Twins pregame: Are you ready for some replay?
Posted on August 28th, 2008 – 6:03 PMBy Joe Christensen
OAKLAND — Tonight’s game between the A’s and Twins will be one of three in the majors with replay available for the umpires to review home run calls, if the crew chief sees fit.
The Twins are winless in Nick Blackburn’s past three starts, but he’s pitched far better than his 9-8 record indicates.
A surprisingly hot day here in the Bay Area. About 86 degrees and feels even warmer in the sun. Feels good after three chilly days in Seattle.
Updates to come…
Updates (7:30 p.m.): Gardy on replay: “I hope we hit so many off the wall that they have to check 10 of ‘em tonight.”
Twins (75-58)
1. Denard Span, RF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Randy Ruiz, DH
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Brendan Harris, 3B
8. Nick Punto, SS
9. Carlos Gomez, CF
Starting pitcher: RH Nick Blackburn (9-8, 3.78 ERA)
* - Typo on Blackburn’s ERA - thanks for the heads up, Ben.
Athletics (61-72)
1. Rajai Davis, CF
2. Bobby Crosby, SS
3. Jack Cust, LF
4. Frank Thomas, DH
5. Ryan Sweeney, RF
6. Daric Barton, 1B
7. Jack Hannahan, 3B
8. Rob Bowen, C
9. Eric Patterson, 2B
Starting pitcher: LH Dana Eveland (8-8, 4.30)
McAfee Coliseum. First pitch: 9:07 p.m.
329 Responses to "Twins pregame: Are you ready for some replay?"
first
They seem to be going with Ruiz a lot lately.
I love this lineup. I think Ruiz is really proving to be a battler. I say Mauer carries us over the top tonight.
T Mouse
Oh come on Gardenwizard, don’t play matchups in a crucial series like this.
Kubel and Buscher should be playing, Punto shouldnt
[…] Originally published by Around the Majors […]
Me….I guess you haven’t seen Buscher hit against lefites.
Lefties that is
“Kubel and Buscher should be playing, Punto shouldnt”
Playing SS?
Take Punto out and put in Kubel AND Buscher??? Wouldn’t that make 10 on the field?
Butcher should be delegated to Lamb’s old spot… Ruiz is the hottest hitter on the club so he should be playing as much as possible and Gomez hits lefties better and has better defense than Kubel. If Punto were to sit, Everett should be in before the other 2
Punto’s been swinging that bat pretty good if im not mistaken, with the sinkerball pitcher out there in Blackburn its better to have Harris then Buscher on defense….not to mention we’re facing a lefty. I like this lineup against lefties.
It would be nice for Blackburn to but up a solid start and get his ERA back under 4. Oaklands line-up pretty much blows so this should be a good opporunity.
We need a sweep this series! Do that and we are leading either the division or the wild card after this weekend.
I love how Punto continues to play well, yet some fans refuse to see it.
I agree, Aaron. According to the Twins’ website, Punto’s average is .292. Also, with Blackie being a sinker ball pitcher, it makes perfect sense to play Punto at short as well as Harris at third.
is anyone able to find the athletics lineup by chance? if so please post it. would be appreciated
thanks
Punto is hitting .337 vs LHP.
Punto Rocks,
“it makes perfect sense to play Punto at short as well as Harris at third.”
If not Everett at short and Punto at third.
Sane: I agree with your statement, too.
yeah, I’m with sane… While Buscher had defensive issues, Harris just hasn’t shown much range defensively.
Nice to have a few guys on the bench to bring in later in the game though, isn’t it?
There’s an article on the the Fox Sports website making the case that the Twins organization is the best in baseball. It rehashes the old “Twins lost Hunter/Silva/Santana but are still contending” schpiel but it’s nice to see the organization get some good pub. I do think that TR/BS have done a fantastic job over the past years despite what people write on this and many other venues. Would you trade our FO for, let’s say, Pittsburgh’s or KC’s?
Speaking of Pittsburgh, the whole Pedro Alvarez scenario brings back find memories of the Travis Lee incident. Someone should go remind the Pittsburgh FO how that all turned out. Unless Pedro is a once in a generation player, I say save your $6M and pick a non-Boras player next year.
That Pedro Alvarez thing is a joke. I hope the Twins win in romp like fashion.
i want to stick my little wee wee in puntos tight little bottom
Okayyyyy. my above point was butchered.
Harris should be at short and Buscher should be at 3rd, then again, there is nothing wrong with Punto tonight.
Kubel? Maybe in RF or DH, IMHO he’s better than Ruiz or Gomez.
I think baseball would be a greater sport if Boras was turned down a few notches…. the kid has not played a game, he does not need 6.2 million dollars…. Posey was able to get a desperate team in SF but he is also willing to settle into whatever position they want him to, Alvarez is a one position guy…. definately not a gardenhire guy…..can we try to have baseball with a five year Boras ban? see if ticket prices go down? Or atleast concessions?
Punto Rocks impersonator: You have issues. Also I don’t have a wee wee.
That’s french right?
I hate Nick Punto.
Joe…the Twins website has Blackburns ERA at 3.76…what’s with the 4.05?
That replay setup looks pretty nice
4.05 is his career ERA, 3.76 is for this season.
ERA of 3.78 actually, not 3.76
what? he’s a rookie…
ahh last year had 7+ era….don’t see a point in putting down career ERA
E-mail: jchristensen@startribune.com
Is anyone else tired of this kid who is terrorizing the blog, by posting under other’s names? (7:49 Post) Maybe Joe can help us out, if we send him an e-mail.
we could have to register like they do on vikings chat
Yes, I like that you have to register for the Vikings chat thing.
I imagine that it will stop as soon as school is back in session. Just another reason to have school 365 days a year.
Nick Punto Watch:
35 consecutive starts
2,??? to catch Ripken.
WTFU Gardy!!!
Starting Punto is perfectly defensible. Not starting Kubel and Buscher is also defensible. I hope Kubel gets a start or two in the four game series, but it is nice to have Buscher and Kubel available to pinch hit.
Just because they have you register doesn’t mean there’s not trolls…the Vikings board is just ridiculous and it kills brain cells just looking at it.
Gardy leaves Kubel in there against some LHP. Gardy has said, the straight change is a pitch Kubel struggles with. Kubel loves the fastball. A lefty who throws a lot of change-ups, will likely mean Kubel sits.
ya the viking blog is still the craziest blog i have ever seen and is one of the craziest on the internet
but but
folks
you don’t know how good we all have it in the Stib blogs…
try to leave a comment on a blog in another MLB team’s corresponding newspaper site…
Most of them are locked (i.e. the blog owner has to approve each post) and the rest are dead.
Feel privileged, but the Twins (thanks to Strib) have the best blog participation in the majors…
I wonder if Gardy will give Tolbert some chances over at 3B when he returns. No one has really laid claim to the job.
Would it hurt to bench Gomez for consecutive games? I think the best lineup has Span in CF, Kubel in RF, and Ruiz DH. This team needs an offensive spark. I would gladly trade Gomez’s defense for Kubel’s hitting right now.
all you haters of punto, GET A LIFE!!!!!
I’m not a huge fan of Punto, but the way Everett swings the bat, Punto is the best choice for short. Still and all, here’s hoping neither of them are on the roster next year and the Twins get a real shortstop in the offseason.
GET A LIFE?
i read that as, “if you have an opinion other than my own, GET A LIFE”
man you couldnt hit a ball slower to 2b!
crap
So what is going to happen if Tolbert doesn’t come off the DL tearing the cover off the ball or playing very well overall? It seems too many people have way too many expectations on a guy who has been on the DL since May.
jama,
I agree about the best lineup (based on circumstances…)
Miss O,
Tolbert is the next Punto (best case scenario.) Worse case scenario, he is the next Hockin
Guzman hit for the cycle. That makes two twins this year…
I think the Saints draw more than the A’s
Empty place here…
Why wasnt he trying to bunt?
Twins must be confusing Eveland with Lefty Grove tonight…
everyone watching the vikes or what?
Vikings or Obama
They are missing a nice game by Nick Blackburn tonight…
Besides for the skitish first inning…I agree, he has been doing very well
Neat to see a guy with a .228 BA but a .373 OBP…
Tolbert could become Casilla-like. Maybe better. Gardy loves the kid. Great attitude, excellent talent.
not the best slider though…
Anyone posting now are the REAL Twins fans.
That hit by Morneau did look like it was hit too hard, but man that got to the wall fast.
didn’t look that is
THIS PITCHER IS NOT THAT GOOD! What is the deal?
Do you think Ruiz has become a little too complacent because he knows he is the right handed bat off the bench? That he really doesn’t have much comepetion?
Post..to be a REAL Twins fan
And here come the A’s
Blackburn has started to find the barrel this inning.
That is one of the best plays I have ever seen!
That is the top play of the month, wow.
Miss O,
I doubt if Ruiz is complacent after working 10 years to get to where he is.
I don’t know if he is complacent, I tend to think he’s just not that good. There are reasons you are in the minor leagues for 10+years. I think he handles the bat well, but I don’t think he could do .300 over the course of a MLB season. Bert and Dick talk about how he is a career .300 hitter in the minors, but he spent a lot of time at lower levels at an older age. Nice play by Lexi
that will be the top web gem of the day and the week
To even throw the ball accurately with the glove like that is impressive in itself.
Poor Blackburn not getting any run support yet again, wonder when the last time was he got run support
Lack of hustle by Young
Dana Eveland’s last 10 starts aren’t that bad. He did have two really bad games where he 9 runs in two innings and 5 runs in 4.2. Otherwise he pitches about six innings giving up 2 or 3 runs. However, we should still score off the bum.
Nice play on defense
Another K for Delmon in which the ball hit the ground before it got to the plate…
It just seems his approach has changed or something over the past 3 or 4 games since he has been told “you and Kubel are the DH….” and I don’t know his Ab’s just have been looking worse as of late. Maybe it is the lack of sleep these guys are giving me…..who knows
Last ten games, Ruiz is hitting .340. Last 4, he is hitting .400.
Somebody’s cheating. How do the Twins maintain such high batting averages with no hits.
LNP
“I tend to think he’s just not that good.”
A number of organizations apparently agreed with that evaluation. (Cin, Bal, Phil, NYY, KC, Pit, SF).
Read the stat sheet wrong, Last 4 he is hitting .333, 5-15, not .400, 6-15…
What a boring boring game, all of these games on this road trip have been boring other than 1 or 2 in LAA
Three double plays in the first five innings… lead off runners in the 1st & 3rd…does anyone have an idea what our offensive stategy is, or better yet, if we have one?
I would say 12,000 is pretty generous tonight, probably 8,000 season ticket holders = 4K and change in attendance
The twins are trying to put the Oakland pitching staff to sleep…
Game/convention over. All the Viking/Democrats need to get blogging.
Blackburn is probably going to go seven innings tonight. Eveland looks like he is going complete game…
Bert can make all the excuses in the world for the twins. This pitcher is not very good and there is no excuse for this poor ‘offensive’ performance.
No double play there…yet
Send the runners and stay out of the DP.
I hate when fans wave behind the action. That is why I like the metrodome, no fans in the background…
You called it!
Gardy, I can’t believe it! You did it!
Walk him for Morneau!
A nice grounder to first will do…
Bases juiced for Morne!
Here’s a call, Morne hits a double on a breaking ball…
No one is better at hitting fly balls than Morneau. Hit one to the OF, big guy.
Tied, time for Ruiz to do something.
Bad AB, Randy.
We’ll see Kuebel next time.
Bad at bat for Ruiz, you have to take a pitch or two in that situation. This game will be untied quickly though…
I think Gatty is on to something
Blackburn really tried to give the lead away in the next at bat, but he was unable to do it.
I hope not.
Punch him out.
One has to throw a pretty lousy pitch for Booby Crosby to hit it hard, at least of late. And, like with Frank Thomas last time up, Blackburn did just that.
That was a big non call from Dick
That was a heck of a throw
Cust is such an enigma. How can a player walk so much and strike out so much? Does he have a good eye or not?
Anyone else think we should walk Thomas
Not Blackburn…
Im glad I crossed myself…lol
That was a close play at second!
Okay, maybe not THAT close…
Blackie is about cooked
That seems to be the theme on the road…tie and give it back.
I am not surprised at all.
Hopefully next year our young pitchers can consistently pitch six innings.
At least the Twins were tied for 14 minutes…
Blackburn cusses himself out again walking away from the mound after Gardy pulls him. After the commercial break, check to see if there is any banging around of equipment in the dugout by Blackburn.
Hardly a bad outing…where’s the runs?
He grooved two fastballs that should have been hit for HRs and amazingly the twins are only down by 1
Has anybody noticed that when the white sox aren’t playing we NEVER win and when we are winning late and the sox are losing late that we lose and they win? The twins have got to win these games if they want to make up any ground. Unbelievable…
FSN should know Delmon swings at the first pitch
Let’s see if the Twins can capitalize on Young’s extra base hit.
Now score at least one run hopefully two…
I don’t think Harris is going to bunt…
last time the whities were off and the Twins didn’t play the Twins won
same effect though…
yes, it was the first Angel’s game
Lets start talking crap about Punto so he can get a hit.
Glad to see aggressive base running on the Harris sac fly, because we can’t rely on many deep flys.
tm- The last time the Twins played and the White Sox did not was last Thursday…Twins beat Anaheim.
The Twins tied it!
Now for their allotted DP…
Send the runner, Gardy.
LPN feeds off the negative thoughts…
and why and the hell is everyone bashing punto? he is having twice the season he had last year
*LNP
That is just unfair.
Mr. Relief pitcher whoever you are, please do not give the run back in the bottom of the 7th.
one time MARKIM
nick the stick
Probably going to be Crain
has anyone ripped punto tonight?
nick the stick is quick
tm…We bash him because he seems to do better when we do so….he feeds off our negativity
Yes - steal more bases. It’s about time we’re sending them.
No one was here for the DP he hit into…
Caught that ball in the jaw
I dunno Shawn. Is JP here?
nick the stick is quick and fields slick
Eighth inning will decide the game for the Twins.
we have 3 more innings of relief pitchers to get through, which means we need to score another 8 or 9 runs to stay in this thing!
“It’s about time we’re sending them.”
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It sure is.
Is there some kind of unwritten rule about not scoring more that one run an inning when you play smallball?
tm- I didn’t say it was common. In reality, this is only the 3rd time since the AS break that the Twins are playing and the Whities are not. The Twins are 1-1 coming into tonight.
“Is there some kind of unwritten rule about not scoring more that one run an inning when you play smallball?”
Nope. You can score 5,6, 10, or more.
it’s not an unwritten rule about smallball, it’s an unwritten rule for the twins
That curve is nasty for Bonser, middle of the order up for the twins, better score some runs.
Booooooooooooooooooooof!
From Jayson Stark:
Mike Lamb and the Phillies have mutual interest. A trade might make more sense than awaiting his release, so that he’d be eligible for the postseason roster.
Casilla hasn’t hit much since he returned.
trade for Howard
Quick, who has the most hits for the Twins in his last 10 games?
Punto
trick question, every twin has grounded into a double play at each plate appearance over the last 10 games!
Trick question, the Twins don’t have a hit over the last 10 games…
Buckwheat you can collect your prize at section 220. Nicky with 16 hits.
Someone needs to hit a HR, and I don’t think the Twins will hit it…
who can blame them for no hits the last 10 games, they have seen multiple aces each night, I mean, seriously
I wonder if RHP’ s threw left handed the Twins would lose
Names like Bautista and lakjd-Rowland Whatever come to mind
If anyone gets a hit for the Twins in the 9th, “The Stick” could come to the plate.
We need a baserunner next inning for Nick the stick to drive him in.
Boof do not give up a homerun.
Nice to see Boof is copying Denard in the beard department.
what we need is “change,” you think Obama would bat for the Twins?
Sharp inning for Bonser, just made the outfield stay loose is all.
Booooffff!! has a very nice curve.
He is a die hard White Sox fan so my great political mind says no.
Whoever hits the first HR wins the game
ugh
What a great at bat by Kubel. He really worked the pitc…oh wait that was horrible.
so the A’s win then, I can go to sleep now.
The Boof, showing some change we can believe in.
Booooooooooooooooooooooof!
Ruiz could have done that.
Boof for president!
Why can’t opposing pitchers ever groove one to a twins batter?
Delmon walks.
*World Explodes*
i’m guessing double play?
Harris keeps the DP in order.
Twins could walk four times in an inning and they would still be thrown out a home plate.
Twins bats need some Devine intervention.
god damnit
how about that offense!
Damnit Harris, you Mendoza league all star
that’s impossible, they ground into double plays on the first pitch of every at bat
If Harris doesn’t foul that ball off and take away a SB from Young, twins might have scored a run. Okay, probably not.
Think anyone remembered that Buscher, the masher of righties, was on the bench?
Why don’t the Twins just concede the DP with a runner at first and less than 2 outs.
I am stunned, they grounded into a double play…simply stunned, they never do that…more than once in an inning anyway
I would hate to see Buscher pinch hit for Harris and then move Punto down to 3rd and put Everett at short. That would just make sense.
Boof was doing great.
to keep with the current trend, I’m guessing game over bottom of 9
That was supposed to be LNP’s super inning but Harris decided to use up two out on his own selfish self.
No, the best part of this game is that not only are the twins going to lose, but they are going to do it in a couple of hours or so.
Game over
Johnny, don’t be silly. Can’t hit into two double plays in one inning.
Or can you? ? ?
Gardy loves the lefty-righty thing.
please be good crain
At least Brown sucks against RHPs
Ryan Sweeney leads off ninth with hit. Why doesn’t Gordo mention that Sweeney is from Cedar Rapids,Iowa? He must have mentioned 10 times that the Clement kid on the Mariners is from Marshalltown, Iowa.
One belt-high, no movement fastball = end of game = 3 games blown by Crain in 6 days.
I must say I am confused by Gardy in late game situations. We appear most of the time to have a rotation at 3b (lefty/righty). But, in late tie game situation, he doesn’t make the obvious pinch hit move (Buscher for Harris). He has Everett to come in on defense. Must be saving Buscher for the 11th inning or something.
Looks like good crain so far
Fastball hitter vs. fastball pitcher.
MudCat….it’s the Twins, of course you can
why even pitch to Brown?
Gardy must be saving Buscher’s arm. He was in for two innings yesterday…
You mean like a strike ‘em out throw ‘em out with a dropped third strike?
Twice?
That and brown is hitting .222 against curves
Breslow could’ve walked the righty
nope, like it’s the Twins so they will find a way to ground into 2 DP’s in one inning…it’s what they
Since Suzuki has hit into so many DPs, the Twins might as well walk him.
crain sucks
96 MPH on that fastball
c’mon crain
Crain can’t find the zone. Ugh.
We should send a Twin up to bat, sure double play to end the inning
Next pitch, Crain loses.
Crain tried…
Yep
How much time did we waste discussing the playoff roster today?
oh god
More like, how much time did I waste watching this game…
WHEN WILL YOU STOP USING CRAIN!!!!!!!!!
This pitcher sucks. Throw him on the DL and call up anyone.
Ugly. Very ugly.
well white sox, rays, and red sox will have great playoff rosters…
the whole bullpen sucks
Hey gardy thanks for leaving Breslow in
How many games is Crain going to lose for us?
not like the offense has been much help lately… giving up 3 runs isn’t terrible
This was a joke performance by the Twins offense. Bert can formulate as many excuses he wants but the Twins seem to be mystified by junk pitchers. Not watching another game on this road trip.
Crain is doing a great job of filling the void left by Rincon.
Lets get after it tomorrow!
Crain sucks. can we trade him for the anything? just cut his butt loose.
Can somebody tell me where the strikezone went in those last few ABs? Because last I checked, Oakland wasn’t the Yankees…and they sure as heck weren’t getting away with that “OMG that pitch is a strike but if I jump it’s a ball!” thing that Jeter loves to pull.
I call BS on this loss. Offense choked and the pitching was forced to chuck meatballs over the play in the 9th.
*pfft*
Sure glad they traded for bullpen help like everybody wanted. Too bad Eddie can’t also hit.
In the past I got upset with games like this, now I find them humorous because they’re so predictable…don’t score any runs, starter gives up 1 or 2 runs through 6 or 7 innings, relievers lose game…rinse and repeat
Blame this one on Gardy. Why Crain was in there and not Nathan is a real mystery. Oh well. I’m past caring after the latest four-game losing streak. Twins will do what they will and that will be that. Highly suspect it will be an October vacation, and even if they make the playoffs, I’d bet my retirement account they will be out in the first series, probably three games straight ala 2006.
Jesse Crain may end up being the 1 reason we don’t get into the playoffs. How many games can one guy blow??
4 double plays the Twins hit into.
sad to say I agree with Johnny. how many games on the road trip have turned out like this (except for the shocking first game against LAA)
This one’s in the can..Tomorrow’s another day.
Nice one Gas-Can Crain. How about a policy of leaving a bullpen guy in until he gives up a run. As shaky as the pen has been, it only makes it more frustrating when they take out someone who is somewhat effective and you have another letdown.
yeah but I’m sure he’s a nice guy…
My goodness…I could walk in a room full of everybody here, looking for Twins fans….and walk away disappointed. Everyone of you have the glass 1/2 full mentality. Call yourself fans????….AMAZING!
Can’t management see his fastball is just crap? When Kurt Suzuki from Maui hits the walk-off off the center field wall, you can’t say how great a hitter Beltre is or any other guy who has shredded this bottom-end reliever. Just say it like it is….he is shite. What an awful way to lose another game on this road trip. This troll’s turning out the light.
Pretty sad that people are not going to watch games during a penant race. Certainly doesn’t seem to keep some from complaining though.
yeah but Gardy needs to save boof’s arm, he looked tired
i am sick of the righty-lefty BS that gardy pulls. if one pitcher has a decent ERA (breslow, reyes), don’t use them for only 1 batter!
Crain is horrible. Let’s put him on the same train as we did with Rincon
This is starting to feel like the end of 2006
I dont care if this team is on the road or not, they are playing weak teams, and if they keep letting these bottom dwellers beat them, they do not deserve to play in OCT
We are fans… that’s why we’re disappointed that the Twins keep losing to less-than-average teams.
if you’re a minnesota fan of any sport, you know they only possible outcome, disappointment
Doesn’t Oakland still have less than ten wins since the all-star break?
which is why if for every game and every season you get all hyped up, you’ve just got that much more frustration when they let you down…
Then stop watching if that is what you think Johnny. Geesh
at least the white sox have to play boston tomorrow. someone has to lose.
Oakland will be in first place after this series with the Twins…something magical happens when the Twins play bad teams
Didn’t Oakland just beat the Angels twice?
This is their 11th win since the A-S break, if its any consolation they have as many wins against the Rays as they do against the twins in that same period of time
xxxx, breaking out that tired argument again? If you have the ability to separate your emotions from the game, I would turn the tables and question how much of a fan YOU are. Frustration after a loss is the hallmark of a dedicated, involved fan. It’s the casual fan who could care less about the team that finds it easy to show no emotion and say “nice try” like a 6th-grade girl at a kickball game.
hey…i am just as disappointed and PO’d as everyone…I just get sick of reading this blog and hearing everyone’s “expert” opinions and how much of a fan they are….just to turn around and throw the team under the bus…..
The Twins can’t keep hoping that the White Sox bail them out; eventually they are going to have to win a game that they need to.
Crain is absolutely horrible. We have sure had our share of bums in the pen this year- Rincon, Bass, Crain, ad nauseum. Meanwhile we have decent pitchers in the farm system who certainly couldn’t be any worse than the knuckleheads up there now. Korecky, Humber, etc. Can they be any worse? Eddie G has an ERA in double digits and he is supposed to be the saviour?
If the Twins were a corporation, Bill Smith would have been given the axe a long time ago for bringing on board Monroe, Lamb, Everett and Hernandez, not getting any right handed power hitters despite the money saved on Torii and Johann, and for leaving Liriano in the minors. If we miss the playoffs, you have no further to look than Smith and good old Gardy who thought Gomez was better than Span and so took Go-Go and sent Denard packing and was in love with Livan and left Liriano in exile when he could have made 4-5 starts. Gardy is teflon. Good old Gardy and Wild Bill Smith. Player moves and non-moves andlate game decisions that baffle even the casual observer…
Mike,
It does no good if the twins just get beat by no-name pitchers and sub-.500 teams, then they only lose ground on one instead of both
We have 5 starters with an ERA under 4. I honestly can’t believe that we have lost 4 out of 5. The starters haven’t let us down… the offense, bullpen, and defense have. It is so different from what we expected this year.
Yeah, most didn’t expect Twins to do anything this year…
I watch or listen to everygame…and every game doesn’t matter, it’s where they are at the end of the year, which is why I joke around a bit here, to make bad games like this easier to take, I have a family to pour my emotions into
I dont care if this team is on the road or not, they are playing weak teams, and if they keep letting these bottom dwellers beat them, they do not deserve to play in OCT
The funny thing is that you could post the same thing about the White Sox and be just as true (they DID just get done dropping two of four to the O’s)
With decent starters we are still within 1 1/2 of the white sox. They still have to play the Twins 3 times at the Dome. The WS are bad on the road just like the Twins. All hope is not lost. We are creeping through this terrible road trip, but the Sox aren’t gaining much ground…
Well said, Bob. This team is winning in spite of Gardenhire and not because of him. Who of us didn’t know with absolute certainty that Crain would choke up another game? Why do solid guys toil in the minors never to get a shot, while proven choke artists like Crain and Livan get trotted out to get shelled with such regularity?
Just because many didn’t expect the Twins to be here doesn’t give the Twins a free pass to lose games they should win.
cuz it’s minnesota nice, give em’ another shot
gatty790 I’m with you, these guys make millions of dollars, so earn your money, don’t lose to third grade softball teams with the exact same formula everynight! at least change the formula!
Wrong, the White Sox lost one game to the O’s. But I do remember that the WSox lost one at home after it got rainy back in april. 
not to be negative all you out there, but if the Twins did make the playoffs, they would probably go out like they did against oakland a few years back
The A’s are not a scoring machine, yet knowing this, the Twins slept offensively through the first five innings of this game. Lead off batters reach in the first and third with no results. One attempt, as I recall, at a hit and run. No steals attempted. No pressure by the Twins to play proactive baseball. Sorry to say, but it seems to be Gardy’s “road” style. Rather than act, he reacts. And the results haven’t been stellar!
you don’t need to be an offensive machine, you just need to get into the twins bullpen, this is not me being negative, it is a fact
the offense has been ugly. is it gardy’s fault? maybe somewhat. usually i blame punto, but he’s been hitting well
Daniel -
Do you think Gardy manages differently on the road than at the dome?
I can’t believe this, BBTN said that the Casilla play was number two. Seeing a 3rd baseman throw from his position is not more impressive. That is a joke.
Daniel -
Do you think Gardy manages differently on the road than at home?
2 parts to this post:
1. Why the **** is the AAA rookie of the year hitting behind the best hitter in the american league?
Why the **** is jason kubel not in there every day? i think the twins can sacrifice a little defense right now as much as their offense is stuggling. gomez sucks, especially when he doesn’t try to bunt once a game, let alone the entire week.
did anyone else turn to baseball tonight once crain came in, just to avoid even more stress and heartache???
2. the twins have the white sox right where they want them. they have a tough series at fenway, followed by a stop in cleveland against cliff lee and the red-hot indians. good.
help is on the way in toronto, via bus from rochester. a little positive energy from excited minor leaguers will be good for these guys.
Without question, Gardy manages different on the road.
Wrong, the White Sox lost one game to the O’s.
Funny, could’ve sworn they lost Monday, then lost yesterday too.
But I know…I know. Lets not let facts get in the way or anything.
Why do solid guys toil in the minors never to get a shot…
You’ll have to talk to the FO on that one. There’s been instances this year where Gardy’s commented on a need here or there.
He can ask for a new 3B (be it from the minors or from a trade), but ultimately it’s the FO that has to pull the trigger.
you guys that say anything bad about bill smith or gardy are idiots. no offense… but what gardy has done in his tenure with lackluster talent is nothing short of unbelievable, and very enjoyable to watch.
we have to wait five years to start judging bill smith, but as far as i can tell he is no different than terry ryan. it’s not like terry ryan did any good for the twins organization or anything…
Funny, I remember the White Sox winning 2 of three in Baltimore. I REPEAT: I remember the White Sox losing a game in Chicago back in APRIL after a couple month rain suspension. The game was not played on monday. I know. It is mind boggling, yet true. Lets not let facts get in the way or anything.
For the record, the first game that the White Sox lost was on a thursday. Back in April.
Mr. Mike08, I just listened to Gardy’s postgame interview whereby he said that they were attempting to steal more early, had good jumps and the batters kept fouling pitches off rather than take them. Plausible statement, but don’t they have take signs. Regarding your query, I think that playing in the Metrodome is a tremendous advantage for the Twins and covers many deficiencies while allowing the Twins to play with far greater confidence…confidence that appears lacking on the road.
Actually it was a monday. Back in April. Wrong extra inning game between the White Sox and the O’s.
span stole tonight. punto stole.
the problem is hitting them in.
scoring position isn’t 2nd base anymore… it’s 3rd with less than 2 outs.
The game was not played on monday. I know. It is mind boggling, yet true.
Wow. Semantics? That’s the best you have? Go back to your corner, put together a real argument, and then I’ll listen.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/index.jsp?ymd=20070829
I seem to recall right about this time last year people claiming the Twins were One-Bat (TM) away from being back in the hunt, and that Gardy was single0handedly destroying this team’s playoff chances.
And the 07 Model was a worse team than the one last year (Jason Tyner as the LF/DH, Casilla (Prebuild Version) and Punto (07 Model) was your primary MIF (along with Luis “3rd Catcher” Rodriquez).
So people are willing to give up on 08 “already”…but last year still felt the Twins were “right on the verge” when they were third in the division and back 8 games?
WEIRD!
Daniel -
I completely agree that they are more confident at home. I was just wondering if you thought Gardy changed his ways on the road.
I think that playing in the Metrodome is a tremendous advantage
Don’t some people say the “turf” helps a bit? Something about how a grounder (those seeing eye singles the Twins seem to get at the Dome) ends up being a routine DP when bouncing on real grass and dirt…
Speaking of 07 Models….Looks like the 08 Rays are the 07 Rockies who were the 06 Twins.
Except the Rays have been good all year.
If the Twins don’t make it, I definately want to see the Rays come out on top. It’d be nice if one of these feel good stories actually paid off for once.
Semantics? That’s the best you have? Go back to your corner, put together a real argument, and then I’ll listen.
I was making a humorous remark in the first place and your dense mind could not quite understand it. Better luck next time ass.
At least the Twins will win the game today.
I wish I knew you were right, Gatty.
you guys argue about the stupidest stuff on here..
It’s kind of fun to argue about dumb stuff. Otherwise we’d just go to bed!
haha ya.. this west coast trip is really kickin my ass. it wouldn’t be so bad if we were winning some of these 9:10 pm games..
Mr. Mike08, I respond out of courtesy to you, sir. I am not a sooth sayer..this being a fan is a hobby, not a second vocation. I tried with undue subtlety to make a reference to “major deficiencies” being erased at the Metrodome. Certain DP balls on the road are singles or more at the dome forcing opponents out of their comfort zones. I personally don’t know if Gardy manages different at home. Obviously, the results are different but one can’t imagine he has two separate styles, home and away. Just an observation..
I’ve gotta be honest. I’ve read this blog for a long time. It’s awesome to read all of the opinions… obviously everyone loves the Twins. Some are pessimistic, some are optimistic. I am usually pessimistic, but the White Sox have as many road games left as we do. It’s not crazy to think we can pull this out.
