Twins-St. Louis: Postgame
Posted on June 26th, 2009 – 11:30 PMBy La Velle
Joe Nathan’s ninth inning was the talk of the clubhouse after Friday’s 3-1 win. After striking Albert Pujols, Nathan took a shot from Ryan Ludwick in the gut - literally.
The ball went inside Nathan’s jersey.
“It was inside,” he said. “I actually turned to look the guy at second back without the ball in my hand. I was a split second from running it over and it finally came loose.”
Nathan tossed the ball to first, then struck out Rick Ankiel to end the game.
SLOPPY CENTRAL
Is it just me, or does the N.L. Central stink?
Seriously, the Twins have played everyone except Cincinnati, and none of these teams have impressed me.
PITCHING TO PUJOLS
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire didn’t even flinch when he decided to let Nathan pitch to Pujols - but he couldn’t enjoy it.
“It was nerve-racking in the dugout,” Gardenhire said. “I walked about 10 miles up and down watching that. We said coming into this you don’t want him up there where he can beat you or doing something crazy. Very intense.”
The Twins also pitched to Barry Bonds when they visited what was called Pac Bell Park in 2003. Bonds made them pay once - with a walk-off RBI single off of Juan Rincon the middle of the three games that kept them from sweeping the series.
Gardenhire was wound up pretty good as he talked about the decision.
“Not with my closer,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for the game and for Albert Pujols. You try to get him out there. I learned that from Tom Kelly a long time ago.
“Nathan’s going to go out there. I put the ball in his hand. If he pitches around him, then he pitches around him on his own. I’m sure he likes the matchup, likes the challenge. It’s dangerous, but that’s t he way the game is supposed to be played.”
WHAT WAS THE SIGN?
Glen Perkins batted with one out and two on in the sixth inning. It was time to get a bunt down.
He fouled off his first attempt, then took a ball. With the Cardinals infield rushing in, Perkins took a rip at the third pitch and missed.
Gardy let you swing?
“You know what,” Perkins said. “I’ve got one guy telling me to swing, one guy telling me to bunt. And another guy telling me to slash. I’ve never been that confused in my life.”
Perkins then bunted the runners over.
I know signs come from different people (the bench coach, the first base coach, believe it or not) in order to throw off the other team. And I’m sure the Twins were worried that Tony LaRussa was in other dugout, trying to steal their signs.
But three different people?
13 Responses to "Twins-St. Louis: Postgame"
Nathan should pitch to Pujols. He’s far and away the best pitcher on the staff and earns 8 million+ per year to pitch one inning of high pressure baseball at a time. THAT is what closers are for.
Cuddy at 2nd tomorrow?
Hope Wobble/LEN3 made it over to Mike Shannon’s or The Hill for some Deep Fried Ravioli postgame….
Nathan against Pujols. That was epic.
i enjoyed watching Nathan pitch the ninth after that double. Especially the Nathan/Pujols battle. Nathan earns his paycheck.
So it’s the Keystone Cops giving Perk signs.
Oh ha ha…….real funny.
Any explanation from Gardy, LENIII?
For you late-night sleuths, look at the Tigers boxscore and try to figure out how a pitcher occupied — on paper at least — 3 different spots in the order.
But it’s a lot easier to figure out how the Tigers beat themselves — Zumuya the closer got real wild.
I watched the game in tulsa, ok so i had to listen to the st luis commentator guys (i like them. after listening to the white sox guys, any other teams guys are a treat.) They were amazed every time our pitcher would pitch to pujols. They just couldn’t believe that anyone would think they could take him.
Solid win. Reminded me of the 2002-2004 Twins style of ball…Offense scores 3 runs, starting pitching goes 7 giving up 1 or 2 runs, set-up man (this year men) puts a 0 up in the 8th, and the closer (and Nathan is by far the best we’ve had over this decade) closes out the 9th. Again, solid win.
Pujols is a great player and a dangerous hitter but last time I looked he is not batting 1.000.
where is Punto? I thought he was ready? Put him on the DL and backdate it……We need players….Tolleson sounds good.
romer,
“Any explanation from Gardy, LENIII?”
My guess is that, before the game, the position players were given a system (inning-number-based?) to differentiate between:
1) which coach would be giving “live” signals and
2) which coaches would be giving bogus signals.
Perkins was probably elsewhere (in the bullpen?) when the “system” was briefed to the position players.
So, it literally was “gut-check time” for Nathan in the ninth?
