Getting giddy at the Dome
Posted on July 29th, 2008 – 7:55 AMBy Howard
Oh, we were happy in Section 220 last night! The two older gentlemen in Seats 5 and 6 were talkin’ sweet to our seatmates in 3 and 4. The lady in Seat 4 caught yet another t-shirt from TC Bear and gave it to Ms. Baseball, who bought her a replacement beer (for the one that spilled in the scramble) to show her appreciation.
In the concourse, Ms. Baseball ran into Young220, who cheerfully teased: “Two beers, Ms. Baseball?” Then, having successfully lobbied his father for funding, Young220 (decked out in a purple Pooh Richardson t-shirt) returned to the Section of Love for Nick Punto in right field where he sat with his camp counseling buddies.
The guy right behind us delivered a game-long seminar on baseball for his young daughter, who peppered him with good questions for a girl of her age. There was a woman sitting below us, in the lower deck, who had on a pinstriped AJ Pierzynski Twins jersey with “Pierzynski 26″ crossed out and “Mauer 7″ written in black electrical tape. And when Mike Redmond came to bat, the sound guy went all Jermaine Stewart with the walk-up music. (Here’s the skinny, if you’re not in on the story.) And speaking of Pierzynski, the people booed him from the start with a gusto that I hadn’t heard at the Dome since he tried to slice off Morneau’s foot at first base last May.
And Carlos Gomez got an ovation when he came in to play defense, just three days after Dick’n'Bert were delivering last rites as he lay sprawled on the warning track in Cleveland. And he got another for his hit and yet another when he scored from first on Brendan Harris’ double to left. Redmond, who also scored on the play, had wisely gone from first to third on Gomez’ single — lessening the chance that Gomez would pass him on the Harris hit.
And did I say that Kevin Slowey was flat-out magnificent? If you saw it, you don’t need me to tell you. In fact, if you saw it on TV, you had a better view of him working fast/changing speeds/throwing strikes. Give Gardy and Bill Smith credit for not listening to some of us who suggested that there would be nothing better for the team than throwing Francisco Liriano out there for the series opener.
And Denard Span caught Jason Tyner on the all-time home run list when he banged a Mark Buehrle pitch off the football press box for a 2-0 lead. And then, three batters later with Alexi Casilla at first, I was telling Ms. Baseball how it was a good thing that Buehrle was making those throws to first base “because he’s distracted by Casilla and Morneau can hit a home run,” when Morneau went thwackenheimer to center field to make it 4-0.
And while we’re so giddy, let’s take a look back at Buehrle’s words from Sunday afternoon, as reported by Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, about getting ready to face the Twins: ”Yes, it’s the biggest game of my entire life. ‘I’m nervous, I’m scared. I’ve been [going to the bathroom] all day, and I can’t eat. I hope they scratch me so I won’t have to face them.”
Sometimes, sarcasm can come back and bite you where you sit when [going to the bathroom].
Back at it tonight. Gotta wonder if it’ll be a night for Vol. 2 of the Mike Redmond walk-up music collection. Oh, Nelly! It’s getting hot in the AL Central.
other people are here too
193 Responses to "Getting giddy at the Dome"
Buerhle basically opened up the door to his own coffin by saying those words and the Twins nailed it shut with him in it. Maybe he’ll learn next time.
ESPN is giving the Twins all kinds of love.. their radio “Sportscenters” are leading off with the Twins beating the White Sox.. hopefully that will cool all the “MN SPorts Inferiority complexes” among the rubes.
Can it get any better than this?? Not bad for a team that has been written off numerous times since spring training.
We had our “Beat Burly” lineup in, he didn’t have a chance. White Sox should have started their “Beat Kevin Slowey” lineup.
so will there be any bean balls tonight? Ozzie has got to be steamed, his players were lifeless.. who’s up for Mauer charging the mound!!
Out of curiosity, what was the defensive alignment when Gomez came in to hit? Did they slide Span back over to RF or just slot Gomez in the corner?
Whatever the case, it was nice to see him come back in and get that first hit right off the bat. Especially when it means he gets to do his Michael Jackson “grab the helmet” move as he takes off towards first.
Also, Span and Morneau dingers in the same inning? Delish. The first homer may have given the Twins confidence that they could win last night, but that second one I think was the dealbreaker for the Sox.
I’m bummed out that I didn’t get to see the Harris double. I’d wager Gomez was right on Redmond’s heels despite the old guy having a two base lead.
Big game last night, and the Twins showed what they can do at home. I just hope they can keep the momentum going and get the Sox on their heels with another win.
Sweeping a four game series is tough, so if they can bash the Sox around and come out with a .5 game lead, that’d be a GREAT motivator going into the weekend. (Who do the Sox even play while the Twins tussle with the Tribe?)
But even wishing for 3 of 4, I hope they get the first three of the series. I think the Twins managing to pull ahead of the Sox (even for a day) would be a clear message that to Chicago that they won’t just roll over after that four game stomping they took.
Plus it puts the Whities on their backs in the final game. Where the Twins will have Baker ready to pitch what would be the biggest game of the season. 
Gomez to center, Span to right
You are right, as usual, Shawn. Howard say’s “Span needs to be batting leadoff and playing everyday”. Agreed. Both Wallbangers need to be on the field for the Twins to be putting their best team on the field. But keep Gomez in center because when he tries to kill himself, he hangs onto the ball and gets it back into the infield! ! !
Right, T. Splitting would be slightly disappointing, but at least no ground lost. No one expects a sweep, so taking the series would be fantastic.
T
How could the Twins have a .5 game lead at the end of this series? Wouldn’t it either have to be a 1.5 game lead or a .5 game behind?
Howard - I totally lost it when they played Jermaine Stewart for Red Dog. The people around me didn’t get it, so I tried in vain to explain NBP…I’m sure something got lost in the translation. Frickin’ brilliant.
Who cares, Jama. The White Sox are nervous, scared, been [going to the bathroom] all day, and can’t eat.
correct jama.. correct
I could not have been more impressed by Slowey last night.
HE PITCHED INSIDE!! Holy Hannah, someone other than Perk pitched inside. It’s amazing how that works, especially cuz last time we played them, we didn’t pitch inside, and they rocketed the ball all over the place.
Another Slowey note. His slider..wow. That thing had some movement in the early innings. I couldn’t stop talking about it. I hadn’t seen him throw that effective of a slider all year.
Finally, I think the home plate and 3rd base ump need to be taken out back and beat with the pitching machine. Seriously, you had to committee about whether or not Dye’s foul ball was a HOMER?!?! It was foul by 5-10 feet. Ridiculous.
Does anyone know the extent of Alexi’s injury to his thumb? X-rays today. Everett waiting in the wings if he can’t play or goes on the DL. Punto over to 2nd Everett/Harris at SS, Buscher to 3rd.
Surely they won’t send Buscher down to bring up Everett??
Has anyone heard of Everett’s status after his final re-hab assignment?
Go Twins! Keep it up.
Howard, you were at the game. Was as obvious there as it was on TV that it was a foul ball?
On Everett, I imagine the team will be trying all day to trade him. If unsuccessful, they will probably DFA him and keep trying to trade him.
Roto,
We didn’t have a good angle from over first base. But the fact that Dye never moved was a dead giveaway. The ump simply lost the ball. As Hawk Harrelson would say, “You can take it off the board. YESSSSSSS!”
I loved the fact that Dye was walking back into the box when it was signaled a homer. Obviously Dye knew it was foul.
What’s all this silliness talking about how well this team is playing? Don’t you all know the Twins have no chance this year because Gardy’s an idiot, Pohlad is cheap, Smith’s an amateur, Mauer has no power, Livan’s stats suck, the other pitchers are too young, Punto is breathing, and the Twins have no right handed hitting?
Oh… and with regard to the latter… anyone else notice Adrian Beltre had as many HRs last night as Span and Morneau combined?
How could the Twins have a .5 game lead at the end of this series?
That’s what I meant, I noticed that after I posted. I was saying that forcing the Sox to have to win the fourth game to at LEAST get a half game ahead would be a big boost considering where they were following the last time these two met.
We might want to keep Everett. The way our players find it “irresistable to meet immovable objects”*, even a 54 year infielder might come in handy.
*(we learned that in Physics, had we been listening)
Crickett - some of what you said are truly negatives that the team has overcome - Pohlad is cheap,Mauer has no power,Livan’s stats suck, Punto is breathing(LOL), Twins have a little right handed hitting - Harris and Young
I think we have to give credit to Gardy and Billy for where the team is at.. again step foward if you expected this team to be 1 1/2 games out of division lead on July 29th.. anyone??
Howard, I was disappointed that the game was on whatever third tier cable channel carries Sox games last night, because we here in CR “only” get two BitchSox channels, WGN and ComcastSports, and neither carried the game. It would be interesting to have heard what Hawk’s call was for that “foul” HR. On the other hand, I did get to listen to Gladden last night and he was in rare form… zinging Morris (the bronze statue of Morris being given away Friday is in the pose of Morris giving up a gopher ball) and the Twins Execs huddled in their suite near the radio guys (you can tell by the way they reacted to that foul ball hit near them that none of them have ever played the game).
As Hawk Harrelson would say, “You can take it off the board. YESSSSSSS!”
Speaking of which, anybody forced to watch this one through the Sox broadcast?
I’d imagine after Casilla wasn’t called out (WTF there?!) Hawk was pretty depressed. Then the Dye thing.
I was once watching a Sox game, and Hawk and the other guy (DJ?) were moaning about a close strike call for two full innings. I’d imagine following those two plays they’ll likely STILL be sad about it tonight.
I had NEVER seen a pair of annoucers actually mope about a close or potentially blown call.
DnB (and most ESPN annoucers) would mention that they may disagree, but that’d have been the end of it. Dick especially has that sort of “Hmmm” that he does on a close one. Bert also has something he normally says. It’s usually something like that “Where’s that pitch” or “____ making the call there.”
I don’t mind annoucers disagreeing with a call. But moping about it two innings later still? Unprofessional.
Fire… I don’t disagree with you. In case it wasn’t clear, my comment was made with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
I was at the game, and sit mid lower level between home plate and 1st. It was very obviously foul. Not even close At least they got it sorted out correctly. The one I couldn’t see was the bad throw-attempted tag out at 1B. From where I sit, it sure looked like Paulie had tagged him, but the ump (with a better vantage point) called him safe. What’d the TV replays show?
The other one is Thome’s last AB. From where I sit, looked like Slowey threw some darn good pitches and they kept getting called balls (Thome wasn’t swinging at anything). I figured if they were “close” the reasons for the balls were: Ball one–”veteran vs. rookie” call, Ball two–make up call for the HR reversal (even though it was foul, it was initially called a HR), Ball three–make-up for the “tag” play noted above. Called Strike 3–’Dammit Jim, I can’t give you everything, esp. if you’re not even going to swing’.
did punto actually slide into first on his infield bouncer that the 2b flubbed?
My favorite Hawk call of all time was when Torii robbed Carlos Lee of a sure homer.
“You can put it on the boaaaaard. NO. No. No way….”
Followed by 10-75 minutes of complaining.
I know Cricket.. but knowing this blog folks were going to run with it anyone so I just headed them off at the pass..
Gobble….yes, Punto slid into first…head first of course. When will these players ever learn. Who else besides Tolbert and Michael Ryan (a few years ago) has messed up a finger by sliding into first base?
it’s not “these players” it’s only PUNTO and whoever he hypnotizes into also doing it!!
Cuddyer?
What’d the TV replays show?
Konerko got him. Pretty clearly on the side. Ump was in position…but he was looking at the bag.
According to DnB, the ump’s call was that the throw pulled Konerko off the bag and thus Casilla was safe.
Replays pretty much confirm the ump wasn’t even watching the two players. Just the foot and the bag.
It’s a similiar play to Harris vs. Molina against the Yankees in that first game. The player was out by a mile but the ump wasn’t watching the players as much as he was watching the bag.
And don’t quote me on this..but I think that it does not get you to 1B base any quicker by sliding. Didn’t Gardy lay down the law a few weeks ago telling his crew to never slide into first?
The only thing I can think of is when you slide you have that moment where you stretch out your hands. So maybe he figures it gives him an edge that he stride can’t?
I still think its stupid. Sliding itself isn’t meant to get anyone anywhere faster. It’s just a tool to avoid tags as well as to avoid overunning the bases.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen another team do a headfirst slide into first.
yep but little nicky is his long lost child rules don’t apply to him as long as he “grinds it out, keeps battling,gets after it, never gives up”
I don’t think it does a lot of good either, you sort of have to slow down a bit to break down and slide instead of keep your stride and run through it. Only way it helps is if first baseman is pulled off the bag and you can dodge a tag.
Punto seems to get a free pass because he’s a great example of hustle on the Twins.
PLUNKTON:
It has been stated many times it is quicker to run “through” first base than dive.
I’ve been looking through clips online…does anybody have a clip of the Dye “homer”. I’d be curious to see just how foul it actually was.
It doesn’t matter the guy in the Minnesota State Lottery Winner’s Circle said he saw it and it was foul.
Cuddyer slid head first into third base.
Wow, I’d fine Punto. I’d probably bench him also, but that isn’t just about sliding in head first. This is a “veteran” that does things “the Twins way”? I just can’t believe he would keep doing this. I really can’t.
Great job by Slowey. I think he is a number 3/4 type starter, but if he can really bring a real slider to the games, that would be great and helpful. I couldn’t be happier for Span. The guy kept working, made some kind of adjustment, and has had good success so far. I hope he keeps it up.
I really am happy for Span as well. For some reason he come of to me as cocky during spring training in his competition with Gomez, but now seeing him everyday he seems like on heck of a guy. He plays harder than hell out there. A good question would be, does he bring more to the team offensively or defensively? I say this because for every quality hit or baserunning move he makes, he’s out in the field with a running, sliding, or leaping catch.
He’s basically got Gomez’s talent or better with better baseball smarts.
so will:
1)Everett be traded or released
2)WHEN will Liriano be called up?
3)who leaves the big club when Cuddy comes back?
4)Livian,Lamb,Boof,Bass will be with the team until the end of the season?
5)does Billy add a right handed 3rd baseman or reliever?
alot of intrigue left!!
OH almost forgot
6)what happens with Favre? 
DAN:
What do those Lottery guys think about sliding into first? I would never doubt their opinion.
Let’s just hope Gardy hasn’t been talking to Favre on a cell phone, we don’t want another local coach possibly screwing up future draft picks by being irresponsible.
Fire:
1) Everett will be traded for Favre
2) Liriano will stay buried behind Aaron Rodgers
3) Cuddy won’t probably be back until september anyway…. unless he is blocking for Favre
4) 1 of 4 max will be gone…. to the Packers of course
5) Favre can play 3rd and relieve
6) in stupid detail
What do those lottery guys care about sliding or HR’s? They just got 100 scratch off tickets from the MN lottery. The only thing better for them would be to get the tickets from Marney Gellner instead of Telly Hughes.
Nice game indeed last night, especially by Slowey, but it don’t mean a thing if they lay an egg the next three games. Keep it up boys!
Plunkton:
I’m all for puttying Marny Gellner’s picture up in the upper deck on the white curtain alongside Puckett
1) Everett will stay on a technicality if he agrees.
2) Liriano will get called up when rosters expand.
3) Bass will go back where he came from when Cuddy returns.
4) See number 3
5) Twins will keep staus quo
AND FINALLY
6) I thought he retired?
Dan, can I help you do that? Anyway, where was she last night? Nothing against Telly, but, c’mon.
I’m not sure where she was but I was hoping when here and Anthony Laplanta were in the Wisconsin Dells that she’d jump in the pool
Remember when the Twins had their own TV station for half a year?? They had a Blonde Hottie doing interviews on it that makes Marney look like the Wicked Witch of the West. Don’t remember her name, but she was “Smokin’”
Bill Smith hired the blonde. Anna Nicole something.
sure it wasn’t the same blonde who covers the vikings? (and besides looking ‘okay’ sucks at her job?)
Boy, crickets!!! How about this question…who has the ‘best’ hair? Anthony Lapanta or Roy Smalley?
Roy’s is real so he gets the nod.. though the “Elvira mistress of the night” look is so 80’s…
the Lapanta hair held up well on the water ride.
Since I am ever hopeful, here is what I hope will happen:
1. Everett will be traded for a PTBNL
2. Liriano will get called up before his next scheduled start
3. Monroe leaves when Cuddy comes back.
4. Bass will be DFAed when Liriano is called up, with Perkins sliding into Bass’s role. Everyone else stays where they are.
5. Billy makes no major trades. If he makes trades, it’s to make room for guys, not to get pieces for the stretch run.
6. Favre accepts the back-up role, until Aaron Rogers gets hurt in game 2, and Favre finishes the year as the starter.
Is it just me, or does Roy look like a vampire?
I think that woman that covers the Vikes is called Jill Carrol, and i really don’t think she is very attractive. Marney, on the other hand, is hot. Don’t know what it is, cause she’s not stereotypically hot, but she’s just hot.
Ann Carroll is a pretty good looking girl… a little old for my tastes… but i digress
Did anyone notice that Punto slid into first when Ramirez was trying to flip the ball with his glove to Cabrera and managed only to throw it to the third baseman? If Punto is running through the bag, he makes it to second ’cause no one was covering the bag. Another reason I hate sliding into first.
Sign me up for Marney being hot. I have said that since the first time I saw her on FSN. She is not the typical hot dumb blonde. She actually knows something about what she is talking about and that makes her so hot.
sliding into first: little spikes should come up, like the ones when you try to back out of a parking lot… that’ll teach em
Electrify first base. the rubber soles of shoes will not conduct current. Fingertips will. That’ll teach them.
Yep, when the Twins had their own network, the side line reporter they had was super smokin’. It’s not the one that is on FSN right now. This blonde was younger.
I never got to enjoy Victory…. i lived in MN with Comcast at the time
It does seem like a good day for prognostication (or is that procrastination? either way, I guess).
so:
1)Slim chance Everett is dealt to the Dodgers for a low-mid prospect. Otherwise, he’ll accept assignment to Rochester and rejoin the Twins Sept 1 as a defensive specialist (unless we have more finger injuries to middle infielders before that).
2)Liriano gets called up by Friday IF there’s a roster spot opened. If not, he’ll get at least one more start in Rochester (face it… his last start Sunday wasn’t all that spectacular).
3)Cuddyer is a ways away from returning. Assuming he starts a rehab assignment within the next week or so, it’s at least 2 weeks from reactivating to the Twins. Lots of OF walls for Gomez and Span to crash in to (and foul lines for Young to stumble over) between now and then. I’m betting an injury to someone, somewhere, makes this decision for the Twins.
4)I’m going against the grain and saying Livian, Lamb, Boof and Bass will all be with the team until the end of the season. The most likely NOT to be would probably be Bass, assuming they may try to send him through waivers and get him to Rochester.
5)I’ve stated elsewhere that the longer the Mariners go without making a deal involving Washburn or Ibanez, the better I like the Twins’ chances of landing Beltre. I think the M’s have asked for the Moon and Stars and the Twins have said ‘no… but we’ll offer a couple of pretty good potential comets.’ The Twins’ offer might look pretty good to the Mariners on deadline day if they haven’t fleeced the Yankees or Mets for Washburn or Ibenez by then. In fact… Beltre may not even need to be a deadline deal. With his salary, it’s possible he could clear waivers after the 31st and still be dealt in August.
6)Brett Favre will be the opening day QB for the New York Jets.
You’ve got to be kidding me,
“Electrify first base. the rubber soles of shoes will not conduct current”
Metal spikes, on the other hand will cause your giblets to tingle.
“Metal spikes, on the other hand will cause your giblets to tingle.”
Having played ball as an electrical storm neared and had lightning strike the ground just beyond the RF fence, I can attest to the factuality of this statement personally.
Ok, a Shock-jock. Like a shock collar, but instead of jolting the neck, it give Punto’s Little Nickys a zap. give gardy the remote.
“When you’re slidin’ into first and you feel somethin’ burst, Disabled List, Disabled List”
“When you’re slidin’ into second, you feel somethin’ you’re regrettin’, Disabled List, Disabled List”
“When you’re slidin’ into third, & your fingers look like doggy turds, Disabled List, Disabled List”
“When you’re slidin’ into home, scorin the winning run at the dome, nobody cares, nobody cares”
Ah, who knew the diarrhea song could be so applicable.
the good ole diarrhea song…. a playground classic
About sliding into 1st:
I think a foot first slide would get you to the bag slower than just running but I think that a head first dive would get you there faster. I mean if you are going feet first and not running it doesn’t make any sense that you would get there faster than your feet would standing, but if you slide headfirst then your hands are a good 6-7 feet ahead of your feet so it seems to me it would be faster.
Robert,
if that were true, all the 100m dash runners would be sliding head first into the finish line…
I also read the article on the suntimes.com in which Buehrle made his comment about facing the Twins. The Twin answered back with action, not words which is another reason I root for the Twins. The Twins are a class act and guys like Buehrle who make such comments to the media are clowns.
many baseball “experts” have said sliding into first head first does “not” get you there faster. many managers fine players for doing it because of the possible injury potential.
it does, however, show that you are battling and getting after it.
thrylos98, I don’t know enough about the rules of track sports to know but I’d guess that’d be illegal. I think some experiments need to be done, I mean if a player’s natural reaction to get to the bag faster is to slide head-first, there must be something to it. I think the reason coaches don’t want them doing it is becuase of injuries, not becuase it is slower.
Hey with a Twins Win & TB Rays loss - the Twins will move to 4th place in the AL in Playoff Odds on espn.com.
Slowly, steadily climbed up the ladder on that - now a 51% chance we make it.
Sorry if someone touched on this already but i’m wondering what everyone was thinking when AJ walked towards the mound with his bat after he got hit by that pitch. I was kind of hoping he would start something and Justin would come rushing in and drop him with a haymaker.
I was kind of hoping he would start something and Justin would come rushing in and drop him with a haymaker.
I picture Justin as being more the “football tackle” type. You know, a quick spear (see: WWE’s Edge)
BC,
I don’t think there was malice intended. It looked like AJ got nailed pretty good by his foul. More than anything, it reminded me of the time when Tony Batista ran almost to the right field corner after making an out a couple of years back. Chalk it up to silly stuff that some ballplayers do.
Someone commented that “it’s been said many times that sliding is no faster than running through the base.” Obviously, the fact that something has been “said many times” (especially around here) is no reason to assume something is true.
The 100m dash is a poor comparison for two reasons. First, sprinters do LEAN and it would hurt like hell to land on a track, especially in a pile with 7 other sprinters doing the same thing. Second, in a race, the idea is to be the first to break a vertical plane at the end. That’s not the same as having to physically touch 1B. You put sprinters on a dirt track and set the rules to make the winner have to touch a square on the ground at the finish line and I’d bet you’d see some diving. Just sayin.
Sliding in to 1B is bad technique. We teach kids to run through the bag, train them to begin to break down their sprint after hitting the bag and turn to the right to see if the ball has been overthrown. That allows you to maintain some momentum and channel it to getting to 2B if the opportunity is there. Diving stops all momentum, leaves you prone on the ground, and virtually eliminates the possibility of advancing on an overthrow, unless it’s tossed out of play and you’re awarded a base.
I would agree diving would almost never get you to 1B quicker and would always be a bigger injury risk if you could guarantee that every runner can hit 1B in perfect stride. But you can’t. If the stride is off, it’s POSSIBLE that diving is defensible. If you have to take an extra ’short stride’ to hit the bag, the dive would be quicker. If you have to take an abnormally long final stride to avoid the short stride, you save the time but have significantly greater risk of injuring an ankle or pulling a muscle as you hit the bag with greater force and possibly an awkward angle.
I don’t know why Punto dives so often. I don’t like it. I think it’s bad technique and it’s not an example I would want young players to immitated. I guess I just don’t see it as being as big a deal as others do around here.
I agree Howard. I guess i’m starting to get a little fired up for football but your right he didn’t look like he was going to do anything.
I’m guessing AJ felt a need to utter a few expletives and wisely moved in a direction away from the stands. It has been known to happen. (Not that I would know anything about doing that sort of thing, myself, of course.)
AJ? Utter expletives?
Jim I think you’re losing it.
oh - and my quirky stat of the day..
All 5 AL central teams are 5-5 in their last 10 ballgames.
Very interesting post, Jimmeny, but knowledgeable baseball experts agree it’s faster to run through the bag. Some of those guys, like Tom Kelly, carry a precision stopwatch and time those kind of things.
I actually had important stuff to do this morning, so I’m late to the party…my thoughts:
-Driving into work, I listened to KFAN’s morning show for about an hour…they discussed all things Vikings for the majority of the time, and mentioned the Twins win basically in passing (you realize we are 5 full weeks from the start of the Vikes’ season…could you imagine wall-to-wall Twins talk in the third week of March?)
-Everyone knows who I’m going to praise first and foremost in the aftermath of last night’s awesome win…Mr. Jason Morneau. Jason provided us with 3 RBI, including a bomb to straight away center that left Nick Swisher with no glove but plenty of egg on his grill…but even more impressive might have been Jason’s RBI single in his next at bat, as he lined a pitch that into centerfield that to this moment I have no idea how he was able to make contact with…so, although Slowey was brilliant, we didn’t need a shutout last night–we needed offense against Buerhle, and Jason provided!
-Joe C. appears to have whiffed again in his deeming that Detroit, not Chicago, will be the team to beat down the stretch. The Tigers loss to Cleveland last night puts them 7.5 out of first; basically, the party’s over.
-Why are we booing A.J. Pierzynski? Last I checked, he did have the huge game winning hit in our only playoff series win since 1991. That, and he didn’t leave town seeking more money, nor has he bad-mouthed us in the press. If you’re going to boo someone during this series, boo Jim Thome–he’s the one who said he wouldn’t play here (am I right?).
-Finally, do we have updates on Michael Cuddyer and Adam Everett? What is to come of this roster when these two guys return?
scooter, most who know me well would tell you I lost it years ago… on so MANY levels.
Mudcat, I think what TK and other “experts” would tell you is that, generally speaking, most of the time it’s faster to run through the bag. I don’t disagree with that. I merely offer that, in my experience, it’s not ALWAYS the case and there are reasons for that.
As for the proof offered by precision stopwatches, if they are being started and stopped by TK’s fingers, I think we can conclude the results are imperfect.
JimCrikket — “What’s all this silliness talking about how well this team is playing?”
Of course Jim is being sarcastic. But…
Do you really believe the Twins as currently constituted would have a chance in the post season? (I STILL want Beltre.)
And please don’t forget that even Gardy stated the need for the RH bat and BP help……
It’s gotta be hard for the ladies to boo AJ now with that sweet blonde hair.
JASON:
I did not know Thome didn’t want to play here. I take back all the nice things I said of him, he’s on my sh!t list. I always liked AJ until he purposely tried to injure Morneau, so he’s out of loop now too.
Jason, Twins fan boo AJ for the same reason Boston fans boo Jeter. Or the same reason Vikings fans “hate” Favre.
It’s a rivalry. And every rivalry needs the heel. The one guy that you can take on the other team and make him the personification of everything you hate about them.
Earlier this season somebody claimed the reason ESPN never gives Morneau face time is because he’s not marketed locally as much as Mauer. Well, if that’s the case, then look at AJ as being the heel of the White Sox because that’s how the Sox have marketed him.
Remember the “Punch AJ” campaign?
Aside from not wanting to come to Minnesota, has Thome been one of “those guys” for the White Sox? Burhele’s said stupid stuff, AJ’s said (and done) stupid stuff, Ozzie is always saying stupid stuff.
But Thome’s always seemed like a class act while with the Sox.
I’m gonna jump on the ‘having a crush on Marney’ bandwagon. love the work she does.
Not a fan of Ann Carrol, don’t find her particularily attractive or knowledgeable about the game of football or the player’s she covers.
but oh well, only my opinion.
Great game by Slowey last night, hope all the starters play with the ‘keep Liriano at AAA’ chip on their shoulder this series and the rest of the season. As much as I believe Liriano should be and deserves to be up here in place of SOMEONE in the rotation, you can’t argue if they keep pitching like that.
for anyone who cares about how Liriano’s stuff looks:
Fastball: avg 92 mph in latest starts, has touched 96 on stadium guns on several occassions. He does throw a variant sinker that is on the lower end of speed scale.
Slider: Not hitting near low 90’s like in ‘06, but consistently in low to mid 80’s and has regained the big movement. Throws 2 variants. Has been his best pitch.
Changeup: Still a devastating pitch. While Santana’s has lost some of its magic with his drop in velocity, Franchise’s effectiveness seems to remain.
I take that info from the vast amount of searching for scouting reports and what not about Liriano, think of it what you will, but all of that info is paraphrasing of things I’ve read.
73 K’s in his last 64 IP over his last 10 starts(9-0), a WHIP a hair above 1.00(which is very good), and he’s shut out opponents 4 times.
and just for a retrospective view, Liriano was K’ing 11.1 batters per 9 IP at AAA in 2005 before his original call up to the twins. In his last 10 games at AAA this year, he is K’ing 10.2 batters per 9 IP. He’s coming back, and I think learning to pitch even better because he doesn’t have the Fireball necessarily anymore at the moment.
I really, really want him called up so I can go watch him again, can’t you tell?
“Do you really believe the Twins as currently constituted would have a chance in the post season? (I STILL want Beltre.)
And please don’t forget that even Gardy stated the need for the RH bat and BP help……”
I do think the Twins, as currently constituted, would have a chance in the post-season against the Rays and Angels. I think they could compete with the Red Sox. I think they could compete with the Yankees (if we can convince the Yankees to play their home games on a neutral field). I certainly think the Twins could win the World Series vs anyone in the NL. (If any AL team loses more than 1 game in the WS this year to whoever represents the NL, an immediate criminal game-fixing investigation must be initiated.)
The problem is, the Twins would/will not be competing with teams as THEY are presently constituted. All of the other AL contenders are looking to improve and some of them no doubt will. That, to me, is why the Twins must do something as well.
I want Beltre (or some other RH hitting infielder with legitimate pop… I’m open to alternatives). The pen arm, I feel less urgency about. I can’t see giving away the farm for a rental and that’s all the Twins are probably looking for (unless someone doesn’t believe Neshek will bounce back in 2009).
I really like Brian Buscher. He’s been one reason this team has remained competitive. But the Twins need a hard hitting RH hitter and while I concede it is POSSIBLE that Cuddyer could be that “addition”, I think it’s risky to count on that.
I think Buehrle is the bigger heel than AJ. Nothing is better than pounding that puke into submission.
All 5 AL central teams are 5-5 in their last 10 ballgames.
Meaning that with all the crap that’s happened in the past few weeks…nobody’s moved one way or another in the division.
By the way, I have to keep pointing this out….
Doug Mientkiewicz was 3-for-5 last night with 2 RBIs…he’s now batting .284.
Are the Pirates talking about trading this guy somewhere? I can’t imagine he is part of their future plans…seems like a veteran utility IF / OF would be of high demand from someone.
Right C-MATH. He had beaten the Twins hundreds of times or something and he was quoted as not respecting the Twins. We threw the super secret “Beat Burly” lineup at him and shut him up for good!
By the way, I misspoke above…Detroit is still just 6.5 games behind the White Sox.
Still, doesn’t appear they are making a move at this point. The longer they stay back, the less the veterans on that team will care.
JIMMENY:
Game fixing only gets you 15 months.
Now, if you cash a check for millions that the state mistakenly sends you, you are in for some HARD TIME ! ! !
JimCrikket said — “Beltre may not even need to be a deadline deal. With his salary, it’s possible he could clear waivers…”
But why take a chance. With Beltre on the team, the Twins could be WS winners soon. Give the Mariners the “Moon and Stars” and Buscher.
“I really, really want him called up so I can go watch him again, can’t you tell?”
I’m with you brother he brings the same type of excitement that Johan did and i think everyone wanted him up to face the Sox for that reason as well.
About the head first sliding vs running through argument:
Check this article in the American journal of sports medicine:
http://ajs.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/30/6/834
Their conclusion, based on a study of “of 60 players ranging from Little League to college level” showed that they “found no statistically significant difference in speed between head-first and feet-first sliding at all levels of play”
the only advantage of a head first slide is to avoid a tag, which does not happen on a running to first base situation.
Glad to see Dougie doing well, it’s too bad it took him two or three years to get to that point.
I boo AJ for his attitude, not because he is no longer a Twin. I will admit while he was a Twin, I loved the way AJ played the game and wished the Twins had drafted someone other than Joe Mauer since we already had an All-Star capable catcher. I will admit I was wrong.
However, since he was traded away, AJ has shown his true colors. Remember the “finger to the nose” gesture Naked Batting Practice guy started a couple years back. AJ was the first, and I believe only, opponent to mock the gesture. Then, as I believe, the intentional attempt to step on Morneau. Last night, I expected AJ to say something to Slowey about pitching inside when he took his intentional stroll towards the mound. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen a player walk that far into fair territory after a foul ball off a leg. AJ is an antagonist. There’s nothing wrong with letting him know you don’t like him. He’s a grown man, he can handle it.
JimCrikket,
“But the Twins need a hard hitting RH hitter”
Its possible, that IF Buscher’s compact LH swing is as effective against LHP as are those of Mauer and Span, no RH hitter will be needed at 3B.
If Cuddyer/Young/Gomez can fill the RH hitting DH and OF spots, only the bullpen will need upgrading.
Gardy needs to test Buscher against the White Sox LHP’s before August 1 to see if he can be effective.
But we all know that won’t happen.
Something about a testosterone deficiency.
romer, I think the M’s would prefer to keep Beltre, if they can fleece the Mets or Yankees in return for Ibanez or Washburn, who they’re more anxious to pack off somewhere else. That “Moon and Stars” they’re asking for is likely a couple of pitchers from among the group currently in the Twins’ rotation… plus Liriano. I think taking that kind of deal would be short-sighted.
I was simply saying that if the non-waiver deadline comes and goes, I won’t necessarily give up on the possibility of getting Beltre.
I wouldn’t go after Beltre unless the M’s reduce their demands. Consider how much the Twins would need to give up for such a marginal improvement.
Give the Mariners the “Moon and Stars” and Buscher.
How about the Moon and the Stars…and Lamb?
thrylos98,
Its possible that the results of a study by the American journal of sports medicine which concludes that head-first slides aren’t faster could have motives other than “speed to 1B”.
I would suggest that safety and injury prevention might have priority in the minds of scientists working for the American journal of sports medicine.
I will admit that I did NOT like AJ as a player even with the Twins. The White Sox radio guys used to really get on him. Especially because he wore so much padding when he was in the batters box and then would lean into pitches.
Nor did I like Doug M., or guys like him who put all that pine tar on their helmets. It is too contrived. Grow up.
which does not happen on a running to first base situation.
I agree with your analysis. You never see sprinters diving for the line.
But there is one time when it makes sense. When you hit a slow roller down the line and the pitcher’s or first baseman’s only play is to tag you as you go by. It sometimes makes sense to dive to avoid the tag in that case. But that is the only time it ever makes sense to dive into first base.
In all of the times Punto has dove into first, that play might have happened once. Most of the time it’s on a grounder to one of the other infielders, where diving is senseless and dangerous.
With the whole AJ “thing” last night…does anybody else think Ozzie (as is his fashion) will overreact and have somebody plunk Morneau?
The trade off is a Wasserman type getting suspended while the Twins potentially lose Morneau…
Though I don’t think Morneau’s the type to rush the mound. Him and Mauer seem to be pretty stoic when it comes to getting thrown at.
They’ll give you “the look” (I don’t think I had ever seen Mauer do it until the Tigers chucked at him twice), but they won’t take the bait and charge.
More Liriano:
in International League Play he is:
-7th in ERA at 3.28.
-tied for 3rd in Wins with 10.
-11th in IP with 118. (missed a few starts while with Twins and Fort Myers, could very well be #1, Duensing is 3rd)
-4th in K’s with 113.
-3rd in WHIP with 1.13.
-has a win % of .833 in his decisions, was only able to find 2 pitchers with a better percentage, one at 11-2, the other 10-1. Neither of those players has close to the other numbers Liriano has put up though.
All stats require a minimum of 0.8 IP/team game to qualify. Liriano has pitched 1.063 IP/team game to give you an idea.
On Beltre:
I’ve heard several reports the M’s asked for one of Perkins, Slowey, or Blackburn, plus a Duensing, Mulvey, or Humber and another prospect of the mid-level variety, probably one of our ‘toolsy’ outfielders(not Revere, his stock is too high right now, leads all of the Minors in avg.)
If that deal changes to one of Perkins, Slowey, Blackburn, Duensing, or Mulvey and a Swarzak, Robertson, Devries, Manship or Humber type and a mid-level guy, I’d do it. But not for 2 of those first 4, would hate to leave Rochester that thin in pitching. FYI - Swarzak was promoted to AAA despite his uninspiring numbers at New Britain this season as Duensing is en-route to China.
I have to say that mocking of the “Smell ‘Em” gesture was absolutely hilarious by A.J. You have to admit that was really funny.
Look, here’s my take on A.J.:
Pro athletes are cocky…a lot of them are anyway. We know this. Some are outwardly cocky, like Bonds and A.J., some are quietly cocky….I like the fact that A.J. admits who he is, makes fun of himself when needed, and is man enough to take the heat along with dishing it out (like getting cold-cocked by Michael Barrett).
You can call his antics silly or what have you, but the guy shows up and plays hard every game…he not about just cashing checks…he truly wants to win. And like it or not, he has a winning track record.
I can handle booing A.J. because he plays for the enemy, but I honestly like the White Sox way of doing business and A.J. helps personify it…
JimCrikket, thanks for your 12:52 post. I agree that the Twins would otherwise have a chance against everyone….except the Red Sox.
But two things bother me — 1)Youth and inexperience; and
2)Lack of HR hitters.
In 2006, the Twins had 4 hitters who were a threat to hit, say, the 3-run HR (with Mauer being 1 of the 4). This season, there are only 2.
Now, I’m not reopening this endless debate regarding home-run hitting teams vs. other kinds of offenses. I’m simply noting that it’s a long season and it takes a lot of work for the Twins to churn out the runs the way they do. Therefore, I don’t expect them to produce at the same rate as the season wears on — especially in September.
Morneau’s HR last night is a case in point. It releases the team-wide burden and is a terrific boost of energy.
Unfortunately, you won’t see much of this from this team except from Kubel and Morneau.
But you’ll see a helluva lot of it from other teams, especially in the playoffs.
“…only the bullpen will need upgrading.”
Defense at 3B needs upgrading right now, sane.
You can call his antics silly or what have you, but the guy shows up and plays hard every game…he not about just cashing checks…
So basically, you love AJ because he’s a guy who “plays with grit”, “gets after it”, and “battles his tail off”.
Huh funny. I thought we hated that here in Twins Territory.
thrylos98-
The tag play does happen at first base. In fact it happened last night to Casilla. He didn’t slide, but it’s the only legitimate reason for sliding into first base.
T says
“With the whole AJ “thing” last night…does anybody else think Ozzie (as is his fashion) will overreact and have somebody plunk Morneau?”
I thought hitting Red Dog last night was the payback.
I thought hitting Red Dog last night was the payback.
I missed that part. I only caught portions of the game leading up to about the 6th inning. I missed Harris double and the Dye “homer”.
Though I did hear Dan and Gordo shortly after Harris’ double talking about who was “that guy” in the clubhouse, and they were mentioning it was somebody like Morneau or Redmond.
it may have been I just missed it and those two were discussing who’s the guy on the team that would be considered the “guy to plunk”
“…for such a marginal improvement.”
Please rethink this one, cmath. Given excellent D at 3B this year (with no dimunition of offense there), the Twins would be ahead of the bitchsox in the standings right now.
AND, with Beltre, there’s an extra 20 HR’s involved. Much more than just marginal improvement.
But if you all are convinced the Mariners would want more than Perkins, Bonser, Manship with a couple more decent prospects, then they’re probably asking for too much.
Who will be FA pitchers this offseason? (To replace Livan or Perk, for instance.)
T,
I am stuck with Hawk and DJ for Twins-Sox games on TV. Of course living in Chicago does that to you. But I mute those guys and stream Gordo and Dazzle online during the game.
JC,
So if the Cubs win the World Series this year, is it fixed?
romer:
* - player whose contract includes 2009 option
Kris Benson PHI
A.J. Burnett TOR (may opt out)
Paul Byrd CLE
Ryan Dempster CHC
Jon Garland LAA
Tom Glavine ATL
Mike Hampton * ATL
Rich Harden * CHC
Orlando Hernandez NYM
Jason Jennings TEX
Randy Johnson ARZ
John Lackey * LAA
Esteban Loaiza CHW
Braden Looper STL
Derek Lowe LAD
Pedro Martinez NYM
Mike Mussina NYY
Jamie Moyer PHI
Mark Mulder * STL
Carl Pavano NYY
Brad Penny * LAD
Odalis Perez WAS
Oliver Perez NYM
Andy Pettitte NYY
Mark Prior SD
Horatio Ramirez KC
C.C. Sabathia MIL
Ben Sheets MIL
John Smoltz * ATL
Julian Tavarez ATL
Steve Trachsel BAL
Brett Tomko SD
Claudio Vargas MIL
Randy Wolf HOU
All from: http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2002/02/2008-09-free-agents.html
I’m watching the re-braodcast right now on FSN.
This is truly an amazing performance by Slowey. The first batter of the game gets a hit. And yet a complete game SO is in the works, even though Slowey was in and out of trouble in those first innings.
I’ve loved Slowey from the first time I saw him pitch last year.
With Slowey/Baker/Liriano/Blackburn as the core, and with their low payroll, the Twins should not be weak-kneed about doing a blockbuster trade for Beltre.
Other 2009 FAs:
DH: Jim Thome CWS
3B: Joe Crede CWS
(wouldn’t this be a fun pair of pickups)
Also - Relief pitchers
Tony Armas Jr. PIT
Luis Ayala WAS
Joe Beimel LAD
Joe Borowski CLE
Juan Cruz ARZ
Brendan Donnelly BOS
Scott Downs TOR
Alan Embree * OAK
Scott Eyre CHC
Kyle Farnsworth NYY
Casey Fossum TB
Brian Fuentes COL
Aaron Fultz CLE
Tom Gordon * PHI
LaTroy Hawkins NYY
Mark Hendrickson LAD
Trevor Hoffman SD
Bobby Howry CHC
Jason Isringhausen STL
Steve Kline SF
Brandon Lyon ARZ
Damaso Marte * PIT
Tom Martin COL
Julio Mateo PHI
Guillermo Mota MIL
Will Ohman CHC
Hideki Okajima * BOS
Darren Oliver LAA
John Parrish SEA
Chris Reitsma SEA
Dennys Reyes MIN
Juan Rincon CLE
Francisco Rodriguez LAA
Brian Shouse MIL
Rafael Soriano ATL
Jorge Sosa NYM
Mike Stanton * CIN
Salomon Torres * MIL
Derrick Turnbow MIL
Oscar Villarreal ATL
David Weathers CIN
Dan Wheeler TB
Dave Williams NYM
Matt Wise NYM
Jay Witasick TB
Note that a decision will hae to be made on Reyes this offseason.
There’s also Red Dog’s contract expiring: so based on Morales developement…
Catchers
Rod Barajas TOR
Henry Blanco * CHC
Johnny Estrada MIL
Toby Hall * CWS
Adam Melhuse TEX
Mike Redmond * MIN
Ivan Rodriguez DET
David Ross * CIN
Javier Valentin CIN
Jason Varitek BOS
Vance Wilson DET
Gregg Zaun * TOR
Shaun:
“JC, So if the Cubs win the World Series this year, is it fixed?”
Probably. But it won’t require an investigation. The Apocolypse will be commencing immediately after any Cubs WS victory long before any investigation could start.
Nevermind catchers, I just caught Redmond’s 2009 option. I say if there’s nothing better out there (for backup) and they don’t have anything ready in the minors (september will be the judge) I say why not?
JC, the only way it’s a fix is if it’s Cubs vs. TB.
The Apocolypse would come before the series even started.
2009 pitching free agents.
Starting pitchers
Tony Armas Jr. (31)
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) - can opt out after ‘08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33) - $8.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Ryan Dempster (32)
Josh Fogg (32)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) - $9MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Esteban Loaiza (37) - $7.5MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.375MM buyout
Braden Looper (34)
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) - $11MM club option for ‘09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Carl Pavano (33) - $13MM club option for ‘09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) - $8.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42) - $12MM club option for ‘09
Brett Tomko (36)
Tim Wakefield (42) - perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Randy Wolf (32)
For a complete list goto MLBtrdaerumars.com
T it was when Redmond came up in the 8th Masset’s first pitch hit him right in the back and it looked to me like it was intentional. Why Redmond i’m not sure maybe Ozzie thought he was catching last night.
The pitching FA market next year could get ugly. Because somebody’s going to throw a LOT of money at Sabathia and set the tone the rest of the way out.
I see a pattern, CC is the only FA pitcher under 30… yikes.
I like our 5-6 guys that probably add up to Clemens and R.Johnson’s ages.
2009 FA’s, what are we searching for? Thome would be a HUGE/GINORMOUS pick up for DH… I would pay him $12-14M for 1 yr, although he’ll probably be looking for a few yrs before he retires… probably a stretch for our Twinkies pocketbooks.
On to tonight: Does Monroe sit?? Please… Kubel needs to play… Buscher should DH tonight…
Forgot about Gomez, he’ll probably start unless he tweaked his injury last night…
Span RF
Casilla 2B
Mauer C
Morneau 1B
Young LF
Kubel DH
Harris 3B
Punto SS
Gomez CF
I would still sit Punto and start Harris at SS and Buscher at 3B…need more pop in the lineup.
I think Joe is on XM175…. too bad i don’t get XM in the office
The only thing with Thome is he’s a lefty DH. That means Kubel goes. (I can hear Jason celebrating now)
But I think it would be a good shot in the arm morale wise. Thome’s been healthy this year has he not? I can imagine that’d be the major concern with a contract beyond a few years.
Not to mention it’d be great Sox/Twins rivalry fuel.
But they’d still need that power righty. (I think Crede is also lefty…)
I don’t want Kubel gone…I want Kubel to improve!
I’m surprised we haven’t chatted much about Gardy’s decision not to “Free Jason Kubel” last night and go with Monroe, who went 0-for-3. My suspicion is Kubel gets the nod tonight.
Having said that, this is the same go round we had last year when Lew Ford was still on the club…Kubel has had every opportunity to put an end to this nonsense of being benched for a guy hitting .200 by grabbing the bull by the horns…once again, he’s failed to do so. So here we are…
I can’t fault Gardy for how he’s handled this situation…
Mark,
Since it is another leftie tonight, I’m guessing that Monroe will be the DH and Kubel will sit.
Thank you kindly for the list, T.
Now to do the research.
Prior? Benson? Garland? Perez?
Have to presume Harden, Mulder, Burnett, and others will be kept by their current teams.
Sabathia is locked up now, right?
Kubel got a hit against Cliff Lee and Perez this weekend…. i should get the nod.
If Sabathia has been signed, that’d be new today. Last I checked both he and Sheets were still slated to be Free in 09.
Looking at the list romer, I agree Garland’s name stuck me as potential. But it’s the same way I saw Rowand as a possibility this offseason.
How fun of an offseason would it be for the Twins to come up with Garland, Thome, and Crede.
romer,
why would the cards pay Mulder all of that money?
Sabathia will be in NY next year.
Span
Casilla
Mauer
Morneau
Thome
Young
Crede
Buscher
Gomez.
There, fantasy 09 lineup.
That should be Harris instead of Buscher…
Thanks again, T. Yeah, Sabathia will get the Johan money. But will anybody get the Silva money ever again?
The point is, the Twins have a shot at the WS if they’ll spend the $$$.
It’s deja vu all over again.
T, that’s a nice fantasy lineup indeed…
just highly unlikely.
I think Kubel has been very adequate this year, as I’ve said before, he’s been the 3rd best hitter on the team, and when it’s Mauer/Morneau in front of you, that’s pretty good…
Despite the LHP tonight, Kubel should still DH, as Monroe (discussed several times here) is horrible vs Lefties this year… and I dont see him “breaking out” tonight… rather go with a guy that can still just hit overall…
romer: If they have to deal one of the current four young guys in the rotation as part of a Beltre deal…they’d be a little tighter in the offseason (two holes to fill with whoever they dealt and maybe Livan)
The 3B free agent market going into 09 is very slim. Like 6 or 7 guys (Headlined by such guys as Blalock and Crede), which means that teams are going to be overpaying. (It’s how Silva got the money he did)
I think Thome is a stretch, I see him as more likely to wind up back in Chi-Town (is the rumor he doesn’t want to be a Twin true)
Crede will likely be let go (Are the Sox still high on Fields?)…and if he stays healthy he’d be a definate upgrade at 3B.
Depending on how things go this season, I’d make Crede the priority, then go after a FA pitcher of a higher calibur than previous years (the Twins DID sign Kenny Rogers once)
“The point is, the Twins have a shot at the WS if they’ll spend the $$$.”
in 2010 they do not now..they are wayyy to young at pitching,OF,2nd..etc plus the gaping holes in the bullpen,3rd,SS
The “hole” at SS isn’t bad if they get a guy at 3B who can hit with consistency.
Harris will be a more than sufficient SS. Punto doesn’t count.
The point is, the Twins have a shot at the WS if they’ll spend the $$$.
I think that’s true for any team.
Fire that’s assuming that no one else in our division gets any better
A team in this era doesn’t need to be without a hole or two to win.
Youth in pitching…. could be helped by a stud in the bullpen…. also, occasionally young guys pitch well in the playoffs…. Beckett in 03
Youth in the OF, lack of experience made up for by defense somewhat.
Casilla brainfarting at 2b is more of a worry than the OFs to me.
I think there is a an offensive hole on the 3b/SS end, but filling one would help the other.
T even with Harris filling the hole at SS there are too many other holes for this team to be patched up in 1 trading deadline or even 1 off season.. a trade won’t suddenly give MLB experience to all the youngsters..
I’m all for trades as long as it brings back someone that can contribute now and future
2009 Infielders:
Casilla
Harris
Buscher
Tolbert
Macri
I dont see us paying for Crede (even despite his injuries) I think he’ll be seeking too much… Twins aren’t ones to make huge splashes in the FA market… and look what happens when they do, you get Everett, Lamb, and Livan…
I think in ‘09 more than any other year, they should stand pat and not bring anyone in from FA (trades would be a different story)… I’m tired of the washed up veteran signings that half way through the year we are screaming for all the young guys to play and looking to dump all the “vets” we signed!
LOL - Everett, Lamb, and Livan…
are not HUGE FA signees.. they are typical washed up veteran pickups the Twins do - huge splashes require a talented player and money - something that doesn’t go together much in Twinkie Town
Mark,
I agree with you except…. maybe an extra reliever… 4 million dollar guy or so, 7th inning guy.
Absent a trade, Lamb will be given the opportunity to compete for the 3B job in Spring Training 2009. Don’t be surprised if he wins the job.
and don’t be surprised when punto is the starting ss next yr.
Punto won’t be the SS if they have to pay him 3 million or so.
FIRE: yeah, I meant that is all the bigger splash that the Twins make in FA signings… like throwing a pebble into Lake Superior…
Shawn: Definitely could use another arm…but you never know what will happen w/ guys in AAA or AA as well.. we could see Humber/Mulvey/Duensing, or anyone else for that matter thrive and come up in spring training… then you save $4M and can pay some draft picks some more…
PUNTO is a free agent after this year..
who else in MLB is dumb enough to pay him more then 2M?
Punto is a free agent? I’m surprised we haven’t heard more Manny Ramirez like demands from him yet.
imo smith will have a hard time not resigning the skippers little buddy or gardy could revolt and do something really strange like use nathan in the 8th or walk manny. he’s already shown an extreme stress reaction by having both catchers in the lineup.
Mark, as dumb as this is going to sound…the Twins current hot streak may do this team some harm.
Look what happened in 06. They went on a tear with at team nobody expected to do anything, and it lead to them mistakening viewing guys like Punto and Castillo as long term solutions.
I fear the same thing could happen here. They’re going to go on a tear with the young guys, and end up standing pat like they did coming out of 06.
There’s still a hole at 3B, and less of a whole at DH then we normally have.
But Livan may end up departing, and Neshek may not recover fully. So we don’t know what we’ll have in the rot or pen next season.
The only benefit of the Twins struggling would’ve been the FO being more inclined to let the young guys ride instead of trying to constantly shuffle the hot bats (which is leading to more Punto ABs than is healthy)
I didnt even mention Punto because we better not under any circumstance be bringing him back and paying him MORE money… absurd.
Can’t Tolbert dive into 1B every other game to please Gardy?
Can’t Tolbert dive into 1B every other game to please Gardy?
Punto’s headfirst dives do not please Gardy as much as you’d think. In fact, from interviews he hates them more than you do…
“Absent a trade, Lamb will be given the opportunity to compete for the 3B job in Spring Training 2009. Don’t be surprised if he wins the job.”
I don’t think its possible that Lamb’s defensive skills can suddenly become adequate.
Too huge an improvement!
I think he could be kept as a bench LH batter and backup 3B-1B-C, but a regular third-baseman?
I just can’t see it!
T: I see your point… and I agree to an extent…
I just view it from what the Twins history tells us, we won’t get guys like Crede or Thome, we’ll sign the Tony Batista’s and RonDL White’s of the world instead… so rather than going through that AGAIN, I’d rather not do anything (trades however, I’d consider, since it should be bringing in young talent, not old garbage)
Regarding the 1b slide, he may very well hate it, but Punto is NEVER punished or called out for his demonstrating it…that’s what really ticks me off…
He has no problem sitting other guys, but Punto is OFF limits…
T,
“Punto’s headfirst dives do not please Gardy as much as you’d think. In fact, from interviews he hates them more than you do…”
Of course he does!
He can’t start Punto at SS 162-times-a-year if he keeps getting injured!
MARK:
I’ve always thought the washed up veterans they bring in do a pretty good job of taking the pressure off the younger players to start the season and motivates them to “win” the starting job later on.
That has been fairly easy to do the last several years.
““Punto’s headfirst dives do not please Gardy”
Do you like to see your son take unnecessary chances?
SANE:
I taught my “sons” to:
1)Run through first……….all the way to right field if you’re that fast.
2)Feet first into second.
3)Head first into third. If you make the third out at third, at least it looks like you were trying!
I’ve always thought the washed up veterans they bring in do a pretty good job of taking the pressure off the younger players to start the season and motivates them to “win” the starting job later on.
All the while, the washed up veterans help dig a hole that becomes very difficult to dig ourselves out of.
CMATH:
That’s what’s been so fun the last several years. Especially in ‘06 !
Not my first choice of blueprints, but fun nevertheless.
As much as I’d like to believe Buehrle was being an arrogant jerk with what he said, go and read the whole article. He was just suggesting that, as important as the game against the Twins was to him, he’d pitched under much greater pressure in the past (’06 WS). It wasn’t a knock on the Twins at all; it was him saying, “Hey, you guys are making this out to be the biggest game of all time. Well, I’ve pitched in bigger, so I think I’ll be OK.” (I can’t stand the Sox or Buehrle, but he deserves to be defended on this one.)
mudcat,
“If you make the third out at third, at least it looks like you were trying!
Did you tell him “If you make the third out at third, it looks like you were clueless!”?
Random thoughts: (stated previously?)
Punto doesn’t so much “slide” head first into 1st base as much as he dives to the bag and slides past it. It’s a naturally instinct, just like Gomez diving for balls head first and Young sliding feet first for balls. It’s just what the player does naturally and you will not change him during the heat of the game. Also, I have DirecTV MLB package, so I can choose the broadcast I listen to. After the non homerun by Dye and the bad call at first for Casilla, I chose to listen to Sox announcers. They are ungodly arrogant and annoying when the Sox are winning, and the worst whiners when the Sox are losing. It was fun to hear them state; “you can give the credit for that run to Welke”, when Casilla ended up scoring that inning. Then they went on to dissect how the whole inning would have been different if the call wasn’t blown. “The next ground ball would have been an easy out at 1st, instead of another error at 2nd”. Blah blah blah. I guess it would have been a moral victory for them to only lose 4-0 without that one blown call. Good times.
I think the name of the smokin’ hot Victory Sports reporter was Katie O’Keefe.
If my guys made the third out at 3B, they’d better stay down and try to convince me they DIED “tryin”. Cuz it was their only chance to avoid me killing them.
Rube: Katie O’Keefe?? She was a reporter for the Twins?
She used to do the period intermissions at Sioux hockey games and although not horrible to look at, I couldn’t stand the sound of her shrieking voice…
Wonder if she’s doing the weather in some small town in wisconsin?
To the guy who defended Buehrle, check this out: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/1079172,CST-SPT-sox29.article
”I knew in the early innings when I got out of a few jams that it was going to be one of those days,” Buehrle said before smirking. ”I never liked this park. The wind was blowing out a little bit, and they used it to their advantage.”
He’s basically blaming last night’s loss on the wind in the Metrodome. This is the same guy who said the Sox were the better team even though the Twins won the division. And it’s the same guy who said he was glad the Twins were going to the playofs instead of the Sox because the Twins always lose in the first round. He’s a classless jerk.
Angels got Teixeira for Kotchman and another player.
This is what I meant earlier when I said I thought the Twins could compete with other teams as currently constituted… if other teams stood pat. But that isn’t going to happen.
Kotchman wasn’t even what I’d consider a “hole” at 1B but the Angels made themselves better.
JimCrikket,
Kotchman is an excellent defensive 1B who is hitting .287 with 12 HR this year. I think its a good trade……. FOR THE BRAVES!!!!
dont get me wrong… I’ve liked Kotchman a lot since he played in the Midwest League here in Cedar Rapids. It’s a good deal for Atlanta assuming they had written off the possibility of re-signing Tex.
But Teixeira is a legit power hitting stud with an OPS over .900 last I looked. As much as I like Kotchman, this is an upgrade for this year, anyway.
What a great game last night! The dome was the best place to be in MN!
So for anybody at the game tonight, did the roof blow off after Morneau’s double?
What a comeback!
I was just pleased to be able to actually watch it on TV for a change.
Too bad about Casilla though. That’s going to hurt. It sounds like Everett’s rehab stint went pretty well though so maybe the Twins will catch a break and he’ll come back closer to the kind of defensive player he’s been in the past.
These comment sections are probably going to go from “difficult to read” to “avoid at all costs”, though, because I think Nick Punto is the best option for a regular replacement at 2B and the whining will be intolerable around here.
I know Harris can play 2B but he looked lost over there in April and this pitching staff needs the best defense behind it that it can get. I’m not saying Punto is the best defensive 2B in the league… but he’s certainly the best one on the Twins current roster and he’s going to need to be in the lineup.
