Twins-Rangers: Kubel in, Morneau out. And he’s no longer Baby Jesus, just call him St. Joe
Posted on August 19th, 2009 – 5:08 PMBy La Velle
Jason Kubel’s left knee felt good enough for him to be in tonight’s starting lineup. Justin Morneau, however, continues to battle an ear infection. Gardenhire is going to give Morneau another day to see if his condition improves. No one wants to see him land on the disabled list, and Gardenhire is trying to be as patient as he can.
Joe Mauer woke up today trailing only Albert Pujols in OPS. And, if you haven’t watched ESPN today, here’s the following note:
Mauer, with a .383 average and 25 homers, is one of five players to bat at least .380 with at least 25 homers this late in the season. The others: Ted Williams (1941 and 1957), Joe DiMaggio (1939), Lou Gehrig (1930 and 1936) and Babe Ruth (1931).
What Mauer is doing right now is sick.
He’s added 30 points to his batting average in the last 16 games. And while the Twins might not even finish .500 this season, Mauer (and Morneau) will be THE drawing card at the Dome in September.
As I wrote in today’s story, he….is…..on….everything….right….now.
And he won’t come out of the lineup. Gardenhire mentioned to him a couple days ago that it might be time for a break. Mauer looked at him and replied, “I’m good.”
Remember the arcade basketball game in which your player would turn on fire if he hit three straight shots. Mauer is in flames right now.
Forget about the season. Ignore where he might play in 2011. Enjoy the ride.
Lineups
Twins (57-62)
1. Denard Span, RF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Jason Kubel, DH
5. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
6. Joe Crede, 3B
7. Delmon Young, LF
8. Carlos Gomez, CF
9. Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: Scott Baker
Rangers (67-51)
1. Julio Borborb, DH
2. Michael Young, 3B
3. Josh Hamilton, RF
4. Marlon Byrd, CF
5. David Murphy, LF
6. Ian Kinsler, 2B
7. Hank Blalock, 1B
8. Pudge, C
9. Elvis Andrus, SS
Pitching: Kevin Millwood, RHP
174 Responses to "Twins-Rangers: Kubel in, Morneau out. And he’s no longer Baby Jesus, just call him St. Joe"
Mauer is playing out of his mind. I hereby vow never, ever again to refer to him as Baby Jesus. St. Joe it is. Glad Kubel seems to be ok - the way he went down last night did not look good. I was wondering, can St. Joe pitch?
Good line, LaVelle…”Enjoy the ride.” Joe is in good company.
Thank you for bequeathing him as St. Joe. MUCH better.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Those who used to say “Baby Jesus” can now occupy themselves at the current shout-downs at the townhall meetings of politicians instead.
Gotta go right now. Doc, I was supposed to be 1st.
Did I miss something? Is Casilla hurt?
St. Joe was a closer at CDH.
Nice name, LaVelle. He is certainly special to watch. And romer, shame on you for the politics.
Hope no one stole your toast today LaVelle.
Harris batting 8 playing 2nd and then gomez 9 would be better.
Mauer’s only 6 HRs shy of the AL lead. And he didn’t even play the first month of the season!
Can one of our beloved Twin reporters ask Brendan Harris — on the down low — if he really is against playing second base? (This is what Gardy reported to the media.) If that’s true, I accept this lineup. If not, it is just so tragic. Either way, I’d say we should’ve picked up a 2B and benched Punto for him. Cabrera over Harris is a nice to have but mos def not a need to have.
Thanks for the update, La Velle!
Mauer is unreal. So is Gardy for totally different reasons.
Did I miss something? Is Casilla hurt?
Casilla’s still on the 25-man roster??
I never called him “baby jesus”, just my “husband” 
The way Mauer is playing right now, only four other players have to do their jobs for it to be OK that Nicky doesn’t hit.
I can’t believe you guys want Punto out of the lineup, He busts his tail out there. Who cares about the results?
LEN, you’re right on the money. What Mauer is doing this season (this stretch of it in particular) is amazing. And he’s doing it while catching. I hope the Twins pay him the money.
trish! Where the heck have you been?
Trish for PoD. 
Good one, Trish!! Made me smile.
I just hope the pitching settles down. Bake, lead the way. Only way it will turn around is by example.
I was at my grandma’s all summer without internet. but now i’m back at school so i’m back on here
I believe Casilla is currently suffering from Mendozaitis. While he has sought out treatment in the minor leagues twice this season, apparently this particular strain is terminal for Casilla. All you can do is mourn his bat and hope he miraculously goes into remission in the off season and comes back healthy next year.
If you haven’t heard yet, Yohan Pino today for Rochester: Pino 8IP, 0R, 3H, 1BB, 8K. Smith was there watching.
I was at my grandma’s all summer without internet.
I did that once. Of course, there was no internet then. But her tv only got one channel. And it was snowy. Same thing almost.
Smith was there watching.
Were I Smith, I’d be somewhere other than watching the Twins, too.
Ah, the good old days, huh, WJ? I remember those, too. Barely.
I like a little Pino with my cheese.
T98 can you give me a scouting report on Pino?
Your grandma had a TV, Walter???
Cuddyer is soooo scary at 1B. I predict his D cost us the game. Get well soon Morneau.
Your grandma had a TV, Walter???
Yes she did. But not an automatic washing machine.
Punto sucks and is the worst $4 million player in Twins history and the worst hitting MIF in baseball! Just doesn’t seem to be enough Punto hating these days.
Thy, has Pino been at Rochester long? Could he another Jose Mijares type, in your estimation?
The way Twins had been playing, Trish might have been better off not having access to a television!
Actually, Punto isn’t the worst hitting MIF on his own team. You know, if you count batting average.
I dunno… I did like having a TV at least. It was fun to watch my husband do well at least
Hey shazel, isn’t it funny that when Puckett signed a contract for $3 million a year he was the highest paid player in baseball, and now Punto makes more than that? Isn’t that funny? I think it’s funny.
Could he another Jose Mijares type, in your estimation?
//don’t want to steal thry’s thunder, but…//
Yes. If he gains 75 lbs and learns to pitch with his left hand, he could be a ‘Jose Mijares type.’
How true, Macleod. But he is, nevertheless, abyssmal. I guess pitching isn’t the team’s only weakness.
Tonight’s starting lineup is batting .337 for their career off of Millwood. If you take away the hitters with the two worst averages off of him (Span and Crede), that average moves up to .359.
Plus, trish, you can watch things other than the Twins (at least you can when your husband isn’t hitting).
People are still complaining about the Harris/Punto/Casilla thing? If you havn’t noticed they all suck it doesn’t matter who plays, everyone acts like Harris is the new baby Jesus or something. If you look at the stats Punto is a better all around player than Harris they both have about the same OBP and about the same average with RISP. Harris may have a better average and hit more homers but Punto takes more pitches and is a better base runner which is what Gardy is looking for out of his number 9 batter. Harris was given his chance midway through the season and he choked big time. Btw I am not writing this as a Nick Punto supporter, I was not happy at all when we re-signed him this off-season, but the facts are there that he is starting at 2B over the other guys.
Great research, Ben!
They’ll probably pitch around Mauer…..
Gooter,
I agree that Harris failed big time when he got his chance to be the everyday 2B-man. But Punto is a better baserunner? You mean when he isn’t getting picked off, caught in run-downs, over-sliding bases, or sliding head first into first base?
Meanwhile, the Rangers’ 2-9 hitters (Borborb has never faced him) career average against Baker is .213.
Hope you aren’t jinxing us, Ben
s**t happens……..
romer, all I am saying is that throughout their careers the Twins have hit Millwood well and Baker (in a small sample size) has pitched fairly well against the Texas starting lineup.
Oh……..yeah. I captured that intention, Ben.
I’m never comfortable with Baker pitching in a hitters ballpark. Remember the long ball!
And it was worth saying, Ben.
People have accused me of jinxing, is all.
Too bad the Sux won today.
LOL!!! Gooter, you’re smoking crack. Punto is the worst baserunner on the team. He got picked off last night on the “53″ play that doesn’t even work in high school. Baserunning has nothing to do with speed either. You can be fast but a terrible baserunner - which Punto is. Anyone notice we haven’t seen one of his pattened head first slides into 1B lately? Another reason he’s a terrible baserunner.
Why isn’t Punto held accountable like others on the roster? He’s the only guy without a hit last night and he struck out twice - once looking. If that happens to anyone else not names Mauer or Morneau, they find themselves on the bench. WHY does this not apply to Punto? Why is he treated differently? Please…someone enlighten me
Bill, He is a nephew of the Pohlad’s.
NBA Jam! I haven’t played that game in ages.
Love that Joe Mauer guy!
Cuddyer can get caught looking five times and not sit the next game. But at least with Cuddyer we know he will come back and be productive a couple games later (unless it is April 2009).
hey doc i thought punto just had some compromising pics of gardy
Nick Punto is Denny Hocking reincarnated.
D…that is the rumor, but the truth is that the Puntz really gets after it.
Jimmy says:
August 19th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Nick Punto is Denny Hocking reincarnated.
I am thinking more of Chip Hale
LEN 3 changes it from Baby Jesus to St. Joe and already he’s 0-1. Way to go. Thanks for being the jinx.
Did Gardy make any comments on Punto, yet again, getting picked off on the oldest, dumbest play in the book last night? This is getting to be a lot of mental errors by LNP the last month. I hate this topic but if it were almost anyone else they’d be so deep on the bench they’d have to look up to see Brendan Harris.
just call him St. Joe
How did baby Jesus become his dad?
I love how our starting second baseman can’t hit for average, has zero pop in his bat, and a great glove, and our utility guy has has a decent average, has some pop, and has an average glove.
With this philosophy, I guess every manager in the history of baseball is wrong and Gardenhire is correct.
Can’t FSN find shirts that fit Robby Incswmiscowskiowski?
Walter Johnson I am refering to the fact he has 9 stolen bases and only been caught stealing twice compared to Harris with 0 steals and one cs I think its safe to say who has the better percentage. Other than the other day when he was caught trying to steal second and ended up being SAFE I can’t recall any other blunders. Also Punto has more sacrifices and half as many GIDP. So again I must say I’m not a Punto fan but can see why Gardy starts him over Harris…It’s not just about batting average and home run folks.
no way cuddyer catches that ball - nice play span
Gooter,
I know, Punto’s defense saves at least one run a game LOL.
Gooter, you damn right it’s not about batting average and home runs. It’s about good situational hitting, being able to hit a sac fly, or for the love of Mauer be able to drop a sacrifice bunt.
I can’t believe people still defend Punto and Gardenhire. It amazes me.
I knew it would work! Punto got a hit!
GoGo and Punto make quite a Duo!
If the Twins let Mauer go, Minnesota will blow up.
Doesn’t Millwood know he just needs to fake to 3rd first to get Nick?
0-2 leaves the sacks jammed. Are you feeling at least a little guilty LEN3?
why did he swing at the first pitch, he never swings at the first pitch . . . damn.
Show US the replay, for crissakes! ! !
thank you.
Used to be the Twins starters folded right after their team scored for them. Now all they have to do is have a threat and then they crumble.
Where Dick & Bert the only ones in texas who didn’t realize that Gardy was calling for the appeal right away from the dugout, then when he called Crede to the mound as well?
kirby91, funny thing was he was not even close to missing the base.
Right, Kirby. I was hoping he was calling to the pen also.
Great job by Baker keeping us within five runs by the third inning again, sheesh.
I couldn’t see if he missed it on my computer but even as dumb as I am I could tell that’s what Gardy was going to argue.
“Forget about the season. Ignore where he might play in 2011. Enjoy the ride.”
That is correct, La Velle.
I thought perhaps the Twins might offer Joe about half what he is worth at the end of the season. Then possibly try to trade him when he doesn’t accept. That was the approach with Johan under Bill Smith.
I think they will go with the Terry Ryan approach with Joe. Let him play out all of 2010 and then take the two draft picks as compensation.
Joe absolutely owes it to himself to explore the free agent market. That will put him well outside the reach of the Minnesota Twins.
Twins fans get to see Joe play as a Twin for about seven more months. Considering all the unwarranted criticism they have done of Joe for his play in the past, they don’t deserve 7 more months. Lucky for them, they will get what they don’t deserve. The only criticism he ever deserved was for his little bit of belly-aching this year.
Looks it’s got to be another one of those WTF night for the hitters and just say OK let’s slug them sort of deal.
“Wasn’t it buntingtwins who asked whether Mauer would even be batting .300 by the end of the month?”
No. I was the one who said he might be hitting .400 by the end of the month.
what is wrong with twins hitters - baker just throws a 100 pitches to get out of the bottom of the third inning and they give the opposing pitcher a 10 pitch inning.
how about take a few pitches, working the pitch count
Just got here. How’s my boy Punto doing?
Hey, another quality start by Twins pitchers. Less than 6 runs in 3 innings pitched.
baker must be our ace?
punto got a hit, mac, and never even got picked off!
Punto’s there when you need him.
Baker is really battlin’ out there.
Come on Delmon, you big headed freak. We know you can do it!
Ok, come on now guys. Nicky can’t do it all himself!
How about a little shot down the first base line?
#3 and 4 hitters are 0-3 with a walk, stranding bases loaded all day long.
Or is that 0-5? Ish.
The last 3 times twins have loaded bases with 3 walks = 1 run
And Gardy is tempting fate by sending Baker back out there.
what an absolute joke with RISP….buncha AAA trash is what they are.
This umpire is pathetic.
The fourth pitch to Kinsler was called a ball, yet a pitch that was proved to be more outside of the zone was called a strike to Delmon Young.
|¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨—
|—Mauer Power—-||”|”"\__
|__________________|||_|___|)< !(@)’(@)”"”"**!(@)(@)****!(@)
Dang, didn’t work…
What was tonight’s starters batting average against Millwood? Before tonight I mean.
Rangers and Twins offense can’t solve the man on 3rd with less than 2 outs. Maybe the Twins can generate something this inning!
Rally time…
Cuddy!!! Of course he got a double…no one was on base!
The Twins are showing some heart! They are taxing the Rangers bullpen in this series.
Did Robbie just say Delmon is starting to watch the ball?
Twins should offer Mauer 20% ownership of the team + 10 million a year for a lifetime contract.
I’m getting the Rangers feed. The announcers earlier called LNP “Pesky”
It’s looking like my man Punto is going to have to save the day.
I have DirecTV. I have all the broadcasts.
2 of his 3 swings were, shall we say, weak.
That’s my boy LNP!!!
Bert just said Punto has great career numbers against Millwood. So, anyone want to ask where’s Casilla again?
Even though GoGo struck out, he looks like he’s getting more and more dialed in. Punto!!!
Span is due to drill one over the right field wall.
I’ll give ya that call anyway Nick34!
or to deep left!
The Rangers announcers said that Nick Punto has the lowest OPS of any player at any position in both leagues. But they were quick to say he is a real gamer and that’s why Gardy loves him. I prefer to think LNP has a risque picture of Gardy in his locker and it’s blackmail.
Gomez and Delmon just need more at bats. Too young to come off bench once a week and expect to do good. But with Span and Cuddy having good years, that’s just the way things have played out.
If the score remains as is through the bottom of the inning, I believe Millwood will remain winless in 11 starts vs. the Twins with an 0-6 record.
Span would have been safe anyway. But, you know us and close plays…
Millwood is already 0-6. He will be 0-7.
Got to give the offense some props for moxie the last two nights. Might be the only way this team win right now.
Pudge has had a good night till that drop. The baseball Gods seem to be on the Twins side tonight. Of course, there’s plenty of baseball left tonight. Kubel is due for an extra base hit.
Time for St. Joe to go yard
Weenie Rangers! C’mon, Kubes
Dick just pretty much said this whole inning is thanks to LNP.
Baker needs to shut them down this inning.
Hey look, Gardy’s giving Baker a chance to lose this game!
So we have to get through this inning plus the next before we get to the 1-2 punch of Guerrier and Nathan.
Macleod you must have a chubby, your little man is “ablaze” thank god he is attempting to wipe out that pathetic pick off last night. I think Baker went to the market and asked for his balls back, apparently they were still available.
baker got hosed. gameday shows 4 pitches clearly in the bottom of the strike zone… and they weren’t even close. umpires are soooooo inadequate.
This Ump has been very very inconsistent.
Awesome…To the 7th we go!
Same order as last inning.
Ahhhhhhh, thank you Andruw Jones, 2 home runs when you were 18 in the World Series and downhill ever since. Most overrated center filelder I ever saw, could not hold Tori’s jockstrap. Lazy to the max, but hey he made his dough and obviously is eating it as well!
Funny that this team finally shows a little fire with Morneau out of the lineup.
Nothing to do with Morny being out Walter, perhaps the realization for these other players that they get paid to deliver as well and for god’s sake on this evening they are doing it.
furbee; I have moved beyond a chubby, sustained at least a semi, and now I’m moving on from that. Thanks for asking. And Punto didn’t get picked off last night. Through his genius he drew a throw to 2nd to allow the guy at third to score, but instead he dove back to third base. It was a genius ploy by Punto, but nobody else has his genius so it didn’t fully work.
Punto should be player-manager next season.
Looks like Mauer’s hitting streak might come to an end tonight (hope not!) but considering he has caught the past 6 games in 100 degree weather, it wouldn’t surprise me.
Rough day for Delmon
Mijares actually had a little pep in his step. He must be enjoying good Mexican food in Texas.
It’s easier to show some life when you’re not blown out of games early!
mijares was efficient
5 outs on 17 pitches
Hey! A LaVelle showing! Way to come around when the Twins take the lead. Kidding! I’m kidding! I’m a kidder LaVelle.
Damn it! He robbed my boy!
Glad to hear about your semi Macleod and yeah I must have missed Punto’s genius, it is beyond me. I have no problem with an occasional spot start for him, especially if he happens to hit a pitcher particularily well i.e. Millwood, but a starter, no thank you. Ah Mr. La Velle isn’t it refreshing to know that 4-0 is considered being in the game by a Twins pitching staff? My god isn’t fun to think what this team could be like if we had aggressive pitchers with a winning, grind it out mentality? Kind of scary no?
Span just got another life. Man, that UMP has been real inconsistent tonight on both sides.
Span comes through. Another run sure would be nice about now.
The Rangers sports anchor guy just predicted that the Rangers will win tonight on a Pudge game winning hit.
lets update that
mijares was uber efficient
8 outs on 28 pitches
There goes Mauer’s hitting streak. Start anther one tomorrow.
I hate these umps…
Game over! Twins have a 2 game winning streak. How many more do they have in them? Blackburn…Please pitch a quality start tomorrow!
Even the Umps couldn’t keep the Twins from winning this one. And Detroit lost. So, what are we, like 13 games back now?
Nick34, Blackburn is not starting tomorrow, Swarzak is.
Ben, re: Nick34….another example of the brilliance of the posters here.
DrDon, how about Macleod saying they are 13 back now?
I caught that too, Ben, just did not want to reply to that nonsense.
Another good comeback win by our Boys of Summer. That is all I care.
DrDon,
Like you have never made a mistake?
Hard to believe that this same team who has taken 2 of 3 from TEX on the road is the same team that only won 2 of 6 at home against two of the worst teams in the AL.
Ah, the ebbs and flows of a long baseball season.
Let’s win this series outright tomorrow night men!
Two nights in a row of the offense getting it done. Tonight the bottom of the order is huge. Great work by Jose & Joe and can you give credit to a starter who gives up 4 runs in 5 plus innings? In the Twins case, YES. At least it didn’t let it get totally out of hand.
Go get’em again tomorrow night boys! Another big one.
Eddie
It is a 4 game series
lets win 3 of 4
Aaron, it appears Eddie is well aware of that by his last comment, “Let’s win this series outright tomorrow night men!”
Ahhh….my bad. Reading too quickly
Mauer, Morneau, Kubel, and Cuddy get 1 hit tonight. But others obviously pick it up.
Good depth in the starting lineup at present.
If we only had half that depth in the starting staff.
BP now has given up only 3 runs in the past 24-1/3 innings.
Poor Bill Smith, can you please possibly get a decent starter anywhere? Just for the sake of the players on this team?
1 hit total…….
And those 24-1/3 innings came in the last 5 games — an awful lot of BP pitching in a short spanse of games.
Our Mauer, Whom hit .400,
Hallowed be thy game.
Thy swing is sweet,
Swift are thy feet,
Your arm fires balls toward the Heavens.
Give us this day game a pinch-hit at bat,
And forgive us our lack of faith,
As you beat those who scored against us.
And lead us into the Postseason,
But deliver us from the Yankees.
For thine is the fandom,
The power to all fields, and the Sideburns,
For ever and ever.
Go Twins.
