Twins-Bronx Bombers: First of four tonight at the Dome
Posted on May 30th, 2008 – 5:08 PMBy La Velle
The Yankees will never be accused of not working hard. They arrived in the Twin Cities on Thursday so they worked out early Friday afternoon. Watched Derek Jeter get in 1 million swings and A-Rod take 1 million grounders at third.
The Yanks kicked around the idea of starting Joba Chamberlain here on Monday but have decided to start him on Tuesday. I’m curious to see how that works out. They’ve tried to stretch him out through extra bullpen work, which means he’snot used to facing lineups 2-3 times. I think that’s a mistake.
Delmon Young is back in the lineup today.
Mike Redmond was texting Nick Punto for baby updates before the game. Nothing yet. If there are no complications, Punto should be activated this weekend, with either Matt Macri or Howie Clark headed back to Rochester. My educated guess would be Macri so he can play. Howie Clark would lose development time on the bench at his age.
Craig Breslow is wearing uniform No. 49. Place your orders now.
No Gardy tonight. He’s attending his daughter’s high school graduation. Scott Ullger is running the show.
The Twins predict only 30,000 fans will show up tonight. I’m not trying to sell tickets, but if you’re not doing anything…..
Bombers (26-27): 1. Derek Jeter, SS. 2. Bobby Abreu, RF. 3. A-Rod, 3B. 4. Hideki Matsui, LF. 5. Jason Giambi, DH. 6. Shelly Duncan, 1B. 7. Robinson Cano (what’s happened to this guy?) 2B. 8. Jose Molina, C. 9. Melky Cabrera, CF. Pitching: Mike Mussina.
Twins (28-25): 1. Carlos Gomez, CF. 2. Alexi Casilla, 2B. 3. Joe Mauer, C. 4. Justin Morneau, 1B. 5. Michael Cuddyer, RF. 6. Jason Kubel, DH. 7. Delmon Young, LF. 8. Mike Lamb, 3B. 9. Brendan Harris, SS. Pitching: Glen Perkins.
207 Responses to "Twins-Bronx Bombers: First of four tonight at the Dome"
1
LaVelle…
Do you know the all the series’ starting pitching matchups? Please advise. Thanks!
La Velle,
Are you just covering Glen Perkins starts now? …… Just Kidding. Glad to see you back on the blog.
Yanks to go with Wang on Saturday, Rasner Sunday and Monday TBA. Twins, Bonser, Blackie and Livan in that order.
Should be fun to see who can hold back the mighty Yanks.
So let me get this straight…I know we all harp on Gardy and his inconsistency in the line-up, but why is Delmon playing tonight?
Craig Monroe has been productive! We will bench a semi-slumping, but not mentally awful Kubel in April for Monroe but fail to bench Delmon…hmm…interesting.
GO PERK!
Call off the search party, we found him!
Another reason the Trib should just have a Twins blog, and Joe and LEN should just both add entries, like they did with the Big Question with D.J. Tice and Eric Black back in the day.
Not just another paul,
Mussina/Perkins tonight
Wang/Bonser tomorrow (19-3 anyone, again?)
Rasner/Blackburn
Pettite/Hernandez
Yankees announced today Joba will start Tuesday, not Monday vs. Minnesota
Except for the order change…these are the same Pitching Match-Ups as the 4-Gamer against the Red Sox…I would take 3/4 again!
Whoops: not match-ups, but Twins Starters…you know what I meant
Am I the only one that feels uncomfortable saying/hearing Blackburn’s new nickname?
the twins had monday off can’t they skip boof in the rotation. why give the yankees a early lead saturday.
im sick of everybody hating on Young he needed a day off but it is his job so people need to get off his back. Also what has Monroe done besides that HR he is hitting .236 with no range in the outfield. Everybody seems to forget about the 7 outfield assists Young has so far and one of the best outfield arms in the game. Yeah he has had his problems but get over it
Travis Aune,
Does Young really have 7 assists already??
Monroe may be batting .236 but his OPS is more than 100 points higher than Young’s. Batting average doesn’t tell the whole story.
Hawk…yes.
“but not mentally awful Kubel in April for Monroe but fail to bench Delmon…”
Delmon got benched yesterday and took it like a man.
Now he’s going to try and get back into the groove he found last year with the Rays.
RyanW,
That’s a pretty good total already. Young has a big arm but you don’t always know where it’s going. Most guys with big arms are that way. I was at a game when Vlad hit the netting behind the plate with a throw from right.
Send Young to Florida and force him to hit off a tee to left field for about 2 weeks 8hrs/day while chanting “I am a more powerful hitter than Steve Lombardozzi” over and over….
RyanW:
I wondered allowed a few nights back how long it would take for that to come up.
I personally have nothing against it, and see no argument for any kind of problem.
I’ve heard Gardy and others use it in the same sentence as “Morney”, “Cuddy”, and “Nicky”
Travis Aune says:
May 30th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
“im sick of everybody hating on Young he needed a day off but it is his job so people need to get off his back ………… Yeah he has had his problems but get over it”
Listen up guys, Travis is in charge. If you disagree with Travis……..SHUT UP!
Henry Blanco now has more HR’s than Joe Mauer, Maybe we need him back.
The difference between Young and Monroe is simple and it only has to do with one number:age.
Monroe is not going to be with the Twins beyong this year no matter what he does.
Young is 22 and the Twins expect him to be in LF for years. He had a bad stretch and hasn’t hit any homers. How are he and Gomez being held to such different standards in terms of expectations and being streaky on here. It seems that the team at least is treating them both the same. Mental errors=1 day off. Then get them back on the horse, they aren’t going to mature or get any better sitting on the bench. If you want Young to be the monster in the middle of the lineup everyone expects you have to let him have his growing pains now.
TheJemmer says:
May 30th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
“Send Young to Florida and force him to hit off a tee to left field for about 2 weeks 8hrs/day while chanting ‘I am a more powerful hitter than Steve Lombardozzi’ over and over….”
Ha-ha. I don’t think it will work. Lombo would, once in awhile, give it a ride.
Delmon is shooting the ball to right, very nicely, just like he should. Level swing, nice low line drives. Perfect.
“SHUT UP!”
Not cool.
Its “PLEASE SHUT UP!”
Exactly, get Young back out there and see how he reacts to his day off. He has all the ability and he needs to be playing to get this worked out.
“Cuddy” dosen’t have the same historical significance as “Blackie”
Maybe I am over-sensitive.
sane,
Sorry I used the standard, SHUT UP!, instead of the polite, PLEASE SHUT UP!.
Anyway,……Travis rules!!!!
I agree with the sentiment that Young got a much needed day off. Now they need to get him back out there. Hopefully the day off works wonders. If he’s struggling in another week, then you give him another day off or so.
As for Monroe, he’s come up with some big hits, but when he plays too regularly, he really has been exposed.
Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon Young is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old.Delmon is only 22 years old.
POLLY WANT A CRACKER!!
Delmon Young is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old.Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon Young is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old.
BWAK! BWAK!…..POLLY WANT A CRACKER!!!
Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old.Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon Young is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old.Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon Young is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old. Delmon is only 22 years old.
“Am I the only one that feels uncomfortable saying/hearing Blackburn’s new nickname?”
Huh, never even thought about it until you brought it up, RyanW.
Was “Blackie” a racist moniker back in the days of Vaudeville? Is that what you’re talking about?
RANDOM THOUGHTS ‘TIL GAMETIME
Burnsie would be better, but I don’t really care one way or another, it’s just locker room or dugout chatter.
I don’t shut up,
I grow up.
And when I look at____ (fill in blank)
I THROW up!
Sorry, I get carried away, sometimes. I just can’t stand hearing one more time, that Delmon is………..ARGHHHHH!!!!!!!
I’m glad Youg is back in the saddle.I think he handled it pretty well.Monroe also.He knows his roll on this team and has worked hard to make the best of it.I think alot of fans have to high of expectations for Delmon HR wise.The truth is he is hitting exactly the way the Twins teach it.He may eventually develope into a 20-25 HR guy.but I’ll bet he wins a batting title before he hits 30 or more homeruns.
Learned two things already:
1)Perkins Looks Good (welcome back LEN)
2)Delmon is 22 years Young
I don’t shut up,
I grow up.
And when I look at____ (fill in blank)
I THROW up!
Holy cow!
Mudcat went all pre-school on our ass!
That was great.
SANE:
thanks! i guess.
romer- of course it depends on how the word is used, but it clearly can be used as a negative racial slur. As it is used in this setting, it does not fit that definition, so the use of it is obviously not racist.
But it is a little hard for me to say… maybe it is just my own problem.
“Monroe is not going to be with the Twins beyong this year no matter what he does.”
How do you know, zweifz? What if he becomes a HR-hitting pinch hitter?
I was somewhat fond of the nickname BB for Blackburn, as in throwing BBs; except he really doesn’t, but if he did that would be good, so I guess it’s not.
Burnsie has been used in Minnesota… not too good of a memory.
If we didn’t already have a Nicky, that would work, but we do, so it doesn’t.
So, I go with Blackburn. It’s not really too much to say. It’s a bit much to type.
Luv these pre-game chats boys.
Whitey Herzog.
Think about it.
Whitey Ford
Red Shoendist (Spelling)
Red Skelton (not baseball)
Vida Blue
Shawn Green
Blue Moon Odom (maybe)
Catfish Hunter (not so much)
And, of Course,
Mudcat Grant (never,ever,occured to me)
http://images.wikia.com/muppet/images/a/a9/Grandpamudcat.jpg
Rondl White (a home town favorite)
Gordo calls his partner “Black Jack Morris”
Sandy Koufax (has nothing to do with this topic; just happens to be my all time favorite player)
Rondell White …… Did they nickname him “Whitey”?
Delmon is 22 years old, he is young. haha - no pun intended. I still think he is going to be great.
Lenny Green (my homeboy)
PeeWee Reese (I mean c’mon “peewee”)
CRAIG:
The definitive answer to the question!
What was the question, anyway?
Harmon “killer” Killebrew (hmmm, that couldn’t be PC these days)
OK, I’m an old-fashioned liberal; therefore an affirmative action advocate, etc.
Eric Clapton tore up the blues world with his favorite Fender strat, which he called Blackie (because it was black in color). And of course there isn’t a drop of racist blood in him.
“Blackie” is a cool-sounding name. Why let the racists have it?
“Gordo calls his partner ‘Black Jack Morris’”
Hmmmm …………… Sounds better than “White Jack”.
If someone should sit for Monroe to play on the field, it should be Cuddy (over Young)
CARLOS:
I had a car that was Sandy colored, so you have to retract your 6:52.
Andrei Kirilenko (AK47… hmmm?)
OK, I’m done. That was fun, for me anyway.
Dane says:
May 30th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
“Delmon is 22 years old, he is young. haha - no pun intended. I still think he is going to be great.”
REALLY? …… only 22? ….I didn’t know that….well, that changes everything.
Archie Bunker worked with two guys they called Elmo and Black Elmo.
But he could get away with anything on his show.
I learned two……
OK that was dumb.
What’s all this hype that Mussina is a reigning Twins killer? One report said he’s 0-4 his last 4 starts vs. the Twins. And his last start, against the Mariners, was a bit miserable.
ROMER:
I wondered about that. I still get chills when Musina pitches against us, but that was quite a while ago.
TV programming note. You might want to get your remote handy or get recording ABC. National Spelling Bee on right now! some of us could use some help in this area. 
romer-my conclusion that he won’t be back next year is based on three things
1)the Twins committment to youth
2)recent history with signing veterans
3)most importantly-if Monroe does turn into the pinch hitting homerun hitter you are supposing someone will offer him more money than the Twins
…… and the winner of this years spelling bee……. BC Beneke!
I have yankees announcers tonight…. ugh
The twins hitting philosophy is a tralatitious approach from the TK days to the present.
A 93 mph FB already from Perkins.
Brad gave me a hard time for so long, I can get a little revenge. Where is the guy, anyway?
I think he is watching ABC
tralatitious
dude!
“tralatitious” …… I’ll be a son of a b^tch.
It was spelled wrong by the youngster. Stay tuned for more elucidation this evening.
Now I’ve heard it all……tralatitious
Dang, I thought that was catchable ball by Harris
Some people think DY has hemeralopia. I think he just misplayed the ball.
that was an almost tralatitious catch by Harris
Carlos, How old are these kids?
They are less than 16. I have seen ages of 14 and 15 listed. Girl from Rochester is supposed to still be in it. It’s a ridiculous competition at this point. You must have to know the dictionary, because these words sound “made up” when you first hear them.
That was a 3-0 changeup to Mauer.
Yanks broadcasters ripping mauer for lack of power…. micheal kay a twins blogger?
Rochester girl got huguenot right.
Nice. We can hopefully use the extra out.
mongeloid throws wide of god…. darn 
Tight strike zone so far.
Musina getting squeezed on the strike calls. that’s good news for us so far.
I recall my 7:34 post. sheesh
Wow, that pitch was all plate, and the ump called it a ball.
And now another “ball” call to Kubel.
He screwed Perkins once too.
Delmon needs to put a charge into this ball.
good job Del Man!
Inconsistent ump tonight. I wonder who blows up on him first?
Atta way to come back DY
Strike zone all over the place.
Didja see how slow ARod looked a few batters ago? Slower than Lamb.
I’d call that a charge!
Great AB by Lamb.
another word for our pirahannas would be trochilines (the humming bird family)
Lamb was robbed by Jeter. Hopefully this portends a good night against Mussina.
numnah just got a big laugh. It sounded like numb nuts when he first pronounced it.
You mean just humming along playing station-to-station baseball, Carlos G?
Nice catch
Oomptie, an RBI and a great play on D for Delmon already.
Couldn’t be a better start for DY. Just what he needed. Line drive for a hit and now a tough catch.
Need to give DYoung more days off.
Well — to be grumpy — why the f*** didn’t Gardy give Delmon a bench day like 2 to 3 weeks ago?
romer,
For some reason Gardy seemed afraid to sit DY down. I think that actually brought more stress to the team. And, DY took it great. The young DY (only 22 you know) seems to have more maturity than most people thought.
Not a patient AB for Gomez.
Because delmon was doing fine 2 to 3 weeks ago.
Alexi can unpack his bags. He will be sticking around awhile.
“The young DY (only 22 you know)”
Is that all he is? Just 22?
Yea, I think I read that somewhere a while back… only 22
Craig,
That would be the start of a really fine offense if Alexi and Gomez can stay healthy and continue to perform. Wow, they will be fun to watch.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Giambi thought he was playing on 75 foot bases.
Commercial break… so your choice, have you kid read 20 pages of the dictionary every day or play baseball. Dictionary of Play sports? Hmmmm??
Funny. Most of these kids seem relatively well adjusted.
that should be: Dictionary or Play Sports?
Not a patient AB by Young.
C’mon Perkins. We need a few zeroes on the board.
Ben Revere after 7 innings,
3 for 3, 2 doubles and a triple.
Now batting .410.
Ted Williams who?
hey sane, nice to see you. Thought you had a college game tonight.
i know this is way off base here, but the twins need to go after garret atkins. the rockies will be sellers this year at the deadline, and i think they will trade atkins before they trade holliday (they have ian stewart in their system for 3B) and i think it would make their fans very unhappy to get rid of holliday. the twins could probably get atkins for 2 pitching prospects and an outfield prospect.
Rochester girl goes out on bogatyr. Who wouldn’t know how to spell that?
Changed my mind.
I’d rather watch the Twins on TV and a Colt League game live simultaneously.
Perkins a disappointment so far tonight. How could he walk Duncan?
As the draft approaches a thought just entered my mind:
Twins front office gets knocked for not doing a good job evaluating position players to draft, which has got to be really difficult considering that you never know what kind of pitchers those guys are facing in HS or college.
But look at the job they do in evaluating and acquiring other teams players based on seeing them in the minors.
Got Harris and Young for Garza and Bartlett(who they got for Brian Buchanan)
Got Gomez for Santana.
Got Casilla for JC Romero
Got Macri for Ramon Ortiz.
The only pitcher on that list who would realistically still be with the Twins is Garza. The Twins do a good job of filling their minor(and major) league rosters with position players. Who cares how they get them, so long as they get them.
the twins could probably get atkins for 2 pitching prospects and an outfield prospect.
As long as we offer better prospects than all the other trade offers they get.
I believe the wandering strike zone tonight hurt both pitchers. it’ll come down to relief pitchers tonight.
I agree whalefeet. That was the first thought on my mind when I read the article on cnnsi.com saying that the Rockies may blow up the team this year.
How about Span, one of the pitchers from the Mets, and another pitcher(even somebody like Slowey). Maybe the Rockies brass will be drinking heavily by then and you could talk them into taking Bonser and Rincon.
After all, one is a “young” starter with “potential” and the other an “established” reliever.
Lamb with a town team swing……
sane,
How many years before Revere makes it to the majors? Think he can do it in less than 3?
Craig,
Knowing the only stupid question is the one not asked, (beside this one)how and why are you new and improved?
“hey sane, nice to see you. Thought you had a college game tonight.”
Carlos G,
I can still see the Dirtbags-Fresno State game AFTER the Twins game at 9:30PM. (CDT) (7:30PM PDT)
Not Slowey, zwiefz.
sane,
“How many years before Revere makes it to the majors? Think he can do it in less than 3?”
IF he keeps hitting .410, HELL YES!!!.
Finish at Fort Myers this year.
New Britain next year.
Rochester in 2010.
Twins callup at the end of 2010.
Cuddyer traded winter of 2011.
Rather large IF.
Romer, I really don’t want to see them trade Slowey. But a player like Atkins is going to take more than prospects. The Rockies will want at least one major league ready/proven player. I don’t think Perkins has the pedigree to make them happy and I think Baker and Blackburn will have slightly better futures than Slowey.
Dang. I am sick and tired of A-Rod not getting rung up. That’s 3 times in 3 at bats.
can anyone explain why Bass is in there?
good job Bass!
thrylos, cuz it’s only the 5th.
Some of our guys show signs of aptyalism tonight. (lack of saliva)
Kid spelled it right too. Down to 3 contenders.
What’s the term for lack of Silva?
M&M have been relatively quiet lately. Need these 2 to get a W tonight.
And then there were two. Young lady spelled Opificer wrong. That’s what the drunken driver said to the guy who pulled him over.
Well done on that call, Bert. For more on that I direct you to Doogie’s Query on KFAN.com.
HRs are introuvable for Mauer and young. (impossible to find)
Jerry Meals has been awful for each pitcher tonight.
Glen Perkins committed the pitching mortal sin of throwing waist high/or higher stuff tonight. Gotta be knee high and movin’. How about Bass!!!! And Casilla with the DP!
Sameer Mishra your new champion.
Back to regular programming.
Rays kill White Sox with a walkoff in the bottom of the ninth
Has Mel Kiper released his 09 Bee projections yet?
Mussina is still out there with over 100 pitches. Is that fair? I thought there was a rule.
Side Note - Just checked the Beloit box scores from tonight…
In Game 1, Ben Revere went 3-3 with two doubles and a triple.
Game 2 is in the third inning. He is 2-2 with another double in that game.
Not bad…
OK, proceed with regular programming…
Whooooo!! Delmon got a fly-ball all the way out to shallow center. Its all in the wrists baby!
TheJemmer,
That’s good. This sport is hard to predict. It seems like these kids come out of no where. Rookies dominate the competition.
Delmon with another impatient AB. He’s swung at some crappy pitches tonight.
Why isn’t Reyes coming in?
Oh…….he is.
Man this is a slow-paced game tonight. 3 whole innings to go.
Nice idea Bass. But instead of just clipping A-Rod on the elbow guard, you need to stick one in his ribs.
So Gardy abandons the team again tonight…
If someone needs the HBP it’s Abreu, not A-Rod. That guy’s on fire tonight.
Bartlett would’ve caught that Brendan
Needed a better athlete (Tolbert, Punto) at SS on that play.
Stick one in the ribs of A-Rod, Abreu, Jeter, Giambi,… I am not real particular. Their attitudes all deserve some drillings.
Little Nickie? His wife, Natalie, gave birth to Nicole Jayne at 2:51 p.m. CT on Friday.
ARod was smiling like a skunk eating s**t….
romer,
Exactly. Someone needs to knock those smirks off their faces.
This is the inning to get a couple runs.
Nick came in late to the delivery room and handled his chances to hold the baby well, only to look pathetic at the plate in the hospital cafeteria
Mike,
Early reports are that baby Nicole is already taller than daddy.
Good baserunning by Harris.
Gardy has a good reason not to be there tonight
Will somebody tie the pinky straps on Ramirez’s glove already??
Needed a better athlete (Punto, Tolbert) at 3B on that play.
Do an MVP thing, Justin. Get it goin’!!
Thank YOU!!!!!
All you guys still got your heads up a dictionary?
romer,
Watching replays of the spelling bee. Fascinating.
So, this umpire sucked bad tonight. A-Rod had at least 3 pitches called balls that were better than strike 2 on Mauer last AB. Joe was not happy and he doesn’t get annoyed easily.
Delmon takes it out of the yard!!! Oh, foul ball
So Rivera has only given up 1 run this year?
Yep, romer, he is way overdue to give up another.
Lots of hang time. Where was Harris?
romer,
That shallow fly ball doesn’t seem to be Harris’ specialty. There was an easier one in the 1st that I thought he could have caught. Cost them a run that time.
I remembered that first one too, Carlos G.
So we could have used Punto tonight at SS. Harris at 3B, Lamb DH, Kubel LF.
Maybe we’ll see such a lineup later in the series.
Wonder if Monroe could work a walk…..
God……..8 scoreless innings.
Well, you couldn’t expect anything else than a bad call to end the game. It was a winnable game… too bad we didn’t get it done.
they really didnt work mussina out of the game and they really could’ve….aarrrrghhh!
Tough way to start the series. Boof on the mound tomorrow. That could get ugly quick.
Yep, 4 in the first and then pffftttt.
poor Royals…. lost again after being up 4-1
Lets hope for a rainout tomorrow
Perkins didn’t have it tonight. He was made to look even worse by the inconsistent ump and the extra strikes A-Rod got… of which two of those ended in runs.
But, we could have put up better at bats against Mussina who also had a wandering strike zone.
I think Gardy would have worked an ejection tonight early on those ball calls to A-Rod.
Maybe everyone heard:
“Floyd’s walk-off homer lifts Rays over White Sox”
On a positive note —- considering there was an incompetent strike zone, a power hitting team, and the fact that the Yankees got 16 hits, there must have been some good situational pitching going on for the Twins.
Couldn’t see tonight’s game but from reading here, it sounded winnable. Nutz!
Hated to see Celtics clinch. Sick of hearing about Ortiz, Randy Moss, and now Garnett.
I would like to add that “I” was a speling bee champ in school.
I was LMAO!
“Hey Ump Open your eyes yer missin a good game” He took Perkins right out of his strategy of keeping it down.
I rarely blame the umps, but the home plate ump should take a long walk on a short pier tonight. I hope he doesn’t have to drive a vehicle. Turn the lights off, then it’ll be the same for everyone.
Good night
HAVE FUN !!! GO TWINS!!!
Wow! Wait ’till you guys see a replay of the homer that beat the dirty Sox!
Would have been nice to have Seen Breslow pitch tonight.
I don’t understand what the Twins saw in Lamb. In the field he is slow to react and has a terrible arm. At the plate he looks like it hurts him to swing, or if he’s at 3/4 speed. He’s had one good swing all year. I don’t know how he hit any home runs in his life with that swing.
He is hitting over .400 with RISP, but how long will that last?
“Lamb. In the field he is slow to react”
Lamb may have to specialize on grass infields.
On turf, he looks like he is diving at the memory of a ground ball.
On turf, the answer is probably Harris at 3B and Punto (or a healthy Everett) at SS.
Lamb, reacting on a line drive, looks a little like the shell-shocked goalie in the movie “Slapshot”.
Where are all the fans? Why aren’t they coming to games? Is Mpls that lame a baseball town?! Or will this improve when there is an outdoor stadium? I don’t get it….
“Where are all the fans? Why aren’t they coming to games?”
The fans are too cheap to go to the games. They would rather bitch about the Twins cheap owner on the blogs.
Doesn’t cost a thing!
