Twins-A’s: Crede is back. Mauer in the two hole. Slowey to battle pain.
Posted on July 21st, 2009 – 7:27 PMBy La Velle
Joe Crede said his shoulder felt a lot better this morning so he back in the lineup.
Joe Mauer is in the No. 2 hole. After watching everyone not named Mauer fail in that spot - and Justin Morneau drive in seven runs in that spot yesterday, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire decided to give it another shot.
The hope is that Nick Punto and Alexi Casilla will relax and produce to the point where the bottom of the order isn’t a series of speed bumps.
Denard Span is getting a night off after not looking too hot at the plate lately. He’s 2-for-18 on the road trip.
Kevin Slowey told me he’s prepared to battle pain in his wrist the rest of the season as long as it doesn’t affect his pitching. Communication with the trainers will be key. All Gardenhire wants is assurances that Slowey won’t hurt his shoulder or elbow while fighting through the wrist problem. This will be interesting to watch.
Give Slowey props for wanting to suck it up. But this seems to be a tad risky. Good thing he’s not a power pitcher, I guess - although thylos is exactly right about the breaking balls….
Lineups
Twins (47-46)
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Joe Mauer, C
3. Justin Morneau, 1B
4. Michael Cuddyer, RF
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Joe Crede, 3B
7. Delmon Young, LF
8. Nick Punto, SS
9. Alexi Casilla, 2B
Pitching: Anthony Swarzak, RHP
Oakland (39-52)
1. Adam Kennedy, 3B
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Scott Hairston, CF
4. Matt Holliday, LF
5. Jack Cust, DH
6. Kurt Suzuki, C
7. Daric Barton, 1B
8. Ryan Sweeney, RF
9. Mark Ellis, 2B
Pitching: Dallas Braden, LHP
278 Responses to "Twins-A’s: Crede is back. Mauer in the two hole. Slowey to battle pain."
I like the lineup, doesn’t hurt to give Span a day off. He will be right back in tomorrow.
Casilla and Punto and not a Harris sighting tonight?
Unreal, just unreal.
Why not trade Casilla for just about anything at this point and let him settle down somewhere else. I can’t stand watching him play much longer.
But this seems to be a tad risky. Good thing he’s not a power pitcher, I guess.
Actually the fact that he is not a power pitcher, makes this a worse move. The wrist is really important for breaking balls (you don’t flick that puppy the right way, the ball does not break)… A good Litmus test is to watch how Slowey’s breaking ball works in bullpens and during a game.
oh, another thing, La Velle:
please gives us some dirt about Gardy’s comments about wanting a challenge flag like the NFL 
So Mauer in 2 hole is a good thing, frustrating to see Casilla & Punto both in the lineup, esp. with Crede back. Did Harris do something to get back into the deep reaches of the doghouse? I realize we’re still riding Punto’s 3 hit night Sunday, but Casilla? Really?
still like to know how .200 hitters get regular AB’s on a major league team….. My coach told me when you can’t hit your weight its time to hang it up… If I would of knew this I would of never quit playing baseball and might be in Rochester by now….
Optimal lineup aside from Go-go (understandable) and SS (not so much).
I agree, OB. Funny, though, how every night (notice I didn’t say ever “day”), it’s an “optimal lineup aside from…”.
Would be nice to just see the damn optimal lineup occasionally.
Not than any two of us would agree on what that is, of course.
LEN 3,
Is Harris hurt? Otherwise it doesn’t make much sense to play your two worst hitters in the middle infield while sitting your best RH INF against a lefty.
Hope Go-Go can pick up where he left off!
At this point, the way Casilla is playing, I don’t believe he would obtain much in a trade. I’m sure opposing scouts are well aware of his struggles.
Also, would love to know what the Twins are averaging with Mauer in second spot and Mauer in the third spot. It would be interesting to see Morneau’s numbers in the third hole compared with the fourth, too.
Span needs break occasionally — his numbers haven’t been all that good in the last month, although I don’t have statistics to back that up, as does Cuddyer. Gomez and Young will be better players if they can get more at-bats.
I think Gardy wants the most rangy guys in the middle infield.
I’m just hoping Gardy can swallow his pride and just stick with Mauer at #2. Moving all the good bats up a spot will result in considerably more PAs, in total, for those bats.
I’d agree, BT, if it were true. Lexi has most certainly not been rangier than Harris.
amtrekman, not sure this is what you’re looking for, but this is readily available on baseball-reference.com.
Mauer:
#2 (24 games) .437/.485/.759
#3 (31 games) .315/.403/.491
0bviously, this reflects the fact that he’s been hitting #3 during his recent slump, but still…
Morneau:
#3 (47 games) .313/.380/.549
#4 (45 games) .321/.417 .637
I wouldn’t have guessed Doc has more games in #3 than #4, but I suppose it makes sense because he hits #3 when Mauer sits out.
Twins need Punto and Casilla in the line-up. Their defense saves the Twins runs. Look at last night. 14 runs was solid. Without them in the line-up, it might have been 16.
Look at last night. 14 runs was solid. Without them in the line-up, it might have been 16
I suspect that you were asleep when Punto made those 2 errand throws to first base last night
once again an insult to Harris by playing those two losers ahead of him.what a joke. Harris hit the ball hard last night and those two losers did nothing. what do they see in those guys.
Yeah I was joking. Punto can’t plant and throw like normal shortstops. He needs to be running and throwing, because fundamentally sound doesn’t make sportscenter.
I challenge anyone on this blog that I hate Punto the most.
Finally, a return to a decent batting order. Keep Mauer 2 and Morneau 3. Move Kubel to 6 so teams who use a lefthanded reliever against Span/Mauer/Morneau cannot keep that reliever in to face Kubel.
When Span is in, Gomez and Young can platoon in the 7 spot.
What about Guzman? The Nationals cannot be asking that much. He’d look good in the 8 spot. I still advocate sending Young to Rochester and putting Kubel in left. Give Morales a shot as the every day DH.
Total break down by front office read Seth’s posting hits the nail right on the head….The Bill Smith administration has failed for 2 years to address the bullpen. Twins fans the joke is on us Smith and Company are not even trying to put a World Series team….No 3rd baseman, no shortstop, no second baseman no bullpen. But we have Delmon Young!!! Punto for 4 mil Yes!!!
Would agree about Harris not in the lineup. Otherwise, this one should produce some runs.
have to think Slowey is done for the year….
Win Twins, we need 2 defeats over the A’s to make this still work!!
I still advocate sending Young to Rochester
He has no options.
Still advocating?
Calling Casilla and Punto speed bumps may be giving them too much credit. They’re more like the rock that gets stuck in your tire treads. They could eventually do damage, but they’ll most likely fall off and get run over by someone else.
This is pretty much what I expected the lineup to be, but I don’t know why Punto is playing short after his two throws in the dirt and waving at ball four in the 9th inning… he has no business starting over anyone but Casilla.
We (me included) spend much of the games complaining about the play of so & so or Gardy’s call here or there. How about this, before the fact which player do think is the key to tonight’s game for the Twins? And/or which one do you think will be the player of the game for good or bad reasons?
Yea I agree about Morales…….he should be dh Jason in LF That is how messed up The Twins front office is……keeping Morales in the minors and keeping Red Dog no arm no run on the team
Worrying too much about middle infielder while about half of the pen is composed by pitchers who do not belong in the majors, is a bit like having major surgery planned and worrying about whether your can make your haircut appointment…
Hoping that Casilla makes it is like hoping Obama’s stimulus plan will work.they both are dead
I expect there will be a MAJOR turn around now with Mauer back at #2… GO TWINS!!
What did Harris do to Gardy to deserve this blatant disrespect? Harris has a higher average than Punto and Casilla combined — all I can say is WTF Gardy?
Sorry, I thought Young was not yet out of options. Then I certainly would consider Young in a trade. Casilla and Young as a starting point for Sanchez?
Don’t you guys realize it’s Harris’s fault we lost last night? Gardy figures he was too slow on that infield hit and that he should be summarily punished for his weak defense.
The real question is, who would be Gardy’s whipping boy if Harris was ever traded? Neshek and Young are too easy, so I will go with Gomez.
How much more of MAJOR turn do you want from the offense than scoring 13 runs like they did last night?
Morneau batting 2nd yesterday? LOL, I guess so, if you just blank out Punto!
netjes, why would the Pirates want Young and Casilla? This is a team that traded away McLouth and Morgan in order to get time for up and coming OFs.
Dewey, I’d give Casilla better odds.
Casilla and Young as a starting point for Sanchez?
A 24 year old and a 23 year old former #1 prospect in baseball for a 31 year old middle infielder? And those just as the start? I can’t wait for the main course…
Seeing as DY has only played three years in the minors I am confused as to how he is out of options. Where does my ignorance lie?
OB,
he signed a major league contract out of high school. He played 3+ seasons in the bigs. He is out of options.
The key to tonight’s game is Swarzak. I doubt the Twins are going to go on another offensive explosion, so it will be up to Swarzak to pitch like he did against the Cubs. Crede might come through with a clutch hit.
That said, I still have bad vibes about this series.
Or an All-Star for two minor leaguers.
Jesse Crain?
netjes, except for you said that was just the starting point.
OB,
Crain did not sign a major league contract when drafted. He actually got a contract extension 3 years ago to avoid arbitration and that was a split contract. He had one option left (expired last month) and that’s why he is in Rochester right now. Next time he is up, he is up for good or has to be DFAd
AJ Pesh - I’ll accept that challenge. I’ll see your Punto hate and raise you 500.
The starting point in the negotiations. I did not say Casilla plus Young plus others for only Sanchez.
BTW, check out my twitter page! There’s a link on the blogroll….
AJ Pesh and izzygirl…
I’m all in
Hopefully the boys had a learning experience last night. Never let down & ASSUME a game is “won”. Keep grinding every AB & every pitch. Back in about 1985 (?), late in the season, the Twins were right in the pennant race. They went ahead of Cleveland 9 - 0 & had Viola pitching. You guessed it, they choked the game away. Gaetti’s quote was that it is “hard to play with your hands around your throat”. This was in mid-September if I remember correctly. The same core of players used this as a learning experience & had good results in 1987. History repeats itself & hopefully some GOOD results can come of this “monumental meltdown”.
La Velle,
BTW, you need a real userpic on your twitter. That ST doesn’t cut it. Even Reusse has a real one on his twitter 
I presume a ML contract automatically put DY on the 40 man roster and, hence, his three years in the minors used up the options. Is this how it works? If so, wikipedia is wrong (they say 3+).
unbelievable.
It was Sept. 28th, 1984 and they blew a 10 run lead, losing on Jamie Quirk’s only hit as an Indian. This allowed KC to ultimately win the division by a game.
If you tell me that after last night we’ll get Andy MacPhail back and he’ll go out and get a Blyleven, Reardon, Berenguer, Lombardozzi, Smalley, Baylor, Gladden instead of Bill Smith’s constipated leadership I’m all for it.
Too bad we didn’t have this loss in April. Then we wouldn’t have to watch the dross,dregs, flotsam and jetsam that we see now.
Jason, you aren’t actually surprised are you?
OB,
you need someone like WJ to explain all that legalese, but his options expired last season.
Honestly, if I’m Brendan Harris, I consider filing a grievance with the Union.
Why do people hate Punto and Casilla so much? I just don’t get it. Punto has such heart and he has had two good years offensively. Casillo was our 2B of the future until this year. He went down to AAA and hit .340. Give him a chance. I want to win with our guys and not bring in a rent a player. Do you really want Billy making another trade? I hate that we traded our shortstop of the future for an outfielder and I would still say this if Young was batting .300 and had 15 homeruns. You don’t trade your Shortstop of the future for an outfielder. Plus they got Garza for Harris! Do you really want Billy to make another deal?
Ben,
I actually am. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I certainly didn’t think it was beyond him, but in no way did I think Harris would be the odd man out here. I expected Punto to play, of course.
Just unbelievable.
I think the manager needs a day off or better yet a month off. Putting the Punto Pet in over Harris especially with a left handed pitcher just is a moron move. Now, I believe that Harris should be the starter no matter who is pitching however Gardy has it set in his small mind the Harris should be in with left handed pitchers. Harris would not be seeing any part of the field if he was hitting 209, especially after going 0 for 5 with an error plus another horrible throw to first. Perhaps someone, anyone in the front office needs to have a word with
Gardy and that word should be GOODBY!!
“The hope is that Nick Punto and Alexi Casilla will relax and produce to the point where the bottom of the order isn’t a series of speed bumps.”
Punto’s entire career has been a speed bump. Come on, La Velle, press the manager on this.
If you tell me that after last night we’ll get Andy MacPhail back and he’ll go out and get a Blyleven, Reardon, Berenguer, Lombardozzi, Smalley, Baylor, Gladden instead of Bill Smith’s constipated leadership I’m all for it.
Yeah, but Andy McPhail got TK instead of Ray Miller and he had a full run of the organization instead of having 99% of the old guard (one of whom is the only person who has been elected to a team’s hall of fame, while still at the same job) hovering around… Hard to judge Smith without a clean slate.
I believe ya 98 but I still like to know why.
Part of Billy’s job is to make deals. Were 90 plus games into the year and Punto and Casilla have been awful!
Crede is only going to be here 1 year so why not bring in someone to help you win..
Lets not take the Doug Woog approach where we can only win with our guys..
unbelievable.
It simply cannot be explained to me with any logic.
Why can’t Harris play short, Punto move back over to 2nd and Casilla be the sub like Tolbert was? Poor Harris. He’s been robbed for no reason.
When I saw it on FSN’s pregame show, I actually assumed Harris had an injury.
How can Gardy look Harris in the eye in the dugout tonight?
As long as we’re questioning Gardy for his ridiculous move to sit Harris, let’s talk about pinch hitting Mauer yesterday with 2 outs and one on, and not save him for an opportunity in the ninth. You know, like maybe an opportunity with the go-ahead run on 1st?
Gardy lucked out on the bad call so he didn’t have to answer that question.
oh well, here we go…
beer please, Doc.
Does anybody know if a reporter was able to get a quote from the ump who blew the call last night? I’d be interested to see what he saw from that horsecrap angle he had.
T-Minus 10 days and counting until Gruzdy joins the everday lineup.
Where does he hit? Above or below Harris?
good call, Coyote. It was a horrendous move. It ensured Punto would bat (either in the 8th with runners on or in the 9th). It was a really, really silly move. The only chance we had was for Span to back up Mauer’s hit with an extra base hit…and even then, Mauer would have to score from first.
10 days, T?
Can we have him in Anaheim by Thursday?
“Gardy lucked out on the bad call so he didn’t have to answer that question.”
Actually, on second thought, he never gets asked the tough questions, so nevermind.
I wish that Gardenhire would just go public and tell us he adopted LNP and is living vicariously through him.
Coyote real good call it wasted Buscher he could have hit for Casilla and then into third.
Buscher went in the lineup in Redmonds spot so he could not have hit for Punto in the 9th..
I wonder if the Twins could receive $4,500 for each of their middle infielders under the Omama “Cash for Clunkers” program.
thrylos and I disagree re: what is more important, a MIF that plays every day, or more relief help. I’d much rather they upgrade the MIF situation.
As for Slowey, when will organizations learn that “sucking it up” is stupid when there is an actual injury? Bringing him back before he is healed just does not make sense. This is not a team 1 pitcher away from being the best team in the league.
Gardy lucked out on the bad call so he didn’t have to answer that question.
If you’re going to question Gardy, at least get the question right. Gardy would’ve been better off PHing Mauer for Redmond with one on instead of waiting until AFTER Redmond’s AB.
There was a man on base, Mauer should’ve been used THEN. You don’t hold your best hitter for a PH appearance that MAY come later.
Why on earth would the Pirates want Young? They can’t start 5 outfielders.
Detroit had a seven run lead tonight against Seattle and they let them get back to within two, but like good teams they held on and didn’t blow the lead.
Shouldn’t Span sit out against a RIGHT HANDED pitcher?
I remember Radke “sucking it up” in ‘06. It was pretty fricking awesome.
So last night Bremer says Brett Anderson is the ace for the A’s, but tonight it is Braden. Make up your mind Dick.
thrylos98,
“Next time he is up, he is up for good or has to be DFAd”
Do you mean next YEAR, he is up for good or has to be DFA’d?
His last option is for this whole year, is it not?
good call, Coyote. It was a horrendous move.
Wrong. The stupid move was not PHing Mauer for Redmond since Redmond was going to come out of the game anyway.
Tying run on base, and your catcher coming to bat. You put Mauer there, he hits and stays in the game. Then you have Buscher (if you want) hit for Casilla.
You do NOT sit Mauer down and let Redmond hit and then hope another guy gets on base in the 9th inning.
Ben- go cheer for the Tigers then. The child-like whining is getting pathetic.
RyanW, how much did Radke pitch after that?
Detroit had a seven run lead tonight against Seattle and they let them get back to within two, but like good teams they held on and didn’t blow the lead.
Good for the Tigers, and I’m sure if you go back and look at some point this season they blew a huge lead and lost.
Sane- you are correct. An option is for the entire year.
Mike- he retired because he didn’t want to undergo surgery. A surgery he needed before he went on his August/Sept run to help us get in the playoffs. I fail to see your point.
Bottom line, the time to win is now. The time to build for the future is over.
The Twins have the best player in baseball, in his prime, and another guy who is going to hit 41 HR and 139 RBI. Yeah, I would trade a twenty-something prospect for a thirty-something All-Star.
Let’s hope the Twins make them pay for cutting down the runner vs. going for the DP. (Against Morneau/Cuddyer who are two of the slower runners)
Oakland gets lucky, Twins really need a hit there.
T - the difference is that Redmond was hitting well, it’s hard to take a guy out of the game who was 3-4? or something like that. I don’t argue with you that after Redomond got a hit, he could have been the pinch hitter.
Another argument though is, if you’re going to give Mauer a day off, give him a day off from catching all together.
I also understand the argument for not waiting for a good opportunity, but you don’t pinch hit for someone with two outs and the 9 hitter coming up. It makes no sense to me.
Another argument though is, if you’re going to give Mauer a day off, give him a day off from catching all together.
If the PH works, the Twins tie the game, and potentially goes to extras. Mauer goes back behind the plate and has the potential to get more ABs than just the one.
Plus PHing for Redmond means one less bench move, as nobody has to come in to replace Redmond (or Mauer) depending on who goes behind the plate.
Looked to me like Gomez was dogging it a bit, just assuming the play would be made elsewhere. Not an impressive start.
This is crazy. Both Punto and Casilla over Harris. Casilla is the worst on the team against lefties and Punto is not far off. Harris deserves better than this.
RyanW, sorry I am not ok with a team blowing a 10 run lead. It might be ok and just happen for you, but not to me.
Either way, what I was saying is that it was a horrible move to put him in when they did. I agree your options work too, but not how he handled the situation.
To me, what is disturbing is that Gardy often seems to make judgements based on the prior night’s results (such as Mauer at #2 tonight, even if that is good). Example: Punto at #2 last night.
His last option is for this whole year, is it not?
not in this case (he signed a contract while still having options (1) and was stated that they expired 6/30/09)…
I know. Legalese crab. But this is how it is to the best of my understanding.
Does the fact Gardy wants Punto and Castillo to relax mean he wants them to be installed as starters? It is not much relaxation if Harris comes nack next game for one of them. I cringe if that is Gardy’s thinking.
RyanW, sorry I am not ok with a team blowing a 10 run lead. It might be ok and just happen for you, but not to me.
LOL at that line. Nobody is okay with it happening, but to act like the Twins are the only team to have blown a big lead is just being intentionally stubborn.
nice turn!
Thank God, we found a way to get Punto in the lineup again. Never mind the 0-for-5 and the shaky throws last night, we have to get Punto in the lineup.
agreed, D… very nice, considering it was slowly hit, Casilla had to hang in there and he did it well.
What I can picture Gardy saying to why he started Punto tonight:
“When a guy has an easy error like that, you don’t want him sitting on the bench thinking about it, you want him out there. “
Im not sure if anybody has mentioned this, but for the last week including today. MLB extra innings has been free on all cable outlets
Coyote.
Who in the press would ever ask why Punto is starting. They haven’t all season or any other season.
Thanks mike.
Mike- thank you! Now I can watch the game on tv! Do you know how long the free preview lasts?
I think its over tonight or tomorrow, my buddy in Milwaukee just told me about it.
Just looked it up, tomorrow is the last day
as far as t.v. .. i dont recall who sent the link (thank you!)but its about time somebody did.. http://www.channelsurfing.net carries the blackedout games online…for free..to think i would have missed last nites game. then again?
well it gives me one more day to see them on the tv…and it is sad for me to say this but it’s good to hear Dick and Bert in the booth again
“RyanW, sorry I am not ok with a team blowing a 10 run lead. It might be ok and just happen for you, but not to me.”
You are not “OK” with it?
Bo-ficking-hoo.
Who cares if you are “ok” with it. You don’t win a prize for being the most upset. Besides, why do you think it matters at all that you are not “ok” with last night’s game? To whom should it matter? You are not entitled to victories every night. It is a sport, we choose our teams to cheer for and hope that they do well. We pull for certain guys more than others and we find purpose in discussing our disagreements with others… but to think that somehow YOU deserve a victory just because the Twins were ahead by 10 runs in the top of the 3rd inning is beyond pathetic.
no prob hook….I just hope no one catches onto that site that will take it down.
Swarzak looks shaky. Everything’s high and he’s not even coming close to hitting the mitt.
mike, thanks for the note. Do you know when it ends?
another good turn by lexi!
ben- tomorrow
Weak slide by Cust. He easily could have broken up that double play.
Maybe that would have got us Harris into the game.
ben, it started the 16 and ends tomorrow.
didnt realize it was cust sliding in.. not exactly mr speed
Coyote, except for the fact that Casilla stepped backward off second base so there was no chance to break up that doubleplay.
D and Mike, thanks wish you would have mentioned it sooner.
ben, i wish i would have known sooner, just found out today
doesnt help if you have Dish network and its programming though =(
D- great site for me as im in vegas and apparently all ca. teams are local here so even with the mlb package i wouldn’t have seen a game for a week, thx again and like you said, i don’t know how it works but hope it stays
Looks like this is another one of those “let’s see how many LOB we can rack up tonight” kind of games.
JC,
this looks like “let’s see how many runners in scoring position Cuddaver cannot drive in” night, to be exact…
wait you can bribe the tv people with baked goods? can you bribe the newspaper people the same way too?? I will bake them something if I can pass it along to them in Arlington…..
hook10 i just tried it out, awesome!!! i hope it lasts the season. i can now watch the twins at work!!
T-Minus 10 days and counting until Gruzdy joins the everday lineup.
Where’d you hear that T? It is my understanding Grudz won’t even report to Ft Myers until tomorrow, and a more realistic target date is well into August… Did I miss something?
How in God’s name do you walk someone hitting .143?
Punto over Harris is unacceptable when Nicky’s gotten playing time the last games.
B. I know he caught last night, but you have to catch Redmond against the lefty and DH Mauer giving Kubel the day off. Now, you’re going to catch Redmond against a righty and give one of Kubel/Gomez/Young a day off tomorrow. Redmond vs lefties > Redmond vs righties. Gomez/Young vs a righty > Kubel vs lefties.
Well you can single out Cuddyer if you want, I guess… but looks to me like the entire top half of the order is getting in the LOB act. But whatever.
If Swarzak is just going to walk the leadoff guy every inning, Im not going to bother losing sleep over this game tonight… nite all.
darren, Punto has about 35 walks. Enough said.
nite Jim Im gonna hold out hope that he turns his act around.
howeda7
Kubel is becoming one of the Twins best hitters and he needs to be given the chance against lefties. He hit a HR and a double off a left last night.
This may be the worst possible pitcher for the Twins to face after last night’s debacle. A relatively soft throwing left, their Kryptonite.
stand up triple for Delmon hell yes!
Good job Young.
Nice swing DY.
Correct me if I am wrong, and there may be a stat that rebuffs me, but I swear to God, it seems like 90% of Cuddy’s HRs and RBIs are when the Twins are either ahead or behind by at least 4 runs.
Nice….
coyote- I agree with howeda only because kubel has struggled against lefties so far this year
Can Punto at least hit a regular fly ball here?? Can you buddy?
Do not eff this up Puntopup
Don’t know if it has been cited previously tonight, but the CWS lost to TB tonight when Bobby Jenks gave up two in the ninth to lose 3-2. Who started the rally? None other than our former Piranha, Jason Bartlett. Ozzie must be lots of fun about now.
If you need a fly ball LNP is the man!
Ha,Bartlett struck out last night to end the game with bases full.
when delmon drives a ball like that it makes me really hope we dont give up on him. lets not forgot he is 23 and most guys his age are still in the minors, not their 4th year in the bigs.
What are the chances of Swarzak having a nice clean 10 pitch 1-2-3 inning here???
Yeah, that’s what I figured.
The same can certainly be said about Gomez, Mike.
How in God’s name do you walk someone hitting .143?
I am not complaining… Casilla walked twice tonight
Punto got an RBI. He’ll start every game now for the rest of the season. 95% of all baserunners would have been thrown out at the plate after that magnificent blast, but what the ‘hey’
t98 what do you think it would take to get adam kennedy?
What kind of value do you think DY has around the league. Sometimes it seems if he were given consistant at bats he may turn into something. Maybe it’s just the triple talkin’…
So you don’t give Kubel a chance to hit against lefties at all even though he is having a career year?
No question that he has struggled this year and his career vs. lefties but he is getting to the point where he needs to be in the lineup daily.
I am a little stunned by Casilla’s and Gomez’s walks tonight. I am continually stupified why pitchers seem to pitch around Punto as well. I mean, what is the worst that can happen by grooving a fastball to him? He has like 6 or 7 XBH all year. That being said, I ain’t complaining…..
Delmon will probably leadoff tomorrow.
coyote- I hear you…..kinda reminds me of back in the day with Jacque Jones… he was never allowed to hit the lefties
That was the greatest overplay of a routine groundball I have ever seen.
You called it Beetle- now what are the chances of back to back jacks by M&M??
Jacque Jones… he was never allowed to hit the lefties
he was never able to hit the lefties.
Fixed that for you.
Morneau is locked in BIG TIME
“That was the greatest overplay of a routine groundball I have ever seen.”
it allowed him to set himself to throw.
It’s a routine groundball for 90% of SS’s.
From now on your Delta Chi nickname is punto.
Why punto?
WHY NOT !!
chief- the highest Kubel has hit against lefties in a season is 243
as far as jones he had one year where he hit 269 otherwise not so good
coyote, if he doesnt slide to set for a throw, he has to throw across his body. lets leave the fielding to the pros…
I’m all for giving Kubel a game against lefties now and then when they face 2-3 in a row. But when figuring out when Mauer is going to DH, DH him against lefties and give Kubel the day off. That is all.
I like the idea howeda
Mike, he didn’t even slide, he just got himself a little dirty by putting his hand down.
Run to the ball, set your feet, throw like all other shortstops. Not to mention it was Suzuki running, he didn’t need to hurry.
I suppose the sliding catch at Yankee stadium, he needed to be laying there for a while before the catch so he could position his arm correctly.
t98 what do you think it would take to get adam kennedy?
Ain’t happening after the Grudz signing…
coyote, would you say nick punto is a good mlb fielder? Yes he is, so whatever he needs to do to field a ball is just fine.
If Delmon is wondering, among other things, it’s AB’s like that which are why he has spent so much time in Gardy’s dog house. Got to get Crede over to 3rd there. Can’t be trying to pull the ball.
chief- the highest Kubel has hit against lefties in a season is 243
What’s your point?
he does not hit them well either..
kirby91,
here is an exercise: compare Delmon’s AB tonight with Cuddyer’s and tell me who needs to be in the doghouse
As an amateur on this site, I have a plethora of lingering question. However, the following question is the one I lose the most sleep over: is it possible for a sports journalist in the Minneapolis/ St. Paul area to practice objectivity? Isn’t that the one of the 10 commandments of journalism? I would love nothing more than to have one of the “Twins Insiders” seriously question Gardenhire, rather than reiterate the lineups backed up by a few fluffy quotes by Gardenhire. It makes me physically ill to see Punto in the lineup time and time again, for his “defensive contributions.” Clearly, he did not make any monumental defensive contributions last night, why isn’t he punished by sitting on the bench today? If Harris had an error, he would most definitely be punished. What is with the double standard on the mangers part? Are Minneapolis/St. Paul journalists following Gardenhire’s example by failing to do their job?
he does not hit them well either..
Who, Kubel?
This is not new information.
To anybody.
T98,
Here’s an exercise: Compare virtually every offensive statistic between Delmon and Cuddyer this season and tell me why you love Young so much over the Magic Man?
T98,
Let’s not get into that inane debate again. It’s a no win even for a smart person like you. I’m not going to defend that particular Cuddy AB. However if you’d like to compare their 2009 stats I’d be happy to & that is why Cuddy or Mauer or Morny would get a break from Gardy in that situation over a Delmon.
They have in the past & are this year producing for the Twins. Delmon is not at that level so he needs to do those things to avoid the doghouse.
I know your not so far up Delmon’s backside that you’d take the position that it was a good AB by Delmon. Or that it’s not a bad out to be trying to pull the ball on an outside pitch early in the count with the go ahead run on 2nd and no outs in the 6th inning. Are you? I didn’t think so.
Hope you had a nice vacation
lets get the kid a win
Can’t complain about Swarzak much tonight.
Or as Bert would say…Schwarzak.
How has Swarzak looked live? On Gamecast it kind of looks like he has been all over the place- but it’s hard to argue with the results- one of the best starts we have had in a while.
It is, indeed, too bad that Mr. Crikket retired early. It appears young Master Swarzak has pitched himself one fine game and no one appreciates that more than the astute Mr. JC.
not at all chief good to see him work thru his early inning control problems
In a sense it’s hard to defend Delmon’s AB with Crede on 2nd. However, what are the odds that Punto was going to hit a ball hard enough for a sac fly two AB’s in a row? Seriously, I give Punto about a 20% chance of getting the run in from 3rd and one out. That is why he cannot be in the line-up every day. And why it’s hard to get too worked up at Young just trying to get a hit instead of moving runners over for our worst hitter.
yep…..told JC I would hold out hope for him
This has crushing loss written all over it.
Bucket- he has looked very solid tonight
The way Swarzak started this evening I thought it was going to be another short start, but he’s really done a good job of getting outs. Not overpowering and precise, but effective. Good to see.
That was an awful inning for all three AB’s. Somebody crank up the “Oh No, here comes the late inning heartbreak in Oakland” machine again.
Interesting that they brought their closer into the 8th inning.
Interesting that they brought their closer into the 8th inning.
Is that even legal?
howeda7,
Maybe but obviously you can’t “assume” Punto will fail as a reason to not do your job if your Delmon. And if he had gotten him to 3rd the infield likely would have come in and maybe Punto ball to the right side gets thru for a hit.
Oh well.
Bailey is the closer.
bucket, actually they didn’t, their closer is Andrew Bailey, but since he had worked too much before last night’s game, he was the closer by default last night.
chief- no unless you are mariano rivera
D, how about Papelbon?
Kirby,
True. Of if Gardy is going to be obstenent about Punto starting, he’s simply got to be willing to PH for him in those spots, even if its the 6th inning.
forgot about him.
Ahhh- I see- here he comes now. Pretty good one two punch for the A’s
Personally, I don’t like the idea that a hitter should go up in the 6th inning with the idea of giving himself up just to advance a runner.
I don’t like sac bunts much either.
I would like to see Punto call his shot and point straight up in the air.
…or point to the SS.
I don’t know how much longer I can watch or root for a team that keeps starting Punto and Casilla. One or the other, never both. You suck Billy Smith and Gardy.
Walk off homerun coming up. You can count on it.
gatty790 your beef should be with the Pohlad family.
howeda7,
With you on the Punto thing. But now it looks like nobody in a Twins Uni is capable of hitting a hit.
Getting that 11:30 sick feeling in my gut again. Could be just the booze but I think it’s a West Coast thing.
1 for our last 16- reminds me an awful lot of Sunday nights game. Hopefully we steal this one in the 10th.
mike,
You are absolutely right! They suck too.
Nice K Matt!
Carefull with Cust here, Matty.
I think outside of a couple runs, tonight’s pitching performances by the starter and the bullpen has been a carbon copy of last night.
Of all the good and bad stories with this team this year one of the BEST has to be the turnaround of Guerrier. This dude like he might be done after last August. Good for him and what a boost for the Twins.
Hopefully Crain can follow that script!
Eddie, what?
God that was weak…
I am with you on Matty, I just hope that the bullpen holds up before Gardy has to ruin his arm due to there not being any other reliable options.
Come on Big Canada.
Sarcasm.
Thank you Cuddy.
there you go 98
The Magic Man comes through!
Way to prove me wrong Cuddy! A clutch RBI!
Beautiful…thank you Michael!
another meaningless hit for cuddyer.
CUDDDDDYYYYYY!!!!
t98,
I can feel your smile all the way from here!
Gotta love that huge knock. Also it is amazing how silent thrylos is right now!
How about some insurance runs Crede?
is 98 sleeping?
Nail it down, Joe.
Cuddy was like “Suck it ump” I am safe tonight just like last night.
Come on Harris if you keep playing D like that you will be riding the pine.
I wonder if Thrylos still wants DY over Cuddy, what does he need to prove himself?
Nice, needed win.
Thank you Nathan!
I feel like that was a HUGE win for us- I know it’s only the A’s
Joe Nathan is the most dominate closer in baseball and its not even close. The guy is just amazing, hitters have no chance. I mean what pitch do you look for???
Twin win with 3 runs. I ask now what the heck happened yesterday?
Great gut check win Twinks! Finish of another road series win tomorrow and it will be a solid start to the 2nd half.
we def needed to stop the bleeding…these are the teams we gotta beat
omg the season is so over…oh wait…that was last night after one loss that everyone was freaking out about.
By the way, thanks to his last hit Mauer is back ahead of Ichiro by a point.
Yes Thrylos will still want Delmon Young. There is nothing wrong with being loyal to a guy, even if it is probably being loyal to a fault.
I’ve always prefered Cuddy myself, but that is just my opinion. T98 can have his. Makes the blogs fun!
fcmlefty,
you are correct
here is the box score tonight:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2009_07_21_minmlb_oakmlb_1
tell me what Cuddyer did that Young didn’t; factor in the salary discrepancies and the facts that Young is a better right fielder than Cuddyer and he is 8 years his junior and you are set (if you are color-blind, of course)
thry, how about factoring in what Cuddyer has done this season and what Young has not done? That would be a good start.
Leaving for the drive to So. Cal in the am. This makes the weekend in Anaheim look more rosy. Congrats and workman-like kudos to Messrs. Swarzak,Nathan, Guerrier,Young,Crede and Cuddy… nice to see a good guy earn the right to smile after a frustrating night, not to mention twenty-four hours. See you at the Big A all.
Chief,
“I don’t like sac bunts much either”
My favorite coach used to tell us, “Bunting is for sissies!”
Good win, not cause it was pretty but cause they gutted one out after last night’s debacle. It shows they at least have a little bit of pride.
“This mean” Swarzak HAS to stay in the rotation even after Slow Ride comes back. He’s shown a really admirable resilience and control that Liriano surely has not.
Coomer and LaPanty using Best Damn’s idea of top plays. I felt like Geurrier was huge tonight, the key to the win.
nathan has given up 5ers this year and 3 were in one game…unreal
They should have a top 3 Lapanta hair pieces at the end of the season.
My favorite coach used to tell us, “Bunting is for sissies!”
Here’s the kicker, sane…as much as I dislike wasting outs, all through my playing days (baseball and fastpitch) I was a darn good bunter, and darn bad at pretty much everything else!
I could pick it though, and oh my, I battled my tail off!
I was sorta like LNP, without the power.
T98,
I agree with fcmlefty that we all have our opinions and that’s what creates great debate…
But come on… a single game snapshot with salary discrepancy and a pointless defensive opinion is what you’re going with?
Crede was solid tonight, but I thought,”Oh no, here we go again” on his error and am still wondering about the I got it you take it pop up.
T98,
I think most of us are color blind. Your arguments at times make me wonder if your just BLIND!
Proof of that is that I can say with no prejudice that DY should get credit for the nice double he had tonight. Credit should also go to Cuddy for the hit he got tonight. You may remember it as the one that drove in the winning run.
Here’s hoping that they BOTH can contribute a few more times on this trip and beyond.
But I’ll still take 8 Cuddy’s in the lineup vs. 8 DY’s and sleep well knowing my team would win far more than not given equal pitching. It’s really not close.
That all may be true, but I’ll add one more opinion. Cuddy’s not that good. He frikken near made the third out AGAIN! Just needs to scale back one notch.
“They should have a top 3 Lapanta hair pieces at the end of the season”
1) Mink
2) Walrus
3) Squirrel
4) Beaver
5) Wart-hog
I think T98 is just wanting to get everyone worked up, there is no way Delmon Young is a better, more productive player than Cuddy right now, will he be a better player in two or three years? maybe…
number four doesn’t qualify
the popup was scary.
sane…hahahhahhaha. I love when Marney takes shots at him.
number four leads everyone’s top ten list
“I was sorta like LNP, without the power.”
Punto-type power is a gift.
if you are color-blind, of course
That’s just uncalled for, thrylos.
Completely uncalled for.
if you are color-blind, of course
That’s just uncalled for, thrylos.
Completely uncalled for.
I didn’t really catch that at first and if that’s a shot, then it is in fact an unjustified one and yes, completely uncalled for.
Ill take Swarzak over Perk and they can ship him off for another light hitting super utility player for all I care.
DY is going to figure out he doesn’t know everything one of these days and he’s going to learn how to take a pitch now and then and he’s going to blow up and make Thrylos look smarter than he really is… I mean, we’ve seen enough out of Cuddyer to know he’s going to top out at 20/90 in a good year, but DY could still be a guy that puts up 30/120 or better type power numbers (or he could just never do anything and nobody will remember what Thrylos said about him anyway)
cuddyer does something big enough to win the game in the last inning two nights in a row on the road. a double and a triple. plus, essentially, scores from second on a wild pitch.
that’s pretty good. and far from the only times he’s ever done it.
a person doesn’t have to be the guy’s biggest fan to see that.
so thrylos, are you saying that Ron Gardenhire is a racist? I hope you arent, cause if you are gona bring the race card into a goddamm twins baseball chat room, you need help buddy. If you are so concerned about a players playing time that you are willing to bring that up…you need to find some friends, a wife, girlfriend, anything man. This is just a blog and they are playing a game. Get over yourself and your stats
I’m as color blind as they come, so no offense taken.
