Twins-A’s: Checking on injuries
Posted on August 19th, 2008 – 4:36 PMBy La Velle
Delmon Young is not in the starting lineup. I’m guessing it’s because of the ankle he turned yesterday. He’s usually moving around the clubhouse with a bat in his hands before games but he didn’t take early batting practice today and was just sitting at a table listening to tunes.
Alexi Casilla played well for Class A Beloit last night, getting a hit, walking twice, stealing a base and making a fine defensive day. He’s set to play one more game before joining the Twins for the crucial road trip.
Adam Everett was on the field during early b.p. but was a spectator instead of a participator. And his right hand was wrapped.
Just realized that the Twins may be down to a two-man bench tonight. Plenty of speed at Gardy’s disposal with Mike Redmond and Mike Lamb.
Matt Tolbert is set to play tonight for Class AA New Britain as he gets his baseball-playing legs back under him after being out since May with a torn thumb ligament. He should be ready to join the team by the time rosters expand.
5:27 Update: Everett is sore and told Gardy he could play in an emergency. Young took b.p. but Gardy said he wasn’t moving around well so the manager seems reluctant to use him. So two-man bench, hang with it!!!
The wait is on to see the roster move the Twins will make to clear space for Casilla - provided Casilla gets through tonight’s game at Beloit. You wonder how the Twins have been affected by the lack of continuity in the infield this year.
Funny moment during Gardy’s presser. A TV reporter mentioned that the Vikes talked today about Tavaris Jackson learning how to slide. Guess Childress mentioned something about calling the Twins about sliding lessons.
So Gardy was asked if Chili had called - or if Jackson is welcome to show up for lessons.
After a brief pause, Gardy replied, “We teach head first around here.”
Lineups
A’s (57-67): 1. Mark Ellis, 2B. 2. Eric Patterson, LF. 3. Jack Cust, RF. 4. Frank Thomas, DH. 5. Kurt Suzuki, C. 6. Bobby Crosby, SS. 7. Carlos Gonzalez, CF. 8. Jack Hannahan, 3B. 9. Daric Barton, 1B. Pitching: Sean Gallagher.
Twins (70-54): 1. Denard Span, RF. 2. Nick Punto, 2B. 3. Joe Mauer, C. 4. Justin Morneau, 1B. 5. Jason Kubel, LF. 6. Randy Ruiz. DH. 7. Brian Buscher, 3B. 8. Brendan Harris, SS. 9. Carlos Gomez, CF. Pitching: Kevin Slowey.
455 Responses to "Twins-A’s: Checking on injuries"
ruiz in left?
i don’t think i like this lineup, doesn’t look like they’ll battle or get after it. with young out there will only be punto to complain about tomorrow.
boy the a’s have some serious talent, look out!
both ruiz and kubal in left.
Down to two guys on teh bench and no DH, huh?
Yikes…better pull a rabbit out of the hat tonight, boys.
Ruiz gets after it…so does Go-go…we’re all good, here.
They need 2 LF. Between Kubel and Ruiz they might be able to cover it.
I don’t know who Sean Gallagher is but he better not have woken up on the same side of the bed that Kirk Sarloos did yesterday….
This is a big one, folks…the Whities don’t appear to be slowing down and I’m not in the mood to go on the marathon roadie down 2 games or more!
Get after it, Twins!
over and under on nicky getting called out on stikes and bitching at the ump?
At least Felix Hernandez is pitching tonight so Seattle may have a slight chance. Also, it looks like the Twins will miss him again when they play Seattle next week.
I’m sure La Velle meant that Ruiz is DHing you knuckle heads.
Joe it’s called humor try it sometime.. though noone thinks the blogs are funny 
Since it is close to Sep call ups, I can’t see Tolbert being of help until then
Fargo,
La Velle said exactly that. “When the roster expands.”
Jason,
Gallagher was one of the centerpieces from Chicago in the Rich Harden trade. He’s been decent so far for Oakland, but he’s a highly regarded prospect who’s been up and down with the Cubs, only 22 years old too. He had a great debut for the A’s versus the Angels. He’s got talent, but I don’t know that he’s put it all together yet. He struggles with his command a lot, so hopefully we show some patience against him tonight. He’s walked 23 in 29 innings with Oakland, but managed to keep the ERA at 4.60 in spite of it… let’s help push it up to Livan territory tonight. 
I think the key tonight is patience from the top of the order… if he puts on a few runners for Mauer, Morneau, and Kubel… one of them should be able to make him pay.
Hopefully Slowey gets the rest done against a struggling offense.
Forgot to mention he can also strike hitters out just as easily as he can walk them… he’s got a great curve and a nice mid-90s fastball when he’s throwing well.
Watch out Gomez.
If Ruiz is playing left he will probably have a ZR in the neighborhood of .750. That’s worse than Bobby Abreu…
According to accuscore, the twins were the 53% favorites to win yesterday. Today accuscore says the twins are 71% favorites. I hope that is the case…
Sorry about the Ruiz, LF thing….
WHY DOES PUNTO BAT 2ND!
HE IS A 9 HITTER AT ABSOLUTE BEST.
put him 9th if we have to play him…or 12th or auto out
I smell an 0-5 night…
4-3
K
F8
F5
K looking
great line-up
maybe LNP will drop the batting donut on Harris in BP
the AAA line-up continues
And I will never shop at Continenental Diamond if that is the best guy you can get for your radio spot!
“tell LNP drove you in” unba
Why isn’t Span in LF? He has the better range and with more real estate to cover in LF would be a better fit there.
I think we will be back to where we were at the beginning of last nights game. I think King Felix will pull one out in Chicago and we will put more runs on the board tonight. My only concern is that Slowey will not be able match Blackie’s inning count from last night.
i like the DH in bold La velle
Why would Gardy put Kubel in LF and Span in RF? That’s beyond dumb.
Lovell- Why don’t the twins snipe Aubrey Huff now, if he has been put on waivers? He can play 3rd, 1st, and OF. Get rid of Mike Lamb!
Or Kevin Millar?
As far as I can remember, Span hasn’t played a single game in LF in the Dome, while Kubel has experience both in LF and RF. Thus, you keep Span in his comfort zone.
Now is no the time to give young guys new challanges (switching Span to LF or Young to RF, etc). Doing something like that in the middle of a pennant race would truly be beyond dumb.
Must be a slow day for news. Two bench reserves with Lamb and Redmond both guys have speed and no place to use them! Ok, I’ll bite, thats a joke?….
“keep Span in his comfort zone.”
Span’s comfort zone is six steps in front of Kubel when tracking down fly balls hit into the gap.
Span belongs in LF. Putting the slow guy in the big field and the swift guy in the little field makes no sense.
I am a defender of Gardy, but this is as dumb as Gomez leading off and Span batting ninth. Once the switch is made the old way seems absolutely stupid.
Agreed Craig. 100%
Yep agreed, know would maybe be a good time to make the switch to, Cuddy out for the year, and Young struggling again in LF yesterday, with him out maybe for 2 to 3 days when Young comes back move him to right. I think Young could be a really good RF. He could be Cuddyer with more speed.
*NOW instead of KNOW
I agree with Craig, but the change should have been made the moment Cuddy went down.
As for Gardy, great line on the head first slide I thing. You gotta appreciate a guy with a sense of humor.
I am a defender of Gardy, but this is as dumb as Gomez leading off and Span batting ninth. Once the switch is made the old way seems absolutely stupid.
It doesn’t happen often, but I couldn’t agree more.
“Why isn’t Span in LF?”
Because playing RF is an art with the baggie and all. They’ll keep Span there.
“I smell an 0-5 night…”
Brent, Punto needs time off. In 2 more games he’ll be getting it.
If Slowey doesn’t get those two balls called for strikes…this is going to be a LONG night.
Slowey’s line tonight after patterson:
0.1 IP 1 SO 100 Pitches 98 Strikes
I don’t blame the hitter on that last one…that was a ball twice to Patterson.
Great. Now it’s going to be one of THOSE nights with the Zone.
Well, good luck hitters, pitchers…you’re on your own.
Wow there’s that horizontal curve we saw from Slowey a year and a month ago when he first came up.
Still think that’s a good pitch. It serves as a changeup. Look at Thomas weakly flying out to LF — he had to hold back to see if a weird curve, tailing FB, or straight-hard FB was coming.
Can’t wait to get Casilla back.
Comparing Span to Chuck…
Mr. Crikket, Would you please tell me what a Kemel (sp?) is? I believe you wrote that it is the name of the Class A Cedar Rapids team. Thanks in advance.
Everytime Gordo says “Gallagher” I picture that watermelon smashing comedian with the freaky hair…..
Not content with taking out his current competition with Everett, Punto has moved on to taking down youth in the stands who are future MLB infielders.
I wish the Twins would walk more consistently…
Stop swinging for the fences Punto, Mauer.
romer,
I appreciate your idea about right field being an “art form” with the baggie and all. This was discussed way back in 1988 when RF Tom Brunansky was traded away. Many suggested Brunansky was particularly good at playing the baggie.
The general consensus eventually seemed to be that when a batted ball hit the baggie, it falls down at the base. The RF then picks it up, and throws it into the infield. No wild caroms, no great skill needed. To the contrary, that little field with the big soft baggie is one of the easiest in baseball to defend.
Randy Bush and Gene Larkin played RF for the 1991 World Champs (along with Shane Mack). Those two were mediocre fielders at best. They had no problems.
Just took the bat out of Morneau’s hands.
No WAY was that a strike. Come on.
Funny. I’ve seen better called balls. Tonight even.
How much was this ump paid to screw the Twins?
just a bit outside……. for a strike
I guess he would rather watch Slowey pitch
Better be giving that to Slowey. If so, Slowey can eat the lineup for lunch.
Good to see Slowey learned from Blackburn yesterday
we need righties with power to take advantage of that short LF, seeing the opponents hit too many there.
I don’t care what anyone says, Cedar Rapids is a AAA town, corn kernels(sp is correct) and all.
Slowey looks like he will throw 100 pitches by the end of the fourth
This series is starting to feel like the infamous 1992 series that sent the Twins on a long spiral into oblivion. I hope Suzuke does not equal Eric Fox.
Bad vibes in this series for some reason.
Nah Willie,
This is different. The A’s can’t pass us in the standings like in 92.
Amazing! The white sox were able to score a run without a HR!
Casilla is 2 for 2 already
High bounces off the baggie, RFers running after weird bouncing balls (as opposed to Green-Monster situations)….there is a need for strong fingers and sure hands and good athleticism.
Span has a better arm than Kubel too —- from RIGHT FIELD.
I know. I know. There just seems to be a crap vibe around this deal. Can’t put my finger on it but the sharp “Twinsness” seems to have left the building on Sunday with that nail-hanger.
They need a serious head slap to change the mo. The chip on the shoulder seems to be sitting on their shoelaces.
So Gallagher has his no-hitter going……
Kielty HR…
Lets hope a line drive does hit him or a bat or gets spiked or hit by lightning or anyother freak occurance
Kielty gets a HR
There goes that Kubel feller again getting it going and going after it.
I want Ruiz to hit his first Major League HR
Gallagher trying to smash the Twins hopes….. like a sledgehammer on a watermelon.
sorry
That does not quite have the distance
Twins MO tonight: Get lead off man on. Then fly out twice.
Then K.
STOP TRYING and just hit.
Shawn…
That was bad.
Line drives are better than lazy flies to right center. Maybe someone should mention that in the dugout.
Shawn you’re stealin my joke!…
HR!
THANK YOU.
That DID have the distance
Willie,
it was terrible.
Yay Buscher
Well, that seems to be the equivalent of a slap to the head.
We should have enough runs, so everyone should relax and go out and kick their ass.
Alrighty then!!!!!!
sorry Krissy
i’m a dick
Someone mentioned it in the dugout.
You’re not a dick you’re a shawn….
Ok THAT was bad!
Gomez almooooost got fooled by the curve
Got fooled that time
Should I say it?
Buscher with his own rendition of the Sledge-o-matic…
*runs*
Denard is SUCH a good player!
Where was this Denard Span when he was brought up earlier?
everything is getting hit hard
I [heart] Span.
Span-Man strikes again.
Who would win the ROY if Span had played like this from the beginning of the year, Span or Evan?
LNP has a chance to cement himself into the hearts of Twindom.
How were the Twins so wrong about Span. He’d still be in AAA were it not for injuries. Unbelievable,
Jesus, Span-Casilla-Mauer is going to be sooooo nice again.
Gardy would still start Punto over Jesus.
gatty
I think that would depend upon how both teams end the season.
gatty: Longoria hits homeruns, which are generally flashier and easier to put together in a highlight reel.
That would’ve put him over with EPSN. And if you take ESPN, the rest usually follows.
LNP, once again, remains in the place reserved for “The People Under The Stairs.”
Poor guy..he just can’t seem to break free of the B movie horror thrillers.
Poor guy.
“Gardy would still start Punto over Jesus.”
hahahaha! That produced a genuine LOL from me.
Gardy would still start Punto over Jesus.
That’s because Jesus can’t switch hit.
Span’s OPS is now at .867!
I personally think that Evan would win regardless because of his power numbers
Jesus leading off! that’d have to be a 1.000 OBP i’d guess.
Well, assuming Slowey keeps up the good pitching here, he will be out after the 6th thanks to the stupid, knee-jerk pull-the-pitcher-at-or-before-100 pitches policy. He does seem to have great control tonight.
Justin “The Gazelle” Morneau.
Ok, I’m trying to give him some good nature excrement. Just can’t give Dudley any crap.
Ellis has been watching Ruiz
WOW. That was an ugly slide.
That was a brutal slide into first. Randy Ruizeske.
Punto…let me guess. Hand injury?
Jesus leading off! that’d have to be a 1.000 OBP i’d guess.
And the first time he struck out in the playoffs the fans would crucify him.
…
*runs again*
not the fielding of someone who sux as much as one would be led to believe by reading this board.
The Jesus line:
6-7 6HRs
He took a break on the seventh at bat…
gatty790
I agree on Evan. He plays tremendous defense. He will win many gold gloves in this league at 3rd.
Then the Twins bullpen came in and gave up 10 runs. The Twins led by Jesus, thus, lose.
I once heard that when Jesus was playing, he came to bat with only one man on.
He as able to score three runs off that one AB, and left enough men on base to provide the man hitting behind him to hit a walk off grand slam.
Jesus would throw a bean ball just so he could heal the batter…
Aaron, Jesus also has a nasty changeup.
There’s no need for a DH when he’s starting.
“What the…who put wine in all the coolers?”
“My bad.”-Jesus
T
I forgot about the changeup
The problem with Jesus was that his OBP wasn’t up to snuff.
There was no water to get a walk on.
The batters would kneel before him…
Jesus also lays down an amazing sacrifice.
So how much is Jesus’ contract. Or would we trade him to the Yanks or Boston for 4 prospects and a PTNL because that is the only way ESPN would cover Jesus
That last pitch was more of a strike than the one to morneau!
6 K’s in 3 innings for Slowey.
Jesus’ nickname:
Ol’ Wine and Guts.
I think I’m going to hell.
So how much is Jesus’ contract.
Six pieces of silver.
And the first time he struck out in the playoffs the fans would crucify him.
…
*runs again*
I laughed, I’m going to hell.
K-Slo is a strike-out god tonight.
The batters will kneel to HIM!
some guys come back from retirement…. but Jesus …..
I am so F’ing sick of the F’ing Chicago Whitesox. Hope their team plane goes down on the way to their next road game.
Have the Twins ever thought of putting up some sort of barrier for the dugouts so people don’t get drilled by LNP? At least on the Twins side.
Twins are upping their collective slugging percentage today…
This just in…
Jesus may not be from Cretin-Derham Hall. Canadia may be a possibility.
I thought that ball by Kubel was in the upper deck…
Geeze Ruiz
Does anyone think that the Twins should put Everett on the 15 and keep ruiz up here?
That was a horrible throw by the Oakland player
yes gatty
Wow. A good throw likely nails Ruiz there.
I thought we were watching Ruiz run in Slow-motion…then I realized that was just him running live
Gatty, since Casilla, Harris, and Punto can cover the MIF…Everett would likely be the odd man out anyway.
I think Harris is my favorite “underappreciated” Twin. The guy is a doubles machine and you’d think they could find a regular slot for him.
I like Harris.
Nothing kills an inning like a Gomez AB.
Ruiz probably has never scored from first on a non HR in his life.
Alright, Brendan Harris needs to be sent to intensive fielding practice camp this winter, and if there is not such a thing, then invent it. We need this guy in the lineup on full time basis.
“Nothing kills an inning like a Gomez AB.”
But it’s such an exciting death.
Both Sox are up by four. Not much help tonight
$1 dog days in the afternoon make me sad.
Even if Gomez had an exciting death, Jesus would have him rise again…
thought Seattle would show better with King Felix on the hill.
So the million dollar question is this:
Can Buscher be taught to be a better thrower of the ball “at the major league level” (gratuitous Bert reference) to keep his bat in the lineup? Or will they spend the offseason shopping for a complete player at the hot corner?
This will be one of the big off-season debating points.
any easy Aflac question
an*
Even if Gomez had an exciting death, Jesus would have him rise again…
But it would take three days.
In fulfillment of the scriptures of course.
That was an ugly play all around in the outfield.
Gomez and Span apprently sharing a collective mindfart.
That was some strange defense
Buscher and Harris can go to school together. johnnyonthespot had a great idea
Here we go again
[…] Originally published by Twins Insider […]
“T says:
August 19th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Even if Gomez had an exciting death, Jesus would have him rise again…
But it would take three days.
In fulfillment of the scriptures of course.”
SO he would go to KC for three days?
That is quite enough from you, Minneapolis Star Tribune » Blog Archive » Twins-A’s: Checking on injuries!
Gomez might go to baseball hell, aka Pittsburgh…
Slowey sure does have good late movement.
Gotta love them balls right down the middle.
8 Ks
Nice little deek by Mauer there, jumping back outside.
SO he would go to KC for three days?
I said dead, not condemned.
This would never work because it is so obvious. Delmon and Everett to DL, Pridie and Casilla here tomorrow. Delmon to rehab in about 7 days - hustle if you want to be on the playoff roster. Too risky?
another quick post - I am sick to death of turning .200 hitters into .250(or .091 to .131). Hit me
I’d play in KC for a million bucks…
Today’s the 19th. 15 days is the 36th. Aka, Delmon wouldn’t be back in time.
I would never ever trade Pridie for Young. Another DP for Mauer…
Pradon. The 34th.
After scoring 3 in the 8th to beat the Angels 4-2, the Rays are now the best team in baseball.
Wild card does not look so bad, then?
How the rays continue to be good is mystifying to me…
Can’t Delmon be named to the post season roster if on DL? I really don’t know
yay someone from my hometown with a sign.
When I was at the game yesterday a kid with a huge sign sitting in front of me. Yeah.
230 days until Bert’s birthday. Just in case anyone wanted to know.
Tim. From my understanding. They cannot.
Another QS for a young Twins starter.
Ho-hum……
Not a QS yet…
Drat, only 5 innings.
The roming man is tired tonight.
they can switch people in and out of the playoff roster due to injury though, i am sure a phantom injury could come up
Yanks lost
i can almost hear taps from the Bronx
Oakland pitching…just what the doctor ordered.
Just look at where he hit that ball. He had no business getting a double off that pitch!
“Tim. From my understanding. They cannot.”
You sure? That seems ridiculous…….and wrong.
couldn’t they just leave a void roster spot?
Mr romer, Thank you for the earlier clarification. Old eyes see rn as a m. Kernels make much more sense.
Great at bat by ruiz
LNP and Everett, given Casilla’s performance tonight, are doing Rock, Paper ,Scissors in the bullpen to see who is getting sent to the DL.
I think it is on My 29.
You sure? That seems ridiculous…….and wrong.
I thought this discussion came up earlier…it was part of the reason that Cuddyer would not be eligible to be on the playoff roster if he got back after the 1st. (Which wouldn’t be the case anyway)
The ump alllmmmoost called him out
Ruiz is running way too much
“…milk a couple of outs…”
Sounds good, maybe we can relax and cruise to victory.
Ah: According to Rule 40(a), a player must be on his club’s active big league roster or disabled list (or bereavement list, suspended list, or military list) on August 31 in order to be eligible for post-season play.
I thought it sounded funny when I saw it explained the other way.
Let’s see if Gomez is patient this at bat…
Nope, a HR
Gomez has been wanting that one all night.
Could somebody explain to me what bereavement means?
Gomez sure knows how to kill an inning, don’t he?
:)>
About 30 feet right of where I was sitting yesterday…
Okay. Seriuosly…Boof and Bass should be able to mop this one up.
bereavement is mourning…aka someone dies and the player is unable to play because they have to be with their family
Looks like Gomez might have risen quicker than the three days. Maybe it was three at bats…
Could somebody explain to me what bereavement means?
Mourning. So like funeral attendence as well as any days required to handle affaris.
Thankyou
With slowey at 84 pitches, I think they would come in anyway…
Span simply being merciful there.
Span being a good sport.
No reason for Casilla to not be in the lineup tomorrow……4-1/2 hours from Cedar Rapids.
Casilla with Gomez breaking out of his slump with the apparently slump-proof Span. Wow.
Like I posted on Howard’s yesterday, every Twin start could easily hit over .300 from here on out except Punto/Everett at SS. (Of course that was with Gomez on the bench and Delmon in the lineup.)
10 runs on 11 hits.
That is some efficient baseball.
K-rod in 02 didn’t start in the majors by Sept 1. Must have been an injury replacement?
That Darn Denard! Is there anything he cant/wont do?
Ruiz is pathetically slow and Gomez is a waste of time as a hitter….perhaps those valiant posters would be so bold as to print their resumes as regards their professional baseball careers so that we might regale in their past successes.
Was that “We BOUGHT The Whole Neighbor”??
Were those Carl P.’s great-great-great grandkids?
Wait. Liriano is 16-3 in his career? Did I read that wrong?
Did Span jog to first?
K-rod in 02 didn’t start in the majors by Sept 1. Must have been an injury replacement?
Yep. It was actually discussed in the article I pulled the quote from. I didn’t catch for who though.
bereavement as in Yankee fans are taking bereavement leave
In other words, where the f**k is Beltre. We could have just paid some big bucks and a token player or two for him.
It would have been dynasty, people.
There’s Span again, vastly playing RF better than any other Twin.
16-8 in his career
romer: The token player would likely have been Blackburn or Perkins.
“Did Span jog to first?”
No, but he did drop kick the wall in right for getting in his way!
16-8 in his career
Thanks. 3/8…they blend when you’re glancing quickly.
just scanning the boxscore, it appears theres only one twins player that hasn’t joined the hit parade this evening….any guesses..
PUNTA!!!!
romer and $5 million for Beltre
gatty
Is this the beginning of the Chuck Norris/Denard Span jokes?
The best bert quote of the night: “The Twins are the Twins”
Is this the beginning of the Chuck Norris/Denard Span jokes?
I was just thinking that…
Slowey has 89 K’s in 120 innings this year.
no
“Nope, a HR”
Ha-ha gatty. How are your biorhythms tonight?
Dick did compare Denard to Chuck earlier…
Man i just wish that Beltre was not playing for the dumbest orginization in baseball so we could have made a reasonible trade for him. I have no qualms with the Twins for not agreaing to their what seemed to be ridiculous trade demands. O well
so:
what is tomorrow’s roster move?
Everett DL
Everett cut
Ruiz sent down
Lamb cut
Buscher down
Broken finger??? Guess not
I’m guessing that was Punto. I’m guessing its no longer Punto.
92 pitches for Slowey.It looked like his just gave the ump the “good game” wave of acknowledgement.He needs to suck it up and get the twins through the seventh,and the Twins need to let him.
“Ha-ha gatty. How are your biorhythms tonight?”
Pretty damn fast, huh? It is all skill…
The Twins have given up the least walks in the majors at 300. To compare, the Orioles have the most with 517.
gatty
Seriously?
From Major League Baseball Transactions.
“Players must be on a team’s 25-man roster as of August 31 to be eligible for post-season play. The only exception is that a player on the 60-day disabled list may be replaced by another player from the team’s 40-man roster (as of August 31) who plays the same position.”
Only DElmon would have hustled more tah LNP
chuck knoblauch that is…
Casilla’s pitching?? Wow, that kid CAN do everything!
Got it…wow, there is a complement for Punto…
Slumpbuster?
Morneau is locked in today, now just pitch him inside…
T
Hope so. We will need him for the next two weeks
Let’s see if Kubel can at least hit a HR in this at bat…
O yea I was just thinking the same thing. I was not concerned on when he would break the slump, I was just hoping it would be tonight before the big road trip. This will be good, the Twins need his bat for the road trip.
“romer: The token player would likely have been Blackburn or Perkins.”
No T, I was fantacizing that the rookie M’s GM mighta taken $10M and a player to be named later, thereby increasing his payroll position by $22M.
Cust appeared to play that rather lazily.
T,
I hope Morneau didn’t have to resort to the Mark Grace theory of slumpbusting.
Ruiz has done nothing but hit since being promoted, and you know he is just a swing away from hitting HR’s. He is much better than Monroe, and props to the Twins FO for making that switch
i just need to insult punto b4 every at bat and he hits! nice
BOOOFFF! It’s what’s for dinner
The Pro from Dover
What was Gracie’s theory of slumpbusting??
The 2nd baseman on that play looked VERY pissed as that went over his head.
And it all started with a Punto double.
*runs*
Sure. When I go to see a game, the Twins score 2 runs. When I watch it on tv, they score 13
Shawn,
You can erase Buscher and Ruiz from your list of candidates to get moved by Casillas return.Those two aren’t going anywhere.
Cmon Guys, save some for tomorrow! Im going to the game and want to see a win!!
Ok, enough.
Save a few for tomorrow so we can win the series.
I’m trying to think of a time, with Alexi returning, when the Twins last had this kind of offensive prowess and depth.
This is a pretty good team. Especially if they don’t need the pen.
Tyler
Bedding and ugly gal.Crass I know,but Gracie is an original.
i hope ur right dover
i hope not pro
If Gardy is so concerned with keeping Mauer rested, which is understandable, why dont they ever take him out in blow out games and put in Red Dawg?
Buscher gets an RBI every 4 AB this year.
Twins apparently not only putting on their hitting shoes, but the hitting pants, caps, and socks as well.
“…ridiculous trade demands…”
I still haven’t seen any FACTS which conclusively prove — or even show — how ridiculous these trade demeands were.
Anyone out there know for sure?
However, I am fair enough to admit that the universal conventional wisdom was correct that the GM was dealing like an over-the-top amateur.
Still don’t know any hard facts though…….except for the fact that he wanted a Twins starter.
gobbledygookguy says:
August 19th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
i don’t think i like this lineup, doesn’t look like they’ll battle or get after it. with young out there will only be punto to complain about tomorrow.
boy the a’s have some serious talent, look out!
good one
Seriously. You’re Bill Smith and have to decide the Casilla move.
What do you do?
Waiver Bass and hope he clears?
DFA Everett?
What are the moves. Because Casilla will be here tomorrow…and that is very good. Punto at SS and in the 8/9 hole.
Good to see Slowey back out there.Gardy needs to take the diapers off the young starters.
Really, HHHMMM that is interesting. I have the same theory if i have a bad day at sales at work.
Norwood: That would be 2006. Though that was more a fluke than potential.
I don’t see guys like Span and Casilla in 08 being like Tyner and Punto in 06. *knock wood*
Have fun tonight folks…If history repeats, tomorrow we wil be begging to carry several over.
Regards,
Norwood: DL Everett (after having private talks as to see if he’ll be willing to take an assignment).
Going on a LOOOOONG roadtrip, Twins need every pitcher they’ve got. I’d wager they’re going to need a mopper at least ONCE while their out.
I don’t think they would ditch a pitcher for a bat right before the most important and grueling road trip this year.
I DFA Bass.
Bill Smith DFA’s Everett.
But we’re really not that different.
I predict the Twins blow out Oakland tomorrow, following the White Sox pattern: loss, Blow Out, Blow Out.
37 games left after tonite….how many wins to put us in the playoffs, im so tired of scoreboard watching already, sox/sox make me sick….
romer,
It was rumored that several GM’s were upset with the M’s dealings.
Regards,
I think Bass is a great choice to be moved.Gardy doesn’t have any use for him in almost any situation.Tell the startes their pitch count is up to 110-115 and demand some more innings out of them.
Who said this kid ain’t a strikeout pitcher? Or is his stuff only good against the A’s?
And like a fool, I posted the other day that Baker was definitely the Twins ace.
Wow, 12 K’s for the Slowster.
I think 94 wins the division/wild card
82 strikes, 28 balls. Almost 3:1
Oakland has struck out the most in the AL…
Just like Bert always says,Slowey has thrown 105 pitches and it looks like his arm is still attached to his shoulder!!
“Buscher gets an RBI every 4 AB this year.”
Looks like “Lamb” is about to play his “Swan” song. [okay I’m no gatty tonight]
The new generation is HERE!!!!!!
The last for-sure vestige is Everett’s defense.
we could DFA Bass and wait 4 or so days to then trade out a position player for a pitcher(Korecky)
Morneau’s OPS for the season is at .903
“okay I’m no gatty tonight”
I am the one and only, spare a few posers
It was rumored that several GM’s were upset with the M’s dealings.
Not just rumored. No GM’s attached their names, but the reports were all over ESPN and FSN.
slowey has really been stepping up lately. Tonight’s no exception. He has had a lot of real good late-movement on his pitches tonight. I would not be shocked to see this guy win a Cy Young some day. Fortunately, I can say the same thing about tomorrow’s starter, so it looks like we got a good shot at winning the series.
I hope the Twins have at least tried to pass Lamber thru waivers.
Everett goes when Casilla gets back (Ruiz is far more potent off the bench than Everett)
If a pitcher is brought up, waive good bye to Bass.
They won’t dump pitching for hitting with the road trip ahead.
The twins started this game 4th in the majors in team batting average. .002 behind the cubs. We might be moving up tonight…
“Waiver Bass and hope he clears?
DFA Everett?”
Smith better damned well do SOMEthing to get Casilla up here tomorrow. Punto needs some time off (Yeah, I know….he’s having a good game tonight. But so is everyone.)
If Lamb didn’t make it through waivers, he wouldn’t be here right now.
Twins would LOVE a chance to dump his contract for next year.
“What do you do?
Waiver Bass and hope he clears?
DFA Everett?”
IMO Everett gets DFA’d.
He accepts 12 days at AAA for at AAA.
On August 31, Everett gets recalled and put on the playoff roster when Bass is waived.
If Bass is claimed, the Twins revoke his waiver. (unless this has already happened once)
If his waiver has been revoked already, Bass is either:
1) Lost on waivers.
2) sent to Rochester for a week, then recalled when he is eligible to rejoin the Twins.
“What do you do?
Waiver Bass and hope he clears?
DFA Everett?”
If I could type, this would have said:
IMO Everett gets DFA’d.
He accepts 12 days at AAA.
On August 31, Everett gets recalled and put on the playoff roster when Bass is waived.
If Bass is claimed, the Twins revoke his waiver. (unless this has already happened once)
If his waiver has been revoked already, Bass is either:
1) Lost on waivers.
2) sent to Rochester for a week, then recalled when he is eligible to rejoin the Twins.
Ruiz can be sent down and recalled in two weeks with no fear of moving him. He is the likely candidate to go down for Casilla, unless Everett goes to the DL. They won’t DFA anyone who they could lose.
there is Basser now
Hey! Bass didn’t throw two consecutive balls over the heart of the plate!
Too bad Twins could not get Rays interested in Lamb to help out in Longoria’s absence. Twins could pay a portion of next year’s salary, say 1M, and all of this year’s. Oh well. It really could be a lot worse. We could have Barry Zito,s contract on the books.
Or Silva’s.
Bert calling Bass, Buscher
I like your thinking on Bass sane.Bass better take a good look around,
so he can remember his season in the show.
Rather have silva’s than zito’s, eh
Gardy has already said Bass recovers quickly after he pitches. With a tired pen we need him more than ever. He is going nowhere. He is GREAT in the role of middle reliever/mop up man.
The people who gave out those contracts should be fired. One was–Bavasi. Is the SF GM still there? If so, he should be jettisoned.
The Nationals are SLUGGING .361 as a team. Ouch. Oakland: .365…
sane:
That sounds right. So will we wake up and have that as a fait accompli?
I really believe Alexi is on his way here already.
The rubber is meeting the road tonight, I think.
I wouldn’t consider Bass to be a good mop up man…
If Bass can hold them to 5 runs in each of the last two innings, we will get the win.
That’s a big IF…
oh, really - mop up men are never stars, they put people on but then squeeze out of it by throwing strikes and getting ground balls… oh, wait nevermind
gatty
If you acctually give him a physical mop, I believe he may be the best. The spit and the sunflower seeds accumilate quite a bit and they always get cleaned up. I think he is the man
Clayton Richard pitched great tonight for the Chisox. Hope that doesn’t continue.
“they put people on but then squeeze out of it by throwing strikes and getting ground balls”
sounds just like our entire bullpen, sans Nathan.
Now I got it Aaron!
when Bass’ s(t)inker is working, the homers drop into row 1 instead of row 10
Glad I could be a help, Gatty
To the Dragon at 9:25 and T at 9:31 —
Yes I know. Did you even read my 9:21 post?
“However, I am fair enough to admit that the universal conventional wisdom was correct that the GM was dealing like an over-the-top amateur.”
Or my 9:13 post?
“No T, I was fantacizing that the rookie M’s GM mighta taken $10M and a player to be named later, thereby increasing his payroll position by $22M.”
[You two guys more tired than me tonight?]
Yeah, the guy was ridiculous. So was Ed Pommier back on the block when I was a kid in asking 50 cents for the Mickey Mantle rookie card. It really was only worth a quarter at the time.
Someone finally paid 50 cents for it.
He still has it……..
Ruiz tried to hit the moon with that first pitch.
“sounds just like our entire bullpen, sans Nathan”
Why do you blame Bass for that? The problem is Neshek missing and Crain’s struggles. Bass made the team to do a specific job and he does it. So does Breslow, they are good cheap middle relievers.
Bass with a shutout inning? Someone better check the space/time continuum for anomalies.
Bass continues to be on the team because someone think’s he has potential. My guess is Anderson, that’s where you folks should direct your ire.
Anderson is a chump and KNOWS NOTHING about pitching, and his record shows that. (sarcasm specifically intended!)
Regards,
Whoever bought that card had some good sense. Get it?
No, I don’t blame Bass for the bullpen. If you pick relievers off the garbage heap, eventually they are going to stink.
Great game for Bass today.
Not sure if this has been mentioned earlier by the astute members of this fine thread but…in the TB - LAA game tonight, the winner and the loser were both named Shields. Anyone recall when this last happened on a ML basis?
nibbler,good job by your son in the ninth.
If you think about it, the Twins could be a threat in the playoffs if they make it. The bullpen problems have a good chance of being obviated by the need for only three, or four starters max. On top of that, we could start Slowey/Liriano in game one, follow with the other, then Perkins or Baker. Stick Blackburn in the pen.
“Bass with a shutout inning? Someone better check the space/time continuum for anomalies.”
Don’t have to. It’s gatty’s bio stuff.
For once I actually agree with BBTN putting a Little league web gem number one…
“It’s gatty’s bio stuff.”
I was checking mlb team stats and I couldn’t put it in there in time…
Win #71 tonight for the Twins. They are 4 wins away from where I thought they’d end the season. It is very good to be totally wrong.
One thing stands out right now, regardless of how the season ends…it’s going to be a pretty dull offseason from the standpoint of picking apart what the FO needs to do. Some small moves to bolster the pen…maybe one big move to get the 3B situation OR power righthand bat (Ruiz is making this a tougher decision, I must admit) fixed.
Compared to last year all the blogs could be a bit sleepier. I like what they have coming back and what they have coming in.
Bring on the effing road trip!!! If you look at who the Mighty Whities play during the same perioud we might not be in such a bad situation. They have a daunting schedule too.
Damn. Ain’t this awesome? Screw the Vikes…until October, anyway.
“Whoever bought that card had some good sense. Get it?”
Don’t use stark realism to be ironic with me, gatty — you giddy, disillusioned, prodigious, blog contributer you.
“If you pick relievers off the garbage heap, eventually they are going to stink.”
Quote of the year on this blog
Oh I will be ironic!
gatty, giving yourself credit for the best quote, ha, dorky
The problem is that on a contending team with a young starting staff, do you really need two Mop up guys (Bass and Boof),if so I don’t like the teams chances down the stretch.The Twins need to find a way to IMPROVE the bullpen during the final 5 1/2 weeks.Bass and Boof have had their shots.IMO Boof still has more potential than Bass.
There are some tough choices to be made by Bill Smith,and nibbler all kidding aside, your assessment of Bass is spot on.I just think they need to find another arm that can get quality outs.
“Anyone recall when this last happened on a ML basis?”
I once dated twins —- one was better than the other because she……….well, you get what I mean.
I was still in the minor leagues in high school though.
I is so good I had to give myself the credit. Twice.
It is so good that is…
“I just think they need to find another arm that can get quality outs”
good luck finding someone, boof couldn’t land us anything prior to the deadline, maybe Humber with a little luck
romer,
Twins? the best I could do was sisters.
How about grandmother, mother and daughter?
All this talk about twins and sisters reminds me of the one headline:
Twins battle back to earn happy ending
I’m not sure why…
casilla went 3 for 4 with an RBI in tonight’s game for Beloit. looks like everything went ok and he’ll be back.
“How about grandmother, mother and daughter?”
Simultaneously?
“How about grandmother, mother and daughter?”
Not your relatives, correct?
Between Slumbusters,twins,sisters,and happy endings this blog is degenerating into Penthouse Forum.Good night all, enjoy tonights victory.
Mr romer, You are indeed a MAN amongst men. What is more remarkable is the ability to remember such events so lucidly. To Mr. Dragon, I fear that you were correct and that we will indeed request having some of tonight’s runs manana. Let us hope that we are both wrong.
Busch man. I’ll take the errant throw for 5 RBIs.
I’ll work with him at South Carolina in the off season of those throws. That won’t be a problem next year…..
38 RBIs for the year. Moving up the latter with limited ABs.
Go Twins.
TEAM RUNS BB BA
MINN 638 388 .281
LAA 582 364 .264
OAKL 493 434 .242
Drawing walks is not resulting in runs for the A’s.
“You are indeed a MAN amongst men.”
Actually, Daniel, I’m a man AGAINST men whenever I start pushing the Beltre thing. So I’ll shut that down after concluding:
Smith could have done more but would not because a)He (the rookie GM) would have looked foolish to his peers, and b)He (the rookie GM) didn’t yet have the stock with the Polhads to suggest what otherwise would be foolish.
“Otherwise” because I think Beltre was worth it.
But, Buscher’s play as of late, sure has helped me almost go beyond the Beltre thing.
John Q,
“I’ll work with him at South Carolina in the off season of those throws. That won’t be a problem next year…..”
Can you get Buscher to get his arm angle up to remove the fade (straighten) from his throws?
If he resists that adjustment, (as he must have resisted identical past suggestions) then imperfect practice won’t improve anything.
If he can be convinced to throw more overhand, you (and he) have a chance.
“…the ability to remember such events so lucidly…”
Well…..not real lucidity, I suppose. But thanks.
For the record, I was 10 in 1959 when this older kid who wasn’t really a BB card guy refused to trade his MM rookie card. My buddy, Ockenfels, worked on him and finally wore him down.
Ockenfels still has his cards. He also got us to do the Wrigley Field trip from and back to Mpls. a few times. What a wonderful and warm experience.
Any hours at Yellowstone or Grand Canyon or Yosemite or Zion = the same hours at Wrigley. All world-class parks (before the night lights anyway).
“you (and he) have a chance”
Maybe Buscher should try some upper body yoga. Anything to loosen his shoulder socket.
As usual. great input, Mr.sane. Always appreciated and much thanks. Buscher appears to be a self-starting leader and not a follower, whereby hits beget hits. Improve defensively ala Wade Boggs and a fine ML career may, yet, well await him.
Quote of the night, by gatty790:
“I is so good I had to give myself the credit. Twice.”
Give a guy some credit, and he turns in to a egotist.
Well, we’ve all been there, haven’t we, my little sleepy contributors.
G’night.
Twins hit .444 for the game. That’s good right?
For the stupid stat of the night, the Twins RBIed .361. I know that is good.
Riddle me this. The Rays, one of the best teams in the league playing the best team in the league at home. Attendance at the game: 15,902, less than half of the Twins attendance. That is sad. If the tables were turned and the Twins had sucked for years and suddenly had the best record in baseball in august, there would be 40,000 at the dome not 16,000.
While you’re working on Buscher, John Q., be sure and work the same magic on Gomez. His arm angle is the cause of most of his throwing problems, too.
the possible weather may be playing a part in their dreadful attendance right now. I know it is severely lacking normally, but right now, I think it’s more a weather thing.
Btw, I was firmly in the corner of trading pitching to get Beltre. I gotta admit that I am glad that they didn’t weaken the Twins pitching staff to get another bat. Hitting is NOT the Twins problem, not by a long shot. I guess that is why I am a blog commentator and not a GM.
has al reyes joined the team yet? there’s no risk at all, he’s the best arm available and would come dirt cheap. twins, are you listening?
even in jest, Gardy’s sense of humor belies half of his problem. He likes his “all out” Bathroom caulk boys like Punterrible, and Juan Rincon…
I still think that everytime that Punterrible slides into first base head first he should lose a game check, and every time that Delmon Young swings at the first pitch no matter the results he should be fined 10K… that money should go into Habitat for Humanity, or a Children’s charity… Let the needy benefit from the stupidity of professional athletes!
There’s no other move to make than to release Everett. He hasn’t contributed much this year, and he’s inept at the plate.
Everett’s gone when Alexi comes back. You know they won’t release Punto, so…
Lala, despite the hatred of fans, Punto off the bench has more value than Everett off the bench.
Since everybody’s talking postseason, look at it this way.
Everett: SS (maybe 2B in an emergency)
Punto: 2B, SS, 3B (maybe OF in an emergency)
All other things being equal (and no…Everett’s hot streak isn’t any better than Punto’s just because it’s more recent), Punto edges Everett in defensive flexibility.
Not to mention Punto’s throws usually make it to their target in a decent amount of time.
well put T, but punto won’t be on the bench. When casilla comes back, punto moves over to short, guaranteed.
I apologize for repeating this from an earlier post.
Here is a plan which will give us 12 pitchers until August 31;
add Casilla to the roster today;
and put Casilla and Everett on the playoff roster.
Everett gets DFA’d today to make room for Casilla.
Everett accepts a 12-day-assignment at AAA.
On August 31, Everett gets recalled and put on the playoff roster when Bass is waived.
If Bass is claimed, the Twins revoke his waiver because rosters are expanded on September 1. (unless this has already happened for Bass)
If his waiver has been revoked already, Bass is either:
1) Lost on waivers, or
2) sent to Rochester for a week, then recalled when he is eligible to rejoin the Twins.
My bad!
I wanted to say:
Here is a plan which will give us 12 pitchers until JULY 31;
add Casilla to the roster today;
and put Casilla and Everett on the playoff roster.
Please disregard my last post.
Its August ALREADY.
Its 6AM in SoCal.
I have my head up my #ss!
sane do you really think smith has a plan?
I think Lamb may be gone when Tolbert is ready. He went 1 for 3 with a stolen base with the Rock Cats last night.
sane Minnesota summer is over. All 2 months of it oh well. Back to weather like they have on the shining. Almost hermit season that lasts 9 months.
JJ,
With rosters expanding September 1, Lamb is going nowhere.
Has there been a better defensive play this year than Punto’s diving snag and toss to MVP for the out. Get off his back. He is a great defensive player.
Sane thats a good possibility but why not DFA Everett and send Ruiz down and call up Korecky as well untill sept 1 because they need more bullpen help.
coyotetom I like his touch second base and throw to first play last Saturday. Equally impressive.
I got a new name for Ruiz. Slow, slow
Good to see the Twins got after it last night…that was huge…Whities still not slowing down, so we best win again today and go from there…
Question: What are the realistic expectations of the 14-game road trip…
here are my thoughts:
–Take 2 of 4 from Anaheim
–Take 4 of 7 from Oakland / Seattle
–Take 2 of 3 from Toronto
That would make it a 8-6 road trip, which would actually be pretty lofty as a goal. The problem is, if you settle for 7-7, you might find yourself 3 or 4 games out of first when you return home.
BC of ND,
“why not DFA Everett and send Ruiz down and call up Korecky as well untill sept 1 because they need more bullpen help.”
Sending Ruiz down and recalling Korecky would be separate from my plan, but could coincide with it.
If the Twins decide to rescue the bullpen at the cost of losing a red-hot RH-hitter (Ruiz), that would be the way to go.
True sane, but he needs to go at some point. Even if we do have to eat his contract, we have to many young cheap infielders to be holding on to Everett and Lamb. Everett’s salary is more than Tolbert, Harris, Buscher, Ruiz and Casilla’s combined
yes coyotetom casilla has made a dozen of them.
Jimmy,
How far will the wind blow LaPanta’s rug off his head in the new stadium.
CoyoteTom:
Yeah, that was quite a play! Punto pulled that one out of his jock! At least it looked like it, his belt came undone!
JJ,
We have to pay Lamb and Everett, whether they are here or gone.
I like Ruiz and Buscher at the plate, but niether one can play D very well.
gookguy - no he hasn’t.
The idea of carrying an extra pitcher seemed stupid back in May i think it was but for this road trip it makes sense.
So why not keep them until the end of the season?
I know Im really talking next year and I still think we would owe Lamb around 3.5 million. I just think we need to try and trade Lamb after Sept 1st if possible.
Ben D I would pay money to watch LaPanta leave the dome while they are deflating it directly after a game. If lightning struck it at the new stadium (penny pincher park) would it come back to life ala Frankenstein.
Are you replying to my post sane?
sane I am looking at pics of Huntington museum in LA and discansoo gardens. Oh the memories
Question: What are the realistic expectations of the 14-game road trip…
I think a split against LAA (the 2nd best team in the AL as of this posting) is realistic. Especially considering they only took 1 of 4 from them in that very first series.
I think the Twins have a chance to win both the Oakland and Seattle series. Seattle played them close, but the Twins managed to persevere. And I think after the series they’ve had they’re going to be better preparred (I have this gut feeling the Twins were looking past Seattle on the roadtrip a few weksa go)
Toronto was the same situation. Played a hard fought series against Boston and got complacent against the Jays.
I think losing two against Anaheim and 1 each against Oakland, Seattle, and Toronto is the best case scenario. It’s lofty, but the way they’ve played lately shows it’s very doable.
I think Jason’s prediction is the most likely out come (since there’s likely going to be some bullpen issues in at least one game in each series)
The Sox are playing Tampa Bay, New York…and I think Boston? But I’m not sure if those are on the road or at home.
The Rays and Yankees could give the Sox some trouble…but the Twins just need to stay within a game or two (I say two because there’s still at least one series at the Dome against the Sox)
We need to get our infield straight next year.
This is what I think we have for sure.
1B- Morneau
2B- Casilla
SS- ?????
3B- ?????
Utility- Punto
Utility- Tolbert
Please someone fill out the ?????
Does anyone know when the A’s went to KC from Philly then finally ending up in Oakland if either the Royals or Phillies existed before the A’s left Philly. I watched a neat special on the history of the baseball western movement the other day.
James Tolbert and Buscher
1B Morneau
2B Tolbert/Free agent/trade
ss Casilla
3b Buscher/Harris
James - worry about this year first. More than likely, the way we end this year is the way we will start next year.
Will Punto be a Twin next year? I would not mind him be one of our Utility guys, but not for 3 or 4 million a year.
I don’t think Punto is going anywhere. He is on ESPN as a human highlight reel for defense
Word in baseball circles is that ex-Twins pitcher Carlos Silva, placed on the disabled list by the Mariners, has been lost without pal Johan Santana, traded to the Mets. Silva has won just once in his past 21 starts. Don’t think the Mariners wouldn’t love to unload the right-hander, who has a $48 million, four-year guaranteed contract, on the Mets so he could rejoin Santana.
I dont think so Coyotetom. Everett will be gone. Lamb will be Gone for sure if we can dump his 3.5 contract. I hope Punto is gone bc he will be asking for a big contract. There is no way we get rid of Tolbert, Buscher, Casilla or Harris, I think they all make the league min.
Honestly, the Twins defense isn’t as good as the past few years but the trade-off has been a better offensive team contending in a “rebuilding” year. I don’t see the lust for keeping guys like who Punto, who to me at least seems kinda Jeter-like in making the routine play look better than it should be.
“Punto, who to me at least seems kinda Jeter-like in making the routine play look better than it should be.”
Don’t you mean Jim Edmonds like.
That too jimmy. Although at least Lou Pinella understands to platoon Edmonds (and Edmonds can still hit the RH pitching).
Which HOF inductee had 28 HR’s and a lifetime .262 BA over 19 seasons?
James
I don’t think Lamb or Everett will be in the lineup at the end of this year. Punto will NOT be gone.
Jimmy,
Ozzie Smith?
Ozzie Smith?
Coyotetom
Are you ok paying Punto 3 million plus?
we can’t be comparing Punto’s D to Ozzie Smith. Cmon now
Punto will get shopped around, if someone gives him 2 years and say 7 million…. Bye Bye
if no one gives him anything and he wants to come back for a mill, then take him back.
That’s like comparing D Young to Puckett
Punto cant do a back flip, therefore he will not make it to the HOF. Although he flops around alot on routine plays.
“After a brief pause, Gardy replied, “We teach head first around here.”
So am i the only one who failed to find the humor in that? Jerry Seinfeld your not Gardy.
James - Do you reallythink that Punto will be asking for that much? He is certainly worth more than Lamb.
I wasn’t trying to compare The Whiz to Punto but I watched Smith for a number of years and was he really balanced enough of a player to be inducted. I would have a hard time inducting Omar Vizquel also if the time ever came.
“BC of ND says:
August 20th, 2008 at 10:08 am
That’s like comparing D Young to Puckett”
Punto is more like Puck they are both short and stocky
jimmybee i couldn’t agree more about Smith if a one dimensional player like him can get in then they should put Edgard Martinez in as well.
A HOF inductee should be a well balanced player on both sides of the plate. A back flip fake smile and one bear handed play at short does not constitute the HOF.
That’s it! From now on Punto must do a backflip on his way out onto to the field.
He wasn’t terrible offensively in his prime, just no power. Stole alot of bases. I think he also gets points for that HR vs the Dodgers in 85
actually bc, young has better #’s in his 2nd yr than kirby did in his 2nd yr. AND that doesn’t mean i think he will be as good as kirby.
nice everyone getting on the punto bandwagon the guy hits .180 over a month period then gets a few hits and he’s ozzie smith.
Punto is making 2.4 million this year Lamb 3.5 niether on of them are worth anything near those. We have to many options to pay Punto a big contract.
Punto will hit his classic skid and finish the season under .250 However if he does a back flip everytime he goes on the field I will support an contract extension only if he agrees to league minimum and a lifetime supply of sunflower seeds.
GGG,
Until last night Morneau hit .240 since the All-Star break, and NEVER a peep.
Please show me more than 1 or 2 random players whose performance is +/- 5% for a whole year (on a day-by-day basis).
Am I equating Punto to Morneau? Absolutely not, yet posters here pick every nit on Punto, and ignore serious blunders by MANY other favored players, which would be a capital offense by Punto.
I hope Bill Smith resigns Punto, just to aggrivate the bloggers here. That same group who generally saw Span as a FAILURE of Twins scouting…NOW he’s a darling, can’t make this stuff up.
Regards,
Ben D.
I’ll make your the same offer JP turned down after making the prediction you have just made. I’ll take the Punto over .250 for a c-note. Please accept…I could really use the money.
Regards,
How the heck is Ozzie Smith in the HOF?
dragon i think the point is that there is a lot of over reacting done on a daily basis and on the basis of small sample sizes.
and continual on and off the bandwagon jumping!!
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Eric Gagne, David Riske, and David Weathers have cleared waivers. Three more for the list. Since they’ve cleared, these relievers can now be traded to any team.
Gagne is the least surprising; he’s been awful and is still owed more than $2MM. Riske is owed almost $10MM more through 2010, so that’s understandable. Weathers is a big surprise though - he’s owed only $610K and has a 2.52 ERA since the beginning of June. All the contenders, including the Mets, Twins, Phillies, and Cardinals, decided not to make a claim on Weathers? Can’t explain it.
Come on Billy. There are guys out there. Obviously Gagne and Riske would be a no, but as stated above, Weathers would be an upgrade as well as Al Reyes. Please explain why we would want Washburn and move a current starter to the bullpen, or why we would want Alan Embree instead of either Al Reyes or David Weathers who both have a lower ERA.
Dragon
What was Punto’s avg last year over a whole season and what is his career avg? Look those two up and look up Morneau’s then you will have your answer as to why people get on Punto. Please post those to numbers in your next post.
How the heck is Ozzie Smith in the HOF?
Gold Glove Count:
Ozzie Smith - 13
Jim Kaat - 16
And yet Smith is in the HOF and not Kaat. Doesn’t really make sense to me either.
matt like I said before how the heck is Ozzie Smith in the HOF? Maybe beacuse he can do a backflip. Maybe it’s because of his hitting (but I highly doubt it). How bout that toothy grin. Yeah that’s it, it’s his backflips and toothy grin. Poor Bert should have done Backflips up to the pitchers mound and had a fake smile and he sure would have made it in by now
Especially that Kaat was a better pitcher than Ozzie was a hitter
Ben D.
Punto’s average last year is well know as is Morneaus.
Since you are quite confident Putno will do worse, why the reluctance to back your bravado?
Morneau was MVP 2 years ago. That is history, NOT a guarantee of anything in the future.
Regards,
Span
LNP
Redman
MVP
Young
Ruiz
Buscher
Harris
Gomez
