Thursday lineups: Twins/Yankees
Posted on July 9th, 2009 – 10:35 AMBy Joe Christensen
Today’s lineup quick. Updates later.
Update: Glen Perkins is being checked for strep throat this morning. Nick Blackburn will start Friday against the White Sox.
Manager Ron Gardenhire said Saturday’s start is in question, depending on how Perkins responds. Brian Duensing and Bobby Keppel are options for that start, as is R.A. Dickey.
Update: You can follow us now on Twitter (@JoeCStarTribune, @LaVelleNeal).
Update: Kevin Slowey (strained right wrist) will throw from 60 feet on Friday, and then from 90 feet. He’ll stay in Minnesota during the All-Star break, and likely make a five-inning minor league start, Gardenhire said. Slowey is eligible to return from the DL on July 19.
SS Brendan Harris and 3B Joe Crede are getting standard days off, with a day game after a night game. Gardenhire acknowledged he’s a little concerned about Harris slowing down after playing day after day. A day off here, with the White Sox coming into town on Friday, and then the All-Star break.
Update: The Twins scheduled starters for this weekend’s series with the White Sox are Nick Blackburn (Fri.), TBA (Sat.) and Scott Baker (Sun.). The White Sox are scheduled to counter with John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Mark Buehrle.
YANKEES (50-34)
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Nick Swisher, RF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Jorge Posada, C
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Melky Cabrera, LF
8. Cody Ransom, 3B
9. Brett Gardner, CF
Starting pitcher: RH Alfredo Aceves (5-1, 2.03 ERA)
TWINS (43-42)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Matt Tolbert, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, DH
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, LF
6. Michael Cuddyer, RF
7. Brian Buscher, 3B
8. Mike Redmond, C
9. Nick Punto, SS
Starting pitcher: LH Francisco Liriano (4-8, 5.49 ERA)
Metrodome. First pitch: 12:10 p.m.
411 Responses to "Thursday lineups: Twins/Yankees"
Would not be surprised to see a slugfest this afternoon. Twins seem to have all their left-handed bats in there (w/ exception of Morales).
Which Liriano will we see today?
Now that’s a rough looking lineup. Good luck boys!
Wowser…..Now that’s disgusting. Tolbert batting second????????????????????????????????????????????????????
My good god.
Good luck boys indeed.
FREE MORALES
Boy..pretty scary 7,8, and 9 hitters.
35,000 people going inside on a day like this to see this line-up
FRAUD
Lookn like a 0-5 LNP day with 3k’s and one headfirst
That Redmond>Punto back to back combo is lethal.
To answer people’s questions about why some question Gardenhire, look no further than Redmond starting over Morales. There’s part of your answer.
And then look at that middle infield.
what is up with putting a worthless 2 hitter instead of putting mauer at 2. i remember the twins average runs per game seemed to be a little higher when they moved everyone up in the order. here is luck for tolbert to figure out how to get on base and the twins to hit with RISP.
I’d like Morales to play more too, but this game isn’t it. We already can’t keep Gardner off the bases. If Morales catches, its a guaranteed double everytime. Redmond at least has a 1% chance of getting him.
Morales DH’ing last night, with Kubel in LF, was probably the way to go.
i know gardy doesnt have many options, but clearly morales is the superior hitter at this point and its time to try another AAA 2nd baseman because tolbert doesnt have it.
Agree with everyone else…this lineup is BRUTAL
So who does Delmon have to kill to get into a lineup? Cuddy earned a spot in today’s game? Maybe sitting him will get him back on track and not swinging at stuff in Omaha
fcmlefty,
You are wrong: Redmond has thrown out 3 of 22 (13.7%) and Morales 8 of 21 (38.1).
These numbers are actually high because pickoffs are also counted in the catcher’s caught stealing stats.
It may be brutal, but what else could you do? Young and Gomez suck, Harris is in a slump, Crede needs a day off. Only thing I would have done differently would be Morales over Red.
Just in case you didnt’ already know, here’s the BAs of some of the high-powered hitters in today’s lineup:
Tolbert .183
Buscher .206
Redmond .229
Punto .216
I knew that error last night would cost Harris. This lineup is a travistshammockery.
I for the life of me can’t remember Morales throwing anybody out. How many were pick offs on each guys stats?
I don’t think it was the error that cost Harris. I think it was 5 games worth of brutal AB’s
I hate it when the Yankees play two third-basemen …
The worst part about this lineup (besides the fact it’s overall futility) is that the Mauer hasn’t moved back to the #2 spot in the lineup that this team had success with.
And doesn’t Redmond have a forearm issue that affects his throwing?? So go ahead and rule out that defensive edge over Morales…..So just another case of playing inferior favorites in my book.
And good call on Cuddyer getting the nod over Delmon. Why? Cuddyer should sit today after last night just on principal. But he is another “favorite.”
OT: On the importance of the Twins staying close to the Sux and Kitties.
Remainder of Central contenders’ schedules against the AL East:
Twins
3 home v. Balt
4 home v. Toronto
Tigers
3 @ Yankees
4 home v. Balt
4 @ Boston
4 home v. Tampa Bay
3 @ Tampa Bay
4 home v. Toronto
White Sux
3 home v. Balt
4 home v. Tampa Bay
4 home v. Yankees
3 home v. Balt
3 @ Yankees
4 @ Boston
All isn’t lost, but they need to close out this week with some success and momentum and get hot in July and Aug. while these others are going where we already have gone inre: the Beast of the East.
delmon hasn’t sucked of late he is hitting .315 over the last 4 weeks. the problem is he has a good day he sits for 2-3 or a bad day and sits for 4-5 days. he may not be the long term answer but he has to play some to show he has some value when they trade him, which will happen.
I knew that error last night would cost Harris. This lineup is a travistshammockery.
I think Harris has been scuffling a little bit and maybe a day off to clear his head is in order, but I’d rather see them move him back down the order and let him relax a little bit.
I called it…Harris gets the day off.
I hate to make this call, but it is in my brain: Yankees sweep.
It’s a bad, bad version of the “B” lineup. Listen, we all love Red dog, but Tardy’s overzealous love for him, s/b put aside and give the kid the chance.
I get annoyed when we trot out this type of lineup against a good team.
“I think Harris has been scuffling a little bit”
So has Punto…for about 2.5 years.
“Just in case you didnt’ already know, here’s the BAs of some of the high-powered hitters in today’s lineup:
Tolbert .183
Buscher .206
Redmond .229
Punto .216″
As usual, ES16 is only giving us half the story…he’s forgetting the power numbers that those four hitters have put up this year.
There’s more to hitting than just average, folks.
Jason,
You don’t need a crystal ball to figure out the powerful Yankees’ lineup is going to squash the lineup which is half mediocre AAA players.
If these were really the guys Gardenhire wants to use today, then at least make the lineup this:
Span CF
Mauer DH
Morneau 1B
Kubel LF
Cuddery RF
Buscher 3B
Redmond C
Tolbert 2B
Punto SS
That way, fans can go get a drink or something when the 7-8-9 batters are up, and Liriano can stay nice and loose after those quick innings.
Nice point Fredo. We need to take care of business though while they’re out there. And we need to hope that Tigers and the Sux don’t do any better than our lousy record against the east.
did Morales get sent back to the minors and I missed it??
the lineup generated runs when Mauer was batting #2 Gardy puts him in the 3rd spot because his template says the #2 hitter can’t be a batting champ with sudden power!!
Why is Tolbert batting 2nd, or even in the lineup for that matter? The Yankees should have no problem dealing with a .183 hitter. The Twins really miss the Casilla from last year, #2 hitter really lacking
Jason,
Forgive me. Combined this season they have 3HR and 40 RBIs.
Thank you, ES16. For a second there I thought you were trying to argue those hitters suck while hiding some key pieces of evidence.
Well, it is what it is, our “A” lineup hasn’t worked against them so why not shake it up. I do agree that it is time to get Mauer in the 2 hole for good. We need to get Mauer and Morneau as many ABs as possible. Also, Delmon has been showing progress at the plate and I can’t understand why we continue to put Gomez out there. Yes, he is our best defensive center fielder but the bottom line is this team is having a tough time generating offense right now. I would have actually given Cuddy the day off and played Delmon today. Those ABs last night for Cuddy were awful and I’m not a Cuddy hater, just not what we needed there. That was the game. Good luck today boys!
“I would have actually given Cuddy the day off and played Delmon today.”
Andy must be new as a Twins fan. Gardy would sooner start Kubel at shortstop.
Jason,
Thanks for making me dig deeper and tell the real story. We wouldn’t want anyone to be deceived by just looking at their batting averages. Also, here’s the OPS for each of the players:
Tolbert .503
Buscher .648
Redmond .574
Punto .568
Billy Smith needs to have a serious meeting with Pohlad about improving this club NOW!
I love this lineup! Well…actually only nos. 1-5 (if you don’t include no. 2).
Harris batting averages:
Season - .265
Last 28 days - .229
Last 14 days - .146
Last 7 days - .080
Doesn’t sound like a guy who could use a day off to me.
I don’t know why the attitude is so negative in here today…don’t you guys know what really matters is Joe Mauer is now officially listed in the newspaper as the American League batting leader?
I know this because FSN North lead with it on their postgame show last night. Apparently, that was more newsworthy than who won the game and how.
“Doesn’t sound like a guy who could use a day off to me.”
He’ll get four of them next week. Right now, we need the best lineup possible to beat the Yanks. If you want to argue that Tolbert and Punto will produce more than Harris would’ve today, go ahead. But I will disagree.
You can disagree all you want but it seems to be based only on your personal preferences rather than anything else. So good for you.
Gardenhire has to play Cuddyer everyday. It is the only way he can prove he was right to push the FO to give Cuddyer that big contract.
At the same time, he can’t let Delmon play. Delmon might continue to improve and that would cast doubt on Gardenhire’s favoring Cuddyer over Delmon.
That being said, Cuddyer is just as liable to have a big game today as Delmon and you probably need to avoid having both Delmon and Kubel in the OF at the same time. I agree on keeping Kubel’s bat in the lineup on a day when Mauer is the DH.
I’m so glad Tolbert is batting 2nd instead of just moving Mauer and Morneau up in the order. Gardenhire should really just let Tolbert lead off. Then you could get his out out of the way right away and let Span, Mauer and Morneau get down to work.
Too Nice says:
July 9th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Harris batting averages:
Season - .265
Last 28 days - .229
Last 14 days - .146
Last 7 days - .080
Doesn’t sound like a guy who could use a day off to me.
WHAT IS .265 - .216 = .049
HARRIS IS IN A SLUMP RIGHT NOW YEAH, AND DON’T FORGET HIS DEFENSE SUCKS RIGHT (GOOD ONE)
LET’S PLAY LNP INTO THE GROUND.
HE SHOULD NEVER START A GAME AT TARGET FIELD FOR THE HOME TEAM
I think this game smells a gardy ejection to get the guys fired up!! I think it may come on a 3-0 pitch to Mauer in the first and the ump calls it a strike. weak
My only hope is that Cuddyer is getting enough PT to garner enough numbers and value that some team will take him on in a trade. If that happens, then good job by Gardenhire to give him automatic starts.
But something tells me that’s not what is going on here.
“You can disagree all you want but it seems to be based only on your personal preferences rather than anything else.”
And my personal preferences usually coincide nicely with the production we see on the field.
Again, I ask you, who has a better chance to contribute offensively in this game…Punto, Tolbert, or Harris?
Lion…I, too, smell Gardy ejection. If he’s smart, though, he won’t let it happen. He should just accept defeat and not make a scene. No one is stupid enough to think that umpires have anything to do with this continued Yankee beatdown of the Twins.
I don’t care what Gardenhire does anymore. The guy’s lost his mojo.
I’d rather watch the 2000 Twins lose than this bunch.
No wonder Joe Mauer hasn’t signed an extension yet.
Would you?
tolbert doesn’t belong at “major league level” at this time. 3- 2b available that would help a lot sanchez (all-star, ex batting champ), kind of spendy; felipe lopez, less spendy; adam kennedy cheap. all would be much better letting punto do what he does best a good utility guy.
imo the only way cuddy gets traded is if gardy is in the same deal!
I don’t mind Tolbert starting at 2B, per se. But why does he have to bat 2nd?
“imo the only way cuddy gets traded is if gardy is in the same deal”
SIGN ME UP!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, I was considering accepting an invitation to a last second meeting at 34 Kirby Puckett Pl.
After seeing this lineup, I politely declined.
If Gardy has no interest in avoiding a sweep, then I have no interest in watching AAA talent flail away against a former Mexican league pitcher.
This reminds me of the days of my youth when we would go to the Dome to watch major league talent-on the opposing teams.
Chief,
It appears that MLB batting leader Joe has been having a two-series audition for the Steinbrenners.
Don’t weekday afternoon games always seem to have these “B” lineups. Do they think no one is watching?
I think the lineup is bad enough to actually win one.
Walter - If Crede can’t play in a day game after a night game, and Mauer can’t catch a day game after a night game, than yes, afternoon lineups are not going to be ideal.
Although that’s still no excuse for letting Tolbert back second.
bat second is what I meant. You could also add play second. You could also add be on the major league roster.
This lineup is brutal. Absolutely brutal. How Cuddy starts game after game after game is fairly frustrating. If Delmon took those hacks Cuddyer took with the bases loaded last night, he’d be on the pine for a month.
Terrible. This is definitely the White Flag Lineup. Hoping for a sweep of the White Sox…
According to MLBTradeRumors (sourced to the Pirates beat writer quoting ‘one NL executive) the Pirates are ‘pushing hard’ to deal Freddie Sanchez.
No mention of the Twins as being in the conversation.
For what it’s worth.
Tony:
Tolbert could fill in as bat boy if Ryan ever went down with an injury or something.
USAFChief:
If you were the Pirates, who would you want from the Twins for Sanchez?
After an illustrious career as a Mets utility man–living awestruck in the shadows of the “big bad Bombers,” deeming them a “super ballclub” and an “incredible organization” at every turn–Ron “Gardy” Gardenhire has compiled a managerial record against those big bad Bomers of 16-48. That includes a phenomenal home record through yesterday of 11-19, an even more phenomenal road record of 3-23, and an impressive playoff record of 2-6.
Yep, this is the guy that’ll lead us to a World Championship. He might need another eight years to get back to the playoffs and try, but he’s the guy.
I mean, I love when my manager looks like a deer caught in headlights and paces back and forth for nine innings against any one team. It’s inspiring.
Stale.
Why in the world is Tolbert batting 2nd!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gardy get your head out of your ass!!!!! Everybody loves Red Dog but it is about time to put Morales in there. Here is the lineup I would have put out there today:
Span CF
Morales C
Mauer DH
Morneau 1B
Kubel LF
Cuddyer RF
Buscher 3B
Tolbert 2B
Punto SS
I would prefer Harris and Crede in there put they both look like they need a day off to get ready for this weekend. Hopefully Mauer and Morneau can have huge days to carry us to a win!! Go Twins!!!
If you were the Pirates, who would you want from the Twins for Sanchez?
I’d want Mauer and Slowey.
I’d settle for one of Mulvey/Humber, plus Casilla, and be happy for the $11M dollar salary relief.
I’d settle for one of Mulvey/Humber, plus Casilla, and be happy for the $11M dollar salary relief.
I could see risking that if I were the Pirates. I guess Casilla is hitting .365 in Rochester and the Pirates seem to love old Twins infielders for some reason.
These numbers are actually high because pickoffs are also counted in the catcher’s caught stealing stats.
Wait…what? If a pitcher picks a guy off that’s the catcher’s stat?
Wow. Talk about a perk.
If I’m Cuddyer, I’m swinging for the fences today. With what follows him in the order, it’s about his only chance of crossing home plate. In this instance slg > obp.
“I’d settle for one of Mulvey/Humber, plus Casilla, and be happy for the $11M dollar salary relief.”
i’m guessing the pirates have some say as to which team’s players they “want” …
“Wait…what? If a pitcher picks a guy off that’s the catcher’s stat?”
Gotta love stats.
Wow…games 0-0 in the bottom of the first and already the world has ended.
Have a great afternoon being miserable everybody, I’ll just go watch gameday from a distance.
What if a catcher throws directly to a base to pick a guy off. That must also go down as a “caught stealing”.
“Again, I ask you, who has a better chance to contribute offensively in this game…Punto, Tolbert, or Harris?”
Unfortunately, people in the real world don’t have the luxury of thinking only about “this game”. If they did, Mauer Morneau would play 162 games
mickeymental:
The question was: who would you want from the Twins if you were the Pirates?
I’ll just go watch gameday from a distance”
if only you meant it
i’m guessing the pirates have some say as to which team’s players they “want” …
Of course they do. I answered a question someone asked. Is that not ok with you? Do you have something of value to add to the blog, or are you just here to snipe?
I don’t think they’ll get a significantly better return, considering who they’re dealing and the salary involved.
Sanchez would be a nice pickup for the Twins, but we’re not talking about a superstar here.
Wow…games 0-0 in the bottom of the first and already the world has ended.
[blank stare]
[??]
Anybody watching? Is Liriano just missing or is he pretty wild?
At least Tolbert plays good defense…
I have it on.
Getting behind a lot-but Tolbert didn’t help things.
My god.
So glad Tolbert is in the lineup, what a bum.
What a pathetic start to the second inning:
- Robinson Cano reached first on Matt Tolbert`s fielding error. Bases loaded with none out and Melky Cabrera due up.
- Jorge Posada was hit by a pitch. Runners on first and second with none out and Robinson Cano due up.
- Alex Rodriguez stole second. Runner on second with none out and Jorge Posada at the plate.
- Alex Rodriguez walked. Runner on first with none out and Jorge Posada due up.
good news…Frank still has a no hitter.
Liriano already at 36 pitches for the love of god.
good news…Frank still has a no hitter.
Nice.
As much as I loathe the Yankees, I think that the Twins could learn something from them.
Notice how they don’t swing at every pitch? See how they let opposing pitchers drive up pitch counts so that they’re out of the game by the fifth inning?
Gomez, for the love of God, are you watching this? How about you, Young?
actually, i guess i don’t have anything of value to add. have a nice day and talk to youse all later …
Sweet, a pop up. A double play away from getting out of the inning unharmed.
Man, a couple of losses and people get a little cranky around here. Cheer up people!! You’re listening/watching baseball when you should be working!
Everything was on the lower inside corner Cabrera.
Tony - not unharmed. The stress of following this inning will cause us all to die about 20 minutes earlier.
LOL hilarious radio moment….you could hear a fan in the background saying “Who the hell’s Tony Ransom?”
Probably a Yankee fan, too.
“Notice how they don’t swing at every pitch? See how they let opposing pitchers drive up pitch counts so that they’re out of the game by the fifth inning?
Gomez, for the love of God, are you watching this? How about you, Young?”
That requires skill, not just a change in the hitter’s short term goals.
Jason, except for its Cody Ransom.
You’re listening/watching baseball when you should be working!
It’s lunchtime Tony. (I always have a three-hour lunch when the Twins have a day game)
Wow, Liriano is absolutely all over. Look for him to last three innings.
Apparently, “Tony Ransom” is the guy who walks to drive in a run after falling behind 0-2.
Man, how many full counts will Liri put up today?
Can’t walk Ransom like that!
Liriano, you are fired!!!
Do not pass go, do not collect $600,000 or whatever it is you make.
Unacceptable.
Still got the no-hitter going!
Still has the no hitter.
Fabulous, Liriano just walked a guy who’s batting .177 …
Bremer complaining about getting squeezed.
That doesn’t mean crap when you have no control!
Yes, Brian -
Today is the “warm up the bullpen early” day.
Keppel threw 44 pitches in 3.2 innings against the Yankees in a close game. They aren’t always patient.
Way to jinx it, Walter.
Stick a fork in him….He’s done. And so is this series. Truly embarrassing.
100% unacceptable to walk in a run against a .177 hitting guy, especially up 0-2, just AWFUL
Is Dickey available on a day’s rest?
Yes, Brian -
Today is the “warm up the bullpen early” day.
Wasn’t that yesterday? Or was that Tuesday?
Now up to 51 pitches.
The two strike fouls are just as irritating as Liriano’s inability to make an out pitch.
Dickey is always available.
Yankees no longer have to even hit to score runs. Liriano needs to go. Swarzak deserves to take his place. This is unacceptable!
Is it just me or has the second inning been the big killer in each of these three games?
3 runs is not nearly enough for the Yankees with the Twins lineup today…
No no intact.
Hey Tolbert, that is how you field it. Should be going to the bottom of the 2nd still tied if you could have done that the first time. Instead we are behind 3-0 and if you thought the Twins had no confidence before entering today, wait until they fall behind 3-0 early.
crap.
As I told a Yankees fan here at work-if they don’t sweep the Twins today I would be beyond stunned.
Of course I was hoping Liri would suck.
I bet Melky feels really embarrased.
“Dickey is always available.”
That’s what she said!
“Yankees no longer have to even hit to score runs. Liriano needs to go. Swarzak deserves to take his place. This is unacceptable!”
Did you see Swarzak yesterday?
I don’t think we can really blame any one pitcher. AS much as I hate to do it, I have to give the Yankees credit. They have so much patience at the plate that it drives the Twins pitchers crazy.
The Twins really need to work on that approach!
Disgusting.
This has not been a major league effort this series, regardless the outcome of this game.
Nora, yeah Swarzak looked so completely dominant yesterday I can see exactly what you mean.
Gardner of all the players is the MVP for the Yankees. Although naming one of our pitcher as their MVP wouldn’t be too much of a stretch. They have been horrible. I knew Liriano was going to be trouble against the Yankees and he is worse then I though. UGH. Sorry, end of rant.
hey at least he’s thrown more balls than strikes
Brian, Swarzak at least made them hit and was also an emergency start because of Perkins being out.
Nice Kubes!
strikes than balls
There you go Kubel, let’s get a few more now.
Rat Face puts us on the board!!!
Sweet. Kubel just made me a lot less angry.
Nora you are such a negative nanny…
all this griping and complaining
When does the T-Wolves season start?
Ha ha another sweep by the Yankees. Gardy, you are a freakin’ joke. A grown man scared to death of another baseball team. I am truly happy you are our manager for another craptastic 81-81 season.
Nora, quit with your emergency start garbage. He was scheduled to pitch today just like Liriano was scheduled to pitch tomorrow. Also he never made it through 5, not exactly a great performance.
Liriano definately looks like he is going to give up more then 4 runs.
Can we please stop the “it’s okay, they’re the Yankees, we can’t expect to compete” nonsense here.
Seriously, if that’s the case, then what’s the point of even fielding a team?
Woohoo!
Twins Rule, I agree Gardenhire is a joke.
More good news: the bad guys don’t have Sabathia or Burnett on the mound today.
C’mon Cuddyer! Prove I’m just a windbag that doesn’t know anything!
“then what’s the point of even fielding a team?”
Can I get back to you on that?
Where was that AB in the fifth inning last night, Cuddy?
Oh well, at least he shook it off.
Liriano has been horrible all year. Once again, walking players to load the bases and walking players in is unacceptable imo.
“Liriano definately looks like he is going to give up more then 4 runs.”
No. With his pitch count, he’s not going to be in the game long enough to give up 4 more runs.
Kuubell way to go
“C’mon Cuddyer! Prove I’m just a windbag that doesn’t know anything!”
Like we need MORE proof. j/k
On an unrelated note, Cuddy shows that Yankee patience.
Nice effort by Liriano so far. Remember when we discussed trading or keeping him? Hopefully this is a one year blip in an otherwise good career.
Tolbert compounds his inability to hit (even minor league pitching) with an error. Nice.
Seriously, look at this lineup and tell me how it’s Gardy’s fault they don’t beat the Yankees. This is an organization wide “effort”. Other than putting Tolbert hitting wnd instead of 9th, what more do you want (I’d want Morales catching, he can at least hit, thank God Redmond was in there to throw out ARod).
It kind of is ‘what is the point of fielding a team’ when teams like Yankees don’t have a salary cap.
Liriano is pitching like he’s facing the Royals and the Twins have just come off a sweep of the White Sox to put them in position to clinch a playoff berth.
Cheer up, boys and girls!
R.A. Dickey is ready to go and he has proven that he can challenge Yankee hitters. The Twins just scored a run and now they have another guy in scoring position with nobody out.
And as I said before, Sabathia isn’t on the hill tonight. The Twins will come back today.
I guarantee it.
No patience by Buscher here. How do the players not realize that the ump has a small strike zone behind the plate today? Could have been 3-1 but instead swinging at pitches outside the strike zone and does not get the guy to third.
mike wants wins, who put this lineup out on the field again today?
Nora you once again prove you are a hypocrite you blast us for formulating thoughtful criticisms of Twin’s while you spout illogical rants “Swarzak is great blah blah”
great line Walter, great line.
Iconoclast,
I guess you started drinking a little early today.
Nora don’t use the salary cap excuse, the Nationals beat the Yankees two out of three in the Bronx. Got a nice break there to get the second run in.
Someone slipped some of our potion from this series into the Gatorade jug in the Yankees dugout…
Brian, what choices does he have? Gardy can only play the players Smith give him. What specific change would you make that you think would significantly change the odds of winning? Gardy has to play at least one player that stinks (2B), he has to rest Crede (we’ve seen that already), Harris is in a huge slump, the only place I 100% disagree with him is at catcher.
hard to argue with mike wants wins at 12:55
Even with Harris in a slump, I’d rather see him in there than Tolbert. At least he can still field. Also like you say, where is Morales?
That’s why Redmond’s in there. He can get on with an error with the best of them.
Swinging at ball 4 there denard
Span swings at ball four, but then again I suppose he felt like he had to do something there with Tolbert coming up next.
walter wins post of the day for 12:55
Yeah, even if Span walked, Tolbert would have grounded or popped out.
Buscher is an experiment that must end. Damn that Bill Smith for forcing Gardenhire to keep and play Buscher!
Speaking of dumb, after his last inning why would you swing at the first pitch if you were Swisher there?
Liriano finally gets that call on the inside part of the part.
And Buscher had been penciled in as our startin 3B this year, before we signed Crede. How painful would that have been.
mike wants wins,
No excuse for both Crede and Harris to be sitting in this game. You can’t tell me that against this team Gardy can afford to field an infield of Buscher-Punto-Tolbert.
Crede and Harris, slump or no slump, are far superior players. You have to play those guys in games like this.
As we sit here and watch a AAA player, as well as an extremely light hitting guy play 2B for our beloved Twins, this just came in on mlbtraderumors.com:
11:49am: One NL executive told Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Pirates are “pushing hard” to deal Freddy Sanchez. The Rockies, Giants and as many as five other teams have spoken with the Pirates about their All-Star second baseman.
MAKE IT HAPPEN. I can’t take much more of watching this below average play at that position. I just can’t.
The Pirates will take a couple of decent minor league pitchers for him….Do it already.
Nice inning, Frankie.
If not for Tolbert, it might be 2-0 Twins right now with Frankie having thrown about 30 pitches.
no kidding, beetlejuice.
That’s why I began a plea to Bill Smith last night after the game…this calls for action! Status quo is not going to cut it.
who could we deal for him?? which pitchers?
I am just still trying to figure out why Buscher and Tolbert are even on the 25 man.
beetlejuice, yeah if watching this game isn’t enough to make you pull the trigger on a trade for Sanchez, I don’t know what it would take to do it.
If we lose a game that is going to be pieced together by there bullpen, something needs to be done. They can not continue to piss down there legs when real teams come here.
No place for Buscher or Tolbert on this roster.
Our last No. 20, Lew Ford, is wondering why he’s stuck playing for Long Island while Tolbert continues to play for the Twins…
Not sure what pitchers, but a buddy of mine is a die-hard Pirate fan (they exist).
The Buccos NEED to re-stock their pitching throughout the organization. Years of bad luck and poor management has left them dry with pitchers they actually like.
I love John Sterling….it’s always Kuubell…he also cant seem to figure out why casilla isn’t batting in front of mauer
I seriously would like Joe C. to log on here and confirm he still believes Gardy is a “top 5 manager” in baseball.
Is Justin 0 for the series?? Because, um, yeah, that’s bad.
“I can’t take much more of watching this below average play at that position. I just can’t.”
Half of EVERYTHING, including MLB players are “below average”.
Your tolerance of half of everything is below average.
D,
Yankees broadcasters are such Bush League. Sterling’s “thaaaa Yankeeeees win” might be the most laughably dumb catch phrase ever…and Michael Kay’s “see-ya” call for homers is truly unoriginal.
You would think the top market in baseball would have better.
Here comes Gladden to tell it like it is…
My tolerance for not making a move on Freddy Sanchez, when it’s clear the Bucs would love to move him, is about done.
sane, you are such an optimist
beetlejuice:
Yes, he is currently 0-8
Not to get technical sane, but half of everything is below the median…not the average.
“Is Justin 0 for the series?? Because, um, yeah, that’s bad.”
Yep, this is a time-honored blog tradition. Overlook the fact that half the lineup doesn’t belong on a big league club and instead belly ache that your first baseman, who’s hitting .316 with 21 HRs is 0 for the series.
Here we go again.
Liriano, is excellent against the top of the order. He just can’t get the middle/bottom of the order out.
half of everything is “below median”, but yeah, that’s generally true. The issue is having multiple guys that are FAR below median or average. It would be ok if they were close to average or median, but 2B and an occassional LF and SS and 3B are well below median right now (offensively at 3B, Crede has been awesome in the field).
“Not to get technical sane, but half of everything is below the median…not the average.”
I know, but I had to work with what I was given……..and the guy said “average”………..so I was forced to spin the hell out of it.
I’ll shoot for accuracy on my next post.
Not to get technical sane, but half of everything is below the median…not the average.
While you are correct, for most things the median and average are the same or very close to each other.
Amazing how a .177 hitter for the Yankees has driven in two runs today. Too bad the Twins crappy hitters can’t do the same.
Brian,
Tolbert, Buscher, Redmond and Punto are only crappy hitters at the major league level. There are levels of baseball, where they would likely not be crappy.
Jason-I agree their announcers are crap. It makes Gordo look halfways decent
This is getting ugly in a hurry. What a joke, it never ceases to amaze me how this team looks very intimidated, just like their manager, when facing the Yankees.
ES16
Yes, College baseball with aluminum bats
5 runs will not be enough against this Twins lineup today.
While you are correct, for most things the median and average are the same or very close to each other.
For “things” with normal distribution but much of baseball and life does not have a normal distribution.
how many more chances does frank get? his era is 5.45
Liriano’s ERA has actually went down today with only 2ER, but he has looked like his usual self.
Am I the only one who thinks hes just a headcase? You can have all the talent in the world but if you can’t put the mental aspect all together than who cares?
another matt garza?
19 (now) starts for Liriano, only 9 where he gave up less than 4 runs. Not pretty, not pretty at all. Down right number 5 starter material this year.
The umpire is very bad. I’m watching the game on the gameday and he missed at least two pitches in the strike zone on Gardner. He should have been out.
How is Gardy’s intimidation leading to Liriano’s pitching performance?
this lineup is awful, tired of seeing these sorry players in there when we need a win to avoid getting swept
It is time to give Tolleson a chance. He is still tearing up AAA. Do you think it is possible that for Tolleson and Casilla to be call up and Tolbert and Buscher to be sent down. I would def trade Tolleson for Tolbert. I vote to call up Tolleson after the break.
Is it me or does Liriano have to throw a pitch across the middle of the plate to get a strike?
Gameday had several of Liriano’s pitches well inside the strike zone called balls.
Way to go, Busch Dog…now let’s hope Red Dog and Nick Dog can come through.
“The umpire is very bad. I’m watching the game on the gameday and he missed at least two pitches in the strike zone on Gardner. He should have been out.”
No doubt, in fact, I would even say this whole series is the fault of the umpiring.
And, no, I’ve not seen how the zone is for the Yankees pitcher. So, I’m not suggesting it’s being called differently for the Yankees.
Every Twins fan’s dream: Bases loaded for Nick Punto.
Redmond did a Rudy Stein from the Bad News Bears and got hit by the pitch… Do or die here!
yep it’s true only way yankees beat the Twin’s is Ump bias that has to be it
Right here it would be great to have a real PH available, someone that can get a hit.
“Right here it would be great to have a real PH available, someone that can get a hit.”
Are you kidding? Gardy could easily go to Crede or Harris…
I think the little fella should bunt
Don’t tell me this guy is going to walk LNP.
If he’s on my team, he’s headed to AAA.
Clutch… LNP!
LNP strikes out…all you can hear is cheering from Yankee fans.
Stand up for this nonsense, Twins fans. At least show us how unacceptable this is.
seriuosly he had him 3-1 and he strikes out
I’m thinking I wouldn’t mind having Mauer in the 2-spot right about now…
atta kid denard
This would be a good time to have Mauer batting 2nd.
tolbert should not bat here
If the twins win all of their games against the yankess over the next 4 years…the will still be less than 500 for the decade. Talk about a team having the twins number…no matter what happens, they just find a way to lose against the yanks!
It would suck to have Mauer up right now.
first pitch to tolbert looked like a strike on gameday
I like this pitcher.
I’m thinking I wouldn’t mind having Mauer in the 2-spot right about now…
Probably wouldn’t be in this situation now if Mauer was in the two-spot.
That walk will keep Tolbert around for at least another month
c’mon baby J
i think something broke on gameday. or the ump just took away the low striek.
Either gamedays strike zone is way off or that Ump has the smallest strike zone I’ve ever seen
That was a painful out from our best player. Too bad.
No excuse for walking Tolbert, none.
“It would suck to have Mauer up right now.”
Apparently true
looked like he swung at ball 3 and 4
Yay and Liriano gives one right back!
Why is Liriano still in the game? I’d rather see Dickey in there right now.
One more inning out of liriano and he may get a quality start - my whole reason in why that stat is the most pointless in baseball
Yankees (I think they still do) lead the league in runs scored. Imagine how good they’d be if ARod was recovered from his surgery (I believe this surgery is interim, and he has to have more at the end of the year).
quality start is 100x the stat that wins is. Wins is the worst stat in baseball. Horrible stat. Horrible stat.
Nice, just tuned in to 6 runs in 5.1 innnings. Good way to lose 12 to something.
To be clear, it is the worst stat for an individual, it is the only stat that ultimately matters for teams….
Girardi goes to his bullpen just in time for the heart of our order…
Frank is at 95 pitches right now…twins are 1-7 with risp
this guy pitching now has an era north of 5 we need to get to him
why do yankees games always take so long to play? 2 hrs for 5 innings
swung at ball 4
tolbert: .180
buscher: .212
Redmond: .226
LNP: .213
just saying
Mike Redmond should see some good pitches to hit here…this guy doesn’t want to face Punto with the bases loaded.
D,
Thats how teams get into the playoffs, with dead weight 
Another strikeout!
Way to go….does anyone know if anderso is on the chopping blocks yet?
There are no bad stats - only bad applications of stats
“I’d rather see Dickey in there right now”
That’s what she…….
Never mind!
Im just trying to figure out how they got 4 runs already?!
I think the problem with frank is that they have let him throw more than 100 pitches more than once…it has broken him
Gladden: “And of course…105 pitches…in a Twins uniform, you’re done.”
a little genious there.
Well walks helped…
or genius even
Sy: I think that Dickey has generated more “that’s what she said” jokes than any Twin since Randy Bush.
How does Gardy get free passes on his bad managing? Redmond at .224 or Morales at .338 when you already have 3 other automatic outs in the lineup… If this was Chilly the fans would be screaming for his head. Also, when Morneau is 0 for a series hard not to get swept
Sy: I think that Dickey has generated more “that’s what she said” jokes than any Twin since Randy Bush.
But not Rusty Kuntz
(hoping to not get into “awaiting moderation” purgatory here)
“How does Gardy get free passes on his bad managing?…..when Morneau is 0 for a series hard not to get swept”
Did you just answer your own question?
Yes. The first time I saw Rusty’s name in a book about baseball, I thought that the author just had a bad sense of humor.
kinda did didn’t he?
Morneau will get another at bat. He will go yard today. I can feel it.
Too Nice,
“But not Rusty Kuntz
(hoping to not get into “awaiting moderation” purgatory here)
No keeping you out of (some kind of) purgatory after that one.
I like the positivity icon
nice come from behind out
wow we are studs.
Please make a move after this game, Bill Smith. I don’t even care if you bring up Casilla and dump Tolbert…do something.
Nice swing Tolbert! Its 3-2 and you know a fastball is coming and thats all you can do with it- defensive swing and a roller to short…
Just turned on GameCast. Wow, Punto Tolbert Buscher Redmond today. Makes it hard for me to get get excited as a Twins fan. And I just checked the box score…nice, they are a combined 0 for 10 today. SHOCKER!!!!!!!! How can this team be over .500? Oh yeah, they have the 2 best players in the majors in Mauer and Morneau. So with having the 2 best players in the majors, how can this team NOT be over .500? Oh yeah, Punto Tolbert Buscher Redmond. Okay, back to work.
5 of the 6 pitches to tolbert were high outside fastballs
Check that, 0 for 11.
Buscher has a hit, AJ, but I feel your pain.
I say bring back knoblauch
or walley backman
nice come from behind out
With Dickey leading the way.
I think dickey should get a spot in the rotation. Frank needs to be removed from it
I actually think the Twins will win this game somehow. I have no reason to believe that, but I feel it.
Yep, i was looking at Span’s 0 for 3 and not Buscher’s line. Buscher Tolbert Redmond Punto is 1 for 10. That exceeds expectations from those hitters, and I can live with 1 for 10. Please scratch everything I said. Okay, this time REALLY back to work.
the yanks are letting them hang around meat of the order next inning thinking that is where it has to happen… baby J gets on Morneau breaks out of the slump in a big way tie game
cle-9
cws-4
bottom of 3rd
Does anyone here seriously think this Twins team would have any shot in the ALDS against the Red Sox or Yankees? Would we start Blackburn in game 1 against Sabathia/Beckett? or would you purposely lose Game 1 with someone else? There is no way this mentally unstable group of players could pull it off…0-7 against the Yankees, PATHETIC
I agree with D. It’s time.
“I think dickey should get a spot in the rotation. Frank needs to be removed from it”
Disagree. Dickey is far too valuable in his current role as innings eater/backup setup guy. He is about the only pitcher the Twins have who can throw 40 pitches and then come in again two days later. As a starter they would lose that huge bonus.
But Keppel has been a pleasant surprise lately. I wonder what the chances of him starting are.
Twins will end up winning with two of Buscher/Punto/Tolbert/Redmond figuring in the win due to Yankee mistakes. Then we can hear how they never gave up on themselves and hung around and how much heart they all have.
Keppel has been eating the innings on the days dickey hasnt been out there with frank not in there thats one less day of that
Liriano’s not going anywhere. We’re not playing this game…didn’t he have a couple good starts in a row heading into this one?
If we play that game, then are we going to pull Slowey and Baker from the rotation if they give us a dud in their next starts as well?
Mauer understands that the point of the game for a hitter is to get on base. He really understands that concept. Unfortunately, I think the manager has a lesser understanding (see, Tolbert, Matt, #2 hitter).
Why not take a pitch right there Justin?? Why? I’m just curious.
I’ve been backing Liriano all year but perhaps it’s time to put him in long relief and give Dickey a shot at the rotation. Doing some mop up work might be good for Frankie.
c’mon kuubell
Liriano has more starts where he’s given up 4 or more runs than 3 or less. He has had a bad year so far.
Twin Cities sports fan after this series:
“Honey, I think I’ll head out to the mall and buy a Brett Favre jersey”
Come on Phil, through fastballs to cuddy, you know you want to, you do NOT want to throw breaking pithers low and outside…
MAUER/MORNEAU/KUBEL/CUDDYER - top 24 OPS in AL…except that if they don’t have an unreal series at the same time, we’re sunk. Texeira and ARod have been relatively held in check, yet the Yankees get production from everyone else. We have the worst bottom half of any Twins lineup this decade, and that’s saying A LOT. We legitimately have 3-4 guys who are minor league (AAA) at best players - Tolbert/Punto/Buscher, and then the way Gomez/Young/Redmond have been hitting, it won’t get any better.
Can I please get some Ron Coomer on the postgame show to tell us “Nicky’s bat is finally coming around…”
Or he could show us how to play a ball of the right field wall…
Jason-disagree Baker has finally started to look better slowey has been better than frank and frank has just not had it this year
bringing the heat!
Who among us is buying into Gardy’s “spreading the junk around” theory that allows him to put a .180 piece of junk hitter in between his leadoff man and two All-Star sluggers?
Seems to have that feel of when Gardy was cutting off his nose to spite his face by plugging Redmond in for Mauer in the #3 hole on Joe’s off days.
I’m starting to wonder how Francisco will do in his Northern League debut for the Saints next year. Man, he just doesn’t have it anymore and after being back 1.5 years, I just don’t see it coming back. TJ surgery is a crap-shoot… BJ Ryan didn’t make it back either, Joe Mays, etc…….
Buy me one, too, Jason.
Damn! Cuddy was just about to uncoil on the next pitch from Hughes.
What just happened?
wtf?
Ok Morneau now has two bone headed blunders on the bases in the past week or two. His last few steps it looked like he wasn’t even running hard rather sizing up if and how he was going to slide.
Can R.A. Dickey just pitch every inning of every game for us? That would really make things simple.
Good Golly, did Morneau just take off too soon, and cost the Twins an out (and make it less likely he or Mauer bats in the 9th)? did that just happen?
There is NO EXCUSE for Buscher, Redmond or Tolbert to get another at bat in this game. If Harris, Crede, Morales, Young don’t get to PH (at least two of them), I’m going to start being less nice to Gardy…
morneau just cost a guaranteed chance for joe to bat in the 9th
Not sure if I believe this last line from John Gordon:
“Well the Twins very much in this game…”
This is a 2-run lead that seems like about a 10-run lead to me.
It looks to me as if the Twins are playing tight — trying to make the perfect pitch, the perfect play, the perfect hit. Guys, just relax and play and forget who the other team is.
You have to admit…when the Twins decide to play a pathetic series, everyone gets in on the act–from the manager on down.
why would he run on that?? we need 2 runs not 1!?
I’m with mike wants wins…three pinch hitters next inning, please.
amtrekman, there’s nothing “tight” about a lineup that includes 4 Mendoza-liners.
I would watch Liriano at Midway Stadium next year. Maybe get my haircut between innings, catch a greased pig, watch trains go by…
I like the idea of Dickey pitching every inning except the 9th
Maybe Tolbert will be the Saints leadoff hitter for Frankie next year!
as long as LNP remains a twin I am good with it
The Twins should start a “Knuckleball Academy” to teach that pitch to all the washed-up free agent pitchers that they sign every winter.
Most of those guys have discarded all their “real’ pitches long ago, anyway.
Most of the time this season these blogs have been more interesting than the games.
my passion bucket is starting to get low
What the F is with THIS line up, anyway?! I guess if we can’t it done with our REGULAR line up i.e. Crede, Go-Go, Harris so why not mix it up. I am not impressed at all with this series performance. Of all the damn teams in the ML why do we have to beat down by the f’en Yankees?! These guys really need to get it togehter!
You know how some teams just have a coach’s number. The Yankees have Gardenhire and his boys flummoxed. I think that 9th inning loss in the opener at TNYS (the new Yankee Stadium) has turned the tide on this season. We hold on there and i think we win at least 2 of those games and we are much better off record wise, that game started a 6 game slide…oh well. Just a reminder fans, in 03 we were 7.5 out at the break and rallied to win the Central. In 06, 11 back at the break and rallied to win on the final day. The Central is worse now than it was then, we just need a hot streak. Thank god the Yankstards are no longer on the schedule after today unless we see them in the postseason…if so, we’ll all be happy!
What an inning……Just potent.
Let’s start playing that game where we guess what the excuse will be from Gardenhire and Co. after this game:
Will it be:
A) Gee golly, we busted our tails off out there but just couldn’t find a way to beat those guys.
B) We’re competing with these guys, they just seem to have our number.
C) Any other sentence with “busted tail” in it.
So, which one will it be?
this has been an ugly game to watch, just to think that the twins should be winning 4-3 because of Tolbert’s stupid error makes me sick, hope for a sweep of the sox this weekend
Yet another reason Mauer in the 3 spot will hurt. Hitting 2nd he’d at least be guaranteed a trip to the plate in the 9th. Instead Span of PH has to get on.
But at least Gardy spread the automatic outs in the order around a bit!
Tolbert may look horrible out there today, but he’s sure battling his tail off in the process.
Gardy will not say “Gee golly”!
The All-Star break is a perfect time for personnel adjustments and this series is perfect motivation.
Motive and opportunity.
Good for criminals…..good for general managers.
How can the Twins compete when they currently (as of top of the 9th inning) have 4 players with a batting average under 225. Just plain pathetic!!!
Agree with sane…we have to, repeat have to do something at the break…it may not be Shannon Stewart impact, but Freddy Sanchez might be the ticket…tell me how Tolbert is any better than Casilla other than Gardy likes his grit! Please Bill Smith, please…we are begging you to do something, dont wait for 2010!!!
sane i think bill smith is still in his winter hibernation! does he come out at the all-star break?
ggg,
He came out last summer to give up Hamburger for Everyday Eddie.
“The All-Star break is a perfect time for personnel adjustments and this series is perfect motivation.”
All it takes is a sweep of the Sox for that to be blown to bits. Lets hope we lose all three.
over due to get a 2nd baseman….or bring up
Tolleson..
Tolbert needs more seasoning..
Tolbert as a no. 2 hitter and Jesse Crain as a go-to reliever. These things exist only in Ron Gardenhire’s mind.
Good thing Nicky was available to spell Harris today…
“Tolbert needs more seasoning”
Send him to the Salt-and-Pepper League.
Greg,
There’s not enough seasoning in all of Rochester to get the bad taste out of my mouth from watching his pathetic play.
we have life…
Why leave Puntin. Pinch hit Young or Crede. It’s like they don’t even want to win.
Com’on Joe! Find that magic one more time!
Did Gardy just prove himself wrong with that PH move?
mmmmmm . . . seasoning
Tie it up right here JOE!
Puckett would hit a dong in this situation
great managing in 9th…
nice bench
nice 2nd baseman
fans should all get refund for AA line-up
We need to bring Jason Pridie up again to see how he can play. When he was up in majors he never even got an at bat. I don’t get that. We don’t need another outfielder, but we should see how he bats.
I wonder why Tolbert gets no criticism from Gardy as compared to Casilla, who gets skewered constantly?
And once again we see Joe Mauer can’t get a hit when its needed.
not with a bang, but a whimper. No more Yankees in 09
It would be nice if out pitchers didn’t give up at least 6 runs everytime they face the Yankees. Little hard to win games that way.
This is not a team that is rebuilding. The parts that aren’t working are not young kids that are being groomed for future roles (Span has alread arrived). It is filled with guys that have no future as starters (and I include Harris). There are only three players that have a chance to turn into solid Major Leaguers: one is in Rochester (Casilla) and the other two (Gomez and Young) don’t get to play.
Because Casilla has the talent, but zones out and does stupid things often. Tolbert may make physical errors, but rarely mental ones. Mental errors should be criticized
But at least Gardy spread the automatic outs in the order around a bit!
Yeah, one in the cleanup spot and one leading off…
But seriously, from the look of the game on gameday Liriano pitched like garbage. And then the Twins start getting a break when the ump took the lower strike away in that bases loaded rally and they screw it up by flailing at horrid pitches.
3 runs is not nearly enough for the Yankees with the Twins lineup today…
Final score: 6-4.
I’ll be darned, you’re right!
“And once again we see Joe Mauer can’t get a hit when its needed.”
In his previous at-bat Mauer got a needed hit, right before the rest of the lineup vomited on themselves.
How do I keep watching this stuff? What a bunch of deadbeats….I’m bored out of my mind by this lethargic, apathetic bunch. Even if a miracle happened, and we made the play-offs, we would not be able to get anywhere. Little boys playing a big boys game. How in the world can you win anything with this kind of line-up thrown out there day games? We have absolutely no depth. Geez, I’m pissed!!!
When you fill out the lineup card with four guys that are below or dropping quickly toward the .200 mark, what makes you think that they will all somehow achieve above their expectations to help you win a game?
“Mental errors should be criticized”
Like Morneau’s baserunning gaffes?
sy, Tolbert doesn’t receive criticism because Gardy doesn’t criticize players who remind him of himself during his playing days. Which is why Tolbert, Punto, etc. keep starting. This BS of Gardy starting players just because they play like he did is a joke. Why? Because Gardy sucked as a player!
randi and other fairweather fans. Goodbye until Twins go on a winning streak I guess and you will come back happy.
“In his previous at-bat Mauer got a needed hit, right before the rest of the lineup vomited on themselves.”
He was also grounded out to end the 4th when the bases were loaded and he was the last out in last nights game.
I’ve seen too many times this year, when they really need Mauer to get a hit it doesn’t happen. Same is true for Morneau.
“I’ve seen too many times this year, when they really need Mauer to get a hit it doesn’t happen. Same is true for Morneau.”
And every other player who has ever played this game!
What is Mauer BA with RISP? I think it is pretty good.
kingartie,
There are many things to complain about with the way the Twins are playing, yet you choose to complain about a guy hitting .390, who had five hits in the last two games. Give me a break.
If you want perfection out of players you are watching the wrong sport.
“Like Morneau’s baserunning gaffes?”
Yes, why not?
.333 hitters fail to hit twice as often as they hit.
Lighten up Nora, I need a chance to blow off some steam. I have faithfully watched this team for 35 years and won’t stop. Criticizing the team does not make me a fairweather fan. Fairweather fans jump on the bandwagon when a team starts winning. I have watched this team through thick and lots of thin. Get over yourself. Nowhere in my post did I say I was not going to watch this pathetic, mind-numbing team. I love the Twins. I just don’t love the way they have been playing…no life, no guts, no heart.
We sorely need an A.J. or Torii to put some life in this team. Just one or two guys like that. Gomez is the only player with any brashness to him, but unfortunately, I think it comes off as goofiness.
Nora, The Twins FO appreciates fans like you so they feel good about not spending the money they said they would spend and don’t. When you have two of the best in the game and do nothing to build around them then what you get is a .500 club. Then fans say just wait we can finish at just above .500 and win the Central only to get pounded in the playoffs. Bill Smith is no where to be found and Gardy plays his “boys” cuz they battle hard when they would not be on another major league club. Just because we complain and try to hold them accountable for their ineptitude does not make us bad fans just ones that would like to see one of our sports franchises win a Championship.
Nora the hypocrite back out of her cave
““Like Morneau’s baserunning gaffes?”
“Yes, why not?”
Then, why does Gardy give Morneau and all his “good old boys” a pass on their mental errors?
Nowhere in my post did I say I was not going to watch this pathetic, mind-numbing team. I love the Twins.
It was worth sitting through this whole game for that line.
That wasn’t my post at 3:44pm.
Anyone who intentionally watches a “pathetic, mind-numbing team” is a better fan than me.
Walter,
Kind of crazy isn’t it? The game of baseball, the team thing, all of it makes me love watching even if I feel like smashing my head against the wall over and over again.
I’m totally with you randi.
well, remove the mean ol’ yankees from the schedule and the twins are 43-36 …
“That wasn’t my post at 3:44pm.”
Glad to hear it becuase it was a pretty stupid post.
“A fish rots from the head down.”
“well, remove the mean ol’ yankees from the schedule and the twins are 43-36″
Second the motion.
All in favor…..?
randi for POD for his 3:42
At least next year we all can watch a “pathetic, mind-numbing team” play on real grass in the great outdoors!
“A fish rots from the head down.”
Not true. The entire fish rots pretty evenly, unless there is some factor that slows or speeds up the decomposition on a particular part of its body.
well, remove the mean ol’ yankees from the schedule and the twins are 43-36 …
Remove the National League from the Yankee-less schedule and we’re right back to one game over .500 again.
Remove the National League from the schedule WITH the Yankees in it, and you might have a better approximation of this team’s true talent level.
“Remove the National League from the Yankee-less schedule and we’re right back to one game over .500 again.
Remove the National League from the schedule WITH the Yankees in it, and you might have a better approximation of this team’s true talent level.”
you’re right, of course. just trying to say something positive …
randi for POD for his 3:42
Hey, hey, HEY!!
I’m the Official PoD Arbiter around these parts. I appointed myself, remember?
That said…
Randi gets PoD for his 3:42.
Is POD “play of the day”? Cool if it is. Do I get any prize for that? I do enjoy a good prize. BTW, I’m a “her” not a “his”.
Wait a minute….PoD…Post of the Day not play of the day. Either way…cool.
Latest from MLB Rumors:
“Perrotto reports that the Pirates could deal Sanchez by this weekend. The Rockies are frontrunners, and appear to be willing to part with 2007 first rounder Casey Weathers. Apparently Carlos Gonzalez’s name has been mentioned in talks as well. The Twins and Giants still have interest in Sanchez.
Is there any way that the Twins can get MLB to schedule the 2 Yankee series for directly before and directly after the all-star break from now on.
That way they can just call up the Red Wings to play in their place and get a week long break in the middle of the season.
It obviously won’t make a difference in the teams record, and they will be well rested to start the second half of the season.
This one hurts because it was so predictable. Look at the first several posts of this thread. We knew it was a bunk lineup to start off with…
No I’m not pinning this on Morneau or Span in any way…those guys get the job done consistently. This one’s on Gardy and his “piranhas”.
BTW, I’m a “her” not a “his”.
randi: my sincere apologies.
I learned that lesson once already, too. Not very well, I guess.
But yeah, you get Post O’ the Day (PoD).
Not feeling very confident going into the Sox series. All 3 of their starters are lethal against the “Twinkies”. Could see an 2-7 homestand. Let’s face it, the Twins might be able to somehow win this division. But they would be whipped against any opponent in the Playoffs. They lack a #1 or #2 starter. The bottom of the order is horrific. Heck, Crede is only batting .230. The bench is lousy. How horrible would this team be without Maurer, Morneau, Kubel, Nathan and most of the time Span? Young is a bust. Gomez should be in Rochester but we have no one else better down there. This team cannot compete with the elites. Yankees, Red Sox, Angels. And our front office refuses to get the help needed. The Twins always come up short. Why would Maurer want to stay here.
I don’t understand how Gardenhire continues to get a free pass. His inferiority against the Yankees seems to be spreading throughout the team. So let’s see today he starts Tolbert in place of Harris and Redman instead of Morales. Does he really think that both of those two guys give him the best chance to win? If so, it is weird that he pinch hits Morales for Redmond in the 8th inning and Harris for Tolbert in the 9th. I already know some people will be saying well it was because Redmond would have been facing a right hander in the 8th. Let me know if I am incorrect, but it seems to me that it was a right hander that started today for the Yankees.
If you think Morales is a better option against a right hander in the 8th inning, why wouldn’t he have been a better option to start the game? Also, if you use the argument that he started Tolbert because Harris is right handed, then why did he pinch hit Harris for Tolbert in the 9th against Riveria, who is also right handed?
I just don’t understand how so many people continue to think none of the blame for the Twins’ futility against the Yanks is on Gardenhire.
Since taking over as manager, Gardenhire is now 16-46 (.258) against the Yankees including both the regular season and postseason. Enough said!
I went to this pathetic snoozer with some folks from work. I so wanted to back out when I saw Gardy’s AAA line-up, but I took one on the chin for my work-mates and suffered with them. Beer helped. A little.
“This one hurts because it was so predictable. Look at the first several posts of this thread. We knew it was a bunk lineup to start off with…
No I’m not pinning this on Morneau or Span in any way…those guys get the job done consistently. This one’s on Gardy and his “piranhas”.”
Nope. You are going to pin it on the guys you hate, while leaving the guys you like alone. You aren’t going to mention that Morneau went 0-10 in the series? Tolbert, Buscher, and Punto ALL did more to help the Twins win in this series than Morneau did.
Or how about the fact that Liriano gave up 6 runs? Or that he needed 105 pitches to get through 5 1/3? Threw only 62 strikes?
Pete, the Twins would be nowhere near where they are today without Morneau. Also Liriano gave up six runs, but it should have been only 3, which would have been fewer than they scored if Tolbert could field a ground ball cleanly.
