Twins-Tigers: Football is a great diversion
Posted on September 7th, 2008 – 12:49 PMBy La Velle
The Twins coaching staff is still reeling from Saturday’s loss to Detroit. Dennys Reyes has been pretty reliable lately and had good numbers against Curtis Granderson. The eighth inning on Saturday was a heck of a time to throw a slider that wouldn’t slide.
Oh well, football is on. There’s not much to update. Matt Guerrier, who leads the AL in appearances, isn’t expected to be available. Tigers starter Chris Lambert isn’t quick to the plate, so expect the Twins to run, run, run.
Lineups
Tigers (68-74)
- Curtis Granderson, CF
- Placido Polanco, 2B
- Magglio Ordonez, RF
- Miguel Cabrera, 1B
- Gary Sheffield, DH
- Marcus Thames, LF
- Edgar Renteria, SS
- Mike Hessman, 3B
- Dusty Ryan, C
Pitching: Chris Lambert
Twins (78-64)
- Denard Span, CF
- Alexi Casilla, 2B
- Joe Mauer, C
- Justin Morneau, 1B
- Jason Kubel, DH
- Delmon Young, LF
- Brian Buscher, 3B
- Nick Punto, SS
- Carlos Gomez, CF.
Pitching: Glen Perkins
370 Responses to "Twins-Tigers: Football is a great diversion"
oh well???
that was the worst loss of the season and all you give us is oh well??
They have to get on base before they can think about running.
Glad I was on the road and didn’t witness the catastrophe.
Perkins looks sharp so far in the 1st.
that was the worst loss of the season and all you give us is oh well??
Please…every loss is treated as the worse loss of the season around here.
Any one of the games Nathan blew I would think are worse. Because Nathan is supposed to be the one guy in the ‘pen this team can trust.
That said. The K-Zone seems a bit wide. I have no problem with that as long as it’s CONSISTENT.
I’d hate to see Perk suddenly lose the corners in a tight spot.
Geez. All four Tigers hitters so far have looked like B**ch Sox with all he pouting.
IT’S OVER. AS BAD AS BASS WAS WE COULD USE HIM NOW.
They look like strikes to ME. Can’t figure out why they’re bitching.
Wow EVERYBODY lost that one.
Can’t figure out why they’re bitching.
Especially this early in the game. I mean, they didn’t even see what he was calling it for their pitcher.
Just as long as the twins are at most 2.5 games back after today, things are still ok.
Young still getting a kick out of being blind. He’s still smiling.
Instinctively, Perkins steps off the rubber and sets himself again, without even looking out at Young.
Perk is smart, and he’s a gamer.
Maybe perkins has been talking to franchise…
Way to go Perk.
That was an odd line drive, a super spinner. Which allowed it to float up for a while.
Punto didn’t recognize that fact, so he gets the error.
But I dunno……a tough error.
Oh crap.
Perkins pitched Cabrera tight. He’s got to do that to everyone.
Until he does, we see the 2-run HR.
awfully generous of perkins to give mr. ryan his firt mlb homerun and very generous of lnp to make it a 2 run shot.
Football is a great diversion
Way to go Perk?
This inning is on Punto.
Not if you’re a lions fan…
almost 40 piches and not out of the second. we will be seeing the bullpen early today.
Wow. Strikezone shrank after the first half inning…
This is a must win for the Twins, no matter what the bitchsox do.
If for nothing else, for the Twins’ self-confidence.
Punto’s error stung, but at the same time…what is Perkins doing leaving a floater for the #9 hitter?
Some catchers swing at first-pitch fastballs, particularly when they are belt and right down the middle.
they need to work the pitch count here. first, perkins needs some rest. second, they have a young pitcher - make him throw a lot of pitches and he will make mistakes. let’s see how patient our hitters are - i predict an 11 pitch inning for lambert.
Yikes! That was “Lazer”.
Any way to watch the Seattle game today? I wanna watch Beltre.
Twins should get him in the off-season.
I see by yesterday’s boxscore that M&M lost the game yesterday with all the LOB. So, I’ll take that loss. Things like that happen once in a while. No way to prevent it.
When dick said that the twins were going to try and do something different, the first thing that came to my mind is getting blow out early. That is sad.
10 LOB by M&M.
romer, I agree that the offseason will be a good time to push for Beltre. Midseason it would be too risky to give up a starter.
But in the offseason, with time to get another guy in there, it may be more likely that Perk or Blackburn (maybe ven Slowey) will be available.
But again, it comes down to Seattle not acting like a bunch of morons again.
I think the Twins are trying to break in polanco’s new glove or something
4 ERs, .2 IP
Young swings at a ball WAY outside. It should be 3-2 now.
Take the walk Delmon, if they give it to you.
Is it me…or do all the Twins look to be swinging for the fences these days?
They’re all trying to be “that guy”.
Good solid hit by Buscher. That’s what the Twins need. Get the HITS with men on first. Then worry about powering it over the fence once you’re hitting again.
They’re all trying to be “that guy”.
Good, I want players to take the team on his back instead of watching it drown in slow motion.
Buscher should have gotten to third easily. (But there’s 2 outs.) He’s not a good player. Just a good bat.
What would you have done if the tank was thrown out at third?
Well, one run is a start. Now Perk needs to shut them down this inning.
Good, I want players to take the team on his back instead of watching it drown in slow motion.
When I say “that guy”…I’m referring to a guy who’s swining from his a** to force a ball over the fence.
You know, like Hunter with men on.
Yes and I applaud the effort to at least do something.
Wow. That stance looks really awkward with Ryan.
Nice inning for perkins
Good job Perk. That’s just what the team needed after getting that run.
T,
I think with a lot of young players on the team, you’re gonna see that. To me, Span in particular seems to be pressing at the plate. Gomez too, of course, but he’s taken swings like that all year, haha. 
On a more positive note… While I’m not a huge Buscher fan, the way this guy hits with RISP is just amazing to me. Came into the game at a ridiculous .438 and does it AGAIN. Way to go Brian.
Speaking of which… Wasn’t it just about 2-3 weeks ago that Punto was batting .315 with RISP?
Came into today’s game at .279… and then that AB… sigh…
We need to score another 8 runs or so before I’m comfortable with the lead. Let’s go Twins!
No, T is right yet again. The last thing this team needs is more power.
We prefer our runs to come painfully difficult.
Schwarzak, Revere, Buscher, and Manship for Beltre? Too much?
Beltre is a man’s man, unlike any current player on the Twins.
The Twins 5-core is young. Is there still the standard need to keep good young pitchers coming through the pipeline the next 2-3 years? Couldn’t they get a FA if things get tight?
I think Beltre is worth it. When M&M have their joint off days like yesterday, gotta have that one last power bat to ride on.
Yes and I applaud the effort to at least do something.
Until said player K’s up on 3 pitches to end a rally right?
“…the way this guy hits with RISP…”
Lamb was an RBI man for a couple months this season too. But, like Buscher, there are too many holes in his game to make it as the permanent starter.
When is Ron Gardenhire going to do something like hit and run?
“Until said player K’s up on 3 pitches to end a rally right?”
No, I would rather have a home run kill that rally.
No, T is right yet again. The last thing this team needs is more power.
And again Chief overslimplifies the comment.
The Twins need power. What they do not need is 9 guys in the lineup swinging from their butts trying to make something happen on a pitch that won’t make it happen.
That’s where you get Young striking up in tight spots or guys hitting pop-ups.
When a team’s in a hitting funk, focus on HITTING first. You aren’t going to hit a homerun if you can’t even make contact.
You should really try and improve your reading comprehension. You may actually learn something for once.
“Lamb was an RBI man for a couple months this season too.”
Let’s be honest, at most it was for a couple weeks, not months.
beltre had a great year with the dodgers, then went to seattle with a big contract. for the next few years he sucked, considered a complete bust. this year is the first time he has “found it” again. Do not be so certain this year will carry over to next year for beltre.
If Lamb had the number of AB’s that Young has, he projects to 68 RBIs. Young has 61.
Schwarzak, Revere, Buscher, and Manship for Beltre? Too much?
I would only give up three of those guys. I agree Buscher COULD be part of the deal, but I don’t know if the Mariners have a guy they could take to take over 3B.
There we go Morneau! Work with what you’re given!
Big hit for morne
Great comeback AB for Morneau after yesterday’s luck.
Morne is now 9 RBIs from the lead
Now the twins really need a 1-2-3 inning from perkins.
Not cool Perkins.
Good make up play by Punto there.
twins need to pile on runs. we know that no lead is safe with our bullpen. Unfortunately, kubel did not get that message.
But we all know that to get out of an inning quickly after the twins score is utterly impossible, but a bone headed play by Thames may help…
Wait…how did Quentin get hurt?
Romer your man crush on Beltre is old. He is not that great. Looking at the league there are not that many above average third basemen out there. Buscher is fine for now we are going to test out Luke Hughes at 3rd in the winter league and that guy can hit pretty well. Beltre is a waste of money and a poor investment.
I’m well aware that Buscher’s game is too full of holes to be a long-term solution, Romer. I’m just marveling at the season he’s had basically… he’s betting over .440 with RISP. That’s obviously unsustainable, but also just flat out incredible to see.
I’m still holding out hope to see Garrett Atkins in a Twins’ uniform next year. If Buscher’s given the everyday job at third next season, I’ll be extremely disappointed.
Actually, gatty, it wasn’t a couple months and it wasn’t just a couple weeks. I believe it was a month and a half. I think the Twins mishandled him, and eventually had no choice but to release him.
Still not convinced the Monroe release was correct either. But I suppose both of them were getting too old to handle the pitching.
Miss Monroe’s power.
BTW, what’s the deal with Ruiz? Haven’t had time to blog lately and keep track. He hasn’t been playing much lately, right?
They choosing Gomez over him, right?
Who gives a dam about football.
La Velle, if you want to cover football, go do it, but don’t bring it here.
Quentin got hurt slamming his bat against his hand in frustration while batting a few games ago. Just plain stupid.
See Twins pitchers? Do you see how helpful it is to shut down the opposition after the offense has scored some runs?
They choosing Gomez over him, right?
Didn’t think Ruiz could play the OF.
Yeah, he was holding his bat with his left hand and he tomahawked his right hand onto the bat. I’ve seen him so it before, what an idiot.
Um, this is MY blog. I can bring whatever I want here…
Donovan McNabb is having a HUGE game today….
Wait a second, did I just see the first pitch of an inning on FSN? First time for everything…
Get over the football comment. It’s 100% true for me, and I think a lot of fans based on comments yesterday.
Without football to take our minds off the disgusting bullpen we would have had to be pissed all night after the loss.
Beltre away from Safeco Field this season:
.297/.356/.526, 15 HR, 14 2B, 51 RBI… .882 OPS
Beltre at the Metrodome for his career:
.317/.338/.603, 4 HR, 6 2B, 8 RBI, .942 OPS
Burning Bush is right, Romer. I don’t know WHAT you see in this guy…
Let’s take a vote to see if La Velle is the actually curator of the said Twins Insider blog. It has a picture so I say maybe.
I want a video of Quentin being a dumbass.
Did anybody see that the Giants called up the 37th overall pick from this years draft?
Guess they need a lot of help…
Punto wants to make up even more for the error
I’m not sure you can tell when Quentin gets injured. He finished the bat and goes to the field before feeling the pain he said.
LNP gettin after it.
Come on ANGELS
Danks 5 IP 2 H 0 ER 7 SO
2-0 Sox.
Toby freakin’ Hall just HR’ed.
2-0 Sox
The nice thing about Beltre, in addition to adding a legitimate RH bat to the lineup, is he is miles better than any current 3b option defensively.
He is a genuinely good defensive third baseman.
He isn’t as good a hitter as the one season in LA, but to call him a “bust” since he’s been in Seattle is just as wrong.
How ’bout Fonsi hittin 3 dingers yesterday? What a leadoff hitter…
The bottom half of the lineup for the Angels is a joke. Look at their batting avg.’s.
La Velle, you got McNabb on your team this year?
Nice turn of the DP
Teixeira doubles with 1 out
Love to see Ordonez make an out against the Twins, a DP no less. It is just so rare.
Vlad follows with a single, no runs
Come on Torii!
Most of the people here overrate 3rd base. It has never been a key player on too many teams. Not even the great A-rod puts up even moderate numbers in the post season. There is a reason why there is fewer 3rd basemen in the hall of fame.
If the twins start winning and the Rays continue to suck, the Twins-Rays series might actually be very interesting…
2-1
“…next few years he sucked…”
That’s totally incorrect about Beltre, TC an in LA.
Have you even seen his stats? What’s not to like about a 25 HR 90 RBI AVERAGE year-in-year-out, plus he’s a gold glover.
Do you know anything about Beltre? So, for a guy to be good, he has to hit 45 HRs every year?
We need a nice HR from somebody
Torii Hunter clap clap clap
Well, one run is better than none.
Beltre 04′ in LA
.334/.388/.629 48 hr, 121 rbi
Beltre ‘05 in Seattle
.255/.303/.413 19 hr, 87 rbi
‘06 - BA .268, 25 hr; ‘07 - .276, 26 hr; ‘08 - .266, 24 hr.
For what they paid, I thnk Seattle has considered it a bust.
Twins up 4-2…haven’t we seen this movie before?
“haven’t we seen this movie before?”
Yeah, and we’ve seen all of the sequels as well…
2-2
Nice Dick “We will probably get strike three here”
Dick threw Kubel under the bus saying he will probably strike out and he gets a hit. Dick is a jinx on whatever he says.
Will Perkins hit the wall next inning like he was has been doin at this time lately?
Come on Glen bear down here
WTF Perkins.
Phew, and I thought the lead might last more than 5 minutes. Thank you Glen Perkins for bringing me back to earth.
Yep
Perk is a releiver
Perkins seems to want to give a run right back today, huh?
I know the batters work on situational hitting, maybe the pitchers should work on more situational pitching…
Yep, Perk DEFINATELY showing he belongs in then pen.
What with his inability to maintain a lead.
Oh no
Nice throw but they still tie it
ibb please.
Wow
Good heads up play by Young and Casilla.
Too bad there was nothing the defense could’ve done to stop the lead.
Once again, pissing off your offense by making them stand there and watch the lead fade.
At least Perkins has erased the twins entire offensive effort today.
Ok Gardy
Hes done. Yank em
Perkins REALLY wants to lose this game…
Is it telling that I’m looking at Perkins and can’t think of who could be brought in to bail him out?
I was just sure Pekins would hit the wall. You’re not a gopher anymore Glen!
Can’t wait to see the bullpen today 
Burning Bush, had and have a man-crush on Puck. And believe me sonny boy, it never gets old.
And I won’t waiver —- If the Twins have Beltre instead of Perkins, they could easily have a shot at the WS this year.
He hasn’t even thrown 90 yet? Lord almighty.
Boof needs to replace Perk in the rotation
If the Twins have Beltre instead of Perkins, they could easily have a shot at the WS this year.
Oh, Beltre can pitch in relief as well as play 3rd?
I didn’t know that.
“Is it telling that I’m looking at Perkins and can’t think of who could be brought in to bail him out?”
Chad Bradford.
Oh wait. You’ve been telling us all year there was no need to worry about the bullpen.
Perkins is simply useless after 5 innings and after giving up at least 1 HR. It is like having the BP out there, which is probably why they have not removed him yet. There is no ‘relief’
Bradford would probably be brainwashed in the bullpen and fall in line.
Walk the number 9 guy to bring up Granderson. Good idea!
This game is about to be 7-4
Oh wait. You’ve been telling us all year there was no need to worry about the bullpen.
Well, if you actually paid attention (as I know you don’t like to), you’d know that I never said the bullpen wasn’t in trouble.
I said none of Guardado, Bradford, or Hawkins would be enough to fix it. Through this whole mess I’ve been of the firm belief there was no One-Arm (TM) that could save this relief corps.
The fact that there isn’t a single relief pitcher in this pen that is trusted is further evidence I’m correct in my original statement.
And also, I should go back and see if you were one of the same people calling me nuts for thinking that Guardado wouldn’t do squat to help this bullpen.
Just because you choose to ignore the facts doesn’t mean they’re any less significant.
Come on Perkins, you are supposed to hold the lead until the 7th! How selfish of you, the relievers deserve to blow this game as well.
Bring in Breslow, not Reyes. Then again, when you PH Tolbert for Kubel, anything goes.
So, because there’s not “a single relief pitcher in this pen that is trusted” there’s no reason to try to do anything about that?
Brilliant.
“The bullpen sucks so leave it alone.”
Currently holding my breath…
Twins baseball baby!
I mean that it seems no matter who is there they seem to stick together and get drawn in to sucking. It is an epidemic.
Well, at least it wasn’t a HR. That reminds me, I have better things to do.
Jack Morris just said that the twins are in a pennant race. has anyone told the team about this?
I love hearing the boos at the dome…
So Chief, which one magical pitcher would you have traded for to fix this whole mess? Which One-Arm (TM) would you have brought in that could’ve pitched in EVERY game instead of the constant stream of disappointments we saw on the roadtrip?
Which magical pitcher would’ve become the savior in the bullpen, and lead this team to the playoffs?
Oh wait. There isn’t one. Because no revliever can pitch every freakin night.
You can oversimplify and strawman all you want Chief. It just makes you look dumber and dumber.
Well there it is.
Well thank god we aquired Chad Bradford. He could’ve pitched last night, and then today.
And also he could’ve pitched in all three games in Toronto.
He’s so AMAZING!
Perkins is becoming Silvalike in the amount of hits he gives up per innings pitched and the home runs he allows the very next inning after getting him a lead. If we accidently stumble into the playoffs he has to be taken out of the rotation.
Here we go. We had the lead by 2 runs now they are behind. It’s unbelievable that the bullpen is this bad, but it is. We need more then one decent reliever.
Boof auditioning for the starting role
T, you’re in a trolling mood today, eh?
There is a One-Arm(R), that can help the twins. He is a Joe Nathan clone.
Literally, Joe Nathan cloned. I think Pohland might be able to afford it…
He’s won the job
yes, just in time to see the Twins implode again. God I love this team!
Here’s further evidence of the complete absurdity that is the bullpen.
In Toronto, both Reyes and Breslow were able to come in to a dangerous situation and end the threat without surrendering a run.
Now both have come in their next appearance since and done the exact opposite.
And now BOOF of all people is able to end a threat, where the last time he came in to a tight situation he ended the game on the first pitch.
Inconsistency is what’s killing this team. One guy isn’t/wasn’t going to fix this.
Couple of those pitches were nasty from Bonser.
It really does not matter what Sox do. Twins have to worry about winning any game they don’t score at least 10 in. *sigh*
does the nathan clone have 6 blown saves as well? does he go 0-2 on batters and then nimble to a 3-2 count?
Who’s with me? Boof instead of Perk this week?
Who would have thought Boof would pretty much be the best guy out in the pen right now?
Twins pitching–Our motto is “Why wait for the 8th inning, when we can blow the game in the 6th inning!”
I’m just pissed that they didn’t wait for the relievers to blow this game. I bet Gardy told Perkins to blow it so he wouldn’t look stupid when he brought in another reloser, I mean reliever to lose the game. Gardy is smart, one step ahead of us.
We’ve been through this, T.
I trade one starter for Beltre, who is the thirdbaseman for 1.5 years at least. I bring up one of Humber/Mulvey/Deunsing and try to patch that hole from within. Worst case, Boof is back in the rotation.
I would’ve been working hard to fill the hole created by the loss of Neshek since at least June.
I put in a waiver claim on Bradford, and I try very hard to pick up Hawkins.
If that isn’t enough, I work hard to find another decent reliever out there on a non-contending team.
I don’t keep Brian friggin Bass on the team for 5 months.
You don’t get chances to compete for the postseason every year. When you get one, you go for it.
T, you’re in a trolling mood today, eh?
Chief wants to call me out, I’ll respond. The difference is I’m able to cite previous arguments vs. the simplifications he’s resorted to thus far.
Literally, Joe Nathan cloned.
We’re going to need more than one clone then. Like a whole Joe Nathan army. I’ll have to check the rulebooks to see where they stand on clones.
No, but he is second the AL in saves and has 1.07 ERA. Yep, he really sucks.
As I recall, Heatonator, Boof doesn’t have much stamina either.
We need to wait until the 7th to blow games, cuz the relievers will be in at that point, even if the starter has pitched a perfect game up to that point with 15 stikeouts.
If that isn’t enough, I work hard to find another decent reliever out there on a non-contending team.
The Twins worked hard to find something. Except nobody believes them.
And then they got Eddie. That worked well.
Wasn’t referring to Chief, T. I was referring to some of the playful idiocy you were flinging at me.
Well, atleast the Detroit Lions lost.
Now that Dick just mentioned the perfect game, it is toast.
Look, even the tigers bullpen can prevent a team from scoring after they take the lead.
True, but I say give the Boof a start and see how he does.
Gee, how did Minnesota fans ever get a reputation for being fair weather fans?
Seriously, Perkins is 12-3. Get off the man’s back.
But will the Vikes win Monday, the way our professional sports teams have been playing it is questionable
Well, atleast the Detroit Lions lost.
Yeah, but the New York Pac- I mean Jets won behind Favre.
I never thought I’d see Packer fans at a Jets/Dolphins game. But there they were.
*eck*
Perkins needs a week off, anyway
Seriously, Perkins is 12-3. Get off the man’s back.
Unfortunately he’s had a number of recent starts in which he’s all but literally slammed into a wall and given up the lead/game.
How much of that has to do with his first full season and how much is his overall make up is yet to be seen.
I’d almost say right now Perkins this season is starting to look like Bonser last year. Fading late in the season.
I’m seriously mad that the relievers can’t be pinned for the collapse again today…..but this is still history in the making for futility.
You’re only as good as your last start
Boof left a meatball up for Mags and he flat out missed it
Wow. Dick sounded almost exasperated with that call.
He throws it again, and the results are different.
gatty, Mags missed it…so Boof sent it right back. 
I think all the starters are good and are only going to get better. Can’t have a pen of lifelong journey-men though….IF THEY WERE GOOD THEY WOULDN’T HAVE PLAYED FOR EVERY OTHER TEAM IN THE LEAGUE.
Jimmy. Perkins didn’t exactly do himself any favors that inning. I think the game was tied before the first out.
Threw that same pitch to Cabrera and he waved at it
T, that was the best homerun call by Dick EVER! You can tell he’s just as pisses as we are.
One last try.
The Twins currently trail by 2.5 games.
They’ve blown multiple leads in the last 3 weeks alone.
Give them one reliable reliever.
Take away 1/3 of the blown leads.
Where do the Twins stand in the AL Central?
Perhaps these last two games is where the wheels officially fell off.
I personally like the Raul Ibanez GS call, where he just said “oops”
It is video game time for me…
I’ve said this before, but I do not want the Twins to start the season next year with the current 3b options.
Buscher simply can’t play the position, and he doesn’t offer enough at the plate to make up for it.
3-2 Angels
walk thames
Wait, what is this? Jesse Crain has entered the game, and he’s setting a Tee up on home plate and telling the Tigers that his pitch count is too high for the year so he’s not actually going to “pitch” the ball, and the Tee should have about the same results as him actually throwing the ball.
Wow, La Velle has already filed his feature article for this game:
“Twins bullpen adds to pile of recent failures and flops”
:)>
:(>
Either way, Twins would not go anywhere in the playoffs (if they even got there) with only one good reliever. Even good relievers give up runs at times including inherited runners. Twins need more then one reliever that is decent.
And I am not going to play any baseball games either. That’s for sure.
Give them one reliable reliever.
Wasn’t that supposed to be Eddie Guardado?
Oh wait. Hindsight. Right.
Twins Bullpen VII…tune in Tuesday for Twins Bullpen VIII, and the next day for Twins Bullpen XIX.
Chief: I could also add…if Nathan doesn’t pitch with his head up his butt during the roadtrip the Twins may be sitting in a slightly better position.
It was the ENTIRE pen.
Not enough at the plate for Buscher? He’s batting .298 with 44 RBI in 188 AB
That’s and RBI every 4.27 AB
3.5 games after today. Didn’t this team win 16 out of 21 or something. They might lose 16 out of 21 now…
The Tigers refuse to hit off the Tee, citing that it is actually easier to hit the ball when the relievers are pitching…things are heating up between these teams.
T,
get over yourself on the Guardado thing. Ya didn’t want him we get it. He hasn’t made the bully worse.
Chernobyl, do any of those movies have a twist at the end, or at least happy ending?
Dick never fails to jinx anything…
Take away the unearned runs and we’re tied. Oops, they gave us one. I doubt Bonser and some of these guys would make it in Boston or SD… they might get mistaken for Shamu and get harpooned. After the Boof made the play on Sheffield, I was waiting for the trainer to run out and give him oxygen. What a specimen.
Did Dick actually insinuate that the twins could actually win this game?
Is there a worse BP then what the Twins currently have? I would like to see it.
Texas’ is pretty bad…
the mets bullpen has been worse. not sure if they are currently
a 3 run deficit is not that much to overcome, especially against detroit’s bullpen. but i bet there is not a person on this blog that thinks detroit is done scoring off the twins’ bullpen.
The Twins have just negotiated with MLB that after the starter comes out of the game, the other team just gets 3 runs per inning remaing in the game, this will eliminate the need for relievers on the Twins and will open up roster spots for more ball boys.
This team is what would be known as a total joke right now…in every aspect of the game.
And they are choking in every aspect of the game as well.
The only thing that can save this game is a Morneau GS
But even if that did happen, the twins would have to ’save’ the game from themselves…
3 pop ups for Cailla today
Casilla*
Heatonater: Coming into today, Buscher is hitting .297/.333/.405, for a 99 OPS+. Citing Batting Average only as a measure of hitting effectiveness is not very useful.
He’s the definition of average, and that’s while getting mostly favorable ABs against RH pitching.
He has little power, and not much plate discipline.
The RBIs are nice, but I’m pretty confident in predicting that can’t last.
Couple all that with brutal defense and you have a part time player who’s stretched to fill even that role.
If the Twins had a great lineup everywhere else, you can live with that kind of player.
They don’t, and they can’t.
Casilla is hitting .174 this month
Ya didn’t want him we get it. He hasn’t made the bully worse.
And that’s supposed to be some kind of victory for the Twins?
Read that. Eddie WAS the savior when they got him. Anybody who thought otherwise was just crazy.
DP is still in order…
Thanks for the stat Heat: I wonder if there’s still some nagging with Casilla’s injury.
Might as well start Everett with Punto at 2B.
Now is when we need Kubel to hit one 450+ feet.
So does Harris have a better bat than Buscher?
Kubes gonna tie it up
I hate Gardenhire. I never minded him, but he just shows me time and time again this year that he doesn’t know what’s going on.
Now that’s Twins baseball…scoring a run on a sac fly.
Gosh forbid it takes a hit.
So let’s say the Twins take the lead here. Does Gardy just pull names out of a hat to pitch the 8th?
At least the White Sox are down 3-2. It’d be nice to get back to 1.5 back. The Wild Card is not going to be a possibility.
Watch this K by Kubel
No T,
Gardy will do a survey on this blog since this is where all the true baseball minds of the world are.
Dang, looks like it only works for Dick.
I wonder if Casilla is in pain from his injury…….
Whatever, videa games are awaitin.
He’ll go with Korecky or Humber to let the Tigers build their lead….
Twins lead the majors in sac flies with 62, Boston is second with 53
Was Dick able to jinx Chris Young’s start? Or did he get the Perfecto?
It’s Guardado. I’d rather see what Mijares has at this point in the series. It’s been so frustrating.
this season will go down as one of the worse collapses in twins history
Harris isn’t the answer, either. Put them together as a platoon and you have a slightly subpar offensive third baseman, combined with brutal defense. Probably a net negative all together, costing you more games than they win.
I’d like to see someone at third who’s an asset, rather than a combo you live.
Given the options likely available over the winter, I’d like to see Beltre. And like this summer, I’d be willing to deal one of Blackburn/Perkins to get him. I’m not as sold on Atkins, but I could live with that as well. For one thing, the Twins really need a RH bat in the middle of the order. Getting Cuddyer back next year might help, adding Beltre AND Cuddyer will help even more, plus help shore up the shoddy infield defense.
So does Harris have a better bat than Buscher?
Doesn’t matter, Harris must have insulted Mrs. Gardy or something to make him the 5th string everything…..except pitcher, but with the bullpen struggles that might be a possibility….he does have a cannon….
this season will go down as one of the worse collapses in twins history
I dunno know about that. I recall 2001 being pretty depressing in terms of falling out of a pennant race.
I’m not so sure it’ll be one of the worst collapses. And I think even if the Twins get close to 90 wins and just misses the playoffs we should be happy (not satisfied, happy).
Who would have thought that without Santana and Hunter and then losing Neshek and Cuddyer for the season we’d be right at the top ahead of Detroit and Cleveland?
Not to pile on, buy why would you bring Guardado in to pitch to two RH hitters?
IDK, I guess Gardenhire is moving away from his typical match-up plan. I’d rather see Mijares at this point…
K-Rod tryin to close out the game in Chi-town
Seriously, Beltre will NOT fit in with the Gardenhire way….. if Lamb was considered “lazy” and not a team player, then there are no words to describe what Beltre would be considered. His performance on the field will only go so far, but once he starts faltering it is going to be like Guillen in KC….. and it would be more of a distraction than a benefit. Of the hundreds of 3b you guys hope you get your best bet would possibly be Atkins but he isn’t the best defensively…..
Gabe Kapler broke up Young’s perfecto, no-hitter and shutout. He did get complete-game two-hitter, Padres 10, Brewers 1.
E1
this season will not be a collapse…. they never had any kind of lead to collapse from.
The Twins with 2 innings to save the season…….
The Twins with 2 innings to save the season……
Is this an honest statement?
There ya go Eddie!
i feel bad for you guys if Stuart Smalley becomes your senator.
i voted for Jessee then moved away, sorry guys.
White Sox lose, 3-2.
Sox lose!
The Twins need to be within 2 of the whities when they meet. It doesn’t look good right now but it isn’t over.
With two strikes on either Young or Gomez, you can bounce the ball two feet off the plate and they will swing for strike 3.
D-Young 0-4 3 K 3 LOB
Gardy needs to PH for Gomez here.
And he is…Pridie hitting.
“Is this an honest statement?”
If they lose today, I think they’ll be lackluster the rest of the way. Oh, the bitchsox could implode and we could win the Division by default, but with no real hopes in the playoffs.
It’s rally time with LNP!
Time for Pridie to jack one.
Chi Sox stumbled in 05 down the stretch but hung on and won the series.
Detroit/St Louis stumbled down the stretch buit hung on and met in the WS.
The team isn’t dead yet.
Top of the lineup is up next inning.
Yeah, lackluster. Pridie look about as intense as the preacher sitting back listening to the Sunday morning choir sing.
As I said earlier, this team is not dead, but is drowning in slow motion.
If they lose today, I think they’ll be lackluster the rest of the way. Oh, the bitchsox could implode and we could win the Division by default, but with no real hopes in the playoffs.
Agreed.
It would not shock me to watch the Royals come to the Dome and take the series.
Well that was nice at bat. Might as well left Gomez in there to strike out.
Nathan in down 2 to pitch the ninth.
It’s ok by me, but I’d rather he be asked to get 5 outs yesterday.
Actually wou;dn’t you rather use Houston running the table in 04 to win the WC on the last day of the season, or Colorado winning 13 of 14 to get a play in game as your motivational speech for the season not being over yet? Those teams, like the Twins, do not have a lead to lose……
I hope Joe Nathan gets his first win of the year today.
All right. Let’s get some runs.
Tough ABs, boys, tough ABs.
Here’s hoping that Rodney is wild, Span gets a BB.
Let’s see Punto + Butcher cost the Twins 3 runs with their errors… The game would have been over by now (5-4) if Gardy did not start them.
Way to go Gardy
The Rockies run was insane, until they got swept by the Sox
It would actually be 4-4…
Chernobyl, do any of those movies have a twist at the end, or at least happy ending?
No happy endings, but in Twins Bullpen XIX the winning run scores on a Punto error, so the loss can be blamed on the defense instead of the bullpen.
Like I posted a couple weeks ago, Gardy has to do something to instill this team. Otherwise there’s no chance.
I always hate hollywood endings…
COME ON, MVPII!!!!!!!
An XBH from mauer would be nice
My guess first pitch out…
Morneau lines out……
I was tring the inverse jinx. Didn’t work.
Nice effort by the twins to lose a game.
Freefall.
The players deserve the most blame, but a large share of this collapse has to fall on the front office.
Per their history, the front office sat on their hand through a season of opportunity, with easily identifiable needs.
It gets old.
Where were the Twins predicted to finish this season? Third or fourth?
Don’t know they didn’t try to get Hawkins. Maybe he wasn’t available to them. At worst, it would have turned out like Eddie G. But ya hafta try.
Who cares where they were predicted to finish. They had a chance to finish first and it appears they are letting that chance slip away.
“Where were the Twins predicted to finish this season? Third or fourth?”
This definitely is a successful season. Could have been more so. But more important, the acquiring of a Beltre was as much for next season as this one.
Pohlad would never pay for a Beltre
Beltre would not last in Mn….. he would be a very well paid bench boy because Gardy will find a reason to bench him for the work ethic…..
And the Twins will never win the WS.
Looks like the Halos all the way to me.
The bullpen, the manager and the coaching staff need major overhauls during the off-season, regardless whether this team makes the post-season, world series or not.
About time for Smith to step up as send a signal that this is his team.
btw, heatonator, some of us predicted that the Twins will win the division…
Who was that?
Football is a great diversion…
La Velle,
agreed. 1st game of the season, Monday night (albeit early) at the Packers, couldn’t get much better than this…
well maybe… if the most overrated football player of the last century was still with the Packers and Allen had a chance to give him a close encounter with the grass a couple of times.
Regardless, I hope that the Twins FO is not diverted enough not to get rid of the loser manager and his regime…
Glad the Twins got the past couple weeks out of their systems. 4-11 over the last 15. Yea, free fall pretty much describes it.
Now we will win out and win the division going away.
Or not.
At least my fantasy FB team is doing well today even with an injured Brady.
Im looking foward to everyone on this site submitting their suggestions of who to keep and who to get rid of and who they should bring up and so forth. should make for very good reading during the off season. I suggest we all wait to see if the Twins lose it or another suprise is in store for us fans. I would like to see a poll taken by all those that participated by submitting remarks to this blog during this season. Some of you are already suggesting possible trade options. Well here is my first off season tidbit. Out of the “MN Fav five(thats what I call them) If this team needs trade bait for power then I have no problem with Blackburn and Perkins being traded to help this club…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i18nSZBgOfs
This pretty much sums up the last couple weeks.
Especially since the music video is really bad…
The Twins are in a tailspin, but they’re not out of it yet. I thought they were dead in June when the White Sox swept them in the middle of a six game losing streak, but they bounced back. They were in trouble after the Red Sox swept them in early July including a 1-0 loss and then coughing up a late lead to Manny, but they bounced back. Then the Yankees pounded them for a sweep in the middle of a 5 game losing streak and it looked like the Twins were done, but they bounced back yet again.
I’m not saying there’s nothing to worry about, but the Twins are still right in the race with 19 to play.
And Gardenhire is much closer to being a guy who deserves manager of the year than being some clueless idiot who should be fired. He’s taken a young rotation, a 2nd rate bullpen, and a flawed lineup into a September pennant race. That is a good managing job.
Must be nice to manage in Minnesota, where job performance has absolutely NOTHING to do with job security.
We all hope that mbrian33 is right. But this is a team that has been very flawed the last few weeks. You have a mess of a bullpen. The starters are wearing down. Your 2nd baseman is playing hurt. Your CF can’t hit the broad side of a barn and needs to be benched. They are making critical errors in the field. Leftfielder has a bad ankle and swings wildly at everything. The DH is streaky. The offense has struggled a few times to many. And we have very little power. That leaves you only Maurer, Morneau, and Liriano at the top of their game. It’s just not enough. The others guys have got to make bigger contributions. We can’t hope that the White Sox lose so we don’t lose anymore ground. That doesn’t win division titles. You still have got to win it.
We all know our bullpen between the starters and Nathan has proven weak. We need a stopper almost as good as Joe for the 8th inning. Toronto seems to be long on good relievers and I hear they may want to trade BJ Ryan. Big salary but maybe the Twins can afford it with their lower payroll now. BJ Ryan or Brandon League might be a great set up man for Nathan.
I would trade Gomez for either one of those. I think an 8th inning stopper would be more valuable to this team than an erratic .250 hitting 4th outfielder who has potential, but also might be nothing more than a flash in the pan.
La Velle, your Bears just might have a chance! I haven’t seen a game given away this bad since, well, today.
Man, Indy is actually going to lose the game. Ouch.
Offseason trade Gomez for either BJ Ryan or Brandon League as 8th inning stopper…brilliant!
Trade Gomez now while other teams think he might still have upside.
I would do that trade for either Ryan or League…but prefer League (98 mph fastball!)
Toronto seems to be the flash in the pan. They just took three games from the Rays. That’s two series sweeps in a row against first place teams.
At least the Twins were in first for a few minutes. It didn’t seem like it though.
Yes, but Ryan is a gamer….still may increase his velocity as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery. Plus, rumor is the Jays want to dump his big contract.
Worth the risk for 2 years I think ~
GATTY:
Vikes are worried that the Colts are going to take it out on the Vikes NEXT week!
the twins were winning when every blooper , bleeder , chopper and hopper were falling or rolling for hits … that has nothing to do with Gardy being a hell of a manager cause he sucks … sooner or later every lucky bounce or roll will come to an end … and all the guys you bring up from the minors that were hitting barely above .200 down there won’t keep hitting well over .300 up here in the majors … they need a couple more guys with some pop … they need to trade a couple of their pitchers , be it off the big squad or from the minors, to get these guys but they are to damn scared to trade any of their pitchers they keep blowing about … so we are stuck with the Lambs and Everetts of MLB … WHOOPEE
Either way, get something for Gomez now before everyone else realizes he’s no where near the 5 tool player he was touted to be. Nor will he get there…
He gets bunt hits and others he beats out, but will never be a legitimate base hitter. Below average hand-eye coordination for a major leaguer.
sdh13:
Trade Gomez for BJ Ryan or Brandon League. We have good enuf starting pithing - we have to have an 8th inning stopper. Trade Gomez - he will never be better than a 4th outfielder/pinch runner.
Its called buying low and selling high.
take away all his cheap hits and he’d be lucky to be hitting .200 … sure he is fast but thats about it … a late inning defensive replacement is about all he is good for … and at that I don’t trust the guys arm cause that ball could end up anywhere when he throws
I agree. Everyone says Gomer is just 22 and has a high ceiling. He might, but I agree he seems to lack the pure base hitting ability. And Span is so much better in CF. I just don’t think he’s really going to develop into anything that great. We need an 8th inning stopper so bad, its worth trading him for a great arm like Ryan or League.
Right now, other teams DO think Go-Go has potential. Trade him this off season…
I agree with trading him for some legitimate bull pen help. That would compliment this team more than anything else right now….
Give it up man, Gomez isn’t going anywhere.
“Span is so much better in CF.”
ZR:
Gomez - .932
Span - .892
Skewed fielding numbers since Span has so many less chances so far than Gomez. Bottom line is that Span runs better routes, is more disciplined and will be better over time.
Don’t give up on trading Gomez. He’s flashy, but not really that talented other than his blazing speed.
Trade him while his perceived value is still high. Twins need a bull pen stopper more than they need the project that Gomer is.
Gomer is a “Pyle” of sh*t. Trade him this off season.
8th inning bull pen guy for Gomer Pyle sounds like the right thing to do…
Too bad we can’t get somebody worthwhile for him this year….
Span may run better routes but he does not cover as much ground.
Also, Gomez leads all CF in ZR so I don’t think Span will surpass him.
The speed between the two is close. A better route makes up any slight difference in speed. Span can also jump the fence better and his throws are more accurate.
The overall package of Span in CF vs. Gomez will be better.
Plus there is the better OBP for Span than Gomer.
This is a no-brainer guys….
No reason to trade Gomez unless you get alot for him. Bottom end of his ceiling is still a Superior Defensive CF and a speed guy on the bases. You don’t like him…. fine…. for next April he may very well be in AAA. He does project for future power…. too soon to tell if he will or won’t learn discipline.
Too many liabilities in Gomez’ game. If you could trade him for a lights out 8th inning reliever today, you should. This Twins team will start to peak (before they get too expensive and leave) in the next 2 years or so. During that time, Gomez will still be a development project - where as a great reliever could be the missing link for what we need in ‘09, ‘10.
Yes, you would have to get alot in return for Go-Go. Brandon League or maybe BJ Ryan could fit the bill… any other great 8th innings guys you’d suggest?
why would Toronto trade those guys for Gomez?
They have a CF in Wells, who has an unmovable contract
They have a CF playing right in Rios who could be a star.
They like Adam Lind.
don’t see them having that need.
I agree, I know Gomer projects high, but I don’t think he has the ability to connect with major league pitching consitently. That doesn’t equate to a high batting avg, OBP or home runs. Still think he’s a career .250 hitter. Without the bunts….. .200
No good ~
Who then has a great reliever and needs a center fielder…? Anyone in the NL?
San Diego maybe? they usually have good relievers, not many teams have a plethora of relief pitching
Wells is the man in Toronto but he won’t be around forever….Gomez could develop over there and get his break in CF, RF or even LF. Bottom line is that Toronto wants to dump Ryan’s salary, they might do that deal. Hopefully the Twins are willing to spend it now that they are down on salary after letting Hunter and Santana go.
Nesheck will be back for the 8th next year. Gomez will be good, give his some time. Also, he has some intangible something that seems to make all the Twins play better when he is in the game. I think this is what Gardy sees.
Guys from the minors who have hit well:
Buscher
Casilla
Span
Wells has 6 years left on his deal i believe, thats close to forever.
The Twins won’t pay that kind of freight on a setup guy…. hell no team would
I was a big doubter on all those 3 until middle of this season. I think you’re right - they are for real. Don’t know if all 3 will play at the level they are now, but they are legitimate contributors with good long term potential.
Gomez at 22 beats the hell out of Span at 22 or Hunter at 22.
I like to think Neshek will make it back, but that’s a significant injury. Plus his velocity was way down at the end of ‘07…even before the injury in ‘08.
I wouldn’t want to bank on him as the primary 8th inning guy just yet.
Unfortunately, I think we’ve seen the ceiling for Go-Go. He just doesn’t have the tools to hit major league pitching. Hope I’m wrong
Gomez is a self-centered, me-first, flake. He may have injected energy into the line up early in the season, but his true colors show now. Nice barking at the Detroit pitcher after you dissed him this spring…!
Span got sent down, overcame adversity and is showing some real savvy. I like his true colors a lot better.
Can you imagine what we would have to deal with Gomez if he had a great stretch. Probably start talking about himself in 3rd person…
COI, you noticed that Nathan’s velocity is down 1-2 mph since last year too?
Must be nice to manage in Minnesota, where job performance has absolutely NOTHING to do with job security.
Show me where Gardy has failed this year? This team’s in the playoff race is it not? Despite having been dismissed at the beginning of the season as a washed-up, doomed, and quite frankly “destroyed” team (by people HERE)
And now here is the team in the playoff hunt, and just as many predicted those same people who figured the Twins were ruined and Smith and Pohlad should be hung for what they did…are now the same people who think Gardy should be fired because he took this horrid and destroyed team and somehow made them a playoff contender.
I pray none of these types of people ever find themselves in a position where the actually could hire/fire people.
You’d finish one project ahead of schedule and get promoted, then the next day show up an hour late due to traffic and you’d be fired.
ah T still trolling are you.. I read quite a few name calling posts from you yesterday. that’s not usually your style what happened?
It’s funny how the Twins played better when Brendan Harris was in the lineup on a regular basis? I think he has the ability to come up with a big extra base hit early in a game to maybe give the Twins a bigger lead. How many times has Punto come up with a runner on third or the bases loaded and hit a pop up in the infield? Punto has been very good but he doesn’t belong in the lineup every day.
At least the WSox got rained out.
How many games every year has to be made up in Chicago. Seems like quite a few.
Nora,
I don’t think it’s a lot-I mean we don’t get a ton of rain down here in Chicago during the summer. Just a crappy end to the summer.
I saw that Rincon grooved a GS ball for the O’s. That was awesome!
Well, the beginning of the season Chicago had to postpone alot of games.
…And the Vikes lose…
*Sigh* This is what it’s truely like to be a Sports fan in MN. (No, neither the Twins or certainly the not the Vikes season is over, but come on).
On a positive note, Brady is out for the season.
TK(2):
A positive note that a player got hurt, I think not. How ridiculous are you? Clean up your act, please.
I need a diversion from Vikings football.
How are the Twins doing?
Gophers?
I need a diversion from Vikings football.
A diversion? I’m ready to rename myself “FIRE CHILDRESS, WILF, AND TRADE JCKSON!”
that’s not usually your style what happened?
The same thing that usually happens when you see a somebody apparently “out of style”.
Odds are a name hijacking.
Jackson’s efforts last night reminded me of the Twins’ bullpen.
Looks like Twin are having it handed to them. Konerko’s twisted his knee in Chicago and doesn’t look good
LEN3. Is the press conference tommorrow to announce we’ve been selected to host the 2014 AS game?
I thought I might get some flak for that, but I stand by it. I don’t do that with most players, but anytime a W. Sox player is lost for the season, I take that as a positive. If Morneau went down, don’t think that the W. Sox and their fans wouldn’t be celebrating, at least internally. In Brady’s case, screw him. I’m tired of the Pats, R. Sox, Celtics, and NE in general. The Patriots were the worst though. They seemed so…we’re better, we know it, and we’re going to make you remember it. I hope Brady never plays again- even though he should. He’s only got 3 rings to retire on anyway. There is a sense of well, we beat them, but not at their best, but given the choice I’ll take beating them in any way, shape or form.
Trade Marking 19-0 before they even achieved it…a$$holes.
I should add that unlike the Patriots, I don’t hate the W. Sox PLAYERS…well, maybe A.J. sometimes…just that it make the Twins job easier when the W. Sox lose a player due to injury.
