About those lefties in the batting order
Posted on May 1st, 2009 – 9:20 AMBy Howard
A couple of days back, I suggested that Joe Mauer’s return would allow the Twins to create a batting order featuring Mauer/Morneau/Kubel in the No. 2/3/4 spots. Gardy has since said that Mauer will return to the No. 3 spot, which I’m not going to quibble about.
The bigger question that came up in some of the comments was the wisdom of my suggestion that those three left-handers bat consecutively. There was a healthy dose of “conventional wisdom” and “you don’t do that, DUH!” being tossed around.
And you thought conventional wisdom had no place on the Internet?
My position was based on the fact that, if you look back on the 2008 season, Gardy’s primary lineup against right-handed pitchers evolved by midseason into Mauer/Morneau/Kubel in those three spots. I think the Twins can do this because, with Mauer and Morneau, it doesn’t much matter whether there’s a lefty or righty on the mound. So the only issue against a nasty lefty late in the game is whether you bring up a right-hander to hit for Kubel.
Given the makeup of this year’s team, there should be a good right-handed option on the bench.
So, with Mauer batting third, here’s how I’d go for now: Span, of; Harris ss/2b or Casilla, 2b; Mauer, c; Morneau, 1b; Kubel, lf/rf; Crede, 3b; Buscher, dh; Cuddyer, rf or Gomez, cf, or Young, lf; Punto/Harris, ss.
Back to you all.
272 Responses to "About those lefties in the batting order"
It should go like this:
Span
Mauer
Morneau
Kubel
Cuddeyer
Crede
Young
Casilla
Punto
You can “should” all you want. Point of the post seems to be that Mauer’s gonna bat third.
right because Gardy already said he would
My ideal lineup (although I also would not quibble with flip-flopping Mauer and Harris.
Span (CF)
Mauer (C)
Harris (2B/SS)
Morneau (1B)
Cuddyer (RF)
Kubel (DH)
Crede (3B)
Young (RF)
Casilla (2B)/Punto (SS)
with:
Span
Harris
Mauer
Morneau
Kubel
you have a good 1 - 5
6-9 does it matter who goes where? the highest average from the rest is Young at .241
I’d love to see this for a few games:
Span RF
Harris SS
Mauer C
Morneau 1B
Kubel DH
Crede 3B
Young LF
Gomez CF
Punto 2B
Seth you have two RF and no LF in your proposed lineup?
Funny thing is, our lefties hit lefties better than our righties do, so it shouldn’t make any difference if they all hit consecutively or not.
From the view point of a naked man in a tree will the 3rd spot now be the official catcher spot like last year and when Red or Morales play they will just slip in to the 3rd spot?
Have they made the move yet to open up a spot for Mauer?
FIRE,
Seth is actually corrrect.
Cuddyer and Young are both RF’s.
Young is playing about 300 feet out of position.
Here is my proposed lineup for tonight:
1-9, Whatever Gardy picks I will root for. Gonna get my Thursday withdrawel symptoms treated with my Twins Fix tonight, and I will pull for and root for the Twins….GO TWINS!!!!!
I’m so glad Howard brought up this topice for today! I’m a bit perplexed by his non-commital lineup (with all the slashes).
Gardy has all but confirmed he will put Mauer in the No. 3 spot, so this may be academic, but here’s my pitch:
Span LF
Mauer C
Morneau 1B
Kubel DH
Crede 3B
Young RF
Harris SS
Casilla 2B
Gomez CF
Now here’s the lineup we all know Gardy will go with tonight:
Span CF
Casilla 2B
Mauer C
Morneau 1B
Kubel DH
Crede 3B
Cuddyer RF
Young LF
Punto SS
so the debate rages on…
“Given the makeup of this year’s team, there should be a good right-handed option on the bench.”
Michael Cuddyer.
I’m close to agreement with FIRE on this one.
You lead off with Span every day. Harris is second until either he cools off or Casilla starts to hit beter. 3-4-5 are Mauer, Morneau and Kubel. Sixth is going to be Crede consistently, but 7-8-9 are made up of whoever else you happen to be plugging in the lineup that day.
What is everyone doing to celebrate the return of #7?
I’m sneaking a few Mason jars into the Metrodome tonight, to capture samples of the “return of Joe Mauer air” to give to my grandkids!
Crede bats between Morneau and Kubel.
Starting off would be Span and Harris.
Punto bats last.
The rest, eh….
Sane that’s correct so then GOGO has to play in CF with SPan in RF this whole exercise comes down to
Magic man vs Young in RF
Harris vs Casilla at 2nd
GOGO vs Gardy in CF
for playing time
correction SPan in LF …
Mauer coming back (”here I come to save the day”) with all the hype reminded me of the Andy Kaufman Mighty Mouse skit; link below, he even has the sideburns:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/cc038c770a/andy-kaufman-performs-mighty-mouse-from-andykaufmanfan
Most of you are to young to remember this and probaly it won’t make sense to you.
“Young is playing about 300 feet out of position.”
so is Cuddyer his spot is right handed bench player
Thrylos-
Like your lineup, but how about moving Young to RF and Span to LF? There isn’t as much room for Young to run in place out in RF because of the baggie.
Should Punto start at all tonight?
What about Casilla at second and Harris at short?
Long-Time lurker, first time poster.
Here’s my thought (I can’t hold back any longer) for all the Cuddy/Punto haters and line-up experts: the GM and ownership has invested in these guys and has surely directed Gardy to give them every opportunity to succeed. It’s way too early to give up on that kind of an investment. Buscher/Young Harris - we all know have potential, but the Twins have placed way less eggs in their collective baskets so they will get the wrong-end of the playing-time stick….for now We can debate it, it’s entertaining, but that’s the way it’s going to be for at least another 6 weeks folks. Cuddy is not going to be a “right-handed option off the bench” - he will be our everyday RFer at least that long almost regardless of how he hits.
I’m excited for the game tonight and happy that we don’t have to face Grienke in this series. I see lots of hits against Ponson tonight and hope that having Joe back will ignite this team and get us going on a 10 game winning streak. It would be great to put some distance between us and the rest of the pack (in the right direction). Cuddy is definitely about 300 feet out of position and I’m hopeful that Gardy will play Delmon for this series. Go Twins!
A little unconventional, but here goes:
CF Span
LF Young
C Mauer
1B Morneau
DH Kubel
3B Crede
RF Cuddyer
2B Harris
SS Punto
I like Harris at the bottom for this reason: I think he has a good shot of being on 2nd or 3rd when Span comes to the plate
Is Go-Go back with the team yet?
SoDak….yes.
Howard, why do you want Buscher at DH? He hasn’t really been hitting well and you also have Young, Cuddy, and Kubel to potentially DH.
Span LF
Casilla 2b/Harris IF
Mauer C
Morneau1b
KubelDH
Crede3b/ Busher on travel days
Young/CuddyerRF one can DH sparingly
Punto SS/Harris IF
Gomez CF
He’ll be back for tonight that is, the way it sounds…
Actually switch Kubel and Crede just so the opponents manager will have to make that extra pitching change and can’t keep a tough lefty in as long.
Thanks for piping up SoDak. Are you the guy who’s watched the Beloit team play?
Thanks Doc. Been out of Twins territory until now and my only source for Twins info has been the STrib crew (it’s appreciated LEN, Joe and Howard) plus the blog experts (scary thought) and what few nuggets I can glean from the Eastcoast SPorts Network.
Speaking of ESPN, and off-topic I realize, but it’s almost criminal how little run the middle coast teams get on that “national” network. Sickening.
It’s good to be back.
[…] A Fan’s View – […]
Birdofprey - nope. Literally my first time posting this morning. Never been to Beloit.
I like Seth’s lineup. Delmon and Magic could help each other, take turns or whatever, maybe shoot the breeze, teach some card tricks also, in right field and Span could roam around the rest of outfield. It works for me.
Ha Ha!! Everyone’s a comedian! 
At lease with Mauer batting third, you have one less bum at the bottom of the order.
speaking of comedians, Seth….Some of the posters on here should be on the stage…the one that leaves just prior to the start of tonight’s game. GO TWINS!!!!!!!!!
DrDon,
I don’t think any of us are old enough to remember stage coaches. Were they comfortable?
Thrylos-
Like your lineup, but how about moving Young to RF and Span to LF? There isn’t as much room for Young to run in place out in RF because of the baggie.
Ideally Young would be in RF and Span in LF. The problem is that Young did not play a single inning at RF (regular season or ST) since he came to the Twins… I hope that it changes next season.
I’m with Thrylos, but if having YOung in left and Span in right is an option, that would be my first choice.
d’oh, that should be just the opposite, Span in Left and Young in right (ugh).
I got a kick out of one poster’s comment on one of the blogs the other day(don’t remember who it was)…I LMAO: “I am sick of all of the bitchers bitching about the bitchers bitching.” Made sense to me.
stop picking on DrDon he knows how to be a pain in your a–
SoDak in the house! (my wife is from SoDak)
“It’s way too early to give up on that kind of an investment.”
Neither has produced since 2006. I think we’ve waited long enough. Why the Twins made the “investments” in the 2008 and 2009 offseasons is beyond me….but we can’t help that.
Walter Johnson says:
“May 1st, 2009 at 10:42 am
DrDon,
I don’t think any of us are old enough to remember stage coaches. Were they comfortable?”
yeppers….ok…. I’ll update to this day and age… To some of the posters on this blog, there is a bus leaving at 7 p.m. today…Be under it!!!! How’s that? LOL.
since everyone else threw their 2 cents in I’d like to see this lineup….
Span RF
Mauer C
Young LF
Morneau 1B
Kubel DH
Harris 2B
Gomez CF
Crede 3B
Punto SS
Cuddy and Casilla are killing this team in my opinion.
Shazel??? The bus……….
Good one Doc. I’m reminded of a dream I had. This cowboy jumps off his horse into the stagecoach, gets out the other side and jumps on a different horse. They asked him “What’s that all about?” He said “Nothing. Just a stage I’m going through.”
This morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas.
Span RF
Harris SS
Mauer C
Morneau 1B
Kubel DH
Young LF
Crede 3B
Gomez CF
Punto 2B
How he got in my pajamas, I’ll never know.
Would have no problem with the reigning batting champ in the second spot, just to get him more plate appearances.
Aside from that, I don’t have a lot of enthusiasm for fantasy batting orders. Think batting order is overblown, anyway.
Happy Mauer Day!
BRUNO…. I can’t believe I laughed at that, but I did. Love one-liners!!!
Ben W says:
May 1st, 2009 at 10:53 am
This morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas.
o.k. I will bite.. what’s an elephant doing in your PJ’s !?!?!
I KNOW that I’ll never see this batting order. Come on I know the deal Cuddy plays everyday. 
Maybe Casilla is the next Luis Rivas. By the time he turns into the hitter we expect, younger better players will be coming up through the system.
Reminds me of the Norwegian woman who had a beautiful babe…She asked her Ob/Gyn right after delivery…”Are you sure the baby is mine?”
(sigh…)
One time I ran into an elephant with three balls. So I pitched around him to get to the giraffe.
BOP… (sigh) or do you mean.. sy?
Ben…I wonder if that is the same giraffe that I used to take for rides in my car. He was really protective. Everywhere I went he stuck his neck out for me.
good one, ben. walter didn’t interrupt your punchline that time.
BOP is not getting the usual material he needs to rip on us about he must be feeling melancoly
Henny Youngman called. He wants his violin back.
Nope, don’t know that giraffe, but I did stop a charging rhino once by taking away his credit card.
FIRE VAVRA & GARDY!!!!! says:
May 1st, 2009 at 11:03 am
BOP is not getting the usual material he needs to rip on us about he must be feeling melancoly.
BOP is melancholy all the time…He has a head like a melon and face like a collie.
I only rip the comments from a handful of people, FIRE. That was a sigh of boredom, prompted by the 10:57am post from shazel.
But keep ‘em coming FIRE. It’s only a matter of time before you say something that deserves to be ripped. Hint: say something derogatory and personally insulting about anyone. For example you could show some age bias by referring to Twins field staff as AARP’ers like you good buddy did last night. Classy.
Tonight’s game will be emotion-packed….I might even choke up upon the occiasion of Baby Jesus’ 0-2 count in the first inning.
LOL
Billlllll….the bus.
Cute one, DrDon. I know you weren’t directing that personally, but just taking advantage of an opportunity to get the joke on the shelf. You’re bigger than that.
Dr. Don A new act!
bop - who said what exactly? I am not sure who you think is my “good buddy”?
BOP: “birdofprey says:
May 1st, 2009 at 11:10 am
I only rip the comments from a handful of people, FIRE. That was a sigh of boredom, prompted by the 10:57am post from shazel.”
You will notice that I earlier sent shazel under the bus.
It was a smug tirade about Jim Rantz. Apparently his age is problematic for thrylos.
BOP….nothing personal, just the term “melancholy” reminded me of a joke and I had to share. I have plenty of “stuff” thrown at me for being a retired proctologist. Goes with the territory, my friend.
OK. A new act, thanks to Henny Youngman. A man got a new hearing aid and was bragging to his friends how great it was, it changeds his whole life ! ! ! “Really? What kind is it?”
“Half past four.”
I thought I made a mistake once. But I was wrong, I was right.
BOP - I usually don’t get personal unless I feel oppressed by those on these blogs who feel it’s their lot in life to tell the rest of us what we can say and when we should say it..
but I am sure you are bigger then that
I’m cool, doc. Always like humor, even when it pokes a little fun, as long as it is not mean-spirited or bigotted. Your joke passes the smell test better than the subject of your life’s work…
It’s better to be near a retired proctologist than to be near a currently operating proctologist.
FIRE,
bop, took offense that I called the 71 year old Jim Rantz an AARP member, in a context that was pointing out how he annually constipates the high minors with never-had-beens and the domino effect keeps players like Hicks in extended spring training.
But of course if a finger was pointing at the moon Bop would look at the finger since he loves to discuss form over substance…
Actually, sy, I was forced to retire as a proctologist. I developed the shakes, and had too many of my patients come out of anaesthezia with smiles on their faces. I now treat only for boils on the butt Tox!
Speaking of fingers……… I saw this bumper sticker:
Are you a proctologist?
Then quit trying to shove your headlights up my a$$
Proctology is not brain surgery.
But for some blog posters, it’s close.
My favorite patient came up with this comment… After I performed a colonoscopy, when I talked with him, he asked me to do him a favor. He asked me: “Will you please tell my wife that you did not find my head up there?”
Say always can what you want, FIRE. You want immunity from disagreement?
You can count the number of fellow bloggers whose comments have met my wrath (often in humor) on one hand. Consider yourself one of the chosen. Lucky you. Sorry you feel oppressed. Personal attack has never been part of my repetoire. I will point out what I think is unseemly behavior, like smugness, arrogance, immaturity, dishonesty, and meanness. We all sin, however, so it’s only a few that I call out, and that is usually about being fair-minded and humble.
Not sure what lineup I like the best, but I do like the idea of Morneau being guaranteed an at bat in the first inning.
sane….Great line. LMAO!!!!!
bop - I do say what I want no problem there - I enjoy honest disagreements backed by something more then ” all you every do is rip on player X ” or
“you want player X to fail”
when liberal elitest PC talks rears it’s ugly head I don’t enjoy that and want to stump on the serpent’s head as it strikes my heel!!
“he [BOP] loves to discuss form over substance…
You’re so right, thrylos. Such a man of substance!
Since I was a kid, I’ve been interested in birds, thrylos. I can tell the difference between a Red-tailed hawk and a Red-shouldered hawk, by sight, by their call, by their nests, by where they are, how thwey perch, and how they fly. I know more about birds than many, but I also learn a ton from fellow amateur birders. What’s important, thrylos, is that I never think I’m more knowledgable than the head of ornithology at Cornell, for example. The analogy? You and Ron Gardenhire. But of course, you confuse your mastery of a software program and some rudimentary knowledge of arithmetic, and maybe your young age, for real competence. Maybe when your Jim Rantz’s and my age, you will be more humble, my friend.
gentlemen…. here is how I feel. I, too, am a dues paying member of AARP, have been for years. All I can hope is that all of the “youngsters” who make reference to “oldtimers” make it that far. And most will, if someone doesn’t take offense and kill ‘em first.
“when liberal elitest PC talks rears it’s ugly head I don’t enjoy that and want to stump on the serpent’s head as it strikes my heel!!”
I rest my case FIRE!!!!! Now THAT is a comment worthy of ridicule. You go stumping, you conservative common man. Hsssss!!!! Funny funny stuff….
second guessing is a right that fans should exercise with their sports teams - it’s passion about a game!!
lighten up and live!!
FIRE…I quit second guessing, because my first guess is always right…:-)
“Can’t we all just get along?”
@#$%@#$%@#$% NO!
Just caught up with the one-liners….it’s always entertaining…..informative? Eh…not so much. But always entertaining.
SoDak, we learned how to share when we were very very very young. Didn’t have to be informative, just had to be entertaining.
I have finally determined how I want to die….. I want to be mortally wounded by a jealous husband when I am 99.
bop you are showing the irrogance proposing that only you can inforce some kind of relativistic code of rules that of course you are above and do not have to follow only us lowly knuckle dragging common man have to be lead by the hand by you..
if a take I have or anyone else has you disagree with then make a counter point with something backing it up that’s all I ask
disagreeing with aspects of how our sports teams are run is our right.. less you forget WE PAY THEIR SALARIES!!
our elected officials also seem to forget this!!
DrDon says:
May 1st, 2009 at 11:46 am
FIRE…I quit second guessing, because my first guess is always right…:-)
you are a wise man
Wow, the fun is gone, right out of here. Lighten up, it’s Mauer day!
I’m going to have to pick up a palm branch.
and maybe your young age,
thanks, man, you made my day
“I have finally determined how I want to die….. I want to be mortally wounded by a jealous husband when I am 99.”
Pick your poison, doc. I’ll take being mortally exhausted by his nymphomaniac wife when I’m 314.
Ben W please write some more one-liners! you got great stuff!
If you complain, you have to expect complaints from those who are irritated by complainers.
Obviously their complaints are irritating to you.
So everyone has to either develop immunity to complaints, or everyone has to stop complaining.
Neither scenario is likely to happen, so JUST DEAL WITH IT!
Hey, lighten up and live, FIRE. No one’s enforcing anything, and your heel ain’t bit. It’s a blog.
I am complaining about Sid
Ben, I picked up a palm branch one time. As I walked down the street with it, the palm branch said to me…”Isn’t this better than a hooker?”
FIRE, like all great comedians, my best material is all stolen.
no worries BOP written word on a blog loses it’s tone it’s the danger of communicating in the 21 century
Doc, I knew a hooker that was a former lawyer. She didn’t want to keep screwing people after they died.
FIRE,
“I am complaining about Sid”
I am immune! (oblivious, apathetic, comatose…pick one)
BOP…. 314??? Just a guess here, but maybe, just maybe, I am just a little bit more realistic than that.
This is up your alley, so to speak, doc.
You hear about the lady who shaved her legs and wrecked ‘em?
“BOP…. 314??? Just a guess here, but maybe, just maybe, I am just a little bit more realistic than that.”
Hey, lighten up and live, doc. It’s a blog. Age only matters to thrylos. (wink wink)
BOP…. now you got me laughing!!!!
BOP… my age… plenty nine, my weight… a hundred and too much.
My age?
Depends. They fit great.
Never say anything to someone on a blog that you wouldn’t have the guts to say to their face.
Has it really come to this, people complaining about the people that complain about the complainers?
WJ,
“Never say anything to someone on a blog that you wouldn’t have the guts to say to their face.”
OK.
Would all posters please indicate their age, height, weight, reach and fighting experience with thir posts from now on?
I want some info, before I evaluate my guts.
Walter Johnson says:
May 1st, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Never say anything to someone on a blog that you wouldn’t have the guts to say to their face.
Been there, done that, Walter. That is why I have so many friends.
who am I, E.F. Hutton?
“Never say anything to someone on a blog that you wouldn’t have the guts to say to their face.”
Couldn’t agree more, WJ Esq. Extend that to never say anything ABOUT someone either.
Except Cuddyer, Punto, Gardenhire, Gomez, Young, Baker, Casilla….
Gee, I forgot Buscher, and your fave, Span, WJ.
sane,
FYI. I am 43 years old, 6′6″, 250 lbs., size 15 shoe.
everyone, I am Walter Johnson’s body guard
bop,
I am an official Span convert now. Don’t think he’s a shoe-in for the Twins HOF or All-Dome team, but he’s doing his job.
Buscher I actually don’t have strong feelings about. No more than I did for Louis Rodriguez or Jarvis Brown.
WJ,
“FYI. I am..6′6″, 250 lbs.”
I agree with everything you have said or will ever say.
And I think that you (and every poster your size) is a wondeful person.
sane,
That’s why I can be as mellow as I am.
And for those smaller than me…..
Go play handball against the curb, you @#$%@#$% midget!
sane,
In HS, I was almost 6′7″ and weighed about 195.
Where would you have played me?
This blog would be more fun to read if people attacked each others’ arguments, rather than each other.
I will say that just because someone has a job, that doesn’t mean he’s exempt from making mistakes, or receiving criticism (or that he should even have the job, see Mchale, Kevin).
“In HS, I was almost 6′7″ and weighed about 195. Where would you have played me?”
In the low post.
mike,
I agree whole heartedly. To say that the manager shouldn’t be questioned by fans because they don’t have the same experience is similar to saying we shouldn’t question our political leaders or the leaders of major corporations. It is un-American.
sane,
Correct! My hook shot was way better than my curve ball.
“In HS, I was almost 6′7″ and weighed about 195. Where would you have played me?”
Or Pitcher, 1B, Tight End, Offensive Tackle.
OK, you big babies, I’m 5′7″ and 139 pounds, packin’ a Luger.
mike,
However, since none of us really know each other personally, all we really know of each other is our comments. Therefore, attacking ones arguments and attacking ones person are much of the same.
EXTRA!!!
birdofprey is actually Nick Punto!
The best analogy I’ve read was:
Can I not criticize a surgeon who loses 9 out of 10 patients, just because I would have lost them all?”
If Harris keeps hitting, it won’t hurt to have him batting third. But if he starts to falter I’d like to see them try out the “Lefties Row” with Span/Mauer/Morneau/Kubel
With how Casilla’s struggling, I don’t think him batting second is guaranteed anymore. Harris hit there two days ago and got three hits, while Casilla dropped an 0-fer in the 9 spot.
And he’s hardly able to use the “limited play” excuse like Young or Gomez could try.
Span
Harris
Mauer
Morneau
Kubel
Crede
Cuddyer
Young
Punto
Note that Cuddyer is the #7 hitter, and Young is batting #8. So Cuddyer moves further down the pecking order and Young comes in by default (though I could easily see him passing up Cuddyer in the next few weeks if they continue to travel in opposite directions)
Once Gomez gets back, it’s entirely possible he’ll be able to relax and focus on his hitting again.
If by the end of the year the lineup looks something like
Span
Mauer
Morneau
Kubel
Crede
Young
Harris
Punto/Casilla
Gomez
That’s one of the stronger lineups the Twins have been able to field in a LONG time.
Heck:
Span
Harris
Mauer
Morneau
Kubel
Crede
Young
Punto
Gomez
…even THAT is a damn fine lineup.
You know, I’ve always wondered why birdofprey stops posting an hour or so before game time….
Oh crap, that should be “Harris batting 2nd” a DUH.
i have the kirby body, when i was young i was a quick 180# it’s the extra 40# has slowed me down and the walker gets in the way sometimes.
Just like T to actually interject baseball into a baseball blog!
“Never say anything to someone on a blog that you wouldn’t have the guts to say to their face.”
Following that standard, I would never say anything here. Guts or not, it’s just not wise (not to mention productive) to carry on debates with crazy people.
and bop seems to really battle his tail off while getting after it…
Mauer is already at the Dome to prepare for tonight’s game….he’s working on getting his touch back - right now he’s practice-bunting off the hitting tee.
T
I like the “Leftie’s Row” that you propose and think your lineup is good - I’m in total agreement that Young should be ahead of Cuddyer both in the lineup and the field. When will Gardy see the light and use Cuddy as the right handed bat OFF THE BENCH! Did bop start talking Italian during the WBC? Inquiring minds want to know.
That’s why blogs are great!
We are bullet-proof behind our monitors.
And btw, who the @#$%@#$% are you calling crazy?
I took my @#$%@#$% medication this morning………….I think.
So. Not only is it a Friday evening, but Mauer is back tonight.
With that in mind, and considering it’s the Royals vs. somebody like the Yanks or Chicago, does anybody think tonight is an easy sellout (or close to it)?
WJ,
“To say that the manager shouldn’t be questioned by fans because they don’t have the same experience is similar to saying we shouldn’t question our political leaders or the leaders of major corporations. It is un-American.”
I agree with you. The operative word sometimes, for me, is “question”. It’s un-classy to character assasinate. When you argued about Span, I don’t recall you being needlessly disparaging, and I respect that.
We are defined by what we say and do, right? So there is an indirect criticism of the person to some extent, but it still makes good ettiquette to avoid name-calling and such.
WJ, I stop posting many evenings due to other obligations, and sometimes because I don’t have anything to add.
I took my @#$%@#$% medication this morning………….I think.
I take pills to help my memory…but I can’t remember if I took them already.
You’re the one I would expect to be most likely to be crazy, just based on your chosen “nick”, sane.
For the same reason anyone going by “JimCrikket” would be the least likely to have a conscience.
sane @12:17, my doctor said i have BMI.
that’s all i can tell you.
I would like to add to bop’s comments:
The consequences of a manager’s actions on the diamond are not nearly as severe or impactful outside of the diamond.
But a poor decision by a world leader can be quite catastrophic, and can have long lasting impacts.
Which is why when I express disappointment in a baseball outcome, it’s not nearly with the same kind of ferver (is that even the word…or a word?) that I would express disappointment in a political outcome.
“I take pills to help my memory…but I can’t remember if I took them already.”
My mother died of Alzheimer’s Disease after a 17-year struggle. I’m on the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association.
That was really funny.
No sarcasm intended.
I appologize for using the term “un-American”.
Blue Jays fans can question their manager too.
Although, if you talk to a Brazilian or Honduran, the term “American” means any person from the Western Hemisphere (they will also argue that North and South America are really one continent).
“(they will also argue that North and South America are really one continent).”
And Hugo Chavez will argue that he’s my ruler.
birdofprey,
Come on. That’s just the kind of crap I’m talking about. Why do you have to make it personal? I’m sure T wasn’t making light of Alzheimers or any other desease.
Everyone probably has family members that have suffered from Alzheimers. I have. My dear grandmother hasn’t recognized me for almost five years.
and there are a lot of conditions that cause memory loss unrelated to Alzheimer’s, btw…
“”"birdofprey says:
May 1st, 2009 at 12:39 pm
OK, you big babies, I’m 5′7″ and 139 pounds, packin’ a Luger.”"”
All of you who have a bodyguard or are a bodyguard…
I have TWO, yes TWO bodyguards… Their last names are Smith and Wesson.
Hey, WJ, I was making light of political correctness. I think dementia humor is just fine! Please re-read, my friend.
Damn lawyers.
birdofprey - you have just proven my earlier statement about Liberals being above the rules they desperately want to impress
thrylos98 says:
“”May 1st, 2009 at 1:05 pm
and there are a lot of conditions that cause memory loss unrelated to Alzheimer’s, btw…”"
And I also want everyone to remember that I am schizophrenic, and so am I.
“birdofprey - you have just proven my earlier statement about Liberals”
Oh, FIRE, you conservative knuckle-dragging redneck, go back to your trailer park.
I love it that you’ve pegged me as Liberal. Peculiar.
I’m confused and depressed by this discussion. Normally I’m just confused.
When do we find out who gets squeezed out for Mauer? Howard, could you get on the horn to Joe C. and La Velle Trey and tell them to get off their duffs?
Liberals and Conservatives. Conservatives and Liberals.
Middle of the roaders, far right, far left.
Confused???? I thought I was, but I’m not sure.
bop,
Damn us all, indeed! Maybe, as Prof. Kingsfield would say, I still have a skull full of mush.
“and there are a lot of conditions that cause memory loss unrelated to Alzheimer’s, btw…””
You got those conditions on a spreadsheet thrylos? I want to get it over to my neurologist.
keep writing bop every word you type incriminates you
When do we find out who gets squeezed out for Mauer?
people should soon. Twins players report around 2-3 PM at the dome for home games. All it takes is for someone to sit by the players’ entrance and see who is coming in and who is not… if all are there, Redmond is on the DL.
Ben W. I will say it again. The Twins do not have to make a decision until gametime when Joe is officially activated. I will give a guess, and keep in mind this is a guess only. RedDog will be placed 15 day DL retroacted to last Saturday, the last day he played. That is absolutely, to me, why Morales caught every game since. It is called CYA.
Walter, that’s the kind of personal crap….oh, you were insulting yourself…
I know they don’t have to make a decision until gametime, but you and I both know they’ve already made that decision.
Walter Johnson says:
May 1st, 2009 at 1:14 pm
bop,
Damn us all, indeed! Maybe, as Prof. Kingsfield would say, “I still have a skull full of mush.”
We old time proctologists say “you have Schidt for brains”.
and DrDOn knows CYA if anyone does!!
Hmm, bop thinks to himself, a lot of these bloggers are clever enough to be comedy writers: sane, WJ, T, DrDon,…not FIRE so much…
Will T remember to take his pills? Or will birdofprey’s luger stop him before DrDon’s dementia causes him to choose the wrong political party?
Confused? You won’t be. After next this week’s episode of “Soap”.
The Twins do not have to make a decision until gametime when Joe is officially activated
yes, but if Morales or Buscher or Gomez (unlikely because he flew to the Twins Cities instead of Rochester last night) go to Rochester, the will not show up at the park… If they all show up, Reddog is on the DL.
(unlikely because he flew to the Twins Cities instead of Rochester last night)
The Twins may be apologizing for limited play time by helping him build up his frequent flyer miles. 
FIRE VAVRA & GARDY!!!!! says:
May 1st, 2009 at 1:18 pm
and DrDOn knows CYA if anyone does!!
LOL, and never forget that, FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!
nice reference T! I loved “Soap”
FIRE, it is truly time for me to practice CYA. I’ve had enough of COPA in my lifetime.
Looks like I’m missing the party! Leave it to DrDon……..
Howard is essentially saying play Buscher instead of Young/Gomez. I say “no” to that:
It’s a little radical to eliminate Gomez’s D in CF. And besides, he showed an excellent response after being benched for that 2-3 days last season. And now with the birth thing out of the way, I have to presume that he’ll be fully out of the mental funk he was in.
Yet, assuming Gomez remains a flop, putting Young on the Bench and inserting Buscher doesn’t add a lot. Young still looks like the offensive leader of the three Cuddy/Gomez/Young. And as a solid .290 hitter, it’d be hard to get anymore from that from Buscher anyway.
Right now, Buscher ain’t the future. Young is.
But if Buscher gets hot…….but he hasn’t shown he is (like Morales, for instance.)
birdofprey says:
May 1st, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Hmm, bop thinks to himself, a lot of these bloggers are clever enough to be comedy writers: sane, WJ, T, DrDon,…not FIRE so much…
What we need to remember is this…I have my opinions and you are welcome to them.
I say Morales gets sent down.
This is my guess. Not what I think should be done, which would be to send Buscher.
I am no longer for sending Casilla down (I’d give him a bench role for the time being), and never have been for sending Gomez down.
LOL DrDon nicely put!! my wife is an RN and worked in rest homes she said I have seen enough “poop” to last a lifetime
then we went and had kids..
romer, welcome. Read all of the comments. We HAVE had a blast so far today. I think it is because we were in such withdrawal yesterday with no Twins game, that we are all like a big bunch of kittens in a small litter box.
Stay tuned for next week’s exciting episode of “Soapox”, and see if FIRE will stump the serpent before it bites him in the …heel; watch WJ defend FIRE in a rousing courtroom drama against the evil Liberal PC talk..oh whatever, I forget.
“…if all are there, Redmond is on the DL.”
Why does it have to be such a tantalizing secret?
Is there some counter-move KC can make? Is there a trade in the works for Morales?
Is this BS’s way of keeping blogsters paying attention to their jobs rather than posting their response to the move? Is he protecting us!!??!!!!
“that we are all like a big bunch of kittens in a small litter box.’
even when you try you can’t get away from the crap can you..
Hope the boys come better prepared to play tonight than they did the last time KC was in town.
I’d like to say the team will be out for some pay-back tonight, but I know that just isn’t in them.
Good article on Greinke from KC in the new issue of SI. And we don’t face him this trip.
Yessir, Dr, I’d love to read the comments. Saw quite a few of ‘em……made me want to have my bowl of bran flakes.
Some bran everyday keeps the DrDon away.
Unfotunately, got stuff to do. A gig tonight.
Carry on.
maybe Twin’s can “PAY IT FORWARD”
or is that what we call it when they have letdowns?
WJ,
“My dear grandmother hasn’t recognized me for almost five years.”
Are you pretty sure she’s not faking it?
Heh heh heh
Move made: morillo to Rochester
Twins outrighted Morillo to Rochester to make room for Mauer-per Twins website.
Tomorrow’s Production on the STRIB blogs:
TWELVE ANGRY MEN (A Fan’s View)
STARRING*********
Martin Balsam … Juror #1
John Fiedler … Juror #2
Lee J. Cobb … Juror #3
E.G. Marshall … Juror #4
Jack Klugman … Juror #5
Ed Binns … Juror #6
Jack Warden … Juror #7
Henry Fonda … Juror #8
Joseph Sweeney … Juror #9
Ed Begley … Juror #10
George Voskovec … Juror #11
Robert Webber … Juror #12
Are you pretty sure she’s not faking it?
I don’t know why she’d “fake it”. She knows that I know that her money ran out years ago.
who’s morillo?
oh, i remember.
So……Morilla has to clear waivers, right?
sane,
Awesome movie!
OK. Some trivia. Who played each juror in the HBO version put out about ten years ago?
“So……Morilla has to clear waivers, right?”
Right!
Hope it happens.
Next decision comes when Crain returns.
So who do they get rid of when Crain is ready to come back?
So……Morilla has to clear waivers, right?
One would think so…
Klugman is a very underrated actor.
Hmmmmmmmm…
11 pitchers. So when Crain comes back, it’ll be Buscher.
They don’t want to DH Mauer and have no backup catcher.
And we all love Red, right?
They’re counting on the new magician (Merlin the Mauer) to take his starting staff deeper.
What’s Gardy going to do with 3 catchers, anyway?
“They don’t want to DH Mauer”…PERIOD!!!
Gardy promised…..
“What’s Gardy going to do with 3 catchers, anyway?”
Counting on Red for some good pinch hits now.
Gomez may be suspect, too, when Crain returns. I should think they’ll start him all 3 v. KC to see if he’s recovered.
Morillo, ideally belongs in Rochester with Bobby Cuellar working on his change up. It will be interesting to see whether he passes through waivers at this point (it is to the Twins’ advantage that he pitched the way he did in the majors). Based on the fact that Humber (who would probably help a team more than Morillo at this point) cleared waivers, everything is possible.
Why have three catchers if one of them isn’t used as a DH?
Why have three catchers if one of them isn’t used as a DH?
to PR Morales for Mauer if necessary late in the game and still have Redmond on the bench as an insurance if Morales gets hurt.
““They don’t want to DH Mauer”…PERIOD!!!
Gardy promised…..”
Oh God, I forgot about that. Too much on my mind.
Time for the bran……
:)>
Hope Morrillo clears waivers as he has some promise. And please, please let it be Buscher next… But my guess is also Morales.
Wow… this blog went crazy today…
Morales will PH, not DH, when Mauer catches.
“Wow… this blog went crazy today…”
What do ya mean TODAY?!!
to PR Morales for Mauer if necessary late in the game and still have Redmond on the bench as an insurance if Morales gets hurt.
If that’s the case, I’d rather have Morales down in Rochester playing.
WJ,
at this point, Morales and Buscher will practically used the same way, with Morales additionally maybe resting Mauer. Also, I think that Redmond’s skills with the bat are so diminished that keeping him with the team does not justify the potential loss of Morillo.
Keeping Morales here only makes sense if they use his bat. Or if he will be the regular backup.
Maybe Redmond will go on the DL when Crain comes back.
Lots of interesting games today — Angels in NY, Sux in Texas. None more interesting than KC v. Twins though.
With all the parity in MLB this year, now way to wisely predict any of the 15 games today. FL already taking it a bit to the Cubs in Chicago.
Have fun, people. Be nice to trish!
I see nothing on the Twins website about outrighting Morillo to Rochester.
Seth reports that Morillo did clear waivers. Super fantastic news!
http://talkintwinsbb.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/mauer-activated-morillo-to-rochester/
“keeping him with the team does not justify the potential loss of Morillo.”
Morillo can’t be wasting a 25-man-roster spot.
His “potential” loss is necessary and inevitable.
The Twins want him in the system, but not at the risk of screwing up the MLB team.
11 pitchers might be the only way to get the hot hitting cuddy out of right field, if they run low of arms cuddy could pitch an inning or 2 with that cannon for an arm.
This is all just temporary until Crain comes back. Should be able to get by with 11 through the two gamer in Detroit. The real decision will come before they fly from Detroit to Baltimore
I see nothing on the Twins website about outrighting Morillo to Rochester.
the only pieces of news is an AP article that has been circulating in various places and Seth’s post (see link at my 2:00PM comment)
Okay Romer, good call on that this blog usually goes crazy. But I’m usually here and it usually doesn’t go talking about age and weight!!!!
Nevermind, I found it.
Thanks for the good news, thry….Seth!
Makes my day!
Great move by the Twins!
Taking Morillo from Rockies’ waivers and then waiving him to their own farm system.
sane,
this is kind of immaterial and academic right now, since Morillo cleared waivers, but
His “potential” loss is necessary and inevitable.
The Twins want him in the system, but not at the risk of screwing up the MLB team.
would you say the same think about Johan Santana whom the Twins have to keep in the majors a whole season, even though he stinked up the place?
“would you say the same think about Johan Santana whom the Twins have to keep in the majors a whole season”
Duh, no.
Apples compared to fruit cocktail.
thrylos98,
even though he stinked up the place?
I think the correct usage of “stink” in this case is:
“…he done stinked up the place.”
If Morillo ever deserves to be in the same sentence as Santana I’ll eat my hat.
Back in my school days, our drama club put on “Twelve Angry Men.”
But I came from a small town, so our version was “Three Angry Boys and the Hooplemann Sisters.”
Santana was a Rule V.
No waivers..he would have had to be returned to the Astros.
Santana and Morillo are light years apart.
Morillo has 7 years of failure in his resume.
WJ,
“stinked up” (sic) indicates a greater degree of stinkage than “stunk up”. Eg. Last year Bass stunk up the place. In his first year with the Twins, Santana stinked up the place
I would say Bass done stanked up the place.
FRY THE BASS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bass “done got his stink on up in here”.
Santana “stinkified the joint”
Morillo “pulled the ol’ Stink-a-roon-ee”
Santana and Morillo are light years apart.
Morillo has 7 years of failure in his resume.
you think so?
career at minors before they joined the Twins:
Morillo: 4.34 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 1.59 K/BB
Santana: 5.69 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 3.76 K/BB
Bass stunk so bad he could make Right Guard turn left.
Santana made Speed Stick Slow down.
Morillo made Secret obvious and Sure confused.
Santana was 21.
Morillo was 25.
Santana would have been welcomed back to the Astros MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM.
The main reason Morillo cleared waivers was because any claimer would have to keep him in the Majors.
The situations aren’t similar.
The psychiatric hospital up the street used to have an annual performance of “12 Angry Men”.
Though they broke up when the guy playing Juror #8 found he wasn’t making as much as the guy playing Juror #8.
It was too bad really. It was one of the best one-man shows I ever saw.
Highest grade on the stink test:
When a pitcher smells like a skunk, which has crawled out of another skunk’s a$$.
Sorry DrDon!
Just a layman’s diagnosis.
Skunk smell isn’t so bad, once you’re used to it. Skunks don’t mind it.
WJ,
“Skunks don’t mind it.”
How many skunks voted in your survey?
Or was that based on one stinkin’ interview?
Walter,
I just took your place as “THE BLOG KILLER!!!!”
(crickets)
OK, then. For something entirely different:
It’s a beautiful day for baseball! The sun is shining, the flowers are starting to bloom. The birds are singing and the bees are trying to have sex with them, as is my understanding.
Jokes2Go.com > Humor Lists >
Normisms — funny lines from Norm on Cheers
1. COACH: What would you say to a glass of beer, Norm?
NORM : Going Down?
2. COACH: What would you say to a glass of beer, Norm?
NORM : Daddy wuvs you.
3. COACH: What’s shaking, Norm?
NORM : All 4 cheeks and a couple of chins.
4. COACH: What’ll it be, Normie?
NORM : Just the usual Coach. I’ll have a froath of beer and a snorkel.
5. SAM : What’ll you have, Norm?
NORM : Well I’m in a gambling mood, Sammy. I’ll have a glass of whatever
comes of whatever comes out of that tap.
SAM : Oh, Looks like beer, Norm.
NORM : Call me Mister Lucky.
6. WOODY: Hey Mr. Peterson, there’s a cold one waiting for you.
NORM : I know, and if she calls, I’m not here.
7. WOODY: Hey Mr. Peterson, Jack Frost been nipping at your nose?
NORM : Yep. Now let’s get Joe Beer nipping at my liver, huh?
8. COACH: Can I draw you a beer, Norm?
NORM : No, I know what one looks like. Just pour me one.
9. COACH: How about a beer, Norm?
NORM : Hey I’m high on life, Cooach….Of course, beer is my life.
10. COACH: How’s a beer sound, Norm?
NORM : I dunno. I usually finish them before they get a word in.
Yes! Yes! Definitely get Cuddyer in those proposed lineups people! He will walk away all your worries! The man is heating up. Keep that pesky and defensive whiz Gomez on the bench where he can improve. Yes! How about this lineup:
Span
Harris
Mauer
CUDDYER
Morneau
Kubel
Crede
CUDDYER
Punto
Cuddyer can play 2 OF positions. He is that good.
Good lineup, Less. Gomez will just have to learn it’s a dog eat dog world out there and he’s wearing milkbone underwear.
(thanks sane)
Return of The Blog Killer!!!
Yes! I killed it good. 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Mauer is currently batting 1.000 with a HR, Double and Walk. Thank goodness Mauer is back.
please stop putting Buscher in as DH!!
“please stop putting Buscher in as DH!!”
Would you prefer him to play SS?
sane, let’s see Delmon everyday for a while. Let him experience this born-again Twins team (with Mauer) and see if he catches on fire some.
Buscher ain’t the future. And at the plate, he is NOT clearly better than Delmon.
So with Mauer back, we saw the approach that Gardy will be taking with the lineup both with and without Mauer.
Anybody else glad that he’s willing to bump Morneau back up to the 3rd when he has the backup in? Definately signs of lessons learned in 2008.
Also, I’m thinking after Saturday’s game that Casilla’s played his way out of the everday role. I’m definately hoping he’s hit his way out of the #2 spot…but only time will tell.
We also saw some life out of Cuddyer’s bat, including some XBHs and some RBIs. Still not enough to put him over as the #5 guy, but it’s a start.
Span
Harris
Mauer
Morneau
Kubel
Crede
Cuddyer
Young
Punto
—–
Span
Harris
Morneau
Kubel
Crede
Cuddyer
Young
Redmond
Punto
Those lineups don’t look too bad.
