Tuesday lineups: Crain, Crede, Cuddyer, Span updates
Posted on June 16th, 2009 – 4:45 PMBy Joe Christensen
The Twins optioned Jesse Crain to Class AAA Rochester today, in a surprise move, to make room on the roster with Glen Perkins coming off the disabled list.
Crain is 2-3 with an 8.15 ERA in 23 appearances, but he hasn’t pitched in the minors since 2004.
Joe Crede (lower-back stiffness) and Michael Cuddyer (strained finger) are back in the lineup, but Denard Span (inner-ear infection) remains out. Span had another doctor appointment and was not in the clubhouse before batting practice.
Apologies for the late post. We had some technical difficulties.
Update: Manager Ron Gardenhire said if Span has to miss three or four more days, the team likely will place him on the DL, too, and it sounded like the team would promote an outfielder.
PIRATES (30-33)
1. Andrew McCutchen, CF
2. Nyjer Morgan, LF
3. Freddy Sanchez, 2B
4. Adam LaRoche, 1B
5. Craig Monroe, DH
6. Delwyn Young, RF
7. Andy LaRoche, 3B
8. Jason Jaramillo, C
9. Jack Wilson, SS
Starting pitcher: LH Paul Maholm (4-2, 3.61 ERA)
TWINS (32-33)
1. Brendan Harris, SS
2. Joe Mauer, C
3. Justin Morneau, 1B
4. Joe Crede, 3B
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Michael Cuddyer, RF
7. Delmon Young, LF
8. Carlos Gomez, CF
9. Nick Punto, 2B
Starting pitcher: LH Glen Perkins (1-3, 5.36 ERA)
Metrodome. First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
250 Responses to "Tuesday lineups: Crain, Crede, Cuddyer, Span updates"
Though it might come as a slight surprise that Crain was demoted, what else could you do with him?? It was either this or put him on the DL with an injury like we did with Punto.
Span for DY and you have what should be the permanent lineup…
Hmmm, interesting lineup for the beloved Twins…
I like this lineup…will like it even better when you put Span at the top and move Harris down where Young is. Let’s go Twins!!! We need to continue the dominance over the NL and start to make a run!
It was about time for Crain. I agree with Howard that he needs a change of scenery to maybe shake him up a bit.
Is this the first time the Twins have played the Pirates does anyone know off hand?
I’m with you SoCal, bat Span 1 and Harris two and push everyone else back.
Span for DY and you have what should be the permanent lineup
Close 
How about Span for Cuddyer and DY to RF with Span at LF.
Maholm is a decent lefty but I hope they can overcome him. Andrew McCutchen is a special player, keep your eye on him.
The Twins played the Pirates just a few years ago at PNC for interleague.
Is Crain’s demotion really “surprising” to anyone who has watched him this season. It might be disappointing or a blow to him and the Twins but hardly “surprising” considering his performance.
Go Twins!
OH what do you Perkins is on the mound? Everyone should start talking about how he has to pitch inside so I can throw up all over myself.
so did crain have to pass through waivers?
Thanks Andy
I’m off on a quest to find DrDon, who is residing at the Jackpot casino near Redwood Falls tonight.
He emails me at 5 this morning and says he hit some big winnings.
I’ll let you all know if he really is larger than life.
:)>
They swept a 3 game series in Pittsburg in 2006 (Coincidentally the first game of the series was also June 16th) . Liriano, Bonser, Santana were the 3 starters for the Twins and Snell and Malhom pitched 2 out of 3 Pirates games (Oliver Perez of Mets’ AAA fame) pitched the third.
Problem: bullpen woes
Solution: less members of bullpen
i love it!
wait until span is out 10 days to put him on the 15 day dl? it seems like a better option to have him on the shelf a couple extra days than to play a man short for a week and a half. i don’t understand this delay, but i’m a little slow.
perkins needs to establish his fastball inside early!
Surprises me a bit that they’re apparently set on going with an 11 man pitching staff for now. I thought they might bring up a RP if/when Span went on the DL.
No, he still has options years left.
“How about Span for Cuddyer and DY to RF with Span at LF.”
Thrylos, that’s just stupid. Young over Cuddyer?
It’s too bad about Crain (not that he got sent down, but that he was so awful in the first place). I liked him a couple of years ago. But his performance this year was downright Ponsonesque. Or Rinconesque. One of the two.
It is surprising to see a veteran get sent down, though! I can’t recall another instance of a guy with 5 years of MLB time getting sent to AAA (other than for a rehab assignment).
I’m heading out and attempting to meet with D O C D O N tonight.
I’ll file a full report.
Young over Cuddyer?
Any day in my book. Let’s talk about it at the end of the season.
I’m heading out and attempting to meet with D O C D O N tonight.
I hope that’s it for personal not professional reasons
“in a surprise move”?
Is that a bit of sarcasm from Joe C. or is it because Crain hasn’t pitched in the minors since ‘04?
Say goodbye to Jesse Crain Twins fans. In my opinion, he’ll suffer the same fate as former reliever Juan Rincon, and never play for the big league club again.
Especially with the emergence of minor league relievers Robert delaney & Anthony Slama, and the possible acquisition of LaTroy Hawkins, Crain’s days with MN are done.
GGG,
I’m guessing Span’s DL time would be retroactive to the last day played. So he wouldn’t be out that long.
JimCrikket: I think the 11 man staff is due to the fact that the starters are actually pitching deeper into games lately. Which is a good thing.
By my count, they had 8 quality starts on the road trip (out of 10 games). The starting staff is starting to carry its weight.
But the bad news is that the bullpen lost 4 games on teh road trip! That’s 4 games that the starters put the team in a position to win, but Sean Henn, Luis Ayala, Sean Henn (again), and Jesse Crain dropped the ball (figuratively speaking).
Who’d be the first OF call-up from Rochester if Span goes on the DL? Pridie? How about Matt Moses from New Britian?
What’s the Twins record this year vs lefties.
Icon,
that is correct, but there is a big difference here: One of those starters is gone now (Swarzak) and the weakest starter this season (Perkins) is back with the team.
Heatonator: I think it really is a surprise move. I’m not surprised that Crain got the boot, but I am surprised that he went to AAA.
After this much time in the majors, usually the team wouldn’t bother sending a guy down to the minors. They’d just release him. The fact that Crain is going to Rochester indicates to me that the Twins believe that they can correct whatever problems are causing him to pitch so badly. I hope they do.
“Any day in my book. Let’s talk about it at the end of the season.”
Anyone else getting this? Thrylos, I guarantee you are the only one in the entire civilized world holding to that misguided belief. I’m willing to be just about anything that Cuddyer is worth more wins at the end of the year than Young. In fact, it won’t even be close.
Anyone know why Cuddyer and Crede have switched spots in the order for the last couple weeks?
What is so great about Cuddaver, Scott? He is the biggest waste of money next to Punto on our roster.
Icon: as t98 pointed out elsewhere, Crain’s release point has been off by quite a bit. That sounds correctable, but perhaps there is a reason. An injury down at AAA wouldn’t surprise me.
I found the Crain demotion surprising because Gardy was complaining about his bull pen needing rest, and now they’ve subtracted a member.
The Yanks DFAed Jose Veras. He hasn’t been great this year with an ERA in the 5’s. But he’s be cheap and probably worth a look. Last year he did have a pretty respectable ERA in the 3’s.
I think Thrylos is right that Young is a more valuable player than Cuddyer, just because of his potential.
However, even though I have been one of the leading Cuddyer-bashers over the past two years (and a big Young supporter), even I have to admit that Cuddyer should be in the lineup more than Young at this point.
If the Twins need an outfielder the logical choice is David Winfree, but he’d need to be added to the 40-man roster.
What is so good, not great, about Cuddyer: An OPS 247 points higher than D Young’s. Enough said.
I think that the Twins should call up Bernardo Brito.
Thrylos-
What are you smoking? Cuddyer has proven himself. Delmon…long ways to go.
Icon,
Cuddyer has a .407 OPS in June. This is subpuntonian. Why does he need to be in the lineup again?
I would imagine that Huber is another option for the OF. He’s mostly played 1B this year at Rochester, but he played LF for San Diego last year. I think Huber’s got a little better control of the strike zone, but less potential than Winfree.
Unless there’s an obvious option to come off the 40-man roster, I’d guess Pridie would get the call, even if he’s not the most productive OF in Rochester.
Time to walk over to the Dome!
I still think that as soon as DY decides to stand up when he swings, we will be dangerous. Hopefully that happens sooner than later.
“I’m heading out and attempting to meet with D O C D O N tonight”
What better guy to see, when you don’t know where your head has been lately.
That doctor knows where to look for it.
Just kidding.
Hmmm… I actually didn’t know that Cuddyer had been that bad in June. Though I’d wager my house that Cuddyer’s OPS is significantly higher than Young’s for the season. Sadly, my work computer blocks out sports sites, so I can’t look that up right now.
What are Young’s June numbers?
Here is a comparison between Cuddyer and Young and I am using the whole current season (2009).
With RISP BA: Cuddyer: .262, Young: .308 (and the reason that I am using BA, is because it matters more than OPS with RISP, i.e. a hit is better than a walk and a single is as good as a double in scoring a run).
t98: Are you really going to judge Cuddyer by 30 June PAs and throw out the whole month of May?
I still think that as soon as DY decides to stand up when he swings, he will be dangerous. Hopefully that happens sooner than later. But, might as well let him try since Cuddyer is going to be done for the year now because of his finger.
Here is a comparison between Cuddyer and Young and I am using the whole current season (2009).
With RISP BA: Cuddyer: .262, Young: .308 (and the reason that I am using BA, is because it matters more than OPS with RISP, i.e. a hit is better than a walk and a single is as good as a double in scoring a run).
OB,
all I am saying is that this month Cuddyer has been as cold as a Cuddaver. Let him play sporadically DH against RHP/PH (when Span is fixed) until he heats up. And based on 2007 and 2008 the May spike (caused by 2-3 games that he had 4 hits on each) is an aberration.
I would agree that the RISP average is significant, but if I am not mistaken, isn’t Young’s OBP under .300 for the season? And OBP is one area where Cuddyer is usually pretty decent.
Also, Cuddyer does have 9 HR to Young’s 1. True, Cuddyer has more at bats, but not 9 times more.
I’d wager my house that Cuddyer’s OPS is significantly higher than Young’s for the season.
Deal.
I got a signed game-used slightly cracked Mike Cuddyer bat from his days at Ft Myers.
Are you in 
Have to come clean here, Thrylos….
I don’t really have a house; I live in an apartment. Would I have lost the bet?
Icon,
the point is that someone like Young (and Gomez and Span for that matter), has less probability to produce if he plays every third day. They need to get in a rhythm. See the game that Gomez had Sunday at Wrigley (and nobody in the freaking TC media gave the kid kudos, but instead were focusing on Crain and Swarzak’s “swan song”). These guys need to play every day. And the bench will be better with Cuddyer in it for PH instead of Buscher or the Ghost of Redmond’s past.
thrylos-
love it.
im totally with you. i find comfort in the fact that while young is second on the team in strikeouts to cuddyer (who also coincidentally leads the team in GIDPs by a healthy margin), young is striking out on pitches in or around the strike zone. thats totally unlike cuddyer, who likes to flail at head high fastballs and sliders that bounce off the back side of the left hand batters box.
im willing to add an item as worthless as cuddyer to this betting mix, a ‘92 autographed shane mack card.
Yeah it has been a rough month so far for Cuddyer, but I can find a rough week’s worth of games for just about anyone. As for Cuddy’s power numbers: HRs on 5/2, 5/9, 5/18, 5/20, 5/21, 5/22, 5/25, and 5/29. That equates to one per week plus the aberration. That’s still good production.
Everything you say makes sense. I agree that with some at bats Young will be a much better player than Cuddyer.
But with the Twins competing for the division crown, can we really justify playing an outfielder with a pitiful OBP and very little power if other options are available?
This is, of course, a question on which reasonable people can disagree. But I grudgingly have to conclude that Cuddyer should be in the lineup at this point.
ob
is cuddyer really going to have a 25+ HR season?
I can see both sides of this arguement but to say that DY has more value is a bit crazy given DY’s history. Yes Cuddy is older but for goodness sake, DY has never seen a pitch that he didn’t like. That is unproductive. That is the bottom line. Sure there may be more upside to DY but he has been so reluctant to listen to any of the coaches. The underlying problem here is that DY and GoGo should have played more in the minors instead of rushing them to the majors, it would have helped both of them.
Anyway I would take Cuddy in RF over DY, also Cuddy is a better fielder, DY is just dreadful in LF.
ishbudesign….
That Shane Mack card is pretty tempting. Mack was one of my favorite players back in the day.
Do you have a Bernardo Brito card?
Span was diagnosed with Vestibular Neuronitis (a viral infection of a nerve in the middle ear). Those things usually take weeks to clear and the therapy is symptomatic (medicine to decrease vertigo and nausea), since there not any decent anti-virals against those viruses.
Long story short, he will probably be heading for the DL.
Thank heavens people like Thrylos aren’t calling the shots for the Twins. Next time I’m frustrated with Gardenhire, I’ll remember that it could be worse. A lot worse.
is cuddyer really going to have a 25+ HR season?
Is DY going to have 25 XBHs this season?
Thrylos:
Just out of curiosity, would you play Gomez over Young if that was the choice?
I don’t doubt that Young, Gomez, and Span all struggle when they play every 3rd day, but that is true for Cuddyer too. As for the bench, I’d think that you’d want your best bats (and Cuddyer has been better than Young thus far) getting the most PAs. The season is not lost yet, and if it is in the near future, I don’t doubt that both Gomez and Young will get ample playing time.
One thing that has not been mentioned about Cuddyer (my bad) is his puntonian April (.224/.318/.316) this season, playing every day.
would you play Gomez over Young if that was the choice?
I’d play Gomez in CF every day, unless he is hurt. The choice should be Young vs. Span vs Cuddyer. Gomez should be there every day
chief
one would only hope.
With the injury to Span, this might be a moot point. If he’s on the DL for a few weeks, it looks like we’ll see Young in left, Gomez in center and Cuddyer in right.
I guess we’ll find out who’s better pretty soon!
ishbudesign,
Young’s O-Swing% (swings at pitches outside the strike zone) is 34.8%, second worst on the team to Jose Morales and excluding pitchers. Cuddyer’s is 28%, which is 7th on the team and behind Morneau(34.6%) and Crede(32.6%).
Young is striking out on everything.
t98: Id have to disagree that a single is the same as a double in this instance. Where both guys hit in the order, 6-7 spot, they have Morneau, Kubel, Crede or Harris on base when they hit. None of those guys can score from 2nd with one of Delmons slap singles. While BA is more important than on base in this situation, slugging % needs to come into play a little bit. I think we both know Cuddy is more likely to come up with a xbh to score runs in that situation. I’ll give Delmon credit to: he is more likely to come up with a hit to push the runner to 3rd. But then we have to depend on Gomez or Tolbert or Punto to get them home.
ish: One thing I’m not is clairvoyent. Although if Cuddyer provides a more likely 15+ HR this year I’d take it.
Bobby Cueller still at Roch?
This will give him something to work with.
Young’s O-Swing% (swings at pitches outside the strike zone) is 34.8%, second worst on the team to Jose Morales and excluding pitchers. Cuddyer’s is 28%, which is 7th on the team and behind Morneau(34.6%) and Crede(32.6%).
Let’s look at those numbers again:
Young 34.8%
Morneau 34.6%
so, since your conclusion was that “Young is striking out on everything.”, what does that say about Morneau?
OB and ish: Cuddyer is on pace to hit just under 23 home runs this year.
ob-
true. i would concede to that. if cuddy plays like 2007, i am ok with that.
scott-
i guess you cant argue with stats, but i would argue that cuddy has to lead the team in the truly ugly strikeouts, not to mention sombreros.
either way folks, im off to the game. heres hoping perkins starts mowing some people down.
I think the difference is what Morneau does with the other pitches he swings at compared to what Delmon does with the other pitches he swings at
All I have to say is this lineup looks ugly 6-9…should be good enough to beat the lowly Pirates at home, though.
fcm,
absolutely, but that’s what happens when you use a single measurement in isolation. What he showed was that Young is as bad as Morneau as far as OZ swing%.
But look at this:
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=2140&position=OF#platediscipline
Young has improved every season, including 2009 as far as swinging at pitches outside the zone. This tells me that if you give him some regular playing time and forgive him that he was a basket case when his young mom unexpectedly got diagnosed with cancer before the season started and died in 3 months, he will be better in 2009 than he was in 2008. And not forget that in 2008, Young was a better player than Cuddyer, and don’t forget who made the out at the plate that would have scored the tying run at that game that mattered in Chicago.
Span for Cuddyer when he comes back and we’re set. Put Harris in the 6 slot for Cuddyer and flip flop Kubel and Crede depending on the pitcher.
98 is always on something funky. If you think Gomez is fast watch the cat from Pittsburgh. I don’t know his name but you will KNOW. The cool cat is FAST….much faster than Gomez. And he can catch the ball to boot.
Crede is the man…..
I’ll admit that Delmon is starting to heat up. Your blog showed a pretty convincing argument that he is just simply a slow starter.
The next few weeks are going to be huge for all the outfielders. I’d almost have to say at this point, Span is probably out until the AS break. Can Young get hot? Can cuddy stay somewhat healthy. Can Kubels knees hold up? I see those 3 questions being the difference between leading the division at the break, or being an also-ran
I think that Young will be better in 2010 than Cuddyer, but I’ll be (pleasantly) surprised if he gets there in 2009.
McCutchen I think. The dude is FAST…..and I mean FAST. Much faster than Gomez. You will see 98.
and, of course the bullpen is a big ? mark, but that is a topic or another day
Rocky, Andrew McCutchen, that’s his name. And he is as fast as Gomez. Those two today will be a treat to watch.
Span for cuddyer and we’re set for the rest of the year. Put harris in the 6 hole and flip flop crede and kubel depending on the pitcher.
Also give Young a break. He was hitting before his mother passed away. He got thrown right into the mix when he returned. He should have had the opportunity to get some at bats in the minors to get his eye and timing back. Did anyone ever notice that when he started trying to pull the ball his spring training numbers took a dive right into the season.
That probable loss of Span is a big blow. There is no replacement for him at the top of the lineup.
“And the bench will be better with Cuddyer in it for PH instead of Buscher or the Ghost of Redmond’s past.”
the ghost of redmond’s past is 12-for-36 in his last 10 games (.333). not too bad for a backup catcher … very good for a ghost.
I’ll concede that Young was hitting a bit before, but with no power. From little to no power was not to be expected. However, when a guy has an ISO roughly equivalent to Punto’s it’s hard to put him out there, especially at a corner OF spot. A marked uptick in his K% is also troublesome. Also, a BABIP of .375 when 57% of one’s balls hit in play are on the ground is not sustainable.
McCutchen is faster than Gomez.
And not forget that in 2008, Young was a better player than Cuddyer, and don’t forget who made the out at the plate that would have scored the tying run at that game that mattered in Chicago.
He was actually got on base before he was thrown out at the plate, which is more than most of his teammates could say that night.
I know this suggestion won’t go anywhere, but if it were up to me, I’d put Mauer in teh leadoff spot while Span is out.
This team in my opinion still needs a middle infielder who hits well against left handed pitchers especially. We will all get an up close view of the guy I think will help us best these next few days. Getting a guy like Sanchez would really be a boost to the Twins right now and for the foreseeable future.
Ironclast: I’d be with you on that suggestion.
Mauer
Harris
Morneau
Crede
Kubel
Cuddyer
Young
Gomez
Punto
Jeff: you couldn’t be more right. I want to see Sanchez on this team immediately!
Maybe he can be traded this week and just walk to the other dugout, like Doug Mientkiewicz did in 2004.
thrylos98, I am not even close to a Cuddyer honk but the thing that concerns me most about Delmon is his lack of anything other than singles. I mean 3 XBH’s in 147 ABs so far this season is not acceptable for any OF position.
Wait…Crain still had options? I can’t imagine that’d be a possibility after all this time.
“I mean 3 XBH’s in 147 ABs so far this season is not acceptable for any OF position.”
for any position, period.
Okay, game time.
My prediction: Twins 12, Pirates 4.
Bernardo Brito will hit 2 home runs for the Twins, and the only Pirates runs will be on a seventh inning grand slam by Andy Van Slyke off of Juan Berenguer.
One more thing:
Does the Pirate pitcher’s name (Paul Maholm) remind anyone of Pat Mahomes? I keep wanting to call him Mahomes.
Ben mirrors my thoughts. I was not pleased with the Cuddyer signing. Still, that does not change the fact that the lineup is better with Cuddyer as opposed to Young.
“I mean 3 XBH’s in 147 ABs so far this season is not acceptable for any OF position.”
This might be acceptable for Ozzie Smith in a down season.
I wish he were Mahomes. Maholm ain’t garbage.
Jack Morris is back. I’ve wondered where he’s been this season.
Another thing that hasn’t been mentioned is Young’s Puntonian April, May or June for that matter T98.
I’m no fan of a guy like Cuddy getting in ruts of whiffing on bad pitches out of the zone but what does it say that a guy like Delmon can’t hit pitches “in the zone” this season. I’ll tell you, isn’t or at least hasn’t been good at all this season. Pitchers don’t need to throw him the junk to get him out as they did last season because they can easily get him out in the zone this season. Until he proves otherwise they can feel free to just keep working in or near the zone.
And since be even Delmon’s own admission he is a “slow starter” there has been no reason to play him ahead of any of the other three OF to date this season. So Delmon has played or not played his way into the position he’s now in. It’s up to him to play his way out of it. If he gets only to sparingly climb out of that hole, that’s his own fault and yet one he has to man up and earn his way out. Having others point to slumps by those who are in there as a reason to play Delmon is not going to get it done (and frankly shouldn’t be).
Hell, Gardy even finally broke down and put Mauer into the #2 spot so anything is possible. But faith, potential and citing his youth by Young supporters won’t get it done. As they ad says Delmon “Just do it”.
Delwyn Young, the bizarro Delmon Young.
Jeff,
Sanchez would be great, but how about a guy that so far this season hit .370/.400/.926 against LHP in AAA. His is hurt right now, but when Luke Hughes is healthy he might be the answer at 2B
T98
Do you know what percentage of Young’s strikeouts are low/outside or simply on the outside of the plate?
I can not remember a strikeout of his on the inside part of the plate and it looks like opposing pitcher’s are following the same scouting report.
Do you think that Craig Monroe would have an ax to grind tonight? Remember the ST games?
absolutely, but that’s what happens when you use a single measurement in isolation
This, from the same poster who in this thread alone has used Cuddyer’s OPS in June (30 PAs), BAwRISP (but not OPS), and Cuddyer getting thrown out at home in game 163 last season as arguments.
See also: irony.
Good start for Mr. Perkins.
Eddie,
hard to tell… Next year we will be able to tell, because hitF/X data will be released. They have the “hot” and “cold” zones, but that is mostly empirical..
I love how Punto’s name has now been made into an adjective!
Chief,
context is important…
and BA w/ RISP establishes context (RISP)
and June OPS establishes context (currently hot).
If Crain finds it in Roch, or if he leaves the organization and finds it - then we gotta get rid of the pitching coach. I’m still sick over Garza.
Do you think that Monroe would have an ax to grind tonight? Remember the ST games?
I move that we table the Cuddyer/ Young argument for a bit. With Span likely out for a couple of weeks, they’ll both get some playing time. We’ll see who does better.
Morneau rocks. Even when he hits into a double play, it’s a good thing!
Icon,
I agree.
thrylos,
Cherry picking stats isn’t ‘context.’
Examine everything, and let that lead you to an opinion.
Rather than forming an opinion, and then going out and finding a couple stats that support it.
Seems to like a better way to do analysis.
Let’s talk about Bernardo Brito instead.
Anyone remember that guy?
“Sanchez would be great, but how about a guy that so far this season hit .370/.400/.926 against LHP in AAA. His is hurt right now, but when Luke Hughes is healthy he might be the answer at 2B”
that’s in 27 at-bats. he’s hitting .259 overall and has a reputation as a terrible infielder.
I’m not impressed with Perkins so far.
Surprise move? the biggest surprise is how Crain has lasted up in the bigs as long as he has
Good pitch Perk.
Seriously? There are two guys named LaRoche on the Pirates? Andy and Adam? Brothers I assume. I can’t believe I didn’t know that. The Pirates might as well be playing on Mars.
Not sure sending the speedy Kubel around third was the best idea.
Thrylos, I wasn’t comparing Morneau to Young on the O-Swing%. I was comparing Cuddyer to two other productive offensive players on the team who have much higher rates of swinging at pitches outside the strike zone, since the argument was that Cuddyer strikes out on pitches outside of the strike zone more than Young, which I disproved.
And talk about using one measurment to compare players (which I wasn’t doing)! You just mentioned in an earlier post that you’re using BA w/RISP only to compare Young and Cuddyer. Is that because that’s the only statistic in existince in which Young is better and thus supports your very weak argument that Young is more valuable than Cuddyer? Just admit that you don’t have anything to defend this position other than some hunch.
Agreed, Eddie. Not with 0 outs. But hindsight is 20/20.
that guy cuddyer is sure a liability — look how he caused an out at the plate.
I don’t complain too much about Ullger, but that was idiotic. You can’t get someone thrown out at home with 0 out.
OBSERVATIONS IN TWO INNINGS:
• Blogger Jason rips on Cuddyer = Cuddyer hits the crap out of the ball (Keep on rippin’ Jason)
• Cuddyer v. Young Debate: No clearer after first ABs, each 1 for 1 (An XB hit and a run scoring SINGLE)
If Delmon had hit that ball Kubel would have been safe….
The Twins get four singles and a double from the first 7 hitters in the lineup…and turn that into 2 runs.
Nice job Scotty.
Funny how that works out. Delmon gets a solid RBI single. Looks good for T98 Young supporters. The hit is only significant because Cuddy gets a near homer that only someone as slow as Kubel gets tossed out at the plate on (by the way Go-Go, were you watching how the Pirates Cf hit the cutoff man quickly and perfectly?)
Good for both of them because the Twins need them right now. Even as a none Delmon believer we could probably suspend the Delmon debate as long at Span is out because the point is moot. Delmon has to play & with this being the time this “slow starter” tends to heat up, lets all hope to ride his wave.
Nice hit Delmon!
On the plus side, the play with Kubel gave us a look at Freddy Sanchez’s defensive skills. Good relay throw.
It sure will be nice to have him lining up at second every day for the Twins!
“The Twins get four singles and a double from the first 7 hitters in the lineup…and turn that into 2 runs.”
i’m guessing the double play might have something to do with that stat.
I prefer to look at the bright side. Two runs in the first two innings is a good thing.
I can live with the double play. Unfortunate, and untimely, but all players hit into DPs some times. It happens.
I can’t live with the third base coach causing an unnecessary out at home with no outs on a stupid decision.
Aaaargh.
I repeat, Perkins isn’t impressing me.
How much does Scotty Ulger look like actor Robert Davi? Good grief, they could be brothers separated at birth.
Iconoclast,
Sorry, I hadn’t noticed you already suggested this tabling of the Delmon-Cuddy argument.
Good call by you. Though it’s really not much of an argument.
Perkins would have been great in Crain’s spot in the pen. This team needs another starter
Thanks 98. Good report on Span. I hate that its going to take so long for him to recover. No replacement to lead off…..Tolleson playing the OF tonight for AAA, I don’t suppose…..
He is lead off material…..
I’m confused - how can Crain be optioned to the minors? With as much service time as he has, he must be out of options. I assume he had to clear waivers, but then isn’t it called being outrighted to the minors? I thought I understood the variety of transactions, but perhaps I do not.
Swinging the bats good tonight.
Nice little string of hits here.
Actually, I just read over some transaction rules some more, and it looks like a team has three years of options, that can be used until the player is eligable for free agency. So, perhaps Crain had an option left. That is, if he only went between the majors and minors in two different years, and then stuck in the majors but is not yet eligable for free agency.
However, if this is true that he had an option left, why did it take so long? He should have been optioned a month ago.
Perkins would have been great in Crain’s spot in the pen. This team needs another starter.
I just don’t think Perkins fits the relief role. He doesn’t have dominant stuff and looks to settle in over innings. He’s a #5 (and if there were six, he’d be the #6).
I’ve been on the fence with the Swarzak send down as I thought it would be good to try him in the rotation and put Liriano in the BP but ‘Cisco is a head case under pressure and that doesn’t bode well for late inning mentality.
I think we need to let Perkins get his feet back under him up here and see if he can sustain himself or we will probably see him go to the pen.
Okay, the RBI double plays are getting a bit old.
The leaving everyone on base and not scoring was getting old too. At least the double plays are having people score…
Yeah, the way Perk is going, these chances cannot be squandered.
Attaboy Young
Delwyn Young? Are the Pirates trying to copy us?
I beleive this is the first time Crain has been optioned. It will most likely be the last time though. I think he’s 70 days short of Service time to have the right to refuse being optioned. He still could be, but he would have to agree to it.
Nice catch Delmon.
Eddie,
look at Perkins’ stats from 2007 when he was in the pen
Nice AB Delmon.
Steal a base, Gomez!
chief you forgot the nice ab cuddy!
I’m still for Punto bunting anytime there is a runner on and less than two outs. ANYTIME!
Should have stolen that base like I said.
chief you forgot the nice ab cuddy!
I did indeed.
Cuddy at least got to 3-2 though, and should have walked on the 3-0 pitch.
Maholm is really tough to steal a base off.
As long as he catch em I don’t care how ugly it looks.
Remarkable how both Cuddy and Delmon struck out on the same pitch (inside changeup?).
ok chief i was starting to think you may have a slight bias.
Timely.
I wish someone would have commented earlier that they didn’t like the was Perk was throwing tonight…wait, they did?
Never mind!
The Pirates owed them one DP
Big DP. Smooth as hell.
Ha! The Twins double up the Pirates, instead of the other way around.
Wow. How does he do that?
Mauer is up to .426 now.
Looks like Mauer has gone back to being a punch and Judy hitter again. Dang
I look forward to the days when that roof is a fond memory.
PERKINS 2007 RELIEF STATS:
19 Games / 28.1 Innings
23 Hits
10 Earned Runs
12 Walks / 20 Ks
PERKINS MISC STATS
You’re better at stats than I but taking a look at simple ERA in situational pitching…
Bases Empty: 2.02 (120.1 IP)
Runners On: 6.91 (112.0 IP)
RISP: 9.96 (56.0 IP)
RISP w/ Two Outs: 21.04 (25.2 IP)
And for the most part, the BAA goes down as the game goes on.
Based on that, (and again, there’s probably better statistical analysis out there than what I’ve provided)…but in my simple layman’s terms…that tells me he does not look like a solid relief guy.
Mauer is “slap happy”.
does mauer change his approach against left-handed pitchers?
My boy Perkins is looking pretty good considering it’s his first game back.
ES: I would imagine that anyone’s situational ERA would increase as more runners are in increasingly dangerous positions. Perhaps that RISP w/2Outs is worrisome, but that’s all I see.
Delmon is on fire - the coldest fire I’ve ever seen, but still on fire.
Nice hit again Delmon.
Is that the definition of a duck fart?
Punto must have missed a sign. I said Bunt in ALL situations with runners on and less than 2 outs.
OB
I’m sure you’re right but I’d like to know how his compare (if they can with such a small sample) to typical relief roles.
The fact he isn’t an overpowering arm, relies on inside pitching and spots and that it seems as if he gets stronger as a game goes on is a bigger factor for me.
I guess in a round about way, I’m still sticking to my opinion that Perkins doesn’t seem to be a BP guy…but I am open to understanding why I could be wrong.
did gomez forget how to steal?
It’s refreshing to see a player wearing the stirrups again.
huh?
The Pirates didn’t execute, but I love the successful steal on the pitch out.
Screw .400, I want .500
did gomez forget how to steal?
No.
What are the odds of Mauer getting the Cover of SI again (with Verducci in town tonight) with something along the lines of what TIME did with Carew “Can he hit .400″ type thing?
Would be pretty cool.
That Mauer is some kind of good
I’d be just fine without Mauer on the cover of SI, thank you very much.
Perkins did exactly what he had to do: hand the game over to the bullpen with a six-run lead.
Hey, where’s the fire-Gardenhire-Vavra-Anderson-banish-Perkins-to-the-bullpen crowd tonight?
Yep, WJ, stirrups are cool.
Now, if only the Twins would take off from the back of the home jerseys the players’ names.
Nigel Morgan looks very cool.
Crede looked like a guy with a very bad back on that overthrow.
Perkins did exactly what he had to do: hand the game over to the bullpen with a six-run lead.
He did, and you can’t argue with results, but I was not impressed with his pitching tonight at all.
Almost exclusively fastballs, lots of hard hit balls.
I don’t think that recipe will pan out long term.
Walter, you can’t be happy with Perkins performance tonight, can you?
Joe-watch the Twins Saturday night.
ES: I see Perk as a starter myself; but if he struggles, where do we stash him? Does he have options? If so, then I could see dropping him back to the AAA rotation. If another reliever is needed, though, I don’t know if there is a better option the Perk. Morillo would take some moxie although that piques my curiosity.
My boy Perkins is looking pretty good
he got that Abe Lincoln look pinned down alright tonight
Shaun,
Why? Who will Perk & the Twins face on Saturday night? Oswalt?
Joe,
You will get to see the Twins wear jerseys with no names on the back
mauer sucks!
Mauer gets lazy and he receives an error for his troubles.
Shaun,
Oh yea; I know that, but it’s only for Saturdays when the Twins wear the throw-back uniform.
I’d like to see the Twins dispense with the names on the back of the home jerseys for every game. I don’t like the names on the back of the jerseys.
I do like that look on the 2009 Saturday home jerseys.
(When I read your comment, I thought that you were taking a subtle exception to my subtle praise of Perkins.)
Sheesh, Morneau should’ve caught that throw.
Here’s hoping for the Dickey 3 IP save. I’d like to see it attempted more often.
come on, Twins, get out of this inning with no runs. Remember when the Twins played the Pirates in the Dome several years ago and had an 8-run lead that Radke blew?
Perkins was strong. He belongs in the rotation. Liriano can mop up for him.
The “beard” has to go, though. He looks like he wants to milk a cow and call his teammates “thee”.
Now who is going to get on base so Mauer can go 5-5…
That last out of the 8th for the Pirates was poetic justice, considering that the inning should’ve been over, but for Mauer’s error.
The “beard” has to go, though. He looks like he wants to milk a cow and call his teammates “thee”.
or grow. Along with the stuff on top of his head, if he doesn’t want to look like a Montana or a UP skinhead
When did Gomez start to do that huge chopping motion in the batter’s box?
If Mauer were to finish out the year at a rate equaling his batting average from ‘06 to last year, what would his average be at the end of the season?
And its Punto, but Harris could DP
WJ,
Liriano’s last two outings have been pretty gutsy. He may come around yet. I didn’t give up on DY and I’m not ready to give up on Liriano.
With Dickey, the Twins might be able get by for awhile with 11 pitchers.
Perkins looks like Christopher Penn in “Footloose”.
WJ,
I think that Perkins invested in Amish futures, so he’s going with that look.
What would it take to get Freddy Sanchez?
God, that would be a major improvement to our lineup.
From June 2006 to the end of 2006, Mauer hit 120/351, so if he does that this year he will hit in 2009: 187/507 = .369
Ryan W.,
We don’t need no stinkin’ Sanchez; we’s got Punto.
Of course, I get home to see the last 5 innings and mlb has already cut off the broadcast. Guess I’ve gotta buy the Fox sports after 7/1.
Wicked slider.
All Frankie gotta do is quit walking people, he’s still striking people out. I’m not sure he’s quality yet as he’s at Perkins and (gasp) Blackburn levels with regard to K/BB ratio. My thought is that if the BBs come down, Frankie looks great. Not exactly revolutionary.
gatty,
So, if Joe gets 203 hits this year, he’ll hit .400.
Twins 6-1 in interleague play. This is where they always make their move.
I think to get Sanchez we’d have to buy high. His June numbers don’t look too impressive. .241avg and .687OPS in 58AB. Looks like he’s coming back down to earth…I wouldn’t give much if anything.
OB,
That’s what I think and this is why is performances the last few games have been gutsy. He didn’t fall apart after the walks.
Nice win, but…
WTF is Mijares finishing off this game instead of letting Dickey pitch another inning?
Mijares can’t pitch in a 2-2 tie Sunday, but can pitch on Tuesday in an 8-2 game.
I don’t understand.
Anyway, good night.
In order for Mauer to hit .400, he will need approx 200 hits because he will be around 500 AB at the end of the season, so he is ‘only’ 133 hits away. 133/344 = .387, so he needs to hit .387 for the rest of the season to hit .400 at the end.
I didn’t see that post joe, so yeah 200 hits will probably get it done
I agree with USAF, but I’d rather enjoy the victory prior to nitpicking.
WTF is Mijares finishing off this game instead of letting Dickey pitch another inning?
Mijares can’t pitch in a 2-2 tie Sunday, but can pitch on Tuesday in an 8-2 game.
I don’t understand
Welcome to Gardy’s and Andy’s amazing playground…………..
Or one could say that Mauer needs 158 more hits this year to get to .450…
Thanks Gatty. I’d be seriously impressed if Mauer is anywhere north of .369 in September. That would be a heck of an accomplishment.
fsn must not pay much if telly and now itchmycrotchkie is the best they can do.
the only reason I can think of for not letting Dickey go a 3rd inning tonight is the fear of a Liriano implosion tommorow night, and needing Dickey for multiple innings again tomorrow night. EVen with that, seems to be it should have been Henn or Ayala instead of Mijares
Liriano for Sanchez.
WJ: Hell yeah. I doubt Pitt would take that (they have lots of rotation depth, I know cause I live in Pitt and they just traded for more in the McLouth trade), but if it could be done that would be a coup.
Well Sanchez has a NL batting title, and can drive the ball a bit for a 2b (second in NL in doubles).
My guess is he wouldn’t come cheap. I think he has one more year under contract.
RW: He won’t come cheap: understatement. If we want him, I bet the Twins would be looking at Gutierrez, Dinkelman + or some such deal. Steep price but debateable, as are most trades.
Crain in Rochester!? Cue the Hallelujah Chorus!
