Twins-Red Sox: Pat Neshek Likely Done For The Season.
Posted on May 9th, 2008 – 6:17 PMBy La Velle
Folks, it’s not good.
Twins righthander Pat Neshek has been diagnosed with an acute partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He will not do any throwing for at least three months, which makes it doubtful that he’ll return before the end of the season.
I’m just guessing here, but Neshek may go visit a specialist to get another opinion. The press release didn’t say anything about surgery being needed, but you wonder about surgery since it involves the ever-important ulnar ligament.
Brendan Harris left Friday’s game with a tight right hamstring.
Nick Punto’s left hamstring is still sore, and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire wasn’t sure if he would be available at all tonight.
So the Twins are taking on the Red Sox with 23 players 9:30 p.m. update: 22 players.
Red Sox (23-14): 1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF. 2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B. 3. David Ortiz, DH. 4. Manny Ramirez, LF. 5. Mike Lowell, 3B. 6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B. 7. J.D. Drew, RF. 8. Jason Varitek, C. 9. Juilo Lugo, SS. Pitching: Jon Lester.
Twins (17-16): 1. Carlos Gomez, CF. 2. Brendan Harris. 2B. 3. Joe Mauer, C. 4. Justin Morneau, 1B. 5. Michael Cuddyer, RF. 6. Jason Kubel, DH. 7. Delmon Young, LF. 8. Matt Tolbert, 3B. 9 Adam Everett, SS. Pitching: Boof Bonser.
261 Responses to "Twins-Red Sox: Pat Neshek Likely Done For The Season."
first
i have a horrible feeling in my gut……..
And the reason for not starting a RH hitter who is second in slugging percentage in the team against a LHP would be?
im with you thrylos….the guy has been hitting the ball pretty well and i figured he would only get better if he was left in the lineup- now he is out again…i just dont get it…leave him alone and let him hit …sometimes these things take a bit of time, but we were seeing some good things from him…i am pissed
cause gardy is stupid…. i think we should fire gardy and have ulger be the skipper… he sure did well.. 4-1
gardy after comming back 0-1
who you think should be managing????
we need to get off to a good start tonite or this could turn into one ugly weekend…and i hate to be negative, but i dont have a good feeling…hope that changes soon….
Are you talking about Monroe? If so, where the heck are you getting those stats?
Check it out:
Monroe is currently 12th on the team in slugging percentage vs. LHP. I realize second-guessing is every fan’s right, but at least get the facts right.
i think gardy was still very influential on the lineups even when he was gone….
thing called email and cell phone….
Never mind — I see you didn’t mean vs. LHP, just that he’s right-handed and Lester is a LHP. You’re right, overall Monroe is tied for 2nd on the team in slugging. But maybe that split tells you a little bit more about why Gardy is sitting him? Who knows …
Man, it sucks when both sides of your DH platoon can’t hit lefties. From what I can tell, Kubel has never faced Lester, but neither has Monroe, so stats probably don’t come into play here. Must be one of Gardy’s famous “gut” moves.
vegasguy,
overall slugging % for the Twins:
Morneau: .459
Mornoe: .452
Mauer: .452
Gomez: .418
Cuddyer: .387
Kubel: .385
etc
etc
Really annoying reports. Is Neshek injured or not? What is wrong?
Telly Hughes is annoying. Does not have the personality to do tv imo.
Man, it sucks when both sides of your DH platoon can’t hit lefties
Agreed. And its not the DH position only. The team OPS is .701 against RHP vs. .634 against lefties. That’s why I thought that they lost a great opportunity to sign Frank Thomas for practically free and have him as the full time DH…
fsn apparently not listening to bloggers asking them to rid themselves of the sideline reporter…lol…man there has to be somewhere else for that guy, and not on twins broadcasts…please
How many runs will Boof give up this time? I’m going to be positive, and predict five.
im almost afraid vavra has turned morneau into a line drive, opposite field hitter.. .and making the long ball very secondary…think im wrong on that???
its how many runs can we get for bonser, as usually we dont do well….
Wouldn’t Tolbert being a switch hitter be a better #2 than right handed hitting Harris? I guess I’m just mostly thinking when Gomez is on first base. Harris had been hitting great at #2. I hope Everett does well. It’s been a tough season for him already. I wish Punto was healthy. This is almost my perfect lineup if Punto was in for Everett. My wife loves Punto because he gets his uni dirty. She loves Gomez for the same reason.
Enough slobbering over the Red Sox from the announcers and pre game. LOL
i agree nora…nuf is enuf
Bonser shut them up–at least until after the commercials. LOL
Oh, Manny. Toooooo bad. Maybe having a bad hair day? ? ?
TRINI:
My wife loves him ‘cuz he looks like Robert DiNiro.
Go figure.
OH MAN that was close!
No cycle tonight……maybe.
The problem with the Twins hitting coaching stems from baseball has an old boys network. Vavre got his job, but to keep it he toes the line by following company line established by Ullger. When Ullger became hitting coach the only thing our hitters have pulled is a hamstring.
AHH Those plays make me smile! GREAT Baseball
morneau provin my point earlier about vavra…key situation -weak ground ball to short??? should be going to right field and trying to pull it out of there
its nice to hear dick and bert questioning why monroe isnt in the lineup however why not bench young and put kubel in left and dh monroe or vicea versa
kubel needs to back off from the buffet table — and maybe some expression on his face once in awhile, just to know that he really is still alive…..
please release kubel..
As usual our pitcher as soon as he gets a lead threatens to give up that lead.
“fsn apparently not listening to bloggers”
Just like the rest of the intelligent world.
Twins hitters are second in the league in average with RISP and 2 outs…
FIRE VAVRA! He is clearly garbage with a stat like that.
he needs a little more help from joe
GRRRR!
Just like the rest of the intelligent world.
I fail to see how any intelligent individual can view Telly as even remotely qualified to fill the position he’s in.
Nice wheels, Boof!
This inning isnt on BOOF, Mauer should have caught that ball in the dirt. Wild pitch my a$$
Without fail Twins get a lead the pitcher makes sure the opposing team at least ties. Just about everytime except when Hernandez pitches.
That is a tough error by Gomez… nice throw, bad luck.
Boof still has to pitch good, he obviously has not.
Yea that was a weak error. Just bad luck there
Not defending Telly.
Just questioning the credibility of the normal spray of criticism seen on these blogs.
Great inning Boof… we are smacking Lester all over the field, so lets have a 20 minute half inning…
DJB:
1)Runner should have been out at first
2)Same runner should have been caught stealing
3)Runner at third WAS out if it doesn’t hit him
4)Typical arrogant east coast team/Red Sox breaks
I will take Telly Hughes over Marney Gellner any day.
RAMIREZ IS UGLY
Why can Ramirez get away with that bad haircut? Could a pitcher have that? I don’t think so, because it would be considered distracting. In football, you have to cover it up now. Why not in baseball? What is the definition of “UNIFORM”? ? ?
Mudcat, that was a dumb post. See Randy Johnson’s awful mullet in the 90s as evidence that baseball players can wear whatever style hair they want to.
R.W. McQuarters and Ricky Williams would disagree with your football analogy too…
I want the Twins to have more players about whom, the worst thing you can say is that he is ugly.
Atta boy Brendan! Keep making him throw pitches, then we can get to Julian Taverez!
Luckily Twins get some breaks this inning.
Harris having a nice game… warm up to him Twins fans, he will be our second baseman for a while.
harris has been great, but the big cog, delmon needs to get it in gear…wish they would sit him for a few days…play monroe out there for a few days….
who is more fun to hate - the red sox or the yankees…maybe its equal- i hate them both…arrogance is so pathetic
RyanW:
So would Al Harris. Guess you’re a Packer fan.
Dreadlocks are ugly.
Look at Jason Castro.
He’d still be singing.
Not good news about Neshek. Yikes. Torn muscle.
A first place team losing a top pitcher for a couple of months. What’s with all these injuries? ? ?
Neshek out for a couple of months with a torn “muscle”… probably tricep… bad news
we will see how deep we are in pitching…the good teams survive these things… i would consider neshek gone for the year…i wouldnt even make him part of the equation for this season….interesting to see who they bring up–could be a great oppurtunity to find another gem.. ya jus never know…hopefully they score big and good luck to pat…thats really too bad
another wonderful at bat for kubel
PLEASE RELEASE KUBEL
mj1,
“turned morneau into a line drive, opposite field hitter.. .and making the long ball very secondary…think im wrong on that???”
Yes I do.
Good hitters do not pull off the ball to hit HR’s. They stay ON the ball. When the pitch is away, the good hitter hits it to the opposite field.
If he tries to pull that pitch, he rolls over his swing and pulls a weak ground ball to a middle infielder.
A good hitter looks to drive the outside pitch, but turn on an inside pitch when he has anticipated it.
Opposite field line drive hitting IS NOT A FLAW.
It’s not a muscle tear… It’s a UCL tear. He is out for the season. I hope that surgery is not needed but that is the ligament that is replaced in Tommy John surgery…
I think that either Korecky stays in the bigs or Mariano Gomez is called up. I just don’t trust Rincon and based on what I’ve seen from Crain (lack of movement on fastball), I don’t think he is back 100% yet…
i agree sane–going with the pitch is great - my point is that is not a bad idea to hit an occasional 3 run homer …thats what these big guys have to do—get your pitch and hit it into the lites…we need a bit of both on this team….we have the talent….we just need to realize the value once in awhile of a big tater
im guessing crain is the first to get a crack at the 8th inning guy…hope he can do it…
Lamb better get it going. We will need to hit more during this stretch. Best case is Perkins pithes well and goes to the pen when Baker gets back.
lets add to this lead…
This Sox lineup isn’t nearly as imposing away from Fenway. Pedroia is a utility player who has been playing over his head. Just don’t let Youkalis beat ya. They thrive on what he does.
How about a Gomez vs. Ellsbury comparison now?
I love to see the young guys do well. Tolbert and Gomez. Lookin good.
So, I was only listening to game on radio until now. How bad a play was the Ellsbury throw to 3b in the 1st on the Mauer base hit? Result was Mauer takes 2nd on the throw. Next, Morneau GO to ss and run scores and Mauer scores on a hit.
Would the Morneau GO been a DP if Mauer still on 1st? Please say yes. I like to hear the luvable Ellsbury messed up and gave us two runs with the ill-advised throw to 3b.
Garlos G,
yes on both counts
crap, lucky inning
They didn’t replay the Ellsbury throw in a way that you could analyze it but I thought Lugo had a shot at it and let it go.
CARLOS:
I was going to post: “those azzclowns miss their cutoffs also” IMHO
hope that answers your question
what the hell is young doing
What’s the inning and score?
DJB:
Did he shy away from the fence or lose it a little in the lights/roof?
Twins surrender with the lead and throw Rincon out there. Boston is licking their chops. LOL
GRRRRRRRRR!
Boston is one lucky team
Redmond would have had that
Yeah based on what?
way to go Rincon or rather, way to go Gardy…
pretty lame attempt at tagging the runner, i thought
Would Redmond have done that?
Rincon does much better after the damage is done.
NORA:
Easy! You’re growling and you almost bit DJ’s head off! The game’s only half over!
Sorry this game is getting me grumpy.
lester teased him…
DJB’s Redmond comment was senseless, what Nora said was justified.
thrylos why are u saying its a ligament wwhen they are reporting muscle tear? Seems wrong to say that.
hes right jdw…
zwiefz,
Red Sox 6, Twins 5 after 5 complete. Twins gave up a 5-2 lead in the 5th. Big plays: IF hit, walk, bloop hit, and a misplayed double in left by DY (looked catchable, but lost in lights or heard the fence closing in on him).
JDW, it is reported that it is an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tear; after “they” reported a “muscle strain”… I might have scooped “them”, but that’s what that is…
good lord injuries all over …anyone know what happened to harris…i dont remember anything….what next…
Redmond is a gamer, Mauer is a pussy
What happened to Harris?
They may have to forfeit game they are running out of players quickly. LOL
thrylos- My sincere apology if I offended you. Not paying enough attention, I guess.
Whatever DJB
waiting on a report on harris
Time for someone else besides Juan
Harris - hamstring
Harris has a hamstring injury
JDW, no offense 
Just updated up top. It’s not good news.
djb…just a league leading hitter pissy
Hope it’s not serious…too many injuries this year…we need to get Nesek’s vegen girlfriend to instruct a pilates class for this guys.
my call…lamb hits one out tonite…
Are you guys slowly building to the point when you tell us Neshek’s career is over??
Why exactly Rincon is getting this much trust is beyond me. He hasn’t earned it.
Sorry…Neshek
Well, lets hope Glen Perkins can be effective, and Kevin Slowey can start to prove me wrong that he is overrated
Not good. Top pitcher. First place team. Not good.
Oh, yeah. Isn’t the ….. leading the league in hitting?
Just asking. Your word, not mine. [Edited: Please refrain from using bad language]
Well it worked out–this time.
How about that for earning it!
not sure kubel could hold a spot on AAA roster…
Please release kubel…….
I think his “do” got in his eyes.
Feel really bad for Neshek. He is a really good guy to go along with a really good pitcher. Wishing you well and a complete recovery Pat.
La Velle,
I haven’t heard that “acute” part. That means Tommy John surgery… worse news than what I thought
I am not talking at all about hitting. Mauer is a superior player compared to Redmond. But can you tell me that if Redmond had a “hamstring” problem like mauer last year, he would have missed a month? come on, redmond is a warrior and he is far tougher physically then joe will ever be, just look at the end of last year. He couldnt even swing a bat but he didnt miss any time. As Torii Hunter said, Mauer is a great player, but he is soft and needs to push himself more.
Has anyone looked into the “David Ortiz DH curse” that apparently results in the Twins DH position sucking it up indefinitely?
Let me be the first to start a blame-someone-else-bandwagon, since so many on this blog think there always has to be someone at fault for these things.
FIRE the TRAINER!
Man… that Nathan signing is looking even better now. Relying on Neshek would have been putting a lot of eggs in one basket.
Heres to hoping that Korecky or M. Gomez step up this season.
DJB that is over with. Mauer is playing right now, not sure why it needs to be brought up at the moment.
Carlos… lol.
Fire Dr. Buss!!!
greedy greedy greedy stupid!!!!!
Damn i wouldnt have sent him, but i guess you gotta make them make a play?
GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! Red Sox have the best luck.
Young is hurt too…
Nice throw Ellsbury, was that Jacque Jones or Shannon Stewart out there?
That was a stupid call by Ullger
they deserve to lose tonite if they keep making those bonehead plays….ruined a perfectly good hit from #9 hitter…i dont believe it…
Probably a bad decision but still…
delmon is not c gomez….sheesh grrrrr
That play looked pretty close… much closer than they are making it.
Well lets hope the pen can put up some 0’s and hopefully the offense can do something before Papelbon gets in the game
Wow finally an inning with no drama with Guerrier so far.
what game are you watching ryan….he was out by a 6 feet
RAZZ:
i heard someone buried a hershel walker jersey in the metrodome.
might explain the curse.
Agree it was a bad decision to send him. But, the last two times of the replay, it appears to me that DY didn’t make a good turn at 3b… just seems like he lost a step in there.
Can Scott Ullger be fired?
What does this bum do for this organization?
I actually agree with Ryan it was close the catcher has to tag doesn’t he?
mj1 takes the lead for tonight’s exageration… No way he was out by 6 feet. In fact, replays are inconclusive as to whether he was safe or out. If the first foot touches home, he is safe… but can’t really tell. But, still agree it was too agressive to send him. A good OF throw from Ellsbury and he is out by 6 feet. maybe ulger knew something about Ellsbury’s arm.
That seems like an illegal move to bring one pitcher out as a decoy so another one can warm up.
Mj- considering the tag was applied to Young’s hip, and commentators credited Veritek with blocking the plate, I think we can agree that he wasnt out by 6 feet.
Should he have been out by 6 feet? yes, but that was before a horrible throw by Ellsbury missed the cutoff man.
That was a lousy inning.
Way to make ‘em work Twins!
Mudcat
If that’s true I guess the Red Sox are in line for a 3rd World Series…Oh I hate the Cowboys!
6 in 6ft 6 mi…what the hell difference does it make…he was out and never should have been sent- thats the only point there is…its how you lose these close games…
fire vavra release kubel …im thinkin..
yeah,nora, no kidding. that ukelele guy is making way too many plays. he is far underated (although a gold glover and deserving of it)
6 feet gives you margin of error… 6 in needs a perfect relay, which the Red Sox got…
I wont even conceed that he was out by 6 inches though…
MJ1:
prolly a bad time, but what do you think of Dr. Buss?
i hate dr buss…release him too
Guerrier kicks tonight and then Gardy brings in Reyes…
As far as this team’s coaches go, other than White and Anderson all of them (Ullger, Vavra, Stally, Liddle, Gardy) gotta go, imnsho
“As Torii Hunter said, Mauer is a great player, but he is soft and needs to push himself more.”
Mauer games played:
2007: 109
2006: 140
2005: 131
Tot: 380
Hunter games played:
2007: 160
2006: 147
2005: 98
Tot: 405
For playing the most demanding position on the field, missing 25 games more than his holiness Torii Hunter over the course of three seasons really isn’t that much.
ya, youre mudcat & im vic power
Not sure if my memory serves me right or not, but weren’t the Yankee fans calling for their trainers head last year when they had a rash of hamstring injuries? If anything lets not be like Yankee fans…these are big boys they should know how to take care of their bodies!
explain why reyes comes in here, Guerrier is rolling 2 out nobody on and you throw a kink in the rythem. now two straight hits WTF
Hes going to go yard right here…
dan,
that’s Gardy… get used to it, unless someone has the cajones to kick his sorry butt out of here…
oh. had you pegged for michael jordan
Somebody get another jersey for Guerrier and run him back out there. Gardy needs a mulligan.
who cares what t hunter says…he doesnt exist anymore….he is nobody
I am just quoting what was said last year when Hunter commented on some of the players being weak… thanks for looking up the stats tool
What has Stelly done to deserve a firing? Isnt he the bullpen coach of one of the best bullpens in baseball over the past few years?
That is a bit of a reach.
I have no love for Gardy, and unfortunately nobody has the cajones to do it, because “players like him!” and unfortunately that unfortunate state of mind infects the entire coaching staff
Can you say TOMMY JOHN SURGERY, AGAIN?
Stelly just sits in there, and when the occasion calls it, he plays long catch with the bullpen. That’s all.
oh that mj…nope …sorry
they need to get something going this inning and not screw it up….damn, they should not lose this game….
I’ll take Gardy over the other coaches we have in this town… with the exception of Tubby…
You mean to tell me we’re paying a guy just to sit…………wait, I guess I do that……………..nevermind.
think i read and f bomb
They dont score here its over. They wont score against Papelbon.
Does Cuddyer even have a HR yet this year???
Why Monroe is not at least pinch hitting for Kubel?
2 outs on 2 pitches???? STOP WATCHING DELMON YOUNG!!!!
boy we made that pitcher work…vavra should be real proud of that inning…damn
I might be in the minority here, but I’m like Gardy and I think he does a good job with what he has to work with.
Anytime you start to think you don’t like your manager just think you could have Ozzie wearing a blowup doll around his waste and dropping F-bombs in interviews and crying about not getting respect.
thrylos- and Stelly only works during the game. From 6:45 to 9:30 every night.
Of course he organizes the Twins spring training, one that is lauded by players and the media for it’s efficiancy and organization. But fire him. He just sits there during games.
JIMBERLY:
We made that Okiboji guy look like Cy Young too. Maybe it’s not Papplebee’s night. Got my fingers crossed.
last 2 innings how many pitches thrown total? 10 or something in that area. Not good at all.
I take that back, Young was tagged on the shoulder. I am pretty sure he was safe after watching that again.
LOL at Ryan’s 10:08 (even tho you owe me an apology)
If they fired everyone this blog says should be fired it would be chaos. Player would be running the show. LOL
RyanW, I agree on the coaching assessment, except i would include both hockey coaches (Lucia and Lemaire) on the list.
this is the game that just irritates the crap out of ya…one that got away, so they say….
Pappelboner got rocked the other night… lets see it again..
just about used up the bullpen in the 1st game of the 4 game series….
papelbon did blow one in the 9th the other nite…could it happen — wait we have to hit the ball tho….
They did hit the ball earlier to the tune of 5 runs so anything is possible.
lemaire is past his prime he may have been good during his era but his style is out of date
Carlos- I can see that argument, but Lucia has been pretty subpar over the past 3 seasons… and I think the Wild get more freebies from their fans than any team in the history of sports.
Usually partial tear of a ligament can heal on its own, at least as faras the knee. Elbow I dont know, but…lets hope for the best
Dan, Lemaire may be past his prime, but can’t bring myself to diss a legend. It’d be like dissing Bud Grant. If bud wants to come back and coach the Vikes, I’d be all for that.
Maybe I am too old school too.
JDW:
Didn’t Vike’s Peterson partially tear a ligament and IT is healing?
I have nothing against jacque he is still a decent coach, it is not his fault the game has changed to favor more physical play.
This would be a good time for Young’s first HR!!!
we need a couple of heros….will we get em
sorry to take this blog off of baseball… but as we wait for 9th inning… I think lucia’s problem has been guys leaving too early for NHL. He had no playmakers this year. Might be his fault, but that seems harsh to blame him for getting guys ready too soon for the pros.
Crain is an interesting character.
In 162.1 career minor league innings, Crain had a 1.94 ERA while allowing 95 hits and striking out 207. His K/9 rate was 11.49 and his HR rate was extremely good at 0.28.
While his HR rate has remained solid with the exception of 2007, his K/9 rate has completely disappeared, and his ERA is 3.16 prior to this season.
Anyone have a reasonable explanation? Remember when he was throwing 97-98 in the AFL a few years ago with a devastating slider?
We have no backup infielders left so Everett will have to hit.
Wow Shocker a single right handed Joe mauer with no discipline
good job dy. steal or sac. he has to be on 2nd. I say steal.
OK, nice sac bunt. Nice to see someone do it for a change.
As Reuesse likes to point out, the Gophers hockey team are like the Yankees. They get every recruit that they want. They should be more competitive than they have been.
Good job by Tolbert. He is a very good, smart player. He knows how to bunt too.
why the f would you not hit monroe for everett
God damnit, why do you let him hit… Dont bunt with tolbert, let him hit, but i guess nobody on the bench? I dunno anymore, i dont get gardy… he wins yet he sometimes seems as if he doesnt have a clue
Grrr at least if you are going to get out do it in fair territory.
Erik-
He had a torn labrim and rotater cuff, a pretty serious injury which I am sure bothered him before his surgery and is affecting him now.
Here comes the splitter.
Wild pitch wou;d be good. That is how Boston got the lead, only fair we should tie it up with one too.
I would be nice to have a bench tonight..
Monroe could have played second.
how about that walk by Gomez?
double steal time
I like how we are running the bases this inning.
IN THERE! ! ! TWIN’S WIN ! ! !
woohoo!!!!!!
WOOOHOOO! Wow!
WOW
YES!!!!!!
Go Lamb!
Nice.
Beautiful job coaching.
Gomez is growing up in a hurry. Great walk. Great steal. Great win! Nice job Lamb.
crazy as hell.
LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMB!
LAMB!
LAMB! THERE AIN’T NUTTIN LIKE MUTTON!
Ladies and Gentleman,
It is a great night to be a Twins fan. I raise my Boulavard Wheat to you all.
I am not sure there is anything better.
well lamb didnt get my homer but ill take what he got….great comeback…thank the lord…ugly but we will take it
bullpen gets the mvp…..0 runs
methinks that this was the pivotal game for the Twins this season.
Down by a run, down to the last strike in the bottom of the ninth against the world champions and they made it happen.
(a part of myself is thankful that Punto was unavailable for tonight’s game because if he was up there instead of Lamb, history would have been reversed…)
Bonser- remember that you should have at least 2 more “L”s your record at the end of the season… and it is just May
a true team effort
Games like this can be huge for a young team. Super win. Who know… maybe 1987 all over again. (OK, hyperbole, I admit). But, DY and Gomez steals with tough fight at the plate for all 3 DY, Gomez and Lamb. Wow, who’d thunk it?
Wins like this are extra sweet.
Why was ‘boner pitching Gomez like that?
Afraid of a bunt or something? Or just a little wild? Anybody?
Crain and Guerrer were great. Harris had a nice game before getting hurt. Everett, despite having an awful ab in the last inning, had a couple hits. And Gomez, nice RBI to opp field and a GREAT walk and SB to score the game winner. I like this kid.
this may just turn this whole weekend around…game one is so damn important, always is….red sox are hangin their heads
We need to take the bad (DY at home) with the good (2 SBs in 9th) when it comes to agressive baserunning.
Maybe, just maybe, Everett and Lamb start meeting expectations. They both seemed a little out of sync, like maybe they wished they were’nt in Minnesota. This game will help, World Champs and all. (rotten arrogant east coast team notwithstanding)
I think Lamb is pressing a little. His first chance to nail down a starting 3b spot. He will come around.
Have to say this Twins team keeps on impressing in new ways! Pretty sure I”m going to have an ulcer by the All Star break though!
After all the bad news today, what a great win. I’m going to really miss watching Neshek pitch. Health fast Pat.
Funny how Lamb gets the big hit the game after Gardy declared that he’d be getting less playing time. I hope Lamb can turn it around now.
that should be..Heal fast (or quickly) Pat.
and to rain on evryones parade it was a nice win but……….neshek is out for the season maybe longer! 
Things learned tonight:
1. Jon Lester has control problems. It was my biggest concern with him when we were rumored to be interested in him. He has some good stuff, but his breaking stuff has trouble finding the strike zone. He could turn it around and be a good, consistant ML pitcher. But he is not worth being a centerpiece in a Santana deal.
2. Ellsbury is almost as fast as Gomez, and has a nice bat. But wow, is their arm strength not even comparible. Gomez is 2 years younger, faster, has a nicer arm and looks like he may develop power. Ellsbury will likley have a higher career BA and OBP, but I am not sure I agree with my offseason assesment that Ellsbury is a much better player than Gomez. Twins scouts may prove to be right again.
3. If Lamb and Young come around, we will have a nice offense.
4. Tolbert has supplanted Punto as the best utility player on our team. But with Lamb’s defense and Everett’s offense we need two utility players.
5. Crain may be the guy we rely on to fill Neshek’s shoes.
6. I love walk off games.
Reporter: Is Tommy John possible?
Neshek: “I dont think so, it is a small tear”
A couple more notes from this game (just in case you missed them because they were subtle and have been somewhat a point of contention):
1. Everett made at least 3 plays in the field that were exceptional and that no other infielder in a Twins uniform could make (if you don’t know what I’m talking about I could explain…)
2. Guerrier earned the RH set up job tonight. I hope that the Twins’ coaching staff realizes that… and if you are reading, Pat I hope the best and that you are back healthy soon.
3. Gomez is rapidly maturing as a hitter. I’d venture to say that at this point he might be the best right hand bat the Twins have (compare his ABs vs those of Cuddy) The kid wants to listen and he listens. That 9th inning walk was probably one of his most valuable plays this year.
4. The decision to start and keep Kubel in the game over Monroe was a very bad one. I realize that the Twins need to find out what Kubel is really all about but this is not the time or the place to do it. Monroe, even with the comparatively limited time he played, has outperformed Kubel. About time for Gardy to reward him for this…
I agree Kubel needs playing time but in this situation Monroe clearly should be played. We brought him to play in these these situations, so do it!
Thrylos, nice observations and I am glad you are paying close attention, especially your point about Mr. Everett. Maybe that time off to heal up that arm was all he needed.
Gardy was peeved about Harris blowing that play (Pedroia). Seemed to unnerve Boof.
Harris and Lamb may be close to finished as regulars. Gardy won’t tolerate play like theirs for long. Punto and Everett will eventually be the DP combo. Tolbert at 3B.
Gardy is correct not to play Monroe, but Kubel is terrible. The Twins should try Lamb at DH. Maybe have Redmond DH against LH pitching.
Harris, Monroe, Kubel? The Twins have better players than that in the minors.
I knew Ellsbury’s throwing arm was not in Gomez’s class, but I didn’t know Jacoby was Johnny Damon’s younger brother!
His throw to 3B looked like he was throwing a popcorn kernel into the wind.
Craig,
“Harris and Lamb may be close to finished as regulars. Gardy won’t tolerate play like theirs for long. Punto and Everett will eventually be the DP combo. Tolbert at 3B.”
I know you are correct about the OLD Gardy. IMO he has adjusted his defense-first philosopy to allow Harris time to climb the learning curve. Harris has the basic skills to become an adequate defensive infielder. (unlike Lamb)
I think Everett-Harris will remain starters with Punto getting equal PT as their replacements at SS-2B.
IMO Tolbert will move ahead of Lamb at 3B if he can outhit him left-handed. If not, it may become a Lamb-Tolbert platoon at 3B with Punto as a late-inning defensive replacement for Lamb when Punto is not playing SS or 2B.
Harris will be fine. His bat will keep him in the lineup. I hope Lamb starts to swing it. I agree, if he and Delmon get going, this offense could put up some runs. I always push for Kubel, but Monroe had to at least pinch hit for him late in the ball game with the lefty on the mound for Boston. Monroe should have been the starting DH because even though Kubel had some days off in Chicago, the Red Sox are starting righties the remainder of the series.
Gomez is now hitting .278 with .728 OPS.
Without even considering his improving numbers, just evaluate him visually.
How does his plate discipline and his swing NOW, compare to how they were on Opening Day?
If you can’t see a difference, you must have Low-Definition Television, or you need to get better seats at the Dome.
Who was his only hitting coach in that time period?
But that can’t be - Vavra knows nothing about hitting and can’t teach the little he does know.
That has to be true - I read it HERE!!!
Craig,
When Blackburn (or Joe Sinkerball)is the SP, IMO it is almost mandatory that Punto plays 3B and Everett plays SS.
Then with two (historically) light hitters at 3B-SS, Harris may have to play 2B if he is out-hitting Tolbert at the time.
NEWSFLASH:
Boof still sucks and he always will suck. im so sick of seeing that guy pitch. He cant hold a lead to save his life! how many times did the twins go up by a couple runs last nite just to see Boof blow it?
Harris is the only competant infielder they have except for Morneau of course. Gardy better get it through his skull fast that he’s going to have to sacrifice a little defense in order to play a guy (Harris) who actually has a clue about the concept of hitting. If he keeps working hard on defense, he will eventually improve. He also needs to play everyday if he’s going to improve.
Sane, agree with pretty much what you posted this morning… Blackburn needs the best defensive infield he can get. Let the OF/1b/C/DH do the hitting and Blackburn will keep the score in the 2-4 run range.
I saw the same dramatic change in Gomez last few games. Now, he may have a relapse at times, but the kid has really been listening well to Vavra and has developed some plate discipline. IMO, last year’s CF would have swung at least at 2 of those last 3 pitches that Gomez took last night. I was stunned. And, then he promptly moves himself into scoring position for the winning run. The kid is electric and a blast to watch.
Bonus enjoyment last night with Ellsbury’s arm demonstrations. Bad play in 1st and actually got lucky on DY’s play with a nice backup cutoff man as Jacoby overshot the intended target.
Twinsfan32, I agree with you…I don’t think Boof will ever be a .500 pitcher. His velocity averages only about 89 mph and his sinker seems to flatten out too often. Perkins and Guerrier can throw 92 mph fastballs with other very good pitches. They are also better competitors and have some savvy. Either would do better than Boof as starters over an entire season. Too bad with Neshek gone now, both may end up stuck in the bullpen. Too bad, that’s where Boof should go…
All you Boof haters recognise please that Boof is a Quality starter if he has contol of his slow breaking pitch and his fastball!!
When he’s been able to do that he’s given hitters fits…when he try’s to go sinker slider he gets bombed
I would think that Anderson will get Boof to perform consistantly!
Maybe not Lohse always lingers in the back of my mind!!!!!!!!!
