Twins-Rangers: Justin Morneau leaves for Twin Cities
Posted on August 20th, 2009 – 5:11 PMBy La Velle
The Twins will have to go at least a couple days without first baseman Justin Morneau, who is headed back to the Twin Cities tonight to see a ear nose and throat specialist.
Morneau, who has been bothered by an inner ear infection for several days, said he feels fine when he’s still for awhile but begins to feel off-balance when he tries to move around.
He sat on the bench during Wednesday’s game and felt better. He even thought he could pinch hit. But he tried to move around and the dizziness came back.
“Nothing has changed,” he said.
He was given medication in Texas and told that it would start to work in 24 hours.
“It has not,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Now we go to the next level.”
Gardenhire is holding out hope that Morneau can join the team this weekend in Kansas City. But considering how Denard Span struggled with a similar problem, a longer recovery is possible. And that would mean a trip to the disabled list.
The only difference between Morneau’s and Span’s cases is that Span ended up seeing a thyroid specialist. Morneau hasn’t reached that point yet. But the ENT specialist could recommend that.
There’s never a good time for something like this. But this cripples a team that’s holding onto hopes it can get back in the postseason picture.
So Michael Cuddyer is back at first base. Joe Mauer, who took two foul tips off him last night, thought a DH day was a good idea.
Jose Mijares a few days ago, had a son born in Venezuela. His name is Javier Alejandro Mijares.
And Texas’ lineup got a little stronger today. They just activated Nelson Cruz.
One more thing: Now the Silver Slugger people are saying the only reason Huff was listed as a DH was that he won the award at that position in the past. I just hope it’s not the actual ballot. Will check tommorrow.
Lineups
Twins (58-62)
1. Deanrd Span, RF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Joe Mauer, DH
4. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
5. Joe Crede, 3B
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Mike Redmond, C
8. Carlos Gomez, CF
9. Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: Swarzak
Rangers (67-52)
1. Julio Borbon, DH
2. Michael Young, 3B
3. Josh Hamilton, CF
4. Marlon Byrd, LF
5. Ian Kinsler, 2B
6. Nelson Cruz, RF
7. Hank Blalock, 1B
8. Taylor Teagarden, C
9. Elvis Andrus, SS
Pitching: Derek Holland, LHP
129 Responses to "Twins-Rangers: Justin Morneau leaves for Twin Cities"
Get him healthy.There is no playoff push.Maybe an extended rest will revive him for September.The last six weeks of a season haven’t been a Morneau strong point anyway.
Its times like this that you hope the Twins have found some lightning in a bottle and are able to keep winning.
Or that Morales was available at Catcher…. 
Win Twins!
this will be game 3 on the 22 game winning streak!
I agree that DL’ing may be for the best. From the sounds of things, he’ll end up out a week or so at best. I’d rather take a chance of him being ready 2 or 3 days before he can come off the DL then go with a short bench for 10-12 days. Cuddy is basically the 1B with Harris backing him up. Get Morales up here and use Kubel in the OF when necessary with Morales/Mauer DH’ing.
Also, I hope we see Casilla back in there at 2B at some point. He was starting to play better prior to his minor foot injury. I know Punto is ‘red hot’ right now (for him) but that’s no reason for Casilla to sit 5 or 6 days in a row.
Good to see Redmond playing against a lefty (based on his comments about how Gardy played him last time against Carmona).
Not a ton of confidence in Swarzak tonight, but hopefully he proves me wrong.
Morales would be good to see, but is there anyone available from AAA with a bit more power? I supposed I shouldn’t be picky, since we at least know Morales can hit.
Gardy, Punto, and Reddog really ALL need to go!
Morales can hit and you know what else?…he doesn’t blow the manager to stay in the league passed his utility holding up he progression of the younger more able players and ultimately the whole team!
is there anyone available from AAA with a bit more power?
Justin Huber leads the Twins’ minor league system with home runs with 18
Let’s not get too worried yet about M.
I had EXACTLY the same condition a couple of years ago- even driving in a car made me feel like throwing up, but once it stopped moving I was fine. My physician said it was a matter of the stirrup bone in the inner ear getting stuck, which messes up your brain not knowing if your up, down or sideways. In 3-4 days it cleared up on it’s own. At least from what he told me there isn’t much you can medicate for it, but it generally doesn’t last more than a few days or a week.
Is Casilla still injured?……. or just misused by Gardy?
I’ve been a jock and a construction worker and a Alaskan fisherman, BUT I’VE NEVER had an EAR infection or had someone I know have one. I wonder what the real story is. Where is Morales?? Tolleson and Danny V. ??????????
The twins medical staff cannot handle ear infections eh?
If Morneau does have to head to the DL I would like to see Huber get the call, although I’m not sure if he plays 1st….
…. or just misused by Gardy?
gardy is a top 5 manager and always plays the best player, never plays favs. i just can’t understand how you could think he’s misused a player!
I agree with the Pro and howeda, let’s just get Morneau healthy, even if it means a trip to the DL.
Actually, I don’t know why anyone advocates playing Casilla ahead of Punto. Punto really busts his tail out there.
thrylos, what do u think the odds would be that they call huber up if Morneau needed a DL stint?
Morales seems like the better choice to come up if Justin goes on the DL, Mauer can DH a little more and Marales can catch some games and backup both catchers.
i disagree from the standpoint that we will need more power if Morneau goes to DL. Huber has tore it up in AAA and as much as i would like to see Morales up, Huber seems to be the better descicion to me. Hopefully Morales will be a full time backup catcher next year.
One would think that Reddog would make a nice backup for a contender.
Ok who do you Gardy-haters want to replace him? Start naming names of people that would be better him, meaning they would have to be a top-10 manager.
You fire him, it’s a replay of the Wolves situation when they got rid of flip saunders, 5-6 years later they’re just now hitting rock bottom.
I don’t actually think we need “more power”. We won more games last year with much less. The best fit would be the better call up. If Huber can play first, sure, but otherwise, get Morales up here with his .350+ BA….
Win Twins!
Hey Camden two words for you PAUL MOLITOR.
Matt…
But Morales can’t play first either… so how about we call someone up that can play first… or if there isn’t anyone call up an outfielder to cover for Cuddy.
So…having 3000 hits automatically makes you a good manager, with or without experience?
ugh, this Morneau thing is killing my fantasy team.
While we wait for a decision on Morneau, how’s about this:
Send Casilla to Rochester, so you’re not starting EVERY FRICKIN DAY OFF with a 24 man roster.
This is beyond stupid, and has gone on way too long. If Punto’s going to be the second baseman, Casilla serves no purpose whatsoever. Pinch runner, maybe.
They played the Detroit series with a 22 man roster, now they’re playing with a 23 man roster, and that’s only if you count Harris, who’s family has filed a missing person report with the local authorities.
call up huber for gods sake, you need someone who can play first base- thats huber and hes leading with 18 homers, i would think he deserves it….morales is just a love affair callup….no sense…
Send Casilla to Rochester, so you’re not starting EVERY FRICKIN DAY OFF with a 24 man roster.
And call up…who?
I say call up Morales if Moreneau goes on the DL.
Cuddy plays first.
Span in right, Gomez in Center, and Young in Left.
Kubel could play Left or Right on days when Mauer is the DH.
anyone heard from bill smith, is he still around or has he just gone on winter vacation already- suppose he could pull a deal or two here, as there still is some hope of playoff baseball- slim but i would like to see bill smith not give up yet….
How about this for next season:
Span CF, Hardy SS, Mauersy C, Morneausy 1B, Kubelsy DH, Cudsy RF, Young LF, Valencia 3B, Figgins 2B
Rotation: Webb, Baker, Slowey, Blackburn and Pavano
Pen: Nathan, Neshek, Mijares, Guerrier, Perk and Bonser
Go ahead and rip away, especially with Young in the lineup
Send Casilla to Rochester, so you’re not starting EVERY FRICKIN DAY OFF with a 24 man roster.
And call up…who?
Almost anybody, we have tons of untouchable prospects up and down our minor league system.
suppose he could pull a deal or two here, as there still is some hope of playoff baseball
how do you figure? why the hell should smith throw more money into the fire that is 2009?
Two things about Julio Borbon:
1. Seeing a DH leading off always strikes me as odd. It just doesn’t seem right.
2. His name reminds me of bourbon, which makes me very thirsty. Mmmmmmm, alcohol.
casey if you think its totally over then there is nothing to say to you-your point is taken.. i dont think its over, as theres a chance this team with this schedule now could go on a run, with some luck and good bounces that have eluded them this year thus far- maybe they have a run in them, but i would like to see them get some pitching help…
anyone heard from bill smith, is he still around or has he just gone on winter vacation already-
He was in Pawtucket, RI the past 3 days evaluating potential Sept. call ups from Rochester.
unless smith can acquire 4 solid starters over the weekend than i am confident in saying the twins will not make much noise down the stretch.
as evidenced by the signing of carl pavano, not much is out there to be had.
And call up…who?
Anybody. Somebody.
It’s hard to imagine a player less useful to team than “backup second baseman.”
If Casilla isn’t going to start, he’s utterly, completely useless.
Who will he pinch hit for? Punto? He can’t even beat out Punto for the 2nd base job.
Who will he replace defensively? He only plays one position.
I don’t much care who plays second, Punto or Casilla. I’d let Casilla play, simply to get him some playing time and confirm in everyone’s mind he’s not the answer in 2010.
But if it’s Punto, at the very least let Casilla play every day in Rochester and get something on the Twins bench who has at least SOME purpose for being there.
Putting together a roster that can compete does not seem to be a priority right now. There is no reason to have 4 MIF up here, especially when Redmond hits and Morneau is out. Ridiculous. But, par for this FO, apparently.
I thought BS was an admin, what is he doing scouting?
cuddy woulda got that one easy
Wilt Chamberlain on stilts wouldn’ta got THAT one.
Ugh. Typical August outing by a Twins’ starter so far.
This is Swarzak’s last start, right? Right?
Who will he pinch hit for? Punto? He can’t even beat out Punto for the 2nd base job.
Rod Carew in his prime couldn’t beat out LNP on gardenhire’s Twins teams.
Good to see Swarzak hasnt changed
Mix it up. Start a middle reliever first then put in a starter.
how can an entire rotation be so pathetic.
Rod Carew in his prime couldn’t beat out LNP on gardenhire’s Twins teams.
Don’t be ridiculous.
LNP would be at third.
“This is Swarzak’s last start, right? Right?”
Uh, sadly, Swarzak is actually pitching better than 3 or the Twins other 4 starters. This actually qualifies as a quality start if you compare it to the rest of the rotation!
So if it’s his last start, then we’ll just get to see more of Liriano and Perkins. I don’t want that.
Hey, does anyone have any numbers on what is the worst month ever (in modern times) by a MLB starting rotation?
And what are the Twins’ starters’ numbers for August?
I might have just asked the same question twice.
sounds like an echo to me
The Twins’ ERA for August is 5.96.
I’m guessing in 140 years somebody must have had a worse month than that…
worst month was by the 1915 chicago laughingstock, a team managed by knucklehead smith the great grandfather of giant head smith present gm of the twins.
Yup, the Orioles are throwing up a 6.37 ERA this month.
If they take Swarzaksie out now, he qualifies for a “Twins Quality Start.”
Twins Quality Start: No more than one run allowed per inning pitched.
Yeah, Delmon, keep it up!
I still think Delmon Young will someday be a 40 homer guy.
The Nats had a 6.07 ERA in May.
Gardy in the post game interview will remind us how Swarzy battled the tough Ranger hitters tonight. Sub par has become normal.
shazel says:
August 20th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Morales can hit and you know what else?…he doesn’t blow the manager to stay in the league passed his utility holding up he progression of the younger more able players and ultimately the whole team!
I have attempted to read the above post for the past (5) minutes. Can anyone else understand what the H*ll the author is attempting to say? Dyslexia?
anyone want a streaming vid link?
Twins STARTERs through 17 games in August have put up a sparkling 7.65 ERA.
All this stuff is freely available at Baseball Ref, folks.
In all fairness to Swarzak he shouldn’t even be in the majors yet. I take more exception to some of the other starters.
shazel makes perfect sense, you have to read it backwards…
I was going by the splits on ESPN. Either they’re wrong or tonight’s game has boosted it up 69 points already…
Oh wait, my stats are for the staff not the starters. My bad.
Something tells me I am lucky to have missed the double play Punto just hit into….
Anyway, Trish- Why would we need another outfielder? Young is smoking the ball, Gomez is playing fine, Span is his usual self, and we still have Kubel. If Cuddy plays first, we still have a fine core of outfielders–and a poor back-up catcher…. 
sawdust - your lower era is probably looking at the entire pitching staff era instead of the sparkling 7.65 earned by the starters.
Punto lined one to the first baseman. It was not a GDIP.
JH … thanks for the insight. It all makes sense now.
Who didn’t know that was going to happen…
Regards,
Your welcome DLF…I’m sure there were no drugs involved.
Stinky,
yes on the streaming
Hey good job boys…2 pitch DP with the bases loaded and then give up the HR. NIIIIICE!
why do the the twins crappy hitters insist on swinging on first pitches? crede, young, gomez, etc. Don’t they ever watch the guy batting .380, who rarely ever swings on a first pitch.
How is it that Rick Anderson still has a job…
Fight at the Rangers batrack
LA..good point. Also notice the yankees and redsox hitters taking pitches. You really have to wonder if there is effective coaching going on.
is there something wrong with the Twins starters lately?
No Romer, why do you ask?
So, Keppel was brought in to make the comeback all the more interesting, right?
Bobby Keppel ladies and gentlemen! Bobby Keppel!
You’ve kind of got to feel for the fans in Rochester now don’t you…
this is what happens when you piss away a bases loaded with one out in the top half of the inning.
“Fight at the Rangers batrack”
funny.
Great, the rain here is blacking out my Directv. Bonus!
Bobby Keppel just gettin’ it done.
Time for this guy to try his luck in the California Penal League.
LA_Twin says:
August 20th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
this is what happens when you piss away a bases loaded with one out in the top half of the inning.
Absolutely.
“Fight at the Rangers batrack”
funny.
Yup.
PoD - worthy.
Perhaps Justin can get his eyes examined with RISP! Bum. And where is Kubel? Another bum. This team is a joke, no leadership whatsoever.
Gomez will soon learn that these high-tight pitches near his head will stop when he lets the bat “slip” out of his hands and helicopter towards the mound. Having been hit in the wrist/hand area twice in the last few days would explain it. Tony O used this strategy well to protect himself.
so nice to see the Twins just quit, especially Gardenfire, by throwing these loser relief pitchers in.
Okay I was silent long enough, first off I am not disappointed with a split in Texas, perhaps we can wreak havoc in KC, but you never know. Secondly, I would perfer a rested Liriano and Perkins to this Swarzak kid, he just is not and never will be a quality starter. Please no more starts fr him, bye bye. Keppel, well for all of you Boof haters out there, I would much rather have him and Neshack in the pen in 2010 than see Keppel anywhere around here, another bye bye. Those two simply don’t have it, case closed. Casilla should get some starts he was starting to look comfortable before the foot flare up, of course Gardy sees that Punto is on fire so Casilla will sit. I will be glad when Punto’s contract is up and he’s gone. By the way Delmon who is only 23 will be a stud, no doubt about that so stop your bitching about him, he is starting to play good all around baseball and is enjoying it. Baseball is a game-remember? As for Morny, he did not swoon in his MVP year people, get off his back, I do not want him gone only for him to may us look like fools if we trade him, pipe down.
I swear the Rangers hits are either HRs or infield singles.
Gomez will soon learn that these high-tight pitches near his head will stop when he lets the bat “slip” out of his hands and helicopter towards the mound. Having been hit in the wrist/hand area twice in the last few days would explain it. Tony O used this strategy well to protect himself.
I have trouble believing somebody could make a post THAT incredibly stupid, so I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that was a bad attempt at humor.
It was, right?
it is not the split - it is losing in an absolutley embarrassing way. it is a game and all I look for is a competitive team, I know they cannot win every game. this team, however, is not competitive and it is getting painful. the pitching is atrocious. they are losing series to kc, cleveland, oakland. the only havoc that will be wrought in KC will be a much higher era for the twins pitchers.
Hey Chief, No humor intended. Ask Wilbur Wood what happened to him at the Met when he tried twice to hit old Tony in the surgically-repaired knee. Better yet, attend a Twins game or meet the fans evening and ask Tony himself. Tony had a “bad” finger or hand for a couple of years.
Perhaps you are correct LA, but last year it was the young pitching that carried us fairly far and this year is just the opposite. Is it an aboration? I can’t answer that, Slowey will be healthy next year, I personally think Liriano will be stronger next year, cripes he had major surgery and is a young kid just learning to pitch, his fastball will comeback a little and that will help his mentality. Blackburn, Baker, and Perkins all need to get tougher mentally and physically for sure. The staff as a whole needs to be told that there will be no repeat of 2009, that these arms are young enough and now experienced enough to expect 7 innings plus, cut the crap of whining, looking down to the ground or dugout or saying ” I don’t know what’s wrong,” find out be a man and pitch like one. Our bullpen will be back at full strength and hopefully Gibson will be a pleasant suprise. As for laying down, well I think these constant holes we are digging out of are not too easy and our manager and his coaching staff have made some pretty questionable decisions regarding the roster and playing time. It is quite obvious Gardenhose has no new message and or strategy, I thank him for his time. To me he has been overmatched and outmanaged against big teams and in the playoffs. I would love to see Molitor in here as manager. Just buy Ron out, say thank you and start our new era in Target Field on new and exciting footing. The fans of Minnesota deserve it.
Can Young jump higher than 2″ or step farther than 12″? He runs like his thighs are rubbing together. I also notice that all of his extra base hits are to center field. He just waves his bat trying to make contact. He will not be a power hitter until he starts to pull the ball to left field. He is a real sucker for sinkers and a painfully slow learner. His numbers have been going in reverse since he left Tampa.
Could be Daniel, could be. Am I to assume then that all the bats TonyO flung into the stands were to discourage autograph seekers?
Is it an aboration?
One too many letters in the last word.
Chief (and, if, indeed, you are USAF retired) THANK YOU for your service to our nation. I only mention it because rarely knows with whom they are communicating on these boards anymore. That said, it was not an aberration. I was sitting right behind the plate and the bat flew out to the mound about 18-24″ off the ground. Now, Tony O wasn’t the most agile person in MLB at that point in his career but the rather stout Mr. Wood wasn’t any better. No contact was made but the word must have gotten out around the league. I don’t recall Tony O having that problem again.
I am, indeed, a retired CMSgt. Thanks for the kind words.
I’d prefer Gomez just take the pitch for a ball, walk down to first, steal second and third, and score on a weak Punto groundout.
That’d stop it, too.
Chief, What precipitated my initial post was Veliz’s head-high pitch tonight (with TX holding an eight run lead) that had message written all over it, IMHO. Maybe the two have previous history or whatever. The respective glares from the players seemed to further enhance the drama and all that I’ve been reading about Veliz is that he has terrific control. Tony O’s response was, perhaps, old-time baseball but, none the less, stopped the nonsense. Then again, players weren’t Millionaires back then, just slightly better paid grunts like the rest of us.
Gardy’s not going anywhere, if anyone is in hot water it’s the GM, but anyone notice Delmon’s on a roll right now maybe he’s starting to figure it out and with Cuddy’s contract coming off the books after next year it would be great if they could just plug Young into the outfield by then.
At least the more guys we DL for no reason now (Perkins and Liriano) and the more we send home for more “evaluations” (Morneau) the more excuses this inept coaching staff has for pissing away the season with more than enough talent to win this thing. We’re already hearing how “injuries” are doing in the Twins.
Hmmm.
And what about the first 3.5 months of the season???
Notice the Borbon kid for Texas? Call up from Triple A that has minimal experience but who has more maturity & talent than Gomez or Castilla or Young. Why can’t the Twins develope talent and confidence in their system. Too much ‘playing scared’ in this organization.
I wouldn’t say Borbon has more maturity than Vinny Castilla.
Why can’t the Twins develope talent and confidence in their system.
I think that you are correct about the confidence part. Gomez and Young have more talent than Borbon. Look at what Gomez did in the first week of last season when he was playing with confidence. Look at what Casilla did last season when he played with confidence. Maybe the difference between the organization (MLB field staff in particular) is that one instills confidence to its young players while the other points out their mistakes, throws them under the bus and benches them…
Benny, the Vinny Castilla reference struck me funny.
I made that criticism several times when Bartlett first came up. Jason was playing great, but all Gardy could do was point out his mistakes and try to tear him down. I just think he has a different management style than I do with employees….
Personally, I like to cut off a horse’s head and leave it in bed with the employee when they screw up. Jokes asisde, what’s your management style, mww? I have no idea what Gardy’s is other than Punto gets to play.
Well, when I used to supervise people:
I found out their strengths, and put them in position to use those and kept them out of situations where they had shown they weren’t going to succeed (like not batting Jacque Jones against lefties, but putting someone else there instead….see Gleeman’s post on Randy Bush recently).
I complimented them all the time (like I would have been all over Bartlett and complimenting him, and saying that we expect him to play this well the rest of his career…if you go back in time, you’ll see that even though Bartlett was playing well, Gardy kept saying he wouldn’t keep it up, and pointing out his mistakes).
I like it when people that work with me are better than me at stuff. (Gardy likes MIF that can’t hit, at least that’s my view from here, guys like he was). I like it when we look at how we’ve always done things, and trying to figure out new, better ways to do things, and I also like it when people let me know their toughts (Gardy thinks #2 hitters should bunt, and do the little things, I think they should be OB machines, see Garza for how he treats people with different ideas than him).
These would be several areas where Gardy and I clearly do NOT have the same management style.
great post t98. i made that point early when morales got sent down gardy was all neg. and i made the point of gardy throwing guys under the bus, i was blasted by howard.
the sacred gardy can do no wrong by tc media, only write the twins talking points!
mike do you think gardy and/or his coaches have ever taken a basic management class? it would appear not, imo.
Let me be clear: I think Gardy and his staff are good managers in many ways. They just appear to have a different style than I.
There are lots of managers in my current company just like Gardy, and some of them are very successful. They just have a different style and approach than I do.
I do think there are some areas where his decisions and style are wrong, not just different, though. His insistance on old school stats and approach is one of those for sure.
Warthog is awful. Who said he was ever ready to come up from AAA? 98 needs his head examined and so does
Brians……….
Who the heck is brians anyway? Trade the sucker……Who knows what Valencia can do at the major league level. He’s never been there. He will make errors, thats for sure!
t.o.pp d.o.gg (aka JC Smith),
Who knows what Valencia can do at the major league level. He’s never been there. He will make errors, thats for sure!
unlike your boy, Brian Buscher (career .752 OPS in the minors, .695 in the majors; total 48 HR in 2789 PA), Valencia is a. very good on the field and b. has hit in every level he has played (career .844 OPS, 53 HR in 1758 PA)
Its great to see Delmon start to hit better. This is exactly what we need to draw some interest from other teams in the off season. Hopefully we can get someone of value for him now.
(Gardy likes MIF that can’t hit, at least that’s my view from here, guys like he was)
False: Gardy likes MIF that can field. The side effect of this is he tends to prefer the smaller speedier guys that can show some range. These types of guys typically don’t hit in the top of the charts.
E7: I see people saying the same thing about Cuddy when he started hitting. Why is it that the moment a player like Young or Cuddy starts hitting well people immediately start thinking a trade.
Isn’t Delmon stating to do exactly what the Twins got him to do? Wouldn’t trading him basically be the exact opposite of what they’d want to do with him (start him more often?)
thrylos….JC just loves stirring you up by spewing nonsense and showing his lack of thought. Doc
If you can get something (a decent starter) for Cuddy, this offseason would be the time to trade him. He’s having a good year, but not like 2006, and it’s all downhill from here.
T, I hear the argument that Delmon is young and will continue to develop. I may agree he could improve in terms of hitting, but to what degree? Still an unknown. The bigger issue is that he has no business being in the field. He is a horrible outfielder - and will not get better with age (agility, judging balls, etc tend to deteriorate with age).
His best role is as a DH if he can ever develop to the point of hitting 25+ HR’s, 90 RBI’s, etc. The issue is that we already have a DH in Kubel who can do that. Therefore, if we could trade him when his value starts to rise (real or artifical value) for players that would potentially fill the other huge gaps this team has(2B, SS, 3B, starter, reliever) then we should strike while we can. His trade value got so low this past year that I don’t think anyone wanted him, or it was for low value prospects. As it rises, this team should make a move. He does not fit here….so get something we really need in return~
Oh boy, I sure hope Gardy and his coaches can take some time to absorb these important lessons regarding motivation and management supervision. Thanks so much for your keen insights, thrylos and mww.
You have both clearly been outstanding managers in your long and illustrious careers. You come across as having great faith in your own talents, further instilling us all with confidence in these pearls of wisdom.
How precocious do you have to be to think you qualify to assess a baseball manager’s leadership aptitude and results? The public evidence indicates that the vast majority of the hundreds of often pampered, egotistic players who have been managed by Gardenhire think he’s terrific. His colleagues within the industry are almost universally complimentary. The columnists and writers used to beat the hell out of Ray Miller, but the same people find it hard to take shots at Gardy. He’s been publicly praised during this recent trying stretch of baseball by many of his current players, including Young and Mauer. You two have zero understanding of what goes on, since most of the important stuff happens privately. You rely on a handful of quotes per week and your own negatively-slanted and sophomoric interpretations of things based on Gardy’s in-game and lineup decisions and actions. And of course your vast experiences in the mananagement trenches come into play. You’ll continue to recite anecdotes related to malcontents like JC Romero. Predictably, you’ll make an honest(y) mistake and forget to mention that Romero publicly praised Gardy, and apologized to him for their little run-in. And now you want to point to Gardy as the source of the “confidence problems” of Casilla and Gomez, and naturally Gardy has had no impact on the supreme confidence of Kubel, Span, Mijares, and a dozen others? What a load of crap. The positive signs will be conveniently lost on you, thrylos, since they debunk your ridiculous notion about Gardy as a poor manager of people.
So, is Gardy a great motivator? A poor one? The answer is, you and I don’t really have a clue. The evidence supports the notion that he is a pretty damn good clubhouse manager.
But I suppose we should defer to you.
“thrylos….JC just loves stirring you up by spewing nonsense and showing his lack of thought. Doc”
The sad truth is, there IS thought behind it. Deranged thought.
T, the other thing is that it would have been hard to trade Cuddy with his contract. Delmon is cheap, he just hasn’t performed. As his value rises, now is the time to try to get something we need that fits. Delmon doesn’t…
