Winning streak thoughts: Brian and Brian edition
Posted on June 27th, 2008 – 8:46 AMBy Howard
*For all the talk of the offense at the bottom of the order, Brian Buscher showed me yesterday afternoon that the chatter about him working to become a more adept defensive player has merit. After he’d driven in the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth, he bailed out Scott Baker by throwing home on a grounder — with runners on second and third, and one out — in time for Mike Redmond to make the tag. It was an awkward play in which Buscher had to move one way and throw in another to get the ball home, and a play I’m convinced he wouldn’t have made during his ‘07 stint with the Twins. He keeps reminding me of how Corey Koskie got defensive religion at third base back in the day. Click here to watch the play, as well as Justin Morneau’s 5,000-foot home run to center.
*Our umpiring buddy Brian Runge capped out a rough month yesterday by getting suspended for bumping Mets manager Jerry Manuel while ejecting him from a game on Tuesday. The Twins have had a couple of run-ins with Runge already this season, including the one in Milwaukee a couple of weeks back when he booted Gardy. But those weren’t the only dust-ups. Go here for some photos of Brian Runge practicing conflict resolution.
*Yes, the Twins are catching a break this year because the White Sox have their six rivalry games with the hot Cubs while the Twins are facing the Brewers six times. Still, it’s a good weekend for all of us to root for the Cubs, even if the trendiness of it all makes you gag a little bit. If you want to work on your Cubs fan skills, you can practice singing along to the Steve Goodman song they play after the Cubs win. (If you were watching the Cubs-Sox game last Sunday night, that’s what people were singing in the background during the post-game interview with Ryan Dempster.) Go, Cubs, Go! Go, Cubs, Go! Hey Chicago what do you say, Cubs are gonna win today! The Twins need an anthem like that. (Cubs and Sox are on WGN at 3.)
*Sweeping struggling teams is all well and good, but I’m up for the Detroit/Cleveland/Boston/Detroit sequence that’s coming up after the Brewers leave town and gets the Twins to the All-Star break. Taking a step up in competition — face it, the Nationals and Padres are pretty dreadful — should keep anyone from getting the idea that winning is easy. Isn’t that what seemed to happen after the Twins played the Red Sox and Yankees last month and then went on to stumble against lesser teams. The Milwaukee games this weekend will be a good challenge, especially the Ben Sheets vs. Slowey match-up on Sunday.
*I’ve made fun of the Rays at times over the last two seasons, including my “Carl Crawford baseball school” rant a couple of months back. But, seriously, I like what they’re doing to the AL East. If they can play havoc with the rest of baseball and keep brain cramping against the Twins, I won’t have anything to complain about. Nice job by Matt Garza yesterday.
*Back to Morneau’s mammoth homer. That may have Dick Bremer’s best home run call ever: “That one is drilled… tattooed… crushed. Home run to center.” You could feel him trying to stay calm. For all the grief announcers take, this one is worth noting. Hear it here.
*Finally, our Bottom Feeder update for the last eight games: 31 for 79 (.392) with 22 RBI. Chomp on, men.
*Enjoy the weekend.
other people are here too
76 Responses to "Winning streak thoughts: Brian and Brian edition"
Wow, I have not heard any “Bremer love” on these blogs before. I don’t mind Bremer too much but sometimes he just talks too much. I’d like to have Gladden doing analysis instead of Blyleven on the FSN telecasts. But I think we all realize that we need to see more of Marney Gellner. : )
I wish Kevin Harlan would do Twin’s games now that would be fun!! imagine - “Morneau with a blast DEEP to right folks he hit that with IMPUNITY!!! ” WATCH OUT WOMEN AND CHILDREN!!”
It is embarrassing that Runge only got 1 game. How many games would a manager or player get for doing that?
Runge is not under control, thinks the game is actually kind of about him, and isn’t that good at calling balls and strikes. I do not understand this 1 game thing at all.
it’s all about unions.. they are destroying our country
I can think of many things that are ‘destroying our country’ that are far worse than unions.
PUNTO,Mchale, Glen Taylor, no salary cap in MLB, PACKER Fans is a partial list I came up with quick
The Brewers will be a good test. None of the pitching matchups really favor the Twins, unless Ben Sheets pulls a muscle rolling over in bed or something.
On the bright side, at least this year we won’t have to watch Lew Ford stand in center field, cross-eyed and drooling, while a fly ball sails over his head for an inside the park homer.
I think we need to pick a species. It wasn’t the omnivorous fish, it was the piranhas. It isn’t the bottom feeders, it’s the bullheads, or carp, or better yet, the fathead carp, those invasive Chinese transplants that are known to jump out of the water and kill people.
Yes, how can Prince Fielder have not one, but TWO inside the park HR’s in as many years. He is carrying a piano on his back while dragging a plow!
Ok I love Dazzle. One of my favorite Twins growing up, but as an analyst not so much. He has pretty good analysis, but you feel like you have to electroshock him to see if he is actually awake. Just doesn’t have the energy of Bert in the booth.
Dazzle makes the late great Herb Carneal seem like Brehmer on speed
Unions are “destroying our country”?!?! That’s ignorance talking.
Dean join a union, get involved in the politics, participate in a strike then get back to me - I have done all 3 have you?
Howard,
Isn’t beating up on lesser teams while holding your own against better teams what made the Yankees so successful, and earned them a boat load of championships?
I remember seeing an analysis several years ago, that in their great runs (’40’s & 50’s), they KILLED Washington and Kansas City, and played .500ish against everyone else. That was good enough to win the pennant most years.
Regards,
Dragon,
You’re totally right. That’s what was so frustrating about the series against Toronto and Baltimore earlier this season. 5-3 against the Yanks and Red Sox seemed like winning a pennant — but then it was undone by the 1-5 that came after.
Folks,
On unions: One of the few times I had to end a comment thread was when it veered from baseball into Karl Rove. I don’t want to do that today. Thanks.
The management (a union member)
sorry Howard I promise to stay on topic and leave political discussions to other arenas
unfortunately, the game is a sox broadcast, so you will have to listen to their clown announcers. and they won’t play the goodman song even if the cubs win. darn it.
Did you hear that the Twins are interested in grabbing Brian Roberts? Also, they are possibly considered the favorites. So the Twins are maybe thinking Roberts 2nd base Casilla SS, Buscher/Harris Platoon 3B?
“I’d like to have Gladden doing analysis instead of Blyleven on the FSN telecasts.”
As long as he’s only the analyst. Dan’s play-by-play leaves something to be desired. He doesn’t do a good enough job describing where the ball is after it’s put into play. Listen closely and you’d agree. Otherwise, his voice, personality and behind-the-scenes insight are all very good.
I agree. Gladden’s analysis is good but his play-by-play really stinks. No life or energy. Why do they have him doing it for innings 4-6??
to satisfy new Twins sponsors SERTA mattresses and MR SANDMAN.com
Howard,
While I would like to contend this year, and the winning streak is nice, AND a very young team seems to be learning to win together.
I personally expect a number of losses clutched from the Jaws of victory, and I expect the reverse as well.
Baker, Slowey, Perkins & Blackburn NEED to learn to win when they DO NOT have their best stuff, there small signs of that IMHO. In some ways, that is the benefit/beauty of Livan. He wins with less, has a disaster with more frequency than I would like, and goes out every start.
The Gomez, Young, Casilla, Buscher & Harris’s on the team need to continually to do their own part, AND not try to do everyone/anyone elses.
Regards,
Didn’t Selig bust the umpires union because of guys like Runge Sr. and Ken Kaiser? I know 20 umps were not brought back and the collective bargaining agreement between the union and MLB was rewritten. I think the league has more authority now, which, ironically, is part of the problem. Every time they force the umps to change their ways (remember the high strike and balk ball?) umps get surly and overdo it. That’s the case with these speed-em-up follies.
Apparently, the league still doesn’t have any real authority over these guys. If they really wanted to speed the games up, they should hold umps accountable when they fail to call obvious strikes.
What ever happend to the “Quesdec system” or whatever it was called? Wasn’t that supposed to “help” the umpires call balls/strikes correctly? If my memory is correct a number of ballparks had this system installed but I don’t know if it is still in play. Anyone?
you mean the “Cyclops” machine that tennis uses for balls hit on the chalk? I think the new agreement did away with it
Everyone knows that being an umpire is not an easy job but you have to have thick skin to do it correctly and Runge clearly doesn’t. I’m glad he got suspended because he could’ve cost Harris his carrer if that pitch would have been high and inside one game is not enough.
Dan Gladden might not be the Al Michaels of play-by-play, but I submit that he is the best Twins broadcaster. His insight is second-to-none, he has a great sense of humor, and he does the broadcast without the childest junk, if you know what I mean.
Additionally, let’s not forget how he lead off the top of the 10th in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series–he stretched a single into a double on an all-out hustle play; the rest is history.
I hope to have some fun tonight and tomorrow at the Dome razzing the ‘Sconnies. I love being a Twins fan; Packers fans have a lot on us (except the lone playoff meeting resulted in a Vikings’ win), but not Brewers fans…We lead 2-0 in World Championships, our series record since they joined the NL favors us….Kirby Puckett single handedly destroyed them early in his career…and their best player came from St. Paul and works for the Twins.
I hope the view from Section 228 is as good as 220.
bottom of the 10th I meant…
If the Twins get 2/3 from Detroit and Cleveland 1/3 at Boston and split at Detroit (all very doable) they will be .500 for that stretch, which will keep them in the thick of it esp. since the Sox schedule is not a cakewalk CHC/CLE/OAK/@KC/@TX
Here is an observation for the Padres series. Young was on the bench and Monroe was used as a pinch hitter against lefties twice against a rhp and once against a lhp, ahead of Young. Does that indicate that Gardy has lost confidence in Young, or Gardy simple has certain roles for certain people and when starters are on the bench they do not pinch hit (see Mauer yesterday too). I tend to believe that the latter is true.
thrylos,
I suspect it has to do with getting Monroe and Lamb at-bats when possible while knowing the Young will get his when the Twins return to AL rules.
I also think that Gardy expects more power from Monroe than Young.
I was just thinking the same thing about Bremer’s home run call when I heard it yesterday … it was so un-Bremer like.
“…and their best player came from St. Paul and works for the Twins.”
Wait - Robin Yount works for the Twins?
Howard,
I totally agree that the Twins need a much better anthem, like the one the Cubs have. I was thinking something along the lines of Lightning Seeds’ Three Lions - - which was written for the English national team.
The last time the Twins lost was to Milwaukee and the guy there facing tonight Seth McClung how long do you think the winning streak will last?
Until whenever they face Ben Sheets. Sunday?
The Twins do, in fact, have a great anthem. It’s old and kinda corny, but the “We’re gonna win Twins……” is a classic.
Plankton,
We do get Sheets on Sunday. I think we put Slowey on the mound that day.
I’m really starting to feel good about this team. I’m seeing the comparisons to 2006, especially on the left side of the infield. Castro/Batista=Everett/Lamb and then their replacements Buscher/Harris=Punto Bartlett. Now if Liriano can come up and be close to the Liriano of 2006, we’d be set. In all reality though, I didn’t expect any more than 80 wins this year anyway, so I’m impressed so far.
“The Brewers will be a good test. None of the pitching matchups really favor the Twins, unless Ben Sheets pulls a muscle rolling over in bed or something.”
Hey — stranger things have happened: Brandon Inge is on the DL because he injured himself picking up a pillow. True: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-27-doubletakejun27,0,6460488.story
Re: Anthems — am I the only one with “Polka to the Pennant” still stuck in my brain after all these years?
We can beat sheets. We beat Webb and we beat Peavy both of which are probably better but definitely not worse. It will be tough but with Slowey on the mound we stand a chance. If we lose a game I think it will be Saturday with Livan.
Dome Sweet Dome, Baby. Hopefully no road trip hangover. 2/3 from Mil, Det & Cle is a must.
Toby i thought we would lose when Livan faced Webb but the old eephus pitch was jumping around like bugs bunny. Does anyone know how long the Twins longest winning streak was?
I think I like our chances on Saturday, actually. Manny Parra has been horrible on the road this year - 7.24 ERA, 2.01 WHIP, 7 homers in six games. It will be a slugfest.
It’ll be my 2nd time at the game with Livan on the mound. First time was against Red Sox and 3 quick ones in the first… followed by zeroes and a Twins’ win.
So, here’s hopeing that Parra pitches to that road ERA!
BC,
I know Twins won 15 in a row in 1991. I think the longest of all time is like 26. Modern record is 20, I believe, with Oakland in 2002.
BC
I believe it was 21 games in 1991 worst to 1st season and the streak ended in Baltimore.
A few things:
*The four series after Milwaukee will be a good barometer of whether this team will be able to contend in the second half. If they can win 3 out of the 4 series, I think there’s a chance.
*I don’t expect the Twins to make any major player moves before the trade deadline, again, unless we’re in first place in the middle of July. If there’s a chance to unload Lamb, Smith might take it, but if anything we’ll only see a small move or two that would yield marginal improvements. Which is fine.
*I really dislike the way Brian Runge, and Angel Hernandez, and a couple of other umpires operate. But in defense of MLB umpires, how would you like guys making 10-15 times your salary questioning every other decision you make at work?
*Carlos Gomez could use a day off. He hardly ever kisses his bat anymore.
*If Bert were to be replaced in the FSN broadcast booth, Roy Smalley would be a good choice to fill his seat. Smart, insightful, and articulate.
Thanks guys. Maybe it’s just me but i love streaks in baseball one of the best i’ve ever seen was Orels scorless innings streak that was truly amazing. I’m going to predict the Twins run this to at least 15 wins.
Just double checked my memory. It was 15 games. Went from June 1 to 16, 1991. It WAS stopped by Baltimore and then we rolled off four more (which would have been 20, had it not been for the Balt loss by a score of 6-5). Then we lost to the Yanks (11-2) before rolling another 2 in a row. That was a nice 21-2 run!
Fun fact: the game that ended the 15-game streak in ‘91 appears in the background of the movie “A Few Good Men.”
David…it was a 15-game streak in 1991…it should have been at least a 16 game streak, but Rick Aguliera blew a save in Baltimore that snapped the streak.
It was actually a 25-3 stretch if you look before and after the 15 game winning streak.
The only booth change I would like to see is for Bert to wear Lapanta’s toupee at least once. If nothing else, it would be funny.
Then, we did a little ugly 1-7 streak to bring us back to earth.
BTW, for those of us that like numbers and for those that recognize possible similarities between 2006 and 2008…
A 2006 winning streak of 8 games started on June 11 (hmmm, what’s with our June winning streaks?). Then, 1 loss followed by an 11 game winning streak. Followed by 1-5 wretch. Then 8 in a row, a loss, then 4 more. The team finished with several 4 and 5 game winning streaks after that.
So, that first stretch above was 19-1 and that overall period was 32-7.
We have a ways to go to duplicate either 91 or 06 winning stretches. Good times.
One oddity of this winning streak…..Little Nicky Punto was on the DL…hmmmmmm
HOWARD:
Would you be referring to an ALCS playoff matchup?:
” I like what the Rays are doing to the AL East. If they can play havoc with the rest of baseball and keep brain cramping against the Twins, I won’t have anything to complain about.”
I am going to vomit listening to the cubs sox game. These two are by far the worst announcers in pro sports, it isn’t even close. I listen to them quite a bit but every time I am just amazed at how terrible they are.
one interesting comparison with the 2006 team is that the driving force between the 2 streaks has been the same: high batting numbers with RISP. In 2006 for the year the team was batting .296/.373/.448 with RISP in 2008 is batting an even better .313/.385/.463 with RISP for the year. This year the Twins have been riding 2-3 week waves of high performance by certain players (Kubel, Casilla, Gomez, Harris, Buscher, Macri), had 2 regulars who were steadily great performers (Mauer and Morneau) and several regular players who have underperformed (Cuddyer, Young, Lamb, Monroe). I suspect that the hot streaks might get cooler, but now that the weather is getting warmer, if the under performers get it going, the bats will be ok. The bullpen has settled by addition through subtraction and the rotation, even thought it does not have a pitcher who can blow the other teams away, is getting better. So I do not see many moves that could make a huge difference, unless someone like Felix Hernandez or Ben Sheets are available (who are not.) There are some warning indicators (like the pitching BABIP the last 2 weeks has been .275 vs. .313 for the year, who would potentially call for a correction; but one can be optimistic and contribute it to better defense due to infield changes), but I think that this team can go long ways (Heck, I picked it winning the Central with 89 in the off season, they are on pace for 88 now 
)
Thrylos…spon on analysis. I definately agree with that.
Either Neyer or Olney mentioned that BA w/ RISP on their ESPN blog the other day. He said it is either good concentration or pure luck. I would tend to think it’s based on batters concentrating more on where to put the ball.
However, the warning signs are there that it could be luck. We are toward the bottom of the AL in OPS and HR. So essentially we MUST hit well with RISP. If we don’t, we just won’t score the runs. Currently we have shot up to 3rd in R in the AL, which I like to see. Just hope it continues. I would comment on our measily +7 run differential, but the egg laid in Chicago skews those numbers a bit.
Well, Contreaus for the Sox is looking an aweful like Baker did for abit yesterday. Can’t find the plate.
/Fingers crossed/
Man, did I butcher his name, should be spelled Contreras
Interesting call from Bremer on the home run. It almost sounded like an opposing player hit it.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Bremer just fine (though that puts me in the minority on this board) and I happen to think Twins radio is a complete wasteland. I haven’t listened to John “Captain Obvious” Gordon since Herb Carneal passed away.
Whoe, Patterson just looked foolish out there. Big misplay in left.
Fire Vavra,
I don’t think I am destroying the country.
Sincerely,
A Twins and Packers fan in Chicago.
How can you people hate on the Hawk and D.J? They by far the most entertaining announcers in all of sports!
Here is a twilight zone stat comparison for this team:
Batting with man on 3 and 2 outs (so far this season)
Innings 7-9 (170 PA):
.433/.435/.638
Innings 1-6 (123 PA):
.230/.293/.319
go figure…
(and statistically, the difference should be even more than the numbers indicate, because, in general, relievers of the opposite teams who are pitching innings 7-9 have lower WHIP numbers than starters who are pitching innings 1-6)
Shaun,
if you are a Packers fan, you are destroying this country de facto
sincerely,
A Twins and Vikings fan in Pennsylvania
HAHAHA STRETCH!!!! STRETCH!!!!
OK I haven’t read through all of the comments but I wanted to make an observation on Buscher’s play. It was a terrific throw and I assume he had others calling out to let him know there was a play at the plate. Just realize, though, that if that throw is just a bit off or a split second later (or if the ump simply blows a call), the run scores and everyone is going to be jumping on him for not “getting the out” at 1B. Yes, it is indeed a game of inches.
On half a whim, I drove up to the Cities this afternoon for the Brewer series. Just checked in to my hotel room and getting ready to catch the light rail downtown. Hope the Twins make it worth the trip this weekend!
The pale Sox game doesn’t look too good so far, Dempster pitched more like a dumpster and allowed 7 in the 3rd and the Sox are up 8-zip at the bottom of the 4th.
Hey, welcome, JC, enjoy the games!
Sadly I won’t be making the Brewers series this year up at the Dome. No chance for me to get a cabbie who gets lost 
This whole Runge thing ticks me off so much. So VERY very much.
I mean, Twins filed a complaint after the whole Gomez/Harris thing did they not? And it’s only now when it happens AT NEW YORK and get ESPN time do they actually do something.
Yay.
T, I don’t think a one-game suspension constitutes doing something and that’s what ticks me off about the situation. A slap on the wrist for Runge. He has embarrassed MLB with his lack of professionalism during his “bad month” and the MLB offices have compounded the embarrassment with this limp punishment. I don’t think it sends any message to Runge and he will be just as arrogant as ever.
On a different subject: Not all that impressed with Bremer’s home run call. Too understated. The Baseball This Morning Show on XM has a segment of home run calls where the announcers sound sort of bored and I think this Bremer effort is a candidate for that. I will take Dick’s call of Morneau’s homer in Detroit in 2006 as his personal “best call ever” nominee by a wide margin over this one.
wow, what a game. I did pick a good one to come up and see. Hope the rest of the weekend turns out as well.
Twins are finally making believers out of everyone! And the Twins anthem should not be changed! Go Twins!
