Sunday lineups: Twins/Royals
Posted on May 3rd, 2009 – 10:16 AMBy Joe Christensen
On his weekly radio show (KSTP AM-1500), Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he planned to talk to second baseman Alexi Casilla this morning.
“I’m just a little disappointed in Lexi right now,” Gardenhire said, noting Casilla’s recent mental lapses, and his propensity to take his at-bats into the field.
Gardenhire said Jesse Crain will throw a bullpen session today, letting loose, and if all goes well, he’ll probably be activated from the disabled list for the road trip.
Mike Redmond will also throw on the field today, and if his right shoulder is sound, the Twins will send Jose Morales back to Class AAA Rochester to make room on the roster for Crain.
Regarding Craig Breslow’s command issues (nine walks in 6 2/3 innings), Gardenhire said, “That can’t continue, and we won’t allow that very much longer.”
Gardenhire said he has spoken to General Manager Bill Smith about righthander Anthony Slama, who has 20 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings and a 2.31 ERA at Class AA New Britain.
Probably too soon to make that move, but Slama impressed the Twins this spring with his funky delivery, and it shows you he’s on the radar.
Updates to come…
Update: Redmond just made several strong throws to third base and second base. On Friday, he said it feels like he has a new arm, and it shows.
Update: Crain’s bullpen session went well. He will accompany the team to Detroit after the game, and it sounds like the Twins will announce their roster move then.
The Twins had Kevin Slowey wait to throw his between-starts bullpen session, just in case he’s needed in relief after Saturday’s 11-inning marathon.
Update: Gardenhire said Joe Mauer will probably play three games on the upcoming four-game road trip to Detroit and Baltimore. Mauer caught nine innings Friday and 11 innings Saturday. “He told me, ‘All things considered, I feel pretty good,’ ” Gardenhire said.
As for third baseman Joe Crede, Gardenhire said he simply wanted to give him a break today after the long game Saturday.
(*) The video replay machine is working today. I spoke to crew chief Tim Tschida before the game, and he said there’s a direct dial line to MLB’s replay headquarters, and on Saturday, they weren’t getting a connection.
Also, it doesn’t sound like Nick Punto will be facing disciplinary action for bumping umpire Mike Estabrook on Saturday.
“The contact was accidental on both parts,” Tschida said. “If Punto hadn’t gathered himself immediately, he would have been ejected from the game. As soon as it happened, Nick backed off right away.”
ROYALS (13-11)
1. Coco Crisp, CF
2. Willie Bloomquist, SS
3. Mark Teahen, 3B
4. Jose Guillen, DH
5. Mike Jacobs, 1B
6. David DeJesus, LF
7. Alberto Callaspo, 2B
8. John Buck, C
9. Mitch Maier, RF
Starting pitcher: RH Gil Meche (1-2, 3.77)
TWINS (12-12)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Brendan Harris, 2B
3. Justin Morneau, 1B
4. Jason Kubel, DH
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Brian Buscher, 3B
7. Delmon Young, LF
8. Jose Morales, C
9. Nick Punto, SS
Starting pitcher: RH Scott Baker (0-3, 9.82 ERA)
Metrodome. First pitch: 1:10 p.m.
275 Responses to "Sunday lineups: Twins/Royals"
What about Baker? How long are they going to put up with his ineptness? Glad to hear that Gardy going to do something about Alexi. I really think that this whole team would benefit from Alexi and Gomez being in the line-up together. They are good friends and feed off competing with each other Cuddy’s D has cost us two games by missing balls off the baggy that Span COULD have gotten.
[…] Around the Majors – […]
My predictions for today…
Mauer pinch-hits in the late innings.
Baker gets off to a rough start, then retires at least 13 in a row in the middle innings.
Brendan Harris takes over second base for good with a 3-5 effort.
Glad to see Young back in the lineup. Would like to see Crede in back-to-back games. Maybe it’s decision time on Buscher (with Crain returning) and they want to see how he does in a few games.
But Span gets a pass for not coming up with the ball last night in LF that bounces off of his glove, right?
Typical selective criticism around here.
Glanzer,
That would be nice if Harris can come through with a big game. Casilla is really hurting the club right now.
Why do Ayala and Dickey have such long leashes?
Don’t agree with Crede getting the day off today (since he got the impromptu one Friday because of his child being born).
But I’m glad that Gardy has a definate plan of sorts for his “Mauerless Lineup” with Morneau going 3rd instead of Mauer.
Also nice to hear Redmond’s arm is healing, though I think he should still consider stepping aside if Morales keeps hitting.
~Josh,
Probably want to give Anderson a chance to do his “magic.” We knew coming into the season that Ayala was a restoration project. As for Dickey, your guess is as good as mine.
hopefully Morales has a big game and makes it tough to send him down
Ayala isn’t any better than Rincon.
Looks like a lotta people didn’t have fun this weekend. Lighten up, y’all.
Figuring out a way to win this game today will help improve my overall attitude. Win Twins!
Donde esta Mauer a DH? I guess going 6-for-9 with a walk in two games isn’t enough to get the start over Cuddyer or Young.
Gardy said on his show that he just doesn’t think Harris has the tools defensively to play 2B everyday. It’s too bad, because he has a nice RH bat to plug in between Span and Mauer/Morneau/Kubel.
Poor Red, he’s just doesn’t know when to give it up.
Poor Red, he’s just doesn’t know when to give it up.
Save me the time re-reading 100’s of blog days - What does Red plan to do after baseball? I have seen lots of speculation on him becoming a coach, but has any reporter asked him what his plans are? Obviously, with Stelly’s health, he’d fit nice there, but curious what his plans are.
NorthStar
Harris doesn’t, but Punto does.
Start Harris at SS and move Punto to 2nd.
Donde esta Mauer a DH? I guess going 6-for-9 with a walk in two games isn’t enough to get the start over Cuddyer or Young.
Sac Joint Health, I assume.
Start Harris at SS and move Punto to 2nd.
A good followup question for Gardy - Does Harris have the tools for SS? I suspect it is range related so the question prob remains no but worth asking.
so far this season casilla hasn’t shown he belongs in the ml let alone start every day.
Terry Felton, I thought your Randy Bush/Mike Redmond analogy yesterday was insightful and intelligent, so thanks for that.
Like most, I like watching Morales play, and I don’t enjoy watching Redmond much. I don’t pretend to have an eye for a catcher’s game-calling, “leadership”, or the more subtle defensive qualities, but I trust the opinions of others who contend that Redmond is superior to Morales. Randy Bush was incontestably declining, and replacing him was clearly good for the team. Morales vs. Redmond? It’s at least arguable. And sane’s point about weighing the possible reaction of teammates is valid. We as fans have no real insight on this, so to citicize a move as either heartless or overly sentimental is speculative.
My guess is Redmond stays in place for the remainder of the season barring injury or precipitous decline, and Morales plays every day in Rochester. Given what little I know, I wouuld find no fault with this decision even though I’d rather not watch Redmond play.
No surprise to see Harris at 2B today. I really thought Gardy last night would pull Kubel and go with Harris in that PH at bat for Casilla. I still don’t like seeing Kubel against the opposing team’s tough situational lefthander coming out of the bullpen.
Harris is fine defensively at 2nd. He has a bit to work on regarding turning the double play, but that’s it. He’s obviously a hard worker who learns from repetition. He might not be as fast as Casilla, but his instincts are better, he’s a consistent extra base threat, and has had easily as many ‘clutch’ hits as Lexi.
I really think Lexi needs to go to Roch, where he can spend innings at short and third so he can be reborn as the utility infielder / pinch runner that he appears to be.
Terry
Harris is always going to be range challenged. At second he has problems turning the DP. So if he’s got fewer problems defensively at SS and Punto is actually better defensively at 2nd then SS why wouldn’t you write the lineup out that way.
It’s driving me crazy….
Great idea. Let’s keep another player that can’t hit on the roster, and send down one of the hottest hitters. Ugh. Redmond is done, it’s time to move on. Always play for the future, never for the present. Always send the prospect down, and keep the veteran up here for his “leadership”.
Yup, odd PH decisions last night for sure. Very odd.
This is a huge day for Baker. Time for him to get locked in. I don’t see why Cassila can’t get sent down to AAA to work on his swing. Harris looks great at the plate.
How is the 26th man, Tolbert doing in the minors? That could solve the Harris/Alexi 2B quandry for us.
Thanks bop!
or precipitous decline
Similar yet different situation with Bush, but think your ‘precipitous’ point is on the surface to me as a fan not taken place with Red (decline yes, but precipitous?), but there again, the coaches would know better than us with that, as Red has a small smaple size so far this year.
it is interesting when people talk about all the lefties in a row…you will see people cite statistics showing how they do against LHP.
But what you don’t see is how they do against LOOGY’s…the specific stats or relevance would be how our left handed hitters do against left handed pitchers in high leverage situations? When they have not seen that lefty earlier in the game….that is what matters…and in those situations, our left handed hitters struggle immensely…
Thus..I, too, thought Gardy would yank Kubel and substitute Harris for the pinch hitting role when Mahay came in..but nope…
“but there again, the coaches would know better than us”
a novel thought, Terry.
Also I blame the loss last night on Redmond, Gardy, and Bill Smith. Redmond has an arm problem and is given a cortisone shot, but as always the Twins bend over backward in the face of logic to accomodate a veteran even if it hurts the team. So we don’t put him on the DL, go a pitcher short in carrying the dead weight of an “emergency catcher” who can’t play because of said arm problem. With another pitcher in the bullpen we wouldn’t of had to start Breslow that inning or at the very least would have avoided brining Dickey into a bases loaded situation. And for what? So Redmond can retire never having been on the DL? He’d be back 8 days. Whatever happened to putting the team first????
souhan wrote;
“Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has found logical reasons for rotating the four into and out of the lineup,…”
does this guy even watch the games? cuddy has started all but 1 game and 20-24 in right field. he has 3 less rbi than young in 40+ more plate app. there is no rotation!
ggg,
I also thought Souhan’s article odd. Has he been following the team at all?
hi JP. re: your question:
“”"Whatever happened to putting the team first????”"”
I think they do. It does appear to me that if the Twins did what everone’s opinions said they should do, then that would be putting the team first?
Also, Terry made, to me, an unarguable comment, that being…”the coaches would know better than us with that,” and that to me applies in all of the situations that get discussed. So, getting soon game time, let’s GO TWINS!!!
I think Souhan only wrote that article so he could throw in two mentions of how Delmon had a bad attitude with Tampa. That is two seasons ago. Delmon has been nothing but a trooper this year. Why bring that up besides having a personal vendetta against the man?
WJ…because constantly discussing the past is great 20-20 hindsight, and is never wrong. I, like you, try to concentrate on today, in hopes that tomorrow is better.
Also I blame the loss last night on Redmond, Gardy, and Bill Smith.
What an odd trio. Especially Redmond.
you nailed it wj.
it seems like the local media guys work off of gardy’s talking points. very rare that any of them will ask gardy a hard question, they nearly always give gardy and smith a free ride. minnesota nice i guess.
JP,
“With another pitcher in the bullpen we wouldn’t of had to start Breslow that inning or at the very least would have avoided brining Dickey into a bases loaded situation. And for what? So Redmond can retire never having been on the DL? He’d be back 8 days. Whatever happened to putting the team first????”
Excellent point!
He brings it up because he thinkgs Gardy and him are on the same page and the whole team would be happier if DY would just go away. It’d solve everyone’s problems, Souhans, Gardy, Gomez…..DY?
The team’s happier and then performs better… If they can’t handle this stress, how arethey going to handle the stress should they find their way into the playoff picture?
At the end of last night’s game, two players, Morales and Red hadn’t played.
Three catchers (one unuseable) and eleven pitchers on the roster cost the Twins a game last night and may cost them again today.
All in order to keep Red off the DL for a personal achievement. I
f Red was THAT much of a “team guy”, he would have taken his suggested DL-time for the team.
Casilla needs to go to Rochester and stay—he’s not the player we had hoped for all along. I have a realative that umped A and AA ball the past five years and had Casilla several times when he was at Cedar Rapids and owned by the Angels. He said Alexi was never a player that stood out as much as many others and was very surprised when the Twins earmarked him as their infielder of the near future.
Matt Tolbert is the key to this team and should play every day, along with Harris. Tolbert has speed, defense, good power, and no one hustles harder.
Physical mistakes happen and are part of the game, but Casilla’s mental mistakes are killing us! Hitting a buck and a half doesn’t help, either.
mijares could have gone another inning easy
watch out sane they are watching you, way to negative about gardy and co.
the death blow to morales was gardy singing praise on his work before the game, he’ll be in aaa on monday.
instead of using all your pitchers for 10-20 pitches why don’t you try using one or two for 30-40 pitches. That way you have some fresh arms for the game the next day. Mijares should have gone at least one more inning
sane:
Ok, red goes to the DL. Do you really think Morillo gets out of Breslows mess any better than Dickey did?
Leave Guerrier in for more than one inning.
Baker gets through the first inning unscathed.
bigdawg84 Mijares was pitching for the second day in a row.
fcmlefty… lets see, a knuckle ball pitcher who can’t use his knuckler and so only threw 85 mph fastballs. I think ANYONE could have gotten out of Breslow’s mess better than dickey.
fcmlefty,
IMO, Morillo should have been replaced by a AAA pitcher (Humber?) until Crain comes back.
Even Morillo had more of a chance to contribute (Friday- Saturday - Sunday) than does Red in his present condition.
Like I say everytime, what’s the point of asking the Twins a “hard question”?
The kinds of questions people want asked are the kinds of questions that get answers that people call BS on anyway.
Previuos example:
If Smith doesn’t comment on his attempts to fix the team, then he’s obviously not working on anything.
However, if Smith does comment on his attempts to fix the team, then when it doesn’t happen he’s a liar and wasn’t actually working on anything.
People want the “hard questions”, but then if they don’t get an answer they like they tear it apart anyway or call the guy a liar.
Harris robbed.
Aww crap. He saved a run with that catch.
Infield single and throwing error?
The Royals Defense Taketh…the Royals Defense Giveith Away.
right on, JP….I agree.
Yep Dr Don thats what they ruled it.
Great minds…
Does the run count as unearned then? You gotta figure a good throw holds Span at 3rd.
Swinging at ball 4
not that it mattered 
Box score says its an earned run. Though that confuses me.
Sane?
“Does the run count as unearned then?”
Depends on subsequent events in the inning.
Ahh ground from Kubel would have driven in Span.
Thanks Sane.
That sucks, let him off the hook there. No command and we only get 1.
Also we should have tolbert up and not buscher.
Okay, with how the inning played out…
If you assume Morneau was safe without the throw going wild, then you assume 1/3 with 1 away.
Are they assuming Span scores on Kubel’s out?
I blame last nights loss on gardy
sane says:
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
“Does the run count as unearned then?”
Depends on subsequent events in the inning.
That would be my guess, because even with Kube’s ground out, can not anticipate the double play, hence rbi is earned.
“Are they assuming Span scores on Kubel’s out?”
Yes
Hank the Tank,
You’re right, it may be time to send to AAA Casilla and Gomez, because Tolbert and Harris can play 2b, but Punto’s glove is too good; he must start most games at SS. Casilla and Gomez need to work on hitting techniques, so they should to go to AAA.
Also, Redmond should go on the DL and keep Morales. On the other hand, Teixeira is batting .182. Four years ago, Jeter was hitting under .200 in July.
So, who knows? These are tough decisions.
DY seems to look for confident in LF. Need his ABs, he will be close to a .300 hitter in his MLB career.
“On the other hand, Teixeira is batting .182. Four years ago, Jeter was hitting under .200 in July.”
Tex and Jeter have earned a long leash.
Casilla and Gomez?
Not so much.
When did I trade for Tex and Jeter?
Does Meche normally pause mid delivery? Because he’s doing it now.
It’s a short one, just after he pulls the ball from the glove.
“BillSmith says:
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:46 pm
When did I trade for Tex and Jeter?”
Thank God the “real” Bill Smith isn’t brain-dead like the “blog” Bill Smith.
love LNP
Chief,
I just read Poisonberry’s last comment of last night on Joe C.’s blog. This is the comment wherein he writes that he’s an active duty major. I don’t believe it. Any officer with such an attitude towards enlisted personnel would never make it to O-2, because, at least in the USMC, he’d have been fragged long before he even got a chance to be considered for O-4.
No officer with such an attitude towards enlisted personnel could ever make it past O-2. He couldn’t earn the respect of the troops and so he couldn’t lead them.
As they tell every Marine who gets promoted: “The Marine Corps will give to you everything that you need to carry out the duties of your new rank, except the most important thing - the respect of the troops. This respect has to be earned and if you can’t earn it, you can’t lead and if you can’t lead, you’ll never earn another promotion.”
Well, Insane, you may be right about earning a longer leash.
UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR
When Punto was batting, Bremer said: “Yeah, you’d like him (Punto) to bat .270 or .280, but if he hits .235, .240 and plays the defense he’s capable of, you have yourself a great player.”
I’d take it a step farther. I’d say if you had Nick Punto batting .235 and playing short you’d have yourself the greatest player in the history of baseball and it isn’t even close.
Kinda scary, they’re teeing off on Baker. He has been luck so far, the long drives have either been foul or just deep fly outs.
On the other hand, so far, so good.
Skyjoke, you’re being ironic, correct?
“He couldn’t earn the respect of the troops and so he couldn’t lead them.”
Has there ever been an officer who did not have the respect of his unit?
I think I know the answer.
And many leaders can “disguise” their attitude in order to promote themselves.
Harris robbed for the second time.
that was a nice catch!
“Also I blame the loss last night on Redmond, Gardy, and Bill Smith.”
JP, I think the loss should be pinned on George Gershwin, George Harrison, and Boy George.
Just as logical.
harris is hitting the ball well with nothing to show for it.
to bad morales is hitting and playing well will go to aaa tomorrow and gomez and casilla will not. wrong place at the wrong time i guess.
So Harris today so far SHOULD be 2-2 with probably 2 doubles…
“”"”"T says:
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:02 pm
So Harris today so far SHOULD be 2-2 with probably 2 doubles…”"”"”
Momma said there’d be days like this…… baseball is a strange game.
“Punto’s glove is too good, he must start most games a SS”
Punto plays a better 2nd base than SS, and Harris plays a better SS than 2nd.
But according to Dick and Bert, Gardy doesn’t want to tinker with it….
Good Grief.
well last I checked his is 0-2
skyjo: Now THAT’S funny! :*)
I wonder if he was only hitting his weight (like Go-Go, Casilla, Crede and Rudderless) if he’d be HOF material, waiving the five-year requirement?
Not in the Marines, if they don’t have the respect, they won’t last; however, don’t confuse respect with likability, something often done by civilians. They are two totally different cats.
“JP, I think the loss should be pinned on George Gershwin, George Harrison, and Boy George.
Just as logical.”
Just as logical as blaming people actually involved with the Twins roster situation last night?
And you accuse t98 of being illogical?
My last post was in response to a post by Jon.
I was confused by the mismanagement of relievers last night
Kubes!!
Take off the names from the back of the home uniforms. Last night’s throwbacks looked cool w/o the names on the back.
We’re gonna win Twins,
We’re gonna score.
We’re gonna win Twins,
Watch that baseball roll down the foul lines.
Cuddy is actually starting to swing the bat better.
That pretty much means Young and Gomez will split playing time. Which is unacceptable to me. They both need to be playing everyday. Send Gomez down to AAA and get him the reps he needs to improve as a ball player.
Joe,
The Twins looked cool, but then the game started and the Twins looked less than cool.
go ahead JP keep beating a dead horse
Thank for your encouragement D, I will now.
Kinda like posters last year asking, begging Gomez be dropped from the leadoff spot.
“Just as logical as blaming people actually involved with the Twins roster situation last night?”
Absolutely, jon. The Royals didn’t beat a roster situation. The Twins players, with many contributing, fumbled this one away.
What happens if Morales runs into Meche?
someone might get hurt!
Nice job Buscher!!
So is that “heating up” that everybody was ripping JoeC for? Or is there some goalpost that’s going to move come Monday?
“The Royals didn’t beat a roster situation”
When Gardy’s options were limited based on that roster situation then yes they did “in part” beat a roster situation. You do understand that the roster dictates who the Royals face and play?
I forgot…when the Twins are winning, we are obligated to go back to the previous loss so as to avoid being in a good mood for once.
why did ayala face the lefty last night and not mijares?
Baker with 5 no hit innings. Doesn’t seem possible!?!
Sorry T,
BOP brought up a pregame post. I’m ready to move on.
Seems more than possible.
I’m not watching, but is this no-hits through five just a mirage or is he looking like he’s got it all together?
Is he looking semi-dominant?
He’s had a track record of owning the Royals I believe.
“”"”Walter Johnson says:
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:25 pm
What happens if Morales runs into Meche?”"”
Judgement call for umps….if the contact would have occurred in the 3 foot running zone, could be called interence and awarded 1st base. If not, in the zone, just a collision.
MC
Semi dominant. It’s not like the Royals are hitting the ball hard at people and the defense is bailing people out. At the same time he just doesn’t seem over powering. That was the point of my earlier post.
What happens if Morales runs into Meche?
The catcher situation is suddenly worked out.
/dark humor
The use of “Don’t Stop Belivein’” makes me want to watch that show…
If by overpowering, you mean he’s not striking out people and making people looks silly, that’s not really his skill set.
If by, he’s on a roll, is he providing can of corn catches for the OF? That would be a more likely indicator of whether he’s got his stuff on or not….
Either way, the results look good.
…if the contact would have occurred in the 3 foot running zone, could be called interence and awarded 1st base
That’s obstruction, not interference.
On the plus side, the Royals don’t have Sweeney to screw him over this time.
ha T very nice
good catch Cuddy….
There Cuddy did bail Baker out.
Good job Cuddyer.
FTR: Last night I was at the game with some friends…and Punto was at the plate. I yelled out “Get on your unicorn Punto!” and nobody around me got the reference.
It made me miss Batgirl.
Meche and Baker have very similar stuff!!
delmon looks so graceful out there
hey T I was there too….where were you sitting?
That sucks, Ulger in position to tell him slide/stand and stops the ball from going out of play.
Rats.
Section 100, Row 15, Seat 8. Just to the right of the large group of guys in blue shirts with the CIRCLE ME BERT in big letters.
*pardon* to the LEFT of those guys.
And Cuddy 2-2 with another RBI!
That sucks, Ulger in position to tell him slide/stand and stops the ball from going out of play.
Saves the RBI for Kubes. Credit Ullger with the (basketball-style) assist.
Oops, Cuddy hitting .256 now…
A lot of line drives caught by the Royal outfield.
RBI for Cuddy, I meant.
I give it about a day between now and when Meche goes on the DL.
Cuddy going for the Ultra Cycle. All he needs is a triple and HR.
yeah I saw those guys out there. We were in 134 Sat in front of some gay guys that were just hilarious. They spent a good amount of time arguing over who was gayer. and they got pretty excited when joe nathan started to warm up
Good game at the plate and in the field by Cuddy.
Nice two out RBI Young.
Nice hitting Young.
Oops, Young hitting .279 now.
Willie Bloomquist is a jerk.
Time to go watch Tiger now
‘Tis okay…Don’t want Baker to overpitch and stress his arm.
Just want the Twins to pitch a shutout……
Mark Teahen and his sister Mary Crumpetcock.
Ouch…that happened fast.
“No-no no-No, I don’t [ ] no mor’
I’m tired of waking on the floor”
Actually I woke up on the couch at noon today.
Doing fine.
Man! a 4-3 game.
At the risk of getting burned at the stake here for MY opinion-I wish Dick and Bert would have shut up about the no hitter.
Yes I know it’s pure superstition about not jinxing a no-no, but still I like the old school philosophy of not talking about it.
“Time to go watch Tiger now”
Golf is WAY too exciting for me. I hope DrDon never watches it either, with his ticker doing the tock-tock instead of the tick-tock.
Shaun,
i am watching the Royals broadcast, mostly because sunday my29 picture is terrible….. they mentioned the no hitter but weren’t all loud about it like dick and bert get.
Baker is done. Get him out….
romer, I am a par golfer…when I hit par, I quit. Usually between the 4th and 5th hole.
Baker…wow.
They are seriously going to put in Ayala?
Baker needs to be sent to the minors. Wow.
everyother day ayala, he seems to pitch well every other game, so today is a good pitching day?
Just like I bowled 300 once, but it took me 3 games to do it.
Ayala does seem to pitch well at all imo.
Does NOT I mean
Need a double play. Badly.
Easy on Ayala. He’s holding opponents to a .373 BA.
Looks like Gardy is trying to manage them into another loss. They should have had someone–and not Ayala–warming after last inning when there were two very hard hit balls. At the very least they should have been warming after the two straight hits this inning. Baker is a little boy trying to play with men. The defeated look he always had on his face before last season is back and does not bode well for his future in the bigs, or Billy Smith’s as the GM after the idiot signed Baker to the long term deal.
bring in the breslaw!
I think I would have voted for Slowey!
Way to go Luis
Span…Span….SPAN!
Wow, 19 “no-hits” in a row, and then 6 hits in a row for KC.
These guys are the real deal.
I’m out! This is even more pathetic than last night’s game! Losers!
Unbelievable!
Why would you bring in Ayala in that situation? He is horrible!
That is why the first 6 innings do not mean squat
Ayala is pathetic. Isd he really the only guy that could come in. How does Gardy not know how bad he is yet? Really? Unbelievable.
Ayala’s days in a Twins uni had better be numbered… in the single digits, along with BS’s days in the front office.
now i wish i hadn’t tuned in to this game 
Ayala Dickey Breslow, let them walk
Ayala is pathetic! How bad does he have to be before Gardy understands that? He keeps putting him the game with 1 run leads he has not been able to keep a lead intact. I don’t get why he was the 1st one called up to pitch. Ugh.
What a comedy/tragedy……
6 no-hit innings, and then in line to take a 5-4 loss.
That’s baseball…..that’s why we’re addicted to it.
So Ayala of course right after giving up that hit he is able to get everyone else out.
to defend gardy a little with this bullpen it’s hard to make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear.
“I’m out! This is even more pathetic than last night’s game! Losers!”
We won’t miss you, Boggle.
It’s a 1-run game, dewd.
Can’t blame Gardy, he’s just using the guys he was dealt by the front office
We better strike now. You can bet Cruz won’t be as bad as last night and we all now about who is looming for the 9th.
The only way Punto is getting on is if it hits him
The Twins need to get over the, “This is the seventh inning, so we’re going to put in Breslow/Ayala” theory. If the game is on the line, you want your top guns out there, which means either Mijares or (gasp!) Nathan.
Sorry know not now:)!
There has never been any reason for Ayala to be wearing a Twins uniform. There was a reason the Mets wanted nothing to do with him. I turned the game off as soon as Gardy brought him in–we all knew what was coming.
That is a HUGE mistake, Gardy. Why do you ever bring this guy in to high-leverage situations? Why? Does that 87 mph “fastball” show something to you that none of us can see?
God hes terrible
Well, let’s see. Anthony Slama is in New Britain, CT. He’d probably have to fly from Hartford to Philly on US-Scare and catch a connection to Detroit. So he might not be available to pitch tomorrow…
at least watching Tiger is watching greatness
not only did the mets want nothing to do with ayala - same with the nationals, the worst team in baseball
Wow, Meche throws 116 pitches. That’s physically impossible, isn’t it?
Wow, what a dead crowd at the Dome. It’s a 1-run game with your rivals, and MVP is at the plate with a runner on.
And everyone is sleeping.
Ridiculous to have put Ayala in. EVERY TIME he inherits runners, they score. Moves like that are why Gardy hasn’t won a playoff series since ‘02. BOOO!!!!
Nice toss, DeJesus.
Damn, Kubel behind on the 89 mph pitch.
He’s cooled off…
MVP gets a double? Because they don’t have a category for “advanced on stereotypical girl-throw”?
No, Mr. DeJesus, nobody hit a ball this way…
This is a going to be a long summer if the bullpen doesn’t get addressed. Also Buscher shouldn’t be on a Major League team. What has he done?
That’s okay, Kubel. Twins fans don’t want it that bad anyway:
They’re quietly bitching instead of cheering…….before they had back to the good life in the ‘burbs.
with magic man, butcher,young,morales,LNP,span the next 6 batters - will this go 6 UP and 6 DOWN? KC has a great bullpen Twin’s need to get 2 hits/walks to get Morneau up against Soria with a chance to tie the game.. course with Dickey pitching now the point maybe moot
only one day off for the whole of may, should be interesting to see how the bullpen holds up.
Good lord this team is just a joke, Catch the damn ball
Wow. 7 of 9 of Dickey’s inherited runners have scored.
Considering that and Ayala, this team definitely has not solved the Neshek/Boof losses.
Mijares should be pitching RIGHT NOW!
Ugh! Second game in a row where a ball has nit Span in the glove and wasn’t able to catch it.
And we are watching another pitcher that should not be in a Twins uniform
romer Mijares and Nathan can’t pitch the last 3 - 4 innings of every game!! another bullpen arm has to step up!
Heres how stupid twins fans are, they cheer because we got the guy out at home, after they score the nail in the coffin. Im off to the golf course
BP off Dickey. Where’s the knuckler?
Is Crain coming off the DL tomorrow?
So far, the post-mortem is that Baker gives up another big HR.
Isn’t this about the time for house cleaning? At what point of the season did we ship off some of our favorite sons - Ponson, Batista, etc.?
“BP off Dickey.” I meant, batting practice…..
Hmm…Ponson, Batista; that reminds me, I still have some cake in the fridge.
You don’t have to praise the KC rightfielder, Bert. That was just a standard MLB play.
What makes this even more alarming (if possible) have you noticed the split in our home games played thus far vs. road?
I’ve got a bit of a personal problem thinking of Buscher.
And I certainly can’t prove what I’m thinking. So I won’t argue it. But I’m wondering if anyone else is calmly thinking the same as me.
If Buscher weren’t such a Gardy clone type……in other words, if he were younger, or had more color in his skin — there’s no way he’d be on a Twins team.
Ya know? If he were a kid, or if he didn’t speak English very well, he’d be shuffled out real quick.
Because of his poor D, and his inconsistency.
Why are they keeping him?
Slama and Delany in AA, at least get them to AAA if not directly up.
Great young starting pitching? Great?
Delmon handled Buck’s routine single like the ball was a live grenade.
These are not the Minnesota Twins! Who are these IMPOSTERS! Relief ERA of around 5.50!?!?!?!
Oh, good, Breslow’s warming.
Yes the Bres!
Dickey has use to this team, to eat innings in a blowout…. i hope he isn’t doing that soon.
Anybody else refer to this being early in the season deserves a “bang” of a surprise in the mail. Teams WIN World Series in October - they lose them in April and May. Twins (although within a game or two of first are behind the curve compare to the ChiSox, Tigers and Royals. Just watch come August and September.
Hey, don’t blame me. There were plenty of apologists on this board saying I did a great job standing pat this offseason, even though I am a complete joke.
we looked good tonight.
Yikes! Exactly! I might use the word embarassing!
I would like to get other people’s opinions, but:
I think if Gomez was in CF, this game would have been different. He would have caught both balls, one in the 7th and one in the 8th that Span couldnt handle (one where span dove for the ball slicing away and one that he muffed deep centerfield that almost cleared the wall).
If Gomez was in CF, the whole character of the game would change. Now that Cuddy has regained some trade value, i say send him for a middle reliever and then move Span to LF, Gomez fulltime CF, and DY fulltime RF. That’s our best defensive lineup!!!!!!
wow hard to consistently win when your # 1 and #2 starters are 0 - 4 and your bullpen is a bunch of pyromanics continually throwing gas on fires!!!
i think the point is, there will be no consistent lineup nor defense marched onto the field, at least not this year.
I was actually wondering around the 6th inning when Gardy might employ his defensive replacements - Crede and Gomez.
I like it danimals. I like it a lot.
As soon as Cuddy gets his average up to .280 trade him.
I agree 100% that Gomez catches both of those in CF.
The Royals are fast becoming the Twins of the 90’s and 2000-2008; the Twinks are replacing the Royals… it is happening NOW in front of your eyes! Unless the front office is vastly clean out, this team will lurk in the bowls of the basement of the central division for a long, long time.
Well, Royals were fortunate enough to get to face all of the Twins bad relievers today.
fun thing is during pre-game on the radio Billy Smith was telling us fans that he appreciates the great job Gardy does with the bullpen!!
why is Mauar not PH’ing for Morales??
why is Crede not PH’ing for Punto??? at least Casilla for Punto??
did we give up this game??
Joe Mauer can pinch hit but not for Punto?? The guy is batting .225!
We also lost 2 of 3 and didn’t face Grienke.
did we give up this game? dickey pitched two innings, didn’t he?
Gopher, people say that every year and end up looking foolish. Twins always find a way to compete. Overreaction to a bad game is all I see.
“Well, Royals were fortunate enough to get to face all of the Twins bad relievers today.”
you could take the word “bad” out and the statement is just as truthful
Give up! The directive from Las Vegas is that the Twinks are to take a dive this year. Put your $$’s in a Detroit / Chicago race.
“so your telling me there is a chance??”
romer,
You make a perfectly good evaluation when you say that “this team definitely has not solved the Neshek/Boof losses.”. Those who were saying Bill Smith should do more before the season started have my respect. Those who criticize Smith retrospectively have valid arguments. Those who throw Gardy under the bus are just misguided in my view, and those people are hard-pressed to provide evidence that Gardy manages his bullpen differently, or worse, than other managers. Bad pens produce bad managers.
But romer, why do you have to totally neutralize your good comments with something ridiculous and inflammatory like the dried puke that constitutes your 3:57pm post? Gardy likes his players old and caucasian? Stupid stupid stupid.
Mijares, Guerrier, Nathan are not too bad.
Wish Mauer would have done that in place of Punto.
After failing to make the post-season because of this same KC team, at home, at the end of last season, I was expecting them to play with a little extra intensity to make a point and get some revenge. They showed the exact opposite! They have just proved they lack that sense of pride and that killer instinct that all good teams have to show. What bums…
the move to go with dickey looks really good right now.
I think if Gomez was in CF, this game would have been different.
If Gomez were playing CF, the Twins would have had a good chance to win this game… but Gardy knows better
Old Guy - I think the Twin’s have plenty of pride their pitching just stinks right now - it’s a lack of talent(on the part of the bullpen) and the young rotation is going through some growing pains
Old Guy,
Dickey and Ayala weren’t here last year, they both had hands in both losses.
we got getting lucky in 9th… Span got on in a fluke play. no way Mauer shouldve been the 4th batter!!
i didnt like the life in the manager in this game. i never critize him. also, dont put a knuckleballer in for 2 straight games if you dont have a catcher you think can handle the knuckleball. just saying. his non-knuckleball pitching didnt do squat, costing us today. i would’ve taken my chances on a passed ball instead.
peace everyone. lets get them tomorrow!!
And you all laughed at me when I said KC would be better.
Is there a rule against pinch hitting for Punto (like, say last night or today)?
ABANDON ALL HOPE ALL WHO ENTER THE 2009 TWINS SEASON ! ! ! ! going to walk on the beach and do something else with my life… 2009, a year to forget in the annals of Twins history!
danimals…actually Mauer caught Dicky last night and Morales caught him tonight.
Come October:
1. CHI
2. DET
3. KC
4. MINN
5. CLEVE
Latter 2 with 90+ losses
“… like the dried puke that constitutes your 3:57pm post?”
Point taken. And like I said, I won’t argue it. Just trying to be honest.
But, DRIED puke? I should think it stinks more like fresh puke.
Mauer caught Dicky last night
yes but Dicky was instructed by the manager of the millennium to throw only fastballs and sliders last night because Mauer had not catched the knuckleball yet…
That Ayala thing this season is almost like the Rincon thing last season. How many more leads does Ayala need to blow for Gardy to relegate him to just mop up duty?
romer,
back to your original question, only Gardy knows why Buscher should be in the majors at this point…
thrylos98 says:
May 3rd, 2009 at 4:32 pm
romer,
back to your original question, only Gardy knows why Buscher should be in the majors at this point…
Gardy has been listening and reading all of the blog comments the last month or two about how good Buscher is.
I never thought I would be so happy to have Jesse Crain come back…
Gomess runs such poor routes, who knows if he would have caught anything. Plus, he misses the cut-off man way too often. Span is the best center fielder.
Keep Harris out of the middle infield and Kubel away from LHP.
Breslow, Dickey and Ayala…..hahahaha.
Cuddyer is now hitting, just like Craig said he would. He’s always a slow starter.
Gardy has too many third basemen and not enough middle infielders. Harris looks okay at 3B, but shouldn’t play in the middle, except in an emergency.
As crappy as the bull pen was, Baker deserves some of the ire of us for his 7th inning performance. After a nice first 6, he needs to be able to hold a 4 run lead.
That was part of my point T98 regarding Mauer and Dickey last night. The reason Dicky sucked tonight had nothing to do with who was catching him.
Gardy needed to bring in a right-handed pinch hitter for Kubel, when the Twins had guys on 2nd and 3rd. He can’t hit those tough LHP.
Gardy’s blown that a couple times this year in crucial situations. Kubel flailed helplessly, striking out both times. Mauch would have never left a guy like Kubel in. Not in that situation.
Craig, the fielding bible and every other person who evaluates defense disagrees with your assessment that Span is a better fielder than Gomez. You are just flat out wrong, not like that is something new though…
Hey, I’ve got an idea….let’s all fight and argue and piss and moan and bitch and groan. I’m going out and grill some food.
“the fielding bible”
How many times do I have to warn you guys about stuff like this?
My job never ends.
Best comment of the day, Craig. Touche.
“the fielding bible”
How many times do I have to warn you guys about stuff like this?
My job never ends.”
re: the fielding bible:
if we don’t understand something, it should be worthless…
great attitude.
[…] while Delaney has a 3.31 ERA and 22-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 16.1 innings. Ron Gardenhire has started sniffing around Slama as he eyes bullpen help and at the very least matching promotions to Triple-A would make […]
[…] while Delaney has a 3.31 ERA and 22-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 16.1 innings. Ron Gardenhire has started sniffing around Slama as he eyes bullpen help and at the very least matching promotions to Triple-A would make sense. […]
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