Mauer has sore hip flexor; Buscher replaces Tolbert
Posted on October 10th, 2009 – 12:41 PMBy Joe Christensen
Twins catcher Joe Mauer has been playing with a sore hip flexor, but he wants to continue catching, Manager Ron Gardenhire said today.
Gardenhire said Mauer felt the injury after tripping around first base in Tuesday’s 12-inning tiebreaker victory over Detroit. After Friday’s 11-inning loss in Game 2, Mauer acknowledged that he’s been sore and that it affected it’s affecting his base running.
But today Mauer said he intends to catch, not DH, the rest of the way.
UPDATED: Third baseman Matt Tolbert strained a left oblique muscle in Game 2, so the Twins replaced him on the Division Series roster with infielder Brian Buscher. Brendan Harris will start at third base in Game 3, Gardenhire said.
If the Twins advance to the ALCS, Tolbert will be ineligible for that series, but he could added to the World Series roster, if the Twins make a miracle run.
(*) The Twins wound up holding a partial workout today. They landed at MSP last night about 2:20.
“Got off the plane, got hit by a gust of wind, 29-30 degrees,” Harris said. “That told us we were back in Minnesota.’’
(*) Brian Duensing will be available in relief for Game 3. Guessing he’ll get the call at the first sign of trouble for Carl Pavano. If the Twins advance, they’ll have Scott Baker start Game 4 and Nick Blackburn start Game 5.
57 Responses to "Mauer has sore hip flexor; Buscher replaces Tolbert"
Great…..
adds to the myth if we win it all
Gotta love Joe’s attitude here. For all the people who claimed he was wimpy when he sat in day games after night games, etc., this Joe’s for you.
Can someone assassinate Joe Nathan
That would explain why he only took one base on each of the hits in the 11th inning.
Now if someone just get to the bottom of what is ailing Nathan.
Joe,
We hear Gardy after a game like last night talk about Nathan “missing” or “nibbling” with his off speed stuff (such as he did with A-Rod). This has been a common problem for him the 2nd half.
Who calls his pitches? Mauer, the dugout, Nathan? Who is making the call to get so cute and not get ahead with heat early? Either he’s hurt or someone is doing a lousy job with pitch selection early in the count.
Kirby,
GREAT point. I was just thinking about that. Why was Nathan throwing so many offspeed pitches early in the count?
over-under on when we see duensing?
i’ll put it at inning 3.
Duensing sucks now. He’s finnaly showing why he’s not a starter at all. If the Twins are blwon out early, they should put in Nathan until his arm falls off. Literally.
The whole team is playing defensively. Not being aggressive at all. Unless the scouts have them pegged that well but I see a lot of defensive swings and some of the pitch selection is defensive. Go right at them! Play hard! It is still 9 against 9!
I was wondering why Mauer looked so slow advancing base to base in the 11th. I can understand why he didn’t try to take 3rd with no outs on Kubel’s single, but there’s no way he shouldn’t have scored on Cuddy’s base hit to CF Brent Gardner and his weak arm. His throw came rolling into the infield. Still probably doesn’t change the outcome of the game…
I just hope Mauer doesn’t get fed up with some of the losers on this team, see the light at the end of next year, and bolt for a legit contender.
Nathan’s performance last night was beyond pathetic. He has definitely become a “nibbler.” He no longer pitches like a closer and never challenges hitters. How difficult is it for elite MLB hitters like Afag to sit on a 3-1 cockshot fastballl?
Hate to see Tolbert go down. Even though he didn’t have the best of years, he’s been an asset down the stretch, including his RBI last night(oh, thats right, he didn’t get an RBI because of a base running mistake that most of us learned in middle school). Anyway, I like his attitude, his hustle and what he brings, regardless of what others think. 365/464/333 over the last 30 days of the season has been enough to impress me.
A few days ago I posted something like, HERE COMES THE BIG ROLLER COASTER, BABY!
Man was I right…….
We’re all as bedazzled and befuddled again, just like in Game 163. Identical events, except one was amazingly positive and the other amazingly negative.
Nathan hasn’t been the same since his 50+ pitch performance against KC.
So with no effective Nathan, and now no effective M&M, I just gotta say it’s amazing we’re even in post-season.
But one more in the Dome, just for the fun of it.
We have been following the Twins for several years and glad to see that they are doing well. Punto is a real asset to the team as he plays 110% all the time. Kubel seems to be coming along, but hits better when he is playing out in the field.
Then there is Nathan!! In our household we have nicknamed him “The Wrecker”. Seem he is living up to that title.
Juanie, wouldnt you do that if you were him? I could not blame Mauer for ditching if the general management of this team does not make some BIG acquisitions this off season and promised to do so for as long as he is on the team.
nathan = BS
blown save.
blown season.
bullsiht.
Oh, man….if we can just get through game three, we’ve got the pitching set up to give the Yankees a big surprise. Go Pavano! And it is good to see Harris headed to third.
Great comments about Nathan above. I totally agree with Romer…that long, long outing did seem to be some kind of turning point with regard to dominance. Earlier in the year, he seemed to throw so many fastballs.
I know Gardy will probably be MOY, but his rationale for leaving Nathan in so long (he wouldn’t come out) was a bit odd. By the end of that outing, he looked more like Joe Roa than Joe Nathan.
Nathan Blows
Nathan is human. Gomez and his little league baseball skills was the difference last night.
It just sucks that Nathan is so bad against the Yankees.
They get back at 220 am, and have a 10am practice? These guys are running on fumes, and then to have to practice that early is just plain dumb.
nathan hasn’t pitched well in a month, so no surprise there. I think the biggest shame was bases loaded , no outs and delmon and gomez swing at first pitch.
that was a rookie on the mound. make him work some, that’s baseball 101
I was pretty frustrated with Nathan’s Nibbling - and that he left that fastball right where A-Roid could smash it. At least come inside on him!
The Twins can’t win unless they absolutely HAVE to. They didn’t HAVE to win last night - would’ve been nice, but it wasn’t necessary to extend the season. I predict this team will somehow find a way to get to game 5.
MVP of the tean….NATHAN….no way..
98 MUST B E DRINKING AGAIN.
MVP is Punto, Not M, Not Mauer, Not Cuddy, but Punto….the heart and soul of this team. I hope they sign him to an extension over his ine remaining year….
Punto is the MAN1
Gomez is not major league material, maybe he should try track…..
Suck it up Mauer. You are a big boy now, how about acting like it. Some of us have to work hurt or not. You millionaires, which we helped make you, need to act like men.
I wonder if Gardy should’ve pinch run for Mauer in the 11th.
“I was pretty frustrated with Nathan’s Nibbling - and that he left that fastball right where A-Roid could smash it. At least come inside on him!”
This seems to be the common thinkin round here. IMO Nathan pitched Arod the way you should pitch Arod. Breaking stuff low and away. Arod was just seeing the ball really well last night. I’m sure Nathan didn’t intend for the ball hit to be in the center thigh high. He missed that’s all. Probably wanted it a lot closer to his elbows. Or at the letters. There’s a reason Arod, and Tex for that matter, are so highly paid. If the pitcher makes a mistake like Nathan and Majaris made they don’t miss often.
If we can get 2 at home they get Blackie there again. With the momentum in our favor. I like our chance IF we can get there.
Go Twins. Don’t break my heart again.
If I ran the Twins, I’d pay Tony-o and Carew whatever they needed. To sit one on each side of Gomez in the dugout and deliver a running commentary during games on the pros and cons of all the happenings on the field.
This kid could be great.
But he needs to:
Play every day.
Learn to focus.
Think. Not react. The reacting comes after the thinking sinks in.
Listen to BB guys who can supply fuel for the thinkin.
well, plenty of blame to go around — bad baserunning, bad bases-loaded at-bats, bad blown save. then there’s the ever-present second guessing of the manager’s decisions. not to mention that the blown call providing a convenient place to vent.
but nobody complained when gomez slapped a single and scored the winning run in game 163. or walked and scored in the 8th inning last night. room for improvement? of course. but sometimes you’ve gotta take the good with the bad with a developing player.
even so and no matter how the season ends, the twins have already provided a lot more to talk about and think about in coming weeks and months (and years) than anyone could have ever imagined.
What I want to know is why Gardy brought Nathan in to start the 9th? TBS showed a stat where Teixeira, A-Rod, and Matsui had like a .500 batting ave. against him. Why not leave Guerrier in for the 9th? He did just fine in the 8th against Jeter who has been just as difficult to get out. Gardy lost that game as easily as any of the players did.
“Paul says:October 10th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
“There’s a reason Arod, and Tex for that matter, are so highly paid. If the pitcher makes a mistake like Nathan and Majaris made they don’t miss often.”
I agree Paul, BUT that’s why Nathan get’s a couple of hundred bucks per game NOT to make those mistakes.
Regards,
I’m a big Nathan fan, but, I’ve been concerned since last year about the loss of velocity on his fastball. He used to be able to hit 96/97 mph when needed to blow a high hard one past a hitter. Now his fastball is is 92 to 94 mph, at best. Considering that he has very little, if any, movement on his fastball, this is an easy pitch to hit for a Major League player.
Dragon,
Good point. I know you know this as well as me, but it bears repeating. The best closers have an ERA somewhere round 2. That means they give up 2 runs every 9 innings. He was due wasn’t he? Plus it looked to me like he didn’t like his stuff last night. Whatcha gonna do? Pull him for Majaris during the Arod AB?
Hopefully he’s through this little stinky streak and is lights out for the next 3 games.
TC,
Ain’t it a lot like real estate?
Location, location, location.
What really irks me about the Twins losing to the Spanks is that I have to listen to tweedle dee and tweedle dum call the game. I sure miss the days when the Twins would lose to the Spanks in the playoffs and only have to put up listening to the “old white guy” and “old black guy” call the game. TBS is dead to me.
The Twins offense is doing pretty well compared to the other losing playoff teams. They have scored the same number of runs as the Cards and have outscored BoSux 5-1. The Sux have a payroll twice the size of the Twins. Cards only about 12 mil. Maybe we should just stand pat….Not! Spend, spend, spend like our government.
Lets get those Yankees in the dome! Lets not be so quick to give up on Nathan he did have 47 saves this year, we certainly would not be where we are without him!
Um Clark, Joe is acting like a your version of a ‘man’ and is catching.
Before this series, I was not a Punto fan, but I have to admit he has been one of the tougher outs for the Twinkies. If all of them (i.e., Kubel)had shown as much spunk as he has in the batters box, we would have been at least tied in this series.
Another thing that really irked me, was the comment from Tschida, that “There’s a guy sitting over in the umpire’s dressing room that feels horrible,” (i.e., Cuzzi). That’s surely the sadest thing I’ve heard. Here’s a guy who’s standing 20 feet from the play with his eyes glued on the line and he missed the call. I thought I was going to see the old manifying glass routine by Gardy. But no, out whole team doesn’t say a word because they all apparently couldn’t see! What the heck was Ullger doing?
Hey Joe. When did they change the rule that a guy could be placed on the DL in the middle of a series? I always remember that once the roster was locked, it was locked until the series was over.
Kevin,
I think it has always been that injured players can be replaced.
It seems to make sure there is not abuse, Tolbert (aka replaced player) CANNOT play in the next series.
Regards,
oh well, he only has one more game to catch…pony up and catch one more game. then he’s got until feb. to rest up.
MORNEAU, CREDE, NESCHAK, SLOWEY ONE MORE IN TOLBERT. AH NOTHING. DOME MAGIC IS COMING. LETS GO TWINS. YOU CAN DO IT. I BELIEVE.
the tbs guys make Joe Morgan sound like he is an intellectual giant- i would rather listen to Jon Miller and him tell stories and fail to tell the watcher about the game than listen to these guys all but ask Jeter to the prom…
Tomorrow night there are going to be so many unhappy twin fans. Parvano gets knocked out in the 3rd. The score will be 6-1 yankees by the 5th inning…
Fans: don’t get ahead of yourself. that’s a powerful lineup and Andy is the guy that the Yankees want pitching.
Enjoy watching the Yankees kicking the sh#t out of the Angels
If Mauer has a sore hip, why do we need him catching? DH-ing Mauer doesn’t knock one of our better hitters out of the game any more, with Kubel in the outfield. Not to mention Harris at third. Redmond’s a right-handed hitter against lefty Pettitte, and he might be the forgotten veteran who gets the crazy miracle hit. Not super-likely, but at this point we’re grasping at straws, anyway.
CF Span (L)
SS Cabrera (R)
DH Mauer (L)
1B Cuddyer (R)
RF Kubel (L)
LF Young (R)
3B Harris (R)
C Redmond (R)
2B Punto (S)
We’re at least as well off with Redmond in the game at C as with Mauer at C and Morales at DH . . .
Redmond vs lefties in 2009: .320, .382 OBP.
Redmond career vs. Pettite: 2/3, 2 BB
This funk with the Yankee’s has become a total mind game. Now is the time for this team and its fans to turn the table on the bombers. They know they need to wrap this up here because if this series goes back to NY any thing can happen. So lets put a side the eventys of last night and and show these guys what real fans are like.
Yankees fans are so arrogant. You are just a fan. Players win games. Too bad for you Pavano has been much better. Glad he sucked when he was with the Yankees.
Pettit’s record this year is not much better then Pavanos
I fully expect the Angels to crush the Yankees. You know, if the Yankees actually win this series first. The little $65 million Twins are giving the Yankees everything they can handle.
I believe ESPN’s Sports Guy just coined a term for what the Yankees are doing. “A Moral Defeat”. This is when a team wins, but they should have won by so much more. The received the victory, but it was still a Moral Defeat. 0-9 against the Yanks this year may seem like a crushing defeat, but the Yanks have required last at-bats almost every time against the Twins. If I had a $200 mil payroll, that would be more than a little embarrassing.
The Spankees blow! Pavano holds them scoreless for 7, pen shuts up down rest of the way. Twins roll 8-1.
When Nathan came in you could see by his body language he was not confident. He has not been the old Joe sine after he won that dual in the all star game. My brother in CA. thinks the Twins are great considering the tiny payroll. I think they are overachievers. go twins and whatever happens thanks for the season. As far as the bad foul ball call the twins probably wouldn’t be in this series if the umpire hadn’t blown that hit by pitch call.
Knock off the stupid predictions…I highly doubt you’re that clairvoyant.
