Hey, Alexi, taking pitches can be fun!
Posted on July 29th, 2009 – 10:11 AMBy Howard
The biggest at-bat of Alexi Casilla’s 2009 season ended with a walk — thereby allowing him to combine the recent suggestion from the coaching staff (that he take more pitches) with his reply that he just wants to have fun. What were the odds that Casilla (and his .161 average) would be the one ending Mark Buehrle’s incredible streak of 45 straight retired batters? Probably about the same as the horse that turned in the $122 show payoff at Canterbury on Sunday.
It was a great night to be at the Dome. Watching Buehrle cruise and then crumble. Watching the way it happened — with Casilla, Spaen and Mauer tying the game and the rest of the batting order (without exception) combining to break it open. Watching Scott Baker trying to figure out how to avoid Chicago’s bat, throwing 115 pitches in six innings (a trend that must end) while giving up only four hits and not walking anyone.
The Dome had a pennant-race feel on Tuesday, I think, for the first time this season as the Twins moved within two games of Detroit. The one caution, of course, is that this week’s little surge makes it that much more important that the Twins improve their roster before the trading deadline. A middle-infield upgrade and bullpen help remain at the top of the list — the latter all the more because of concerns that Bobby Keppel may be returning to the form that’s made him a career minor-leaguer (12 base runners in his last 3 2/3 innings). I’m hoping it’s only a bubble, but this isn’t a situation to just hope stuff straightens out.
That’s about all the useful information I can share. The day job has left me pretty Farved out right now.
One other thing. I’m glad that Twins fans acknowledged Buehrle’s streak, with the standing ovations when he walked Casilla (Alas, Alexi, those weren’t for you) and again when he left the game. If that had been a Twins pitcher at the Cell, I’m assuming he would have been ducking a Budweiser or three. (At Wrigley Field, of course, the Trendies wouldn’t have even known what was happening.)
More excitement tonight. Enjoy it.
77 Responses to "Hey, Alexi, taking pitches can be fun!"
I could’ve swore i saw Alexi look up towards section 220 after he drew that walk. I really enjoyed last nights game. It was exciting watching what Buehrle might do, but even more exciting watching that stupid ass smirk leave his face when Punto gave the twins the lead. A very classy move by the fans at the game last night.
there would have been an exception except cuddy got lucky and got a hbp…he looked beyond terrible yesterday, and that is saying something for some of his at bats this year. great game to be at though.
Great call on the surge and deadline.
These last two games are simply a reminder that this team is still in a pennant race, and need help to get over that hump, as opposed to everything is fine as is.
And if anything, Keppel last night was a solid reminder that this team STILL NEEDS BULLPEN HELP. For 2 years now.
I can excuse someone looking bad against Buerhle, he’s a good pitcher. Often times they’ll make other teams’ hitters look bad. When Santana was dominant, did you watch the game and say “man, those hitters stink”?
Context is pretty important in judging someone’s performance.
mww–Agreed. Buerhle is a treat to watch in a pretty unique way.
Ben–Whatever it takes, by any means necessary. Yesterday he got hit, Monday he hit the game-winning homer. Crede would have grounded out if Getz hadn’t broken for second on the pitch in the rally inning, too.
The Twins are now 51-50.
In California, “51-50″ is the police code for a crazy person who needs to be temporarily locked up because he/she is a danger to him/herself or others.
I’m sure there’s a joke in there somewhere, but I can’t quite grasp it.
iconoclast with the early favorite for PoD….
On an unrelated note, I would like to take the opportunity to mention this Strib headline from this morning:
“Colon Scratched from Start.”
I don’t know about any of you, but I think that a scratched Colon would be a horrible way to land on the DL. That sounds painful.
Only a matter of time before we hear how great Casilla’s on base percentage is and how he’s starting to “take good at-bats”.
Speaking of that, we have to tip our cap to Nick Punto for the second time in three days. That’s twice in three games where Punto came up with the key at-bat of the game. I’m not pretending for a second that this 1-for-3 with a single and 2 RBI trend has any chance of sustaining itself, but hey, it’s a nice aspirin for our season-long headache for the time being.
That said, Grudsie, Where Art Thou?
By the way, although I’m very relieved we weren’t victims to the kind of history that no one wants to be on the other side of, I will say I was impressed by Buehrle and by the Metrodome crowd’s acknowledgment of it. Classy, indeed.
Having said that, I’m not sure Mark Buehrle saw the same game I did last night. Afterwards, Buehrle spouted off about the Metrodome and bloop, broken-bat hits.
Let me reset things from last night and you tell me if I missed the game or if Buehrle was coming up with unnecessary excuses:
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Buehrle walks Alexi Casilla. That’s right…a .160 hitter gets four balls, the last of which wasn’t close. Did the air conditioner blow that last pitch low?
The Casilla at-bat was followed up by a solid single to center by Denard Span, ending Buerhle’s no-no. I’m pretty sure that’s a hit in all 30 MLB parks.
The Span single came in front of Joe Mauer’s double to left field…a cheapy, considering the ball should’ve been caught. I see that as Podsednik’s fault, not the fault of the Metrodome. Howard would’ve been proud to see a Gregg Wong sighting on FS North following that play (which was correctly ruled a hit and was a no-brainer because the ball never actually touched Podsednik’s glove on the way down).
Perfect game, no-no, and shutout gone in three at-bats. All legitimately.
In the seventh, Buerhle hit Cuddyer to lead off the inning. Again, it must have been the air-conditioning, right? Joe Crede singled to right when Chris Getz ran the wrong way. Had to have been the Field Turf, right? Then Harris singled through the left side of the infield, scoring the go-ahead run. You could’ve given shortstop Alexi Ramirez or third baseman Gordon Beckham a lacrosse stick and neither one would have come up with that ball.
Carlos Gomez’s bunt, if anything, gave Buehrle a chance to make a play at second or third thanks to the hard turf.
Finally, Punto’s game-clincher was a rocket shot to right. Base hit all the way.
So I guess I’m confused by the asterisk Buehrle attempted to put next to that Twins win…and if you need more proof, Mark, what happened the last time we faced you again? That would be the opposite of “perfect game”.
Iconoclast i think 51-50 describes section 220 very well.
My headline
“Twins are relieved at not facing colon”
And lest we forget, it was Harris who knocked in the go-ahead run in the 7th. But that was a big and unexpected hit from Punto after Gomez’ sacrifice.
Punto’s hit and “credit” for a “big hit” shows how silly RBI is as a stat.
What was more important to runs scoring there, the plays that got the guys on base, the sacrifice bunt, the hit by Punto? Yet, only Punto gets a “cool” stat….RBI is a team stat.
Buehrle owns the Twins. LOL. If I was at the stadium I would not have been chearing for this guy. I wish the PA would have played: “Nananana Nananana Hey Hey Hey….Goodbye!” when he was walking off. Why cheer a guy that says he owns your team. Boo him. Are they real fans or just that stupid?
Adam - they’re real fans of the game, considering that Buerhle’d just done something that no other pitcher had every accomplished.
Exactly-as much as I loathe Buerhle and his comments about the Twins throughout the years, he did something that may not be done again for a long time.
I would have applauded him too if I was there last night. Shows the class of most Twins fans.
Looking over the comments here and in other blogs today, I can only conclude that Howard was totally wrong about the entire batting order contributing to the win.
Cuddyer just got hit.
Punto and Span just hit a couple of soft line drives.
Harris just hit a ground ball with eyes.
Casilla just walked.
Crede just hit a ground ball that should have been a double play.
Mauer just hit a fly ball that should have been caught.
Not to mention the pitchers really didn’t do well.
Baker threw a zillion pitches in 6 innings.
Keppel faltered in the 9th and couldn’t close the game out.
And to top it off, not only did the players stink, but the fans are “stupid” because they recognized a the achievement of an opposing pitcher.
Thank God I wasn’t at that game. Who would want to watch such an embarassing performance by all concerned?
I don’t know why I’m still amazed by the insistent criticism of virtually everyone associated with the Twins around here. We should be used to it by now.
Adam S….You don’t Boo outstanding performances by an opponent, a record setting effort at that. Grow up and appreciate the game of baseball for what it is, be it opponent or home towner. The points are these….Buerle pitched great for the first 6 innings, Baker pitched almost as good, and the Twins won. Gotta love it.
You think Red Sox fans would have cheered Buehrle had he said he owned them? Would have Yankee fans in Yankee stadium? Would Southsiders cheer Baker if he pitched a perfect game and said he owned the Sox. No. You guys would probably let Buehrle kick you in the nuts if you could shake his hand (or something else) too.
I disagree, mike wants wins. You credit the guy who gets the run-producing it, whether it be a HR or an opposite field single.
Punto’s given us something twice now in three games that we’ve been missing all season. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look to replace him, but it was clutch.
Maybe I should go to Boston or New York and be with the real die hard hometown fans. Minnesotans are too nice and polite. No wonder we never win anything.
Actually I would think Red Sox fans would have cheered him. They appreciate good baseball.
After all they cheered Nomar in his first game back at Fenway this year. They aren’t THAT ruthless.
I was at the game last night and was not only impressed with the Twins fans but also Buehrle’s acknowledgement of them. What’s wrong with that?
I was also at Frank Thomas’s 500 HR game and he received a nice ovation too. It’s not about the rivalry, it’s about the game.
“You think Red Sox fans would have cheered Buehrle had he said he owned them? Would have Yankee fans in Yankee stadium?”
It has always been a goal of mine to be a Red Sox/Yankee fan.
If I can’t be one, I will try to emulate them as well as I can.
I am sure that it is the best I can be.
Wow!
I typed all that, with a minimum of vomiting.
@#$%@#$%@#$%@#$% Red Sox fans!
@#$%@#$%@#$%@#$% Yankee fans!
I would have acknowledged him with a finger from each hand….
What most people didn’t see was that Casilla called the walk, Babe Ruth style. He stepped into the box, stared down Buerhle and pointed to first base.
In all seriousness though, Casilla is hitting a smoking hot .103 in his last 10 games. He’s first in line for the Twins’ LVP award.
Jason: Mauers hit may have looked cheap and catchable, but remember that is a HR in alot of other parks. He tagged it pretty good.
Adam,
Don’t let the door hit you in the Colon on the way out…
There was nothing wrong with the crowd giving Buhrle some recognition after he pitches a perfect game and then is perfect again through 5 or whatever - I think it was a classy move. I was at the Twins-Sox game the last time Buhrle pitched and we touched him up for 8 runs in a short time - I also cheered then when he left the mound. I’m thinking that Ozzie has some issues with a couple of players today - 2nd baseman breaking toward 2nd - that ball to left field by Mauer should have been caught and if I’m a White Sox fan I would be mad that he missed it.
If Buerhle mooned the Metrodome, I would still have more respect for him than I have for Red Sox or Yankee fans.
“Jason: Mauers hit may have looked cheap and catchable, but remember that is a HR in alot of other parks.”
Where’s that, Eden Prairie High School? I wasn’t aware a ball hit short of the warning track at the Dome would be a homer in other parks…
“Maybe I should go to Boston or New York and be with the real die hard hometown fans. Minnesotans are too nice and polite. No wonder we never win anything.”
Yeah, because booing and being an all around jerk to opposing players really helped the Red Sox win all of those titles for 86 years. Or the Phillies for that matter.
If other fans want to boo a performance like Buehrle’s, let them. I’m happy the Twins fans in attendance showed some class.
While I agree that Casilla is not getting it done, he is doing the right things and not being rewarded for it.
He has hit several ball hard and none have found gaps. He has walked a lot and struck out far less. He has stolen bases when he has gotten on and has played errorless ball in the field on this callup. Some balls should start falling. If he keeps on doing everything else properly, he can help this club.
That said, I would like to see a truly fine hitter at second. Sanchez is a former batting champion, within sight of .300 this year. Adding him to the lineup would stretch out the quality so that there is only one (or two) problems in the order.
Pirates just traded SS Jack Wilson to the Ms for Jeff Clement+
Apparently the hot dog throwing crowd wasn’t in left field last night.
On an incredibly related note, Chuck Knoblauch made the All-Dome Team. At second base, of course.
And if the Twins ended Buerhle’s ended the streak at The Cell, the crowd there still wouldn’t have figured it out.
Seems like a weird trade for the Mariners. They’re not going anywhere this year - why trade prospects for Wilson and Snell?
I think the key to that trade is Snell. He just didn’t like being in Pittsburgh and has good stuff. A bit of a headcase, but has great upside for Seattle.
The weird case is Clement. I always just assumed he would just be a DH for his career since he is not that good defensively. National League doesn’t seem like it will be his “thang.”
Benny, I would think they traded for Snell as a rotation filler if they trade Washburn, I wish we would have traded for Snell, I ‘m not sure why they wanted Wilson.
Oh, and thank god Wilson is going to Seattle. I saw the Twins sniffed around him earlier in the week. The last thing this team needs another light hitting, defensive specialist SS.
We already have an expensive one.
Have to figure the Ms plan on Wilson for more than just this year, don’t you?
They wouldn’t be offering up Washburn in deals if they were still feeling like contenders in 2009.
Snell is probably the guy who will determine if this turns out well for Seattle. If he gets his head together and pitches well for them in the future, that’s a big help to their rotation.
Adam S.;
You don’t win by being like others, you win by being better than others.
I was listening to Ed Farmer on the White Sox radio broadcast. He seemed simultaneously impressed and dumbfounded that the Twins fans would give Buehrle an ovation.
Jason: ah, the fact that the domes LF is 15 feet deeper than just about everywhere else. Podsednick was pretty close to the fence when it all happened. Was it catchable? Yes. Was it a deep drive to LF? Also yes. It wasn’t a cheap hit like you make it out to be
WJ–Doesn’t Ed Farmer always sound dumbfounded, at least when he’s not sounding bored? Actually, there are times when I really enjoy his understatement.
JC @ 11:14 am = PoD. Easily.
Going only off of the comments following today’s game, you’d probably be shocked to learn the Twins won.
JC @ 11:14 am = PoD. Easily.
Going only off of the comments following yesterday’s game, you’d probably be shocked to learn the Twins won.
Phillies get Lee and Fransico form Cleveland.
Hoo boy, it’s heating up now. Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco traded to the Phillies.
I am neither confused nor surprised by Buehrle’s “bloop hit” comment. Don’t forget that he also subscribes to the Metrodome-fans-blowing-out conspiracy theory and, I believe, has accused the Twins of stealing signs. (Not to mention Torii and Jacque saying nasty things from the dugout. “Mom!–Mom!–Torii’s LOOKING AT ME!”)
Buerhle is the Head Whiner of the Whine Sox (the polite version of their nickname).
It is heating up, Benny W…
Did you hear the news…Mark Grudzielanek is heading to AA New Britain any moment now!
Here’s what FOX Sports is reporting: “The Phillies have reached agreement on a trade that would bring them left-hander Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco from the Indians for Class A right-hander Jason Knapp, Class AAA right-hander Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson, according to major-league sources.”
Grudzielanek has another hit for the GCL Twins today. That’s three hits in three games. He also turned a double play.
chinmusic says:
July 29th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Adam,
Don’t let the door hit you in the Colon on the way out…
~~~Colon provides chinmusic when Adam strays too far inside.
I’ve seen this same film over and over again:
Slip On Banana Peel - 0.160 hitter draws the walk that ends the perfecto;
Pie In The Face - Podsednik doesn’t catch an easy flyball that ruins the shut out;
The Whoopee Cushion - Getz breaks the wrong way on what should have been an inning-ending double play.
Another Twins win in the Thunder Dome. Thank goodness my Sox only have to lose in it four more times this year. And thank goodness the Twins don’t play this way against the rest of the league, otherwise they would have the Central Division wrapped up right about now.
PS: thanks for the standing ovation for Buehrle - very classy Twins fans. 
I love Ed Farmer- he reminds me of Frank Buetel when he used to do the Fighting Saints on the radio.. ” Hull brings the puck over the blue line , shoots its in 5-0 Jets..”
“That’s three hits in three games.”
Same with Punto since Sunday. We don’t need Grudsie. It would break up the chemistry.
Jason,
Yeah, Punto’s on fire. Don’t stand too close or you may get burned.
“Same with Punto since Sunday. We don’t need Grudsie. It would break up the chemistry.”
Keep saying it Jason, and you’ll get Punto ’til death do us part’.
I’m still waiting for the “we could have made that move” on the Philly trade. Unfortunatly we wouldn’t have. Cleveland would never trade Lee to a division rival.
The Twins already made their big trades when they traded Tolbert for Casilla and Mulvey for Crain.
I have no idea why people would want to be like jerks who yell nasty things to other humans, throw batteries at them, and are just generally rude (assuming that is what some people are saying real fans are like - I’m not saying all east coast fans are that way).
Why does a “real fan” have to be mean and negative to the opposition? How does that make the world a better place?
“I have no idea why people would want to be like jerks who yell nasty things to other humans, throw batteries at them, and are just generally rude”
To prove that they have learned that behavior by imitating what they have watched their parents do.
Unfortunately, mike, some fans are pigs who were raised by pigs.
“Keep saying it Jason, and you’ll get Punto ’til death do us part’.”
We don’t have that already?
I admit to booing a player once while I was in college. Turns out someone sitting near me was his cousin. I learned (too late, but soon enough) that booing just isn’t the right thing. It’s ok to question someone’s performance and decisions, but that’s different than personally attacking them.
““Keep saying it Jason, and you’ll get Punto ’til death do us part’.”
We don’t have that already?”
I’ll get back to you on that, when he (or you) passes on.
mike, please.
Booing is not personal. It’s a right of passage in professional sports. If you boo someone at a high school game, then shame on you. But at a pro sporting event (other than maybe golf), it’s expected. I know Minnesotans haven’t caught on to this reality yet.
There’s a huge difference between a timely booing and throwing batteries on players. I argue that if you want a team to get better, you should boo when appropriate. It puts everyone on notice, from the top of the organization on down, that you’re not just there to eat frosty malts and play Twins trivia.
MWW: It’s official.
Iconoclast locks down PoD with his ‘51-50′ post at 10:44.
Congrats Icon.
Sometimes i start booing during the national anthem if it’s a lousy rendition just to get warmed and to let the ownership know i paid to hear that anthem and i want it to meet my standards.
yeah, USAChief, I just laughed at that post for third time….it’s just perfect.
As for booing, I’m ok with booing your own team, maybe, if they aren’t playing well, maybe. But booing other team’s players just seems odd to me now.
And the East Coast fans aren’t “real fans” because they boo, they also yell obscenties, throw stuff at players, and are rude, mean, and drunken idiots to other fans. That last one is just bad form….frankly, I don’t take my kids to Vikings’ games because of the drunken behavior there….
And, plenty of booing is personal, and not about actual performance.
I’d argue that ifyou want a team to get better, DON’T GO TO THE GAMES. If your team sells out or makes huge money even in years they stink, what, exactly, is the motivation of the team to spend money and get better?
“And the East Coast fans aren’t “real fans” because they boo, they also yell obscenties”
i lived near the d-train and caught a ton of games at yankee stadium in the late ’80s and early ’90s. the yanks were terrible and little crackheads liquidated tickets for five bucks or less just as the game started — you could sit anywhere except the really good seats.
but one time we decided to sit in the right field bleachers for a new perspective. the tigers were in town and gary ward was in right field — he had flamed out as a yankees free agent signing a few years prior, so the locals clearly did not care for him. they taunted him loudly and mercilessly the entire game — obscenities, insults, obscene insults, insulting obscenities, etc. ward never once acknowledged them.
then, around the seventh or eighth inning, a new chant started to ring out as it gained volume: “ward’s mother has no cl*t, doo-dah, doo-dah …”
ward, with a pained smirk on his face, turned toward the bleachers and slowly shook his head, then turned back to the game.
mickey,
And that is why Adam S wrote “Maybe I should go to Boston or New York and be with the real die hard hometown fans.”
Go ahead Adam S, and raise the IQ of both cities when you leave.
Howard,
Who’s Spen?
Howard,
Did you say in an earlier post that KSTP doesn’t have PODCASTS of the Gardy show? They do. Not sure how quick they are posted but I listened to it yesterday.
All the best & bring home another win from 220 tonight!
That would be “Denerd Spen,” I believe. Nice catch, Kirby.
I can’t find that Podcast on the KSTP web site. Can you post the URL?
Howard,
I’m a bit URl illiterate but I think this is it:
http://www.am1500.com/ondemand/od_gardenhire.shtml
It’s not an easy find on their website but if you go to shows, then Sunday Sports talk and then click on Twins Central you then have the option of clicking on past Gardy shows.
Hope it works!
Jacque Jones is playing for the Newark Bears. Sign him up! Upgrade.
Jason, good at bats over time will produce better results. Didn’t Cuddyer turn it around by doing just that? Casilla has had better at bats. The results are walks and tonight some hits? Don’t you want him to succeed? Casilla hitting well will help this team tremendously and fill the hole you want to fill with a trade. BTW, we just swept the Sox with very little contributions from Mauer and Morneau
“The one caution, of course, is that this week’s little surge makes it that much more important that the Twins improve their roster before the trading deadline.”
It’s funny you mention that. Last night before the game on AM 1500 pre-game show, the discussion was, “Now that the Twins are surging a little bit, do you think the Twins don’t need to make a trade because they are fine with what they have?” That’s the sad thing about the Twins Front Office, is that now that we are surging, that’s exactly what they think, and if we were losing games, they would think it wouldn’t be worth making a trade because we were no longer in the race.
I was sad to see Sanchez go, but I think the article today was correct, in that the Twins didn’t have anything to give in exchange.
