Twins-Royals: A second MRI for Perkins
Posted on August 12th, 2009 – 4:17 PMBy La Velle
Nick Punto has run out to second base for the first inning. Alexi Casilla apparently is a late scratch but we’re waiting to learn why.
Twins lefthander Glen Perkins had a second MRI done on his shoulder. This time, dye was injected into the area to make it easier for doctors to detect any problems.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire indicated that it might take a few days before the club learns of the results of the latest exam. There’s no hurry anyway, since Perk already is on the DL.
Chatted with a former major leaguer who pointed out that Nick Blackburn didn’t throw inside enough last night. I was wondering the same thing. I know Rick Anderson is always harping on his staff to pitch in as well as out but they get into stretches when they get away from that. Sometimes I’ll be told after games that pitcher X tried to pitch inside but didn’t have the command to get it inside enough.
I don’t know. I would tell them to not be afraid to hit somebody once in awhile. But there are pitchers all over baseball who struggle to pitch inside effectively. It must be easier said than done. All I know is that if Iconoclast takes me deep on an outside pitch the first time up, he’s getting moved off the plate the second time up.
The Twins are on the field in their Saturday special unis for the annual team photo. If this photo was taken three weeks ago, Carl Pavano, O-Cab or Manship wouldn’t be in it.
Manship told us that he recently started to throw a slider to go with his fastball, curve and change. He said he learned it from Kevin Mulvey…
No sign of Bert Blyleven, who annually shows up to harass the team on this day.
Just found out that Joe Nathan has a twitter page JoeNathan36. He’s the first Twin I know who actively tweets. Justin Morneau has someone tweet for him, so he doesn’t count!
BTW, Kevin Slowey was moved to the 60-day DL to make room for Manship on the Twins’ 40-man roster.
Can’t believe the lineups are out…
Lineups
Royals (44-68)
1. David DeJesus, LF
2. Willie Bloomquist, 2B
3. Billy Butler, DH
4. Miguel Olivo, C
5. Alberto Callaspo, 3B
6. Mark Teahen, 1B
7. Mitch Maier, CF
8. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
9. Josh Anderson, RF
Pitching: Brian Bannister, RHP
Twins (54-58)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Michael Cuddyer, RF
7. Joe Crede, 3B
8. Delmon Young, LF
9. Alexi Casilla, 2B
Pitching: Francisco Liriano, LHP
352 Responses to "Twins-Royals: A second MRI for Perkins"
Wow. No Punto two days in a row. Can it be that Gardy finally sees the light? Ironic that it took him until the season is battered to a pulp and hanging by a thread to sit Punto two days in a row without an injury as the reason.
How many games does Crede play until his next owie?
Wow! Randy Ruiz has almost caught Delmon Young for homers this year..
Well, the manager took away at least pregame posts inre: the Harris/Punto kerfuffle. He chose…neither!
Ok, let’s move on to discuss the missing GoGo.
What did Punto do? isn’t this two straight games not starting.
Should have read “at least 50 pre-game posts”
Fredo,
Punto discussion is officially over for now. He’s finally been relegated to utility infielder.
Now it’s a matter of trying out his replacement for 2010–Casilla and Harris both deserve try outs before the team begins its offseason search elsewhere.
Don’t lose hope Twins fans…we can still do this thing! We need a start from you, Frankie.
La Velle, is Manship up for the long haul or will either Delaney, Gambino or Morillo be promoted in the next few days?
Fredo, I think that the Twins pitching staff has done just as much as Gardenhire to take away the lineup posts.
After all, who can really complain about the lineup at this point? However many runs they rack up, Liriano and company will give up at least 3 more.
LEN3,
How hurt is Go-Go? Is this why he remain out of the lineup just when he seemed to be hitting decently?
Wait a second, 49?
I thought that number 49 was traditionally the property of knuckleballers. Shouldn’t R.A. Dickey be number 49?
I have a suggestion for the Twins pitching woes, pitch in reverse tonight. Start Nathan. Let him go an inning or two (he’s pretty rested) then Guerrier, Jose, and maybe an inning or two of middle relief. Then bring in your “starter” to try to finish off the last few innings to try to nail it down.
At least they’d likely still be in the game and have a chance to win.
Got any better ideas?
Any reports on Valencia he is down to .288… He is about 7 for his last 50+
Not a bad idea kirby. I have one also. Since the Twins pitchers get knocked around real quick, then sort of settle in (sort of I said!). How about you have Liriano start pitching right now, and then when the game starts he will have settled down and hopefully found the strike zone. Well, maybe he should have started pitching a few hours ago to find the strike zone. I’ll watch the game tonight, but I refuse to be happy.
IMHO if Liriano gets through 5 without completely imploding, bring on the Bullpen. No use in waiting for the inevitable meltdown to take place.
Shouldn’t R.A. Dickey be number 49?
Dickey couldn’t be 49 because it was Breslow’s in the beginning of ST.
Well, the Twins competed for most of the season, and they sold a lot of tickets. All in all, I’d say the Pohlad’s are very happy. Remember, winning division titles or winning in the playoffs is a bonus! It’s all about the revenue. The ballclub is no different than any other business holdings they have.
“Any reports on Valencia he is down to .288… He is about 7 for his last 50+”
He dominated when he moved up. The League adjusted to him, and now he’s got to adjust again.
This lineup is great example of why Ron Gardenhire needs to be fired. Carlos Gomez has been playing some really nice baseball the last three weeks and is rewarded by a week on the bench. It is impossible for a player to come back and perform well after being out for so long. He has RUINED the young players in this organization. Oh and by the way two solo HR’s by the bum Delmon Young in the last week does not impress me at all. If he would have caught the ball last night in left field it might have changed the outcome. The dancing elephant needs to be traded and Gomez needs to play.
Instead of shooting for a quality start of 3 runs and 6 innings pitched, maybe we should hope Liriano only gives up 6 runs in 3 innings. Any word on if he had another great bullpen session? LOL. Oh well, let’s give him yet another try. Maybe this time he has it figured out.
Take it easy Jack. Nobody knows the reason for not having Gomez in the line-up. He hasn’t played since he hurt himself. Gomez not at 100%, especially in his legs, is a Gomez you do not want playing. And you think Delmon not catching a single ball was the difference in last nights game? Seriously? Please enlighten us all. What exactly would that have changed in an 8 run loss? Given the team more energy? Anything?
“Any reports on Valencia he is down to .288… He is about 7 for his last 50+”
I just called Rochester for a report on Danny Valencia. They said he is in a slump. They said a slump is a thing where you go about 7 for your last 50.
Thanks for that reminder, Macleod. You’re a sharpie regarding business.
Funny Stuff Macleod.
I think that lineup is probably about as good as we can get. Delmon and Gomez both bring something different to the table. Gomez can field, Delmon can hit…sometimes, but Gomez can’t hit at all, so what do you do? We just need some new players, simple as that.
True that misplay by Young that led to 14 runs was devastating
I thought Joe Crede was in a slump. It turns out the slump was in his posture due to osteoporosis. I give him two games in a row before he declares something has stiffened up, strained, sprained, pulled, or just plain old broken down on his body.
Wait, tomorrows a day game. Crede can’t possibly play a day game after a night game. I guess he’ll be playing one game in a row, if he makes it through this whole game.
Macleod,
You are right if Young makes the catch it may not have changed the course of the game but it sure would not have hurt. The bottom line is he never makes the tough plays in left field and should be traded. I love the fact that Young hits a couple of homers in August and September and everyone talks about how great he can be. The last time I checked a season consisted of 6 months not 2.
As far as Gomez is concerned Lavelle and Kelly Theiser both reported he is fine and at 100% yet he continues to sit the bench. Two words for you PAUL MOLITOR.
“two solo HR’s by the bum Delmon Young in the last week does not impress me at all”
Kind of impressed me consider he got pretty much no playing time for 3-4 weeks, and has been hitting well the last few games in which Gomez has been out.
And seriously, no way that ball gets caught by Young. No chance. He played that fine.
Love the chat boys, but I have to go to a meeting. I’ll see ya at game time for more of my witicisms, insults, and sarcasm.
I still don’t understand the ripping on Delmon. He does good, two Home Runs in his last two games. Still gets ripped a new one by the “experts.” Hey Jack, go Steal some intelligence. A missed fly ball (on a tough play) is good for 14 runs??? Hmmm, I’d also like that logic explained.
I was at the game, I don’t think a lot of guys make that play anyway, even good outfielders. It was ripped. Just my opinion.
How conceited do you have to be to have someone Tweet for you?
Seth,
So you don’t think Span or Gomez would have made that catch in left field?? The dancing elephant nicknamed by Patrick Reusse at the Star and Tribune is a joke in every facet of the game. He will hit between .280 and .295 this year with 6 homers and 40 RBI’s. The funny thing is we got him to hit homers and RBI’s and he has not come close to that achievement. We could have kept Jason Tyner to hit singles for us. Young was handed the starting job after the first three weeks of the season and to quote Jerry Burns ” He stunk up the joint. ” Young is another very talented player Gardenhire has ruined along with Gomez and so many others. Go-Go deserves to play every day because he needs the at bats.
That ball was pretty uncatchable… And don’t forget the runner Delmon gunned down at the plate.
The alternative: Span at LF (3 inches shorter and with a lesser arm) would have made neither play…
Young is in the stage of his career where he need consistent playing time. If the Twins are going to keep Cuddyer next season, a trip to instructionals with a multitude of grounders at 2B and 3B in the off-season, might be good for the team.
The funny thing is we got him to hit homers and RBI’s and he has not come close to that achievement.
Here are some interesting numbers:
PA/RBI, 2009 Twins:
Cuddyer: 7.80
Crede: 7.85
Young: 8.06
So all of these three have an RBI at every 8 PA. Not bad, if you consider that Young is just 23 and the other 2 are in their 30s.
“So you don’t think Span or Gomez would have made that catch in left field??”
Assuming they were positioned the same way, No. I don’t think they catch it either, and if so, wow!
Delmon will have those numbers due to playing time, not lack of talent.
And Go-Go does deserve to play, when healthy.
Carlos Gomez cannot hit big league pitching right now and he has no clue what his swing will be like from the first one to the next. He takes his eye off the ball all of the time and just swings hard with his feet moving all over the place. I don’t know how you get through to him but he has to steady his feet and keep his head from moving all over the place. It really messes with his potential to make contact. The sad part is he has really quick hands and get’s the bat through the strike zone really fast about as fast as anyone. He has the ability to hit, power potential all of it, but I do not know if the Twins have anyone capable of teaching him how. Wish Carew could get a hold of him and have something sink in. This is the least of the the Twins worries right now, they have to figure out if they can find anyone that can pitch more than 4 innings a start. Young I don’t know he started off well last year and then kind of has gone in the pooper ever since. Young has all kinds of raw power(likely as strong as Cudeyer or stronger) and likely could hit well. I’m not sure what he is doing at the plate, he seems to have this inside out swing that nobody can explain where the heck is that crap coming from and why he continues this approach has to be baffeling to everyone including Young. I don’t think he does it on purpose, or it is intentional, it is just like a switch goes on, panic sets in, dude get’s tense at the plate and he forgets that he can hammer the ball and really hit it wherever he want’s too. The Delmon guy actually has ability, but I don’t think we will ever see it with the Twins though unless the coaching staff changes.
Thrylos 98,
As you may recall, I wanted Young to start in right field at the beginning of the year along with you. We both agreed the outfield should be Span/Gomez/Young. Well I was wrong and am willing to admit it!! Michael Cuddyer is having a very good year and deserves to play. I have defended Delmon Young for 2 years now just waiting for him to develop and reality tells me it will never happen. He deserves to get traded to a team that plays him and Gomez should be played here in Minnesota.
I think that arguing about whether Gomez or Young should play in the outfield right now is like the passengers on the Titanic complaining about the quality of the food.
Outfield is the least of the Twins’ problems!
Starting pitching is the real issue with this team. Anyone have any suggestions?
Young has played in 68 of 112 games, kind of hard to get into a grove and preform consistantly when you play so little. I think Gardy has screwed up the Gomez/Young Situation, Young should have been playing more just on his time in the Majors and Gomez should have started down at AAA to get consistant playing time… I like Gomez as a player and he has shown over the last month that when he plays more often he can play…as Young has…but why did the Twins waste one of Young/Gomez’s seasons as a bench player when Gomez could have played everyday in AAA considering Young could not be sent down because he is out of options.
Wow. Many people that dislike Young have no good reason at all. Give the guy a break.. He’s the only one that has been productive in the last couple of games.
David,
I agree great comment!!
So Jacksteal, what did you think of DY throwing out a runner at home.. Or hitting 2 HRs after being ice cold on the bench?
I’m sick and tired of Young tip toeing around to try and go after the ball…what a joke… I still prefer Gomez in the game.. he provides a spark..Young lucks out once in awhile swinging at the 1st pitch.. at least Punto’s not out there.. what a relief..no Punto..and maybe not an automatic 3 outs.. holding my breath again on long Lirianno goes.. Chicago has a tough sch the rest of the way..lots of games left.. quality start.. PLEASE have a quality start tonight!!!
Exactly,
The OF rotation has been a joke since it hasn’t been very “even.”
Cuddy pretty has played everyday except when hurt.
Then Gardy has Kubel play in LF/RF here and there. I thought with 4 OFs (when healthy) that Kubel should only be relegated to DH.
Totally agree that Young and Gomez are the type of guys that need consistent playing time.
As Icono stated, however, the OF is not the problem currently. The starting pitching with the current meltdown approach is killing the Twins.
The starting pitching with the current meltdown approach is killing the Twins.
Yes and it may continue for a while, but it will get better in a couple of years.
To be less cryptic here is the reason:
Since Radcliff was in charge of the draft (since the TK/thin cow years) and Ryan was the GM the motto was: look for pitchers who are throwing strikes and look for players who can defend. So the “Twins way” was born:
Pitch to contact, let the defense get the outs, do the little things right etc.
This resulted to cookie cutter pitcher development in the minors (mid to low 90s fastballs, the 2-seamer is mandatory, you gotta paint the corners and you gotta mix it up). Some pitchers (e.g. Slowey, Radke are born to succeed in this approach, others e.g. Garza, Lohse, Liriano are not).
Here is hope: Since Johnson has been in charge of the draft the last couple years the Twins are looking for pitchers with some interesting abilities and not just “throwing strikes”. Thus Hunt (who was rated by BA as having the best curve in the Twins’ system last season) and Gutierrez and all the fireballers they drafted in the top rounds this season.
There is hope, but more needs to be done with the coaching stuff from the top to the bottom IMNSHO
T98,
I vote you start every post with “Delmon is only 23 and African-American”.
That way anyone who takes issue with anything he does or you write can be immediately be identified for what they are: Discriminatory against “young” men of color. Both of which you’ve claimed at different times this season.
All the best,
A 41 year old
Spot on thry.
In another thread I mentioned this cookie cutter approach as compared to working with each pitcher’s strengths.
If the coach can’t change his style to the players he has to work with, who should be the one(s) to go?
The outfield rotation shouldnt be “even.” The players who are playing best should get the playing time unless they get hurt. Cuddyer, Kubel and Span have played better than Young and Gomez, therefore they have gotten more time on the field. Duh.
Also, look at Delmon’s game logs, his time in the lineup hasn’t been broken up inconsistently. He’s been given some long stretches to get his swing going, and he’s failed. He’s swinging better now than at any point all season, so it is a convenient time to milk Gomez’ minor injury.
Kirby91,
if you don’t think that discrimination is an issue in Minnesota (and the country as a whole, including baseball), I think that you are wearing rose color glasses
-A white 43 year old
thry, first of all to make reference that you the reason Young has not been playing as much this year as long year as discrimination is completely absurb! There is an African American and a Hispanic in the OF that have been taking away his playing time.
With that being said, all these people complaining about not seeing Gomez tonight really must not have watched the game last night. Young threw out a runner at the plate in addition to going 2 for 5 with his second homer in as many games. Why would you bench him after that?
T98,
Never said discrimination wasn’t an issue in Minnesota, the country or even in baseball. But I also don’t just throw it out every time in all situations because that is a disservice to when and where it does exist.
You’ll note I never referred to the color of my skin or yours. You felt the need to add it about yourself.
But I’ll leave it open to the possibility that the Twins dislike Delmon because his skin is darker than Span or Go-Go.
kirby91, absolutely nothing I can’t stand worse is when people want to place the race card when it is not warranted.
David says:
“I think Gardy has screwed up the Gomez/Young Situation”
Who are we kidding? Young screwed up the Gomez/Young situation. He’s supposed to provide power from a corner outfield position, but he hasn’t shown power. After his recent “power surge,” his slugging percentage is .361. By comparison, Gomez’ is .371.
Does anyone still want him to be taking playing time from Cuddyer (SLG .512)?
Enough said.
When’s next, if Liriano struggles tonight and is out of the rotation next time through, it was discrimination? Get outta here!
Actually 7-50 is not called a slump its called a “Punto or Tolbert” or maybe reality..DD
I like Cuddyer’s play better than Young’s.
Does this make me racist?
No, wait-I liked Hunter’s play better than Cuddyer’s.
Maybe I’m not so racist after all.
Whew-that was a close call!
I like it when anyone plays over Punto, does that mean I hate all Italians? Cause if so I might have an issue with some friends of mine in the future…..
Thank you all for proving my point in the previous posts.
7 for 50 is called ‘en fuego’ for Casilla.
That is all.
I never said that race was an issue for Young having such a limited playing time this season. That would have been absurd.
I am saying that race might be an issue for fans exaggerating Young’s shortcomings and not giving him enough credit when it’s due.
That’s all folks
thry, if that is correct then why wouldn’t the fans do the same exact thing for players like Gomez or Liriano (I will leave Span out of this as he has put up decent numbers this season)? Sounds like an excuse to me.
Ben,
not all fans but some fans. The same fans who run Dennis Green out of town, while his Vikings teams were the best Vikings teams ever…
“He said he learned it from Kevin Mulvey…”
Blind teaching the blind?
thry, Dennis Green did not get run out of town because he was a minority. It had to do with the fact that he could never ever get his teams over the hump in which he needed to in order to reach the Super Bowl.
Also let me add that it was not because of a lack of talent.
How much blame would the catcher receive for calling pitch location? I mean, if the catcher doesn’t ask for inside targets, how can the pitcher know to go inside?
Anyone have theories?
I am not really sure where the whole race crap started or why, but I am thinking that some fans tend to be harsher on Delmon than Gomez because Delmon came in a trade that wasn’t needed and Gomez came in a trade that Smith was basically handcuffed in.
They are both frustrating at times to watch, but they both need time to play, CONSISTANT time to play, and their time has been sporatic where Cuddy and Span have gotten the lion’s share, so when people are throwing around the whole, “we need Bartlett and Garza back” or “dump these two losers we got from Tampa” you are basically complaining about a former #1 who has been relagated to 24th man on the bench ahead of the guy he was traded with. As much as people hate to hear the “excuse” he has to have time to adjust to the new role and surroundings and I am guessing the Twin cities are nothing like Tampa, never been to either, and then from playing every day to once a week at best.
thry, one last thing on the point, who is one of the most famous if not the most famous Twins player of all time? Oh yeah, that would be Kirbyyyyyyyyy Puckett, God rest his soul. I guess that just goes to show that when players produce in Minnesota, the fans don’t discriminate regardless or race, religion, or whatever other discrimination you want to claim.
Ben,
re-write what you said about Dennis Green and substitute “Ron Gardenhire” for “Dennis Green” and “World Series” for “Super Bowl”. It would be equally accurate. Then assess the sendiment of the average Twins’ fan about Ron Gardenhire vs. Dennis Green and tell me whether you find some sort of inconsistency in the fanhood feelings…
thry, you are preaching to the choir on Gardenhire. I have been with you as noted many times this season about my dislike of Gardenhire in this day and age. Having said that though, you are comparing two completely different organizations. You know as well as I do that the Pohlads aren’t looking to fire anyone as that would mean more money out of there pocket.
*their
Popriveter, I never said for Young to take time away from Cuddyer, my point was Young could not be sent down to AAA so instead of playing Gomez and Young for 60 or so games each they should have let Gomez work on his hitting and throwing down in AAA and let Young play the outfield…instead of wasting 1/2 of the season for both players on the bench.
pop,
There was also a stretch of time when Cuddy was not doing well at the plate-so how come he didn’t sit multiple games a time?
Duh.
thrylos98 says:
August 12th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Ben,
not all fans but some fans. The same fans who run Dennis Green out of town, while his Vikings teams were the best Vikings teams ever.
You’re kidding right? I think you should stick to baseball T98. Grab yourself a Vikings media guide and you’ll probably soon note that the same coach actually led the franchise to 4 Super Bowl games. And since this site is proof that winning games during only the regular season only gets you so far I think that fact alone makes him the, what were your words, coach of “the best Vikings teams ever”. This despite his problem of being white.
Regards,
Ben,
it’s not about the Pohlads, it’s about the fans. Do you think that Minnesota fans hold Denny or Gardy in higher esteem (and yes Green’s teams went further)?
Answer that and maybe then figure why that might be the case…
Since Denny has been gone I think the fans have more appreciation for him. The Tice and Chilli regimes have made Denny look pretty good and he was…
Gardy might end up being like Denny or Jaques both good coaches but there comes a time …
thry, please like you are telling me the fans got Dennis Green fired. Green had the most talent in the league only to lose to Atlanta at home in the NFC Championship. Fans don’t get managers or head coaches fired as much as we would like to think so. Unfortunately that is not reality.
Houston, hopefully that times comes very soon.
Popriveter, using your thoughts that Young did not preform well enough to be starting than……..Punto and Casilla should never get out of the locker room.
thry, why do you think Rick Anderson still has a job? Go back over the last 20 years and look at the amount of turnover in the Twins organization. It’s why guys like Bill Smith and Rob Antony are now the GM and Asst GM.
I guess nobody within their organization ever deserves to get fired. You are right, it’s not on the Pohlads.
Boston up 3-0 in the bottom of the third at Fenway.
kirby91,
Bud Grant was a great coach, but that was way back then. And under Dennis Green the Vikings never had a losing season Bud Grant had 3 losing seasons… And the Vikings’ best season was that 15-1 1998 season that ended up with a missed field goa….
thry, you might wanna check your stats again as he was 5-10 in the first 15 games of 2001 which lead to his canning.
But, yes, the Pohlads (Carl) made this team something when he hired a 30some year old GM who hired a 30some year old manager out of nowhere…
No Harris and no (strike out) LNP.
So if there has been so little turnover in the Twins organization as opposed to so much in the Vikings organization, how in the world are you trying to blame it on discrimination?
Denny Green was black?
Seriously, he was run out when he had a bad year due to all of the issues he brought…. sexual harrassment, calling out of the owner(s), lack of going all of the way, but after 10 years it was change time.
Gardy had a nice run early, 2002-06 but i think his grip is tenuous and not to be that guy…. he lost something when his brother passed away…. not sure what or why or if it is a coincidence etc…. but he just doesn’t seem the same. Maybe a change for change. Colorado went to the WS in 07… Hurdle got canned and now the team is doing well.
ramble over
36 year old White Hispanic guy 
The Twins do have a color bias, it’s GREEN.
Speaking of Green. Fact check T98:
Confernce or League title game:
Denny Green 2
Ron Gardenhire 1
So please stop with the “Denny’s teams went farther stuff. For a long time Denny could get past the 1st round of the playoffs but was given a long leash. Sound like anybody you know? Denny took a lot of heat for that back then just as some (let’s use you as an example) have killed Gardy for a lack of post season success.
The list of differences between football fans/management tolerance vs. baseball is long so let’s assume we’re all intelligent enough to recognize them.
One other big difference Gardy had far less “off the field” public problems that Denny did at that time.
So I suggest we all move on from this bad comparison and enjoy the night the Twins turn it around!
I just want everyone to know that I give up this year. The Twins have lost a montaginous fan. No single person to blame, the whole team is crapping out. Period.
I haven’t made it through all the posts yet but I wanted to point out that this may be the last time the Royals have zero runs tonight against Liriano.
Goodbye DrDon. See ya next year.
Can we please get a 0 up on the board from our starting pitcher in the first inning?
I always thought the Korey Stringer death made Dennis Green want to leave.
Sometimes he looked that way on the sidelines.
Alexi Casilla is a late scratch. We’re waiting to learn why.
DrDon, don’t let the door hit you!
Folks,
I am not talking about their respective organizations policies or what their bosses decided. I am talking about the average Minnesota fan perception of Green vs. Gardenhire.
Who do they think was/is more successful
As simple as that
Looks like we can start talking about Punto now.
Our starting pitching is so bad!
Please see my post 4 minutes ago.
Stringer’s death ruined that team for 3 years.
thry, I have an idea, leave the race issue alone because you are getting nowhere and actually watch the game.
Hey, Florida wants hispanic players(like Pudge for example), same with the mets, Seattle wants Ichiro among others, You had Fernandomanis in sou cal, Torii talked about moving to a team with more urban youth(Okay Torii talked a lot). Race is involved in marketing, like it or not.
The Twins have recently heavily invested more than one year in Nathan, Morneau, Punto, Cuddyer, Kubel…
Coincidence, maybe?, probably?, but worth calmly discussing.
1-0 so far says Dick B.. I like that confidence!
i wish the Twins would have a comparing team to the 98-2000 vikings and see what happened
Original lineup was wrong. Punto was starting all along….
Bremer, the reasoning is, Gardenhire took a bat to Casilla after BP as he couldn’t handle LNP out of the lineup for two straight days.
Logan, scratch Nathan and Morneau, as they earned those contracts no matter what. Cuddy got a nice contract after a career year. And Punto…really???
Just found out that Joe Nathan has a twitter page JoeNathan36.
Does his tweets have the twitches and cheek puffs?
Good one Nick. If it wasn’t for the homer, we’d still have a game,lol!
Who do they think was/is more successful
Neither won a championship. But one actually knelt down with the best offense in football, and the best field goal kicker in the game with 30 seconds and 2 timeouts.
It went downhill from there.
T, why would you say the best kicker in the game?
T,
not so far on Nathan’s tweets
Ok, this has been observed before. Joe Nathan’s “twitches”. I don’t think they are noticeable so much, but sometimes I think Kubel should be maybe, ah, ahem, checked out a little, for, well, maybe, tourettes?
Ok, I didn’t say that.
That season, Gary Anderson was automatic. He missed ONE all season and was not given a chance to redeem himself.
So Dickbert just said that the word they got was that it was an administrative mistake and that Punto was in the lineup all along, not Casilla.
Enjoy.
ugh, it went downhill when Cunningham fumble and Denny and Billick went conservative…. but i’m not bitter
“”"”"Ben says:
August 12th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
DrDon, don’t let the door hit you!”"”"”
Thanks Ben.
Casilla vs. Punto at this point in the season is a wash.
but i’m not bitter
There isn’t a Vikings fan I know that when you mention that season doesn’t go “WHY DID HE KNEEL?!”
It’s hard to be bitter, Shawn. Green coached the greatest Viking team ever. Maybe one of the greatest teams ever, I don’t know.
Carter and Moss. Never any better.
T, he also barely attempted outside of 40 yards.
First inning runs from the heart of the order please…
What, the baseball seasons not painful enough lately? You have to bring up the 1998 Vikings season?
Macleod’s getting angry!!
DrDon, no problem!
C’mon Kubel!
Since the call is “Either”…does he fail if it’s both?
Thank you heart!
Nice clutch hit by Kubel!
Kubes!! Lets pour it on tonight and carry it over for tomorrow.
The Heart’s beating!
Cuddy can hit with runners on!! Amazing!!
Keep it rolling guys, we are gonna need more than two but I like the start!
I’d love to see a Twins team as good as the 98 Vikings…..
If you’re going to throw Cuddy a curve ball you better get it way outside, because he’s going to swing at it.
I think both Green and Gardy wore out their welcome. The longer both were (are) in control, the worse things got for both teams. Green was starting to lose control of himself and the team (you may recall the bunker video where Green basically said the owners were bad people and the media had a collusive policy to get rid of him). Gardy has allowed “the Twins way” to come to mean bad base running and missing cut off men. Both seem to have worn out their welcome (and Denny was terrible in AZ - if he’s mostly been about coaching, I think he’d have been much better off).
As for Manship and Slama, the Slama promotion is about time. I’m not sure about Manship either way at this point.
As for Hunt - he can’t throw a strike at all right now, so we can only hope that the change in philosophy works at this point.
that lame cuddyer. only a single.
Homeruns? From MY 3rd baseman?
Welcome back Joe Crede! I hope DrDon is having fun watching some ABC sitcom.
My wife used to be a bank teller in eden prairie, so she met a lot of the Vikings. She said that Gary Anderson was by far the nicest one she ever met. That was a crushing moment in MN sports history, but we should really blame the D and the conservative coaching, not one FG miss……
Apparently Gardy is sensitive to our blogs. As Maxwell Smart would say “It’s the old tell us one guy is starting, start another trick. Not this time Sigrfreid!”
Gardy is wicked smart…tell us fools what we want to read (sorry Jason, he has your number) and then late switch with the “we forgot” defense.
Gardy is smart. He can do things.
I love 2-out rallies.
Now Lirano…go out there and PITCH.
Crede has only 2 hits off Bannister…….both home runs….in 14 at-bats.
Even Crede started to smile as he rounded second…
and not to be nitpicky but Anderson was roughed a little…. there are so many reasons
robert smith going out of bounds when running down the clock….
Fredo, let’s not get it twisted. Gardenhire is far from smart.
Liriano you have a 4 run lead, why are you walking the leadoff guy?
If Liriano can’t relax after that, nothing will help the young lad.
Ben,
it’s a Hollywood reference:
Fredo Corleone: It ain’t the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I’m smart! Not like everybody says, like dumb! I’m smart and I want respect!
Nice recovery by Liriano after the leadoff walk.
Fredo, my bad, didn’t realize where you were coming from.
Fredo: “Don’t ever tell anybody outside the family what you’re thinking again.”
I have to give Crede a lot of credit…he’s missed a lot of game’s recently…but STILL has more HRs than half the roster.
Crede has a wicked upper cut swing. He’s going to hit the HR’s. We didn’t sign him for his batting average. Or his durability, apparently.
Not trying to start a punto bash, but last time i checked he was in there to work the count and get on base. You are up 1-0 in the count and you swing and hit a weak chopper to second.
Or his OBP. But, his glove and HR swing are in tact.
Let’s go Red Sox!!
I believe Punto is in there for defense. Base hits or getting on base are an extra. Gardy said; “I’ll let the boys in the middle drive in the runs.” Or something to that effect.
Macleod, i would agree to a certain standpoint, but also not to have 2 pitch AB’s.
I may have to write a book about the connection between Godfather quotes and baseball. “Leave the gun, bring the split finger”… It isn’t personal, Sonny, it’s RISP.”… “Torre is a pimp. It was LaRussa all along.”
I could go on.
Red Sox now up 4-1 in the bottom of the 5th.
Ben: True…true…
Fredo: Don’t quit your day job.
Sorry. I can’t help but get silly when I’m in the sports abyss that is late July/early August. When your team is tepid it is a long summer. Thankfully, I have to work at the PGA this week. I bet Tiger will be all over my swing tips to make him better.
Yeah, Fredo.
They ARE who we thought they were!
And yet we still let Fredo off the hook…
Fredo: Just keep the crowds and the camera shutters quiet or Tiger might take a driver to your skull.
I never, ever accept fishing invitations.
gotta admit, that’s the best press conference ever!
Was at the PGA practice round today. Phil and Rory signed autographs like crazy. Others interacted with the crowds (love the skipping shots across the lake on 16 guys….). But, some just totally blew off the fans, even guys you’ve never heard of “big timed” the crowd. All in all, a great day of psuedo golf.
As for the Twins, let’s get some big winning streak going. I’d like to feel some goodnesss…
Speaking of press conferences:
Cheer for the Red Sox tonight. I wonder when Ukelele and Portobello will start their suspensions.
Solid inning by Liriano there.
Boston goes up 6-1 in the bottom of the 5th on a bases loaded walk to Varitek.
I bought some baseball cards at Target tonight. Goudey brand. I got a Delmon Young. Yes!
Crede hits an occasional home run and thats about all he contributes. How many times when Crede hits a home run has the team won? How many of those wins has his home run had a deciding impact on the game? Off the cuff, I’d say his home runs have decisively helped win about 3-4 games. Maybe not that many.
Just about anyone who would replace Crede would be an improvement.
T98,
I’m sure you’re smart enough to know the Gardy vs. Green “perception” argument is a moot one. It’s like comparing apple to oranges.
1st, the expectation level any NFL coach start with compared to that of his MLB counterpart (expect the Yanks & Sox) is much different.
In the NFL all teams are created equal, financially. So every fans see’s no reason their team can’t and shouldn’t compete for titles. Only their competence of lack there of determines the level of success they can achieve.
In baseball all of that helps but is no guarantee of even competing give the disparity in payrolls. For the Twins winning division titles, this decade anyway has been deemed a success by many (not all & less each year) because of this. With the Vikings it needs to be and should be doing more than that.
Then you can get into the nature of the built in patience with each sport.
It’s why George Bush & later Palin were perceived to have been a success in his presidential debates (lowered expectations) while others (Obama & Kerry, even McCain) were at best only able to have not hurt themselves despite clearly being smarter & even more skilled debaters than their counterparts. Expectations.
….and now back to the Twins Killing!
Thanks gatty! That was a great video! I can’t believe I saw that!
Here’s something completely different that gets to me though:
The called third strike that dissects the plate annoys me. If you have two strikes, feel free to at least foul off that low strike.
Nice play by Cabrera!
Like he’s been playing the carpet all year long!
Well…..remember Walter: “Pay less, expect more”……..or whatever, aw who cares.
Crede’s hungry!
Delmon is starting to get his swing…
Nice job of staying hot by Delmon there. Keep Gomez on the bench as long as he stays hot.
I don’t feel confident with only a 4 run lead. LNP give us at least a sac fly.
I hate talking about that game, but whenever it comes up I can’t not relive it (how’s that for a double negative!) I sickeningly knew when he missed that field goal that we were going into pisss it away mode, and the infamous taking the knee still makes me wanna wring someone’s neck (& I’m not a violent person).
I think of Crede’s #’s against Bannister as typical Crede over the years, not a high average, kind of lulls you into not expecting much and then knocks one out at a very opportune time. Would like to seem him getting on a hot streak & hopefully also stay in a few games in a row.
Ducks on the pond Nicky.
Punto fails ONCE AGAIN.
I still hope DY proves me wrong, and t98 reminds me of it every day for eternity…
Let’s pick him up boys!
C’mon Denard, give us at least one here.
This is usually the spot where Span goes yard.
Punto is fine, as long as everyone else does their job….
Nothing new…Punto fails.
I see 2 Ben’s on here…one is cool, the other is the Imposter Ben.
We score!
Thank you Span, for doing what LNP could not.
Everybody is doing what we need them to do tonight. Everybody.
That will work to continue to hitting streak.
21 in a row for Orlando!
Everybody needs to do this tomorrow also.
DrDon, there is only one Ben on here. How are you going to come on here earlier tonight and say you quit and give up on this team only to come back when they are up by 6 runs? Coincidence, I think not. Hey DrDon, we don’t need fans like you. You already gave up, go watch CBS.
DrDon: I have never given up on the Twins, and thats since 1967. I followed them through the lean years in the nineties. I never have given up on them. That’s called being a fan!
That slider is dirty today…
Here’s the difference tonight for Liriano. Getting ahead of batters. That last slider works when the count is 1-2. It doesn’t work when the count is 2-0.
Nick34, that is DrDon’s response for saying I knew it all along if the Twins are unable to come back and win the Central Division. If you are going to quit on the team as a fan, thean I don’t know why you are posting on a blog of theirs and why anybody should pay any attention to it, especially after it comes when they are up by 6.
63 pitches through five for Liriano. That’s a nice change of pace…
Absolute PROOF of alien’s on this planet.
An alien has taken over Liriano’s body.
Regards,
Twins are winning by six.
Tigers are losing by six.
Hopefully Liriano will start to get his confidence back, even if it is KC.
Twins get lead. Pitcher relaxes and throws strikes. Opposing team starts to press and swing at tough pitches. It’s a winning formula.
Good stat Gatty. Now we just need this to happen six more times.
Remember, keep a very close eye on him. No implosions. It’s happened too often with the young bucks.
I do not know what is going on here with people using my moniker. I have been out of town, working if I may say, sign on and I am catching hell. Screw the Strib Blogs. Doc.
Great first six innings from Liriano!
Just leave em alone Gardy and let them play. Liriano stays unless absolutely shown otherwise.
DrDon, blame it on somebody else for you quitting on the team, because you have did it on two different sites.
Liriano is wheelin ‘n dealin tonight…
Liriano has 8K’s thru 6 innings. Nice!
DrDon, I did think you were awfully Jekyll-and-Hyde recently.
Liriano’s pitch count is still under 80…
This will make Frankie’s agent happy! We haven’t heard from that guy in awhile. Wonder if he’s still thinking the twins were holding Frankie back to save on money.
Ben, not I.
NO WAY!!
That is an absolutely horrible call by the ump. The ball didn’t enter the glove.
And, Ben…I have Not “Did it on two different sights.”
Does any call go the Twins way? Just ridiculous.
How does he get called out when the fielder didn’t have the ball in possession?
Gapper for Nicky, just to see those guys run. I feel it.
Another bad call against the Twins. Fortunately, we have a big lead tonight, but still c’mon umps.
Terrible call, but whatever.
I’m a little surprised they’re taking Delmon out this early.
I think Umps call the game on cruise control half the time.
And to think, earlier this evening I scoffed at the Francisco Liriano t-shirt at target for 10 bucks. Now if it were 5….
Like a lot of bloggers, Macleod.
Crede hits an occasional home run and thats about all he contributes. How many times when Crede hits a home run has the team won? How many of those wins has his home run had a deciding impact on the game? Off the cuff, I’d say his home runs have decisively helped win about 3-4 games. Maybe not that many.
Just about anyone who would replace Crede would be an improvement.
C R A I G you are so transparent. LOL.
And a hypocrite too. You’ve spent two years calling for Punto to play because of his defense.
Now you’re calling for Crede to NOT play, when his defense is miles better than Punto’s. And Punto’s back sucks even worse…without the occasional 3 run jack.
You can’t make this stuff up.
I give 100% each and every post.
Ben
You are an idiot. Please do not presume to tell DrDon when he is allowed to post, or that he is not allowed an opinion. This blog (not owned by the Twins, by the way) is here for the sole purpose of people reading the stories and opinions of beat writers, then commenting and opining on said stories. Sometimes people are going to be of the opinion that the Twins are not very good. That you are attacking him and others here, for stating opinions, shows me that you are a lonely blowhard, and that you probably have alot of problems in your personal relationships.
back = bat
I no typ[e good englich
Liriano for the eighth? 91 pitches so far. Perhaps have the BP warm just in case…
Nice 7 innings for Liriano. Hopefully he goes back out there for the 8th.
Kidding Me!… The real Ben is smart and has his feelings. Real Ben is cool. The problem is, this StribBlog allows for duplicate monikers that cause problems. Real Ben is not an idiot. His Phony Ben, who does not dare give a name of his/her own causes problems. It happens elsewhere too. Stay cool. Doc.
You’ve got to be kidding me: First, that’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? You posting your opinion that Ben doesn’t deserve to have an opinion about DrDon having an opinion?
And for the record, if the good doc hadn’t spent 4 months calling anyone with a dissenting opinion a ‘vulture’ 47 times per blog, he might get a kinder reception when he shows up to say ’season over.’
BTW, I also got a J.C. Romero card.
You’ve Got to Be Kidding Me!, I would take a lot more stock in your opinion if I have ever, just once seen you post on this blog. Since I have not, your post really does not matter to me.
And why would you pull Liriano Gardenhire? Dick thinks he’s done for the night.
I would get Liriano out now, and let him leave on a postitive note. Let Manship get his feet wet.
USAFChief, because it is the same person.
Only the manager of the millenium would waste his best set up man with a 6 run lead when his starter has under 100 pitches.
If Guerrier shave his chin and head I think he might be Crede’s twin.
Chief….
“”"And for the record, if the good doc hadn’t spent 4 months calling anyone with a dissenting opinion a ‘vulture’ 47 times per blog, “”"
?First of all, I have not used the term “vulture” for a long time, let alone 47 times per blog. But I will start again if you prefer.
DrDon, you always use the term vulture!
Just get up and throw the ball Nick.
You’re too far behind in the web gem race to catch up now anyway.
Dick thinks he’s done for the night.
Do you mean Bremer, or Gardenhire?
Bremer, don’t act like you are surprised that he was safe at second, it was a good call all the way around.
And Punto makes up for it there.
But seriously…wasn’t a runner JUST called out on almost an identical play like an inning ago?
Punto breaks through the Mendoza Line, and two days later the Twins get back to .500 baseball. It was a dream. I just woke up to see Nick’s webgem
So Cabrera gets the ball in his glove and the runner is called safe and crede is called out when the ball bounces off of the back of the glove. Right.
Ben: The commentary was that it was a nearly identical play to the one that Crede was out on earlier.
Bremer’s disgust was correct based upon the poor Umpiring at 2nd against us. Where’s the make up call? And yes, those do exist.
Well Bremer is making himself out to sound like an idiot when he says at least the ball was in the glove. Evidently nobody informed him that the fielder has to maintain possession for it to be an out.
Its one game folks, a good game so far, but its one game…. don’t fall into the Bremer trap and proclaim the season is turned around..
The Twins have been getting screwed by the umpires all year.
Dick thinks he’s done for the night.
Do you mean Bremer, or Gardenhire?
PoD.
Well played, Walter. Well played.
PoM worthy?
I want to hear some people say what a great throw and play Punto made to third. I’m so sick of the one way hatred towards him. Have the balls to call it both ways.
Macleod, I hope you are not saying that the call at 2nd was a blown call. Cabrera clearly never had possession of that ball.
I don’t think anyone on this blog has proclaimed the season has turned around…
Well Bremer is making himself out to sound like an idiot when he says at least the ball was in the glove. Evidently nobody informed him that the fielder has to maintain possession for it to be an out.
Not to mention touch the bag.
minntwins5, exactly.
I’ve posted quite a bit, ben. i have been posting for the last 3 years. just not a whole lot lately. And chief, I don’t have a problem with opinions, usually. But Ben is being a rabid little attack dog.
“Only the manager of the millenium would waste his best set up man with a 6 run lead when his starter has under 100 pitches”
Keppel, Crain, Mijares, and Duensing are not available, because they are still glowing from last night.
You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me!, congrats on your second post ever!
I’m saying the first call at 2nd, against us, was a blown call. Therefore, Bremer gave us a; “come on, if you call us out, call them out” kind of commentary. Cabrera did have brief possession of the ball. However, he did not have his foot on the bag until after his right hand knocked it out of his glove. His “snowcone” was there for a second or two.
sane, so you couldn’t put manship in for the 8th up by 6?
What a great throw and play Punto made to third.
I apologize for being late, but I was typing another post.
“sane, so you couldn’t put manship in for the 8th up by 6?”
Not if he may be in the starting rotation.
Perhaps Manship won’t pitch tonight…
sane, and when is he going to be in the starting rotation?
Twins better come out tomorrow with the heart they have shown tonight. We need back to back SP performances and then carry it into the Indians series and keep pounding away. We need a real winning streak!
7-1 game tonight, gardenhire needs to stick in manship and not nathan!
Just think if crede could have been healthy all year…
I don’t think Ben gets the point people are making.
NEITHER play tonight was an out. However one WAS called an out. Bad calls are one thing…but inconsistent bad calls are annoying as hell.
Sane, I sense sarcasm. I’m sorry, I am not counting your praise of Punto. I proclaim myself the official counter. You are hereby disqualified.
Ben: Is Swarzak for sure still in the rotation?
“and when is he going to be in the starting rotation?”
As soon as all our other starters start to crap on themselves.
Oh, wait…….
Where’s the charge by Gomez?
T, yes I have heard nothing to the contrary, have you?
Ben says:August 12th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
“You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me!, congrats on your second post ever!”
Ben,
Maybe you should visit the same proctologist who pulled the 2nd base umpires head out of his posterior, said condition caused him to miss the call on Crede. After medical treatment he got the call on Cabrera correct.
Hopefully, after your visit you can leave You gotta be kidding me alone.
Regards,
The closest Nick Punto will ever get to a GS…
What if Punto hit a grand slam. NOT!!! He’s 0-4..whats new.
Dick Bremer, if a flyball does not reach the warning track, it is not deep, even if it is hit by LNP.
“Sane, I sense sarcasm. I’m sorry, I am not counting your praise of Punto. I proclaim myself the official counter.”
I wasn’t being sarcastic.
BUT, you are the official counter, so….. never mind.
I don’t think Ben gets the point people are making.
NEITHER play tonight was an out. However one WAS called an out. Bad calls are one thing…but inconsistent bad calls are annoying as hell.
Ben doesn’t get the point? BEN doesn’t get the point???
You want the umpire to follow up a terrible call by making an even worse one???
You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me post all the time.
Delmon has sparked this team into believing in themselves.
Punto made a great play, but what the hell is he doing hitting the ball in the air. New rule for Punto, taken from the movie Major League: Everytime he hits the ball in the air he does 20 pushups. Man do I strongly dislike Nick Punto
Dragon, nice of you to join in tonight, but I will pass on your offer.
Punto has a home run this year. Now, if you said that about Redmond…
Why is Nathan in the game right now? If Manship is not starting for Swarzak on Saturday, this is stupid.
Lol. I never thought i would say it, but thank you Dragon.
USAFChief, I love it how everybody wants to blame everything on the umps. Let’s all take the easy way out.
OFficial Counter: If you’re going to give Punto credit for the throw to third, then I insist you also debit him for the poor throw, made unecessarily from his knees, that put a runner on first to begin with.
Nathan’s pitching to knock the rust off. He’s only pitched once in August so far.
I am going to give the MVP to LNP and Delmon, who both have given this team the spark they needed tonight. Liriano merely grabbed ahold of said spark to be able to pitch one fine game. But the defense of LNP and the big headed smile of Delmon made this game what it was.
USAFChief,
It’s been Punto’s MO ever since he came over from Philadelphia: make a great play, make a stupid play, make a great play, make a stupid play.
You want the umpire to follow up a terrible call by making an even worse one???
*sigh* Figured you’d be the one to further miss the point.
Nobody wants bad calls, but to say they’re not allowed to voice frustration with inconsistent calls?
And people call me the Blog Cop? Ooookay.
i hope your joking
Ben,
You are saying the upms call on Crede is/was correct?
Regards,
USAFChief: I most certainly will not debit Punto. He dove for the ball and tried to make that throw. Wasn’t it a base hit? I will defer to the Official Scorekeeper. Base hit=no debit. Error=debit.
Ben: JoeC’s post back on Sat/Sun indicated that the rotation going into this week would look something like
Baker, Blackburn, Liriano (or Duensing/Swarzak), Duensing/Swarzak (or Liriano), Pavano…
Of course, this was before Perkins went to the DL and Manship came up.
So according to JoeC’s report it’s possible that given his recent struggles that his spot in the rotation is not a lock as it once was.
It could be even less so now that there’s another pitcher available.
Manship is probably being held out incase Swarzak implodes quickly in his next start…. plus they wanted to get his feet wet warming up in the big leagues. They did that with Mulvey in TX…. let him warm up and not come in…. maybe working some of those nerves out of him
A guy who makes one stupid play for every great play he makes is a guy who makes too many stupid plays to be an MLB regular - regardless of how many web gem plays he makes.
A badly needed win tonight!
T: they all missed our point. I was defending Bremer for acting indignant towards the umps. Nobody said Cabrera made that out.
Anyway, nice game Twins!
Game over. Twins win! Twins win! Goodnight all.
I love it how everybody wants to blame everything on the umps.
I love when self-appointed geniuses fail at basic reading comprehension.
Bad calls suck, inconsistent bad calls suck worse. Nobody wants either.
People are frustrated with inconsistent calls. They don’t want “payback” calls…they want the original call to be right in the first place.
Dragon, I am saying that the call did nhot effect the outcome of the game, so deal with it!
Ben,
“Why is Nathan in the game right now?”
Because he hasn’t pitched in a week and he needs work to get rid of rust.
I (mostly) enjoy Bremer, but there is no defending the man. He is a shameless homer.
Walter: Perhaps you like to exaggerate just a bit to make your point? Since Punto makes many, many good plays in the field, I would say he would have to make many, many errors to make your statement correct. I won’t acknowledge your silly statement by looking up the stats. I will just say your ratio of 1 great play to 1 stupid play is, well…stupid.
Anybody calling Bremer a Homer has never watched a White Sox broadcast.
T, I am well aware of the rotation. Having said that I can’t help but wonder if after Gardenhire’s use of the pen tonight if Manship won’t start in place of Swarzak.
I like listening to Hawk Harrelson call a game because he’s such a homer it’s laughable.
That doesn’t make Bremer not a homer, though.
Bremer’s a shameless homer? Do you listen to other broadcasts? Dick and Bert give credit where credit is due. A certain amount of homerism is welcome, because we are watching our home team. Try listening to the Sox broadcast. At least Dick and Bert will acknowledge good plays on other teams.
T, if anybody is claiming Hawk is not a homer, then they are worse off than anybody you or I have ever seen.
People are frustrated with inconsistent calls. They don’t want “payback” calls…they want the original call to be right in the first place.
We all do.
But what was ‘inconsistent’ or ‘bad’ about the Cabrera call?
He got it right.
“Anybody calling Bremer a Homer has never watched a White Sox broadcast.”
I have watched.
Bremer is still a homer, but he is at least a professional announcer.
Hawk?
Uh…..no.
A caricature of a jackass.
Good bounce back win. Now, let’s hope that whoever pitches tomorrow can come out and pitch a strong start tomorrow.
10-ty is not a number LaPants! 
USAF Chief,
Crede call vs. Carbera call.
Crede call WRONG vs Cabrera call CORRECT
The point being made, maybe inartfully is that IF the Crede call is correct Than the Cabrera call was incorrect.
Regards,
But what was ‘inconsistent’ or ‘bad’ about the Cabrera call?
Okay, now you’re just intentionally being obtuse.
Nobody wanted a “payback” on the Cabrera call. Yes…he was out.
Frustration comes from the “original call” (The one where Crede was out) being an identical play with an opposite ruling.
The point being made, maybe inartfully is that IF the Crede call is correct Than the Cabrera call was incorrect.
THANK YOU.
That is the frustration. Inconsistency.
Hey Chief, you can’t have an ‘inconsistent’ call if you are only asking about one call. The inconsistency was calling a close play at 2nd against us, and then calling a similar play against us again. I stand by Bremer questioning the Umps on making inconsistent calls.
Slama up,Keppel out,please!Of course Bremer is a homer,they pay his salary.
And before anybody steps in…yes, this Blog has commented when the Twins get the benefit of a poor call, because it taints a win and makes you wonder how things go differently if it’s not called.
For example, did Hrbek lift that guy off of first base?
sane - agreed. I used to LOVE Bremer, but his total homertude really left me cold after a while. He finds silver linings in EVERYTHING.
Hawk is just annoying as sin.
I think Bremer TRIES to be objective, but can’t disguise his feelings.
Hawk has no interest in being objective, and is not trying to hide (and actually revels in) his homerism.
Bremer is still a homer, but he is at least a professional announcer.
Okay, that I respect. Bremer will at least call a game, and show respect for both teams making good plays.
One of the most frustrating things ever is watching replays of Morneau’s 3-HR game with the Sox announcers.
He finds silver linings in EVERYTHING.
Well, when you’re watching a ballclub that’s as schizo as the Twins have been this year…I almost think Dick’s developed that as a means of keeping himself from going insane watching some VERY frustrating games.
Because remember, you and I have the luxury of turning off a game when it’s 11-1 in the 4th inning. DnB have no such option. And they have to sit through almost EVERY. SINGLE. GAME.
I think DnB would go insane if they didn’t try to find something good about a bad situation.
GENO,
“Of course Bremer is a homer,they pay his salary”
Vin Scully, Jack Buck, and Herb Carneal were/are also paid by their teams with a much different result.
I have the MLB package and watch a lot of other teams as well. Dick and Bert are some of the best in the business. Many other announcers are quiet, boring, and do not have a good flow for the game. I want our boys to be somewhat homers, otherwise I would watch the other teams broadcast every night. Every single teams FSN broadcast has homer announcers because they are broadcasting to the home crowd.
BTW, Vince Scully is still the best.
Obviously I meant Vin Scully. My wife was distracting me. Only excuse I have. I feel shame…
Yeah, Dick’s a homer, but if he slammed the Twins like, well, like WE do, I’d listen about five seconds and just read the box scores the next day.
Only WE can slam our team!
Mac,
NEVER, EVER blame the wife!
Rookie mistake, often made by veterans.
On the post-game, Bert is trying to throw curveballs. He just beaned the guy batting with one that didn’t break. It’s kind of funny. Of course he charged the mound.
Macleod,
Yes. I exagerated to make a point.
However, if the actual stupid play to great play ration was 1:5, I’d still say that is too many stupid plays.
Steve Stone got axed by the Cubs for NOT being a homer and criticizing the Cubs on the air. Now he’s teamed with Ken Harrelson, the biggest homer there is. Go figure.
sane,
Vin Scully, & Jack Buck were NEVER indifferent to the Dodgers or Cardinals.
I spent time listening to both many years ago. Although when Jack Buck worked with Harry Carey with the Cardinals in the mid-late 60’s, he was indifferent compared to Carey, BUT Carey was the epitome of homer.
I spent a year in So Cal in ‘73/’74, Scully might have been less partisan, partisan nonetheless.
Regards,
Frustration comes from the “original call” (The one where Crede was out) being an identical play with an opposite ruling.
I can understand frustration with the Crede ‘out’ call.
What I can’t get is this whining about the Cabrera play.
The play was called correctly.
And for the record, the plays were not ‘identical.’
The umpire ruled in the Crede play that the KC infielder caught the ball while on the bag, and lost control of it while transferring it to his throwing hand. That would be the correct call, if that’s what had happened. That’s not what happened, and we all could see that on the replay. Bad call.
On the Cabrera play, there was never any opportunity to call the force play. Cabrera briefly had the ball in his glove, but while that occured was not on the bag. If the ump had called the runner out on that play, it would’ve been an even bigger blown call.
Not that any of this matters one whit.
And not that T will understand any of this.
And Dickbert is every bit the homer that Chicago’s announcer’s are.
Most teams have the same thing. LAAofA’s announcers are worse than either.
T and USAFChief,
You guys are right 100%. The Twins’ broadcasters are hardly homers compared to the Angels’ - all those guys talked about was a HR to tie the game off Nathan - who are then compared to White Sox, who complained about EVRERY thing and kept saying how they wanted to curse.
Side note: EXCELLENT outing by Liriano.
Dragon,
“Vin Scully, & Jack Buck were NEVER indifferent to the Dodgers or Cardinals”
Indifferent was your word, not mine.
I said that Scully and Buck’s homerism was “different” than Bremer’s.
Bremer earnestly wants to be objective, but fails under stess.
I’ve heard Scully on Dodger broadcasts since Moby Dick was a minnow.
I’ve heard Jack Buck since he, Harry Caray and and Joe Garagiola did the Cards on KMOX radio.
I don’t remember either of them allowing homerism to erase their professionalism, although they were certainly not “indifferent”.
Bremer (although a good broadcaster and a nice man, IMO) has blurted out things (like tonight’s CORRECT call on Cabrera) which I can’t imagine Scully or Buck ever allowing to escape their lips.
Would one of the reporters ask Gardenhire and press him for an answer; why he dislikes Brendon Harris? Harris is far superior offensively to Punto or Casilla. He goes 3 for 5 with a homer and then is on the bench. It is crazy and Gardy needs to explain to fans what the story is behind is behavior.
….. did y’all see where LNP was at Hazeltine yesterday and a reporter asked him his handicap, to which he answered 2. My response would have been ” no, your golf handicap, not your batting average ” ……
Lineups?
Tired of watching it rain…….
:)>
span rf
Cabrera SS
Mauer C
Morneau DH
Cuddyer 1b
Young LF
GOmez CF
Casilla 2b
from gameday
