Twins-Tigers: Pregame
Posted on July 4th, 2009 – 2:49 PMBy La Velle
I was in the clubhouse a very long time today talking about yesterday’s game, prospects and to see if there’s anything in the wind concerning trades. While there’s no breaking news out there, days like these are important to me because you have to keep talking to people in this business if you want to stay on top of the news.
I just didn’t have time to run up to the pressbox and post the lineups. I’m not trying to blow this off, but there will be days like this from time to time. Especially as the trade deadline nears. I know people get fired up when the lineups aren’t out at a certain time. Sometimes, they aren’t out right away. Other times, I’m staking someone out for an interview or, to borrow a Doogie term, `insiding.’
Anyway….
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Kevin Slowey has had problems with his wrist in recent weeks. Opening doors and picking up objects were a problem. But it didn’t interfere with his throwing until yesterday.
Slowey will fly out to Baltimore on Sunday and see a specialist on Monday. It sounds like they are wondering if there’s a bone chip in there.
Anthony Swarzak is here and in the bullpen. Scott Baker will not throw in the bullpen today so he could be available in a pinch. Jose Mijares. Joe Nathan and R.A. Dickey are available.
Joe Crede is getting rest after playing 16 innings on that back of his. Mike Redmond threw before the game to get his arm loose. He’s t he backup if something happens to Jose Morales. Justin Morneau has volunteered to be the fourth-string catcher but Gardy said that role belongs to Brian Buscher.
Hey, former pitcher Tim Belcher, who’s now a special coach/scout for the Indians, is in town and just walked up to me in the pressbox.
“I can’t believe these fans,” he said. “I can’t believe there were so many of them still here in the 16th inning last night. Good fans.”
Pat yourselves on the back….
Lineups
Tigers (44-35)
1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Marcus Thames, DH
5. Ryan Raburn, LF
6. Brandon Inge, 3B
7. Magglio Ordonez, RF
8. Dusty Ryan, C
9. Adam Everett, SS
Pitching: Edwin Jasckon, RHP
Twins (41-40)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Brendan Harris, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, LF
6. Michael Cuddyer, RF
7. Brian Buscher, 3B
8. Jose Morales, C
9. Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: Francisco Liriano, LHP
248 Responses to "Twins-Tigers: Pregame"
LEN, you do not need to apologize to anyone, mainly me. When the lineups are posted, I check them. Keep up the good work, you have many, many, many more friends than enemies out here. Thanks again. Doc
Great line-up today. THIS should be the everyday line-up.
LEN, you are the man! I wonder how serious Slowey’s wrist is gonna be? Can’t even open a door? That doesn’t sound good at all
If indeed there is a bone chip in SlowMan’s wrist, we are talking about a quite lengthy rehab period. Hope that is not the problem, but DL’ing him is the right thing to do.
We have been dodging that SERIOUS injury bug all year, hope it didn’t catch Slowey
Wait just a minute here.
Slowey hasn’t looked healthy in his past few starts.
Now we find out he’s had a right wrist problem serious enough to have trouble picking things up…but they run him out there anyway?
An important part of your young rotation throws with his right arm, is having right wrist pain, and you send him out there without knowing what the heck is going on?
Questionable at best. Downright irresponsble at worst.
DrDon,
Don’t they just suck out the bone chip? Once the incision heals and swelling goes down, he should be able to throw. I don’t think there is any “rehab”.
The TV is like 10 seconds behind real time.
Back to the present: pretty important game today, IMO.
Good point, Chief.
WTF……..where are the Twins? I don’t wanna see the Manny character.
Way to go F-Bomb! Two Ks
I cannot believe Fox just did that. Wait. Yes I can.
Curious to see how much Bremer can dial back the root-root-rooting.
What makes FOX think that any of us give a rip that Manny is back? Like I want to watch that A-hole hit! Disgusting!
great example for the kids give all the attention to the drug guy. stupid by mlb and tv.
And Manny’s appearance today ain’t even news.
Oh………forgot. It’s FOX, that Rupert Murdoch entity.
Jackson has a good sinker. Both he and Liriano look like strong pitchers so far.
I stayed all 16 last night and was also impressed by the number who stayed. Funny story: My brother and his fiance came to the game, but she had to leave for work a little after 10 pm with the game still going. My brother walked her out to her car and then– since he was riding home with me– sat in my car for the remainder of the game, listening on the radio while witnessing public urination in the parking lot. I however got to watch the Twins urinate on themselves for much of the extras. Thanks for all the information La Velle.
Span didn’t string out Jackson like we want a leadoff hitter to do.
But Harris is.
i wouldn’t know what fox is doing, i never get to watch the Twins on fox
Don’t worry about being late on the lineups, I would rather get that inside info on possible trades
Gotta come back to Fosston, Shawn.
i think i’ll pass don
Darn…. 
Perfect point, fargo.
But as poor La Velle knows, encircling minds want to know.
The Twins have Young. The Tiggers have Ordonez.
I’ll keep Young over Ordonez.
Man is Bremer stepping all over Grace.
There’s a report out of Nashville that former QB Steve McNair has been killed as part of a double homicide…
I had to write FOX 9 and Fox Sports because of that waste of screen time for Manny. WTF did they do that for? It would have been different if it was a chance to break a major record, but his second game after a 50-game suspension for failing a drug test? Pathetic. FOX Sports - high on production values, low on quality. In the immortal words of Joe Buck, “That was a disgusting act!”
Come on Frankie! Get it back……
holy crap!
Give us more details as you find out, La Velle. Sad if true.
And yes, La Velle, you are correct. From News Channel 5 in Nashville:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Former Titans quarterback Steve McNair has been killed. Police said McNair suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head in downtown Nashville.
The incident happened near 2nd South & Lea Ave. Police said it looked like a double homicide. A female victim was also found dead.
that’s terrible
http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=10643962
That’s the first report…
Now both pitchers looking a little wild.
OK………
I call BS on Slowey…Always seems that a player has a really bad outing and, oh my lookie here, an injury pops up…
Also, when does decent defense just not cut it anymore?? You need to be able to hit in the big leagues and Buscher obviously can’t cut it…
Send him down and bring someone up..Can’t be any worse than .196…
Tolleson is soon ready Rob…..Unless you are.
Slowey looked injured as i opined last night, not surprised he was put on the DL
Tolleson is ready
Rob with expert advice::: “”"Send him down and bring someone up”"”. Wow, impressive comment.
Re: 2nd and Lea. Per mapquest, there’s a couple shi-shi restaurants near there. Looking at the actual intersection on google earth it looks like a so-called “transitional” area of town with a lotta new developments on top of what was previously dead area.
I like the “when does decent defense just not cut it” part best.
Why not give Huber a shot? He can’t be any worse than Buscher.
Look at that shift on Mauer.
Grace says “barrel of the bat” because Bert said he’d get the first round if he did so.
buscher is seventh in obp among twins hitters. not great but there’s his ‘value.’
I hate Saturdays and I hate FOX. I was looking forward to the watching the game today before activities with the 4th. But….no……I live on the West Coast. Baseball package doesn’t matter. I never get the Twins with a day game on Saturday.
i live in the east i never get the fox game either.
I am in MN and no game of FOX.
How is Liriano looking? 62 pitches with a 2 hitter. Not too bad I guess.
Oh wait, I tried a different channel, it IS on!
wow! rob’s buscher’s glove remark suddenly sounds like prescient genius.
Cuddy!!!!!!!
#13 for the Cudster.
too bad cuddyer never gets a big hit …
ya, mm. The guy oughta be sent down….. 
Are you suggesting that home run is NOT going to be the game winner?
i would have bet all that’s left of my 401k - $2 - that mauer would not have been catching today after that ordeal last night… wow what an animal!
Gee DrDon, did I do something to pi$$ you off?? I have opinion and I gave it…Don’t like it? Ignore it…
Sorry..Didn’t know you were the expert Donnie..With you being a Dr and all….
Matt, I don’t know for sure what you mean, but Mauer is DH’ing, Morales is catching.
Got an early lead, time to start hoping for rain to save the bullpen from having to throw more today?
(Never mind… just practicing for next season.)
Rob, you did not piss me off…but your comment about send Buscher down and bring someone up, is empty. I am not a Buscher fan…I mentioned Tolleson, you mentioned “someone”. Chill, my friend.
Doc… Im assuming Matt just came aboard and looked at the lineups LEN posted… He has both Mauer and Morales listed as catching.
Dicky B: “Punto, a real threat to steal…”
Yeah, a more worthy player’s job, that is.
I’m sure Gardy will go on and on for weeks about the seeing eye single Punto hit in the fourth. “Did you see what Nick did on July 4th. He’s my every day second baseman for eternity.”
stay thirsty my friends
Why not just sign Mark Grudzielanek? I mean, he won a GG in 2009. He’s a lifetime .290 hitter, and he’s not going to be asking for any multi-year deal. Just sign him. It can’t possibly get worse.
Meant to say a GG in 2006. Sorry. You try to be clever and you end up sounding like an idiot.
I stand corrected, JC. I guess I am not an expert, as Rob insinuated.
I’m SO glad Cuddy’s back on the PEs. He’s having a hell of a year.
I have avoided saying things like “it can’t possibly get worse” ever since I said that after the Twins acquired this guy named Boone.
Is it PEs or PEDs? Or, should I just say ‘roids?
LOL. Boone? Ouch.
I’m SO glad Cuddy’s back on the PEs. He’s having a hell of a year.”
Didn’t you say something about not wanting to sound like an idiot?
JC…you never got to watch Hosken Powell?????
Going to slip in to my body armor here and then make the following comment before ducking behind a rock for cover…
I think Bremer’s done a pretty fair job on the broadcast today. It’s nice to have one of the guys in the booth for a network broadcast actually know something about the Twins. I think he’s been able to dial down the homerism well.
I also like Mark Grace… even if he does screw up a name once in a while (like talking about “Francisco Cabrera” instead of Liriano in one instance).
I did say something about not sounding like an idiot. But this idea that none of the Twins ever do it…Come on. Suddenly Cuddy’s pounding the ball everywhere again. Hmm. Momma always said, “If it looks to good to be true, it usually is, son.”
First, I stopped saying “it can’t get any worse” with anything in life because it always gets worse when I say that.
Second, I prefer the term “juice”.
Cheer up, things could be worse. So I cheered up, and sure enough, things got worse.
I agree, Jim. Dick’s usually a drippy fool. But today he’s done a nice job.
I did see Powell, Doc… though I admit that was during an era when my focus was less on baseball than… other things… for a while.
You don’t just sound like an idiot
Call up Heckyl and send down Jeckyl.
Couldn’t be any worse.
Don’t hit me in the eye; kick me in the groin.
Couldn’t be any worse.
Cancel my rectal exam and schedule a lobotomy.
Couldn’t be any worse.
LOL. Macleod, that’s brilliant. Kudos.
Oh Man!!!!!
Cuddy could always pound the ball, but some Managers are smart enough to give him a steady diet of curve balls, which he will strike out on. And for some reason, some pitchers keep throwing fastballs to him, which he crushes. And, with a host of hand, finger, and foot injuries last year, that takes away three main components you need to hit well. Exhibit 1: Jason Kubels knees.
Yes, Too Nice? Let’s finish your statement and get nasty.
Remember, guys, I said it here first. As much as love Cuddy, he’s using. And when he gets busted, remember Lala’s logic tried to convince you of such.
My man Justin! Nice. How many 1st basemen can the American League have in the all star game?
Not watching, but maybe Bremer is actually a good announcer, but his regular employers have asked him to be a homer….or something.
Take care, boys. Have a great 4th. Stay safe on the roads. Go Twins!!
Buscher: 0-2 with 2 strikeouts. Batting .191. With him on the team how do people have time to complain about Nicky P?
Even if Cuddy is using, Magic Man can make the stuff and the results disappear.
They will never catch him!
Lala… I would think that if you’re going to question any Twin’s sudden increase in power, it would be Mauer.
I mean… as many HRs in 2 months as hes ever had in a season? Why limit your suspicions to Cuddyer?
Liriano could use a low pitch inning….
Anybody else noticing those Mauer homeruns into the first row are turning into warning track outs the past few weeks?
90 pitches. 58 strikes, 32 balls.
sane, all of Next years’ Twins games will be at the Dome after all…. Couldn’t be any worse.
dazzle and gordo don’t seem to think the Twins should make a trade….. i mean, you have to give up something to get something…. well, sometimes to win you need a trade
Macleod, that’s why Mauer has said repeatedly that no catcher will ever hit .400. It’s just too tiring of a job. It does point out that maybe he shouldn’t play at all in spring training.
my guess with mauer’s power is he did more lifting in the off season due to not being able to do much else. As he plays more of the season and gets nicked up his power is going closer to old mauer.
“Why limit your suspicions to Cuddyer?”
Because Mauer’s swing is like a symphony.
Cuddyer’s swing is like the kid next door playing his drums.
check the neighbor kid for roids, sane.
What, taking April off isn’t enough?
it was my (failed) attempt to give LEN3 crap for having two catchers in his lineup…
I thought Mauer said he did Zero lifting in the off season due to his bursasack injury, or whatever he had. Maybe his power was from being fresh and now, not so much.
Doc,
‘check the neighbor kid for roids, sane”
That kid may take roids, but I am the one with the RAGE.
Maybe, sane.
I just think it’s pretty sad that it seems some people start out with the opinion that a guy shouldn’t be in the lineup and then when he proves them wrong with his performance, instead of admitting they might have been wrong, they cast totally unsubstantiated aspersions on his character. It’s like they’re saying, “I can’t possibly be wrong, so if he’s really hitting this well, he must be cheating.”
Are people forgetting the surgery that mauer went thru, plus ensuing issues? He got healthy. He is a pretty good catcher.
Exactly what would Buscher and Tolbert have to do to get sent down? Would they actually have to murder somebody? Of course, if they used a baseball bat to do that they would both swing and miss and the guy would get away.
Mauer’s new power is from the physical maturation of a guy his age.
Cuddyer was physically mature several years ago.
JC, some people just aren’t happy unless they make up things to be skeptical about.
I’m flattered Doc…You can’t seem to get me out of your head…You like me, you really like me!!
Did I see a stat that showed Mauer has caught the 3rd most games in the American League the last 3 years? He is hardly injury prone. Now Redmond, he’s another story.
You’re special, Rob.
JC,
I doubt that either guy is using.
Cuddyer has always hit batting practice pitches a mile. There is no “new” power there.
Mauer is just maturing.
Unfounded charges are made by chumps.
No shortage of those…in the stands or on the blogs.
Personally, I thought it was a joke about Cuddyer. If he was juicing I would hope he’d be hitting much better.
Was just gonna say, I have a bad feeling about Ordonez here.
Seems we’ve found that infamous Liriano “wall”.
Romer you were right. This guy is a Twins killer. This guy should be walked everytime no matter what.
The crap of it is Jackson has only thrown 94 pitches. He has the stuff to step it up and be his own relief pitcher.
Man, there are some real specimens amongst the hoi polloi at the Dome today.
5-6 innings are usually all the Twins starters can do. Gardy should know this.
Speaking of intentional walks, why the hell were we pitching to Polanco with first base open last night? Great “no move” Gardy.
Magglio gets hot just in time to face the Twins.
Go figure.
Still, you gotta put more pressure on the opposing pitcher, and Gardy needs to recognize trouble earlier.
Speaking of intentional walks, why the hell were we pitching to Polanco with first base open last night? Great “no move” Gardy
Yeah, let’s walk Polanco to get to Cabrera.
Sheesh.
I still think the Twins finish right around .500 this year and do not make the playoffs, without making a serious trade that is. So, I propose we trade Cuddyer and find out if an outfield of Delmon, Gomez, and Span is our future.
With a rested pen, you might have pulled Liriano after 6… but with everyone having been used last night and a shutout going, it’s pretty tough to criticize a guy for letting Liriano go out there for the 7th, imo.
Sorry, I gave the wrong info. Jackson had 112 pitches after 6.
Yeah… let’s trade the one OF who’s actually hitting well and with some power. Brilliant idea.
I can’t believe how stubborn the Cuddyer haters are.
Actually… it’s not that hard to believe.
I let Liriano go out for the 7th, but on a short string. He doesn’t face Inge, if I’m managing, even though he ended up getting him out, and he doesn’t face Ordonez for sure.
First of all, Polanco hit an rbi single in the situation. Second of all, 1st base was open with 1 out, so you set up the double play ball for a slow running Cabrera. Third of all, Polanco is a contact hitter who doesn’t strike out very often. He struck out 3 times last night with an extremely generous strike zone from the umpire. At least two of his “strikeouts” were balls. Fourth of all, Polanco had just singled his last at bat. Oh, and did I mention that Polanco drove in a run there? So, since Gardy’s idea to pitch to Polanco didn’t work, I’d say my idea isn’t so crazy.
you don’t pull liriano on a 90 pitch count when he is crusing, maybe before magglio, but not coming in. He pitched well today and is coming around, the twins need to score some runs.
Macleod, at the beginning of the season, I was as big of a Cuddyer basher as anyone. But you can’t be serious about trading him now. He’s hit better than any of the Twins’ outfielders.
Weren’t you watching in the fourth inning when he hit a home run?
I don’t hate Cuddyer, I like him. And you are right, he is hitting the best. Which is why he is good trade bait. It is a better idea that people wanting to trade Punto, Delmon, and Tolbert. My idea is premised on the Twins not making the playoffs. Maybe I’m wrong, but I haven’t seen any consistency out of the team yet this year. So I am looking years into the future with our very young outfielders of Gomez and Young. Personally, I get a little frustrated of just competing every year. Sure, it’s better than being a loser, but at the end of the year we go home at the same time.
trade cuddyer? slim chance — he still has that unappetizing contract.
You’ve got a knuckleballer on the mound, and you want to intentionally load the bases, and put him in a position where he absolutely has to throw a strike to one of the best hitters in the game.
I pretty much can guarantee that never entered the manager’s mind, nor should it have.
The fact that Polanco got a hit is irrelevant, except in hindsight.
“…the twins need to score some runs.”
And Mauer needs some hits.
Weren’t you watching in the fourth inning when he hit a home run?
Yeah, but first he injected himself w/ PEDs in the clubhouse. 
To tell the truth, I don’t think that the Twins have any really good trade bait right now. I thought that Swarzak was probably the best bet, but if he’s up in the rotation again, he’s not going anywhere for now.
Don’t hold your breath for a big trade, boys and girls!
The problem with all the other trade ideas I’ve seen here is everybody wants to trade our junk or low level prospects to get a shortstop and relief help. That isn’t going to happen. Fine, don’t trade Cuddyer and keep Buscher, Tolbert, and Nicky on the major league roster. I mean hey, we’re only about to go 5 games down in the division. Maybe Detroit will cool off and .500 baseball will catch them for the division. Yep, stand pat and pray. I like that strategy.
Mauer a hit.
Hey, Chief, I don’t care what kind of drugs the Twins use, as long as they get hits!
there ya go romer
Nice shot, Mauer!
mauer seems to own seay
Morneau is a triple away from the cycle…
Even if, as some have claimed, the Twins are building their team to compete in 2010 rather than this year, I’d rather keep Cuddyer than give him away and bet all my marbles on Young and Gomez suddenly being productive next year.
I also agree that his contract makes it unlikely many teams would trade for him unless the Twins agree to pay part of his contract.
Not saying he (or anyone who’s initials arent JM) is off limits for a trade… but I sure wouldn’t be actively shopping him right now.
Justin!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Morneau, you idiot! I told you to hit a triple!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I swear by walking Polanco that would have put runners on 1st and 2nd, not loaded the bases. Otherwise, Polanco would have gotten 2 rbi on his single up the middle. If I am right, your last post can be ignored and you may try again. BTW, Leyland intentionally loaded the bases to get to the greatest hitting outfielder on our team. That worked pretty well for him.
OK it wasnt a triple… but I’ll take it!
“So, since Gardy’s idea to pitch to Polanco didn’t work, I’d say my idea isn’t so crazy.”
The fact that it didn’t work does not prove it’s a bad idea to pitch to Polanco.
And an IBB to Polanco, followed by a Cabrera HR doesn’t make THAT a bad idea.
Sometimes good ideas fail and bad ideas succeed.
Good / bad ideas can lead to bad / good reults.
I want to be on the record, even with a 2-0 count on Kubel, that we should have pinch hit Delmon in this situation.
Go Twins.
“I mean hey, we’re only about to go 5 games down in the division.”
not so fast with the crystal ball.
Okay, Cuddyer…
Get a hit here or else I’ll let Mcleod trade you.
Good post Jim. Obviously, I didn’t throw out any specifics of such things as contracts, salary, and who would be worth it to get for Cuddyer; such as a shortstop, 2nd baseman, or middle relief. I’m just a poster, those small details are for the GM.
Horrible base running by Morneau there.
No, I need Cuddy to get a hit here so his trade value is higher!
And, I am currently eating my past words about going down in the division more games. And it is delicious!
I’d walk Cuddy here to get to Buscher.
It was second and third, 1 out, macleod.
But whatever.
Macleod,
“I’m just a poster, those small details are for the GM.”
We have to be specific, for the GM to follow our orders correctly.
Kubel’s average is now below .300 for the first time in a long time.
Cuddy is ready…..Locked….. and Loaded!!!!!
Cuddyer’s value is at an alltime high right now. I don’t believe he’ll sustain this production. Given that I don’t seriously believe the Twins are ready to make a WS run this season, why not trade him if they can get real pitching/shortstop value? It depends whether a major-market contender needs his bat and can sneeze at this contract, of course. Delmon Young’s right field performance in Tampa shows that’s his natural position, which (if repeated) would save the pain (and the runs) of watching him in left.
I think all of those small details make Bill Smith’s head hurt, Macleod… thus we never see midseason trades.
It’s just that the idea of trading Cuddyer for, say, a second baseman brings back nightmares of Brunansky for Herr.
For a short fly out.
Good news: The Royals beat the White Sox. So the Twins’ll regain second place if they win today.
I knew if I talked long enough somebody would agree with me. That is exactly my point toby, thanks.
I’m not sure Bill Smith is currently in the country…or alive.
JC….now that was an abortive effort re: Bruno for Herr.
Who’s pitching now, Keppel or Guerrier? John Gordon says Keppel, but Gameday says Guerrier.
Luke Hughes 2-4 in a rehab start in the Gulf Coast League today!
“It’s just that the idea of trading Cuddyer for, say, a second baseman brings back nightmares of Brunansky for Herr.”
an apt, if unpleasant, reminder …
The Twins will be in 2nd place, and ticket sales are strong. Well, nevermind all this talk today. The Pohlads are very happy with this current club.
Its Guerrier. Keppel was warming up last inning… thus Gordo’s confusion, I assume
I’m hoping for 20 innings today.
Good news on Chicago-KC, but the Twins will not be in second place if they win today.
Tommy Herr was a weak pickup, but in all fairness, Brunansky was never the same after 1987 either.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brunato01.shtml?redir
He hit .245 and .239 in his two years in St. Louis.
twins were in 3rd ysterday before the Sox won and twins lost… so I assume theyd still be in 3rd with a reversal of that today
So Polanco got 2 rbi on his hit then last night? Well, forget I said anything about intentionally walking him. I mean, if we had loaded the bases with one out and Cabrera gets a hit, then the Twins would have lost. Wait a minute…
“Brunansky for Herr”
He couldn’t do any worse.
Uh……..my bad!
Both players changed leagues, Icon… hard to tell what either would have done if they had stayed with their prior organization.
I still don’t think there’s a Twins fan or FO person who would make that same trade with the benefit of hindsight.
Mac….”But that was yesterday, and yesterday’s gone”
No, Polanco got one RBI, Granderson stopped at third.
Facts aren’t your strong point, are they?
sane…we could still have a Willie Norwood, aka Doctor Strange Glove, in CF.
My mistake, JC. They’ll be a half game out of second if they win.
Hell all I remember about last night’s game is that the Twins lost and it was WAY too late when it ended!
I might consider pinch hitting for Punto here, but that’s just me.
Then again, I might let him hit…
I do believe we have been talking about different innings this whole time for last nights game. Polanco was getting so many rbi in extra innings it can be confusing. But, no matter. I believe somebody just said “yesterday is gone…” But any time there is one out, a runner on second, 1st base open, tie game, in exra innings, I intentionally walk Polanco.
The Puntz…..Wow, what a player!!!!!
Wow… I went from “what the hell are you doing trying to score?” to “way to go Tolbert!” in about 1 second.
Give up Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio.
He couldn’t do any worse.
Give up Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas.
He couldn’t do any worse.
Gardy’s gonna ride that fisted dying quail to another two months of LNP as no-question-about-it starter.
OMG. Busher gets a hit. Is pinch run by Tolbert, and Punto gets the go ahead RBI? Oh…my…god…
Baseball is a funny game my friends.
Mac…..”"”But that was yesterday, and yesterday’s gone””"”
Well……don’t know a more glaring example of independence than Punto’s headfirsts into 1B.
So happy independence day, Punto.
If Harris K’s again…….
What could make this day better? Oh ya, if FOX actually showed the game here.
sane….which is worse… the diarrhea or the sh1ts????
Harris knew he should strike out so we can hurry up and get Nathan in the save the game. Good strategy. I bet Gardy told him to do that.
It is kinda refreshing when the bottom of the order scratches out a key run late in the game, isn’t it?
DrDon; is there blood involved in either one? That would make a difference.
I would imagine the Tigers blogs aren’t please with seeing Buscher-Tolbert-Punto combine for the go ahead run.
Added up, their batting averages probably don’t equal Cabrera’s weight.
“DrDon says:
sane….which is worse… the diarrhea or the sh1ts????”
I bow to your expertise.
I have only seen them going.
I have never seen them coming and going.
Harris is soft as pudding today.
It is simple difference, my friends….If you get your pants down in time, it is the diarrhea. If ya don’t, that is the…….well you know.
this blog has gone to the pot today!
Walk Inge, unintentional intentional.
No way romer…I’ll bet on Nathan.
got a hunch romer?
Steve McNair case is being classified as a murder/suicide.
Joe does it!!!!!!!
Interesting, Mac…got a link?
Gritty win. They really got after it today. Battled their tails off!
Sweet! Now we’re back in third place! Or, still in third. Well, whatever. Time to enjoy the BBQ and beverages for the 4th.
Stay Classy Minnesota!
solid bullpen again. nice win.
Two gritty games in a row, Chief.
Two gritty games in a row, Chief.
Yup. I’ll say this, at the very lease, I don’t think anybody can accuse the Twins of dogging it.
Way to go 7-8-9……….
Buscher (Tolbert), Morales and Punto…
Nice to see bottom feeders come thru.
Got what they needed out of the pitchers. 7 competitive innings from Liriano and quick inning each from Guerrier and Nathan. The rest should be ready to go for tomorrow.
JC…thanks for being positive.
thanks for the link, Mac. Interesting.
Nice to see top feeders come through. Anybody around here like Morneau. Wow!
And Cuddy is on track for a career high in HR’s.
nice to see punto get a big hit, too.
Going up against a pretty formidible pitcher such as Jackson, the Twins probably deserved to lose today — given the typical Liriano meltdown with the 3-run HR allowed in the 7th.
And they probably deserved to win yesterday — given the bad luck of the Slowey injury/condition.
So, I’ll take the 1-1 start to this series.
Gatty, didn’t you say twins were going to lose today? Glad you were wrong. LOL
“5-6 innings are usually all the Twins starters can do. Gardy should know this.”
Even if that’s true, Gardy can’t preemptively yank his starter every game, or his bullpen will die in July.
ESPN’s Jorge Arangure tweets that the Twins are now just a distant third behind the Pirates and Orioles in the sweepstakes for Dominican megaprospect Miguel Angel Sano. He notes that the Twins don’t have unlimited funds, and instead are “simply moving on.”
richest owners in major league baseball with a new stadium next year, sounds like the same old twins doesn’t it!
LaVelle - regarding your piece on Boston being the first team to play in Target Field, thanks for the info. Now where and/or when can we get the 2010 schedule with firm dates so we can order tickets for next year? Single game tickets or a series is what I mean, not season tickets. If you cannot supply the info do you know of any reliable source that can.
Also in your story you mentioned that they were removing the cranes from Target Field. How did they get there? Did they fly in from the Mississippi or elsewhere. And how exactly did they corral them for the move and where are they removing them to?
Enjoy your blog immensely each day, Joe and Howard and you deserve giant kudos for the info you give us, keep up the great work!
Good bounce back! Liriano looking good; should be the ace by sept. (hopefully). Finish the series off; it’s M&M time.
“the Twins are now just a distant third behind the Pirates and Orioles in the sweepstakes for Dominican megaprospect Miguel Angel Sano.He notes that the Twins don’t have unlimited funds, and instead are “simply moving on.””
The Twins did not realize that money might become involved. They thought that Bill Smith could simply charm Sano into “volunteering” to play for the Twins.
That’s what he meant when Bill Smith said ““We’re pursuing a lot of different players and we are pursuing some high profile players.”
They had no idea that “pursuing” would reach the point where one of the prospects might ask for MONEY!!!!!!
What a @#$%@#$%-king ambush!!!
Damning and rather atypical words from sane.
Meaning, there must be something to it.
As the Twins have a defining moment in their history as they move to their new stadium, I hope Jim Pohlad has time for some hands-on management of his own as he assesses the job Gen Mgr Smith is doing.
Was that your post, sane?
romer,
“Was that your post, sane?”
Yes, that was my sarcastic-self taking control of my multiple personality disorder.
I think that it’s hilarious (discouraging?) when the Twins make plans which they can’t possibly fulfil without a commitment to spend the required money.
I’m not angry, just amazed at the wasted effort.
I’m not ang
I am sorry that I didn’t proof-read the ending.
Well I am ang sane and I will not stand for it!!!
Dinkelman+ for a good 2B; that’ll get the NL doppelgangers.
Seriously, though, the Twins can contend. A solid bat at 2B and the bullpen issues become an irritation.
2010: (presuming the trade and vesting option at 2B and the loss of Crede)
Span LF
Sanchez 2B
Mauer C
Morneau 1B
Cuddyer RF
Kubel DH
Harris SS
Valencia 3B
Gomez CF
That’s potent.
Dinkelman 2008 (A-AA equal PA, 24): 40 XBH in 490 PAs; .272/.355/.393.
Sanchez 2006 (NL batting champ, 28): 61 XBH in 632 PAs; .344/.378/.473.
Dinkelman’s ceiling is Sanchez. Pittsburgh lacks organizational depth in the middle infield…
Casilla, Dinkelman, and Mulvey. That’s ballpark. Good for both sides too. Now is the time to swing for the fences. I implore!
given the typical Liriano meltdown with the 3-run HR allowed in the 7th.
Going 7 inning and only making the ONE mistake is hardly a meltdown.
A meltdown would be more like a 3-run blast in the first few innings.
It was good to see him go DEEP though, considering how badly the BP needed the off day. Let’s hope tomorrow’s guy can follow suit to give the guys a full two days rest going into the offday Monday.
Or: Cuddy at 2B with mad range in the OF as the result (Span, Gomez, Young). Give up singles instead of doubles when incorporating DY into the offense. Revolutionary. Or not: St. Louis (Schumaker), KC (Teahan before the Gordan injury and now Callaspo), FL (Uggla), NYY (Cano), etc…
So I’m burning the late night oil here…and they’re replaying Santana’s shutout against the Mets from 2007.
Batting 8th in LF for the Mets? Carlos Gomez.
T…..saw that replay of Santana’s shutout that required a buzz shave of Bert’s head. Awesome, and Bert was a champ and went thru with it.
Correct me if I’m wrong. Didn’t they say earlier this month Morales was a minor league all-star at second base before moving him to catcher. Essentially Craig Biggio is in the office, just move him back and you have your solid hitting second baseman, at least an emergency one.
And it was fun to see Go-Go get the first hit off Santana……..
He was such a kid back then!
Does anyone know if the team is close to signing Blake Dean? Robin Ventura was talking about him likely going back to school for his senior year, because he did’nt get drafted as highly as he thought he would, and does not yet have a full time position in the field.
This injury to Slowey again highlights why the Twins are reluctant to part with pitching. You can never hav too much pitching. You never know when the injury bug will hit your pitching staff. When it does your glad tou didn’t trade away that prospect(s) for that 2nd baseman or shortstop the bloggers have been screaming for.
