for Brian.”
Update: Eddie’s plane is scheduled to land in Seattle about 90 minutes before the game. He will be in uniform, wearing his old No. 18.
Update (8:05 p.m.): Manager Ron Gardenhire didn’t come out and say Guardado is the team’s new eighth-inning guy, but you could tell the skipper is glad to have him back.
“We’ll see how he’s throwing,” Gardy said. “Rumor has it, he’s been pretty good. We’ll see how everything breaks down and mix and match, but he gives us another late-inning guy with courage. A lot of courage.”
Guardado has arrived in the Twins’ clubhouse.
Twins (74-56)
1. Denard Span, RF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Brian Buscher, 3B
8. Nick Punto, SS
9. Carlos Gomez, CF
Starting pitcher: LH Francisco Liriano
Mariners (48-92)
1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Adrian Beltre, 3B
5. Jose Lopez, 2B
6. Wladimir Balentien, CF
7. Kenji Johjima, DH
8. Jamie Burke, C
9. Miguel Cairo, 1B
Starting pitcher: RH Miguel Batista
Safeco Field. First pitch: 9:10 p.m. (Central)
794 Responses to "Monday pregame: Lamb designated for assignment"
[…] Originally published by Around the Majors […]
Awesome decision in August, terrible decision to sign him over the offseason. So long, $3.5 million.
Now, that is interesting… he would probably accept and be back in a week.
Great news! This is the person that deserved to be gone the most on the team. Good to hear!
Phew, no point in him rotting away $3.5 Million on the Bench.
I feel bad for Lamb, because I know he loved this team and he really liked being here, even with his bench role. He never once complained about his diminishing role.
Good luck to him wherever he ends up; I hope he can get back to his old self and be the consistent hitter he was with the Astros. I’m just sorry it didn’t work out with the Twins, but it’s hard to argue with the move based on the struggles he’s shown.
Right move to make. Hopefully Eddie has a nice impact and helps us close the gap from the youngsters to Nathan.
Yea if he takes the assignment, he could be right back up.
Why do the Twins keep signing these type of free agents? Spend your 10 million on one player instead of getting three scrubs!
Duane,
Lamb was a bit of a different case. He was a career .290 hitter who had just never had a chance to play every day. He’d routinely crank out 10-14 HRs in 300 ABs.
I don’t blame the Twins for taking a gamble and seeing how it worked out. If he’s put up a .280 average and 15+ HR, I don’t think people would’ve minded him for just $3 million.
It didn’t work out, but I’d hardly call this a Ruben Sierra/Tony Batista/Sidney Ponson/Ramon Ortiz-type move.
We let him last this long????????? Monroe had more Hr’s and RBI’S AND was let go long ago. Makes no sense to me.
If is a big word Steve. If this, if That.
I agree with Duane, and would much rather take the $8 - $12 million and pay one or two good established players in their prime rather than taking chances on guys at the end of their careers who could possibly reserrect their careers.
Hindsight is 20/20 Duane.
I’m aware, and I agree that if we’re going to cut him now, it should’ve been done long ago.
I’m merely defending the logic behind signing him in the offseason. I don’t lump him into the same “washed up veteran” class as Ponson, Ramon, etc.
He wasn’t a guy who had gone through major surgery or left the game for a period of time, or played in Japan… he was just someone who’d put up nice numbers in a part-time role without ever getting a full chance. I don’t blame the Twins’ FO for thinking he could do the job if finally given a shot.
“Hindsight is 20/20 Duane.”
Yeah so you would think that they would see that signing old guys at the end of their careers is not smart.
Then give Lamb a one-year contract and let him prove himself…not two!
Eeeeesh… Gameday on MLB.com shows that Thome came about as close he could to ending the suspended game.
However, still 3-3… Orioles coming up in the top of the 14th! Let’s go Baltimore!
Very well said Matt.
That point, I will agree with, Duane.
top 14, and the sox haven’t hit a HR. I am surprised.
Not the move expected. They are eating a salary but this was clearly a move the team had made as far as moving in a different direction at 3rd.
Ruiz basically stole Lamb’s spot off the bench.
You can criticize the signings but they are taking the right steps right now to help this team win both this year and next by moving on from the Lamb experiment.
Tony, it’s no hindsight, it’s common knowledge among everyone but apparently you and Bill Smith that Monroe, Everett, Livan, and Lamb should’ve never been signed in the first place.
Duane,
With the possible exception of Monroe, Take a look at the signings Lamb, Everett & Livan.
ALL had a purpose. The Twins believed they had players in the minors who were near ready. By signing Lamb to 2 years, I would interpret that the Twins thought their future solution at 3rd base was the farthest away.
Injuries screwed up the Everett deal, Tolbert seemed an answer but an injury nipped that in the bud.
Lamb contributed early, but never got it started.
I happen to like all the signings, and they did their job, unfortunately in retrospect the minors produced quicker and better thhan anticipated or expected.
Regards,
Steve,
I am watching the game… it wasn’t close… Millar just missed a homer by a yard
If they could find a player that would sign for 1 year at 10 million I am sure they would go after him, but hardly any viable FA’s are signing 1 year contracts these days. SO to say save your money and go for that 1 player at 10 million is a little out of the question.
NOt to mention this team had a couple of holes to fill and 1 player at 10 million would have eaten up a lot of what they would have been able to spend in the off season.
I’m with Steve. Lamb represented a real chance at a league average third baseman over something like 450 ABs or so.
That it didn’t work out isn’t something to be held against Bill Smith. He was exactly what the Twins should be looking for, and the cost isn’t anything that’ll seriously hamper the Twins this year or next.
The problem with the “sign one guy for $12″ theory is that there aren’t many of them, and they don’t often sign 1 or 2 year deals. You plunk down $48 over 4 for one of those guys, and HE doesn’t work out, now you really hamstrung the Twins for a long time.
Nico,
That post tells us more about you rather than Bill Smith.
Sometimes it’s useful to think. Try it some time.
Regards,
You like all the signings Dragon? You must be kidding.
2 on, no outs for the O’s
2 RISP with one out for the O’s
bases loaded 1 out for the O’s
Bases loaded one out for the Os
Chris Singleton just picked the Twins to win the AL Wild Card over the Red Sox because of pitching. If you told anyone that at the beginning of the season, they would have laughed you out of town.
[Why do the Twins keep signing these type of free agents? Spend your 10 million on one player instead of getting three scrubs!]
The difference being that for $10 million total for one year, the Twins signed multiple players to fill multiple spots.
To sign someone for $10 million, it will have to be for multiple years (4+), and you are still gambling on a player that may not deserve $10 million for multiple years (See Carlos Silva).
In play, RUNS! GO BALTIMORE!
O’s scored
4-3 O’s
4-3 O’s, bases loaded 1 out
And Juan Castro GIDP. HMMM.
Ugh, Juan Castro grounds into a double play.
He’s STILL killing us and he’s not even on the team anymore!
Come on Oriole bullpen… HOLD!!
Let me play a bit of a devil’s advocate here… I think that Gardy was not as patient with Lamb this season as he has been with 2 of the biggest off season mistakes of the front office (Cuddyer and Rincon). If he left Lamb in while he was struggling, like he did with Cuddyer, Lamb might have turned around. But since the mid may, Lamb has been in the deep freeze in favor of players like Macri and Buscher. He never had the opportunity to produce this summer…
Twins are three outs away from being tied for first…
Thanks Juan Castro for the dp. At least they got a run. Hope they can finish it off.
Twibnotes-
How’s the sign 3 scrubs worked out for the Twins???
Now the O’s must rely on a guy named Rocky Cherry to close the game out.
This is interesting if the Sox lose. Since this game was ‘played’ in April, does that mean that each time the Sox and Twins were flip flopped at the top the twins were actually never in second and tied with the Sox?
and the Orioles promptly put in Rocky Cherry (is that a Ben and Jerry’s flavor) to close it…
The Orioles call on Rocky Cherry to face Konerko, AJ, and Quentin… holy crap… this could be ugly.
Duane,
For the purpose they seemed to be intended, absolutely yes!
NONE were long term deals. Lamb at 2 years was probably what it took, and based on his previous history, if he was supplanted at 3rd, he could be expected to be a bat off the bench.
These might be considered as same old same old from the past, yet the seemed to me less reclaimation projects and more temporary production until some young pups stepped up.
Regards,
wide strike zone at the sox game…
Don’t allow a HR Rocky!
What ‘the Dragon’ said.
walked Pauly…
I agree with Thrylos98 here, that apparently if the player is not on Gardy’s good side he isnt as patient as he is with others and that is really unfair to the players. I am from Texas where I did get to see Lamb play a lot and he was really good in both the AL and NL when he was given a legitimate shot, but when you are on the bench for the better part of 6 weeks and only get at most 10 abs (and the last 5 are 4 pitch walks) there arent much you can do to prepare to face a closer of the magnitude of K-rod (he has 50 saves for a reason and the moving strike zone is only partially the reason). Hopefully he can go on to be clutch somewhere where he can actually get a shot, not a team where unless your name is Punto you have to literally walk on water to be able to play every day.
AJ Struck out
I’m with Dragon here.
The Twins were being realistic here in this offseason. They weren’t looking for big bats to push them to the postseason; they were looking for effective stopgaps until our young talent was ready. They knew it was a long shot for us to contend this year.
In spite of all that, we’ve done it… but come on, would you have believed the Twins would be here coming into Opening Day?
Everett was probably looked at as a stopper until Casilla was ready. Lamb, same thing only in regards to Hughes or Valencia.
They signed cheap, in order to preserve money to maybe bring in the free agent everyone’s talking about when the new stadium was here.
I still agree with Duane that Lamb could’ve been given a one-year deal, but I don’t fault the Twins for these signings. We traded away the faces of our franchise, and two of our best players in doing so. No one thought we’d be here, and they weren’t wrong for failing to think so either.
This year has been a great surprise, and they’re trying to make additions now to strengthen our chances without greatly compromising the future.
Now pleasepleasepleaseplease… for the love of GOD, just fail ONE TIME Carlos Quentin!
DP is still in order…
I hope Rocky doesn’t lose it out there…
twins one out away from first!
Geeze, Markakis almost lost that ball, but luckily he caught it. 2 down, 1st and 2nd in Baltimore.
2 outs, KG Junior in
Griffey pinch hitting.
Down to Griffey… oh boy…
The White Sox are apparently allowed to PH Ken Griffey even though he didn’t play for them when this game was originally played. Bites.
Augh! Wild pitch! 
KEEP IT TOGETHER ROCK!
Looks like Rocky is afraid of Griffey
Oh sweet lord… now it’s Alexei… please no… please no… please…
Bases are loaded, 2 outs. Man this is a pressure cooker. Not sure why they are walking Griffey, that brings the winning run into scoring position…
Now the O’s are intentionally walking Griffey after a wild pitch advanced the runner on 2nd to 3rd. That really makes no sense. Why walk the winning run into scoring position? Griffey is not going to kill you in this stage of his career.
Oh, great, I misread the box score.
Now it’s just Jermaine Dye.
I’m gonna go hang myself.
All to pitch to Dye. Makes no sense, but I hope it works out.
Jermaine Dye, my god.
And we are now tied for first place.
Go O’s take the B*&ch Sox out in the next game.
tied for 1st
Yay
And…..the Twins are tied for first.
YES! OUTS! YES! FIRST PLACE!
Nice, O’s win! Tied for first in the Central.
How can KG jr bat? Wasn’t he with the cards in April??
Rocky Cherry for MVP!
Chris Singleton just picked the Twins to win the AL Wild Card over the Red Sox because of pitching.
He’s also the same guy that said Adam Dunn has low on-base and slugging percentages because he strikes out too much. Thankfully for us even a broken clock is right twice a day.
That was a little nerve racking, but hey the twins are tie for first!
Bob, if only the players that were on the team in April could play, both teams would have been short-handed, so they were allowed to play their current roster.
I hope Lamb stays in the orginization. They have to pay him anyway, and he can be part of the team when rosters expand. They can keep him around and cut him in the spring, and they will be out nothing more than they are out right now.
I think that Chris Singleton is an idiot personally…
He was with the Reds, not the Cards
Wow! The Orioles, despite their suckitude, have Gary Thorne as their tv play-by-play. We need to show him how much fun it is to be associated with the Twins if he’s going to be with a small revenue team. I bet he doesn’t gab ad nauseum about walleye cheeks.
Ben, relax- it was a joke
I agree that some guys seem to get into Gardy’s dog-house for certain issues and some don’t despite the same issues. Case in point was that supposedly Bartlett’s big league debut was delayed because of defense but the Twins continue to stick with Buscher’s shaky defense.
Great to see Butcher in there again today [/sarcasm]
Everyday thrylos98 scores again!
I hope Lamb gets to go to a team that will allow him a decent shot to play….. more than once or twice an AB a month. I think he would be a good asset to a team willing to let him be on a playoff roster seeing he has experience. That was the reason I was thinking the Twins were keeping him, but I hope he gets a shot, even if it is an evil team like the Cubs or Phillies….
Sox didn’t deserve the lead after their game yesterday. Justice is served by the Orioles. LOL
Twins are batting against Batista today. I hope they score 20 runs by the 5th inning.
Yes Nora, it does seem like justice was served.
So is there any word on why Harris is on 5 straight benchings? is he still on the team? or was he another move that I might have missed in all the White Sox game coverage here?
We will be seeing AJ for many years to come. He will be on the big screen for years after baseball with his acting skills.
Eddie for Hamburger and Lamb, meaty deal for the Twins.
Miss O,
I imagine Harris will be playing quite a bit starting tomorrow, with us facing six consecutive LHPs… however, who knows? Gardenhire apparently doesn’t like Harris or Kubel, so they could find themselves chatting it up and telling high school stories or something for the next week while Adam Everett’s big bat runs amok along with West Coast.
Yup, just another boneheaded signing in a series of boneheaded signings of washed up, retread players. Seems BS failed to learn from TR’s screwups. Kirby Puckett was the first $3M player. He probably rolls over in his grave each time one of these marginal players signs a $3M/yr contract.
Not sure if Harris is ‘benched’ per se, but I don’t really why Everett has been playing so much.
[…] Originally published by Around the Majors […]
well gardy said they lefties weren’t going to have a week vacation since the twins are facing LHP, and if they need to get Morneau a day off, Buscher has to play 1st since Lamb is no longer an option….. does Ruiz even own a glove? I heard he was pretty bad even at AAA standards in the field. But even with Buscher at 1st we have the wonderful and talented Nicky Punto who is the greatest player since Mickey Mantle, so…….
Ruiz is a better fielder than Butcher ever was, and this is a scary thought
Twins have lost last three games while tied or holding the division lead. Hopefully this trend doesn’t continue.
Mike Lamb was not washed up or a re-tread. Last year he hit .289 - .366 - .453. He would have ranked 3rd, 2nd and 3rd on the Twins with those numbers last year.
Hey — Let’s lay off of the LNP bashing. He’s on a role — give the guy some slack!
yeap, Punto’s role is to be Gardy’s pet and he is great at it…
Lamb also only played against pitchers he had good numbers against … why else would he only have 300 at bats and why would the Astros trade for Wigginton last year when they already had Lamb. They knew he was a platoon only type player.
or to teach kids how not to play baseball fundamentally……sliding head first, not getting set properly to throw…..etc
I’m holding off on Punto-bashing as long as he’s got his little glass slippers on… but sooner or later, the clock’s gonna strike 12:00, and we’re gonna have a pumpkin in the 8-spot of our lineup once again.
For now though, he should be playing SS or 3B every day, with Harris manning the other spot. Everett can be used from the 7th inning on to help preserve the leads… but I do not understand WHY he keeps starting.
Side note:
Harris is batting .500 against Seattle this year with a 1.268 OPS. Buscher is batting .200.
Yeeeeeah…
on unrelated news, Eliel Sierra, a 22 year right fielder in the Twins’ Dominical Summer League Rookie team was suspended for testing positive for steroids today…
Steroids didn’t seem to help, because he was hitting .230
The Astros had an idiot for a GM who was played like a fiddle by their former GM…. they were pretty much told they NEEDED wiggington to make their postseason push and the owner saw dollar signs and made the deal happen….. it was a dark and stupid day in Houston…. notice now Wiggington is now in LF and Wheeler is part of the better bullpens in baseball….. Hunsicker is a smart guy, Purpura was not…..
Lamb was 6 - 9 in his career against Miguel Batista
Everyone hits Batista.
All I’m saying is that Punto has been playing quality / consistent ball as of late. He has a 12 game hitting streak going into tonight — his glove’s been hot and he’s gotten on base in the 9th when we’re in tight games… Can’t we give the guy any credit?
“notice now Wiggington is now in LF”
Really … I just watched him make a play in tonights Astros/Mets game and he was at 3rd.
But the Twins FO is too cheap to EVER eat Lamb’s entire contract. EVER!
And I was called crazy at the beginning of the year for claiming that I saw the beginnings of a change in philosphy.
Past few games he had been in Lf because the Astros had wanted Blum or Loretta there defensively over him and when Lee got hurt he was there…… I couldn’t tell you when he might have moved back all I know is that the last series I saw him in he was in LF and he had been there for a while
T,
agreed. This is a refreshing attitude change by the FO. Let’s see whether it holds during the offseason when
Juan Cruz, Scott Downs, Rafael Soriano, Dan Wheeler, Will Ohman & Brian Shouse are all free agents (as well as Rafael Furcal)
It will take a lot to get Wheeler from Tampa Bay……and Furcal? isnt he out with back surgery or something major like that?
What about Brandon Lyon … he’s been kind of shaky as a closer this year, but he was pretty solid as a set up guy last year.
Wheeler is a free agent at the end of the season, so is Furcal. Furcal is out with back issues (no surgery) ready to return any time soon
I will wish him good luck. I hope he stays with the twins he is a better player then what he has showed.
To those who say Lamb wasn’t given a chance, check the stats. He was a regular for two months, and then platooned. At one point in May, he had the lowest OPS of any qualifying player. Cuddyer has been disappointing but he had been a regular for two year and driven in 190 runs in ‘06-’07, you tend to be more patient with guys like that. Lamb was benched when Buscher got a couple starts and outhit him clearly. From that point, he was an extra guy. Remember, this guy is 32 years old. He has over six years of major league experience and never really was a regular. The Twins took the chance that he could succeed in that role and he failed. Lamb’s replacement took over any opportunity for a platoon.
I’m still very surprised that the Twins DFAed him, but from an on-the-field perspective, it was the right thing to do.
Lamb was thought to be the best FA 3B on the market when he signed (after A-Rod and Lowell there wasn’t much left) and his ability to hit consistently was the main reason why he got more than one year. He didn’t hit, simple as that.
I expect Lamb will sign with somebody and I figure he will do better wherever he goes. Good luck to him.
Dragon makes a very good point. You don’t sign many $10M players for one year and if you do, you might get Andruw Jones.
bass, hamburger, lamb… the twins keep throwing away good food. i’m gettin’ hungry.
You don’t sign many $10M players for one year and if you do, you might get Andruw Jones
or Chili Davis (in 1991 dollars)
Punto not getting set properly to throw? Wow are we really searching for things to rip the guy on. Let’s go after his dog next.
Lamb is 6-9 against Batista? Not as impressive as Punto slugging 4.000 against him…
Punto’s dog really sucks. It peed in my yard once, and it has really bad breath. Also, its not a manly dog, like a german shepherd or black lab; it’s a prissy little pomeranian.
“But the Twins FO is too cheap to EVER eat Lamb’s entire contract. EVER!
And I was called crazy at the beginning of the year for claiming that I saw the beginnings of a change in philosphy.”
Before you hurt yourself patting your own back, the payroll is at roughly 57 million this year vs. 72 million. bit of a difference and allows them to eat the bad contracts. time will tell if this is a change of philosophy or just circumstances.
thrylos said
You don’t sign many $10M players for one year and if you do, you might get Andruw Jones
or Chili Davis (in 1991 dollars)
also Jack Morris (in those same 1991 dollars)
Juan Castro still “helping” the Twins, commits an error allowing an unearned run to score for the WSox. 1-0 Chicago in the second.
… and i was called crazy for thinking my opinions should be considered important to the blog and i was probably crazy for thinking anyone would or should give a rat’s ass, i was most crazy to think the blog was about me and not the team….. 
eaa,
Don’t worry about the Punto haters.
It’s easy to know when they have lost the argument, they start looking at 3rd or 4th level errors to find something to criticise.
Also interesting all the criticism of Gardy and his favorites, yet if you read here enough, just about every poster has their own favorites they never criticize.
Damn!!! It’s almost like you can expect human beings to act like human beings every time
Regards,
You Gotta Be Kidding is not kidding. We just threw away three kinds of meat for Everday Eddy.
Special Ed.
E.D. ? ? ?
(special e.d.)
Dragon,
Does that make your favorite Gardy/the Twins FO?
Anyhow, as I said before, I don’t like saying it, but Punto doesn’t deserve any criticism for now.
I just hope he’s not earning himself a second tour in a Twins jersey. Ugh.
I wish Clayton Richard would revert back to form…
Dragon,
everyone does have their favorites and everyone is biased. It doesn’t need to be a bad thing.
Steve,
Actually, I don’t think (unless posted after a 3rd or 4th Guinness) you will find any serious post by me that has criticized ANY Twins player.
That doesn’t mean some unkind thoughts have clanged around in my head.
Regards,
Shawn,
I have no argument with that. My intended Point, was individuals criticizing Gardy for favorites, while having favorites of their own.
Regards,
this blog is like most any other online place…. some good points, some witty banter and back and forth but mostly people mostly fighting with each other.
Now if the Twins can get Radke to come out of retirement and pitch in relief. They’ll have my 2 favorite players from back in the day.
I have no issue with any Twins’ player. Each of them is who he is and they have their abilities… the only people I have issue with is Gardy (when uses lesser players instead of better players or misusing players in situations or lets players rot on the bench), the coaches when they do not work with the players to make them improve (or give up on certain players with potential or try to shove their ideas down player’s throats in a cookie cutter approach - see Ortiz) and the FO when they do not try to get quality players and sign mediocre talent… that’s about it. Players are players.
time will tell if this is a change of philosophy or just circumstances.
Keep moving those goalposts there…
For those who wish that the Twins had picked up Hawkins rather than Special Eddie, remember when:
1) Hawkins failed at closer because he could not deal with the pressure, and;
2) Eddie did a good (great?) job as a closer with less stuff, but the heuevos of a lion.
Eddie is still my choice if the game means something and Latroy is still my choice if the game means nothing!
Punto has played well recently. I have no qualms posting that. If he continues to play 40 points above his career average, the Twins are the benefactors. I root for the Twins first and foremost. I still do and WILL ALWAYS view him as a utility player. If he is starting anywhere for the Twins the FO haven’t done their job upgrading the team.
Juan Cruz, Scott Downs, Rafael Soriano, Dan Wheeler, Will Ohman & Brian Shouse are all free agents (as well as Rafael Furcal)
Other interesting options…
3B:
Rich Aurilia (37)
Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (28) - $6.2MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Joe Crede (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Wes Helms (33) - $3.75MM club option for ‘09
Chipper Jones (37) - $8-11MM vesting option for ‘09
Dallas McPherson (27)
DH:
Milton Bradley (31)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Jason Giambi (38) - $22MM club option for ‘09 with $5MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for ‘09 with a $3MM buyout
Raul Ibanez (37)
Manny Ramirez (37)
Juan Rivera (30)
Mike Sweeney (35)
Frank Thomas (41)
Jim Thome (38) - $13MM club option for ‘09 with $3MM buyout; vests with 564 PAs in ‘08
Jose Vidro (34)
LOTS of options here. Also of note, Punto, Reyes, Guardado, and Redmond could all potentially be free agents. So there’s even MORE salary that could potentially come off the books.
It could be the Twins went low on payroll this year to not only start a youth movement, but get set up for some potential free agent shopping.
Out of all the guys listed….I think I’ll make Bradley my “Holy CRAP do I covet that guy” for 2009 (2008 was Aaron Rowand)
That’s great he’s wearing his old number!
JP,
agree 100%, but I would add that if he is with the team next year (and the FO allows Gardy to use him every day) instead of someone like Tolbert/Macri/Harris as a utility roll, the FO wouldn’t have done their job
Oh wow…I just saw Ibanez was also available in the offseason.
There’s probably going to be a lot of high bidders this offseason. If the Twins can only grab one they’re going to have some tough decisions.
Frankly, I’d say DH (if they end up wanting to deal Kubel) or 3B (probably most likely option…though there’s not much on the market FA wise)
Tied in Baltimore 2-2
JP,
“I still do and WILL ALWAYS view him as a utility player.”
Does that mean, no matter HOW WELL Punto plays, and no matter HOW LONG he plays THAT well, you will NEVER change that view?
Just asking.
T
Moving the goalposts? This is a new year with a different GM. The salary of the team is a lot different than last year. I don’t know whether this was circumstances or a new philosophy by the team. I’m glad you do so you can show me the way.
O’s take the lead 3-2
And Juan Castro kills the O’s rally…
Sane
at age 31. and his past performance (this year included) i would have big problems if the Twins resigned him with the intentions of having him be a starter.
so yes I will always view him as a utility player.
T,
the Twins made the mistake to go after Monroe instead of Bradley this year when they had the chance to sign him at a decent price. Next year he will be too expensive. There are not too many decent 3B options out there, so the 3B has to come in a trade.
I hope that they go all out after Ryan Zimmerman who, even though expensive, will solve their 3B hole for years and the Twins have players to trade…
I don’t know whether this was circumstances or a new philosophy by the team
I went over my reasoning for this numerous times.
1) The decision to deal excess starting pitching (Garza) for a much needed RH bat (Young)
2) The decision to lock up two players who had been key contributors offensively (Morneau, Cuddyer)
3) The decision to extend the contract of a player just short of Free Agency (Nathan)
4) Willingness to dump numerous “veteran” contracts when younger players show an ability to contribute at a better rate (Rincon, Everett, Hernandez, Monroe) even if it potentially means paying a guy for a year of not playing (Lamb).
The signs are there. It’s all a matter of how you interpret them.
I think everyone would agree that Nick Punto is a good utility player
And Juan Castro kills the O’s rally…
Earlier I voiced surprise that he was still playing in the majors.
The O’s won the first game right?
Dallas McPherson might be a risk if the twins go after him…
yes, they won 4-3. So if the WSox lose again and the twins win, the twins will be in first by a whole game.
Baltimore up 3-2. Come on O’s!
T,
the decision to sign Cuddyer at that level long term was a mistake…
gatty,
Punto is a great utility player, but Tolbert and Harris and Macri could be fine utility players at less than $2 mil a year for what Punto costs. And the problem is that if the FO keeps Punto, we all know that Gardy will find a way or another to use him as a starter…
3-3 now on a bulk. I am sure AJ prodded the umps to call it.
So, since the Wsox lost earlier, does that mean when the Twins and the white sox kept flipping spots on top, the Twins were in reality in first the whole time since the Wsox ‘lost’ the game in april?
lol… what’s a bulk?
How can you balk in the tying run with two outs?
man on third, 2 outs, balk sends him in. Balk moves all runners up
gatty790 says:
August 25th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I think everyone would agree that Nick Punto is a good utility player
Nick punto IS an ok starting ss. Nick Punto WOULD BE an outstanding utility player.
sorry balk, lol
Yes, I know how a balk works. I mean how can you be so stupid to balk in the tying run with two outs…
YGTBKM,
ok, who would you rather have as your starting SS, Punto or Furcal? (for about $5 mil more a year that the Twins can so afford)
thrylos98,
“Punto is a great utility player, but Tolbert and Harris and Macri could be fine utility players at less than $2 mil a year for what Punto costs.”
Harris and Macri aren’t adequate as defensive shortstops to replace Punto at that spot.
I haven’t seen enough of Tolbert at shortstop yet, but he would be the only possible Punto replacement in that threesome.
that was the “incredible bulk”
couldn’t believe the orioles did that.
Harris has a terrible ZR at short
T
Whether the FO actions were based on a having a much lower payroll or something else, I’m saying I don’t know. If you want to interpret their actions in a certain way, I’m not saying you shouldn’t.
I’d rather spend that money on a 3B this offseason via trade - Kouzmanoff, Zimmerman, Mora, or Atkins (not so much - his away stats are awful this year), or as I’ve stated before a 2B such as Uggla who should be available.
Sane
there are other options for SS. Casilla moved to SS and replacing him at second. Go out and through trade or FA and find a SS if you’re committed to Casilla at 2nd. I would have a problem with the team committing to Punto as a starting player.
Interesting,
Derek Jeter ZR = .765
Brendan Harris ZR = .762
By Comparison,
Omar Vizquel ZR = .897
Punto is not only a great utility infielder, but a utility fielder. He can play everywhere giving Gardy a lot of flexibility off the bench. As long as they can sign him to a reasonable contract I don’t see anyway he’s not in a Twins uniform next year.
Also he’s great for the Strib…look at all the blog traffic that Punto single handedly generates!
I have zippo problem with Punto as the starting shortstop (at a reasonable price) next season IF complementary moves are made. If the Twins acquire Beltre, Zimmerman, Atkins, maybe Kouzmanoff (not ecstatic about him, but he’s better than what we have now) Punto is fine as the SS and batting in the 8 or 9 slot.
The offseason issue will, to me, be who will be cleared from the outfield. Pridie is playing well and may be a better 4th outfield candidate than who loses out between DY, GoGo, Span and Cuddyer. One of them will have to go, maybe to acquire a 3B or a power reliever.
I would be willing to bet that LNP will be the starting shortstop on opening night 09. The man love for Tolbert is, at least to this point, undeserved. I am not sure what he has proven.
Mora!!!! no way. Batista all over again… and Kouzmanoff is a right hand version of Butcher…
With the Twinkies having a pretty good OF with Span, Gomez and Delmon Young… I think they should trade Cuddyer. Any thoughts on that? Package him and Bonser…
[…] M&M boys, who must step up to help the Twins win this series? 3. Bonus pre-game question: Was designating Mike Lamb for assignment the right roster move to make room for Eddie? « Slowey v. […]
Trading Cuddy is a possibility, but I can see them trading Kubel and placing Cuddy into the DH slot.
Mora this year so far: .281 avg, 22 HRs, 96 RBI (career .280 avg, .355 obp). Batista career .251 avg, .299 obp.
Cuddyer has to be the one shopped in the outfield for several reasons… And there might be several takers.
Hey, i’m not arguing that LNP is worse than furcal. you need to read gatty’s post, and then reread mine, jr.
matt,
have you checked Mora’s fielding stats? That’s what I was referring…
JP,
“there are other options for SS. Casilla moved to SS and replacing him at second. Go out and through trade or FA and find a SS if you’re committed to Casilla at 2nd. I would have a problem with the team committing to Punto as a starting player.”
My topic was a utility man for next year. Even if Casilla becomes the SS, the utility man must be a better defensive SS than Harris, Macri (or Tolbert?).
On the current roster, that could only be Punto or (a healthy) Everett.
Rob says:
August 25th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
With the Twinkies having a pretty good OF with Span, Gomez and Delmon Young… I think they should trade Cuddyer. Any thoughts on that? Package him and Bonser…
I would argue that that is two thirds of a good outfield. The Twins need to keep Cuddles to play right next year, with span in center, and young in right. Gomez belongs in the minors next year. maybe the cliburns can remove that deer in the headlights look from his face.
sane,
I’d much rather have Everett next year as the utility man, than Punto. At least Everett is having fun playing, doesn’t mop on the bench and hot dogs every third play
You mean like when Everett hot dogged that play at SS in KC?
*young in left
so, Cuddyer’s .252 BA this year is suddenly better than Gomez’ .256, or his age vs. Gomez’ indicates that he will improve more than Gomez next year or all of that justify the $9 mil difference in pay for next year? If Cuddyer goes, the Twins will have $9 mil extra to get someone better… it is that simple
Sorry Sane, topic/your point must have morphed either that or i haven’t done a good job following.
I don’t have a problem with resigning Punto as a utility player. I just don’t think Gardy could use him as such. And how much do you spend on a utility player? I guess those would be my biggest concerns regarding that subject.
Senior Smoke returns. Good times…
Mike Lamb leaves. Good times…
JP,
well, there is another solution, get rid of Gardy if he doesn’t win it all this year…
CWS leading 4-3, but the O’s are into the bullpen in the 7th…
coon Rapids finest on the FSN Pre Game show
Highlights of Eddy shows him celebrating a little after a save.
Maybe he’s anothe K-Rod.
Or Juan Berenguer, the original Senor Smoke.
Juan used to celebrate after every strikeout with that double fist pump. Priceless…
Man Jared Allen is a character
Jared Allen is a beast. He reminds me of Howie Long in his prime
Yes he is gatty, yes he is. I think its funny when they ask these people questions and they make sure they say white bear lake..MINNESOTA…. really?
wow. Ok, this says something about Smith and the owners.
A LHP comes in to face griffey and he pulls a Reyes and throws one pitch to get him out.
cuddyer’s track record tells me that, yes, next year he will far outperform carlos gomez hittingwise. You do have a point about the money, though if the Twins were to find someone that wanted a player making 9 mil and just had the year cuddles had, their is no guarantee they would spend that money somewhere else. i really don’t care about the money, i expect a healthy cuddyer to rebound nicely next year, and i think gomez is going to be a very good player, but not next year.
Cuddyer and Morneau are the only ones who played with Guardado before, according to this 2003 roster:
http://baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=2003&t=MIN
Nice…no Harris in line-up….Punto gets a gift hit on the dropped ball by Hunter and we are talking about a Punto hitting streak. brutal.
Put harris at everyday ss and see where you can play LNP in late innings.
The fear of our pinch hitters off the bench is unbelieveable and scary.
Nice bench!
This guy will walk four people in a row if the twins are patient…
LOL who else other than Mauer is that patient
That was a very poor at bat by mauer. Batista physically cannot throw two strikes back to back.
Well time for Liriano to go to work.
O’s, do something against Jenks.
It sure is nice to have speed in the OF.
Be even nicer if we had an O’s homerun
Sox win
Sox win and are up by 1/2 game.
Dick just said it. No help from Orioles. Four UP, four DOWN in the ninth. Sox win 4-3.
(ok, four up three down. but they still choked)
This is a very generous strike zone and I like it.
MudCat, we got some help from the O’s. They won 1 of 2 games today.
Young gave me a heart attack when he caught that ball…
gatty790, you are always complaining about the strikezone. Why don’t you go out and ump?
I would if they let me and I quote myself “I like it”, thus I am not complaining.
make batista work - don’t make him look good guys!
Well for the most part you always have something to say about the umpiring. It is amazing that you are not complaining about it so far tonight.
Actually from what I have seen, this is a very good strike zone.
Amazing what happens when you take a few pitches against this guy. C’mon guys, follow Young’s at-bat.
There was some pretty questionable strike zones in the Angels series.
Wow what is that 16-18 pitches in 2 innings for miguel
well there is another situation where a Twin is ahead in the count (2-0 to Buscher) and he swings and hits a harmless fly to center.
Batista is the second worst pitcher the twins will face this year. The worst is carlos silva.
Liriano needs to quit letting the leadoff man on.
Twins, no actually 20 pitches.
and Liriano at 33 pitches…
Faith and Family Day???!!! Can we keep religion out of baseball?
Hopefully franchise can get some easy innings because hes already at 40
too many pitches. Can’t make ‘em miss tonight. This may not be good.
38 after that inning… needs to get a few 8-10 pitch innings…
we shouldn’t be swinging at the first 3 pitches this guy throws…
LNP stay hot.
…lazy fly ball hitting tonight…
“Pop-Up Punto”
Miguels on fire!
He’s throwing strikes, I guess we need to put good swings on them then…
“Ground ball Gomez”
Good at bat by Span
11 pitch walk, impressive.
great at bat, 11 pitches he took, Batista up to 42…
Straight out of a Seattle newspaper as to why Batista is starting tonight:
One theory on tonight’s start is that the Twins have shown interest in acquiring Batista after seeing him pitch last week in Minnesota, and the Mariners are all too happy to give them another look.
A deal could be made before the postseason rosters are set Sept. 1, and the Twins need another arm. If a trade is made, it almost certainly would be for a midlevel minor leaguer. And the Twins would pay all or most of Batista’s 2009 salary of $9 million.
Please tell me the Twins are not seriously considering him and they just possibly told the M’s front office this so that they could get another shot at him to hopefully get a W.
whew! close one…
Nice steal for span
JIMMY JAM:
This is funny:
Translation from Italian to English:
Punto e virgola=colon
I don’t know if it’s Large colon, Small colon, or semi-colon.
Batista makes Jerrod Washburn look like Cy Young
First Washburn, then Batista? Um, hopefully we aren’t that retarded…
First they sign bullpen help, dump Lamb and then want to screw it all up! I hope that’s just Seattle media trying to “sell” a story!
Nice knock by Casilla there.
atta boy lexi, nice backing up the plate by batista nottttttttt
OK! Hopefully that opens the flood gates!
Nice hit for Casilla, twins up 1-0
Come on Mauer, get a hit
Error on Ichiro? why? that’s why you can’t read too much into errors, it was clearly Batista’s fault for not being there. And Span knocked the ball loose while sliding…
MarkW, possibly because the throw was way up the line and bounced.
My favorite anagram for Nick Punto is Tonic Punk.
Baby Jesus, why don’t you do something, of course nobody will fault you for that AB.
A ball can’t “bounce” now from the outfield? Shouldn’t Gomez have like 100 errors then? doesn’t make too much sense on that play, it was up the line, but it scooted loose because of Span, not because it bounced…
My favorite anagram for Nicky Punto is Count Pinky
MarkW, of course a ball can bounce coming in from the OF, but that throw from Ichiro was way up the line.
Why does every flyball hit to Delmon have to be such an adventure?
The Punto. It’s a Super-mini.
(it’s funnier when we’re leading):
That is two basket catches in one game.
MarkW, to continue my point, when you have a throw that offline and then it bounces past the catcher, you can’t be surprised when an error is issued.
Liriano now has a sub 4.00 ERA.
That was an excellent catch by Gomez
but you missed the part that Span knocked the ball loose when he slid by… it didn’t just bounce away due to the throw.
but agree to disagree I guess… I dont think it was a throwing error, too many variables to put the blame on one guy.
Another “Adventure” by Twin’s outfield. Nice catch!
There are no anagrams for Joe Mauer, but there are for Joseph Mauer…for your entertainment.
Nice read on that ball, great jump.
That play by Span was closer than it should’ve been. Twins may need to work on sliding during their next warmups.
The difference between a winning ballclub and a losing ballclub apparently. You overslide against a winning club they don’t pull the glover early.
A heads up play by the defender at 2B and Span is out.
2 days in a row gatty remarks about a good catch and 5 - 10 seconds later MLB.com catches up
My favorite anagram thus far: “A Lazier Nub”
JIMMY:
Mauer’s a Ho Jumper? I don’t think so!
Liriano is probably going to go 5 innings tonight.
hmmm, 4 pitch walk. up to 56 now
tooo many pitches
It would be nice if Mauer would not take a semi-rattled pitcher with 20+ pitches in the inning and, through his passivity, turn his at bat into a defensive situation.
60+ pitches in three innings is way too many
wow, if he makes 5 at this rate….
A normal catch by Delmon finally
clearly his ball is not moving at all tonight, he has plenty of strikes, he just can’t make the bat miss
Another goody: “Word Elf”
Or: “Sorta Jenny”
And I kid you not…I actually got this one in the results: “Lamb Mike”
Try it.
a vast majority of those strikes are fouls unfortunately
gatty, you are right about the fact that so far Liriano has issued too many pitches, but since you seem to like to complain about anything and everything, let me be the one to say that I am glad that there is a big goose egg on the board so far!
63 pitches, but he’s throwing strikes (44)… but yeah, looks like it could be 5 innings unless he can get a quick one in the 4th or 5th.. or we can put a few more runs on the board. Hope Eddie is ready with his “dyed” shoes!
Morny, Kubby, Young, and Bushy.
Time to break the game open and show these guy what a first place team is (was) like!
his fastball is hitting 93 though, positive for the future.
Nastiest Minnow
Insistent Woman
Minnesota Twins
“It would be nice if Mauer would not take a semi-rattled pitcher with 20+ pitches in the inning and, through his passivity, turn his at bat into a defensive situation.”
Yup. Falls behind 0-2 again in an RBI situation, after taking a first pitch fastball right down the middle.
It’s a recurring issue.
Yep. Definately have to work on the sliding.
Nice set of wheels by DY!
Wow don’t think you send Young there
HORRID baserunning decision…
man, we’re sending the runners tonight
Why did Ulger even send Young, that was a stupid decision.
Ichiro wasn’t even that deep…
The Twins can’t work on the homeplate slide until they’ve perfected the first base slide.
MAYBE on an RF not named Ichiro or Vlad. They got lucky that his first throw was a bit off, it wasn’t going to happen again.
I’m almost wondering if Young didn’t blow through a stop sign there.
not good kubel. not good.
delmon young= no husain bolt
Randy Ruiz = no usain bolt
Not sure if any of you have paid much attention to Scotty Ulger (Close Gut Try) when you attend games, but he does not position himself very well for the baserunners to see him when they round third. Sometimes he’s standing right next to the bag, when he should be well down the baseline.
I remember someone commented a while ago about how Liriano was facing “easy” opponents, In my opinion, it’s probably a good thing, could you imagine him just throwing fastballs to a Texas, NY, Boston, LAA lineup?
Liriano has turned into Dice-K
Oh my, Mr T, How can this be. Don’t we have the finest 1st and 3rd base coaches in the majors. When I was remiss in my chastisement of these two fine achievers in the past, there you were to the rescue and, of course, I was filled with obeisance.
there’s the slider!
delmon’s dive looked more like a michael phelps imitation
76 pitches…
Now we’re not gonna send a fairly fast runner from second on a ground ball single to right?
Sheesh? Get a clue, people.
if we can get 1 more inning at 13 pitches, he could at least go 6.
Maybe get three more hits this inning.
(and maybe a run!)
For anybody questioning the decision to send Young the last half inning, you seem to forget that LNP was up next and also the fact that the Twins ran on Ichiro’s arm in the third and Span scored.
Liriano’s ERA is now 3.79
Before the game, LNP was slugging 4.000 against Batista. 1 for 1 with a HR…
Oh my, Mr T, How can this be. Don’t we have the finest 1st and 3rd base coaches in the majors.
Wow. Drama queen much? I already said it was a horrible decision. I was just voicing an interest in seeing the turn at 3B. Delmon was SO out that I wanted to see what the heck happened.
Maybe Ulger waved him, maybe he blew threw a stop sign. Maybe he stumbled rounding 3B…
I don’t know. I wanted to see the play again.
gatty, when you take a look at numbers in a small proportion, it is very easy to manipulate them.
Everyone must anagram from now on. At least until the end of this half inning.
Twins ran on Ichiro’s arm in the third and Span scored.
Span’s a tidge bit faster, and got a it lucky the throw was a bit wild.
And punto takes a walk and turns it into an out
There you go, gatty! Your lover boy LNP didn’t get a hit so now are you satisfied?
LNP=the next Jim Eisenreich!
gatty, take your stats and shove them where the sun don’t shine!
Nick Punto was 1-1 and was slugging 4.000 against Batista before the game
JJ: Now batting - “Car Legs Zoom”
Ben, If Ichiros throw on span was online he was gone
Nick Punto was slugging 4.000 against Batista before this game began.
exactly gatty, you might have fallen asleep for LNP’s 2 AB’s tonight, but in case you did let me give you a lil insight. He failed in each one to get on.
And the leadoff man: “Darned Span”
Okay that was cheap.
Batista allowed a home run to punto and punto thus had a slugging percentage of 4.000 against Batista for his career.
Gomez keeps falling when hes running out of the box, or am i seeing that wrong
4 hits through 5 on batista is no bueno, hopefully the boys get it going
gatty, is there a reason why you are such a failure at life?
I believe punto hit a home run against Batista in a game before this one.
yeah, he’s slipped twice now… needs new cleats or something…
kind of a lackluster game right now… was it a long flight from Anaheim?
Must be poor traction control on his car legs.
Tire rotation will fix the trick
Tough break, Lexi rushed that a little bit i think
Geeze Casilla, absolute unexcusable.
Uh…ouch.
Ichiro’s ZR this year is 28 points higher this year than his career average. Interesting.
With all due respect T, I’m watching on gameday and had to rely on your statement and the radio team of the Twins. But since you have stated that you don’t know what the hell your talking about and didn’t see what happened, curb the stream of consciousness and stuff your drama queen crap!
Looks like Liriano will prob go 5 if we are lucky
damnit
Eddy Guardado. This is the only baseball related one I saw:
Dad Yoga Udder
Ok, back to baseball!
The team is making way too many costly errors and gift wrapping runs. Not good.
Too bad
Well crap. Now, if Liriano gets the next three that’s unearned right?
I have an idea, why don’t you not let the 8 and 9 hitters kill you?
But since you have stated that you don’t know what the hell your talking about and didn’t see what happened
Uh. Wow. Don’t know where this sudden aggression is coming from.
I definately saw more of the play than you did if all you have is Gameday. Should be pretty obvious by my comments what I thought (bad decision by runner/coach)
Come on Frankie bear down here, get out of this inning tied
Francisco should start the 6th, but I don’t think he will finish it.
liriano is good at pitching
nice job to limit it to one run liriano.
gatty you are a troll. Go away!
the run was unearned, yes. good job though getting Ibanez out.
I’ve been on this blog way longer that you little boy
*than
I don’t know how anyone can say it’s ever a bad decision to send a runner from second base on a ground ball to right field with 2 outs.
It’s done routinely, by every third base coach from little league on up. Once in a while the RFer makes a great throw and you get the runner.
Doesn’t mean you don’t send him. With 2 outs, your chances of scoring are better sending him than expecting another hit.
I repeat, there was nothing wrong with sending Delmon. Nothing.
Looks like we may end up seeing the newest Twin pitching tonight. (Against one his former teams)
gatty, get a hold of yourself son, you have a long way to go to understand MLB.
I was almost laughing when I read on ESPN.com that Jayson Staryk on “Rumblings” supposobly talked to a scout who said that Liriano is now a #3 or #4 starter. That is such a stupid comment it is not even worth rebuking.
Also on to something completly different, it is an interesting read to look at ESPN story on the Twins getting Eddie. They interviewed Lamb and Gardy and it seems that it was not a peaceful dismisal such as the Levan dismisal. Interesting quotes.
Chief, the feeling I come out of it with that play is that there’s special consideration when the RF is Ichiro (and the pitcher is Miguel Batista)
Ben, when you graduate high school, then we can talk.
Tyler, link? Or is it on Insider?
belt it out, Joe!
gatty, when you graduate from college with a graduate degree, please come and find me.
dang it!
dammmn i thought that was gone
Damn it
Ben, when you graduate high school, then we can talk.
I’ve meet some high schoolers that are pretty smart. Likewise I’ve met some pretty stupid college graduates.
Put the E-Peens away boys.
I don’t want to wake up your parents Ben though.
Dang, just missed a homer. Do something now Kubel.
Ben v Gatty - Fight Fight Fight!
Morneau, damn, almost out of the park.
gatty, I see where you have been posting all day long. Why don’t you have a job?
Why not pitch to Kubel? He’s hit the Mariners hard, but has struggled tonight.
USAFChief, you make a good point. Perhaps if the meat of the order was due up, a 3B coach would hold the runner.
And in closing, Delmon Young = My Noodle Gun
Yea I don’t think that Lamb will be taking his assignment
according to the Seattle “strike tracker”, none of the pitches to Mauer were strikes. And all of the pitches to Span were also outside. Not bitching, just reporting
Ben v Gatty - Fight Fight Fight!
What I find amazing is you’ve got two people essentially accusing each other of being children…in a pretty childish manner.
Because it is my day off, see yesterday when you weren’t here.
Morneau starting to see the ball again.
My Noodle Gun
Eeeeeew. 
Yea I don’t think that Lamb will be taking his assignment
Kinda sours me on Lamb. Twins gave him every opportunity to be starter. He faltered, Buscher came on strong…they took the hot bat.
They stuck with him this long, albeit in limited use.
Yeah, I dont know what they are arguing about…
That’s gotta hurt… ouch.
Come on DY…
T
Nope, no insider, I rely on insider links as well. It is free, none of the “beat writters” did a piece on it, it was just a short general report, but again interesting quotes.
Just what the Twins need…more injuries.
Punto to LF, Harris to SS?
Yowza.
I bet if Delmon goes down, Punto will play in the outfield.
What are the Twins OF options in AAA?
Tyler’s link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3552938
We got rid a guy who didn’t throw stuff after striking out and got an underwear shredder.
That’s what it says.
This has the potential to be the Twins most embarrassing offensive performance of the year…
Well, I suppose that’d be in a DL situation. Otherwise it’d likely be Kubel/Gomez/Span and Ruiz DH.
Pridie, Mcdonald.
gatty, I would wager any number of shutouts this season would beat this.
Or that entire Chicago 4-gamer (which I call a “series” only because the Twins I believe did actually show up to the park at some point)
gatty your last post has proved enough, I have no reason to talk to you.
too many men left on base against this bum…
No, this is against a guy with a 6+ ERA. Thus that is why I classify it as such.
So it’s earned? That takes an awful lot of “but ifs” to figure that run scores from first…
Foul? Really?
I’d say it’s more a case of to few runners actually getting on base against this bum….
Loud strike….very loud.
FSN doing a poor job with the replays on these close calls tonight.
yeah, that was close..
it’s an earned run now? what the f?
*phew*
Good bounce back inning.
Liriano has looked very hittable to me all night long tonight. Lots of 2 strike fouls, lots of comfortable at bats.
Still and all, not bad.
T, they need to get to their commercials where Young learns how to hit the ball from Rod Carew and Tony Oliva.
I hate not having TIVO
nice quick inning for Franchise… he pitch another inning?
Mark: DnB are musing that the scorers think the run scores on some combiation of Cairo double and Ichiro grounder?
I’d buy the double putting him on third. But I think after that it’s a stretch.
USAFChief,
He has kinda looked like that every since he came back. Yet he just keeps throwing up 0’s. Even the run he gave up tonight was questionable at best. Pretty amazing.
danimals, if the offense can put up a few runs he’s more likely to come out there again.
Otherwise it may be time for the pen. (Especially after that LOOOONG strike)
But the run scored on the double after a 2 base throwing error on Casilla, I dont see how that could be earned… very strange.
Joe Saunders
Cliff Lee
Chad Gaudin
Vicente Padilla twice
CC Sabathia
The only offensive performance that are worse than today (so far) are the ones against Padilla.
Agree on all counts AaronK. The only thing I’d add is that previously since coming up, he seemed to me much tougher once he got to two strikes.
USAFChief says: “Liriano has looked very hittable to me all night long tonight”
Pitches-strikes - F Liriano 95-68; M Batista 95-56.
95 pitches, he’s probably done, however, I haven’t heard or seen anyone up in the bullpen yet…
i think he can handle another inning…
..and on queue, there’s Matty G.
come on, Green, throw the ball at Gomez’ bat!!!!
Wow, Carlos Gomez walked.
(talk a walk)
OK! Drive him home Spanny.
Gomez drills into a hole but coaxes a walk. Very nice.
And now the Car Legs are on first.
wow. walks to Young AND Gomez in the same game… has that happened before?
Wow, a very nice AB for Gomez. Anyone else enjoying his improved plate appearances? He has been pretty darn good of late.
Do you see all the fans taking pictures of denard at the beginning of the at bat?
There is no excuse for the Twins getting only one run off of Migeul Batista through 6 innings. None.
That is just BAD offense.
This may have been answered already…
I beleive the run is earned b/c if Burke singled and then Cairo doubled, that would put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs (if the error had not been made). The assumption is that on either Ichiro’s goundout or Betancourt’s groundout, the run would have scored. That would be my guess…
T, LOL
But the run scored on the double after a 2 base throwing error on Casilla, I dont see how that could be earned… very strange.
Hopefully Howard can shed some light on the scoring question tomorrow.
Alright, Go Go lays off the low and away for a BB.
that sucks
Dick/Bert said the run should be unearned.
The assumption is that on either Ichiro’s goundout or Betancourt’s groundout, the run would have scored.
Yeah, I just don’t like all that assuming after the double.
markinmn, i guess that does make more sense… I was only thinking that after an error when the next runner scores, it usually isn’t earned, but that’s probably why…
T- I agree, but I have seen scoring done this way several times before.
well that ended crappy. Not getting guys on and not getting timely hits tonight to drive any of them in…
I guess it is earned.
I don’t understand not running Gomez there. Two outs, two singles hitters up next. If he gets thrown out, you start the next inning with the top of the lineup.
Is this the inning where I’ll go brush my teeth, take out my contacts, and then come back to see Seattle up 6-1?
Here’s hoping that’s not the case.
Did expect a pitching duel today…
I think they were going to, just didn’t get the chance before Span got out…
Nice job Matty, Eddie’s helping already!
Here to hoping one of the Twins players hits a HR this inning.
And then that’s where Span has to be smart enough to give Gomez the chance to steal. He was up 1-0 and swung at two questionable pitches after that.
Eddie’s getting ready for the eighth
Eddie warming up…or just getting some tosses in?
True, he should of held on those and waited for the attempt…
need base runners!!
Too bad, that was a nice catch
FN Ibanez…
O hes warming up. hes gonna pitch. That was some great news today hearing that everyday eddie was coming back. He was probably my favorite Twin back in the day. So much energy, kind of like an older Gomez pitching.
Nice walk
Joe “always on base” Mauer
Come on Morneau.
Ibanez has been an absolute killer to us this year. Man I wish they would have traded him.
This graphic is goign to lead to some BAAAAD jinxing.
Getting to the point that a run could win this. Are the boys up to it?
I don’t Aaron…mostly because he’d probably have wound up on of the two Sox teams….
Mark
I dont think that has the best flow to it to stick for a nick name for Joe!
Going with the pitching theme tonight, someone is going to hit a DP this inning.
never mind
Bummer, looked like he was just under it.
Joe “base on balls” Mauer? ha!
Damn Morneau, just underneath it…
Kubel’s turn.
It is up to Young…
And it’s all up to Young! Please dont swing at the first pitch.
That a baby. Looked like it was going to be one of Kuble’s classic ground outs to second for a second.
This might be the game here
Can Delmon even take a pitch?
thank you
Nice hit!
Oh thank GOD!
Way to go “Base Junk Lo” Kubel!
yes!
sweet
There ya go!
That a baby Delmon! Big hit!!!
Young atones for his earlier baserunning flub.
It is Eddie time!
2 walks, 2 runs scored… lesson learned
That’s correct gatty. It’s time to see just what Ol’ Eddie G can come up with.
yeah!! crank up every day Eddie.
Was is confirmed that Young ran the stop sign?
ok Buscher, show us why you are the guy
Well done Kubel and Young. Clutch.
Time for the incredible one,two duo of….
Eveyday Eddie AND
Joe “my ERA is uner 1″ Nathan
Here’s a good one : “Guy On” Young. And the RBI!
So close, yet so far.
*under
Is that graphic a typo?
“Up Next: Eddie Guardado?”
Yeah, that was my reaction too.
Man, Eddie has his work cut out for him. He has to face Ichiro and Ibanez.
Maybe he hasn’t been a Twin long enough for Ibanez to kill him! Good thinking Gardy.
Denard ‘watch me get kicked out of a game’ Span
Tyler, that’ll never work for Nathan!
Joe “9th inning” Nathan?
Butch, needs more speed on that… well, time to shut them down.
EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE!!!!!
Was is confirmed that Young ran the stop sign?
FSN never showed a replay. Nor did we ever get a second look at the LOOOONG foul ball from Balentine.
Guardado time!
Punch ‘em out Fast Eddy!
Wow that looks weird…
Anybody tuning in right now is going to think it’s 2003 again.
good to see ya Eddie, now shut em down
Yeah, a little slim on the replays today…
Buckle up people. Here we go.
It’s gotta be the shoes!
Good start…
Haha, Eddie showed up with a Texas ranger bag…that is funny.
wow, 1st pitch out!
a little fatter than 03….
but then so am i
“I’m at the end of my career…”
Really don’t want to hear that EG.
EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE!!!!
maybe…
Joe “I am incredibly worth my new contract, but should probably pitch iin a few more close games in the ninth and eight innins because I am the highest paid pitcher on the team, and on a pace for a record low relief appearances and I am always as healthy as a mule” Nathan
86 MPH fastball. Not a flamethrower, that’s for sure.
Tyler, much much better! ha ha
Is anybody else still trying to get their heads around the image of Guardado on the mound in a Twins uni
It is like a time warp…
What ‘baserunning flub’?
EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE!!!!!!!!!!!
Man, Eddie sure looked damn good that AB. Very impressive so far.
Tyler,
Joe “Now that Guardado’s here hopefully there’s a gew guys in the bullpen that can pick things up so I don’t have to come in to the game in the 7th anymore…boy that’ll be a relief” Nathan.
EDDIE!!
Only my heart isn’t beating quite as rapidly as it used to when he was on the mound…
I like it T
things have come full circle
location, location, location
That hit Everett again…watch.
This has been very impressive!!!!
Ok, Eddie got Ibanez out, he is already worth what we gave up! Great inning!!!!!
EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The phrase tonight is “Cautious optimism”
watching the Game 5 9th a couple weeks back had me nervous….. but this was good.
Great acquisition!
3 pop outs. I’ll take it.
(so far)
If he keeps this up, I WILL be first in line starting the old “EDDIE” chant.
Man. He could get quite the pop from the crowd when he debuts back at the Dome.
Good start Eddie. Keep it up.
yes, everyone is cheering him… For Now!
I wasn’t terrified either…that was very relaxing to watch. Thank God!
as a closer he could give us the safety valve if gardy goes to Nathan in the 8th and throws a ton of pitches. wish we had him yesterday
good T, but I dont recall T coming in the sevent, yet alone the eighth. I am going to look forward to the EDDIE EDDIE EDDIE chants in the dome again though
Hey,
Good to be back. Birthday’s over. Time to talk baseball.
It would be nice to score a couple more runs if possible this inning.
T
Young atones for his earlier baserunning flub.
A) There was no baserunning flub.
B) He was sent home. (see gameday video)
C) It was the right play. You make that call as 3b coach 100 out of 100 times given game situation that we had.
More runs are always nice…
Thats the smile I remember from my boy Eddie. I think he’ll loosen up the bullpen, and that could help them from stressing and then in result complete suckage.
If Eddie can perform, he will be a good presence in the clubhouse. He’s happy to be back, he’s fired up for a pennant chase….I bet the boys in the dugout are happy to see him (well, maybe the one or two who know who he is)
Can anybody else picture Guardado in the dugout thinking “Who the heck are these guys?”
Eddie G did a good job Carlos
let’s add two
Can Gomez coax another walk?
but I dont recall T coming in the sevent, yet alone the eighth.
Like I said. “Cautious optimism”. I’ve been scorned before by Eddie G.
Better two bagger, the hard way
or do that! craziness…
Was that a fair ball off the foot?
Punto’s hitting streak is over. I retract anything I said that was complimentary earlier. He is a bum.
It looked like the ball just missed his foot
Dang it Span
Come on Twins…you gotta kill the Messenger here!
*runs from Pun Police*
it kind of looked like it hit his toe…
dang Span… could have used a single
T
looks like we said the same thing at 11:35, so I am going to take credit for my opinion, and then as the kids say today deem you a “poser”
Eddie would have met in camp:
Mauer
Morneau
maybe Kubel
Cuddy… who isn’t on the trip.
all the coaching staff is intact i believe, save for Vavra
T… no comment.
TYLER:
Hebrew meaning of Nathan: “He has given”.
As in “He has given up under 1 ERA″???
Come on Joe, end this!
looks like this game might be over by midnight.
I agree that Eddie could be real positive for the others in the bull pen. He always was as much guts as he was skill. I like that in an athlete.
JP,
“Punto’s hitting streak is over. I retract anything I said that was complimentary earlier. He is a bum.”
I don’t believe you have anything to retract.
Okay Nathan. Time to go in there with Punch #2.
seems like it’s been a much longer game than 2:40…
mudcat
Wow to much thought and time spent into that. but I like it, dont get me wrong
Oh come on Mark, it’s almost midnight. You aren’t a bit loopy at the moment?
Me thinks Joe Nathan’s ERA will be 0.96 soon…
WHoops, that was in response to your 11:39 comment, Mark.
i was loopy at 5 today!
No problem here, Tyler!
Just hope what “He” hath given, he doesn’t taketh away!
Joe is going to have to earn his money today!
well, it’s gotten interesting already.
Why did Gardy pull Eddie!
/sarcasm
Mudcat
ha yea, for sure,
Eddie should have pitched the 8th and 9th!
if he can lay down a bunt…
No concern here with the leadoff double.
Nathan’s a bum!
Bunt in the air plz.
Strike him out Joe!
damn, had it there
Boy, in situations such as these you almost have to wonder if in the long run it wouldn’t be beneficial to shift Punto to 3B and bring in Everett @ SS.
…up the ladder again?
Nathan has been overworked.
Eddy’s on a pitch count. LOL!
Might have been a good thing Span didnt catch that.
Okay, you didn’t catch it. Hope for a pop up or K to make it alright.
not sure he should have caught that one anyway beltre would have been at third
Sane
just to clarify, your joking right??
sid
see my 7:40 post. probably the first nice thing i’ve posted about punto. then he goes and does this. i really hope tonight is an aberration. i know gardy will never sit him and so production from him is needed.
my previous post was a bit of jest. i love seeing the punto defenders rush to post. hahaha
I like T’s idea. Reliever for 3B.
yeah, rather get a K, but…
So there’s the easy way, and the Nathan way apparently.
Throw that slider Joe
cripes, time to throw something inside on this guy
T
agreed completly, why is Buscher still in the game?
i love seeing the punto defenders rush to post. hahaha
It’s almost as amusing as the punto bashers rushing to post.
…this isn’t fun anymore!
kind of wish they moved punto to 3rd…
Damn it punto
Did that ball hit Beltre?
Well, now we know who we can blame should this not end well.
Gatty
Do you now?
lookout punto
no, they left Buscher in
Boy. Gardy looks livid.
wow. I dont know what to say. It just missed Beltre…
O well punto makes that 9 out of ten i guess and buscher would make that 6 out of ten in my opinion.
Don’t surrender the run!
Nicky booted one. A Punto punt.
Punto should’ve charged Beltre and then flopped around on the ground. Maybe they’d have called him out.
Throw home with Nathan on the mound
so much for over at midnight!
well, unless… okay, nevermind.
I don’t believe that, why would they minimize the damage when they could have played the infield in?
Tyler,
“just to clarify, your joking right??”
Always joking!
cmon guys, its almost 1 am
In minimizing the damage, they allowed the damage to occur!
gold glover at all infield positions. if we lose this bloggers will raise hell because gardy won’t say a word.
That sucks.
At least Mauer has a chance to extend his hitting streak.
You’re right Tyner. Last few nights people were giving Gomez a pass because he so often makes those tough plays.
Let’s see if they’re as forgiving here. I doubt it.
Whatever the case, there’s a conspiracy to make sure I never get any sleep on these west coast swings.
Seemed like Nick wanted to get the lead runner before, surprised he didn’t go home.
Why surender a run with Joe? I dont get it, was there not plenty of time to get him at home? Do you not trust the best closer in baseball to get the backend of the worst lineup in baseball?
Now we are going to extra innings. Why not get the out at home?
ok, you all can kill punto now.
mauer and punto needed to hit again to keep their hitting streaks going maybe punto will make up for that one
Wow, that should be “Tyler”…I am tired.
I though the ball hit Beltre, but it was an optical illusion.
score 4 or so runs so i can go to bed
Punto booted it on purpose so he can get another AB t oextend his hitting streak. Don’t laugh, it’s probably true.
Go LNP!!!!
That was so stupid for Punto to get the double play, but it looks like it was Gardy’s orders. Trust Nathan! Geez
I think Nathan should be our 8th inning guy now that we have a good closer in Eddie.
the plan has been to pitch Joe in the bottom of the 10th after we score, thus letting critics see that he can pitch more than an inning. :>)
Mariners continue to be a thorn in the Twins’ side. It must be really bad pitching and defense because I see a very good offensive team in the Mariners.
was there not plenty of time to get him at home?
That’s likely exactly what they went over when Gardy came out. My best guess is they did NOT want to risk a play at the plate and putting runners on 1/2 with no outs.
Gardy probably has more faith in Mauer/Morneau/Young than we do.
Just hit a home run Mauer/Morneau/Kubel/Young and end this game.
oops. forgot to put my winkie face on there or a sarcasm sign for the infrequent visitors.
Obviously, a (stupid) decision was made to get the DP for some reason. Easily could have had the guy at home there. Oh well, time to stop watching the losers and go to bed. Just no excuse for the way the Twins have played against the Ms, one of the worse teams in the league. No excuse at all! Chisox swept these losers, yet the Twins need to scratch for every run. Pathetic!
Tyner
HA I didnt catch that. RIP Tyner
We cured our 8th inning problem.
Not who pitches the 10th inning?
Oh yeah…now Brasky and kin will come out of the wood work.
This should make for an interesting series of comments tomorrow.
Twins swept them at home as well.
And if we win will the decision still be the wrong one to go for the DP in the bottom of the 9th?
And both the Sox and Twins took 2 of three from the A’s over the last few weeks.
should have traded for a 10th inning guy as well…
nope, I’m done for the night.
C-ya…
JP,
On the ground ball, a piece of IF dirt kicked up into Nicky’s eye as Beltre ran by. Plus, Beltre deliberately made a divot that the ball landed in and took a bad hop. Nicky did a great job just keeping the ball in the IF. A normal player would not have put a glove on that ball.
You have to get the outs in that situation…
NTR: I don’t think some of the people here want the Twins to win. It’s the perfect opportunity for more Punto moaning.
T
its not that I dont have faith in Mauer and Morneau, it just that I dont need to pass it down to the next inning to put trust in someone. Nathan definetly could handle the rest of the lineup with one out. I would agree with the decision by Gardy if it was anyone but Nathan on the hill. Again doesnt make sense
Hit it out Morneau, or I am outta here.
Twins lose. Crain is warming up.
This game is still on the offense. 1 run against Batista? Uh…yeah. Good job boys.
T,
you wouldn’t have it any other way
And the Twins should sweep them at home… AND ON THE ROAD. Keep these guys to one run through 8 while scoring one against freakin Batista, he of the 7 era. Again, just pathetic.
Come on Kubel, show me the light
Tyler: You’re assuming they get the out at home. How many bad hops/dropped throws have we seen the last few days?
NTR
Yes i would obviously still question the decision if the Twins still end up winning.
gatty, before you leave how about a Kubel HR call?
you wouldn’t have it any other way
Actually, I could do quite well without misguided moaning and rapid fire scapegoating.
Morneau’s batting average this year on a 2-0 count is .182…
yuck. that was awful…
T
didnt it look like to you that the 3B runner was not even 1/3 to home when it was in the glove of NP. Looked like it would not have even been risky to me.
Man they better pull this one out, this would be a huge huge win, if crains coming on i better get my skoal can out to take the edge off
Well, I’m grabbing a pillow and crawling under a blanket for the rest of this one. If I catch the ending so be it.
My brain tends to not do things good when it is tired. Best of luck Twins.
Who’s staying up for this one to the end?
i doubt it, you seem to feed off of it, you predict it before it happens, begging for it.
Great! How long before Mariners win with the way our BP is against them. I don’t get it most teams they are fine against but the Mariners. They have team full of BP killers.
Tyler: I wouldn’t trust my judgement at this point. I’ve called you Tyner and surmised that the Twins have only scored 1 run tonight.
I’m wagering I’m about 10 minutes away from starting up a “Let’s go HAWK!” chant…
Kubel is hitting .188 with the count at 0-2
I better grab a drink…
T
Ha ha yea i guess.
Let us hope that it is not Bad Crain tonight.
Ok theres one…
Looks like it is good crain
my problem with the lamb signing wasn’t his bat- it was his glove. over the course of his career he has been an absolutely brutal 3B. i still think he can hit- but the twins don’t need a 1B/LF/DH who hits alright. he’s a hack 3B and the twins just never had a spot for him. (e.g… if the twins wanted a problem 3b who can hit a little they couldve just shifted cuddyer there and thus made room for another of their glut of solid OF) which is why 6mil/2yrs made zero sense. thank god buscher has filled in nicely.
as for everett…yes he used to be an excellent defensive player. but he’s never hit at all, and again- why did the twins need him? twins had great defensive infielders in punto and bartlett before. where is the marginal utility of a guy like everett or lamb? same could be asked about hernandez, lamb, monroe, sierra, batista.
and another thing about bartlett- i have no idea why the twins dumped him in the TB trade- only thing i can think of is that TB insisted- which makes sense i guess. harris is a very average player in all respects. has no glaring weakness and thus is somewhat valuable as a backup IF- but for crying out loud he is not above average in ANY area- and is just not starting MLB material. bartlett can really field and showed some hitting potential (before this year).
lastly - i said preseason that the twins were idiots for thinking they couldn’t win without hunter. yes santana is very valuable and that loss hurt - but the hunter loss was unimportant. while he was one of the best CF id ever seen from 00-05, he’s just an average CF these days and only a slightly +ave hitter. gomez has been a disappointment, but i said before the season that span would be only a slight downgrade from hunter. turns out im wrong- he’s an upgrade
Wow NASTY
MarkW,
I am in to the end.
Shawn,
Good job hanging in there out east.
That was an awesome pitch!
Willie
To deep of discussion when it is 12:10 AM
The preceding was an excerpt from the memoirs of willie williams
Gatty
Its good Crain… Wait a second, Dickey is warming up!! The game will be over soon!
Breslow! He should be out NOW. Why do we keep throwing Crain out there when it’s Breslow who’s always getting Crain out of his jams?
yeah willie, only 1 sentence at a time.
Because it is in extra innings and Breslow will get his shot eventually
Tyler, very nice, Dickey had what? 4 wild pitches vs Chicago…
I wonder if Dickey will 4 WP intent walk batter today…
Come on Jesse!
Crain’s throwing GAS!
Carlos,
I’m stubburn…. i can’t watch 10 innings and then miss how it ends….
Mt Dew is a hell of a drug
Mike
i think Crain is going start getting it together here. While I see your point do you really think Breslow is that big of an upgrade? Well who cares he is going to strike out the side.
TYNER:
R.A. “Icky Ed” Dickey. He kinda stinks doesn’t he?
The Twins are what, 65-0 or something crazy like that when they’re leading after 8? So this game should be in the bag, but with the way the Twins have played this awful team this year, I don’t know…
Come on guys get to Dickey!
sane,
You think Crain has the same problem as Baker with his deep knee bend and flat fastballs? He throws as hard as Nathan without the results on his FBs. I’ve got seats 2 row by the bullpen and the catcher’s glove just explodes when he warms up. It is noticeably louder… he can bring it.
mound helped that one
I wonder if Dickey has ever thrown a knuckle ball in an IBB
Gomez coming up? Span, Punto… how about some bunts!
that a boy Crain. If he can just be consistent he will be very valuable in the post season.
I think Breslow’s had better stuff lately, but Crain just had a 1-2-3 and looked good, so I’ll take that comment back…
I meant Span, Casilla…
MarkW says:
August 26th, 2008 at 12:08 am
“only 1 sentence at a time”
Good rule!
Carlos
funny stuff on punto’s play. everett when he made the error to cost us a game, manned up. gomez couple days ago manned up, saying he should have made the play. gardy calls out kubel and gomez this week on plays that should have been made. if he does it with punto, i won’t say a negative word from this point on regarding punto’s crucial error. i’m skeptical it will happen.
At least now we wont have to see Lamb come in for Gomez. Why did Gardy do that anyway, I understand the righty lefty whatever crap, but Lamb was hitting .220 and Gomez has been hot the past two weeks? Thankfully we wont have to wory about that now
T. 11:23) Please explain Young’s atonement for his baserunning flub. I have seen his failed attempt to score but it was a partial. Did he run through a stop sign by Ullger? No sarcasm intended, just wondering.
Punto is 3-5 against Dickey
Gomez is 2-4 against Dickey
Span is 0-5
Dickey - the solution to our hitter’s woes.
Mark
yea at this time a night all post entered must be under 40-50 words.
Buscher is 0-2 against Dickey
I was way off, Young, Butch, Punto… it IS late.
Tyler, I think it was just because he would have been facing K-rod…
I mean 0-3
Now Dickey is Hoyt Wilhelm.
Brother!
damn, now his knuckler is right on target…
OF COURSE!
shit
Mark
But how would lamb fair any better, o well not worth a debate i guess. Why are we letting Dickey go 1-2-3 on us?
That is embarrassing. I have a feeling that just lost the Twins the game…
no crap, that suck.
Okay, if we can get to the next inning, then it’ll be Gomez, Span, Casilla… how about some BUNTS!
I’m outta here
gatty,
You are still here! OK, here’s the deal. You have shown some success at calling Span’s clutch hits (well at least once anyway). So, next inning I expect a call of some sort.
Don’t screw it up today.
What the @#*@? It’s 1 am. I need my beauty sleep!
I just threw up a little bit in my mouth. That was really embarrassing.
I think that if breslow gets us threw this inning, that the speed coming up in the next inning will produce a run.
Tyler, it wasn’t, that’s for sure… he probably just went with “experience” AND the lefty vs righty matchup…
Crain for one more…
DANIEL:
Delmon was giving his Gold Medal iterpretation of Usain Bolt running the bases and Michael Phelps and breast stroking into home.
It didn’t work.
Amazing that the two errors were key in both the M’s runs
hopefully they bring Dickey back out for another try…
I will wait here to call a Denard Span event
alright carlos, i’m out gonna watch until i pass out on the bed… peace
go twins
I’ve been waiting for that too, Daniel.
My bad, Ibanez is going to jack one here.
Bring the speed, give Breslow the save. Crain gets the win. Please.
oh come on, that was the same pitch Span was thrown out for!
Crain 2 huh? good call when his stuff is on, and this game could never end
I think the one Span was thrown out on was a little more inside.
outside I mean, not inside.
and then he gets the call on the corner…unreal.
No harm walking Raul. We’re good at double plays.
F. need a ground ball…
What’s will all the damn train sounds?
That was an obvious strike. There should be 2 outs now.
*with
Pathetic
Wow, I got the batter wrong.
Welp
As far back as I can recall, every year there seems to always be one crappy team that we can’t beat regularly.
Why are the M’s celebrating? There patheric, underachiving, losers. Am i a sore loser?
Beltre, the NEW Twins killer…
Maybe the Mariners are all Twins Killers.
that sucked.
This one’s on the offense.
And on the front office since Beltre should be playing for us.
I totally called that HR in my head. Goodnight all!
yo, adrian.
shoot!
Let’s get this straight. The twins dominate the M’s last year when they were good. This year when the M’s suck, the Twins pretend that they are playing the Griffey M’s…
In looking back at this game, the big thing that stands out to me is that the twins did not have any trust in Nathan and gave up a run, while their on the road to a team that seems to bite them in the ass when they have a lead. Doesnt seem to make any sense.
….god its hard to be a twins fan sometimes…nice job blowing it again!
Tyler says:
August 26th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Welp
?
Same old, same old. Pen blows it again. Nice job by Eddie though. Great to see him out there.
Mike says:
What’s will all the damn train sounds?
That was the “Crain” train.
It wrecked.
Good Crain 1.2 IP ND
Bad Crain 0.0 IP L
This game definitely is on the offense. Two runs against Mariners pitching? Crain never should have even had the opportunity to pitch for an 11th inning… game should have been over an hour ago.
Jesse Crain does it again…..he is worthless
Props for this loss go to:
Alexei Casilla
Nick Punto
Jesse Crain
and of course,
Ron Gardenhire
Joe Nathan gets honorable mention
Nice job guys. Have fun taking that early October vacation, for teams that cannot beat the Mariners do not get to be in the playoffs, especially when they have their ace on the bump and a clown going for the other side.
should of designated crain for assignment..
Boy, I’m sure glad we didn’t pull the trigger on that Beltre trade in late July. Wouldn’t a bat like his look mighty good between Mauer and Morneau?
I meant
Good Crain 1.1 IP ND
Bad Crain 0.0 IP L
Some frustrating games here lately
Tyler says:
August 26th, 2008 at 12:26 am
In looking back at this game, the big thing that stands out to me is that the twins did not have any trust in Nathan and gave up a run
I guarantee you that the decision was made to get two before the ball was put in play. It is not about trust in Nathan, it was the right call. 2 runs in 11 innings against these terrible pitchers is far more egregious than accepting a double play instead of trying to cut off the tying run in the bottom of the 9th.
Offense needs to score more than 2 against Batista…Plus, it would help if the Twins could actually play a few games in a row without making errors on routine plays. It’s getting to the point where I’m surprised if they don’t make 2 errors.
Mr. Chief, I have to admit that I didn’t see Young from 2nd to 3rd on the play, but, the last sixty feet, he looked like a big guy who was busting it pretty hard. Tough loss. We seem to be the only team that the M’s can beat.
When was the last time the Twins did not have an error in a game? When did we turn into the Tigers?
Johnny
Loss goes to Gardy if he ordered punto to go to with ol reliable on the mound, or it goes to punto if he did not issue that decre and punto made the brillian decision to go two with ol reliable on the mound giving up a run to a team at home, that also bites you in the but when you get comfortable with a lead.
Remember this one if we miss out on the playoffs by one game. I wonder if the front office would have traded one of those 60 “untouchable” pitching prospects for Beltre if that happens. And further exposure for Nicky “everyday” Punto.
Yuck. Oh well, life goes on. But this has been three games in a row that the Twins gave away. Again, Yuk.
Las Vegas
If your offense is not hitting, their not hitting it happens. You need to get the out at home, an yes trust nathan to get to out against the backend lineup of the worse team in baseball. Period
Tyler says at 12:25 am
“Why are the M’s celebrating? There patheric, underachiving, losers. Am i a sore loser?”
What does that make the Twins for constantly losing to them?
The team seriously needs to get on the field and have fielding drills.
Actually, if the twins miss the playoffs by a game, I’ll remember when AJ stole a win by faking interference more than this game.
its just a baseball game….but i feel like my dog died right now! lol we had it!
Twins don’t constantly lose to them, but point taken. Twins have a tough time with the M’s for whatever reason. Team is fine against most bad teams,except them.
Gardy should blow a gasket on the twins players for all of the errors.
J
Well the Twins have won nearly 75 games already this year, and the M’s have won what 50? I was being sarcastic anyway.
Me too Gatty. Can’t believe they allowed the White Sox to win. Seems like pity for a team that should have been swept by the Rays but were allowed to cheat to win.
Why does Punto play in left field when he’s at short? Maybe if he played at normal shortstop depth he could actually make a play on the tappers every now and again.
T says:
August 26th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Tyler: You’re assuming they get the out at home. How many bad hops/dropped throws have we seen the last few days?
Punto did it vs. Oakland at home on Wednesday. Also in that game he botched a routine grounder.
T says:
August 25th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Boy, in situations such as these you almost have to wonder if in the long run it wouldn’t be beneficial to shift Punto to 3B and bring in Everett @ SS.
Absolutely it would be beneficial. Punto is a far better 3B than he is a SS. I was shocked that Ichiro didn’t lay one down in front of Buscher.
I thought that once Eddie went 1-2-3 Nathan would follow, he probably would have at least got a save if it wasnt for the evil homosexial duo of Gardy and Punto!!
i think its ironic the twins make a move to make there bullpen better. and the one guy who has been lights out in are bullpen (nathan) blows the save and surprise surprise crain takes the loss. adding guys to the pen isnt gonna make crain, gurrier pitch better. gardy needs to have a meeting, and tell these bullpen scrubs to start doing something now. i just find it funny that people think getting another arm in the bullpen is gonna help but how is it suppose to help when the other guys arent performing? “hardwork beats talent when talent doesnt work hard” it looks like crain has all the talent in the world but just doesnt work hard enough to get his pitches where they should be.
Gardy said the bullpen was very good. I wonder what game he was watching. A lea-doff double and a walk-off bomb?
After complimenting the pen, Skipper threw his little buddy under the bus. Blamed him for the loss.
Craig
I wouldn’t say Gardy threw Punto under the bus.
Saying “we missed the play to short”
vs.
“Kubel non-chalanted it. No excuses”
Quote 1, not throwing a specific player under the bus. Quote 2, specifically throwing a player under the bus.
I haven’t read through all of the posts, but from what I can see is that I am not the only one who feels the Twins/Punto made a philosophical mistake in the 9th inning.
I’ll admit that I didn’t see the play, I went to bed after the 8th and listened to the remainder of the game on the radio.
In that situation, the proper play is at home.
LVD: Absolutely it would be beneficial. Punto is a far better 3B than he is a SS. I was shocked that Ichiro didn’t lay one down in front of Buscher.
What’s funny is at the time I was concerned more about Bucher’s defense at 3rd vs. Punto at SS.
And looking at the play…my faith in Everett’s arm/shoulder leaves me wondering if he’s able to even make the throw after he gets the ball.
I do NOT like Everett’s arm. I get chills every time he has to make a throw in a tight situation. Watched one to many supposedly easy throws one hop into the 1Bs glove (or in some cases past it)
JP,
Gardy said they missed the play at SS and that cost the game. He maybe didn’t name a specific player, but I don’t know who else was playing SS.
