Twins-Royals postgame
Posted on September 10th, 2008 – 11:34 PMBy La Velle
Maybe I get too wound up when pitchers do well, but I felt Kevin Slowey did a very good job on Wednesday - especially after learning during the post-game pressers that Slowey had a bad bullpen session before the game and really didn’t feel right until the third inning.
I’ve seen so many pitchers identify problems but, for whatever reason, couldn’t make make the adjustment. Slowey seems able to do that, which is why he’s 6-2 since late July.
I wondered if Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was going to give Jose Mijares a shot late in the game, but he went with Boof Bonser and Craig Breslow. I don’t view it as a disaster if a double-A pitcher who was injured for half the season doesn’t get in. I would, however, like to see what Mijares has.
With the Twins safely ahead late, fans turned toward the scoreboard.
Toronto scored twice in the eighth and three in the ninth to close within 6-5. Bobby Jenks was struggling. It was obvious that a few fans were watching the scoreboard because a couple of them began to cheer, `Let’s go Blue Jays! Let’s go Blue Jays!’
Jenks struck out Alex Rios to end the game and end Toronto’s ten-game winning streak. Many among the announced crowd of 20,421 groaned when the 6-5 score went final.
32 Responses to "Twins-Royals postgame"
Jose Mirajes can never be as successful as Jesse.
There’s only one Jesse.
“There’s only one Jesse.”
If the Twins had two, they would be in third place and dropping.
@sane
How would gardy ever decide which one would pitch? Maybe they would cancel each other out?
I thought the best thing about Slowey’s performance was that when he was missing early in the game, most of the time it was side to side inside of up in the zone. Good day for Casilla and Kubel.
it’s normal for the crowd to scoreboard watch, but the team can’t do that. just go out and win and you can’t lose ground, then after the game you worry about what the white sox did.
my favorite crowd rooting for another team moment had to be the atlanta brave chop being performed by everyone (i mean everyone) the last day of the 06 season in St. Louis. because the braves beat the astros the last day, the cards got in the playoffs and eventually won the whole thing.
Did anyone notice that the guys who stepped up last night (Span, Morneau, Buscher) were different from those who stepped up tonight (Casilla, Kubel, Young, Gómez)? That bodes well for the stretch.
left home a week ago and the twins were a game out. saw them beat the tigers, 10-2, from the fourth row down the first base line in the dome. returned home and the twins are still a game out. crazy as hell.
my favorite crowd rooting for another team moment…GOT to mention everyone cheering for the Royals the last day of ‘06. That was magical.
It’s not a problem that Gardy hasn’t used Mirajes yet. It’s a problem that Gardy continues to complain about overworking his BP and yet doesn’t use his call ups, like Mirajes, in blowout games… 6 run lead in the 9th is not safe enough for one of them against KC???
`Let’s go Blue Jays! Let’s go Blue Jays!’
I was wondering what they were saying. I could hear “Let’s go Blu-” and thought it was a Boof chant.
6 run lead in the 9th is not safe enough for one of them against KC???
A 6-run lead wasn’t safe enough for our bullpen twice against Seattle, and they’re worse.
It wasn’t 6 runs in the 9th against Seattle and funny thing, it wasn’t one of the callups doing the coughing up.
I am fine with using the standard BP guys, but then stop complaining about the overuse when you don’t try to save an inning or two in the previous games.
for those old-school Gopher basketball fans, I’ve watched the last two nights and I’ve been chanting “Play Mijares… Play Mijares” each night. (Note - maybe some remember the “Play Hosea!” chants from Williams Arena days of Hosea Crittenden.
I’d like to see him get in. Geez, I even want to see Ryan Jorgenson get one pinch hit at bat!! I’d like to see what Jason Pridie can do against Brandon Duckworth today!
:insert inappropriate ’seth likes young kids’ smarmy remark here:
I was surprised it was Boof in the 8th and downright shocked it was Breslow in the 9th.
I figured Boof got the call because he had been up and warming up a bit when the game was a little closer, so he’s thrown plenty of pitches already… might as well use him. But then to follow it up with Breslow instead of Humber of Mijares? Yeah, I don’t get that one. If you’re waiting for a 10-run 9th inning lead, it could be a long wait.
Maybe no lead is considered “safe” the way things have gone lately and they’ll only be seen in blowout losses.
anybody think the twins must release talking points each day? yesterday howard has a positive punto thing and then last night the tv guys do a little pro punto bit. interesting that they quote gardy as saying he knows nicky isn’t an everyday player but yet he has played over 50 straight games. ??
2 game winning streak, first in a long time. is it just me or do the royals look really bad right now?
when do the Royals look good?
Have you ever seen a fastball stay as flat and straight as Jesse Crain’s??? Oh, and Craig Breslow and Kevin Slowey are identical twins that throw with different arms, kind of like the movie, Stuck on You. Also, Nick Blackburn looks like Joe Mauer…if he was from MN he would be getting all the “sex appeal” talk instead of Joe because my wife says he is better looking. Boof Bonser throws HARD now. If he can get his crazy head right, he could be a legit set-up man with his hard fastball and good breaking pitches. What was the deal with Carlos Gomez’s swinging bunt last night??? Liriano=sweep. Morneau=MVP. Gomez=thoroughbred. Punto=Mientkiewicz w/o the attitude. Torii Hunter=Division Champion (but not because of him). Also Torii Hunter=overpaid/terrible contract/overrated.
1985
Well, folks, this is Gardy. He is very reluctant to make changes. Mijares should have been there in the 9th. There is one excuse: There are probably several pitchers on the bubble about making the post-season roster (one of Guerrier, Crain, Boof, Breslow, Guardado, Perkins) will probably not make it. It makes sense to test them as much as possible.
On the other hand, was anyone else surprised that Ruiz did not ph for Kubel with Gobble pitching or Harris did not ph for Buscher at the same circumstance?
“Have you ever seen a fastball stay as flat and straight as Jesse Crain’s???”
Yes, Juan Rincon’s fastball.
whalefeet you must not have been in the stands that night in ‘06 when the crowd stayed, the dome switched the two big monitors to the Royals game, the Twins’ team came back out on the field to watch with and then celebrate with the crowd. I had goose bumps. You’re right Nate, that night was truly magical.
If Gardy won’t use Mijares up 6 runs in the 9th against the sad Royals, I doubt we will get to see him at all this year, unless we’re up by 10+ or down by the same amount.
Nice to see Slowey make the adjustments last night. I think he will be like Radke, but better.
Seth,
I remember Hosea! it was always fun to see him get in. Big Ten Network plays some of those old Gophers games… good times.
was thinking the same thing about call-ups while sitting in the dome for the 10-2 blowout against detroit. perfect spot for humber or mijares in the 9th, got boof (who looked good) instead. gardy must be thinking of getting their minds right for playoff appearances?
Nice start for slowey. The Twins are doing what they need to do right now, beat up on a bad team. I’m happy about that.
Slightly different topic - here is some fuel for the fire that burns in those who believe that the Twins get no respect from the East Coast media: On SportsCenter this morning, they looked at the Angels’ season record against the teams they might face in the AL post-season. The White Sox were there, but no Twins.
Kay,
I believe you are correct, we won’t see Mijares or Humber unless we are up or down by at least 8.
Gardy’s problems with an overworked bullpen have subsided with a day off and some good SP this week.
When the days off disappear, at the same time as the good SP, then we may see Mijares and Humber. (if a blowout occurs at an opportune time)
We’ll see them this week when we have put up a 12 run lead against the Orioles.
Gardy should have used Mijares last night. He could have said, “Okay kid, we have a six-run lead. I’m going to give you two runs to play with. If you blow two runs, I yank you and bring in a veteran.” As for Slowey’s mid-game adjustment, it’s his relatively simple mechanics that makes it possible. No huge torso turn like Liriano, no whippy wrist like Baker, just a simple stride and windmill of the forearm, like Greg Maddux. Controlling his delivery is a matter of controlling the force, since everything else is obvious. If he strides too far, the pitching coach will see it. If his release point is off, same thing. Slowey has the most repeatable delivery of any Twins pitcher. That’s why he’s going to be a workhorse for the next ten years.
Jake, I agree about Boof’s stuff. It always looks good, yet he still gets hammered. I saw the same thing from Rincon. Rincon was often hitting 94 on the radar gun (though without movement), and his slider looked nasty, but he would get hit all over the park. It must be location.
Blame another loss on Gardy!!! He is going to blow this race all by himself. Why pull Lariano in the 9th and only leave Nathan in for 15 pitches? We are in a pennant race, win today! Pitch count is a joke, how about s pinch hitter once in awhile?
