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Liriano vs. Aceves: Twins try to avoid another sweep

Posted on July 8th, 2009 – 11:36 PM
By Joe Christensen

The Twins will send Francisco Liriano to the mound Thursday, trying to avoid another sweep against the Yankees. Liriano held the Yankees to one run on four hits over six innings on May 15 in New York but took a no-decision, when the Yankees came back for three runs off Joe Nathan.

The Yankees will counter with RHP Alfredo Aceves. Here’s an interesting profile on Aceves from the New York Times. The Yankees signed him out of the Mexican League before the 2008 season.

(*) Joe Mauer officially moved into the AL batting lead tonight, at .388, and boy did he earn it. Hard to imagine a tougher trio of pitchers — in terms of their differences and individual degree of difficulty — than A.J. Burnett, Phil Coke and Mariano Rivera. Mauer, of course, went 3-for-5 with a double and a home run.

(*) The Twins are 0-6 against the Yankees, and 6-18 against the AL East.

(*) The White Sox are 16-6 in their past 22 games. And the Tigers overcame Zack Greinke, pushing the Twins 3 1/2 games back in the AL Central.

(*) Some more impressive work by Bobby Keppel tonight. That’s 11 1/3 scoreless innings in four appearances since he arrived from Class AAA Rochester.

“A lot of ground balls,” Manager Ron Gardenhire said. “He just keeps throwing it down there. [His sinker] drops off a table, and it’s huge.”

But Keppel threw 44 pitches in 3 2/3 innings and won’t be available Thursday, Gardenhire said.

Note: You can follow us now on Twitter (@JoeCStarTribune, @LaVelleNeal). Check back here in the morning for the lineups, unless we tweet them first!

29 Responses to "Liriano vs. Aceves: Twins try to avoid another sweep"

You've Got To Be Kidding Me! says:

July 9th, 2009 at 2:27 am

anybody else getting really, really tired of gardy’s twins losing to the yankees? someone needs to call him out on it, and not gently. i tried to find the twins’ record against NYY with gardy as manager, but was unable. i also wanted to vomit, hearing dick bremer talking about how “You can’t blame scott baker last night, the yankees hitters are just such professionals.” Give me a break, Dick. the yankees, last i checked, have lost a number of games to other teams, and will not be going 162-0.

stinky says:

July 9th, 2009 at 2:54 am

hey, if the playoffs we make, we gotta beat these fools or the bosox.

beat_them_tomorrow!

Mark says:

July 9th, 2009 at 6:26 am

So we went from “Twins are seeking Revenge” to Twins are trying to aviod being swept again ” in 48 hours. Tribune writers really know how to help the team out.

beetlejuice says:

July 9th, 2009 at 7:56 am

I believe Gardenhire’s record against the Yanks, including the playoffs is something like 16-45, including 1 stretch that featured a 13 game losing streak against them.

Pa…….thet………..ic

mike wants wins says:

July 9th, 2009 at 8:27 am

I think it is bill smith/Terry Ryan and cheap ownership vs the Yankees GMs and free spending ownership that is the issue, more than Gardy. The Yankees just have better players, top to bottom. They don’t have four automatic outs in the lineup every game. When they do, they go out and fix it.

The only reason they’ve not been in the post season more than the Twins lately is that they have the Red Sox and Rays and Jays in their division. Imagine what the Twins’ record would be if they played against the big boys more often.

Firimar says:

July 9th, 2009 at 8:31 am

I need some help. After Andruw Jones hit three homeruns in a game they talked to manager Ron Washington -”I saw Kirby Puckett do some great stuff” (didn’t we all),”Matter fact, I saw Mickey Hatcher get nine hits in a row—nine straight in three straight days” (not something I could recall, but still pretty good),”I saw Dave Engle do some great stuff” All right, you stumped me on that one. I recall him with the Twins, but his name is not normally on the tips of people’s tongues when talking about great moments by Twins players. Is anybody able to share some “great stuff” by Dave Engle.

Tony says:

July 9th, 2009 at 8:35 am

Mike - I agree. What winning percentage do you expect when facing a team that is consistently better than you are? Probably not a very good one.

D says:

July 9th, 2009 at 8:45 am

Can Gardenhire please move Cuddyer down in the lineup? He absolutely sucks when he needs to come through with a big hit. The last 2 times he’s come up with bases loaded and 2 outs he’s struck out on bad pitches. Can someone tell him not to swing at the low and away breaking pitch. Doesn’t this guy watch any video? He doesn’t learn, ever! Any one can see it’s coming and he still swings!?! Maybe instead of performing his stupid card tricks he should work on laying off that pitch. I’m so sick of this guy. But, hey he can really throw guys out at 2nd once every 25 games…big f-ing deal.

Firimar says:

July 9th, 2009 at 9:16 am

Trying to find some individual Dave Engle moments. He was an all star one year, but aside from that all I see is he tied for 5th in the rookie of the year voting with that baseball immortal, Shooty Babitt.

Too Nice says:

July 9th, 2009 at 9:21 am

“i tried to find the twins’ record against NYY with gardy as manager, but was unable.”

????? You couldn’t find that? Talk about you got to be kidding me.

Jason says:

July 9th, 2009 at 9:34 am

Gentlemen, what are you saying, Gardy is a top 5 manager in baseball…just ask Joe C.

beetlejuice says:

July 9th, 2009 at 9:42 am

Gardenhire is in a no lose situation. Limited payroll in a “small market” baseball city. If this team does well and above average, everybody looks to him as a Top 5 Manager kinda guy getting the most out of his players.

If the team continues to be mediocre or even below average, he won’t get blame, because, well, there is “limited” expectations for the club due to it’s small payroll and relatively unknown payroll.

So, basically, in short, yes, get comfy, because Gardenhire and his horrible record against the big boys will be around for a long time, until HE is ready to call it quits. Because of that same “Top 5″ manager mystique.

mike wants wins says:

July 9th, 2009 at 9:44 am

I’m not saying that. I’m saying he isn’t the primary reason the Yankees beat the TWins. He may or may not contribute to the problem, but he isn’t the primary source of the problem. Given that the Yankees win more often than they lose (and many years by a good percentage), are you suggesting that every manager pretty much stinks? It’s the players, and the players are picked and developed and acquired by the GMs (and owners).

Jason says:

July 9th, 2009 at 9:48 am

mike,

I’m suggesting Gardy is overmatched against the Big Boys. Eight years of history points to this.

You can talk about ‘primary’ or ’secondary’ reason all you want, but when your team isn’t ready to play (embarrassing fielding miscues, horrendous at-bats in key spots) and the lineup isn’t even set up the best way (Harris batting second), then doesn’t some of that fall squarely on the manager’s shoulders?

Girardi move: Bring Mariano Rivera into the game in the 8th innings to protect a 1-run lead.

Gardy move: Pinch hit Brian Buscher for Carlos Gomez.

We know Gardy doesn’t have Yankee resources at his disposal, but I don’t think it’s too much to ask to get the best out of what we do have.

beetlejuice says:

July 9th, 2009 at 9:54 am

While this has nothing specifically to do with decision-making for this series, maybe Gardenhire should copy that move of bringing in his closer, and best pitcher, into key 8th inning spots for more 4-out saves.

If Rivera can do it and be relatively durable (him coming in to the 8th has happened several times this year and plenty of times in the past), why can’t Nathan?

Pete D says:

July 9th, 2009 at 9:58 am

“I’m suggesting Gardy is overmatched against the Big Boys. Eight years of history points to this.”

What about his career 26-24 record against the Red Sox then? What does that prove?

mike wants wins says:

July 9th, 2009 at 10:01 am

Jason, I think Gardy is mediocre at in game decision making, and their baserunning and fielding gets worse the longer he is manager. Now, I don’t watch/analyze many other teams, so it is hard for me to assess his skill vs other managers’ skill. There just aren’t stats like for players.

I agree 100% that he under uses Nathan. I agree 100% that his obsession with false hustle and a certain type of player being the number two hitter is old fashioned and shows a lack of understanding of how runs are generated. I don’t agree that he is in the top 5 reasons they lose to better teams.

Adam S. says:

July 9th, 2009 at 10:03 am

Lineups??????

I’m thinking:

Span CF
Mauer DH
Morneau 1B
Kubel LF
Cuddyer RF
Crede 3B
Morales C
Harris SS
Punto 2B

Jason says:

July 9th, 2009 at 10:10 am

Looks good, Adam S, but something tells me Harris gets a day off today.

Wait, maybe Punto needs a day off (I heard everyone’s gasp there)…how about:

Span CF
Mauer DH
Morneau 1B
Kubel LF
Cuddyer RF
Crede 3B
Harris SS
Redmond C
Tolbert 2B

You’re dreaming if you think Morales is going to play for Red Dog today.

DickG says:

July 9th, 2009 at 10:12 am

Cuddy’s futile whiff in the 5th wasn’t the only embarrasing hack. Justin, I think following Mauer’s dinger, flailed at the same junk, low and in the dirt. I know he’s our power king, but too many time he hacks at the same crap Cuddy does. Stuff so far out of the strike zone it should have a zip code attached to it. And what’s with the Twins love affair with 1st pitch swinging. Way too much of that resulting in cheap outs for the Yankees.

DG

beetlejuice says:

July 9th, 2009 at 10:16 am

Please tell me it will be (realistically of course):

Span CF
Mauer DH
Morneau 1B
Kubel RF
Crede 3B
Delmon LF
Harris SS
Morales C
Punto/Tolbert take your pick 2B

Jason says:

July 9th, 2009 at 10:24 am

“Punto/Tolbert take your pick 2B”

Is Al Newman available?

beetlejuice says:

July 9th, 2009 at 10:29 am

Yeah, it’s gotten to the point where I just don’t care who starts at 2B anymore. Same type of player, both of which are near automatic outs, so take your pick.

Adam S. says:

July 9th, 2009 at 10:38 am

At least Punto has “quality” atbats, and I use that term loosely. He sees more pitches than Tolbert. I think it’s about time to bring up Casilla again…..sigh

Junior says:

July 9th, 2009 at 10:59 am

It is about time to make a move or two! Let’s get a second baseman and/or short stop…trade Strike Out Cuddyer! At least Gomez and Young have youth as a reason for not coming through!!! No one complains on tv or radio when Cuddyer swings at pitches out of the strike zone!!! I am sick of Harris in the Number 2 spot in the line-up especially when he is struggling as he is.

FIRE BILLY SMITH!!!

Leftyd says:

July 9th, 2009 at 11:36 am

Punto, quality at bats? Yes, I guess that’s why he’s hitting a robust .216 and Tolbert is at .183…six in one hand, half dozen in the other. It’s a big BLACK hole at 2nd offensively. The Twins are screwed if Casilla doesn’t get straightened out because I highly doubt they will make a deal to improve that position.

Brian says:

July 9th, 2009 at 11:45 am

I agree with the Cuddy remarks. Here is how you pitch him: 1) Fastball down the middle for strike one, 2) Sweeping breaking ball 8 inches off the plate for a swinging strike two, 3) Breaking ball low and outside for a swinging strike three. I’ve seen it SO MANY TIMES this year it’s ridiculously predictable. How many times have you seen a manager intentionally walk TWO GUYS to load the bases to get to the #5 hitter? Only happens to Cuddyer….

Dar says:

July 9th, 2009 at 11:47 am

We just can’t keep being so weak offensively up the middle. We have to have a hitter at ss or 2b. Cuddyer has trade value and isn’t clutch.