Twins-Cardinals: It’s hot. Mauer is not in the lineup. Ron Coomer makes a prediction
Posted on June 27th, 2009 – 9:28 AMBy La Velle
I flew in yesterday and was driving in from Lambert Airport when I switched on the radio to some sports show called, `The Men’s Room.’
The host talked about how he compared the careers of Chris Carpenter and Johan Santana, who squared off against each other the night before. On Friday, he decided to compare the Cardinals’ Yadier Molina and the Twins’ Joe Mauer - the two Gold Glove winners from last season.
So I’m listening to this, and the host is reeling off career stats. Mauer has Molina beat across the board and blows him away in doubles, walks, batting average, etc.
The host then concludes, “Mauer gets the nod here.”
Ya think?
He later adds, “I’d take either one of them but the edge goes to Mauer.”
It ain’t just an edge, buddy.
I’m impressed with Busch Stadium. Love the color scheme. Twins players like how the clubhouse is laid out. The pressbox stinks. It’s at the top of the stadium and it’s a journey to get to the clubhouse. I was told the original plan was to put the pressbox behind the right field wall. Right Field. Someone, fortunately, stepped in and stopped that.
The first year the park opened, there were no windows installed. The heat was oppressive during the summer. Then the Cardinals reached the World Series and it was freezing. There was a rain storm that blew water on a bunch of laptops and ruined them. Some of the insulation was visible. The league was ticked off and ordered the Cardinals to make adjustments.
But that’s not my main beef - believe it or not. The railing in front of the first row on most levels is too short. When fans are seated, their knees are almost even with the top of the railing. Not safe. If someone stumbles, jumps out of their seat to cheer or catch a ball - or has their .15 on - it could get ugly.
And it did on Friday, when a fan fell out of the top level of Busch Stadium and onto the level below him - during the national anthem. He was a bloody mess. The female with him was blubbering. I guess other than cuts and bruises, he was fine. But they need to look at these railings again.
Getting back to this right field thing. Other pro sports are moving the press areas out of the areas where they can make money. Soldier Field has its pressbox in the corner of the stadium. I’ve heard the pressbox at FedEx Field in Washington is in the end zone. NBA teams are moving some media off of midcourt.
The Twins, while designing Target Field, asked for our input on how the pressbox should be designed. It will be located on the club level, a little bit toward first base but that’s no big deal. There will be places to store our bags so they won’t be in the way. They’ll hold an elevator for us after games. And they have taken us twice on tours of the construction site.
I can’t thank club president Dave St. Peter, GM Bill Smith, the baseball communications department and other members of the organization enough for allowing us to have some input. After sitting in the St. Louis pressbox and hearing the stories, I appreciate what the Twins have done for its media even more.
I’ll post the lineups and updates when they become available.
Update
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire hinted before the game that Nick Punto has a couple more days to prove he’s healthy or he will land on the disabled list. Start your Steven Tolleson speculation now.
Joe Mauer is getting the day off. Day game after night game thing. Mike Redmond will start to today. When asked about starting Jose Morales, Gardenhire admitted that it’s a sensitive situation and that Redmond remains his No. 2 catcher. He said Morales will enter the game if (when?) Redmond wilts from the heat or of he needs a pinch runner late in the game. Gardy said he’s not adverse to putting Morales behind the plate, but Redmond is his No. 2.
I think the offseason will solve this problem. Morales is a better hitter and deserves to play. And I write that with the utmost respect for what Redmond does with the pitchers and in the clubhouse.
Kevin Slowey’s last named is spelled, “Slowley” on the lineup sheet.
Just heard that yesterday’s accident was the second time this year a fan had tumbled out of one of the decks here. Here’s a link to a story about yesterday’s accident.
A woman already has succumbed to the heat here and has been stretchered out. The high might hit 100 today.
FSN’s Ron Coomer on Justin Morneau, “he’s breaking out today,” Coomer said. Coomer pointed out that Morneau has gone to a no stride approach to keep himself balanced and hit the ball hard yesterday.
Lineups
Twins (38-37)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Brendan Harris, 2B
3. Justin Morneau, 1B
4. Jason Kubel, LF
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Joe Crede, RF
7. Mike Redmond, C
8. Matt Tolbert. 2B
9. Kevin Slowey, RHP
Cardinals (40-35)
1. Skip Schumaker, 2B
2. Colby Rasmus, CF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Chris Duncan, LF
5. Yadier Molina, C
6. Rick Ankiel, RF
7. Tyler Greene, SS
8. Todd Wellemeyer, RHP
9. Joe Thurston, 3B
230 Responses to "Twins-Cardinals: It’s hot. Mauer is not in the lineup. Ron Coomer makes a prediction"
First!!
(Go Twins!)
Really? A toss up between Mauer and Molina, must have been a comedy show.
That’s funny LaVelle it’s like saying Pujols gets the nod over Delmon Young.
Thanks LEN. How was our favorite temporary umpire, Todd Tichenor, behind the plate? I didn’t watch the game or listen as I am traveling but did note that both managers appeared to finish the game.
I’m not sure why you guys need press boxes either when we blogger’s can see enough from the stands or TV to make well informed an insightful analysis.
Good report LEN. Fun to read. Jay, I thought Tichenor called a very good game last night. Both ways.
Milton Bradley pulled out of the game yesterday after going nuts on a cooler following a fly out.
You know, the guy can hit…but he’s a dang psycho. I’m glad he’s nowhere near this team.
I’d be a man overboard in a flash. That’s really not safe!
I sat in the first row of the 3rd deck last night and I have a first row seat on the second deck today… I noticed the rails were lower than most, but kind of liked that it didnt block my view. Honestly didnt think about the safety thing. Gee thanks, LaVelle, I know I will today!
JimCrikkitt, just stop at WalMart and get yourself a Patdown Patsy Home Breathalyzer at their everyday low prices, and stop drinking the Budweiser when you hit .12. I know, it’s a sacrifice, especially because of the drinkability.
Lineups:
http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=StarTribune&page=mlb/scores/live/lineup.aspx?gameid=24991
jeez… here’s the lineup fellas
span 8
harris 6
morneau 3
kubel 7
cudd 9
crede 5
red 2
tolbert 4
slowey 1
Quit complaining about your workspace La Velle. You have one of the best jobs and you still find ways to complain about it.
Tim E is a proponent of the book….”How to Win Friends and Influence People”. 
yea id take la velles job! better than working in a 100 + degree factory making dog food.
Redmond gets the 100 degree day behind the plate. Too funny.
but after reading his post again, tim , i dont think he is complaining, i think he is just reporting what the stadium is like.
I agree, Tyler. I think Tim E has a hangover and is blaming LEN for his headache.
When MLB orders a team to fix its pressbox, it must really stink…
A woman already has succumbed to the heat here and has been stretchered out. The high might hit 100 today.
But at least MLB gets a Saturday afternoon game on TV right?
*sigh*
The heat sure didn’t bother Perkins yesterday i hope Slowely does just as well today.
Can you imagine next year during the dog days of summer I’ll bet we see a few Ole and Sven’s passing out from the heat at Target field.
this is the 3rd time we’ve been 1 game over .500 this year not real impressive. yet gardy is more worried about hurting red’s feeling rather than put the best team on the field?
We MLB and St. Louis Cardinals who refused to change the game to a night game is responsible for any problems with the heat today imo.
Mike Redmond, C
I just wish that Gardy gave the kid some playing time…
Gardy said he’s not adverse to putting Morales behind the plate, but Redmond is his No. 2.
I think the offseason will solve this problem.
I hope BS solves this problem this season…
Redmond or Morales = small potatoes.
Look at those stands. LOTS of people staying home in St. Louis today.
why is the game blocked, is someone picking up nationally?
.247 or .368, hardly small potatoes
Shawn, it’s blocked because it’s during Fox’s time block. So they have the rights to the game, even though they aren’t showing it. You can only see it in MN and StL markets, I think anyway
Fox is destroying the world…. bastards…. i guess i will watch on my phone…. now that is a crappy broadcast.
won’t even work on MLB.TV
Beats the gamecaset SIB.
barely, i am back to just audio
In pregame talking about Twins injuries this year, Dick noted that Crede hasn’t been able to catch everyday because of nagging injuries. (Then he went on to the subject of Mauer.)
Too early for brain fog, i’nt it? Actually it’s brain *steam*!!
P-holes swings at ball 4.
But yeah about Fox… I’ve been treated to infomercials with Desperate Housewives reruns up next. May they burn in he!!
Right down the middle!
:(>
And smashed strike 3.
About 3 feet out of Kubel’s reach…..
The heat’s gteting to him romer. 
OUCH. That pitch was drilled. Okay Slowey…now with that out of your system, pitch this game.
Well this one’s over, dang Pooholes. I’ll put a hex on him:
ODE TO POOLHOLES
When he’s rounding third
And he lays a juicy turd,
POOLHOLES!
It’s not blocked over here…
It is before the FOX blocked games.
WHY did this pitcher, throw a strike count ball right over the plate? Pujols cannot hit a curve ball or slider low and over the outside of the plate. But, yet, I see pitcher pitching him when they get two strikes on them, throw right over the plate. WAKE UP PITCHER. GEEZE, THIS AIN’T BRAIN SCIENCE!!!!!!
This is kinda out of LF, but did Swarzak just start throwing a 2-seamer a year ago or so? Do I recall that correctly?
Now THERE’s our leadoff hitter. Bases loaded.
Where is everyone? You’d think this is the July Fourth weekend.
Three runs there, FSN.
Brain steam everywhere.
Yeah, Swarzak said he never had to throw a 2 seamer before, he would just blow them away with his straight fastball, and then he got to AA
i hate gameday!! how did harris end up the third out?
crazy as hell. a rally triggered by redmond and tolbert … you just never know.
oh , he didnt, mourneau k…. i hate gameday
On pace to burn out their pen. Keep drawing them BBs!
cuddyer has had half of a pretty good season. despite the naysayers.
StLou BP up already?
Cuddy takes that extra base as well as anyone.
didn’t that Kinney guy used to play for the Twins?
That was Matt kinney
Redmond cannot hit the ball in the air anymore
Redmond or Morales = small potatoes.
No. 2 runs difference in this inning.
ricky,
that was Matt Kinney. Different guy
So is Morales destined to ride the bench when he is up with the club now?
oh ya..oops.. what happened to that guy?
Right now it feels like 103 degrees in St. Louis.
Um…crap. Again.
Thanks for the deja vu HR, Gardy.
Wake up, old man.
Also, Kevin Slowey shouldn’t pitch to Pujols anymore.
That’s just a terrible plate appearance by Redmond. Infield in, 2-0 count, and he taps the ball weakly to the second baseman.
Terrible.
Making up for last night. He’s a beast.
Tyler:
“yea id take la velles job! better than working in a 100 + degree factory making dog food.”
Whelp, um, ah, Tyler? Why do they set the temperature at 100 degrees where you work? Maybe you should ask for the night shift.
gatty, right now, it feels like Hell in St. Louis — to Slowey.
Gardy de-hibernates from his cave.
On Harris’ errant throw to first, didn’t it appear that the 2nd base umpire was in the way?
Thanks for the deja vu HR, Gardy.
Seriously? It’s the third inning.
don’t know how long the twins can afford to have an inadequate SS on the field…
That bad throw by Harris becoming more and more game changing.
the game has taken a left turn for the twins ever since ulger held cuddyer at third. slowey serving meet to albert reminds me of a young hang gliding student hitting the only tree in a 2 mile radius. seems that he can’t stay away from giving him a home run pitch. probably best to walk him next time. if there is a next time today ….. ouch slowey beaning, that is rare.
Well, that worked well.
Okay…it’s still early and their pitching isn’t fairing much better.
Ugly so far, but only down 2. That ugly AB by Redmond looming large right now, as is the HBP to the 8 hitter by Slowey.
True T. If it weren’t for Pujols…
Anybody else get the feeling he’d STILL have been pulled even if he hadn’t collapsed after the homer?
Dickey or Keppel?
Well, Twins. I guess your just going to give the game to the Cardinals. Threw another one to Poojols and it was right down the middle. Does this team have a pitching Coach?
gutsy performance by slowey today… interesting to see what keppel can do
Slowey’s worst start in ages, and it’s all Gardy’s fault.
And to be perfectly clear, I don’t go after Gardy much, if at all.
he has a side issue and it is burning hot… he was probably starting to cramp up. Obviously he was starting to struggle and didn’t have his best stuff so there was no point in pushing him and potentially injuring him.
Go figure on the HnR.
MLB/Fox gets some blame too. Stopping a move to the night for a “national” broadcast.
The temp in St. Louis today is 95 and it feels like 103
hope slowey is not hurt. maybe the tightness is back?
Slowey’s worst start in ages, and it’s all Gardy’s fault.
Wait wait wait…what? It’s Gardy’s fault that Slowey gave up the homer to Pujols? How?
Swinging good bats and its only the 4th. No need to worry yet.
h2o: It’s the heat. If he can get some fluids in him an get some rest he’ll recover fine.
can we blame that double play on gardy too? or was that bill smith?
can we blame that double play on gardy too? or was that bill smith?
No that was Punto.
T…romer is being sarcastic.
No need for a hit and run vs. a pitcher with a 10+ ERA and Red over Morales? That’s Gardy.
One would think with all the computers,videos and notes and graphs these pitching coaches have, they would know how to pitch to Poojols. 80% of his HR’s have come with pitches right down the middle of the plate. Pitchers think with two strikes, they can throw a pitch down central. If you pitch Poojols curve or sliders down on the outside of the plate or else throw one around the Birds on the Bat and he will swing and pop it up. He is a sucker for those two pitches. Again, not Brain science. USE THE TOOLS YOU HAVE COACH!!
And if the HnR had worked, it’d have been “great execution” from Span and Young.
But since it failed….terrible idea.
No need to try to manufacture runs when the pitcher is garbage.
It’s not really a hit and run. Fairly common strategy to start the runner on a 3-2 count with a hitter who doesn’t figure to K.
I wonder if Slowey is healthy.
there you go keppel, welcome aboard
I completely agree on starting Redmond over Morales though.
I was unaware of the count. My point becomes nonsense in that case.
Not in the mood to be trolled.
IBB Pujols, especially the second time.
Either you agree or disagree.
FranTheMan said it best elsewhere just now:
“with the cards line-up, no reason to let Pujols beat you…
Ron Coomer is an idiot.
Morneau looks terrible.
No sarcasm, DocDon…..just bitching.
Can’t do anything about it now.
And there’s the IBB. So they learn their lesson.
Now watch, it’ll probably backfire…….
On another subject, the team could really use a return to productivity from Morneau.
Keppel looks strong with good stuff.
good job keppel
On yet another subject, Bill Smith’s “throw enough sh!t against the wall and something’s bound to stick” bullpen construction model has gone on for over a year now.
Pathetic.
romer,
good junk indeed
Keppel looks strong with good stuff.
You’re joking, right?
Does Keppel look like he got a good sinker?
Nevermind.
Can’t spell Kubel without K
molina loses whatever credibility he had prior to today
Chief,
He is throwing 93-95 with pretty good movement. Thats pretty damn good.
I am disappointed that Cuddyer and Molina didn’t get into more of a fight there. My money would have been on Cuddyer, because he had a bat.
molina should get one in the ribs for being such a beeotch
Oh, good. Faith Minute. My favorite part of the Twins’ radio broadcast (except for “My Local Hardware Store, or course).
This is the kind of game that it would be great to let Liriano pitch 3 or 4 innings in relief to see what he could do.
Molina is a crybaby. Always, complaining. Did you all see Molina push his forearm into Cuddyear chest? Of course, THAT was ok. Molina should have been plunked by the pitcher. Also, have you all seen him kiss his ring when he bats. Kisses this ring around his neck. The guy is goofy.
Slowely feels a twinge, Maurer has a stomach ache, Cuddyer has a sore finger, Punto’s ribs hurt, this team may just sent the MLB record for most candy asses on one team. It’s one thing for someone like Span to have dizzy spells and sit but Gardenhire babies these guys too much. Too bad there isn’t a Gaetti or Hrbek or even Puck on this team to take charge and tell them to suck it up once in a while.
Redmond needs to be cut.
“On another subject, the team could really use a return to productivity from Morneau.”
Thought of the day, Chief.
Hard to win without M&M.
Does anybody think Gardy will wait until Tolbert bats under .100 before he sends the kid down?
???? Keppel is batting? Does Mr. Gardenhire understand this whole “National League” concept?
Okay, I’m sorry. Gardenhire is a genius. Good eye, Keppel.
“good junk indeed”
Maybe more than junk, thry. Wasn’t there a 93 FB?
But we can all agree he’s wicked at the plate.
:)>
Anyone besides me thinking about this team if it still had Hunter, Castillo, Santana, Garza and Bartlett instead of Gomez, Young, Harris, Punto? Yeah, it would have cost a lot more in payroll, but would have been a great team I think. At this rate, why would Mauer want to stick around for more of this?
Romer,
actually max speed was 95.7 and average 94.24 on his 4-seamer.
“Chief,
He is throwing 93-95 with pretty good movement. Thats pretty damn good.”
Yeah Chief……don’t be a troll.
Thurston had good movement to first on that pitch
Sweet PO move, Keppel.
Excellent!! He picks him off.
Did they just say that Dennis Reyes is in the Cardinal Pen? I remember him!
I’m certainly not one to defend FOX, but they’re not the only reason this game wasn’t changed to a night game. With all the stadium workers needed to staff the facility, they can’t just decide 24 hours in advance to move a game back by seven hours. There’s a lot more going on behind the scenes at an MLB game than meets the eye to the fans.
Wish I could see this — I’m blocked out in my market. I appreciate the commentary from you all! It’s almost like being there … or being in a particularly dry sports bar.
Don’t worry, Keppel. This guy can’t hit.
If I was the pitcher now, I would throw the ball right at Poojols ear. For the slide we just saw and also Molina.
gardentired should have been out there arguing that one. he couldn’t even touch second base. not even close. the official rule book says that is an out at first and a double play.
Why not Dickie right now?
The Cardinals manager, LaGenius don’t have to abide by the rules. The umpires never call anything against him. He has carte Blanche`
romer - they want to save Keppel’s bat.
I’m blacked out.
Was Slowey pulled after three because he wasn’t effective today, giving up the 5 runs? I hope he wasn’t injured or anything. Thanks.
I think that Dickey has graduated to setup status.
why not keppel?
Slowey was not injured. He just came unglued in the third. After he gave up Pujols’s second two run bomb, he loaded the bases and nailed a Cardinal batter in the head.
GREAT Pitch to strike out Duncan. THAT is the way you get him. Just throw him three pitches, offspeed or curves, inside or down and away and he cannot them. He is on the team because of his old man.
We should be able to hit this guy coming in. He has been terrible his last five outings.
I’m starting to doubt Ron Coomer’s prediction abilities. This might be Morneau’s last chance to prove him right.
Just got back after stepping out in the 4th. Good to see Keppel and Dickey combine for three innings. Or was it all Dickey?
is it even possible for the twins to go 2 games over .500 this year?
morneau sucks. fire gardy. bring in coomer to manage. bert as pitching coach. robby incmikoski as GM.
It was all Keppel. Dickey has not pitched in this game.
OUCH
Ah thanks. I got confused after reading the comment about Dickey’s status.
Wow…this Keppel fellow is deceptively good.
Is it just me, or is this game a lot like the Wednesday night game vs. the Brewers?
It started off exciting, and looked like it would be a slugfest, but it’s turning out to be really dull in the later innings.
morneau now hitting .239 in june.
Not the Twins’ day.
Crede with a rare bad AB.
Unbelieveable…..no PH for Red
And now here’s Henn.
My god…….
Couldn’t Redmond do exactly that with men on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out earlier in the game?
He needs to be DFA’d
Need to go back to Mauer hitting 2nd, Morneau 3rd.
“Unbelieveable…..no PH for Red”
Why would you ever pinch hit for your .241 hitting catcher when you have two other catchers on the bench hitting over .350? You obviously don’t understand Twins baseball, Romer.
Why would you ever pinch hit for your .241 hitting catcher when you have two other catchers on the bench hitting over .350?
The better questions is…why would you START your .241 hitting catcher?
“He needs to be DFA’d”
yeah, along with morneau.
Why call up Morales if he is going to rot on the bench? I like Red Dawg and all but this is ridiculous. And Morneau definitely does not belong in the 3 slot the way he is looking at the plate today and recently.
Now we know who our 8th inning pitcher is.
But I’m cool:
If Henn gets it back, then there are no holes in the BP.
Welcome to Gardyland.
I think that when Sean Henn comes in, that is basically an admission that the game is over. It’s like a QB taking a knee in football, except for the losing team.
Henn just looks like a tall, weekend pitcher for the local town team.
Is there a pitcher on the roster, who if put in for today’s 8th inning, that wouldn’t get bitched about?
If Tolleson has one more good week, ditto Swarzak, then Tolbert and Henn HAVE to be gone to Rochester.
On another subject, with Wilson Ramos in the wings, why isn’t Morrales in AAA re-learning how to be an outfielder instead of a catcher? Also why did Gardy fight to bring him up and then never use him? Gardyland.
“USAFChief says:
June 27th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
“I completely agree on starting Redmond over Morales though.”
“USAFChief says:
June 27th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
“The better questions is…why would you START your .241 hitting catcher?”
Chief, what happened between 1:46 and 2:54?
That’s not like you.
Gardy sees no problem with throwing away one game during a 3 game series as long as we win the other 2. Apparently he didn’t learn his lesson last year.
Split personalities, sane????
Gardy sees no problem with throwing away one game during a 3 game series as long as we win the other 2.
Damn him and settling for a .667 win percentage.
If Cal Ripken had played for Gardy, Lou Gehrig would still hold the record. Gardy would have sat him after 25 games in a row.
So much for no holes in the BP.
“Is there a pitcher on the roster, who if put in for today’s 8th inning, that wouldn’t get bitched about?”
Probably not. But you have to admit that Henn really sucks.
Fran, the problem is that we are horrible on Sundays and those .667s become .333s
On another subject, with Wilson Ramos in the wings, why isn’t Morrales in AAA re-learning how to be an outfielder instead of a catcher?
A. Ramos will probably not be ready until 2011 or 2012.
B. The Twins need a back up catcher in 2010
C. Morales never played the OF. He was a middle infielder
sane, by ‘completely agree on starting Redmond’ I was agreeing with posters questioning leaving Morales on the bench today. It was part of a conversation about starting the runner on 3-2 where I DID agree with Gardy.
“If Cal Ripken had played for Gardy”
Lucky for Cal, he played for his Daddy, who played him when he shouldn’t have.
“Is there a pitcher on the roster, who if put in for today’s 8th inning, that wouldn’t get bitched about?”
Yeah, everyone in the BP except Henn.
Dickey-time
can’t touch this!
Might be the last we see of Henn.
Ump who wants to call strikes and get some ammonia water and he still can’t throw one.
Okay, another pitching move I disagree with:
Not wise to bring in Dickey with men on base. He throws wild pitches.
This is a .500 team.
Chief,
By starting Redmond, you meant to start him running?
Ok, I got it.
Thrylos- I respect your opinion but think Ramos is up in 2010. Morales will NOT be the back up next year, if he is, Gardy is an absolute idiot for not giving him playing time behind the plate this year. Morales may have been a middle infielder in the minors but so were Mantle and DiMaggio and a lot of other players. Not saying Morales is the 2nd coming of Joe D or the Mick but the transition is not that tough. I bet he is already better defensively in the field than Delmon Young or Jason Kubel just because they are so bad.
Henn’s entire job on this team is to retire LH hitters. If he can’t do that, his days are numbered.
Uh.. I meant to say… Brilliant idea to bring in R.A. Dickey with men on base.
“Not wise to bring in Dickey with men on base. He throws wild pitches”
Not wise to bring in the other relievers with men on base.
They throw doubles and HR’s.
tbob, I’d bring up Duensing.
“I bet he is already better defensively in the field than Delmon Young or Jason Kubel just because they are so bad.”
Bad defensive catchers cause more damage than bad defensive outfielders.
No sane, I meant I agree with the posters asking why is Redmond starting over Morales.
It came as part of a defense of Gardy for ’starting’ Delmon (having him on the move from first) when Span ended up lining into a DP.
Bottom line: I would have started Morales today over Redmond, in an attempt to get a better bat into the lineup.
no real reason to pinch hit for tolbert?
Seriously, RA Dickey, 12 year contract. Get it done
There is sort of a silver lining to today’s game, in that the Cards had to use almost their entire bullpen, while the Twins got 4 solid innings from Keppel. So they’ll have an advantage tomorrow.
Ever notice how the guys Gardy loves on the team are always the guys hitting under the Mendoza line like Punto and Tolbert? It is a disgrace to have a major league team with a starting position player hitting .179. Throw in a .225, a .215 and a .230 and its easy to see why will always be a .500 team at best this year.
“no real reason to pinch hit for tolbert?”
No other 2nd baseman available.
There is sort of a silver lining to today’s game, in that the Cards had to use almost their entire bullpen, while the Twins got 4 solid innings from Keppel. So they’ll have an advantage tomorrow.
They’ll probably need it with 150-pitch Frankie on the mound.
“Bad defensive catchers cause more damage than bad defensive outfielders.”
Agree 100% sane, that is why 1) Morales will NOT be the backup next year and 2) he needs to be in the minors learning to be an outfielder because as an outfielder, chances aver likely he will be better defensively than Young and Kubel and will hit 50 points higher than Young. By the way, speaking of Young, anyone notice Adam Everett has as many home runs as Bill Smith’s Folly, 2?
don’t they have to score 2 runs before you worry about a sub at 2b? pinch hit for tolbert worry about it later!!
“No other 2b on the team”
Trib says the Twns are giving Cuddyer work at second (hack, cough, yuck)
So Morales is worse defensively that Redmond at this point? Please…
No other 2nd baseman available.
Michael Cuddyer says hi.
//ducks and runs//
slumping bats and bad choices on pitching to poooooohos equals .500 again. here’s to span and morneau and crede and even joe getting the mojo back (and tolbert just getting it period) and start hitting well again tomorrow. this is pretty early in the year for justin to start his absence of power. that usually starts after the all-star break.
Then there’s always the possibility that Morales is a flash in the pan.
He’s hitting great at Roch?
morales is undoubtedly a defensive liability. he’s more or less an emergency catcher/pinch-hitter.
stop blaming gardy for this one. it’s on slowey… pretty gutless performance. pujols needs on in the back.. instead he feeds him a cookie. really?
…and the bats. had the starter on the ropes and did absolutely NOTHING. if you get into a team’s pen in the 3rd inning you’d think that’d be a good sign.
*one
if the twins don’t let morales play, they should trade him. he could be a catcher in the bigs somewhere (and one day beat the twins with his bat.) doing what they do to him will just hurt his batting and his growth, and he is about too old to be in the minors anymore.
Okay FSN, did Slowey struggle with the strike zone or struggle with the Pulzone?
I don’t think anybody believes Morales is a .350 hitter based on a handful of ABs.
But he’s clearly intriguing enough to get some playing time over an aging, slow, no power alternative.
I see LaGenius used all of his relievers today, again. He uses all of his relievers in almost every game. Talk about not knowing how to use the bullpen. They will be worn out come August 1.
i agree chief. free morales!
“its easy to see why will always be a .500 team at best this year.”
Not true. This is a .500 team, but they’re certainly haven’t been playing at their best all year (with the exception of maybe Kubel and Mauer)! If they were, the Twins would be about 10 games in front of the Tigers right now.
They have talent, and every one of the Twins players has shown it before. It’s just a matter of getting them to play up to their own levels.
on the tolbert non-pinch hit: something seems out of balance when there are 3 catchers but no backup 2B’ers. I dont buy the Cuddy at 2nd thing. Punto is hurting the team by not being available and not being on the DL.
Pujols beat us. Thats what good players do.
Punto is hurting the team by not being available and not being on the DL.
There’s been a lot of that–playing games with a short roster–this year.
Chief….”"”"”There’s been a lot of that–playing games with a short roster–this year.”"”"”
Even when we have been full rostered, we have been short rostered.
Amen LaVelle… for what its worth, I was listening to the Cardinals TV announcers today and they had Whitey Herzog on for an inning and after initially saying that Pujols was one of the top 5 players he’d ever seen play ever and the best player in the majors right now (which is probably correct) he mentioned Mauer and said that maybe he should just say that Pujols was the best player in the National League.
LaVelle,
Hearin bout that sports show reminded me of the great SNL skits in the late 80’s bout the sports show with the diehard Bears/Ditka fans in tha Chitown bar.
“Who would you pick, the 58 Colts or da Bears if da Bears were all hung over and only 10 of em caught the bus and Ditka had ta suit up?”
“Well, I think it’d be a close game till Ditka got warmed up, cause he ain’t played in a while. But den, I gotta go wid da Bears 48 to 3.”
Just heard on SportsCenter the Cards have traded for Mark Derosa.
Mark that name off the list of potential infield help.
I heard that, Chief. Plays second, first, short, third, but Cleveland wasn’t going to send him our way anyhow. ESPN also said Albert Pujols is on the same path as Mark McGwire. I mean for homers. Although Pujols, also known as “Phat Albert”, (I don’t know why, and I think Fat Albert plays left for us, oops that slipped out),did grow up in the Dominican Republic where roids are sold over the counter like candy. I think he’s a nice guy, though, I hope he does OK. Molina………..not so much.
It just may be time to add another name to the Strib-blogs hitlist — Brendan Harris.
He’s a minor strikeout artist with putrid RBI production. His relative (to BA) OBP is poor — a lack exceeded only by Young. [But at least Young has non-poor RBI production.]
Out of the 9-hole, Punto gets RBIs more often than Harris.
And Harris always seems indignant — like a selfish brat — every time he’s called out on strikes, like he’s on some self-righteous power trip.
Whatever the case, it appears conclusively obvious that he isn’t the answer to solve the Twins problems at either SS or 2B.
agree. he can’t make the plays there, romer.
in case anyone’s wondering, i’ve been informed by a source at the county that the upper-deck rails at target field will be 34″ high.
