Twins-Yankees: Batting third. Joe Crede, DH.
Posted on February 27th, 2009 – 7:41 AMBy La Velle
Warning: Today will be a crazy day as I finish up a Sunday project.
Many of you have sent e-mails recently with questions about the Twins or journalism or places to eat in Fort Myers, but it seems like I’ve been in scramble mode ever since Joe Crede joined the Twins. Don’t think I’m blowing you off, it’s just been real busy. I arrived at the park yesterday at 7 a.m. and didn’t get home until 6:25 p.m. from Sarasota. I did manage to sneak over to Shoeless Joe’s for dinner as I watched the Illini dine on some Gopher meat.
Enough about me. How about Joe Crede? He’ll be in a Twins uniform for the first time today.
He’s batting third in today’s lineup against Ian Kennedy and the Yankees. I haven’t seen the Yanks’ lineup yet, but the Twins’ batting order goes like this:
1. Go-Go, CF. 2. Casilla, 2B. 3. Joe C., DH. 4. MVP ‘06, 1B. 5. Cuddy, RF. 6. Young, LF. 7. Red-Dog, C. 8. Harris, 3B. 9. Punto, SS. Pitching: Scott Baker.
Brian Duensing, Kevin Mulvey and Rob Delaney are scheduled to pitch. Can’t wait to see Delaney.
Here’s the Yankees’ batting order:
1. Brett Gardner, CF. 2. Cody Ransom, 2B. 3. Nick Swisher, 1B. 4. Jorge Posada, DH. 5. Xavier Nady, RF. 6. Melky Cabrera, LF. 7. Angel Berroa, SS. 8. Justin Leone, 3B. 9. Francisco Carvelli, C. Pitching: RHP Ian Kennedy, with RHP Eric Hacker, RHP Andrew Brackman, LHP Wilkin De La Rosa and others scheduled to appear.
348 Responses to "Twins-Yankees: Batting third. Joe Crede, DH."
If Mauer is out, is this the opening night lineup?
I can see it now if Crede doesn’t go 4-4 with 2 homeruns today everyone will be ripping Bill Smith for a horrible signing.
“Yea yea -Everthing’s gonna be allright”
“dodah dodah–Just like you said it would –oh yea–like you said it would”
I road in with Gardy today.
Crede better hit more than 2 homers today!!!!
Joe B: That lineup looks more like a Sunday Day-game-after-night-game style lineup than anything full time.
What position will Toby play today? I let my kid play every game.
frankly, I’d rather see Crede take swings to the opposite field than hitting homers today, but I’m probably in the minority here 
“frankly, I’d rather see Crede take swings to the opposite field than hitting homers today, but I’m probably in the minority here”
If he doesn’t he will be scorned by Vavra and Gardy for not doing things the Twins way.
La Velle, any word on when Mauer will get in to some games?
Crede better hit like 6 homers today!!!!!!!
Crede better not MUCK up this meaningless exibition game by hitting less than 6 round trippers. Touch um all Joe Crede. That’s like 24 total bases. not bad for his first game.
over and under on how many games before crede gets hurt?
he’s a bum anyway 2 games in still hasn’t hit a hr!
thyrlos98,
I’m with you. I also want to see if Crede can lay down the bunt.
Crede better not lay down no bunt.If hes gonna hit six homers he better disregard the bunt sign and swing away.seriously? Bunt?
Is this game televised? I am excited to see this Delaney kid also. By the sounds of it, he could challenge for a midseason bullpen callup? Do you know they Twins plans for him this year LaVelle?
Excited to see our new stick step into the batters box also.
LaVelle, I’d be curious your thoughts on Delaney. The times I’ve seen him (online or AFL video), he seems quite reminiscent of Todd Jones, but probably throws a little harder? Curious what you think.
For people who thought that Boras was being stubborn regarding Crede…here’s the news out of the Dodgers org regarding the offer to Manny.
The offer is a two-year, $45 million contract, with salaries of $25 million the first year and $20 million the second, but the second year is a PLAYER option so Manny can walk away if he believes he can get more on the open market next winter. If he is injured during the first season, the second year becomes guaranteed.
I voiced my absolute shock at how absurd this deal was…and how the Dodgers basically just trapped themselves.
And then what happens? HE REJECTS IT!
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/02/manny-ramire-15.html
That’s right. Manny and Boras rejected a two year contract for 25/20 million that would given Manny either a guarnateed 20 mil if he sucked or got hurt in 2009 and left the Dodgers potentially forced to grossly overpay him AGAIN if he put up insane numbers.
Dodgers need to take a page out of the Twins book. Especially now that their more than generous offer was rejected.
Manny is crazy if he thinks hes worth that much. The only player that is worth that much is NICK PUNTO
I’m anxious to see Mulvey’s inning. I still think he’s a decent candidate for a spot in the rotation if anything happens to one of the current SPs.
that brock peterson could earn a big payday someday
I agree T the money he was offered is rediculous considering the state of the economy. MLB had better take a hard look at what the NBA had to do this year before giving out anymore outlandish contracts.
T, the Dodgers screwed themselves over by not setting a deadline for Manny and Boras when there were still other options on the market. If they had said “take this offer by Friday or we’re going after Dunn/Anderson/Griffey/whomever,” they would have had Ramirez in camp by now on their terms.
Now, even though there are no other teams even expressing interest, Boras can simply wait the Dodgers out and every day there will be more pressure on the team to get a deal done… from fans, other players and even Torre. Meanwhile, Manny gets to skip the first few weeks of camp which I’m sure is just fine with him anyway.
We can trade Brock Peterson to the Dodgers and they can tell Manny to f off.
[…] Today Joe Crede makes his debut in a Twins uniform, against the Yankees. Here’s the lineup: […]
I know Brock Peterson. I have watched Brock Peterson play.
Manny is no Brock Peterson!
Shalalalala
well, i don’t really know him, i’ve heard of him. and i didn’t really watch him, i tried to follow it on the computer box score. sorry for the confusion.
Song being played right now at Hammond Stadium: “Bump and Grind,” by R. Kelly. Who picks this stuff?
My hope is that the Dodgers just stop contact with the guy and let him sit. My only fear is that some team like the SOB Yankees sign him. The Dodgers would have been better off signing a Dunn, Burrel, or a Abreu combination for what Manny wants.
mlb.com shows the game today is audio only. so if you sub to it you can get the feed.
Gardy picks the music. I know for a fact Gardy is a music lover and I have heard him perform. He likes his chicken fried and a cold beer on Friday night.
Song being played right now at Hammond Stadium: “Bump and Grind,” by R. Kelly. Who picks this stuff?
LNP
They’re still using Torii Hunter’s playlist.
Abreu would have been great for the Dodgers, and they’d have had money for another stud FA on top of that.
Manny is a headcase, always has been, always will be.
Crede over Morneau for the 3rd spot? This IS spring training.
Realistically, what does everybody think Crede’s line will be today?
thats Manny being manny….what a sick sob…anyone that can turn down 50 mil for 24 months of work deserves to sit with nothing….the guy just proves what a nutjob he really is…a season without manny would be no loss…what a loser…
1-4 with a double to left; a couple long fly ball outs and a SO
sorry i shouldnt have referred to it as work for manny…more like 24 months of pampering……oh the poor bastard
Aaron he goes 0-4 but helps turn two sweet DP’s.
Crede will be either 0-2 with a walk or 0-3 today.
Congratulations to Boston for trading that clueless jerk. Now come on, Dodgers, have the guts to tell Boras to go fish. The best thing that could happen for baseball would be for Manny Ramirez to sit on his hands all season.
BCND
It’d be pretty hard to do that at DH…
thrylos, i swear i’m not making this up. i saw this song by overkill:
“Head First lyrics performed by Overkill … In head first take a deep breath! Down there. So at ease. It all ends with an all out dive! …”
Crede will be 0 for 3 and a few posters will anoint Buscher the opening day 3B.
Crede has an 0-fer today. He’s been out for what, six months?
Jim, the dodgers did set a deadline, and then promptly ignored it. Then they offered him a different deal, and said it was the last offer, then they offered him another deal yesterday. Boras, I’d think, believes that the Dodgers are not serious about any of them being final offers.
And, as much as the perception is that Manny quit on the Sox last year, his OPS with the Sox was over 1.000. Astronomically great production. The guy can flat out hit.
Harris is #3 one day, crede comes in and now he’s batting 8th behind Red dog. ST is definitely here…
I actually want to see if Buscher’s glove has improved. The way he’s hitting, he could very well be the other option at 3b and 1b instead of Harris - although Harris had a good day as well.
The Yankees might think it is still September 2008 and walk Crede three times to get to Morneau.
C’mon La Velle, I don’t see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind. 
[…] Twins Insider – […]
Crede will hit a Grand Slam in his first AB.
Book it.
“Aaron he goes 0-4 but helps turn two sweet DP’s.”
“It’d be pretty hard to do that at DH…”
We are paying the SOB $7 million, so THAT’S NO @#$%@#$% EXCUSE!!!!
The Dodgers are smart for waiting. There’s no reason for them to bid against themselves like the Yankees did for A-Rod.
medschoolmatt Exactly that’s what makes them so sweet.
oooo right
Crede never made DH look so good
Turns out a HUGE chunk of the money they offerred Manny is deferred. That makes the contract look a lot less interesting to Manny.
what time does the game start today?
i would really like to see Span be the every day LF… there is a lot of ground to cover over there at the dome!
i would love to see Cuddy and Young battle it out for the RF job!
Cuddy coming off injury… and young coming off a disapointing year!
play who is hot! they are equal right now…
“Crede will hit a Grand Slam in his first AB.
Book it.”
Pretty hard to hit a grand slam in your first AB when you’re batting third.
Span will be the one struggling for playing time.
Ben W.,
Crede could walk his first time up and have no offical AB. Then hit a slammer his second time up.
Don’t fill in for spare radio dope PA and you’ll have more time to keep the constituents informed.
Aaron he goes 0-4 but helps turn two sweet DP’s.
It’d be pretty hard to do that at DH…
Not at all.
He grounds into a 6-4-3 in his first AB, and a 5-4-3 in his second AB. 
Walter, you’re right.
Crede doesn’t walk much, though. Maybe he gets HBP.
Ben W.,
True. I’m going to go with a sacrifice bunt, though.
Walter Johnson is stupid!
Crede puts one in the seats his first at bat!! “You can put it on the…” …. I mean “touch ‘em all” Joe Crede. At least there’s no pressure from the bloggers here to go yard.
The one question i have is how much time can Mauer miss before his spot in the batting order is changed?
T: You should know by now subtle humor isn’t likely to be ‘gotten’ on this board.
Some of us got it, though.
“matt guerrier says:
February 27th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Walter Johnson is stupid!”
Congrats matt. First one today.
Does anyone else think it’s weird that we have a knuckleball reliever named Dickey and Seattle has one as well? Weird…
Chief,
“He grounds into a 6-4-3 in his first AB, and a 5-4-3 in his second AB’
Like I tell my poor hitters (kidding):
“Please strike out and break up the double play.”
“Does anyone else think it’s weird that we have a knuckleball reliever named Dickey and Seattle has one as well? Weird…”
I know! Someone told me they even have the same initials.
same guy jake!
I think the game is on MLB TV. Does anyone know when it starts?
Brett Gardner hit a lead-off HR on Wednesday for the Yankees. Sounds like his is really fast too. Was he on the radar at all when the Twins were taking Santana trade with the Yankees?
“Gardner’s legs are his strength. He’s the fastest baserunner in the organizationhas 80 speed on a 20-80 scale, and has solid baserunning instincts. He’s adept at picking spots, knowing when it’s more valuable to the team for him to use the threat of a stolen base to get the pitcher to throw fastballs to the heart of the order.
He has outstanding plate discipline, draws a good number of walks, and uses the whole field while making consistent, hard contact. Baseball America rated him as having the best strike zone discipline in the Yankees minor league system after the close of the 2006 season.
His speed and excellent sense in the outfield translate to an outstanding defensive game, among the best in the Yankee farm system. His arm is average, though fairly accurate.”
mlb.tv (internet), not MLB Network (TV)
at 10:30AM, I think.
Guys, I’m guessing T was being a bit sarcastic — he knows Crede is hitting in the 3 hole. Book it.
sblameup,
You think the rest of us were being serious?
game is at 12:05 CST. Just Gameday Audio (TRN) on mlb.com
Sorry about my gametime guess.
I gave you my PST version.
BCND: If they were planning on putting Mauer 3rd this year, they’ll try it a bit when he first gets going.
But it may not last that long if something accidentally works itself out before hand. Though I think we’ve had a different #2 hitter each day so far so that’d be pretty tough.
matt guerrier says:
February 27th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Walter Johnson is stupid!
Aww cute. Topp Dogg found a new playmate.
“Aww cute. Topp Dogg found a new playmate.”
Wow. First thrylos98, now me. I actually feel honored.
The Twins are morphing into a Swiss pocket watch with carefully placed components efficiently meshed together, each part dependent on the other. If a healthy Joe Crede’s defensive play is of all star quality, like it was pre-injury, he will be a much needed component for this team.
His defensive play is his most needed quality, not how many homers he can hit. A big bat is simply frosting on the cake.
A “team” running smoothly like that old swiss pocket watch will, more often than not, beat a group of all-stars.
Walter Johnson,
Gardner is Jason Tyner, just not as good. I’d hope we would have gotten a lot better prospect for him than Santana. He actually had quite a few at bats last year with NO success.
MrEsterhouse,
I was also thinking that the Twins were going after a major league-ready CF, and Gardner was still a year or two away. “Jason Tyner, just not as good” That is harsh.
Here’s to Joe Crede having a healthy productive career with the Twins.
A “team” running smoothly like that old swiss pocket watch will, more often than not, beat a group of all-stars.
Is there some rule that a group of all-stars can’t run smoothly like an old Swiss pocket watch?
USAFChief…
Nope no rule. It’s simply how many HUGE ego’s can you fit into the dome!
Twins seem to avoid Huge ego’s like the plague.
Healthy Joe Crede = Division Champions
Now thats gotta hurt White Sox unfaithful
PREDICTION! WHITE SOX FINISH LAST FROM FIRST TO WORST
Gardner is much faster than Tyner.
He has close to Gomez-speed.
For every Mauer and Morneau there’s three like Manny, Michael Young, and Alfonso Soriano. Not to pick on those three guys they’re the norm in baseball now. If your good it’s about what can I do to get a huge contract not what can I do to help the team. Soriano made a huge fuss about wanting to play 2B eve though he was tghe worst 2B in the league. Young doesn’t want to leave SS because it’ll hurt his contract $ numbers when he’s a free-agent. Never mind that his range is crap at this point in his career.
Chicago still has Quentin, Dye, Konerko, A.J. and “The Cuban Missile”. Buehrle, Danks and Floyd (plus Colon) are are pretty decent rotation. Jenks is a good closer.
If Kerry Wood stays healthy I think that the Twins will have to worry more about the Indians.
If Kerry Wood stays healthy
Given that Woods is out with back spasms, that should probable read If Kerry Wood ever gets healthy…
Who is going to play first when Morneau gets hurt in the WBC?
The Minnesota Twins are on the air!
Toby is in the new “My Local Hardware Store” commercial.
The News Press of Ft. Myers was streaming batting practice live this morning….
You can’t go wrong in Ft. Myers eating at Smoky Bones, Taste of New York, The Fish Monger, Carraba’s and Shoeless Joes.
Ha Livan mowing ‘em down today against the Cardinals in St. Lucie. 2 up and 2 down via the groundball to Luis Castillo…Pujols at the dish now
thrylos98,
What’s your take on this Gardner kid?
Thrylos…
Good point but the Indians still scare me because of how well they finished last year when the Twins and Chicago played hot potato with 1st place.
Man I want to go to Florida!
Ha Harold Reynolds brother is upset…
Gardner played a few games last year. Think he is a speed guy, steals some bases, decent D, no bat.
Time to NUT UP then shazel…..
Is there a feed for this on justin.tv like there was for the last game?
What’s your take on this Gardner kid?
not sure what to think. I really didn’t look into it, but from what I hear on WFAN Yankees fans & NY sportstalk heads are not that high on him (but they are not that high one anyone who makes less that 15mil a year)
FYI: Gardner is Girardi’s guy. Melky is Cashman’s guy. Wobble can confirm this with Yankees beat writer Peter Abraham of the Journal News who is at the game….
Love the choice of picture for this, Crede bunting…”We’ll make that Chisox slugger a Twin yet!” says Gardy.
Ha Livan at the dish now. Early in the order to practice bunting….
baker stinks cut him!
Check out how many teams Manny played on the last 11 years. Then check out how many made the playoffs. He may be a jerk (I have no idea, but some say he is), but he’s a hitting machine and the teams he plays on win a lot more games than they lose.
Anyone have any evidence on the “team of all stars doesn’t win” statement? I see the Yankees made the playoffs something like 11 straight years, and only failed to last year because they were in the toughest division in baseball (and won more than the Twins/Whitesox did).
Sorry, its about talent, not about chemistry.
Sorry, its about talent, not about chemistry.
Balance, too. You need some pitching and defense… Ask the Tiggers
Max,
Is Sidney Ponson pitching today?
a little luck and lack of injuries doesnt’ hurt.
talent include pitching and fielding talent, no doubt. I was debating the “chemistry is more important than talent” statement, not which talent (o, d, pitching) was more important (though I’ll take piching).
Yes, luck is a big, big, big component of all of sports. Big, underestimated part.
And, that last post was supposed to say that “talent INCLUDES pitching and fielding, not just hitting”.
I think it’s foolish to throw chemistry out the window. How do you explain the 2 Twins championships? We weren’t that talented in ‘91. I think that the Rays were definitely more talented than the Phillies last year. The best team doesn’t always win in baseball or any sport, but talent is more likely to equal a championship in basketball than baseball.
What happened to the Twins radio feed on am1500.com? It just dropped out…
What did I say? Walk Crede to get to Morneau.
Big Train; It is Todd Wellemeyer on the hill for STL
You make a couple of excellent points, the most important being that the best team does not always win. Most fans just can’t grasp that concept. They think that if the AZ Cardinals make it to the superbowl and win, they must be the best team. Nope, not necessarily. They are the team that won (or not, in this case) the playoffs. That is 100% not the same thing as being the best team.
Luck happens. Performances by individuals that are out of the norm for them happen. Lots and lots of things happen in life that are not predictable, because averages aren’t real. Averages are a collection of events (sometimes unique, sometimes not) that are predictors. But, that is all they are, predictors (actually, they are measures of the past used to make predictions….). So, in any given event, something not “normal/average” is likely to happen. And, sometimes, that thing works to the advantage of one team over the other.
To my knowledge, no one has ever proven that chemistry exists on a team, and that chemistry leads to improved outcomes.
WTF KSTP is such a rinky dink operation…bet the Pohlads take the team over to 96.3 FM in the near future. Just a hunch!!!!!!!!
Baker must have had too much Mardi Gras this week.
The Yankee teams with Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, Bernie Williams, Scott Brosius, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Joe Girardi were TEAMS.
More recent Yankee teams had more talent, less chemistry, NO CHAMPIONSHIPS.
this was definitely not Baker’s day.
sane, are you suggesting that O’neill, martinez, williams, jeter and posada weren’t super talented teams also? it is about talent.
And, “if anything can happen in the playoffs” is true, what does no championships prove? Sometimes the unpredicted happens. That doesn’t prove anything.
You can be the best team and not win, otherwise the best team would go 162-0, wouldn’t they?
mike,
My experiences don’t include MLB, but without being able to “prove” it empirically, I am 100% (not 99.9%) certain that it does exist and is a major factor in winning and losing.
At our level, personnel changes by about 50% every year, and the returnees personality changes as they grow up a year or two.
Every year, the leadership changes completely (new group of seniors).
Every team has a different personality and I can predict success/failure amazingly well just by observing player-team interactions.
This isn’t even close to the opening day lineup. Here is opening day.
Span LF
Casilla 2nd
Mauer Cather
Morneau 1st
Crede 3rd
Kubel DH
Cuddyer RF
Punto SS
Go-Go CF
If Mauer is still out on opening day, then move Cuddyer up to 3rd in lineup, insert Red-dog bating 7th.
I hear the games in Ft. Myers are sold out, but also hear travel / traffic is down this year.
Are there any walk up tickets available for spring training games either through the ticket office or from people outside with extra tickets?
My father has never been to spring training and has the itch to go down, but has no reservations or tickets yet.
Advice is appreciated.
Who’s Mauer Cather?
Cuddy is a better hitter than Crede, he will follow Morneau
1
2
Mauer
Morneau
Cuddy
Kubel
Crede
8
9
mike,
I am suggesting that Yankee teams, before and after the above mentioned wildly successsful group, were more talented and much less successful.
so the fact that teams Manny plays on are nearly always winners proves what, exactly? That he isn’t a cancer on chemistry, or that chemistry doesn’t matter? Or that talent matters more, but chemistry plays a role (and therefore manny’s immense talent can overcome his negative impact on chemistry - just as some guys can overcome offensive or defensive weaknesses by doing the other well)?
I’ve always found this conversation fascinating, frankly. It is one of those things brought up all the time, with no evidence it actually exists at all. I’ve heard ex-jocks on the radio argue both sides of the coin, so I just don’t know.
I like
1.Span LF
2.Mauer C
3.Young RF
4.Morneau 1B
5.Crede 3B
6.Casilla 2B
7.Kubel DH
8.LNP SS\
9.Go-Go CF
Doubtful that I’ll ever see that line-up though.
I guess it depends on how you measure success, doesn’t it? If only championships are a true measure of success, then everyone but one team is a failure every year. I don’t buy that. The Yankees made the playoffs every year ARod has been there, except last year, when they won a ton of games despite their pitching staff being ravaged by having no talent and injuries.
SunMan, I’ve gone down the last 3 years or so and I’m planning on going down this year March 27-April 3. I very seldom buy tickets ahead of time. There are always “brokers” or others outside the stadiums selling tickets.
Decent Twins tickets sell at a bit of a premium over face value. If you go to other teams’ stadiums, it’s possible to get them pretty cheap.
Email me at JimCrikket@aol.com if you want to have a discussion offline.
1. Gomez, CF
2. Mauer, Cather
3. Morneau, 1B
4. Crede, 3B
5. Cuddyer, RF
6. Delmon, LF
7. Kubel, DH
8. Cassila, 2B
9. Punto, SS
I actually wouldn’t mind that line-up either WJ.
Gomez just doesn’t get on base enough to bat leadoff. That is too many extra ABs for him, unless he figures out how to get on base.
I don’t know what to think of Casilla, Span, Young, Cuddeyer right now. I just really don’t know who any of those players are at this point in their careers.
Walter is obviously not familiar with Gardy’s R-L-R-L theory.
SunMan—Typically the Twins sell out ALL or nearly all of the ST games. However, tickets are occasionally available via Ebay or Craigslist or you take your chances with the scalpers outside the ballpark before the game.
Well at least we all know that Baker is washed up now and should be cut.
I think people are expecting too much of Crede if they think he can hit behind Morneau.
As far as Casilla hitting between Crede and Kubel…why would you waste his speed behind a guy who probably isn’t all that fast and ahead of a guy who’s not going to fool anybody into thinking he’s going to bunt?
With my lineup, who else is going to lead off. If the outfield is Young/Gomez/Cuddyer, Gomez is going to hit leadoff. If it’s Span/Gomez/Cuddyer, Span will lead off.
WJ, I think you’d want to see Kubel’s LH bat stuck somewhere in the middle of those three righties (Crede, Cuddyer, Young). Anyway, I’d be surprised if Span is the usual “odd man out” of the OF, but anything is possible.
Manny’s teams always make the playoffs because he has always played on teams with HUGE payrolls. Except maybe the Indians teams of the late nineties, but they were about as stacked as you could get offensively.
Manny’s a dink, my biggest hope is that noone gives him a contract and he never makes it back onto a major league roster again. Greedy bastard.
I can’t wait to see this board when Gary pencils this in opening day.
Casilla
LNP
Mauer
Morny
Cuddy
Kubes
Credes
Delmon
Go-Go
Gardy I mean, not Gary.
You are probably right about the L-R-L thing. It would be nice if Delmon could hit no. 3 between Mauer and Morneau.
Mauer hated batting #2 last year. I don’t Gardy will try it again.
So you guys are saying you would rather have Delmon than Span? No way. I agree that if Span doesn’t perform, he should be replaced, but to start out the year, Span earned that spot with his performance last year. You have to put Span in the leadoff possition, and Go-Go 9th, He chokes under pressure, and the leadoff spot puts too much pressure on him. As far as Casilla, I think you move him ahead of Mauer, to put Morneau at cleanup.
WJ,
In your lineup, I would rather see Casilla lead off than Gomez
too high,
I’ve never heard Mauer say anything about not liking batting 2nd.
Besides, how could he not like it, he only did it for a week before Cuddyer got hurt.
And to the idiot, BC of ND says. It was one outing, his first outing of Spring Training. Give him a break dumb a$$
Let’s just have the exact same lineup we had last year.
mike,
“If only championships are a true measure of success, then everyone but one team is a failure every year. I don’t buy that.”
Nor do I.
But how do you evaluate the run of Twins’ divisional championships?
I think the Twins were / are a successful franchise.
Or do you think that they have to win a W.S., too.
Yes, ENOUGH talent can overcome a chemistry deficiency, as in Manny’s case.
SweetOne, he doesn’t complain loudly but I remember he did hint that he likes #3.
this guy has to wild to walk gomez. crede dp time!
I would tweak your line up to:
1. Span, CF
2. Mauer, C
3. Morneau, 1B
4. Crede, 3B
5. Kubel, DH
6. Delmon, LF
7. Cuddyer, RF
8. Cassila, 2B
9. Punto, SS
I don’t really think Manny is cancerous to a team like a Milton Bradley, Frank Thomas, or Barry Bonds. Manny is just Manny and he can really hit.
Everybody wants to hit #3.
I think it was Gardy who didn’t like batting Mauer 2nd.
T:
I’ll take that bet.
What’s with the mancrush on Crede? Neal and all the bloggers have such a crush on sweet Joe.
If his legs are ready I doubt he will be hitting dingers.
Lighten up on the mancrush, please.
I am Topp Dogg.
If talent is equal, I think the one with chemistry has an advantage. If not, I’m not sure chemistry can overcome a more talented team. I don’t think chemistry is the same as luck and momentum.
SweetOne,
That’s a pretty logical lineupe. I just think Gardy is too infatuated with Cuddyer to hit him higher than fifth.
La Velle doesn’t have a mancrush on Crede. He wouldn’t two-time his dreamboat Dustin Pedroia.
nicky should hit 3rd, he’d stir the pot, get things going before mouneau came up and that would cut down on all the intentional walks nicky gets, teams couldn’t pitch around him as much.
I never heard anything about Mauer hating batting #2. Can anyone else beside too high confirm or rebuke that statement. To me Mauer is the best #2 hitter in baseball (up yers Jeter and Pedroia). However, in the #3 spot Mauer is only average (doesn’t drive in enough runs/low Slugging%).
That’s why Crede won’t bat behind Morneau. DP grounder. He isn’t as consistent an RBI guy as Cuddy.
Mauer hated batting #2 last year. I don’t Gardy will try it again.
Mauer batted 2nd for all of 4-5 games if I’m not mistaken. Then Cuddyer got hurt and he dropped back into the #3 spot with a revolving door ahead of him (Gomez/Harris and Gomez/Punto I think…)
Redmond is going to be worn out by Opening Day.
Mauer slugged .451 last year and .507 in ‘06, not bad and he will likely get stronger. He is capable 15 HR’s and 45 doubles.
In a perfect world maybe you have Tex or Manny #3 but ours is not a perfect world.
I think those teams earlier this decade were successes. I think this is a generally well run organization.
However, it is not an organization without weaknesses (like developing consistent hitters). I do think the FO wasted an opportunity to make them more succesful by acquiring more talent at either DH or 3B or one more OFer. I’d have happily sacrificed some of the chemistry at those positions for actual hitters.
Shuckler, I’m pretty sure you missed the sarcasm of the post you are ridiculing.
Both Crede and Cruddy have to prove that they can return to their old forms.
career #’s;
crede rbi every 6.5 ab’s and dp every 43.9.
cuddy rbi every 7 ab’s and dp every 31.7.
No worries. Brock Peterson just entered the game.
Yeah and Kubel slugged .471 last year and is more likely to have an increase in that stat than Mauer who is by his own admission weaker and 10 lbs lighter than last season.
Dan Gladden says: “If Cuddyer can hit 100 RBIs, it will be a big boost for the Minnesota Twins.”
So Crede hits into fewer DPs than Cuddy?
ggg
Great stats
Gladden is old school and still holds the bat throwing thing against DY!
Gladden says Joe Crede will bat seventh.
gobble, interesting, I thought Crede doubled up more often, however his RBI stats are inflated in Comisky buy HR’s that fly out in mid summer so I contest that one, we’ll see how he does here
glad man is trying to trade dy now!
DY - 2nd hit, 1st RBI
How is Crede’s RISP compared to Cuddy?
Gladden actually thinks DY should have been banned for life for assaulting that umpire. Gladden is just mad becasue if it would have been a player of his talent level and not the #1 rated prospect in baseball it probably would have been penalized harsher. Compared to Gladden Gomez is a great lead-off hitter.
Sorry Gladden, Kubel and Pridie are not going to get starts in the OF barring injury.
Man Wants Win, Was he being sarcastic? There are a lot of “fans” in here that will turn on the twins the second they don’t live up to our expectations. For his sake, I am hoping he was being sarcastic.
rbi can depend on a lot of stuff you can’t control but a dp is fairly equal everywhere, of course the turf can make a diff.
if they both stayed healthy,which is quesionable, and played everyday i think their #’s would end up very close.
Galdden thinks players should be fined if they talk to members of the other team before the game.
“And to the idiot, BC of ND says. It was one outing, his first outing of Spring Training. Give him a break dumb a$$”
No more breaks I want the Twins to be reactive when assessing players. Thanks for pointing out my intellectual short comings though and I’ll be looking forward to your keen insight this season.
I think Cuddy is a slightly better hitter but Crede makes up for it with D. I think Crede is slightly more valuable overall but should bat 7th.
My 2 cents.
I’m not listening to the game. Is Gladden really saying all this stuff?
dy by some accounts had a bad year last year, 10 hr, 69 rbi, .290/.336/.405
gladden’s best yr 1988, 11 hr, 62rbi, .262/.325/.403
of course dy was 22 and gladden didn’t play his first full season until he was 27.
mike,
Returning to your original statement:
“To my knowledge, no one has ever proven that chemistry exists on a team, and that chemistry leads to improved outcomes.”
I agree that it hasn’t been proven or its effect measured.
Neither has the effect of good or bad coaching.
Neither has the effect of a good or bad farm system.
Neither has the effect of a good or bad front office
Neither has the effect of a good or bad owner.
But, intuitively, I believe there is an effect.
Trade Gladden
Chemistry–a science that deals with the structure, composition and properties of items and with the transformations that they undergo.
I think that in talking about chemistry on sports teams it is true that sometimes the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. It’s not about getting along great but about the composition of the team. Basketball is the easiest to illustrate. Most people would say that Gary Peyton was more talented than Steve Kerr and Karl Malone better than John Salley, but if you replaced Kerr and Salley with Malone and Peyton maybe the Bulls don’t win championships. Kerr and Salley filled roles that complimented what the rest of the team had to offer. Perhaps Malone and Peyton would just take the ball out of the hands of Jordan and Pippen and mess things up.
In baseball, Crede is considered he better hitter than what we had but is the extra home run every 10 games and the better defense worth the 3 hits it probably replaces in that same span? Also consider that hitters like Kubel and Young will all drop a spot if Crede bats 4th or 5th and thus get a little less opportunity.
Gladden is your typical well-to-do middle aged white man. Probably supported Bush.
shazel is the game on the radio?
Yes.
I think this blog has bad team chemistry. That’s why we’ll never go far.
OK, sane, I’ll go intuitive on chemistry, proven on bad coaching, intuitive on bad owner…extra thin crust, hold the anchovies.
BC of ND, you are an idiot huh? I may not be the most insightful fan, but at least I support my team through thick and thin. I’ve been a fanatic for the twins since I was in diapers, and I will continue my support till I die. You, on the other hand, are a fare weather, band wagon, Opportunistic a$$hole. Why don’t you go to NY where you can be among others like you.
walter you are right a lot of finger pointing, name calling and scuffling on here with very little battling and getting after it. this blog needs and new manager and hitting coach. so where is fire vavra and gardy lately?? maybe he changed his name?
Yup and I can hardly stand Gladden. Why can’t Gordon and Bremer be together and on both radio and tv. Bert and Gladden suck you can feel their ego’s through the tv/radio.
Trade shazel. Dans the man! Who can forget the 91 series coming into home plate with his cleats chest high! The guy would do anything to win! Give me Morris and Gladden any day! They are true Twins 4ever. Leave it to somebody like you to muck up baseball with politics… BOO!
Settle down everyone.
2009 lineup
span LF
mauer C
morneau 1B
Cuddy RF
Kubel/Young DH
Crede 3B
Casilla 2b
Punto ss
Go-Go CF
i think casilla, punto, and go-go could even generate some runs by themselves.
I.F.2bozeman
So what you’re really saying is that your one of the 25% of Americans who was dumb enough to support Bush to the end. My memories of the ‘91 WS are as fond as anyones, but Gladden is a douche if he thinks that Cuddy should man RF instead of DY. Even if Cuddy is capable of having a better season this year than DY what happens if DY gets unhappy leaves and pulls a Ortiz (which is a strong possibility). We don’t get many chances to land young sluggers here in MN.
Shuckler,
Are you angry because the guy jokingly got on Baker for a single bad inning on his first start of spring training?
If you can’t figure out that he wasn’t serious about something THAT trivial, then the problem is yours.
And good job, trying to chase someone off the blog on your first day of blog ownership.
Politics on a baseball blog? You really r the man! Why dont you go hop on cnn!
ggg,
I too was wondering where FIRE VAVRA AND GARDY!!!! is this year.
Some people just scan the blog to pounce on something someone else has said and never add anything themselves. They are in such a rush to be critical, they read into postings things that aren’t even there. Like if you omit to state something that is obvious, they call you on it.
“’To my knowledge, no one has ever proven that chemistry exists on a team, and that chemistry leads to improved outcomes.’
I agree that it hasn’t been proven or its effect measured.
Neither has the effect of good or bad coaching.
Neither has the effect of a good or bad farm system.
Neither has the effect of a good or bad front office
Neither has the effect of a good or bad owner.”
That is the beautiful (and frustrating) thing about complex systems. No true cause and effects, only emergence.
Anybody watch Tamron Hall on MSNBC? That is one hell-of-a woman!
I.F.2bozeman would you like to compare bank statements, IQ’s, or take your shot at physical combat. Anyway your slice it I’m better than you!
You wouldn’t be the one just talking about egos were you? Just asking?
Am in in a 3rd grade classroom right now?
Children, calm down.
I don’t see anything special about Delaney.
Yeah, if some of the newbies on here today are any indication of what it’s going to be like this season, it’s going to be a long year in Strib blogsville.
Take some chill pills, will ya?
My ego isn’t founded on something that I did in 1991! Plus, I’ve never denied my own faults. I am without a doubt a pompous windbag. However, I am not by any means ill equipped to back up the hot air that comes from my mouth.
Sorry everyone I get a little out of control when my Bush bashing isn’t appreciated. I won’t ever bring politics back on here.
Thank goodness for that.. This is a baseball blog isn’t it??
That is all i was asking for!
We will probably see Delaney in September I would imagine. Hope he and Slama continue to progress through the system.
stuck in stl, anyone know a more ‘immediate’ way for me to monitor the game than the 30 second refresh on the mlb.com boxscore?
Go Twins and thanks
I too was wondering where FIRE VAVRA AND GARDY!!!! is this year.
Either hiding at MSP with Phantom waiting for Hardy’s plane to land or in San Francisco with jkucenic trying figure out why Crede never showed up.
Maybe all the “newbies” will ratchet back the vitriol when the games actually start to mean something.
Who am I kidding?
Shuckler i love you.
I cant believe they wouldn’t broadcast the game on the local radio affiliate. I’m really pissed now it’s bad enough i gotta be freezin my ass off today at least give me a taste of summer.
How many times has Gordo corrected himself today? Or is not yet in midseason form?
The New Britain crowd from last season, surely is getting things interesting this spring training
twinsfaninstl,
if you do not have the mlb.tv package where you can get audio, try gameday
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_02_27_nyamlb_minmlb_1
T98-
much better, thanks!
sane: “Maybe all the “newbies” will ratchet back the vitriol when the games actually start to mean something.”
Yeah… cuz by then the “regulars” will be monopolizing all the vitriol
BC of ND, I love you too. We are all one big dysfunctional Family
shazel,
Making quite a name for yourself today, huh? Look, you sound like you’ve got something to prove and that leads me to believe you’ve got some issues. This is a TWINS BASEBALL blog, not the middle school playground. You want to stay and talk trash pertaining to Twins baseball or baseball in general, fine. But leave the attempts of impressing someone off. You’re just clogging up this space and stealing oxygen while you’re sitting in front of your computer breathing too heavily from getting too excited. Leave this blog to baseball talk only!
“Leave this blog to baseball talk only!”
Yes. And Tamron Hall of MSNBC.
Shuckler i love your passion I hope you know i was being sarcastic right.
JC,
“Yeah… cuz by then the “regulars” will be monopolizing all the vitriol”
I believe that vitriol helps keep me “regular”.
TN Twins Fan,
there were some rumors on improvements in the E-Twins stadium late last summer. Since you are local, did you here anything more?
I called Crede’s line today: 0-2 with a BB.
thrylos98,
I heard the rumor too, but I’m not that local. E-town is about 6 hours east of where I live (Nashville). I have yet to make it out there either…guess I need to go check it out one of these days.
“I believe that vitriol helps keep me “regular”.”
Sane dont get you geritol mixed up again you know what happened last time.
SweetOne,
“I called Crede’s line today: 0-2 with a BB.”
How much were your winnings?
to bad the blog shrink has the day off there are anger issues around here today.
OK before this discussion “runs” further in a direction we’d rather it didnt…
Ramos with two gunned down stealing today? Mauer better get healthy or he’ll be looking for a new job!
Ok.. maybe not. But still, nice job by Ramos.
BC of ND,
It’s difficult to keep track of my meds.
TN Twins Fan,
The E-Twins are the best season ticket value in the sport: $75 a season for reserved infield sitting. Too bad you are in Nashville
TN Twins Fan…
The world is a middle school play ground complete with bullies. If you don’t want to take my word for it read Confessions of an Economic Hitman or Freakonomics.
JC,
At least, we may have a “guy there” until Mauer gets back.
JC,
Give Ramos another 5-6 months in the minors and the Reddog era will be over.
From SI.com,
7. Kevin Slowey, Twins
Talk about someone who’s physically ready for a “shock the world” type of breakout season. Slowey reminds me of Roy Halladay so much … that I’m willing to pencil him in for 18 wins, 2.93 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 168 strikeouts — essentially Halladay’s stats from his breakout campaign in ‘02, at age 25, coincidentally.
shazel,
” If you don’t want to take my word for it read Confessions of an Economic Hitman or Freakonomics.”
You want us to take the word of a economic hitman or a freak?
Gladden already has Ramos traded.
thrylos - I believe there’s only another 5-6 months left in the Reddog era no matter what happens elsewhere.
He won’t be back in a Twins uniform next season, and might not see the field much by September.
If the Twins were to win a World Championship, the angriest guy around would be Gladden.
Something about the fear of being forgotten. (or minimized)
Yeah I agree on Ramos/Redmond. Have to figure this is Reddog’s finale this season. I could see him staying in the organization as a coach/manager, though.
Tell ya what… Valencia is going to make sure he gets noticed this spring, huh?
shazel,
I say again…you need to talk about baseball here or you’ve got a big time wedgie (sp?) coming to you. After that you can meet me at the flag pole at 3 o’clock, SHARP!!!–Like someone else said go to CNNs blog, or try moveon.org.
Depends on whether Redmond wants to still play. I think there are teams that would take him. Then he ends up a coach/manager in another organization. Ron Washington comes to mind. Twins wanted him to stay in the organization, Washington wanted to keep playing, ended up in Houston, met Art Howe, and ended up following Howe to Oakland as a coach.
Reddog would make a good coach. It would be grate to see him in the rookie league next season.
btw, methinks that Valencia wants to stamp his ticket to Rochester this spring.
TN Twins Fan,
“After that you can meet me at the flag pole at 3 o’clock, SHARP!!!”
All right!
Get your @$$ to the Vice Principal’s office, and wait for your parent’s to pick you up!
Hey, what about Martin? Three games in and he seems to be seeing the ball pretty well. Too bad we’ve got a ton of dudes in the OF. Good trade bait, maybe?
It is really interesting that Gladden confuses RBI with “run producing”
Nothing that follows the words “Gladden confuses…” in any sentence is terribly surprising, though.
What about Kubel look what having Cuddy in front of him does? Freed at last freed at last.
JC,
the “interesting” part is because he was always among the Twins’ leaders in runs created in his time and in the bottom of the pile in runs batted in…
gladden has been trashing dy and then when martin messes up a fly he says the coaches will have to work with him on that he’s just a young guy. of course he’s 24 in aa and dy is 23 with 2yrs in ml.
who is this guy pitching the 9th?
Gladden is a reincarnation of T.R.Cobb……..with much less talent.
Gosling is a minor league free agent like Matos and Henn
At some point the Twins gotta rethink about singing those kind of never-beens and try inviting worthy young players from their minors, like Slama.
he’s not making many brownie points today!
I’m at work and can’t listen/watch. But, I’d be willing to bet my salary I’m glad I’m not listening to Gladden right now. I’d be a happier Twins fan with better announcing.
mike,
You have just won back your salary.
help!!
got it! makes an error then a great play. kids!
that was an interesting ending…
Valencia boots one to allow a run to score and then it sounds like he makes a great play on a slow grounder to end the game and keep the tying run from scoring.
He’s certainly getting his opportunities early in camp.
When was the last camp where we had the privilege to find out about this many young and promising players? Great fun.
New Britain beat the Yankees today!!
Crede, Crede, Crede. Making his debut on Friday…….WOW. How’d he do?
T - You owe me…..As for Neal and
98, maybe the mancrush will stop.
I am Topp Dogg…..And don’t you forget it.
That goes for you to W. Johnson, whoever you are……
how did crede do today?
I dont even care this is spring training the twins are proving they are young and hungry! Theres alot of teams that would love to have half the options the twins have right now. We’re deep down to the minors!
GO TWINS!
New Britain beat the Yankees today!!
More like New Britain beat Trenton today.
Gosling is a crafty little goose.
Topp Dogg,
Finish your Alpo!
Who starts tomorrow? Slowey or Liriano will both be great to watch on TV as I see that game is televised.
“I dont even care this is spring training the twins are proving they are young and hungry!”
I hope that when the season starts, they don’t just prove they are young.
“Who starts tomorrow?”
Liriano!who follows Baker in regular season rotation.
Perkins
Blackburn
Baker
Liriano
Slowey
Little Nick Mendoza racks up another collar. Spring: 0-5
Gosling got a save today. Generous scorekeeper
Every year the knock is we’re young and every year Gardy keeps us in the mix. I do think however they should open up the pocket book more with the sweetheart deal the state gave them for the stadium. As long as we get our own talent locked up long term. We’re going to have plenty of trade options down the road with the number of young talented arms that we have in our system.
GO TWINS?
Sorry i meant GO TWINS!!!!
F’NG Crede SUCKS!!!!(:(:(:
Hey Sane,
There was a great article about Mike Sweeney in the L.A. Times the other day. If you get the chance check it out. I hope he sticks with Seattle as he is truly a good guy.
I used to like Sweeney… until he broke up Baker’s shot at a no-no a couple of years ago. I was at that game and thought I was finally going to see my first MLB no-hitter in person.
I’ll hold that grudge against Sweeney forever!
thrylos,
By the save rules I believe Gosling did qualify.
1. Finish game - check
2. Pitch at least one ininning - check
3. Enter game with lead of 3 runs or less or have tying run on-deck - check
Just because he didn’t pitch very will and was lucky to escape with the Twins still ahead doesn’t disqualify him from getting a save.
T - You owe me…..
For what?
SweetOne,
those are guidelines. A save is something that is not automatically recorded like a run or an RBI or a win. A save, like an error is up to the discretion of the scorekeeper and there were (a few) occasions where scorekeepers denied to awards saves in not so good outings.
Is everyone else on here as sick and tired of hearing about Manny Ramirez and his contract as I am?? I hope no team signs him unless it is for a minor league deal! People in Los Angeles are getting sick of him already even though he played so well for them last year.
Jeff,
the way it goes is this: Manny at this point pretty much holds the NL West championship in his back pocket. Without him it will be a race of about 3-4 teams. With him, LA or SF would be the clear favorites and so he is able to negotiate from a power position.
Not too good……….
Thrylos,
Oh I totally understand what Manny would mean to both of those teams and other teams as well. At this point the Dodgers are basically bidding against themselves as the Giants have not even made an offer yet. I think that the Dodgers have made a very important concession in there last proposal to him. It is getting to the point where Dodger fans want there front office to move on and forget the guy. With that said the Giants are there biggest rival and they would hate for him to land there.
Thrylos,
I enjoyed your part 3 at Tenth Inning Stretch. It was a very informative piece.
Jeff,
how fun would it be if Moorad decided to make a splash as a new owner and signed him? That division is so open…
thanks!
It is probably the weakest division in baseball in my opinion. I would love it if San Diego snuck in there and signed him. I don’t see it happening as they are trying to cut back on payroll but I would like to see it and then San Diego would be right in the mix with the others. I love going to that park by the way. If the new Target Field is anything like that place it will be great.
I was at the game last year when Slowey and Peavy pitched against each other in a great pitchers duel. Both pitchers were gone with game tied at one each. Hoffman came in and gave up a couple of homeruns to us and was literally booed off the field. I just could not believe that an institution like Hoffman would be treated like that in San Diego. That game made me a Slowey believer for sure!
That was a great game. I never been to the PETCO. I went quite a few times to their old stadium (the one that looked like a basketball arena from the outside) and I really found it unremarkable, but there are worse things to do than watching night baseball in paradise weather after a day at the beach
Anyone else wonder what exactly happened with Cruz? The Twins offered Gagne $3mm, and gave AYala $1.3mm. What exactly kind of offer did they make that was rejected flat out that completed ended what seemed on the verge of happening? I still feel like the Twins had the “trade” part basically decided. Surprising the Twins couldn’t come up with at least a negotiable offer. I’m assuming they offered at least $3mm for Cruz?
I think that the Cruz situation is a bit complicated, and this is indicative by the fact that no team has signed him yet.
There are 3 perspectives here (and they are all somewhat clashing) :
Cruz’s perspective: If he can get a $10mil/2 year deal by waiting until the deadline to go to a contender instead of accepting an 1 year, $4 mil deal now, he is ahead and he is pretty much guaranteed to play for a contender and sit on the beach for a while.
Buyer’s perspective: The market is bottoming out, their pens are somewhat set, maybe it is worth it to wait and sign Cruz for $5 mil and no players if they are in contention by the deadline than for $4 mil and players now.
Dbacks perspective: Can someone move now? the longer it drags, the smallest their leverage.
just my 2c
interesting santana has a sore elbow. not that that could lead to anything bad.
What’s wrong with Crede’s wheels? Saw him play today. The man cannot run.
Thrylos,
Perhaps that Bonser was part of the trade to the D-Backs for Cruz. It was about the same time that they discovered he had pain when throwing. That might have stopped or slowed things a little with trying to get him.
Just a thought…… If the Marlins fall back quickly in the race and don’t really have a competitive team do you think they will shop Ramirez and Uggla?? There payroll is up from last year percentage wise and if they are not winning they will draw even less fans. Those two guys are there highest paid players and probably there most marketable too.
Bill - I envy you
The guy hasn’t played full speed in forever, and he’s never been that fast to begin with.
Jeff
After that abysmal performance, if we can get some value for Humber I’ll be happy.
My take on Dickey
that knuckleball of his is deadly when on. a 1 inning knuckleballer might just be what we need - 3 K’s hasn’t been seen in awhile. He could even be a 2 inning guy if needed (he was a starter at one point).
I would love Uggla on the team. Casilla’s bat seems to be coming back down to earth (end of last year, early ST perspective).
He’d be a solid addition to the lineup and could protect Morneau.
Jeff,
the Cruz discussions apparently never went as far as the Diamondbacks, because Cruz rejected the Twins’ offer.
I do not see the Marlins shopping Ramirez any time soon, but Uggla could be a possibility (they went to arbitration and he won and he has another 2 years of arbitration to go through). On the other hand, I fully expect the Marlins to be in good shape this year and have a shot at the NL wild-card…
I will keep an eye on the Marlins as at the top of my wish list is…….
Hanley Ramirez! Could you imagine that bat in between Mauer and Morneau for the next half dozen years or so?? Just wishful thinking is all.
msm,
The spring training is still young, but Casilla really tore up the winter leagues a couple months ago. The one guy in the infield I am worried about is Punto (what’s new)
ok Thry - I just have this feeling he’ll disappoint
what was Baker’s issue anyway? he got rocked (by his standards) today.
Yeah… I think that is probably in every fan’s (and GM’s) wish list. The think with Ramirez is that he is not that great on the field (think Alfonso Soriano). I can see him as a LF sooner than later…
Speaking of players the Twins once liked, wasn’t that trade that Pete’s front office girlfriend supposedly said it was at works, ready to happen by now?
msm,
didn’t watch the game and I do not really take much credence in ST performances of players who really have nothing much to show other than get back in shape. Pitchers use the ST to work on their weaknesses or learn new pitcher or something. I did not see him pitch so I cannot tell if he was throwing splitters or cutters (or something else he didn’t have before) out there… The ones who can win a spot give it all. Those are the ones who try to make a statement.
another fine point
probably is coasting right now or experimenting ever since he found out he’s the opening day starter (well deserved).
In all fairness to Pete he did say it was a 50-50 chance. You have to admit he did come out with stuff before anyone else did. The curious part was that he did mention Delmon in the deal with two others. I am sure that was not Cruz by himself and I have heard that the D-Backs would still like to cut payroll. I wonder if they would make Harden available sooner rather then later if they fall behind. Have not seen “Pete” on here for awhile now have you?
maybe there is GF problems
I don’t know what Pete’s deal is, but I would probably think twice before trading Delmon+ for Harden+ at this point…
I was at the game today and was surprised by Joe Crede’s size, 6-2 and 230 lbs. He looks formidable. Cuddy swung well and so did Danny Valencia and Dustin Martin. Both are good sized, good looking prospects. Mulvey threw well. Sharp breaking ball.
Okay so what if Young pounds the ball all spring long and Cuddyer is just so so. What do you think he will do? Personally I hope he gives the playing time to the hot hand and not his favorites. I like the outfield of Young in right, Gomez in center, and Span in right.
Jeff. Who is in Left?
Jimbo,
Dustin Martin is a beast. I had several chances to see those guys in New Britain last season and I bet it feels good for them to be in Spring Training with the big boys. How did you like Delaney?
Jeff, me too… Span LF, Gomez CF, Young RF. Cuddy part time RF/1B/DH/PH
Ya I meant Span in left. Cuddyer part time RF/1B/DH/PH or make a trade later that needs a right handed outfielder to get rid of that contract. I just don’t see Cuddyer duplicating his 06 season again.
sy says:
February 27th, 2009 at 7:43 am
“What I really want to know is what the Twins DID offer Cruz.”
“The opportunity of a lifetime!”
Evidently not, otherwise he’d be here.
…or he’s really dumb.
Let’s just hope that DH doesn’t turn into DL. Still love the signing though.
(Talking about Crede in the last sentence there).
*Sign Juan Cruz; Play DY*
Crede was ‘happy’ with a walk, Double Play, and a K.
what would make him ecstatic? A hit?
If Ramos is the real deal,what does that say about Mauer’s future(maybe 3b in two years)? With the shortage of good catchers out there,i can envision Morales being moved at the trade deadline in a package to bring in help needed in the pennant push this year!
medschoolmatt,
“Crede was ‘happy’ with a walk, Double Play, and a K.
what would make him ecstatic? A hit?”
First game after back surgery.
Its not all about IMMEDIATE RESULTS.
Maybe Crede has something that this blog lacks in spades - PATIENCE!
Have you won your first Nobel Prize for medicine yet?
Are you happy about that?
Please try to hold your water just a little longer.
After two back surgeries, I imagine Crede would be happy that he was able to take three ABs and field a few innings.
I know I would…
Oh wait…he DH’d. Nevermind that last part about fielding.
Still, being able to take some ABs after two back surgeries…I bet that makes him happy.
He said that he was happy to take the swings and be pain-free. Bigger thing in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs than a grand slam (or two)
