Twins-Pittsburgh: No Mauer. Buscher grabs a bat.
Posted on June 18th, 2009 – 10:39 AMBy La Velle
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire will hold his presser in about 10 minutes. Here’s the Twins lineup. Will post updates in about an hour.
Lefties are batting .346 off of Zach Duke.
Update: Gardenhire said the flu bug that Joe Mauer has been dealing with for the last week just won’t go away, so he won’t start. “It’s time,” said Gardenhire, who thought Mauer’s bat looked a little slow yesterday.
Both Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson think Francisco Liriano wasn’t that bad last night. Anderson noted that Liriano used his change up more as the game went on. Anderson’s next goal is get Liriano stay tall in his delivery and get a little more movement on his slider.
Just got word that Aaron Hicks, the Twins’ first round pick from last year’s draft, is headed to Class A Beloit.
Pirates (31-34)
1. Andrew McCutchen, CF
2. Nyjer Morgan, LF
3. Eric Hinske, DH
4. Adam LaRoche, 1B
5. Andy LaRoche, 3B
6. Brandon Moss, RF
7. Jason Jaramillo, C
8. Ramon Vazquez, 2B
9. Jack Wilson, SS
Twins (33-34)
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Brendan Harris, 2B
3. Justin Morneau, 1B
4. Michael Cuddyer, RF
5. Jason Kubel, LF
6. Joe Crede, 3B
7. Brian Buscher, DH
8. Mike Redmond, C
9. Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: Nick Blackburn
535 Responses to "Twins-Pittsburgh: No Mauer. Buscher grabs a bat."
No Mauer…Buscher grabs a bat…but of course we still have Puuuuuuuuuuunto.
Talk about a B-minus squad lineup…
umm, Go-go isn’t a lead-off hitter…
Harris isn’t a No. 2 hitter…
Cuddyer isn’t a clean-up hitter…
Buscher, Redmond, and Punto can’t hit period….
Ah, we’ll probably score 10 runs or more…go Twins!
No Mauer is fine.
No Morales is not.
Thinking optimistically… Gardy has the best hitter in baseball available to pinch hit where he needs him late in the game, right?
Thinking, too, that a message is being sent to DY after last night’s rather ugly performance at the plate.
Sure hope Blackburn is on today.
The best part of this lineup is the fact that Joe Crede is playing.
rather have buscher than morales, wow…why even have him here. we have had 2 catchers on the bench every game he has been up….wtf
also, no shorstop today? 2 2b, going for the extreme shift?
This is pretty much unreal. Buscher instead of Morales?
I was afraid the ole “B” lineup might emerge today. Absolutely cannot drop a series at home to the Pirates. Blackburn better be on today.
I figured we’d give Morales a chance to DH if Mauer’s out altogether. Young out of the lineup is no surprise after his poor showing last night.
Morales has to fill in for Buscher’s benchwarming duties.
Brian Buscher as a DH against a leftie? Why no Morales?
Don’t really know what Gardy is thinking here. Quite possibly he doesn’t either! No Mauer or Morales…wow!
wasn’t Blackburn pitching when Gardy trotted out the worst defensive OF in memory? He got the W, too, if memory serves.
I do not understand Buscher in the lineup against a lefty.
I also do not understand Gardy’s bullpen usage in recent weeks.
Strange.
The A-squad didn’t get it done yesterday. Time for the B-squad to step it up. Not terrible for a B-squad though. It could be worse…Buscher could be at 3rd, Cuddy at 1st. I’ll take it. And as was pointed out, Mauer pinch hitting is a nice option….to look at it optimistically.
Ayala will be sent down the road soon. What does Gardy see in him? Just another example of how stupid our GM is in signing free agents!
In thinking about it a little more…I don’t think Gardy can bench Joe Mauer entirely for a home game…even a midweek day game that’s not on TV.
There will be a lot of kids in attendance today, presumably. Mauer has now reached the point where he’s basically the reason many Twins fans come to the games…if you’re going to bench him completely, I think you have to do it on the road.
Plus, we had an off day Monday and we’ll get another one this coming Monday…and the drop off from Mauer’s .425 avg. to Buscher’s .192 avg. is fairly significant.
Strange times indeed. Lately everything down the line, including bullpen usage, outfield personnel, lineups, etc. just seems to be off and unsettled. Not liking it.
JimCrikket - I agree about the message being sent to DY. He has played himself into this corner.
I wonder in Mauer requested a day off? I doubt it. With lefties batting so well against this guy I bet Mauer is quite dissappointed he isn’t gonna be taking his cuts against him.
I like it. This should be the everyday line-up……….Except for the huge hole at SS. Major shift with two 2nd.
Go Twins. I like this line-up! Mauer is the most over rated player in ALL of baseball.
Who needs Morales. His #s are falsely inflated. Send him back to AAA and bring back Crain….NOW!
I’m just hoping this is not a “oh, it’s the Pirates” we’ll get by-type mentality. The Bucs proved last night they can hit a little and have some good young players who won’t need a “rest.”
Would like to see Pridie get the start in left, with Kubel DH.
In thinking about it a little more…
How the bleep can you bench a .425 hitter? If they lose this game, that move will be questioned over and over.
Mauer’s been sick. Gardy probably wants to give him a full day off.
why in the WORLD is Mauer not DH-ing???? Don’t tell me he needs a day off. He just had one Monday!!! Buscher is brutal against lefties…I don’t even know what to say…This line-up is an absolute J-O-K-E!
Mauer could be sick, with the flu or something like that. Yesterday he was coughing all the time. But I thought this were the situations for Morales. I was wrong.
He had a full day off Monday.
Mauer has been sick in the slang use of the term.
This is like when T.K. used to bench Puckett. 20,000 show up wearing No. 34 and instead Pedro Munoz trots out to CF. After a while, T.K. stopped giving Puckett off days at home.
What the xxxx? Why is Morales not playing? He begged to have the guy up here, and now he won’t play him?
I just don’t understand this at all. Really, really don’t understand this at all.
I don’t get using Mijares in a blow out, and Henn in a close game. I don’t get why Buscher plays at all. I don’t get why Redmond plays and not Morales. I really don’t get what Gardy is doing at all right now.
Frankly, if this keeps up, I’m pretty sure I’ll lose any respect for him going forward.
I’m with tf and JimC about DY. Other than that, this lineup is truly baffling. Even Punto makes more sense at leadoff than Gomez. Also, while I support getting Buscher more PAs, I can’t see him at DH over Morales. And those extreme BA splits for Zach Duke, they’re accompanied by even wider splits in BABIP.
Hey LaVelle…At this “presser” happening in a couple of minutes, can you please ask Gardenhire some serious questions about his bullpen usage lately? Thanks.
And if happen to find Bill Smith anywhere, can you please ask him what bunker he has been hiding in all season? Thanks.
Like I said, this lineup is so preposterous the Twins will probably end up scoring 10 runs or more.
Mauer is never going to get 502 plate appearances if he keeps getting random days off (without even DHing) like this.
Hope you’re right Jason… on my way to check out of the hotel and head to the Dome
Jason is absolutely right. Thousands of kids from day care and the like will be there today in their matching blue/red/green t-shirts. Some of them know nothing about baseball, but 99% of them know who Joe Mauer is. Do you think they are going to go home and beg Mom and Dad to take them to a game when they don’t get to scream when Joe comes to the plate?
Even if Joe is a little under the weather I don’t get why he can’t DH. I am just at a complete loss.
Talk about a D lineup, ugh Gardy. Do you want to win this series or not? Why do Buscher and Tolbert still have jobs up here? At least Tolbert isn’t playing.
Looks like I’m not anywhere near the first person to say this: why did they call up Morales if they aren’t going to play him as a left handed (switch) hitter against a pitcher with a terrible record against left handed hitters?
Maybe the commissioner doesn’t like how many interleague games the Twins tend to win, so they asked Gardy to lose this one.
Tell the kids to suck it up.
If Gardy is really looking at the “lefties are hitting 0.346″ in getting Buscher in, he’s a fool. Two months of splits? or the last 3 years, where he’s 0.288 against lefties and 0.321 against righties.
Mauer had better have half a jar of Vicks Vaporub on his chest to not be able to DH.
Lots of sarcasm and whining and bellyaching….. While I do not necessarily like the lineup today, I am counting on Blackburn to show his true colors and pitch a whale of a game. GO TWINS!!!!!
What about all the kids who wanted to see the Twins games in the mid-to-late 90’s? They must have all been warped by those horrible teams.
Gardy needs to add, Punto, Buscher and Tolbert to his minor league list, Never sit Mauer and why not let Pridie play or even Morales DH he has been up almost a week with out no action. Could use Delmon Young in trade for Latroy Hawkins. What about the possible trade of Jesse Crain?
Is it possible for managers to go on the DL?
About Blackburn’s true colors: If he shows them a whale of a game would not result. Worst xFIP in the rotation. 5-6% HR/FB ratio. Here’s hoping for Blackburn to continue his run of good luck.
“Benny W says:
June 18th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Tell the kids to suck it up.”
good one, benny.
last 2 weeks;
young .316, kubes .279, gomez .267, cuddy .257
Mauer’s a catcher and he’s played like 12 games in a row and is sick. The knashing of teeth over him getting a day off is a bit ridiculous. I do agree that Morales should be in at catcher or DH though. Also, if you’re going to play Buscher anyway, why not make him play 1st and get Morneau a day at DH. A bit of a strange line-up indeed, but the Mauer part I can understand.
Hey, at least the game isn’t televised.
What a joke of a line-up…pennants are won and lost in this type of game!!! Is Gardy trying to make Blackburn pitch a no-hitter? Glad I have to work…
If DY is so bad…trade him now for whatever you can get! I am a huge fan of DY and want him to go elsewhere and be successful!!!
FIRE BILLY SMITH NOW!
howeda doesn’t care about the kids 
What do we expect Gardy to do with the bullpen….he doesn’t have many options!! It’s not his fault he can only run out 2 guys he trusts…..Guerrier and Nathan. They can’t pitch every single day. Blame Billy for not getting a decent arm or two in the offseason.
thank god delmon young isn’t in the lineup.
Has Gardizzy lost his mind ,or is he looking for an extended summer vacation of fishin’ and bowlin’? His decisions are not even HS quality on most occasions this year. Maybe a ploy to send a message to the FO that seems to have been on hiatus forever.
Why is it that the Twins seem to always go with a B line-up in the last game of a series? I understand the need for rest (although it seems Gardy overdoes it with some players) but the Twins are only 7 and 14 in “get-away” games.
This is a bad lineup its like Gardy wants us to lose. Mauer just had the day off on Monday. I guess Gardy thinks Mauer is a wimp and can only play 2 of every 3 days
Apparently many of the posters here WERE children of the 90’s……and suitably warped by living through Twins baseball of the 90’s.
“Tell the kids to suck it up”…..hahaha! Got me with that one!
“Lefties are batting .346 off of Zach Duke”
So the likely line for Kubel today is 0-4, 3K’s
Jason, as posters here know, if you choose to go to a week-day day game, you might see a less then ideal line-up. Besides, there’s an 80% chance Mauer will get a key PH appearance, so the kids will still get to yell.
Why isn’t Morales in? I feel some loyalty to Redmond too, but at this point Morales is the better player…
This group will battle their tails off!
DY…Once again…Last 2 week .316 average.
How about giving Morneau a day off as well or let him DH and Buscher play first.
Junior…..Huge DY fan as well and I completely agree. He needs to be traded to become successful. It is sad that no one here ever has given him a chance. Every other day he is on the bench. Heck trade him for a bag of balls just to get him out of here to somewhere he will be not treated poorly.
morales isn’t in because he is a high school level catcher. the question should be why morales is on the team in the first place…
If DY is so bad…..why isn’t .250 hitting Jason Pridie our every day left fielder. Lets dig up Lew Ford and his .220 average.
Lefties are batting .346 off of Zach Duke
This is the kind of shallow analysis that a lazy reporter throws out there, LaVelle.
Similar to “so and so is 3 for 8 off so-and so” and “the Twins are 6 and 5 all time off so-and-so.”
While it may be factual, it doesn’t add much insight to the discussion.
Mighty,
High school catcher? The dude’s hitting like pretty well. And while he can’t throw people out all that well, neither can Redmond; teams have been stealing on both of them pretty often.
So I’ll take the bat bonus.
pitt lineup on game day no sanchez today must in a trade to the twins announced after game, yeah right!
wow, i sounded like a valleygirl in my post. i meant hitting pretty well, not hitting, like, pretty well.
brett,
have you seen him try to catch? that’s what a CATCHer does… redmond is in there for a reason.
I shall repeat: “”"Lots of sarcasm and whining and bellyaching….. “”"
This ought to be a fun blog today, I think I will try drink my way thru it…. both the game and the blog.
I can see giving Mauer the day off. But Buscher at DH and not Morales. What is the point in carrying 3 catchers then? I don’t care if lefties dominate Dukes, Morales is better than Buscher hands down.
Since they won’t trade Sanchez - why don’t we take Jack Wilson off their hands - he could spell Crede, Morneau and LNP. Better fielder than Butcher and an upgrade at the plate as well
Sure glad I didn’t end up making the trip from 2 hours north….yuck. Lol now we may end up scoring like ten runs with everyone complaining, but not with Mauer. That is a sorry sack of-a-lineup.
Why go to the Twins day games? Gardy always puts out the B squad on getaway day. Should we have to pay to see it?
don’t care if lefties dominate Dukes
They don’t.
Just because it rains for a day or two in the desert doesn’t mean the climate has changed.
He’s not a great fielding catcher, but he’s comparable to Redmond in most respects and better when throwing runners out…
Caught stealing/Stolen Bats stats
In 19 games, Morales 7 CS/13 SB
In 23 games, Redmond is 3 CS/18 SB
Yes, Morales has 2 more passed balls, but if that’s the stat you’re clinging to, I don’t see why.
In terms of batting, Reddog and Morales have played a similar amount of games…and Morales is batting .358 to Reddog’s .271
So the stats at least say go with Morales…
Don,
throw me a beer too
Lefties are batting .346 off of Zach Duke
Yes, lefties are batting .346/.384/.469 and righties are batting .237/.284/.372, off Duke, but this is only half of the story. The rest is here:
LHB BABIP: .382
RHB BABIP: .245
I would hope that Punto does not turn around and bat LH and this does not justify Butcher at DH (actually nothing really does)
Hicks to Beloit….. Finallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
USAF, about shallow anaylsis. Perhaps this also explains Gardy’s strategic depth.
If you were to normalize the BA above for a .290 BABIP, LHB BA would be .262 and RHB BA would be .290.
Gardy always fields a jr. varsity team line-up for Thurs day games, and he has a losing record overall for such games. So glad we brought Morales up here to sit on the bench and let his hot bat cool while Gardy trots the mighty Red Dog and Buscher out instead.
Lefties are hitting .346 against Zach Duke… The best hitter in the game is left handed AND happens to be on our team, but yet isn’t in the lineup?
Hmmm scratching my head as to why Mauer isn’t DH-ing.
i don’t need stats to see that morales is dogsh** at catcher… if you have a pair of eyes you would be able to realize this.
Stay tall? Keep that right shoulder closed! Bert
Shawn,
“Hicks to Beloit….. Finallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy”
What is your source?
check the update sane
me of course
LaVelle updated above
BTW MHFESQ, that game where Gardy trotted out the worst defensive OF ever? We lost. But the defense was not the only reason we lost. For instance, Gardy once again mismanaged the BP. I think he is doing again what he did with Rincon last year. But how many games is he willing to almost puposefully lose in order to make his point with the FO?
All of a sudden Mauer can’t DH. Lefties are hitting so well against Duke that Gardenhire prefers Buscher at DH, but somehow we are still stuck with Redmond and not Morales behind the plate. Nice logic Gardenhire.
Brett, note that most of those Morales CS are the result of pickoffs. I think he may have been involved in 1 or 2 of those outs but that’s it.
Mauer is sick
Who are these people calling the game on MLB.TV?
Interesting use of the DH. I had always been under the impression that the DH was supposed to be a GOOD hitter who can’t field. Gardenhire’s unorthodox approach is to start a TERRIBLE hiter who can’t field in the DH slot. Crazy like a fox!
Also, I’m really glad that the Twins brought up Jose Morales. This bench-sitting time has to be an invaluable experience for him. He’ll learn a lot by watching Mike Redmond fail to throw out all of the Pirates’ speedy base runners.
Morales is our backup catcher today, so Gardy won’t use him at DH. The intent is to only use Mauer as a pinch hitter and not catch at all.
Childrens lineup.
OB,
Sure, but how can one be in favor or Redmond’s bat?
Is there really an argument there?
Awaiting moderation…. How long does that take?
Maybe, just maybe, Mauer doesn’t feel good today. You are all pretty f’ing stupid. Especially you, USAF E-9
Mighty,
I love inaccurate generalizations! In fact, keep a list of them; thanks for your contribution!
Gomez… that’s why you’re not the leadoff guy anymore.
You are correct about the GM-a sportwriter would be better!
D Young just does not show committment. He would be cut from most HS teams based upon his effort. Could he be sent to Rochester? Why are Ayala and Crain still in the major leagues? A recent graduate from a solid college program could do better.
Shawn, he was sick Tuesday night too and went 4 for 4.
“LaVelle updated above”
“check the update sane”
Thanks, gentlemen.
Overlooking the obvious is my specialty.
Brett,
ahem… inaccurate? my apologies
Brett,
I don’t advocate Redmond over Morales, I just wanted to point out that those 7 CS are misleading. Redmond/Morales is a wash IMO. That being said, Morales should be at the DH tonight. Those Zach Duke splits are also misleading.
Even if people are fine with giving Mauer the day off, how can anybody think going with Redmond behind the plate instead of Morales gives this team a better chance to win today?
Way to go, Morneau!
OB,
Yeah, but Morales has upside. His fielding could improve. Reddog’s just getting old, that’s all. I have nothing against him.
I’d rather bring the young kid in; why bring him up otherwise?
“”"”"Shawn in Binghamton says:
June 18th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Don,
throw me a beer too”"”"”
It’s on the way, Shawn….One run, One Cold ONE (at a time).
Nice to see Morneau come up with a big early hit after his struggles lately.
“Mighty Casey says:
i don’t need stats to see that morales is dogsh** at catcher… if you have a pair of eyes you would be able to realize this.”
He became a MLB catcher with the visual-based approval of professional talent evaluators.
So Mighty Casey has struck out again, and will be optioned to Mudville.
Redmond should be a coach for the Twins. I have a feeling that this is his last year as a hitter. But apparently he is one of the clubhouse leaders, and a pretty bright guy for an athlete. Therefore, I suggest him as a coach.
Ok here’s a thought on the Morales thing. Redmond is a more seasoned, more experienced catcher. Morales also hasn’t caught at the Major League level in several weeks, so it makes more sense to have Redmond start at catcher.
The flu bug has been bothering Mauer for a while now, and I’m guessing Gardy wants him to take the entire day off. This leaves Morales as the guy to come in and catch if Redmond gets hurt or ejected. If Morales DH’s, and then has to slide over to catcher we lose the DH spot, and an already weakened offensive lineup gets MUCH weaker. Sure it’s an unlikely scenario, but the twins have lost their DH because of that same situation at least three times in the last couple years, including once already this year.
iconoclast:
I’m with you.
Brett,
Morales is swinging a good bat (In AAA too) so I fully advocate getting him some PAs. I just don’t think they must come at catcher.
Pete…we’ve missed you!
There’s been too much intelligence shown on the blog recently. Your return solves that problem instantly.
Especially with Buscher at DH.
So far today I am 1-for-1. One run, One cold one. Gotta love it.
OK, I’ll compromise. I just want some more pop in the lineup.
Brett, I don’t drink pop, it rots the guts. Beer keeps me from getting worms.
At this rate you’ll be passed out by the 7th inning stretch.
DrDon,
I’m also a beer fan. MMMM, Grain Belt.
Hope so, Ben, I want 12 runs from the Twins today.
Brett, do you mean Grain Belch? hee hee hee…..
You can’t be fun, unless you are drunk and stupid.
It’s a requirement.
Keep them ground balls coming.
Cuddyer is such a stiff. That ball was catchable
jon, I am both, therefore, a drunk and stupid. But at least I don’t have to attend all those darn meetings. I hate meetings.
Why Gardy Why? Buscher should be sent DOWN!!!
“Brett, I don’t drink pop, it rots the guts. Beer keeps me from getting worms”
Hahaha. “Pop.” I haven’t heard anyone refer to soda as pop in a long time. I miss Minnesota.
Keep downing those beers, Dr. Don. Have one for me, too, since I’m at work and thus temporarily prevented from imbibing.
Drunk and stupid is OK.
Drunk, stupid and proud of it?
Not so good.
No one on trish’s blog today, everyone must be at work. Not I, thank goodness.
Cuddyer is such a stiff. That ball was catchable
By who? Kubel?
By any chance, Dr. Don, are you sipping a cold Leinenkugels?
the first two pitched to buscher are ones DY would have swung at.
Here is the deal, icon and Shawn. Every run the Twins score, I will enjoy a cold one. For every run the Pirates score I will “pour one down the toilet” for a refund.
This lineup makes perfect sense.
Gardy likes to see Naked Man’s singles to right field and then run wild in the clubhouse afterwards. Clearly, he is showcasing Buscher’s talents for a blockbuster trade. Since he doesn’t have a quality SS he will play the power shift with two 2B. The only place the Twins will be going on this “getaway day” is one more game behind the Tigers.
No Leinies today icon. I am alergic to Leinies, it gives me bad headaches.
MLB.tv analyst just said that Delmon is a plus defender. Wow.
Currently reading the new SportsGuy. Interesting tidbit: “Managers foolishly affected games with too much hit-and-run and too many reckless steals. Leadoff hitters were chosen for speed, not an ability to get on base.” This in reference to the 1969-1976 era. Now whose managerial strategy does this remind me of?
To the PITCHER!!!
Willie, end result is the same as Young’s swing at the first pitch last night though. Sure glad Morales is getting splinters on the bench.
Fair enough. Matter of personal taste, I guess. I grew up on Leinies, so they have a sentimental value to me.
OB — Earl Weaver?
“Clearly, he is showcasing Buscher’s talents for a blockbuster trade.”
I know you are being sarcastic, but “Buscher” and “blockbuster trade” in the same sentence, is hilarious.
Aaron Hicks being sent to Beloit is great news! Hicks and Angel Morales in the same outfield is exciting.
Sane: I could see that Blockbuster trade working out.
Gardenhire will trade Buscher for three free movie rentals from Blockbuster video.
I think Gomez at the leadoff and the reluctance to put Mauer in the 2 hole is explanation enough.
Dr. Don: If Morneau hits a grand slam during the game, how long do you have to finish the four beers?
Icon, the best part of Leinies is to go to Chippewa Falls and tour the brewery…. Great time.
Sorry Sane,
I tried to bring my A-game, but Gardy would have none of it on a “getaway day”!
“Blockbuster”-maybe like D-young, Ayala,Henn,Crain,and a bag of batting practice balls for Freddie Sanchez…
Anyone know why FSN rarely televises Thursday afternoon games?
Sweet. Double Play! Blackburn’s specialty.
Guess I will have to “grand slam” them. OK by me!!!!!!!
The blockbuster trade would be Buscher for a box of Omaha Steaks!
So far it sounds like Blackburn is doing a nice job of keeping the ball on the ground.
Anyone know why FSN rarely televises Thursday afternoon games?
Think of the TV audience at afternoon…
it’s about time Hicks is headed to Beloit. That team is awful, now there is finally someone worth following on that team.
“Anyone know why FSN rarely televises Thursday afternoon games?”
My guess is because the ratings will be terrible. Most people are at work on Thursdays and not able to watch the game. The TV contract allows them to televise a certain number of games per year, so they don’t want to waste them on ones that nobody will watch.
Nice play Blackie and Harry!
On the Redmond playing today discussion, while against it over Morales at least Gardy has given up his old mindset of “let’s just put Dog in Mauer’s spot in the order because we can’t possibly move guys around for just a day”.
No get’em some runs!
Anyone know why FSN rarely televises Thursday afternoon games?
They figured they’d be televising Buscher against a lefty?
Bert and Dick need bench time too, Scott.
Punto’s up to .214!
lnp trying to set the table
Scott,
FSN does televise Thursday afternoon games- at 7PM tonight.
I would take a box of No-Name steaks for Buscher at this point…
Bunt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Cuddyer is such a stiff. That ball was catchable”
Are we really back to this?
CHIN:
Don’t accept the bacon-chedder hamburger steaks. Nasty!
Bunt anyway Go-Go!
HE WALKED !!!! YEAH!!
Gomez drew a walk!
c’mon Harris, get an rbi here, I am ready for a cold one.
Like I said, take the walk Go-GO!
Please, not an inexcusable bunt now.
Now is a good time to bunt. First and second with nobody out. Do it, Harris.
double steal?
It just baffles me that any manager would put a guy hitting under .200 in at DH. I just, I’m just, I just don’t know what to type. I’m not sure I’ll get over this for days.
Gladden: “Pitch to Gomez is low, ball four. Wow, you don’t see that too often.”
LOL
Icon???? Is it time??????
You set up now DrDon.
Ok, Dr. Don… Remember what I said about Morneau? Open the bottles…
Could happen - Salami
Was Punto held up? Why couldn’t he score?
Nice slide Nick!
GO TWINS….. It’s time!!!!!!!!!!!
wooooooooooo
Oh well, Twins scored a run, I don’t care how.
Better drink a warm one.
Hmmm… I think that Justin Morneau was worried about contributing to alcoholism and that’s why he didn’t pound one over the fence. It’s a major problem in Canada.
I think that’s the third time this series we’ve scored a run on a GIDP. Awesome.
Just woke up. I see Jason’s B-squad is leading 2-0.
But I’m sure things aren’t going too well.
a magical at bat
Shaun-
That just sounds disgusting!
Has anyone actually tried one?
I sure hope that whoever thought that one up at No-Name has a No-job!
Still, B-Smith should consider a trade involving two boxes of those for today’s DH….
Deep down, Icon, I hate chugging, but if Justin had done that, I would sacrifice for the good of the team.
Bases loaded. None out. One run. What a team!
Icon:
“Gardenhire will trade Buscher for three free movie rentals from Blockbuster video.”
Let’s have Blockbuster keep the movies and have Buscher be the New Release.
Can’t tell on the ol’ Gamecast since no video but Blackie’s sinker must be working?? The Bucco’s seem to be pounding the ball into the ground. So glad that even with the extra rest Blackie isn’t so “strong” (Bert’s term) that he’s elevating the ball.
romer, just because something works, that doesn’t make it right. It also isn’t necessarily a wrong decision even when something doesn’t work.
Thousands of people drive drunk every day and make it home, but that doesn’t mean they should have driven drunk, or that they should next time. It’s a common logical fallacy though….
Fortunately for the Twins, reality does not always succumb to logic.
Think I still have the hangover that DrDon gave me Tues night.
:)>
DrDon says:
June 18th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Bert and Dick need bench time too…
Agreed. I used to like Dick Bremer (I still like Bert), but he is such a homer its embarrassing. Ugh.
Nice to see a Twins in total control. Even if it is a weak Pirates team on getaway day.
He seems to have taken the role Baker held last year and that Slowey takes from time to time. Rarely feel like Blackie is in danger of getting shelled or breaking down mentally.
Yes, romer…..I forced you at gun point, glad your gal was smart. That was a blast, and THANK YOU for coming over. It was a “very good” trip for me, in more ways than one, romer.
Way to “battle your tails off” and “get after it” boys…
Looks like Blackie is going to have to go 8.
“romer, just because something works, that doesn’t make it right. It also isn’t necessarily a wrong decision even when something doesn’t work.”
I think he was wondering aloud if the blog was filled with constant belly-aching. Like it or not, he was right.
Gladden and Morris have been an absolute joy to listen to….I love baseball with no BS.
Morris pointed out he doesn’t understand why people care about “quality starts” because if you give up 3 ER in 6 innings, you end up with an ERA near 5. Priceless stuff.
After last night’s game I’d really like to see them move Liriano to the pen and bring Swarzak back up as the fifth starter. The stats included elsewhere in the Strib are scary but would make him a strong reliever.
Buscher SUCKS!! Please find someone else.
Jason, 3 ER’s in 6 equates to 4.5 for the game.
Buscher’s number were decent last year. How much do think this season’s stinkfest is due to his lack of playing and how is that this is more who he is than what he did in 2008?
I agree Gomez Supporter…as long as Sunday was Crain’s getaway day, today might as well be Buscher’s…
Always multiply ER’s by 9, divided by number of innings. Simple formula.
Precisely, k91, precisely.
I know, DrDon…I was using Morris’ words. His point is still well-taken.
This is funny:
Brian Buscher .192
Nick Punto .214
Total =.406
Joe Mauer .425
(another worthless stat)
Kirby,
“How much do think this season’s stinkfest is due to his lack of playing and how is that this is more who he is than what he did in 2008?”
How about the latter? Usually is a reason why someone is basically a career minor leaguer.
DrDon is tied with the Twins at 2-2.
dp combo clicking today
This is funnier:
Brian Buscher .326
Nick Punto .305
Carlos Gomez .283
Delmon Young .280
Good DP, good inning by Blackie.
59 pitches thru 5
mww, don’t know exactly what you’re referring to. And it might have already been discussed to death here today.
But I think Redmond isn’t a B-squad type, but rather an adequate backup catcher with an adequate BA.
Buscher is a differnt story.
But 1 B-squad type in the lineup isn’t a sufficient reason to say “Talk about a B-minus squad lineup…”.
Beisbol,
I don’t know if I’d call a guy who got drafted in 2003 and made it to the majors 4 years later a career minor leaguer.
Top 10 reasons Brian Buscher is at DH today:
10.He’s got DH speed on the basepaths.
9. He looks like a DH.
8. Gardy got confused between designated hitter and designated for assignment.
7. He’s got the same initials as Barry Bonds.
6. He’s hit so poorly this year, odds are he’s got to get a hit.
5. Gardy owed him a belated birthday present.
4. Matt LeCroy wasn’t available.
3. His batting average backwards is .881.
2. His glove is so bad, there’s nowhere else to put him.
1. On Carl Pohlad’s death bed, Gardy promised him he’d DH Buscher at least one game this season.
DrDon, a 4.5 ERA is near 5. So Morris’ point was well-taken.
romer, I think everybody is just miffed that they call up Morales and then he’s done nothing but sit. I know Gardy seems to absolutely dread the lack of bench when we next visit a NL park but given the bp situation, why call up Morales rather than a pitcher if you’re not going to use him. Of course the dread might have something to do with a bench of: Tolbert, Buscher, Redmond.
Punto’s on fire…all is good now.
Good use of the head first slide Nicky!
ES16: Good summation of Gardenhire’s managerial prowess.
the Punto shift?
Go-Go needs to deliver here
Morris pointed out he doesn’t understand why people care about “quality starts” because if you give up 3 ER in 6 innings, you end up with an ERA near 5. Priceless stuff.
No knock on Black Jack, but Bert has made that point many times.
Quality start really should be 2 ER in 6, a high standard, but would fit the description a lot better.
Typical Gomez AB in the clutch: can’t get the job done.
Bert thinks you need to go 9 to get a quality start.
Direct from the boxscore:
Team RISP: 1-for-6.
Now 1-for-7.
This McCutchen guy sure covers a lot of ground.
4 runs, 5 runs, 4.5 runs….what’s the difference.
Too bad Harris isn’t leading off today instead of Go-Go.
Thank you, Ben, it is also close to 4.
Because a quality start of 2 runs in 6 innings is an unrealistically low bar (or high bar) to set. You can’t set it at partial runs.
Morris is a guy that thinks the only thing that matters is wins and losses, which is a stupid stat for an individual in a team sport. I take anything a Twins’ announcer says about stats with a grain of salt, they like stats even less than the Twins do.
romer, I thought you had posted that the B squad was winning, ergo it was a good squad to start….
Direct from the box score:
Twins: 2
Pirates: 0
That last “fly out” was McCutchen robbing Harris from a double
Runner on third, one out. Average league scoring in that situation this year: 0.92807
Twins: 0
Bert thinks you need to go 9 to get a quality start.
Not a bad idea, either. Bert did that many times, too. The shutouts are his top qualification for the HOF.
KLaw just said in his chat that Guttierez is much more interesting now than when drafted. He worries about him not missing bats (I’m extrapolating his words here), but like the GB rate.
yes, McCutchen is 10x the fielder McClouth is, but everyone will “remember” this year they traded away a gold glover….
DrDon, I believe if you rounded 4.5 it would round up to 5, but the beer might be getting to you already.
Quality start for a pitcher…. a shutout.
Quality start for a hitter…. 4 for 4.
I love high bars, especially if the fridge is full of cold ones.
That sinker must be filthy today.
well there is always the fear he might have the start like Jordan Schafer did…. Schafer was hot, batting like 300 his first month then had to be sent down because he was making delmon look like a productive hitter
QS is a threshhold stat. What it really means is minimal-quality start. And it refers to the first goal for every pitcher and what every manager wants — you give your team a chance to win.
Other than that, it’s rather meaningless.
But it still is a meaningful stat.
Blackburn is delivering. It’d be ideal if just kept the runs at zero.
Listening to the Pittsburgh Gameday broadcast on my phone while working…God bless technology.
Don’t mind Jack and the Dazzleman but it’s nice to listen to the “other side” once in a while.
Yes, Twins ahead of DrDon, 3 to 2.
Quick question. Does Blackburn throw a sinker or a two-seamer? Is there a difference?
Cuddy sucks.
I’m conflicted on quality start. I am not convinced that all starts are the same. I think they are separate statistical events. Therefore, there should be some measure of how ofent you pitch well, not just averages across all outings. I’m unaware of another stat that breaks starts into unique events, rather than just averaging all the good and bad together.
Mauer is just as much at fault as Gardy is for the day off, he needs to tell Gardy that he’ll at least DH. It’s not really a day off anyway, he still has to show up to the park. Why not just get up and swing the bat four or five times while you’re there
I was just about to comment that Morneau is due for a homer. And he still is.
Looks like Duke’s in jeopardy of not getting a quality start…
All right Cuddy! Still, they’d be better off with Young in there, right Thrylos?
“…but the beer might be getting to you already.”
God I hope so!
Why is Morgan playing so far in left center when McCutchen can track all the balls hit over there down? It has cost them on the Punto triple and now on the Kubel double.
I love it when Cuddy hits the ball hard. I really do.
Five Twins in double digits for HR’s now, I believe.
Does Blackburn throw a sinker or a two-seamer? Is there a difference?
sinker= 2-seamer
and that was a truly magical at bat
All right Cuddy! Still, they’d be better off with Young in there, right Thrylos?
yes. And with Cuddyer at DH instead of Buscher
That’s what I thought. Good lookin t98.
“This weekend the Twins will host the Houston Astros in an interleague series brought to us by our good friends at Budweiser”
Gladden is flippin classic. I’d love to have a Budweiser with him sometime…
Blackburn’s ERA is getting scarily close to falling under 3. I think he may be the most underappreciated player on the team. Do we just not talk about him being good because he isn’t overpowering or because he doesn’t strike out many hitters? 8 quality starts in his past 10 outings! Maybe he just has “it”
Duke hits 100 pitches
Dr Don should have to drink a busch beer for that.
mww is waxing philosophical.
Do I have the mental energy yet to deal with it today?
“”"”"romer says:
June 18th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
“…but the beer might be getting to you already.”
God I hope so!”"”"”
Gotta remember, romer, the quote you used in your comment came from my favorite nemesis, Ben. Consider the source.
Blackburn’s ERA is getting scarily close to falling under 3. I think he may be the most underappreciated player on the team. Do we just not talk about him being good because he isn’t overpowering or because he doesn’t strike out many hitters? 8 quality starts in his past 10 outings! Maybe he just has “it”
Blackburn earned his appreciation in game 163.
“yes. And with Cuddyer at DH instead of Buscher”
Yep, keep holding to the fantasy that Young will some day resemble a major league corner outfielder.
I go on vacation soon, hard to really concentrate at work with the TWins, vacation on the mind, and reading Jason Soebel’s updates from Bethpage…
“sinker= 2-seamer”
2-seamer which doesn’t break = 4-bagger
Redmond now 0-3. Great choice starting him over Morales!
Okay, so through 6 we’re looking good. Our B-Squad lineup has produced 3 runs and our A-Squad pitcher is on fire…
Still, there are three innings left. We could be up a heck of a lot more than 3-0. The next three (plus) innings will be the difference between getting excited about potentially taking over first place and sliding deeper into this ‘around the .500 mark’ hole that has plagued us all year long.
Let’s get it done, boys.
Kubes with some fancy leatherwork today
No strikeouts in the game so far.
Mike, well you don’t need to worry about Bethpage for the rest of the day. They are done until tomorrow morning.
Hightower, did you play the game and ever go 0-3???? If so, you should have been benched. Sheesh.
OB, I’d agree with you if Buscher was drafted out of HS but he’s now 28, prime age for a ballplayer and still a benchwarmer and role player at best. Yes technically he’s with the big club. If the Twins had other options, he’d probably be back at Rochester since his glove isn’t the greatest. But I would add that lack of at bats certainly doesn’t help him either.
There is the first K.
Strikeout!
Okay, here’s the energy — thanks to the Twins fans at the game who are actually cheering.
Duke gets his QS now too.
mww says “I am not convinced that all starts are the same”.
Nor are HR’s, or other hits, or saves, etc. etc. etc. etc.
So perhaps the stat that would satisfy you, mww, is QS/S.
Similarly, the total saves stat doesn’t really do it for me either. I like saves/saves-attempts. And even that isn’t as telling as you’d want.
Some saves are really ugly and downright incompetent.
DrDon, it is frustrating to people when everybody other than yourself by the sounds of it seems to think Morales should be in a lineup over Redmond yet Redmond plays and goes 0 for 3.
Way to go Blackie!! Hope you remember how many games the bp has blown for you. You’ve still got a great pitch count. Better pitch at least 8!!
Which one of us would have picked Blackburn to be the stud pitcher that he’s turned out to be this year? We’re very lucky to have him pitching today with this lineup of Twins; let’s have him pitch 9 shutout innings. Go Twins!
Could someone please identify these announcers on MLB.tv? Metrodome a hitters park? Delmon Young a plus defender? Priceless.
I like steaks……..98, at least Buscher hasn’t made an error today!
One time Jack had a quality start, middle, and end. Pretty big game, also.
Yep, played and managed the game for 24 years (and hopefully many more years to go). But you’re right, it’s better to go with the aging veteran over the young guy who’s hitting .360. Maybe you can explain it to me DrDon, why do the Twins have Morales on the roster if he isn’t going to play on a day that Mauer has off?
MartinPL, this might help: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=pit
It’s interesting that this third-string lineup has actually managed to outscore the A squad lineup of last night. And against a much better Pirates pitcher.
So let’s keep Buscher at DH and Redmond behind the plate from now on. And let Gomez lead off! It can’t fail.
Martin:
The last few games he has been surprisingly good, SO YOU TAKE THAT BACK!
Hightower, you should know not to question ANYTHING Gardenhire does. EVER.
Nice job, Harris. Three hits today.
Knock him in Morneau. I need you to help pad my fantasy team’s stats.
romer, agreed on all fronts, I have questions about a lot of stats.
My current question is about how a guy gets to his numbers.
who helps his team more, the guy that is pretty consistent all year, or the guy that gets to the same numbers, but does it by being great for 1/3 of the year and bad the other 2/3?
Is it better to go 4 for 4, then a series of 0 fers, or to go 2 for 4, 1 for 4, 2 for for, one for 4?
clearly I’m not overly concerned about work today…..though I have surprisingly got quite a bit done somehow….
“If the Twins had other options, he’d probably be back at Rochester”
The other options were Tolbert and Casilla who ARE / WERE at Rochester.
A career minor leaguer is a misnomer for someone who plays in the majors. Especially, while “major leaguers” are optioned in order to keep him in the majors.
First of all, RedDog knows the opponents better than Morales, and therefore a better catcher at calling the game with the pitcher.
yeah, Go-Go didn’t exactly respond to that lead-off thing all that well.
Bottom line is any ideas Gardy may be getting about moving Mauer back to the 3-hole should be erased today.
trish blog today? no link at work
Scott:
“Yep, keep holding to the fantasy that Young will some day resemble a major league corner outfielder.”
Being overly optimistic about Young is a lot different than calling for Cuddyer’s release a few weeks back as a better alternative than having him remain on the roster.
Yeap. Seriously, that was the suggestion.
yes, Shawn, there are a few of us there, but pretty quiet.
Right on Jason. Bottom line for me, Gardy needs a bench coach.
Ben: No they are not the Pirate announcers. This game isn´t televised in Pitt either. It is MLB.tv exclusive broadcast and they are some neutral guys who don´t have a clue.
“third-string lineup”
Priceless……..
send me the link Don?
Very quiet there, shawn
http://www.chatmaker.net/chatap/rooms/TwinsChat/
“why do the Twins have Morales on the roster if he isn’t going to play on a day that Mauer has off?”
Morales is on the roster for the days when Mauer is the DH.
Today, he is wasted (like Buscher on a normal day) unless a 2nd LH PH is required.
Game is tied here at my place… 3-3
Punto leads the team with a 0.99 WPA today.
And the Twins’ current chance of winning is 93%.
Should I have said that?
Now there on the screen - Vin Niucci and Jim Duquette.
Dr.Don, I would maybe be able to take your argument seriously if the Twins’ ERA with Morales behind the plate wasn’t 4.81 this season while it is 5.01, but it is.
First of all, RedDog knows the opponents better than Morales,
I beg to differ. They are in the NL and Morales at least caught against some of them in AAA (The Pirates’ AAA team is in the IL as well)
How does Punto lead the team in WPA when Blackie is pitching a shutout?
Jake, some of us appreciate Blackie a lot. He seems to have the mental toughness lacking in some of our other starters. And definitely game 163 was a gem with everything on the line. Too bad the offense was MIA that day. And if Abreu hadn’t clipped his snoz last year he might have finished with an even better record. He was understandably a little off in the next few games after that incident.
Is anyone up in the pen, or are they going to send him out there for the ninth (I’m assuming he finishes the 8th here).
Doc, have you really downed 3 and tossed 3 into the septic system?
So, before the 20/20 hindsight vision. Blackburn go the distance or automatically Nathan in the ninth?
Another ball lost in the lights
Blackburn should go for the shutout
Might be moot point with a couple runs here…
Stop construction at Target Field!!
I’m going to miss all the teflon follies and high choppers…. well, not too much anyway.
Sure I would have liked to see what Morales would have done today.
But instead, there’s your efficent battery of Red&Blackie quieting the Pirates and us commenters.
Blackburn to start the 9th, especially now when you should have a 4 run lead at least with a runner on third and nobody out.
Any other manager lets Blackie start the 9th with a shutout going and 91 pitches. With Gardy I’m not so sure.
Any chance Cuddy can get a cycle today?
Comments? Thrylos?
:)>
I’d send him out for the ninth, thry.
Deja vu?
We have something to bitch about?
To those watching, how many balls have been “lost” by the Bucs today? I was wondering as I watched them the last two nights how they would do in the daytime if they couldn’t see the balls at night.
oh my
And now Buscher ruins our day…
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha…
Unbelievable, how many times is this team going to have a runner at third with less than two outs and not score him?
HR!
romer, I certainly hope Cuddy doesn’t get the chance for another cycle today.
Sweet! Buscher redeems himself.
Unbelievable. Again we fail to execute with a runner on third. Terrible, terrible, terrible.
That Buscher sure is a bum.
Oh Oh….Buscher a 2 run jack. I am behind 5-3….
Guess Buscher remains on the roster now.
Holy crap, did I just see Buscher hit a HR?
Ha, leave it to the Butcher Man.
beisbol,
at least 2, both by the left fielder, Morgan
I’m sick of Cuddyer getting thrown out at home - keep him at third until there’s a basehit. Could have had a three run dinger but have to settle for a 2 run shot. Good job Buscher.
Buscher bashers, SIT DOWN! Gardy is a freakin’ genius! Hah!
The blog is confused.
Cuddyer and Buscher with homers. Punto 2-3. Harris 3-4 (2-4?) in the #2 spot. Blackburn with a shot at the CGS.
It’s BIZARRO land!
huh, I’m at work, so I won’t see that “highlight” until tonight. How did they manage not to score again?
Well, we got the run anyway. Thank you Buscher.
musta been another ball lost in the lights.
Hope you didn’t have a six pack, Dr. Don, because it looks like you’ll be stuck with one left over.
This complete and utterly incompetence / futility with RISP is really starting to get annoying. Guess its Karma/payback for last year.
Although, note that that dinger was vs. a righty. For future reference.
Might as well let Blackburn go for the CG now…don’t you think?
OK Buscher just shut most of us up!!
What the heck was Cuddyer doing on that out at home? It looked like terrible baserunning yesterday with that chopper that Snell snagged. His brain seems out to lunch more than once this year on the basepaths.
wow, that was unexpected.
Eddie Shore, I don’t think you can quite tell the Buscher bashers to sit down considering he isn’t quite up to the mendoza line even with that homer.
How did they manage not to score again?
Crede hit it to the 3rd baseman, Ulger send Cuddyer
Two crazy games against the Pirates…
Tuesday, we ground into 5 double plays and win by 6…today, we’re 1-for-11 with RISP and we’re up 5-0 after 8.
I honestly wanted a sweep of this series and a 5-win homestand….but it will be nice to win today considering the lineup we trotted out there.
“The blog is confused.”
Post of the day.
Sweet sweet vindication.
Blackburn out for the CGS. Would be a great bounceback after Liriano’s shaky outing yesterday.
Nathan is warming up
great diving catch by Crede
According to Dan Gladden, Joe Crede just caught a ground ball.
Buscher’s homerun was nullified.
He was optioned to Rochester in the 8th inning, but FO (and the bloggers) forgot to notify Gardy.
Ineligible player.
“I gotta say Danny, if I’m in this situation…a five run lead, a four hit shutout in the 9th…I don’t have my closer warming up…but we’re in a different era in baseball”.
Great job today, Black Jack and Danny…made for a fun, fun game.
“”"Iconoclast says:
June 18th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Hope you didn’t have a six pack, Dr. Don, because it looks like you’ll be stuck with one left over.”"”
Icon, I was prepared for the Twins to score 12 today.
I would have to think that Ullger is partially responsible for the last two plays with Cuddyer at third. Wouldn’t he be instructing Cuddyer to run on a ball to the right side?
Cuddyer just misplayed another ball
Praise the Lord and thank God that Crede is playing third today. He’s worth his weight in gold in my opinion.
sane: If that’s the case, then teams that have lost to the Twins in the last few months should probably file a protest, since the blog neglected to inform them that they had forfeited the season half way through May.
Is anyone here prepared to go on record and say they want to keep Buscher on the roster based on that HR?
I’d be curious if anyone feels that way…
ERA at 3.00 with one out to go…
Eddie Shore, I don’t think you can quite tell the Buscher bashers to sit down considering he isn’t quite up to the mendoza line even with that homer.
Sorry, typing commentary doesn’t do my sarcasm justice.
I do find it comical that almost this entire blog has been spent b*tching about one thing or another and we’ve been leading since the first inning.
thry, I would like to see the play with an unbiased eye.
I’d rather have Buscher than Tolbert going strictly on offense.
Come on Nick, let’s get it!
well done, Heetcpa lol
thry, I would like to see the play with an unbiased eye.
No kidding. Thrylos would accuse Cuddyer of misplaying a ball hit to LF if it fit his needs.
No shutout thanks to Cuddaver
“I do find it comical that almost this entire blog has been spent b*tching about one thing or another and we’ve been leading since the first inning.”
We’re still talking about a .500 ballclub, Eddie.
Great win though, boys!
Oh well, no one’s perfect…….except certain blog contributors.
Burnsie!!!
See that play tonight and tell me if he did not misplay it
Great game Blackburn!
No shutout thanks to Cuddaver
Yes. Let’s all hate Cuddyer because thrylos decided he misplayed a ball.
Not counting the triple or HR or anything. Just that one run comparred to the 5 the Twins scored.
Dang, there goes the hope of a shutout and the chance of Blackburn finishing the day with a sub 3.00 era.
Sometimes the runner on 3B is instructed to go home on ” ball-angle-downward off the bat”.
If the runner is a dead-man, he is supposed to stay in a rundown until the batter gets to 2B. (if possible)
We call it situation “green”. (as opposed to “red” and “yellow”)
Nick Blackburn’s ERA is now down to 3.09. Does that make him the ace?
In other news, Nick Punto’s batting average is now (almost) within 200 points of Joe Mauer’s average.
Just doesn’t get any better than this!
&*((^! JINX! Tape on my mouth for the rest of the, hmmmm, day? week? month?
Our starters are averse to shutouts.
Great job by Blackburn!
Count me in Jason.
2 hours and 6 minutes…nice, efficient game by blackburn.
See that play tonight and tell me if he did not misplay it
I probably won’t catch the squeeze play. But hopefully the recaps will be sure to focus on that instead of Blackburn’s 9 inning gem, the 2 dingers, and the 2 other runs that were scored by the Twins.
Typical media ignoring the REAL problems.
SCOTT:
On the radio Jack said he was going “on contact” for what it’s worth.
Damn…shutout gone….Still a brilliant performance though. What do you guys think…is Blackburn worthy of the All-Star game?
Way to go Blackie and give that man a game ball or a blizzard of his choice or something really good. I was worried about this lineup but with the pitching Blackburn did today the little sisters of the poor could have scored on the pirates. Great job.
PS: Some of you may want to check your keyboards…the “Y” and “V” appear to have been flipped.
Not an Ullger fan but doesn’t Cuddyer have some responsibility to use his eyes and brain depending on where the ball is hit, how hard, etc.
GREAT GAME, Blackie. Thank goodness for you and Slowey, otherwise even .500 would look awfully good.
Well the Twins won, so there’s nothing for me to complain about today.
Have a nice day, everyone!
Five outs in the outfield; pretty impressive.
Twins beat Pirates 5-1. Twins beat DrDon 5-3. DrDon and Pirates tied 1-1. Cool.
Everyone knows that Cuddy’s range is limited. But, his arm makes up for it. Hence, the ~0 UZR/150.
t98,
Since I saw the Cuddy play in question-IMHO, he could have played that better.
Now I am sure I will be ridiculed for my opinion by some people, but oh well.
“No shutout thanks to Cuddaver”
We get it, you Cuddyer. Young probably would have somehow recorded two outs on the play.
caught that too, shaun.
Like I said, plenty of positivity here…sure there are still issues, but our B-squad lineup came up big enough thanks in large part to an A-squad pitcher.
Blackie is definitely the Ace right now. You could argue he may have even earned that title with his outing in Game 163 last year, even as it came in a losing effort.
A sweep of the Pirates was certainly in order…maybe we can suprise ourselves and sweep the Astros…anyway, for sure we should take two with a 9-game roadtrip coming up.
Not an Ullger fan but doesn’t Cuddyer have some responsibility to use his eyes and brain depending on where the ball is hit, how hard, etc.
It’s a mixed bag. A “contact” play requires that the player goes on contact, which means at the crack of the bat he’s already heading to the next bag.
I didn’t see the play live, but I’ve seen instances where a player leaves on contact and thus is screwed when the ball does’nt go where they hoped…and other times when the player holds up and thus can’t advance on a slightly misplayed ball.
Didn’t notice that, T, but did you hear about the dyslectic rabbi? He walks around saying “yo”.
Wow! Just got in and game over. Very nice. I didn’t see/hear any part of the game but it would appear we have found a solution to whatever bullpen problems exist. Very nice, Brother Nicholas! Now I want 500 more!
great start by Blackburn. BA was about as right as anyone can be a couple of years ago on that one.
He’s a keeper for sure.
You could argue he may have even earned that title with his outing in Game 163 last year, even as it came in a losing effort.
I thought Liriano was the obvious team ace going into the season? Wasn’t that why starting anybody other than him in the first game was a slap in the face?
We get it, you Cuddyer
Mean to say “you Cuddyer.” Is % ” a banned word on this blog?
good, shaun… Kind of like the dyslexic agnostic… He doesn’t truly believe there is a Dog.
“Not an Ullger fan but doesn’t Cuddyer have some responsibility to use his eyes and brain depending on where the ball is hit, how hard, etc”
It is 100% runner’s judgement after the ball is pitched.
Ullger’s entire contribution is pre-first-pitch instruction.
If you think Ullger is hollering “Go” or “No” after the ball is hit downward, you are not being realistic.
By the time the baserunner processes that call, it’s to late to go.
We’re still talking about a .500 ballclub, Eddie.
Absolutely and I’m not saying that we should all be filling the blog with gleeful commentary but come on, enjoy a moment, if not moments of a single game in a 162-game season.
Good win. Won the series. On to the Astros.
.
Am I missing something. If the contact play is on, as soon as there’s contact, the runner does his duty and runs.
It’s a totally blind play, right?
Good one, Scott:
Think we could trade Blackburn for Garrett Atkins now?
DrDon, I was testing the blog’s restricted words. FYI, you can’t post the word “h a t e”
I know, Scott…. Just funning ya.
“as soon as there’s contact, the runner does his duty and runs.”
BALL-ANGLE-DOWN contact.
It’s the insomniac dyslexic agnostic.
He lay awake each night wondering if there really was a Dog.
Good job Nick Blackburn
h8?
I like that one T. There were definitely some people with ruffled feathers about that.
According to ESPN.com’s game recap, the wind was at -1 MPH in the Dome today. Maybe due to all that sucking by the Pirates.
thrylos: “Mommy, Cuddyer just misplayed another ball.”
Mommy: “Of course he did, thrylos.”
thrylos: “And some of the bad bloggers say I have a big head.”
Mommy: “Nonsense, thrylos. Now run along and get us fifty pounds of potatoes.”
thrylos: “But what should I use to carry them, Mommy?”
Mommy: “Use your hat, thrylos.”
Good one Doc.
“Dyslexics Untie! ! !”
Scott, I hate when that happens.
Nope, post of the day goes to birdofprey!!
“ES16 says:
June 18th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Butcher has no business being in the starting line-up.”
Yea, he stunk today.
Also, all bloggers who wanted to trade Blackburn during the off season and keep Perkins, please raise your blogosphere hands.
“Scott, I when that happens.”
Okay, so maybe I’m just blocked from using that word. I wasn’t even directing it at anyone.
“BALL-ANGLE-DOWN contact.”
Thanks, sane. In other words, it’s gonna be a ground ball.
Dyslexic agnostic with ADD:
I wonder if there is really a Dog-HEY-let’s go outside and ride our bikes!
BennyW:
“Think we could trade Blackburn for Garrett Atkins now?”
Can we throw in Cuddyer and Swarzak, Benny? That was seriously thought by many as a smart idea just before spring training. C’mon people…admit it…
bop, I know. Blackburn’s outing today made me think of this article -
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/04/troy-e-renck-qa.html
Sorry I don’t know how to post a link.
Oh hey, it worked. Guess I outwitted myself again.
Dyslexics Untie
That one made me spit coffee.
Lay off Buscher. I know his average stinks but he has had few,few at-bats and has gotten totally off of his timing. He is now a role player, has accepted that role, and wants to help the team. He hasn’t played that badly in the field. A matter of fact, he has played 1st backup better than third. If he could play 5 to 6 straight games with regular at-bats, I promise you his hitting would come back. But we all know that isn’t going to happen and, again, he accepts his role.
Hopefylly, now he can contribute a little more w/ the bat and occasion start. Do we have anyone better in the minors? They don’t want to bring up a promising player (Valencia or Hughes) to be a bench player and get limited, limited ABs.
Buscher is a capable bench player…….He is Crede and Morneau Insurance….He does play 1st better than Cuddy.
We all hope he will come through with the stick and help out the TEAM!
It worked, Ben. Some guys know how to get it linked on a word that is blue but that’s Blogging 202.
Should I know this Moseley guy?
I don’t know who Moseley is. But that sentence regarding Atkins for Blackburn gets more ridiculous every time I read it.
I bet thrylos knows who Moseley is, knows all his single-A stats, and the name of his 2nd grade math teacher.
Gardy was actually happy that we split our recent road trip. Hello! We weren’t playing the Yanks, Red Sox and Angels or even the Jays, O’s or Rangers, we were playing the lowly A’s, the downtrodden Mariners and the mediocre Cubs. I guess Gardo thinks that 80-82 will get us in to the playoffs.
And the whole team is averse to sweeps as well….
If you are going to play guys hitting below the Mendoza line like Punto, Gomez, Tolbert and Buscher, why not send Morrales back down and bring up a real pitcher like Slama or Duensing (NOT CRAIN!) to fill the last spot. It makes no sense to DH Buscher and leave Morrales on the bench. If you don’t like his defensive abilities at catcher and think Butera is the backup next year, fine, convert Morrales back to a position player, he’s gotta be a better OF than Young.
Crain: we’re getting close enough now to think that “maybe, just maybe” winning series will be good enough.
I would like to see a ten game streak though.
Just out of curiosity…who do you propose the Twins take from the Nats in order to give them Crain?
I concur…Post o’ the Day goes to bop.
I believe he might be clubhouse PoD leader for the season to date.
Duensing? Really?
Interesting. You think we need another lefty in the pen?
Considering how dismal the Twins have been on the road…a split trip is a pretty big step up from a one win outing.
Oh yeah Chief?
Well, “I” make people spit coffee!
Joe the First,
Buscher isn’t the first .198 batter to hit a homerun. That doesn’t make up for the dozens of other horrible at-bats he’s had this season.
I want to propose someone the Twins take from the Nats in order to give them Crain!
I propose Dmitri Young to mentor Delmon. I am not giving up on this kid until……………well, I don’t know.
Well, Buscher proved y’all wrong for one day. Maybe Gardy knows something we can’t see from our laptop screens.
wow let’s see if I can summarize today’s events on and off the blog
1)DrDon loves 20 run explosions by Twin’s
2)plenty of us think Magic Man should be traded/benched because:
a)his salary is too high for his production
b)the only way to figure out if Young will make it is to bench Cuddy
c)we hate magicians
d)all of the above
3)T and BOP will forever fight with Thrylos98 over Cuddy and anything else the can think of
4)BOP is a bad bird who loves personal attacks
5)many of us think Butcher is a waste of a MLB spot
6)some suggest that his HR suddenly makes his below .200 average look like .400
what did I miss?
Good one bop and I think we have finally found the solution to our bullpen problems. We need all of our starters to pitch complete games and then we will have no worries. Great job by Blackburn and now Slowey can come in and do a good job too and we can have a couple of wins in a row. Would be nice to get over 500 rather than just sniff at it and back down.
shaun: “Oh yeah Chief?
Well, “I” make people spit coffee!”
Oh yeah shaun? Well, “I” made thrylos’ Mommy spit tacks.
FVG: Buscher’s .330 OBP and superior plate discipline.
Let’s start an all-star ballot write-in campaign for DY.
Nick Blackburn is the ace of this staff. Good thing or bad?
Discuss.
BTW, I will give the FO its due for not dealing Blackburn, I was on the “deal Nick” bandwagon.
FIRE:
One you forgot is:
7)Dylexics are teople poo.
Sorry, no post that makes fun of another poster can be PoD in my book.
“what did I miss?”
The turn to your trailer park, FIRE.
shaun your right I stand corrected
I concur with mww.
BOP - what’s wrong with trailer parks? are you saying people of lower income then you(assuming because you didn’t include yourself in your personal and classy slam) are not as smart as you??
Abe Lincoln lived in a 1 room log cabin
try having a real take and back it up with stats or opinion based on observation.. grade school taunts just leave you looking like well a grade schooler
Wow, this is great. I want to talk Twins after a series win and all I can find in here is a bunch of douches bickering with each other.
Me too. I refuse to accept the PoD. But go ahead unfairly and personally attack the players and managers, gentlemen. I’ll be perched out here, ready to pounce when you do.
watch out RyanW BOP will drop a load on you
RyanW, it comes with the territory I guess. You should hear them bicker after a loss.
“”"Scott says:
June 18th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
DrDon, I was testing the blog’s restricted words. FYI, you can’t post the word “h a t e”.”"”
ya, I know. Ben hates me. and I don’t care. Gotta love it.
Join the club bop. I started posting to debunk the vitriol (when warranted).
based on current season performance should the rotation now go:
1)Blackburn
2)Slowly
3)Baker
4)Perkins
5)Liriano
I’m thinking someone has no clue the difference between “personal attacks” and critque on job performance by employer(the fans who pay the bills)
I don’t know FVG, should we judge the pitchers by their ERA or xFIP? By xFIP, one gets:
1. Baker
2. Slowey
3. Liriano
4. Blackburn
5. Perkins
Room for debate?
“”"”"RyanW says:
June 18th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Wow, this is great. I want to talk Twins after a series win and all I can find in here is a bunch of douches bickering with each other.”"”"”
Ryan…Welcome to the BigTime. hee hee hee.
From ESPN’s Jason Stark:
“The Twins are out there hunting for bullpen depth and young middle infielders. It probably won’t come as a shock that they’re letting teams know the enigmatic Delmon Young is exceptionally available.”
OB not sure what stat this is you are referring too? walks/hits per inning?
Delmon Young for Howie Kendrick? No way the Angels take it.
This line-up is a joke!!! What in the world is Gardy thinking. Obviously he is not!!!
Oh wait. The games already over, and the Twins won. Bushy hit a homer with the bat he grabed. I’m an idiot and an over reacting goon!!!
xFIP: expected fielding independent pitching. It tries to take some of the luck out of the equation. One thing it does not do, IMO, is factor in a good groundball pitcher like Blackburn has been thus far this season.
I’m thinking someone has no clue the difference between an employer and a fan.
Pale Hose lose on a walkoff blooper by Soriano. Nice.
Sheehs, where’s Doc Don when you need a blog cop? We won today. I’m very happy even though I’ll be working past midnight tonight.
GO TWINS!!!! Sweep the Astros.
Or, as a dysexlic might write: OG SINWY?????
Good News, Martin…. Thanks for that update.
tsirF eht eoJ…. od uoy naem OG SINWT????
didn’t hear gardy’s post game did he call out kubel and crede for first pitch swinging with cuddy on 3rd?
btw, after the Twins won today, I jumped for joy, but joy was at work. darn it!!!!!!!!
I’ve been around for years… if this is what you think “the BigTime” is then you do not remember substantive baseball-related conversations that used to fill these pages.
Today, this is a bunch of macho, chest-thumping crap.
I take it xFIP does not intrigue. Oh well, we’re all fans in our own way and I don’t disparage anyone for being bored with arcane stats. Still, I’d like to think witty banter is not the only acceptable type of post.
Witty banter?
I haven’t seen any of that ’round here since aught six.
B dub, I try to be gracious.
I’m thinking someone has no clue the difference between “personal attacks” and critque on job performance by employer(the fans who pay the bills)
I think you’re confusing customers with owners.
Just read the game summary on the Chicago Tribune for the Sox/Cubs game and it was great. Can you imagine the hapless Cubbies coming back from a 5-1 deficit to win 6-5 and do the Twins a big favor. The Hawk and Ozzie must be steaming and I can’t believe Soriano actually came through with a hit at the right time. Go Cubbies!
Chill out, Ryan. Don’t let the party poopers and the torch and pitchfork crowd spoil things for you.
MN Cat,
Just watched the game on WGN. I was wild.
I was just at Wrigley this weekend… great place.
cod nod,
ton erus, ti dluohs eb sa uoy etorw ti ni ruoy tsal golb.
yawyna, epoh siht snialpxe ti.
ylerecnis,
Eoj eht tsrif
doog eno Eoj. devol ti. eeh eeh eeh. (-:
ryanw
were there any Cub fans left in the place by the 8th inning or did they all just leave an expect another loss? I love it when the Sox lose a game they should have won - must be why I hate it so much when the Twins lose one they should have won.
I saw gnipoh rof a repeed gninaem ni lla taht sdrawkcab esnesnon. Tahw a etsaw fo emit.
BennyW:
Are you accusing me of fa*rting? I’ve not “emit[ed]” anything,….in the last hour or so, at least.
Gardenhire’s genius in filling out a lineup card in undeniable!
Ryan,
you were in Wrigley too? so was i
Was every poster at Wrigley last weekend except me? The only one that actually lives in Chicago.
If I post incorrectly, am I an “imposter”?
Walter,
on saturday there was minimum of 18000 Twins fans at the game….. so, maybe?
took the blue line to the 77 bus
I get the feeling most people think Mauer is a .425 hitter cuz that is what he is batting right now and that Punto, Buscher, Gomez, Tolbert and Young are .200 hitters because that is what they are hitting now or were hitting for a while. Neither one is true. Mauer will come back to earth with time and the others will start to approach their career numbers. It all will come down to pitching. If Baker can continue his good streak and Liriano turn it around or have Swarzak come in and do well we are better than a .500 team. Same is true of almost every team. You need guys to perform to their capabilities to have good years for the team. This is still the most talented team we have had this decade. If we finish .500 it just means we had a bad year. It happens. The division title is still well within our reach. Probably 1 game out after tonight. Pretty good for mostly underachieving so far.
Well, Buscher proved y’all wrong for one day. Maybe Gardy knows something we can’t see from our laptop screens.
Many posters here objected to Buscher DH’ing while a LH starter was on the mound. How’d that work out?
Wow, this is great. I want to talk Twins after a series win
Then, uh, by all means, please do.
Chief, what is amazing to me, is when a lineup is posted, all of the bitching, moaning, whining, complaining, negative comments, and who knows what else. And when the game plays out….they become redundant and repeat themselves again and again. The only solution is to cancel the blogs so those naysayers can wallow in their own misery with their crowds of zero friends.
Doc
Doc,
how many beers did ya get in today?
“why not send Morrales back down and bring up a real pitcher”
Because if Morales is with the Twins, Mauer can DH when he doesn’t catch, without risking loss of the DH when Red Dog (or Morales) gets injured catching.
“”"”"Shawn in Binghamton says:
June 18th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Doc,
how many beers did ya get in today?”"”"”
Just 3, Shawn, the Twins beat me 5 to 3 today, then had to go mow. But game is over, so I will work hard on getting the game tied.
I know you will
I had enough at Wrigley to last me awhile
Shawn, but you forgot to call me, but that is ok, as Joe1st forgot to call me from Jankee Stadium. But I got to meet romer Tuesday night…. he and his lady are class acts and tons of fun.
awesome, I have a bunch of pics on my facebook if ya want a link
please share….will I recognize you???? hee hee hee
who knows, sent the link to your email
Shawn, I met romer and his chick at Jackpot Junction Casino in Morton MN, down by Redwood Falls. I was there at business meetings, and after hours the night before on Monday night, the Casino was generous to me. romer and his gal came over from Tracy (60 miles) found me, and we had a blast. I think romer still is hungover today.
I was sharing with you, Shawn, about meeting romer, and now I am being moderated.
Never mind, Shawn, I tried again, and still being moderated…… Oh well.
well, it is cool ya met him even if the strib doesn’t like it
Sent it to your email, Shawn.
is romer the key word here?
La Velle,
I’m taking a dinner/snack break and want to take this time to ask of you a question that has been bugging me.
Are your initial LVENIII?
Or are they LENIII?
If the former, may we refer to you as Levon? Of course, this isn’t to say that you like your money.
If the latter, may we refer to you as Len the Third?
JtF: I prefer the “LEN3″ abbreviation. I haven’t seen any posts from him asking for something more “formal”, so hopefully he doesn’t mind it.
I continue to be impressed with Crede’s fielding. If he hits .275 with 20 home runs and continues to field like he has, the Twins made a great deal!
