Things to enjoy about a weekend with the FIRST-PLACE Twins
Posted on May 4th, 2008 – 4:55 PMBy Howard
Yo, Miguel Cabrera. There’s no batter’s bill of rights that requires Livan Hernandez to throw you a fastball. You looked like a punk yelling at him after he popped you up Friday night. And you looked like a fool when Baker and Nathan sat your butt down Saturday night on fastballs. And even more so when Nathan got you with the slider to end Sunday’s game. Sweet.
Any time I start to get uncomfortable about Mike Lamb at third base, I’ll close my eyes and think of Carlos Guillen.
Craig Monroe’s home-run trip around the bases Saturday night was a cool moment. Reality is that the Tigers didn’t have a place for him and set him loose, his fine 2006 season notwithstanding. The move made sense for them, although you’re going to explain to me what exactly Marcus Thames and Jacque Jones bring to their current outfield that’s so much better. For him to go very, very deep at a key time was a big deal for him and his celebratory hand-breaking high fives were fun to watch.
Justin Verlander said he thought Monroe showed him up and talked silly about being eager to face him again. I think Mr. 1-and-5 Ace has more important things to worry about.
Speaking of which, having Monroe/Tolbert/Redmond on the bench makes me feel like the Twins can go ithere at a key time and have a reasonable shot at getting someone on base. Combined with Kubel as DH, it’s a better deal than the DH/PH/what-the-H options that were too routine last year. Anyone miss Luis Rodriguez and Jason Tyner?
Speaking of which II: Is there anyone you’d rather come to bat in the ninth inning of a close game than Jacque Jones? For the other team, that is.
If Gardy instead of Jim Leyland had yanked Kenny Rogers with Gogomez coming to bat in the seventh on Sunday — and it led to the same game-destroying result — what would we be saying and writing? Good managers make bad choices over the course of 162 games. It’s fine and proper to point out moves that (we think) shouldn’t have been made, but for one or two or three of those to equal “the manager bites” is silly. I’ll take Leyland as a manager any day and I’m hard pressed to name too many folks I’d rather have managing the Twins than Gardy. Ozzie Guillen?
That being said, yes, it was a little unsettling to see Juan Rincon warming up in the eighth on Sunday after the Twins had fought back from 0-6 to 7-6
A 5-0 homestand. First-place by 1 1/2 games. Three games with the White Sox, followed by four with Boston and three with Toronto. It’s more fun that it looked at this time last week, huh?
other people are here too
38 Responses to "Things to enjoy about a weekend with the FIRST-PLACE Twins"
Unable to listen to either of the night games this weekend, I shuddered to open the newspaper both Saturday and Sunday mornings to see how badly it went against the red hot Tigers. I was pleasantly stunned by the results and shocked to see MINNESOTA at the top of the standings. So I tuned in for today’s game as I was making today “fixit” day. Kept shaking my head during the first and thinking, “Well, two out of three to slow down the Tigers isn’t too bad.” I turned it off at 6-1 to focus on the chores.
Checked the scores on the computer later and saw it was 6-3. No, wait…6-4…oh my…6-5 and Mauer up with two men in scoring position. This can’t be happening, says I. C’mon Tigers and pick someone off so that Mauer leads off next inning and maybe gets on for Mor….wait…it’s updating again…7-6!!!!???? I can’t believe it!!!
I put the chore on rain delay and sat down with the radio to hear the rest. And you said it, Howard! Cabrera leaves Ordonez pining in the on-deck circle. Great win…great comeback…great homestand! My only disappointment was that they didn’t replay ALL the Twins’ runs in the post-game show.
Let’s hope they can keep rolling in Chicago.
I agree with almost everything you’ve written here, Howard. The exception would be your high opinion of Leyland. I’m just not as big a fan. He strikes me as an “I’ve known everything there is to know about this game since I was 30 and there’s nothing more I can learn so shut up” kinda guy. (Not unlike a lot of blog commenters, but they aren’t supposed HoF MLB managers.)
I think he’s very over rated but I sure hope he sticks with his comment that “Gullen at 3B and Cabrera at 1B makes us a better team” position. A 3B that can’t field and a 1B that can’t catch should mean a lot of 7-6 losses, no matter how well that billion dollar line up hits the ball. I’m not too worried about him changing his mind, though… he’d have to admit he was wrong and the next time he does that will likely be the first.
I’m not a big Bonser fan, but kudos to him for gutting out 5 more innings after that ugly first inning today and credit to the hitters for not giving up and going through the motions… kinda like the way the guys in the visitors dugout did after their big 1st inning.
Good summary, Howard. I feel great about how badly the Tigers continue to do. But I want to add a point about the Twins.
The players are always saying it, and today I think they showed it — they’re confident about their chances this year, and they don’t care what anybody thinks. I could see it in their demeanor during and after the first inning — they weren’t thinking, whatever dude, this game is as good as lost (as so many blog commenters did). They were thinking, ok, we’ve got nine innings to score 7 runs, so let’s get to it (even if it took a little while to get to it).
The little interview with Jacque Jones in the middle of the telecast kind of accentuated the point for me. He was talking about how the Twins did during that contraction year, and how it lit a fire under them. I see the same attitude in this team, especially in Morneau (and Monroe, yesterday). Everybody’s writing them off, saying wait until 2010, and they’re playing like they’re the team to beat. And they’re having fun in the process.
The last five games have been awesome!! Yes, the Tigers have a huge payroll compared to the Twins. But… sometimes I think the guys like we have feel as if they have something to prove. For the most part, they do not have the huge saleries, they are still hungry. The established stars on the Tigers, have these big contracts, and some for many years. They dont have to worry so much about proving themselves. They are locked in. Sometimes too, they can be just a bunch of prima donnas, not really a team. You can see that the Twins players are excited, and they are having fun. You can see it. They seem to be all working together and like each other. Anyways, I LOVE it!!!!!
p. S. I DO kind of miss Jason Tyner.
I said it after game 4, when the blogs were filled with all the naysayers… this team can’t compete. I said, wait until August before you write off this team. I said, wait until June, and this team will look much better. Well, they have surprised even the optimist in me. This team is pretty good right now.
Playoff team? Maybe/maybe not. They don’t have any more holes in their lineup than any other central team. And, one of the holes has not been pitching, which is always key to having a great chance to win every day. Be nice if the injury bug would stop showing up.
But, it sure is fun. And, man it is fun to have all the twins bashers shut up for a few hours. (Note to self… they’ll be back after the next loss).
Yes it sure is fun when they win!! With so many negative things in the news about the economy, etc., it is really nice to have something to look forward to in the evenings. A Twins team that is fun to watch and winning!! It sure gives a person (many of us I think) a lift!! Thanks Twins!!
I love the game blog today when everyone starting bailing after the first inning to do other things. They missed a hell of a ballgame. I was really surprised Leyland yanked Rogers after the Guillen error to face Gomez. Sure it was a high chopper off the plate but Rogers had a great chance to get another strikeout if he would have stayed in against GoGo. The offense is starting to come around and this team may surprise some people before its all said and done.
Offensive patience unrewarded?
Padres 32 games, 112 BB, 106 runs scored
Twins 29 games, 63 BB, 124 runs scored
“Justin Verlander said he thought Monroe showed him up…”
Monroe showed no more emotion than the Tigers did when they were rallying back against the Twins during the 2-game series back in May. Especially Pudge’s celebration when he knocked in the two runs to tie the first game (after being down 5-0 and 9-4)
I defended Pudge’s behavior then, and I’m defending Monroe’s behavior now.
Maybe many people bailed to do other things today, but I never give up. It was worth it today, we slowly caught up and then went ahead, and won the game. Patience is a virtue.
T,
I agreed with Pudge then and you then.
I agree with Monroe now and you now.
The problem is that I don’t want Verlander ejected when he plunks Monroe in the next Twins-Tiger game.
The Twins can hit Verlander.
I am not so sure about Cruscetta, Zumaya and Rodney (when they get back).
For all the “I miss Johan fans”, a quick update from today’s D-Backs game. 6 innings, 6 hits, 1 ER, 4 BB, 8Ks, 116 pitches, no decision. Fastball 88-93. This is, at least, his second game in two weeks of 115+ pitches. Later in the year could be interesting.
Sane, I agree with you. The Twins CAN hit Verlander!! And have been able to hit him for a while.
Matt Tolbert made a heck of a play today, #3 web gem.
Everybody can hit Verlander.
Good times right now, riding a 5 game winning streak, been on first place, 1.5 games ahead. This team can go far and it should. I am on the record in March predicting that it should win the division. If it doesn’t, coaching changes should be necessary. Gardy is a mediocre manager who is not been held accountable for what he does and what he says be either the media or the front office. Everyone is making mistakes, the problem with Gardy is that he never learns and repeats those mistakes time and time again, causing the Twins games. Ozzie Guillen is a clown, but I can think of more than a handful of names that I’d rather see managing the Twins than Gardy.
“This team can go far and it should”…Thrylos
I’m not calling thrylos out individually because he might well be consistent, but it’s amazing how all the talk a couple weeks ago was we shouldn’t pick up Frank Thomas because obviously we aren’t going to contend this year; now we’re in first place and the fan base wants to reserve playoff tickets.
This was a great weekend of baseball…my view from Section 222 Saturday was awesome, although we didn’t have the opportunity to MISS a foul ball as Howard’s section did…
Some random thoughts:
–Mauer had a great weekend, but he’s still not a 3-hitter.
–Jason Kubel, still rejoicing from being “freed” is the same Jason Kubel we’ve always had, which is precisely why it’s been frustrating for Gardy to keep him as a fixture in the lineup throughout his MLB career. Nice try, Aaron Gleeman.
–And second on the “Pie in Face Bloggers Club” is Joe C., who, a little over week ago wanted Gogo in the minors and on Friday posted a blog entry about how the Tigers are about to pull away in the Central-then they get swept by the Twins. And although this weekend does nothing to solidify who’s going where in this division, I would encourage Joe C. to keep ‘em coming…
–Nick Punto kills two birds in one stone by getting his first extra base hit and first RBI in the same at-bat, 18 games into his season…let’s hope Gardy doesn’t catch wind of this revelation
–I am still baffled about Mike Lamb getting the 2-hole on Saturday night; I thought it was a scoreboard error when we entered the Dome…he ended up getting two hits but his avg. is still below .220…not encouraging
–Justin Morneau is an absolute stud on this squad…it’s time this market realize that he’s the Superstar, not Mauer…
–Joe Nathan, our other All-Star, should’ve seen even MORE action in April…frankly, it ended up not mattering, but it should’ve been HIM, not Jesse Crain, who entered the Sat. night game with two outs in the bottom of the 8th…asking your All-Star closer to get 4 outs every now and then isn’t taboo, is it?
–Let’s not let Boooof off the hook for that horrendous first inning…it was both impressive and timely that he ended up shaking it off and going 6 innings…but giving up 6 in the first is still unacceptable.
–Liriano who? Not so fast…I still would like to see him back on the squad before too long…he’s got nasty stuff and we have all righties in the rotation as-is.
–My thoughts and prayers are still with the Gardenhire family…
First, great post! Second, I love Jimmy Leyland. The man has great balls of fire. As far as Verlander goes, he and Bonderman are a big part of the weakness of the Tigers’ rotation, so it was great to see the Twins take advantage of that. Although, Cuddy made The Gambler look 20 years younger on that wild swinging strike of his later in the game! I chuckled.
And agreed, Matchgurl! It was a great comeback.
[go twins]
JCrikket,
I make a distinction between Leyland and some of the “know-it-all” guys. I’ve heard and read thoughtful, if crusty, responses to game stuff by Leyland. I make a distinction between him and guys like Larussa and Piniella, who fit the mold you describe.
Jason,
That was Section 221 where the foul ball went back to the lower deck!! And there was a very nice play in the front row of Section 219. We had a couple of potty-mouthed drunk boys in 220. Nice thing was they didn’t arrive until the 5th and went to hang with friends in the 7th.
All,
Went to Twins Unplugged tonight because Ms. Baseball wanted to chat with Nick Blackburn. Boof showed up even though he wasn’t on the panel. I’m not big on stuff away from the Dome, as a rule, but this was good. If Cuddyer doesn’t have a broadcasting career down the road, I’ll be shocked.
Jason… look at the records of Boof and Matt Guerrier since late 2006. Would it not make more sense to send Boof to middle relief to see if he does better when he only has to be good for 1-2 innings? Guerrier has really matured and the stats are there, plus he has started before.
Now,what are we supposed to do tomorrow night?! (NO GAME!!)
thrylos98,
“I am on the record in March predicting that it should win the division. If it doesn’t, coaching changes should be necessary.”
You can put me on record NOW as saying that IF the Twins should win the division, they will have finished ahead of three teams with more talent than they have.
And everyone should line up to kiss the coach’s (fill in your choice of anatomical part or jewelry).
Howard,
Should’ve been in 222….very family friendly…Personally, I don’t mind loud heckling as long as they’re not swearing in front of kids…
I agree partially with Fry Dog (the Guerrier part/not the Boof part). I’ve wondered how it is that certain pitchers get slotted into Middle Relief and then don’t seem to have a way out of that. Guerrier was a SP for most of his minor league carrier. He probably wasn’t going to make it to the majors that way. But, now that he has developed his pitches and is pitching quite well with a good FB and great curve, how does he get out of that MR role? It would be hard for him to get stretched out, I suppose, for a few starts. But, I do like Perkins as a reliever better than SP. I think Matt G has earned a SP chance.
I wish Liriano all the best. But I don’t believe we’ll see him back until after the AS break. If then. He’s got a long way to go to come back.
Jason, I’m still looking at this as a rebuilding year…with a focus on youth.
If the Twins can put together a competitive season while still rebuilding, more power to them.
But if the team feels it’s going to have an honest shot this season, any deal they make for a bat or arm should be somebody that still fits into long term plans.
That’s why I’m still not upset they didn’t get Thomas. And honestly, if you’re still singing this Thomas song in September, that’s just an example of the lengths people will go to for a reason to complain.
Jason,
No kids in the vicinity so the language wasn’t bothersome. It was probably a good thing a foul ball didn’t come our way, though, because one of the drunk boys likely would have gone over the railing in pursuit.
Howard… and that would have been a bad thing?
I really enjoyed watching the almost casual manner in which Mauer, on his double, tested JJ’s arm yesterday. Everybody in the park knew Jones was incapable of making a decent throw, so a play that would normally be close was not close at all — and nobody was surprised.
IF the Twins should win the division, they will have finished ahead of three teams with more talent than they have.
I do not agree… Chicago and KC have less talent than the Twins. Detroit has a talented set of hitters, but their pitching is about at the level of Rochester, which, in my book, is less talent than the Twins overall. I’d say that Cleveland has about the same amount of talent but they got lucky last year in several respects. If I were to rank the following aspects of the Twins talent within the division i’d say that they rank as:
Hitting: 3rd (Detroit, Cleveland)
Defense: 1st
Speed: 1st
Starting pitching: 2nd (Cleveland 1st)
Bullpen: 1st
So the talent level is up there. All they need is to get their hitting in order. The team OPS this year is .125 lower against LHP.
I’ve been arguing since day one that they need a big right hand bat. Could Young get out of his funk? Could Monroe be that? I hope he gets used a bit more to find out.
thrylos98,
I disagree with many points but you think the Twins hitting talent is better than the White Sox?
NO WAY!
Thome, Konerko, Dye, Crede, Quentin, Swisher, Uribe, AJ, Cabrera.
And we are talking about TALENT, not current production.
Before you fire Vavra, you should fire the White Sox hitting coach.
He has Thome, Konerko, Dye, Crede, Quentin, Swisher, Uribe, AJ, and Orlando Cabrera to work with.
sane,
other than SS and DH (and maybe 3B), I think that as far as talent goes, the Twins are surpassing or matching the White Sox in every position. Thome and Dye & Cabrera are on a decline, too. With only hitting (base running, defense etc not included), here is my position to position comparison.
C Mauer > AJ
1B Morneau > Konerko
2b Harris > Uribe
ss Everett < Cabrera
3b Lamb == Dye
dh Kubel Sox
thrylos98,
My comparisons.
LF Quentin>Young (now, not later)
3B Crede>Lamb
DH Thome>Kubel
CF Swisher>Gomez (batting not baserunning or defense)
RF Dye>Cuddyer (close)
SS Cabrera>Everett
2B Uribe>Harris (close)
1B Morneau>Konerko
C Mauer>AJ
“Offensive patience unrewarded?
Padres 32 games, 112 BB, 106 runs scored
Twins 29 games, 63 BB, 124 runs scored”
Talk about cherrypicking numbers. That’s shameless.
Just for giggles I sucked out the team stats from MLB.com and plotted BB and HR against Runs. (Anyone with rudimentary excel skills can repeat this in 5 minutes.) Take a wild guess which is more closely correlated with Runs? Walks 0.285 R-squared, HRs 0.204 R-squared.
Livan and Cabrera are friends…he wasn’t yelling at him like a punk, but like “what the heIL Livan?!?!”
Ben,
Unless Cabrera was shouting in another language, what he said to Livan even made Dick n Bert blush. An average lip-reader saw him say the F-bomb to Livan twice. Now, it might have been in good fun, and I bet they continue to be good friends, but Cabrera was not joking at the time when you see his expression and read his lips. What we didn’t get to see on TV is what, if anything, Livan said to him. I am guessing he at least smiled. It’s all good.
What I can’t figure out is Verlander’s response to Monroe. Monroe was not “over the top”. Monroe was more controlled than the Detroit celebrations when we visited there, including Pudge. But, hey, if Verlander is worrying about that, it is one more thing keeping him from throwing well. So, that’s all good too.
In fact, right now, Twins are in 1st and it’s all good.
from the recap:
He took a mighty cut at the Eephus-like pitch, only to pop up harmlessly into center field. Cabrera flung his bat in disgust and hollered some playful trash talk toward his friend Hernandez, a telling picture of this frustrating night for the Tigers.
