Thursday lineups: Cuddyer starting in center field
Posted on June 11th, 2009 – 12:25 PMBy Joe Christensen
OAKLAND, CALIF. — Quick lineup post here, and I’ll have an update after Manager Ron Gardenhire’s pregame session.
Update: Denard Span will continue having tests today in Minnesota to determine the cause of his dizzy spells.
“I don’t know if he’ll be in Chicago or not,” Gardenhire said. “If he hasn’t figured anything out today, it would really be hard for me to stick him in the lineup tomorrow. Unless they tell me there’s nothing there, he’s really feeling great, and I just can’t see that happening.”
(*) The Twins will announce a roster move after today’s game, activating Nick Punto from the disabled list. Right now, it looks like Alexi Casilla is headed back to Class AAA Rochester.
(*) Asked if he planned to start Punto at second base on Friday, Gardenhire didn’t commit.
Punto has thrived in a utility role in the past.
“I just know he comes to play every day, and he never takes his offense into his defense,” Gardenhire said. “He’s a winning player. He knows how to win baseball games. I’d like to have him on the field somewhere, some way. That’s going to be dictated by his offense — if he hits enough.
“I’ll always be able to use him defensively somehow, but to get enough at-bats, he’s going to have to hit, just like everybody else.”
(*) The Twins are 5-14 in day games, and they’re about to play four in a row, including three at Wrigley Field.
TWINS (30-31)
1. Matt Tolbert, 2B
2. Brendan Harris, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, DH
5. Jason Kubel, RF
6. Joe Crede, 3B
7. Michael Cuddyer, CF
8. Brian Buscher, 1B
9. Delmon Young, LF
Starting pitcher: RH Nick Blackburn (5-2, 3.30 ERA)
ATHLETICS (26-32)
1. Orlando Cabrera, SS
2. Adam Kennedy, 2B
3. Jack Cust, RF
4. Matt Holliday, LF
5. Jason Giambi, DH
6. Landon Powell, C
7. Daric Barton, 1B
8. Rajai Davis, CF
9. Jack Hannahan, 3B
Starting pitcher: RH Trevor Cahill (3-5, 4.21 ERA)
Oakland Coliseum. First pitch: 2:37 p.m. (Central)
334 Responses to "Thursday lineups: Cuddyer starting in center field"
Well, if there was ever a time to field this lineup, it would be when Blackburn is pitching. Let’s hope for lots of ground balls.
not what I expected, but it makes sense to get Morneau his DH day today, since its not an option this weekend.
If I remember correctly, Blackburn s the most ground balls per 9 starter, so hopefully the non-fleet OF doesn’t get exposed too badly
should be interesting in that outfield..one of the fastest potential outfields in the league(young,gomez,span)turned into quite a slow one with cuddy and kubel roaming out there..hopefully cuddyer can snap out of his current strike out funk too
If nothing else, it sure will be an interesting OF today.
What is this? Really? No Gomez? Can’t even get regular PT without Span in there?
I’m guessing this is a benching after the botched play to move the runners over last night. But I’ve got a bad feeling about that outfield today, especially with a pitcher like Blackburn who puts the ball in play a lot.
huh?….perhaps gardy thinks were playing interleague already? really? i’ve got nothing on this lineup…hope it works. win twins
Yes, I’m sure the whole team is surrounding Blackburn right now, chanting, “Keep the ball down, Nick. Keep the ball down, Nick.” Everyone except Tolbert, that is, who is calling everyone he knows, screaming, “I’m the leadoff hitter! I’m the leadoff hitter!”
So why not send Buscher down instead of Casilla/Tolbert when Punto gets back? He rarely plays, is hitting no better than either of them, and doesn’t offer speed or defense. He is just a waste of a spot
maybe he just put names and positions in a hat?
better yet send Buscher down along with 1 of the other 2 and call up Jose Morales
i somewhat agree with berc…buscher just isn’t producing enough to keep him up..i don’t want to call him a waste of a spot tho, cuz if you send him down, then you really don’t have any lefty sub with potential for a HR late in the game. that is considering kubel is already in the starting line up
I guess Gardy is going Offense over Defense this afternoon, I bet if he had Punto today he would use him in Center and Cuddy at 1B.
No Casilla last 2 games I think its clear he is headed down after today.
Wow, did Gomez tick Gardy off?
Just wondering if you have the starting lineup for Oakland yet?
Apparently. This is killing me.
To bad their is not a candy called JJJ’s. Yes we have Mauer,Morneau for the M&M brothers, but what about Joe, Justin, and Jason? Not to mention if Crede get to be his old self we will have 4 J men in a row to take AL by storm!
PS - Yeah, this line up is whack! Go Twins!!
Rumor has it that Gomez accidentally got pizza sauce on Gardy’s Nick Punto t-shirt jersey.
Gardy needs to send his message to Gomez later. This outfield is ridiculously vulnerable and I can’t imagine it not getting exploited for extra base hits today. Put Cuddy at first and Gomez in center, and prove your point later.
Why not have Gomez play CF and lead off?
Apparently another typical Gardenhire
g(ive)etaway lineup. Who knows, maybe Delmon will thrive in the 9 hole.
I would say Gomez will pinch run or be a defensive sub sometime today.
Guess we know Casilla’s the one being sent down tomorrow!
Couldn’t agree more with StraightCashHomey…And Cuddyer is not exactly ripping the cover off the ball since his latest finger flare-up. A day off today for him makes more sense to me.
So much for Gardy’s priority of defense first.
LF - Kubel, CF - Gomez, RF - Cuddyer would have done the same damn thing Gardy. And you’re giving away an out to lead off the game. Good work. This is ridic.
If the Twinkies are ahead by a few runs in the 5 inning or so, I bet Gomez will replace Cuddy in CF.
This has to be the stupidest lineup decision Gardy has ever made.
Tolbert played well yesterday and earned another start. Buh-bye Casilla.
the only thing I can think of is that Gardy is trying to get Gomez sent down.
Here’s what Rotoworld says about this lineup:
“The Twins will send out a Delmon Young-Cuddyer-Jason Kubel alignment that will be amongst the worst defensive outfields seen in the majors this year. Torii Hunter in his prime wouldn’t have been able to make up for the ambulatory-challenged corner pairing of Young and Kubel, much less Cuddyer, the Twins regular right fielder.”
Much ado about nothing.
Gardy could’ve put Tolbert in CF–he played out there during Spring Training.
today is another statement that Gomez belongs at AAA
The Twins are certain NOT to win the Central Division. There are some obvious reasons why. Punto and Cuddyer are choke artists who have a history of holding the team back in clutch situtations. They will continue to clutch out in the future. The two of them will be responsible for at least 10 games lost in the win column. Another reason the Twins will NOT win the Central Division is Gardenhire’s inability to refrain from constantly shuffling the lineup. It is a psychological weakness that he is incapable of overcoming. Unfortunately, the Twins will not be able to complete against the better managed teams.
Does this mean Casilla is out of here? I hope so.
FTM summed it up with:”"”"”FranTheMan says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Much ado about nothing.”"”"”
Most of the comments are, Fran.
Sauce -
This OF is always slow with DY, Cuddy has more speed and better fielding than DY. Yes everyone is right that this OF is sickeningly slow today, but I think Gardy just did this to get Gomez a day off before Wrigley. He will probably play all 3 especially with Span up in the air.
If Gardy put Tolbert in CF he’d have to use Casilla in the infield - and Casilla is deep in the doghouse.
You can’t send Gomez to AAA with Span’s condition in question.
I see nothing wrong with this outfield.
If there are any fly balls that are missed, it will be the fault of Nick Blackburn, because he didn’t pitch so the balls were hit right at the fielders.
GoGo was sent over to Cal-Berkeley for the day to practice running into ivy-covered walls.
Carlos brought nothing last night as a lead-off hitter. His lame attempt at sac bunting late in a close game is probably the reason he is not starting CF today. Late inning defensive replacement/pinch runner.
Of course, Magic Man’s PA’s last night were equally brutual. But, I know of 8 million reasons for his PT at CF today.
With Blackie pitching to that AAA line-up that Oakland has, the team will only need 3 runs for a “W” anyway.
delmon young isn’t slow..he just takes bad routes to fly balls. he’s actually deceivingly fast on the basepaths. a LF-span and CF-gomez outfield is obviously faster than a LF-young, CF-gomez/span combo. but having delmon in left and either span or gomez in center is a quick outfield
I’m a Gomez fan…And would rather see the kid in AAA if he sits on a day like this. He’s not going to get any better not getting as much PT as possible when it makes sense (i.e. Span not there), and I’m sure this is doing a world of wonders for his confidence.
His defense should simply make his start today an automatic.
Tolbert, batting in Puntoville, lead-off, and the most lead-footed OF he could possibly send out there. Nice job Gardy.
Debatable. He takes awful routes to the ball you are right, but he is also slow and timid out in left like he has no idea what to do. The double hit in seattle that landed about 10 feet fair he was no where near. If he wasn’t waddling in running on his toes, he would have camped under that ball. Routine fly balls hit at DY are shaky at best, when he makes a running catch it is blind luck….if he gets there. I wouldn’t have a problem with it, but he has shown no signs of defensive improvements.
I’m shaking my head. What in the world is this?
you’re right about his shaky defense..i was just pointing out how fast our outfield usually is, or could be..compared to today when our fastest outfield is cuddyer vs. delmon to see who wins in a foot race. gardy seems like he’s being stubborn and benching gomez in favor of cuddyer. even tho cuddyer has been on a K binge
Cabrera SS
Kennedy 2B
Cust RF
Holliday LF
Giambi DH
Powell C
Barton 1B
Davis CF
Hannahan 3B
Who the heck is Berc on this site?
you have to leave gomez in there for cf -from it being a big out field to cover. i think gardy takes risks, especially when he’s feeling good after a win.
Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. I hope this one comes back to bite Gardy, but I have a feeling we’re going to put up some runs today. GoGo should be in CF and leading off. Good luck Tolbert.
I heard Crede has a hang nail now when he was putting on his pantyhose and is bruised and may not play. Sissy…….
I think I might’ve beaten Joe C. to posting the opposing lineup again this week!
Our lead off batter is hitting .191!
i think DY is faster than he looks. He looks funny when he runs, b/c he takes short strides, but he covers more ground than we think. He does take bad routes, though. Cuddyer sucks, so streaky. Why would anyone ever throw Cuddyer, DY, or Gomez a fastball, when all you have to do is throw balls away and in the dirt and they will swing like they have no clue a breaking ball was coming on an 0-2 count.
jc smith
did you really just bash crede?? where, not to mention why, did that come up?
this should be the line up:
1. Gomez, cf
2. Brendan Harris, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, DH
5. Jason Kubel, RF
6. Joe Crede, 3B
7. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
8. Delmon Young, LF
9. Casilla, 2B
WOW. What a line-up. I like it……
No go-go Gomez……..The 5 tool player who uses at least 1/2 of a tool.
We’re going to need back-to-back, M&M Boys back-to-backs, back-to-back.
It was great to see a big smile on Delmon’s face last night after he scored on the WP. I have never seen him run that fast. Maybe that will lead to his getting back to enjoying the game. Go Delmon, go Twins!
now you’re bashing gomez too..are you even a twins fan or do you just come on here to complain? go blog somewhere else
Let’s wait until at least 3-4 innings into the game before we slam Gardy too hard . . . the batting order, go ahead and slam him for that now, but the defense . . . who knows, maybe something fun will happen today?
I prefer Ken’s line-up.
I figured it out… Cuddy just came into possession of one of those compromising photos of Gardy. Not the same one Punto has, but equally embarrassing.
Has Tolbert ever hit lead off in a game for the Twins? I’d be happy if he got a hit and a walk.
why is everyone bitching about tolbert?not a .320 hitter but knows how to bunt will take a walk and by the way has been hitting the ball pretty well lately as monday nite had 2rbi single last nite had long double setting up 2 runs what do you people expect? rod carew?
Yes, it is Gomez fault that Redman was running at 2nd base. Some of you are unreal. That bunt, while not perfect…was not that bad. Any decent runner at 2nd and this is not an issue. You were asking him to lay down a bunt right down the 3rd base line to execute that sacrifice.
Today’s OF is scary bad
Tolbert was the leadoff hitter in three games last year. He hit .067.
I agree, Aaron. It wasn’t a great bunt, but anybody on the team besides Redmond would have made it to 3rd.
Woolhouse…to quote FrantheMan:
“”"FranTheMan says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Much ado about nothing.”"”
Amen to what most commentors are saying. Thanks, Wool, you done good.
Remember w/o Span the Twins don’t have a legitimate leadoff hitter so there is no good answer to the dilemma. That being said, Tolbert is superior in that role to Gomez (he may work the count). I think you could go with Harris there too considering the pinch we’re in. As for the outfield, there is no justification. Gomez CF, Kubel LF, Cuddy RF. Seems simple to me.
This lineup is also a reflection of a little too much confidence in Blackburn in my opinion. Sure, he’s pitched great lately and has been solid most of the season, but he by no means an automatic, shut-down, tons of K’s kinda guy.
I’ve always thought of him as a guy needing the best possible defense behind him, and this sure isn’t that.
I like Ken’s lineup except for 2nd base. I’d start Tolbert and give Casilla a little extra time to pack his bags for Rochester.
I think we should call up Matt LeCroy and see if he wants to play some centerfield for us the way this is going.
Not much to say about this lineup. I’m rather amused by it really. I’ll go with the saying, “If you can’t convince them, confuse them.” Maybe this lineup will get the guys going. Can you imagine the looks on the guys’ faces? No true CF. No true leadoff hitter. Delmon staring up at the entire lineup, including Tolbert and Buscher! That’s gotta be a kick in the junk. I will say, for the Buscher bashers, he does seem a little better than Cuddy at first, but that’s not really saying much….GO TWINS!! Put a 10 spot on them today!!
If Gomez is not playing because of the botched play last night,Gardy is dead wrong.You have to encourge young players.Of course he learned that from Tom Kelly.
If this is a statement because Gomez didn’t lay down a sac bunt, then why didn’t he make a statement and keep Cuddy out for swinging at the very first pitch and poppin out after Crede led off the 9th with a triple?? Gardy has his favorites (punto and cuddy) and they can do know wrong in his eyes…
Chris,
LeCroy? Come on… he’d be way too fast for this outfield.
Where is Lew Ford when you need him?
FTM summed it up with:”””””FranTheMan says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Much ado about nothing.”””””
Most of the comments are, Fran.
Especially yours Doc.
Sometimes Gardy just may have a good reason for doing the things he does - not playing GoGo in CF today.
ES16,
Haha. You’re probably right. But think of this. When LeCroy was at the plate, he almost had to hit a gapper (would-be double) just to get to first base. If he was in the outfield, a hit up the middle (would-be single) would most likely go for a double!
It’s like a perfect inverse relationship.
Gomez really needs to spend a season in the minors. He is completely overmatched at the plate and not exactly rock solid in the field either. He often throws to the wrong base, or misses the cutoff man, or simply makes a throw when there is no need. He needs to learn how to play the game, and that should be in Rochester. If you can’t put him in the everyday lineup, there is no reason to have him on your bench.
Why’s the OF getting all the ragging for poor defense? That infield alignment is minus 30 runs a season. The heck with groundballs, Blackburn’s going to have to do it himself.
GENO, I fell asleep during the game last night. What happened on Gomez’s “botched” play?
LNP knows how to win baseball games!
Heatonator,
Yeah, he knows if you score more runs than the other team, you win.
bob,
Gomez laid down a bunt with 1 strike that went between 3rd and the pitcher…however since the slowest guy in the entire major leagues was running at 2nd base the sacrifice was unsuccessful. The bunt was not great, but not bad. Any decent runner is safe
Aaron,
The bunt was horrible because he has to get it past the pitcher. With the pitcher fielding the ball, it almost didn’t matter who the runner was on 2nd.
This may be the worst defensive allignment I’ve seen since the Nationals game last night.
Tar Tar:
Most o/f’ers run on their toes, b/c they’re supposed to run as such. If an o/f’er ran on his heels or flat-footed, he’d be slower, plus his head would bounce much than when running on his toes and so, it’d be more difficult to follow the flight of the ball.
Of course, running on one’s toes doesn’t mean to run as would Tinker Bell.
Unless Gomez is hurt, this lineup is inane in many levels
thrylos, as my buddy and I always say…Gardys gota hunch.
“He’s a winning player. He knows how to win baseball games.”
“That’s going to be dictated by his offense — if he hits enough.”
“I’ll always be able to use him defensively somehow, but to get enough at-bats, he’s going to have to hit, just like everybody else.”
I like the first quote for much different reasons than i like the second and third quotes.
Gardys gota hunch
for inside the park home runs and botched plays at first base?
t98,
Someone earlier posted that they felt Gardy was restin Gomez for the Wrigley games comin up. That makes the most sense to me.
Nice catch by Kubel for the third out.
Btw. Cust looked absolutely exhausted after that stand-up double. What an athlete.
This lineup is great! Kubel has two POs already.
resting GOGO makes no sense Gardy has given him most of the year off as it is he can’t get much more rested!!
Twins should do a reality mini-series and use an actual game to see who stays up with the big club between: Buscher, Tolbert and Casilla…the best performance during that game would determine the winner. Punto would be included but we already know his fate.
Someone earlier posted that they felt Gardy was restin Gomez for the Wrigley games comin up
Kelly Thesier reported that Gardy is thinking about going with this OF over the weekend as well…
http://kellythesier.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/06/and_your_center_fielder_ismich.html
Gomez laid down a bunt with 1 strike that went between 3rd and the pitcher…however since the slowest guy in the entire major leagues was running at 2nd base the sacrifice was unsuccessful. The bunt was not great, but not bad. Any decent runner is safe
I agree with this 100 percent.
The ‘botched play’ was calling for a sacrifice in the first place, which is Gardy’s botch, not Gomez, unless Gomez decided to sacrifice on his own.
So now we count on Buscher with these runners on……
:(>
BB hits the Mendoza Line…
I have no idea what Gardy is thinking. I’ve been defending him and his lineups, saying it is mostly Smith’s fault. But not starting the best defensive CF in baseball (or top 3), and starting cuddeyer there? Really? Starting Tolbert at leadoff (which is no worse than hitting him 2nd, btw)?
I’m baffled, truly baffled by this decision. I’m hoping that Joe hits him hard on this decision.
Brian “Clutch” Buscher
Apparently nobody has bothered to ask Gardy why Gomez isn’t playing.
Butcher smoked that ball. It would have been a HR in every little league park
I’m hoping that Joe hits him hard on this decision.
Good luck…
quit hitting it to center!!!
Very few major leaguers can hit a 200-foot fly ball as well as Buscher.
Cuddy makes all three putouts. He’s having fun…
Who needs Gomez, Cuddy is like a vacume cleaner in CF. Gomez can go to AAA with Casilla
Joe C,
Can you expound on what you wrote about Gardy’s theory of “stretching out the lineup”. Why is alternating between automatic outs and decent hitters a better way to get runs than putting your best hitters together in a bunch? Why is putting 1 or 2 almost certain outs ahead of Mauer and Morneau a good thing?
Just curious as to why he has come to this conclusion.
Thanks for the great work!
Just think, the CF that can lead us to the World Series was hiding in RF all along.
He’s having fun…
While Blackburn is playing on the mound.
I said hope, not expect, but yeah.
Just remember, even if it works, that doesn’t make this lineup the right decsion. You could cross 494 on foot, and not get hurt. That doesn’t mean you should ever have done it in the first place, or that you should do it again.
Delmon’s hot!
Way to swing at the 1st pitch TMT.
Tolbert needs to go. Bring Tolleson up
Tolbert’s cold!
I hope Tolbert gets sent down. Nothing against the guy, but Gardy will continually use him where he shouldn’t as long as he is on the roster. Just like he does with Punto.
Tolbert Report: GIDP on first pitch.
tolber, casilla, punto, buscher - I can’t see how you can carry all four, let alone three of those guys. Seriously mediocre to bad players at the MLB level. Please bring up Morales for Buscher. Please send down casilla when you call up Punto. Please let Hughes get healthy and call him up for Tolbert.
Can’t tell if the Gomez rest for Chicago talk is serious or sarcasm but for what it’s worth Oakland’s OF is bigger than Wrigley in total and even more so in CF because of the ‘wells’ in LF and RF at Wrigley.
Why in the world is Tolbert in the major leagues?
How can this organization not have even one major league caliber second baseman?
Tolbert is in the major leagues, with the Twins, for the same reason that Punto is: because he really gets after it, battles his tail off and hustles. Major league material right there.
Tolberts not cold with the glove. He is our best fielding 2b including punto.
Ya Right!,
For the same reason Buscher, Casilla and Punto are in the major leagues. If you find out what that reason is, please let me know.
So, Gardy is dog-housing Alexi and Carlos G?
ES, as of right now it is because they are all better than any and all of us out here.
DrDon with all due respect.. we are not expected to be MLB caliber the players Gardy puts in the lineup BETTER be
Kay,
I guess you are right…nobody runs out a pop up or hussles back to the dugout after a strikeout like Tolbert. My bad.
For the love of God I don’t want to be sitting at Wrigley tomorrow and Saturday watching this outfield!
CREDE!! Must of put on his pantyhose today…
God bless Joe Crede.
Well that was nice Crede!!!
That was a bomb!
Well, they are his lucky pantyhose…
Way to go Joe!
Tolbert costs his team 20 runs a season at second base. He is absolutely not our best defensive option at that position.
Crede smoked that
gladden is so horrible, i bet that ball landed 20 rows deep….he says this ball might have a chance.
All of a sudden this lineup isn’t looking so bad… wait a minute this lineup has nothing to do with Crede hitting a three-run homer.
When can we expect dragon to post a retraction for his many anti-Crede tirades?
My guess is never.
Delmon has that hole between third and short really well measured.
“CREDE!! Must of put on his pantyhose today…”
Justin, Dazzle said Crede’s leg is one huge black and blue mark.
He’s a tough guy, and I’m surprised his back is holding up.
At the risk of sounding like a Gladden defender… where’s the press box in that dump?
Tolbert by far is our #1 2b defensively
Tolbert does it again! What a great leadoff/2-hitter.
Gomez is on the bench cuz he and Lexi are best friends from Dominican Republic. getting one last day to chat on the bench before Lexi goes bye-bye! It will make Gomez better between the ears.
i think the tolbert leadoff experiment is done
Tolbert just keeps on producing. He’s really working his tail off out there.
Let’s take a vote, who gets sent down for Punto? Tolbert or Casilla
Mike, with all due respect, ES wanted a reason and I gave him one.
i bet that ball landed 20 rows deep
More. It landed about half way up the staircase in the left field bleachers
Make that who should get sent down*
Good grief Tolbert, must you swing at every 1st pitch BALL that you see?!?
Just for the record, Tolbert’s career batting average as a leadoff hitter now stands at .056. He’s no Denard Span, but that’s a number that really gets your attention.
should be tolbert, but will be casilla im afraid
Casilla will be sent down, unless Span goes on the DL, in which case they may chose to keep both Casilla and Tolbert instead of calling up an outfielder.
Drdon, I didn’t type that. Clearly my name got stuck and someone else posted it. Nice software.
Gardy just loves guys like he was when he was a player. As long as we have one of the five best managers in the game (still feel that way after this lineup joe?), we’ll have to live with guys like tolbert at the top of the order….ugh.
“Tolbert is in the major leagues, with the Twins, for the same reason that Punto is: because he really gets after it, battles his tail off and hustles. Major league material right there.”
Kay, are you really Ron Gardenhire, or just being really sarcastic? Because you can’t be serious.
I dont know about by far but I would rather see Tolbert on 2B although he he is batting like crap, hopefully he can get it going.
Tolbert stays. He’s a Punto clone. I don’t mean that in a bad way.
None of them, Punto, Tolbert or Casilla can hit so you keep the best defender (Punto) and send the kid with the most up side (Casilla) down so he can play everyday.
thrylos:
Is there any study on the value of how players rack up their numbers?
For example, is a player that is really hot for two months, but sucky the other months more or less valuable than the guy who is league average all the time, even if they end up with the same numbers at the end of the year?
Blackburn looking alright today!
Only 41 pitches after 4 for Blackburn
Scott, I thought the sarcasm was obvious.
“As long as we have one of the five best managers in the game (still feel that way after this lineup joe?)…”
Exactly. This lineup looks horribly screwy. Gardy can’t be *that* bad.
I have to presume there’re good reasons for it. I’m guessing it’s tough love to try and snap Casilla and Gomez into some maturity before it’s too late this year.
Bison, why not keep the best hitter, oh wait…………….
4 IP, 41 pitches for Blackburn
Wow, that Oakland lineup would be impossible to watch day in and day out. Is it any wonder that some teams just don’t have good attendance (he says, not having any idea what their attendance numbers are….).
My gameday says 41 pitches through 4 for Blackburn. That’s not moneyball. Do the A’s have a bachelor party to get to or something?
Tolbert can ground out every ab as long as he keeps turning DP’s.
Mike(he says,not knowing if this screwy software has the real mike’s post) they only had 10,000 per game most of the week.
“gladden is so horrible, i bet that ball landed 20 rows deep….he says this ball might have a chance.”
Yeah, Dazzle doesn’t have it for play-by-play.
Often, he sounds like he’s explaining the game to a crowd on a crowd on a cruise ship or nursing home.
Bert made a comment earlier in the week that the A’s have the lowest attendance in the AL.
That was a Buscheresque play by Hannahan
Tolbert will have to go on a starvation diet, so he can hit his weight.
Whoa. Did I read that right? Gardy is one of the top 5 managers in the league? Seriously? That is laughable, although he has been doing a better job of managing the pitching staff lately. I have to say that because I have been ragging on him all year for his cluelessness in that area.
Romer, I know what you mean, it’s just that last sentence strikes me funny!
Mauer’s power numbers continue to slide. 1 HR and 5 RBI since May 25th. More indicitive of his true power/production numbers than what we saw in May. He will make a legit run at .400 though.
Just to be clear, I was quoting Joe C by saying that. He said it in his chat yesterday.
I don’t watch enough non-Twins baseball to rank Gardy, but given the way they don’t do the small things right, I’d not put him in the top 10 right now.
As are 28th in baseball and last in the AL in average paid attendance this year.
That’s kind of a crock though because the average paid attendance in Washington is 21,000 for instance but a HUGE chunk of those season ticket plan seats sit empty on any given night. Even when, as an example, Randy Johnson is winning his 300th game.
Yeah Joe C is crazy for makeing that statemnet yesterday, Top 5? no way
I wish Gladden would stop calling Blackburn “Blackie”. I know Gardy uses it, but it’s still annoying.
I still cant get over them calling him “Blackie” If there was a black pitcher with the last name Whiteburn, do you think they would call him Whitie?
You guys are out of the loop! Gardy is top 5 and Childress was voted #11 in the NFL!
“they don’t do the small things right”
It’s not what they don’t do.
It’s what they do-do.
getting a little sloppy eh?
No question that Gardy is one of the five best in the AL Central.
Blackie needs another Dp.
I thought the worst was Gardy calling Brendan Harris “Harry.”
yeah sy they do-do small things
Thank You
Sorry, Tony……I like the Blackie name. What’s wrong with it?
BOB: Whitey Ford?
I’m curious as to how Joe C. came to the definative conclusion Gardy is a “top 5″ manager,
and
curious as to how those of you who are absolutely positive he’s NOT came by THAT conclusion.
I mean, can you share with us your evaluation system, and how many major league baseball games you watch every year?
Small things?!
We haven’t had a above average defense in 3 years. We don’t bunt any better the Cleveland. We get caught out on the basepaths too much. And were in the bottom 1/3 for GIDP.
The only small thing we’re doing right anymore is not walking too many people.
Baseball America looks more and more right every time Blackburn starts (even if it is against this lineup).
Bob, I think they would because it is common in baseball to have a nickname with ‘ie’ sound.
Gardy didn’t call Rondell “Whitey”.
If Max Crumm played for the Twins, would Gardy call him “Crummy”?
Maybe he meant he’s a “top 5′” manager. (five feet, get it?)
Edward Ford. Definately caucasian. He got his nickname because of his hair color.
blackburn our new Ace?
Listen to Noraie, Bobbie.
oh. thanks bison.
OK, mudcat grant? catfish hunter? oh, I know, Blue Moon Odom!
Will everyone just calm down, Gardy knows what he is doing. We are up 3-0 right now. Plus, why not rest Gomez today to make sure he’s fresh for a 3 game stretch with the Cubs, because who knows if Span will be available for that series. Cuddy can play center just fine, sure he doesn’t have the speed, but he’s great at reading the ball off the bat. Blackburn is a ground ball pitcher.
Black Jack Morris????
Thrylos, followup on my earlier question:
another example is the player that goes 5 for 5 one game, and then 1 for 5 the next 5 games, making him 10 for 30. then there is the player that gets 2 hits in 5 games, and none in the other. who contributed to more wins?
Cuddy is perfect in CF…
give me a break guys like i dont know that gardy likes the ie nicknames. id bet anything he wouldnt call a black player whitey…
“id bet anything he wouldnt call a black player whitey…”
Proving what??????
This is why Gardy isn’t a top 5 manager. His nicknames are terrible. We need to get someone in there who will coin some decent nicknames for these guys. That’ll make all the difference.
DY 2 for 2….HOT STREAK!!!!
70 pitches through 6. Blackburn on his game!
i smell a complete game from Blackie today.. no wait it’s 2009 not 1979.. helluva an outing though..solid 1-2 at top of rotation right now. bake makes a rock solid #3
This is why Gardy isn’t a top 5 manager. His nicknames are terrible. We need to get someone in there who will coin some decent nicknames for these guys.
DING DING DING
Post o’ the Day winner right there, folks.
Competition’s over.
Well played bisonaudit. Well played.
Did Delmon just try to drive the ball? An almost homerun?
WTF, local radio station KMHL (Marshall) just quit broadcasting TRN.
That’s illegal, I believe.
How should I let the Twins know about this? Or TRN?
Wow the vultures dont have much to complain about so far. 3 to 0 and playing excellent D.
James: just wait until Gardy pulls the plug on Blackburn to get Nathan a meaningless 3 out empty bases save with 3 run lead.
Not piling on you at all, bob.
And “Blackie” sounds like a typically good name for the White Sux or something.
But I like those black zero’s Blackburn is putting up today.
Gardy hasn’t got a creative bone in his body.
Not in nicknames.
Not in pitcher handling.
Not in stealing bases.
Not in NOT sacrifice bunting early in games in a “bunting” (in his mind) situation.
But he is still a good manager, whose players generally play hard for him.
If this organization is so penny wise and pound foolish, why would they do that? You pay closers for saves but you don’t pay starters for complete games. Save a nickel and leave Blackburn in there.
Not that he can hurt you with the bases empty and a 3 run lead but why would you give Giambi anything to hit with this cheeze ball coming up behind him?
How does a complete game save money?
sy it would prove he wouldn’t call ‘em cracker maybe………….?????
That was the question I had too, sy.
You still have to pay the relievers on the days you don’t use them.
A full BP rest would be awfully nice today.
Closers get paid for saves. Not literally save by save, but that’s arguement #1 when it comes time to write the contract. Complete games are way down the list of things values in a starter these days.
It’s not like Nathan punches the clock everytime he goes out to the mound.
I think you have mixed up pitchers and plumbers.
Not that he can hurt you with the bases empty and a 3 run lead but why would you give Giambi anything to hit with this cheeze ball coming up behind him?
I’m guessing it’s because with the bases empty and a 3 run lead he can’t hurt you.
No way Mauer hits .400 this year.
God bless him. But it looks like he’s already wearing down a little.
Too tough being a catcher……
I guess Joe’s pitched the last two nights so maybe Gardy won’t run him out there.
insurance needed, swing hard, hit long
USAFChief:
Thanks for validating my thinking on that one. 
Giambi HR = 1 run.
Giambi BB, Powell BB, Barton HR = 3 runs.
another example is the player that goes 5 for 5 one game, and then 1 for 5 the next 5 games, making him 10 for 30. then there is the player that gets 2 hits in 5 games, and none in the other. who contributed to more wins?
Not enough data
So Cuddy in right again.
Which outfielder will Gomez replace defensively?
All choices are excellent.
I understand Gomez not starting, but why isn’t he in there now?
Too bad Cuddy’s in right……….
Kubel was the best choice.
Disregard, missed the replacement. Work made me do stuff.
is blackburn’s era really just a hair over 3.00? he’s turning into a horse a bit sooner than i thought. 220+ innings for years to come
“Not enough data”
Hope you didn’t blow any circuits, thry.
:)>
How did that triple sound on the radio?
That was awful by Cuddyer…
Blackburn had his ERA down to 3.01 after 7 shutout innings.
Belly flop on the grass, ball under his glove, all the way to the wall turning a single to a triple and a run now…
I was being sarcastic about Cuddy’s fielding, sane.
Cuddaver costs Blackburn the game?
good thing Crain is rested
Yet another stellar job of Gardy handling a pitching staff.
I wish that Kubel was at right in this inning
Cuddaver costs Blackburn the game?
Hard to tell
Blackburn cost himself the win this inning. Still a good game for him though.
Heat, Gordo said the ball skipped by Cuddy.
Sounds like Cuddy should have played it safe.
Frickin’ Kennedy.
He’s HELL!!
we need some damn runs!
will this squad ever get to .500? if mauer or morneau aren’t hitting home runs their chances of winning are so slim. where is luke hughes by the way? is he hurt? new britain?
Cuddy turned a three run HR into a 2 run HR. He cost Blackburn nothing.
You’d prefer hooking Blackburn when, with a sub ninty pitch shutout going or after he’d given up the one run as a direct result of a defensive mistake?
romer, I saw it. He dove but didn’t reach it and the ball passed him. Were it a faster runner was an inside the park hr
I hate Adam F’ing Kennedy with a passion equal to a thousand white hot suns.
Literally.
I always thought the CIA (Mafia, Castro, whoever) got the wrong Kennedy.
“Yet another stellar job of Gardy handling a pitching staff.”
If I read a “we all saw it coming”, comment, I am going to puke on my keyboard.
I always thought the CIA (Mafia, Castro, whoever) got the wrong Kennedy.
There’s still time to atone for the error.
Giambi, game winning homer! 4-3
“Cuddaver costs Blackburn the game?
Hard to tell”
No. Given the 2 ensuing hits — one of them the HR — it didn’t change anything, technically.
Damn it I walk away and now it’s tied.
Twins need to realize that scoring one bunch of runs doesn’t mean the offense can go back to sleep!
get thru the 9th..mauer/morneau will get it done..nathan close out the 10th and head to wrigley to get swept by the chubbies
Given the 2 ensuing hits — one of them the HR — it didn’t change anything, technically.
If the runner was on first, the Twins might have gotten one out on Cabrera’s hit
What’s the crime in using Nathan in this spot?
“Twins need to realize that scoring one bunch of runs doesn’t mean the offense can go back to sleep!”
I think they know that.
I defer to you, thry. You’re watching.
The crime? It goes against Gardy’s Rule Book of When to Use Nathan.
What’s the crime in using Nathan in this spot? The leverage just got even higher.
Sean Henn starring in “Dead Man Walking A’s”.
Sorry, can’t but that one entirely on Gardy, it’s not just his rule book. Everyone doesn it.
thry, that is baseball, a game of “if’s”, “could have’s” and “might have’s”. The only absolute about the game of baseball is that there are no absolutes, right?
Pitch around Giambi grab a shower. Good gig if you can get it Mr. Henn.
“there are no absolutes”
THAT’s an absolute!
Unless he’s unavailable today. It’s absolutely stupid not to throw Nathan in this spot.
GameDay says injury delay. Who are they examining?
Thought they said Crain and Nathan were warming up some time ago.
Down the tubes?
Oh well……..
Thanks romer, gameday is not equiped with a bullpen cam.
Leverage just got higher again. Where’s Nathan.
Use your best releivers first. Extend the game. Just because every manager saves the closer for a possible save doesn’t make it the right move.
Effing crap.
Not sure what that’s about. 1 run wins the game, but whatever.
Should have won this one-momentum killer!
“How to gag away a road game, vol XX” by your Minnesota Twins.
Nice.
sy,
Are you sure about that? Have you watched the Twins the past 7 years or so?
Way sad. Blackie pitches a QS plus 2 more innings.
What the **** is wrong with Gardy, you walk him to load the bases and bring in Nathan. Gardy’s lack of managing lost this game as much as the lack of the Twins to add more runs. Give up a gift triple and let Blackburn stay in the game……Gardy should have made changes than.
Our bullpen is terrible!
This is just not a good team. From manager, pitching, chemistry on down. Hopefully it will change but very doubtful.
A long flight to Chicago now.
Tolbert goes 0-4. I see no reason to keep him up.
Here I was afraid they were going to use Nathan when the didn’t need to. Instead the got him up in the bullpen to work up a lather and then left him there while someone who isn’t our BEST relief option let a tie game get away.
What’s the sense in using him up like that if you’re not actually going to use him?
God Damn it!
anyone in Chicgo tomorrow? im going.
ouch.
Maybe I’m missing something, why not walk Davis to set up the double play? 1st was open and his run is meaningless. I dont get that
ride your starter as loooong as you can with a BP as lousy as this..flippin Gardenhire is a dog. let your start, or nathan lose the game for you!!! you could release crain, henn, matt g, ayala tomorrow and there would be very little interest from the rest of the league yet he runs them out there on a daily basis
Squawk, SQUAWK!!
I’m fine with Blackburn staying in the game. I’m not fine with not using Nathan at all, he should have been in as early as the beginning of the 9th, could have come in at any other point in the 9th, and once your 2nd and 3rd w/ 1 out I agree, IBB then Nathan.
Not that I agree with the SAC bunt by the A’s there in the first place but whatever…
My copy of TigerWoods10 was supposed to arrive UPS today so this isn’t getting me down for long. Hazeltine here I come!
It is sick that Matty’s ERA and W-L are unaffected by this, they need some sort of relevent inherited runner+era stat for relievers… Way to pick up your starter guys!
My daughter Sarah will be at Wrigley with her boyfriend Derek (dark hair). They’re at the Brewers game today.
She’s about 5′10″, brunette.
Say hi to her for me.
The better sweep the Cubs in the rat-infested hole they call home
I’m gritting my teeth over this loss.
The positives: Twins are 3 and 4 on the road so far.
It’s a step in the right direction.
That dumb play by Cuddyer in right couldn’t have helped Blackburn’s psyche that late in the game. You can’t hand the opposing team a triple at that point in a game.
bwahaha thry, what you don’t like to pee in a troth like they do on the north side?
I will be at the games tomorrow and Saturday. I am keen to see if the Cubs fans ignore me or are rude.
hey shaun, i’m going, where are you sitting?
are we really going to be a .500 team all summer? a team with mauer and morneau and nathan at the back of the BP has to do better than that GARDENHIRE its a pipe dream to see a change in leadership here but they haven’t played with disciple (a staple of gardenhire back in the day)for 2-3 years.
Shawn from Binghamton is already in Chic.
“…pee in a troth…”???
Praytell, what is a troth?
Tomorrow I am in section 229. I actually had 4 extra tickets that I sold on eBay to a mixed group of Twins/Cubs fans.
Saturday I can’t recall since my best man bought the tickets for my bachelor party.
winners win and losers find a way to lose. why can’t the twins develop a killer instinct and step on the jugular when they have the other team down. just a pathetic effort in finishing out a game.
I am always in Chicagoland since I live here
LBM….chalk up another one
Gosh do we need some grit in the line-up!!
Any ideas?
troth is like a bath tub type thing, they use it on pig farms, like a long sink. Use it istead of urinals at wrigley
trough, schurik……
trough. just like they have in the metrodome.
sorry, took a 4 days off to watch all the day games, 7 beers deep… trough
plus i don’t know how to spell
troth is like a bath tub type thing, they use it on pig farms, like a long sink. Use it istead of urinals at wrigley
Really? I thought troth meant faithfullness, or truth, and those long bath tub type things at Wrigley were troughs.
I learn something every day here at the STrib blogs.
i accept your apology
that was disappointing. Very disappointing. It’s just hard to win consistently with this offense.
