Comments on: What have we learned so far?

By: Call Me Stupid

Call Me Stupid — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:15:04 +0000

I don’t see the problem as being the cather not being Mauer. Yea not having Mauer hurts the team both on D and on offense. But the real problem so far is the starting pitching is horrid at best. Too many pitches left up in the zone makes for a very bad day. BUT it is early and they’re young so give them time to settle in it WILL get better

By: romer

romer — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:09:55 +0000

“…but neither is it much cause for concern.”

Now that we’re 3-5, I’m concerned. Having any two of Humber/Ayala/Duensing makes for a weak BP, especially for a team which is supposed to be contending.

And the catcher position looks very insecure. The whole strategy for the year at catcher presumes Mauer will completely heal (because they’re not ensuring that Redmond will heal with their decision to place him on the DL). The problems with that are.

1. Why has it taken so long to heal Mauer so far?
2. Redmond could be in danger of retaining a nagging injury for the rest of the season.

If the complete-heal Mauer plan runs into snags, then the fallback plan for Red might not work.

Might as well heal both Red and Mauer at the same time, and write off the beginning of the season by giving it to Morales (which they’re practically doing anyway) and Butera.

By: kirby91

kirby91 — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:27:29 +0000

thrylos98,

The funny think about you posting the link to Souhan’s original story is that you should go back and read it. I would like to hear what you see as being such a problem. To that point Delmon had been disappointing to everyone from fans to Twins management and probably Delmon himself. The numbers support Young had lacked power and was going the other way quite a bit. Souhan does not attack Delmon’s inability to take coaching (whether it was a right or wrong perception by many).

You may have been in the “give him time, he’s just 22 camp” at the time but the fact to that point were the facts.

Even Delmon’s biggest “haters” in Twins nation still want him succeed if for no other reason than it mean our favorite team will have a better chance to win. But the stats (both offensive & defensive) and the attitude of his employers towards him are the facts. Yours is based on hope, youth and your personal affection for Delmon.

Of course it is Delmon’s (and your) right to hold a grudge against Souhan. it’s also your right to not even like his work as a columnist as a whole. But what can’t be debated is his story (at the time) was factually correct at the time. Further support is the way the rest of the season and winter played out, as well as what both player and Twins management has stated publicly are Young’s goals for improvement this year.

Here’s hoping Delmon has a big year in a Twins uniform and that your able to not your bias for him get in the way the sound analysis you bring to so many other players and topics not related to Young.

By: Nestor

Nestor — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:54:51 +0000

Twinsnote, I don’t think anybody expected a whole lot more, but it’s the drive and desire that is shown which is making people come to a realization. Not so much hating on anybody, just realizing what type of player we’re seeing.

By: cmathewson

cmathewson — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:47:47 +0000

I wonder if the cold affected Humber’s curveball. I know you need a really good grip on the baseball to snap a good curve off. Maybe Bert can give him some pointers on how to throw the curve in adverse conditions: “101 ways to get pine tar on the ball without being detected.”

By: TwinsNotesGuy

TwinsNotesGuy — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:23:26 +0000

I still don’t understand all the hate toward DY. Were you all really that big of homers that you thought he was gonna hit .320 with 30 HRs right away for us? He is only 23 after all. I would ask how many 23 year olds you know of in MLB who have a career .290 average? or have drivin in 93 in a season already? (which is pretty damn good if you ask me). Joe Mauer is the only other guy I can think of right now who has accomplished something like that in recent memory, and Delmon aint no Joe Mauer (but do you understand the comparison?). Quit judging him based on what you WANT him to be, and judge him based on what he IS at this point in his career. And if you do that, realize that if you don’t come to the ‘OK, he’s a pretty good young player who is still ahead of the curve’ conclusion, realize you are incorrect and represent what is wrong with the ‘average joe’ fan.

Ya, I’d like to see him change his approach, I know it would help him realize all that potential, but I also don’t think he has played even close to the level of disrespect he is given on this blog…If you want more stats to back up my thoughts on Delmon and his development just ask, I am more than willing to lecture you on this topic…anyway, enough ranting…

This OF rotation crap is what is hurting the offense right now. It will pick up when Mauer gets back, but RIGHT NOW, the problem is the day-to-day changes. In the first 7 games, Gardy used a different lineup every time, that is not condusive to a consistent offensive output.

If it were up to me, Gomez would be sitting on the bench 5 out of the 7 days of the week already, and the OF would be Young in LF, Span in CF, and Cuddyer in RF.