On Deck: Twins-Tigers, Slowey-Miller, Neal-Gammons, Gladden-Girardi
Posted on June 30th, 2007 – 1:39 PMBy La Velle
It’s a media madhouse here at Comerica Park. FOX is televising the game, so Dick Stockton and Joe Girardi are here. ESPN is televising Sunday’s game, so Peter Gammons is here. I’m stepping over cables and dodging crazed technicians who are moving equipment all over the place.
All of this to watch two rookies who have the huge task of pitching in a playoff race.
I was impressed with how the Twins let Justin Verlander walk the park last night (they’ve been known to chase bad pitches). It had me thinking that they just may be ready to take off.
Then I realized that there’s kryptonite on the mound tonight.
Andrew Miller is left-handed and has never faced the Twins. That combination has led to disaster for this club. And Miller throws 95. Pack a lunch.
Jeff Cirillo is in the lineup tonight, baseball’s version of the nickel back who comes in on passing downs - or, in this case, left-handed situations. The problem is, he’s playing first base, and there’s not a lot of Mientkiewiczian moxie to the way he plays out there.
Things are relaxed in the clubhouse. Justin Morneau is charging up his new iPhone. Gardy is ripping his kid, Toby.
Toby recently caught in a game for Class A Fort Myers because of a body shortage. When asked about it, the manager replied: “It was to so he could see what he can’t hit.” Ouch!
Toby, this isn’t the first time your old man has opened up on you. You’ve got to come off that .203 average.
And that’s all for today’s show. The lineups:
Twins: 1. Castillo, 2B. 2. Bartlett, SS. 3. Mauer, C. 4. Cuddyer, RF. 5. Morneau, DH. 6. Hunter, CF. 7. Cirillo. 1B. 8. Ford, LF. 9. Punto, 3B. Pitching: Slowey.
Tigers: 1. Granderson, CF. 2. Polanco, 2B. 3. Casey, 1B. 4. Ordonez, RF. 5. Guillen, SS. 6. I-Rod, C. 7. Monroe, LF. 8. Thames, DH. 9. Infante, 3B. Pitching: Miller.
153 Responses to "On Deck: Twins-Tigers, Slowey-Miller, Neal-Gammons, Gladden-Girardi"
Yay! for Nick Punto.
I hope Cirillo goes 4-for-4 today…then Gardy will have no choice but to permanently replace Punto.
Of course, maybe Punto goes 4-for-4 today, too.
Got news for you, La Velle…as much as we want to pretend like our game is the big game, the big game is at Wrigley Field today.
The call on WGN yesterday on Ramirez’s homerun was fantastic. Did anyone hear it?
And I disagree about the Cubs/Brewers game being bigger. The Cubs are .500, 6 games back, and always a loss or two away from imploding.
MSG I wasn’t talking about it from an objective standpoint…La Velle was bragging about all the national media at Comerica…we all know more people across the country want to see Brewers at Cubs, just because they are the Cubs.
Thus, Fox will feed 90 percent of the country that game. I agree it’s not the bigger game objectively, but it does take a back seat today to the game at Wrigley.
We’ll have our spotlight tomorrow.
Haha I gotcha. I actually live in Chicago so thanks to FOX the Twins are blacked out on mlb.com. Guess I’m watching gamecast and the Cubs today …
My god, he looks like Randy Johnson.
Jason, there’s a difference between bragging and name-dropping. Actually, I was trying to have a little fun and throw in some armosphere.
Bragging would be revealing that I just had lunch with Peter Gammons and talked about all sorts of behind-the-scenes stuff, but no, that’s not my style at all….
Argh! I just found out that our Fox station decided to show the Cubs-Brewers game (even though MLB on Fox’s website doesn’t list that game as an option). I personally cannot comprehend how the Bad News Bearcubs can have a following outside Chicago’s northside. Is that thrilling to see how they sabotage their season each year?
[Sorry, I had to vent.]
La Velle, do you ever talk to John Lowe? He mentored writers at a newspaper I worked at and would talk baseball all the time … good guy … I think he’s a closet Twins fan too …
John Lowe is one of the jewels of our profession. We call him, `Mr. Outstanding,’ because that’s always his answer when you ask him how he’s doing.
He’s reliable, extremely knowledgable, hard-working and one of the few reporters Tom Kelly liked.
Slowey’s location has been everything short of what it was advertised to be.
He is leaving way too many fastballs over the middle of the plate, and with his FB being an average pitch (in terms of velocity), it’s going to get hit hard.
wohooo cuddyspeed
It didn’t help that he was getting squeezed pretty bad in the first inning. Nice triple by Cuddyer followed by an RBI single by Morneau to start the 2nd.
Good to see Cuddy with an XBH.
He was getting squeezed, sure…but that pitch to Guillen was a BAD one.
Yeah it was, let’s hope that he can limit the damage done today.
Oh yes, Cirillo is just a masher vs. LHP.
One at bat, c’mon now. Let’s hope we can make them pay for not turning that DP.
I was gonna say “Let’s bunt and run on this guy.”
Wow, great job by Cirillo and coaching staff.
Yes Lew, I am so glad you’re considering a “masher” vs. LHP too.
*considered
did they put bartlett into a cirillo jersey?
Well look at it on the bright side: we have Punto leading off next inning. Oh wait, I guess that probably isn’t so bright.
Kubel’s OPS vs. LHP: .762
Ford’s OPS vs. LHP: .736
Is Gardy even aware of these stats?
Doesn’t it kind of stink that with our lineup, it’s like after we get done with Hunter, it is like well now we have to wait a few batters for anything positive to happen again til next time through the order?
Lewski ka-whoofski…
To his credit, looks like the Twins brought up Slowey a little early. He still doesn’t have that agression/confidence thing yet. Let’s hope it’s just nerves.
But he sure is cool and calm with guys on base.
Where is the K zone?
That’s a great play by Punto.
I can’t believe I just complimented him.
I was just going to say the same thing Erik, but I would have felt bad complimenting him.
Slowey needs to keep that FB down and on the corners.
Is anyone else getting tired of the Nick Punto bashing?
So he’s having a tough year. It happens. Let’s not forget he batted .290 last year with a .352 OBP, was solid in the field, and generally a key contributor to the division title.
i think you would be hard pressed to find a better 3B in the AL right now…….now about that hitting…
thats defensive 3B ofc :S
MSG, no actually I am not sick of the Punto bashing. He batted .290 last year and will never do that again in his life. It is about time that somebody within the Twins organization realizes this.
No, I’m not getting tired of the Punto bashing.
It’d be easier not to bash him if our beloved GM would quit sitting on his hands and make a move for a legit 3b.
Punto is a utility guy…that’s it. He had a good year last year, but so did Lew Ford in 2004. Those years happen in baseball.
Punto is first in fielding in the AL (fourth including NL) this season with a .980 FPCT.
It’s also time for this organization to drop the “it worked last year” approach with their players.
Ford hasn’t been good since 2004, Punto had one good year last year, and Tyner wouldn’t be on over 2/3’s of the teams rosters in MLB.
This is a business…and this organization continually fails to realize that.
Weak grounder to second, there ya go MSG.
Yeah, Austin and Erik are lurking around the punchbowl…
But hopefully Punto will practice his bunting over the allstar break.
Thank you Luis, nice knock to deep right! MSG, third base is a position where you need to get some sort of offensive production. So Punto is a good fielder, that isn’t enough at his position.
MSG,
He’s also third to last in RF and dead last in ZR.
Fielding % is probably the most overrated defensive statistic too.
Of course the Twins would like a better hitter playing third. But with Morneau, Santana, Nathan, etc. needing contracts and a short supply of available, power hitting third basemen, the Twins would likely repeat a Tony Batista-like mistake.
Great knock by Bartlett. Nice RBI double there!
That’s a good slide by Bartlett.
MSG,
No one is asking for someone like Miguel Cabrera, Scott Rolen, David Wright…all those guys would be nice, but they’re not realistic.
But there are options out there that are reasonable and well within the Twins price range.
MSG, I realize you are Terry Ryan’s brother, but you still have to understand that Punto isn’t getting it done at third.
Mauer misses a pitch that he should just drive.
Come on Cuddy…pick him up.
wow, didnt realize bartlett has an 11-game hitting streak going, seems like we found a new top of the order hitter
At least he ticked it. Was he swinging for the fence? Just a well-placed single was all that was needed, Joe.
Bartlett has grabbed hold of that 2nd spot in the lineup. No more nonsense about Mauer in that spot, please.
Cirillo caught it!!!
Stop leaving your FB up Kevin!
Patience guys, patience.
Lew with a big two out RBI double. Thatta boy!
Lew screamed “DUNGEONS!” after he swung.
And Cirillo the speedster!!!
man i thought cirillo was gonna break down right after he hit homeplate
Ford solidifies his status as the deserving everyday left fielder.
Craig, I hope you are joking.
Just want to say thanks to La Velle. I love reading the blog and today’s entry was especially entertaining.
Craig
Mauer is a #2 hitter get over it. I don’t care who you have on your team he should be hitting second. Lew is not an everyday LF either.
More FB’s left over the plate.
Stop it!
jama, as long as Bartlett keeps hitting like he has been hitting, you have to leave him in the 2 spot.
I want to know how Morneau got his iphone.
Nice pop up Punto
MSG
He paid me to wait in line!!!
Austin
I don’t mind leaving him there until the All Star break but in the long run I think he would be better in the 9 spot.
Bartlett in the 9 spot?
And move Punto up in the order? Right.
Bartlett is an ideal #2 hitter. He doesn’t K much, BB’s at a good rate, & is a contact guy.
Maybe the iphone/wait in line situation was why Garza was called up …
Well you know he will be left there until he doesn’t produce there anymore and possibly even longer than that.
Well Erik, you gotta remember you are talking to jama. He is the one that was calling for the Twins to pack it in and trade everybody and build for the future.
wow, as bad as he is with no runners on base, slowey has been pitching GREAT with runners on today imho
I’m sure that’s what will happen. I just look at that I would rather have Hunter get more AB’s than Bartlett. With the season Hunter is having why is he hitting 6? The more AB’s for the 4 horsemen the better in my opinion.
Because Hunter has been moved up in the lineup in previous years and shown that he doesn’t hit near as well as he does when he hits either in the 5 or 6 spot.
Austin
When the Twins miss the playoffs by 5 games or even if there is a miracle and they get to the playoffs and lose in the 1st round you can remember what I said last week. I think the Twins are better off trying to rebuild on the run rather than losing their FA and pushing the franchise back a couple of years. If they do anything in the postseason I will be the 1st to admit I was wrong but that is not going to happen.
Why is Mauer trying to bunt? I thought he was the 3 hitter.
jama, you don’t understand that from a business stand point, you can’t afford to do that this year. When you have a chance at being successful, you can’t just unload everything and see your attendance drop dramatically. If there is a chance of making the playoffs, the club isn’t going to try to rebuild. I’m not saying it is right or wrong, simply stating the facts. Then again look at the Cardinals last year, all a team has to do is get in and everybody has a shot.
Put it in play Joe!
Jama,
99% of the time when Joe attempts to bunt, it’s because the 3rd baseman is playing back and it’s for a base hit.
He’s done it numerous times for a hit, so I see no issues with it.
CUUUUUDDDDDYYYY!!!!!!
HR!!!
jama, anything to get on, like he just did. We don’t have a bad Vlad or Big Papi as our number three hitter, as much as you and I might like. Mauer currently has 4 homers. He isn’t likely to hit the ball outta the ballpark. As long as he hits for a high average, that is what the Twins want. Thank you Cuddyer. Way to bust this game open a little bit!
Now that’s a #3 hitter!!!!
atta boy cuddy!
La Velle…
My apologies…bragging was the wrong word to use…name dropping, maybe. It is cool that Gammons is there because he’s the greatest member of the baseball media (next to La Velle of course)
Wow, someone needs to tell Dick Stockton how to call a homerun…he made it seem like he doesn’t know what happens when the ball goes over the fence…funny stuff
Jason, you can now hop off of La Velle.
Erik
It just seems to me that the Twins want to produce as many runs as they can. When you don’t score very many runs you really need a #3 hitter that has some good pop in his bat. Your #3 hitter should not be trying to put down a sac bunt.
Austin
I agree the Twins won’t blow up the team. I just think that when the Twins have NO position prospects for the next 3 years we can look back at this season and say “what if…”
jama, I don’t understand you the majority of the time. Cuddyer hits a homerun and all of a sudden he is a number three hitter. I always thought you wanted your cleanup hitter to drive in runs.
jama, your number three hitter should be your best hitter, which average wise Mauer was last season. It is too early to judge this season since he missed about a month.
Stop dropping your elbow Kevin…keep the ball down.
Jama,
So it seems to you that the Twins want to score as many runs as they can?
Ok, that’s fine…so then why are they still giving daily AB’s to Punto, Tyner, Ford, L’Rod?
Mauer as the #3 hitter isn’t the issue with this offense…it’s the fact that they constantly have 2-3, maybe even 4 guys sometimes, that can be considered almost automatic outs.
I think that Mauer is a really similar hitter to Derek Jeter. He has great bat control and an understanding of when to move the guy over. He also is an On Base guy. That is exactly what you want from a 2 hitter. You want the 3 hitter to have enough power to score runners from 1st with doubles in the gap. Also who would you rather have as a clean up hitter Cuddy or Morneau? I think that is pretty obvious.
Erik for as much complaining as you are doing, I will totally take the 4 and 2/3 innings and 2 runs. With us currently up 6-2, I’d be happy to see him end the day with a quality start.
hama, once again you are comparing us to the Yankees. You must just not get it. We don’t have a 200 million dollar payroll.
Austin
Who says that the 3 hitter should have the highest Ave. I think that it depends on the team. Like I said I would rather see the 4 horsemen get as many AB’s as possible.
I am not complaining…I am simply stating that Slowey needs to stop dropping his elbow, which is leading to his FB being left over the plate, looking like a beach ball.
He’s pitched well so far…but he’s left far too many hittable pitches over the plate.
On a team with the payroll of ours, we are somewhat limited. Mauer struggled a ton in the number 2 spot, while Bartlett has shined so far.
So you are telling me that Jeter would hit #3 on the Twins? I don’t think so but good try. Also I would argue that Morneau, when healthy is as good a hitter as Mauer. I am sick of the 3rd spot in the order hitting singles instead of extra base hits. If Mauer were a doubles hitter I wouldn’t mind him hitting 3 but right now he is primarily a singles hitter.
If say we didn’t have Mauer and we had Jeter instead, there is no doubt at all that Jeter would be hitting in the 3 hole for us.
Somebody please tell me why hitting in a different spot in the order affects how you hit? Are you not trying to get a hit everytime up? They are virtually hitting with the same people batting behind them. I don’t really think they gave Mauer much of a chance in the #2 spot. He also was coming off of an injury.
Right now with Bartlett producing in the #2 spot, the 2 and 3 holes in our lineup are the LEAST of our worries. Like Erik said, we need to concentrate on not having what most teams would consider automatic outs in the lineup.
Jeter would be hitting 2nd you are only kidding yourself
Oh my God!!!!!!!!
Who kidnapped LEW’s body
jama, you aren’t seriously saying that where you are in the order doesn’t affect how you go about your at bat. So the leadoff guy isn’t supposed to take more pitches? Just like the number 2 hitter isn’t going to be asked to sacrafice bunt whereas a number 3 hitter isn’t. Lew decides to have a big day today as he adds a homer.
jeez, we’re pounding the tigers…i really like it 
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I agree with you that #2 and #3 aren’t the biggest problem but if you want the Twins to get as much out of this team as possible then sometimes the little things matter too.
If we had Mauer you are right, Jeter would bat number 2 just like Bartlett. If we didn’t Jeter would be batting third.
Jama,
Mauer has the 4th most 2b’s on the Twins team…he’s also got the 5th most XBH’s on the team, one behind Kubel.
So the Twins are getting about as many XBH’s out of their 3 hole as they possibly can.
Austin
Mauer is sac bunting in the 3 hole so there goes that logic. I don’t think that with the lineup that the Twins have that there approaches are that different. I think once Mauer gets use to the #2 spot he will flourish.
Erik, and he has been out for about a month too!
How ’bout that two-run homer by Leeewwww! Ford? Maybe we should keep him around and lose L-Rod instead…
No need to apologize, Lew Ford haters, just don’t tell us he’s not a major-leaguer anymore for Pete’s sake
jama, Mauer is bunting for base hits. Like Erik said earlier, he normally will drop down a bunt if the third baseman is playing way back. Do you actually watch the games or just pretend to?
Austin
I think that we may just have to agree to disagree. You have made some good points but I think that Mauer could be much more productive hitting second instead of third with this current line up.
Snyder and Jason, I agree that Ford should be kept over L-Rod, but let’s not get ridiculous here about Lew. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.
jama, Well the biggest thing about the lineup will be how Bartlett continues to fare. If he can continue to hit the ball fairly well, then I think we can expect to see Mauer remain in the 3 hole.
Lew does kind of look like a squirrel…
no, the only thing that really bothered me about the Ford criticism this year is that people wanted to write him off before he got his chance….he’s still well shy of 100 ABs
The 3 hitter should not be BUNTING for hits. That is it I have to quite debating this or else I may cause myself to have a brain hemorage.
Sorry I’ll have to check back later to see how much I get ripped by everyone else. GO Twins!!!!!
Erik, who was it last night that was telling us that Miller was so much more dominant than Slowey, do you remember?
you cannot take your foot off the gas against the Tigers!
Jason, I agree, although I would hope that a 4 run lead going into the 7th is good enough for our bullpen to hold onto.
Austin,
No, I don’t remember.
I really wish Slowey wasn’t trying to break the HR record in the least amount of innings pitched though.
I agree with somebody earlier today that said it looks like Slowey was brought up a little early, but since that is the case you are going to have to fight through some learning curves. Thankfully today our offense was able to put 8 runs on the board in the first 6 innings.
Lavelle, do you see Ryan adding another bat in the next couple of weeks?
Nice work Cirillo.
I don’t know if he is out even with a decent throw.
yeah he’s out on a good throw…tough play, though
History suggests the Twins will do a lot of talking but do nothing before the deadline. Besides, Rondell White is on the comeback trail, baby!
Just checked. Rondell is 1 for 2 with a run scored and RBI. Fort Myers is up 5-0 in the fifth.
Johan Pino, by the way, hasn’t given up a hit.
I expect a full report from the Fort Myers blogger on White’s recovery….
seriously, NESHEK NEEDS TO STOP THE BLEEDING NOW :S
Nico, one run given up by Neshek. If it is gonna happen, I will take it in a game like today’s.
1.37 ERA CHRIST, WE NEED TO DUMP HIM RIGHT NOW, HE IS CLEARLY NOT SUITED FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (*hint* IRONY *hint*)
I was hoping in your last comment you were being sarcastic but it is sometimes tough to tell online.
Good win.
Let’s sweep tomorrow!
BTW, Punto is still bad.
Oh, and Pino pitched a 7 inning no hitter today for the Miracle.
Call him up!
Nice win. Lets go for the sweeeeep!
In a major brain cramp, I wrote in the early editions that the Tigers were the defending division champions. It was corrected for the main. I apologize and excuse me while I go examine my brain….
Does Gardy know the stats? Do the Twins realize this is a business? Let me ask a question…did you forget to take your medication, guys? The Twins are an envied organization. They know where to spend their money, and who to play where. Defense and pitching are where we shine, and that is a pretty smart approach. Nobody has an all-star team, and there is no golden rule that says what positions have to have the best hitters. We have stellar hitting in right, center, first base and catcher, and decent hitting at 2b and SS. We will be staying with Punto, Ford and Kubel, so get over it!
TK, you know, how many times did Tony Dungy teams get into the playoffs before his team finally won the Super Bowl?
I just don’t get people ripping the Twins and their approach. They keep getting into the playoffs which is the main thing.
The 87 Twins and the 2006 Cards were two of the worst teams to ever win the Series. However, they are proof that once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen.
Blake
The main thing isn’t getting into the playoffs the main thing is winning the World Series. Yes anything can happen in the playoffs as the Cards showed last year, but when your rotation is held together with Elmers glue and safety pins your chances are much lower of doing anything even if you do make the playoffs.
Jama,
The main things isn’t getting into the playoffs? Huh? Care to restate that?
Last time I looked, if you don’t make the playoffs, you can’t win the Series.
Okay, enough snark, yeah, the rotation is, to steal a phrase “kind of like a box of chocolates” with the exception being Johan Santana.
I have to admit, I’d be bit more comfortable if a solid number two starter would step forward.
But, I also think some of us are getting spoiled. The Twins have been putting a decent to superior team on the field for several years now, however, from 1994 to 2001 and prior to 1987, the Twins were awful.
The Twins are basically the same as the Wolves were. They are good enough to barely make the playoffs and then it’s one and done. Let’s hope TR doesn’t pull a McHale and run the team into the ground. In my opinion for the good of the franchise it is time to try to rebuild on the run and trade the Free Agents that won’t be back next year. Now it isn’t going to happen for awhile but if the Twins hit a little slump and somehow fall 8 or 9 games back by the middle of July I sure hope that TR pulls the trigger and gets some decent position player prospects.
Blake
I am just saying that getting into the playoffs shouldn’t be the ultimate goal of a franchise. The ultimate goal is to win the WS. Yes you do need to make the playoffs to have a chance but I don’t think that this roster is good enough to make any sort of noise if they get in. Rotation is to young and the lineup has far to many below ave. bats.
Jama, that’s where you and I disagree. I think the lineup potentially has the bats, but not the starting pitching. Heck, look at the Yankees. They’re below .500 yet have a lot of great bats.
I think the big if right now is the #2 hitter. If, and that’s a big if, Bartlett can consistently get on base behind Castillo, there are enough RBI guys behind him to do some serious damage.
Plus, Castillo and Bartlett, with their speed put a lot of pressure on pitchers and catchers.
But, until all of the starters can regularly produce quality starts, it isn’t going to matter in the long run.
(Notice I’m avoiding the DH black hole the Twins have, although, Kubel might serve in that spot, if the Twins can get a decent left fielder..Maybe Santana could DH on his off days?)
Blake, the ‘87 Twins were not one of the “worst” teams to win the WS. They had 2 ace starting pitchers and a superb and tough closer, and excelled in all areas of the game — except a deep pitching staff.
They were late and strong bloomers in ‘87, just like last year’s Twins.
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