The Twins have one win on Monday this year. May 4th. One. Thirty-nine victories, and these clowns have a single Monday win. Here are the Twins' records going into my Game Logs:
April 13th: 3-4
April 27th: 9-10
May 4th: 12-13
May 18th: 18-20
May 25: 22-23
June 8th: 28-30
June 20th: 35-34
June 29th: 39-38
I know that would work for any day of the week, really, but there you have it: not a single one of them is as far as three games off of .500. So what's the deal? Are the Twins really under their heads, or can they be penciled in for 81 wins? Or, and I'm just reaching here, are the Twins maybe just a reliever or two away from being runaway favorites in this division?
The good news lately is that the Twins have been performing on the road. Probably the best way to keep up a trend like that is to visit Kaufmann stadium and the inexplicable preseason darlings the Kansas City Royals. Even better: do it against right-handed Luke Hochevar.
RHP Nick Blackburn ERA 3.11; xFIP 4.99
RHP Luke Hochevar ERA 5.87; xFIP 4.91
Huh. I knew those xFIPs would bring these guys closer together, but I didn't realize they'd leapfrog. But because Blackburn leads Hochevar in LOB percentage - 74% to 54.5% - that does tend to muddy the picture a bit.
Despite the hilarious 41 Ks in 101 innings for Blackburn, he's found plenty of success in 2009 thanks to giving up just seven homeruns and managing a Slugging Against of .385. Unsustainable? I keep saying so to my wife, and she keeps laughing and pointing. Nah, I'm just kidding...my wife doesn't love me enough to watch baseball with me.
Anyway, the further you dig into Blackburn's stat package, the more you figure the guy has a deal with the devil. It doesn't necessarily look like the bottom drops out tonight, what with the Royals being the lowest-scoring team in the AL. Still, whenever Nick's on the mound, I wonder.
Hochevar's numbers suggest he's a lot better than he looks, but now that everyone's sufficiently depressed, I'll back off.
Besides, it's Harmon Killebrew's birthday, so the Twins own this one! It's not like he ever played for the Royals or anything. ...right?
Go Twins! Hochevar's going down.
Sorry spooky, I think I'm stealing your wins. The Twins are 10-2 on Friday.
I knew there was an oppo-spook out there. I was going to ask in the game log who it was.
The Twins are only 9-2 on Tuesdays....
Buh-wha? So there's another me out there, too.
4-8 on Sundays. Day game syndrome.
I think you guys need to pick up the slack here!
5-4 on Thursdays, I think. Don't blame me.
Nice write-up, Spooky. Good job not drinking the mainstream kool-aid on Blackburn. His HR/FB rate is pretty unsustainably low, in my opinion. Although let's hope that doesn't happen tonight.
In cases like this, I figure I'm going to be proven right eventually, but I would be thrilled to be wrong. Like with DSpan2.
I think that the safe money is with you. Blackburn's '09 is reminding me of Joe Mays' 2001. Hopefully Bill "Stingy" Smith doesn't go ahead and sign Blackburn to a big multi-year deal if his ERA continues to outshine his peripherals.
Plus, Souhan gave Blackburn his Anthony Swarzak Kiss Of Death already, so it's pretty much a given that he will regress.
Ah. See, that says more than numbers ever could.
Souhan: King Midas in Reverse
Everything he touches turns to sh!t.
Span-Harris-Mauer-Morneau at the top. If Joe can't bat second, that's a fairly solid alternative.
It's so fun to have an actual leadoff hitter. Of course, it's so annoying to then waste that asset.
With the way he's hitting, why the f*&^ is Harris bunting? C'mon, Gardenhire.
So, was that a crappy bunt or a good play by Hochevar?
Yes.
I can accept this explanation.
(god damn bunts)
Gordo gave that one a dramatic call.
What a goof. I might've been fooled if I hadn't seen the fielder's body language, but he knew he was hauling it in all the way.
I'm trying to listen, but Runner daughter has a slew of friends here and my help was needed to get "Harry Potter: The Musical" set up to show on the big screen. pfffftt
Harry the what now?
The Musical. Search teh YouTubes
I've no interest in looking for it, I was just trying to sound old and out of touch.
Join the club
Dick informs me that Bloomquist is having a very good (.279 .333 .372) first year in Kansas City. In fairness, it is a career year.
Buscher has made no errors because he doesn't get to any balls.
And rarely plays.
Has there ever been a Twin in the non-Garza/Baker division who according to Bert hasn't "done a great job"? I mean, Buscher and great do not belong in the same area code.
Bert's got no idea how to use exclamations and modifiers. Anything that doesn't suck is either "outstanding" or "great." Bunts that make outs are "perfect."
reminds me of Tom Barnard. Every movie he's seen is either the WORST movie EVAH, or the BEST DAMN movie EVAH.
and every guest who is friendly then requires about five minutes of "that guy is so nice, unlike all of those people who are full of themselves. To wake up early and talk to us, that guy was great. But everyone else is a prick. Especially those young celebrities on my lawn!"
Frankly, his large ratings makes me question the overall intelligence of our community. I refuse to listen to that a$$.
Meh, he's Jim Rome. Make outrageous claims and say everything is the greatest or worst, and you'll bait people every time.
I listen to the morning show because I like Stretch, Brian, Bryce, etc. and because I like classic rock. And because he doesn't have a ton of competition for quality morning dialogue.
The best morning show ever:
I've always liked that one, too. :)
Back in college, when they were cutting edge, I picked up an mp3 disc playing head unit. Man was that a good buy.
ya know, it's hard to blame Twins fans for being ignorant when Bert Blyleven, a paid analyst who also played the game, tells them that Buscher has been great at third base because he hasn't made an error
H3ll, if that's the case, I've been great at 3rd, too
Its also hard to blame them when the main source for Twins news contains a comment section.
I did my part to educate Twins fans. Tonight, the KSTP Matt Thomas show was talking about upgrading the middle infield and I called in to mention that Punto sliding into first base and injuring himself wasn't helping. I also mentioned that Gardenhire should have fined him to stop that behavior.
What was the response?
Hey guys! Big Gulps, huh? Alright!
What up, Samsonite?
That's a lovely accent you have. New Jersey? Austria! Well, then. G'day mate! Let's put another shrimp on the barbie!
Ho Shaver. Sounds like a bad job.
Yuck.
Yeah, but how about 1884 minor leaguer Charlie Manlove?
Not good either in my book, but it's some guys' cup of tea. To each their own. Just who wants to be a Ho Shaver, though?
an unemployed, hungry, untouchable in Calcutta?
Yeah, I'm sure there are better ones to use than Manlove, but that's the first one I found.
...I don't think I'd shave a ho.
two pickoff attempts of Cuddyer? that's gotta be Hochevar hiding miscommunication with his catcher, right?
I rolled my eyes when the Cards threw over to first with Crede taking a lead. Please, waste someone else's time.
I was watching Game 6 of the 87 series the other day, and Tudor threw over with Puckett on first on six consecutive times. Okay, Puckett was still a mild threat to steal back then, but six times?
What's the record for runners left on base while being no-hit?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN196508191.shtml
Wow, he went the whole 10 yards, huh? I'm guessing he never turned to look at the bullpen.
Today is the 19th anniversary of the day both Dave Stewart and Fernando Valenzuela threw no-hitters within hours. I'd worry, but Hochevar isn't really on their level. Plus, I don't believe in fate or anything, so there's that.
How could his last start have been his best evah if he didn't finish the ninth, Gordo??!!!
Gordo just finished a fifth.
Crap. Someone get Cuddy's gun recalibrated.
Cuddy go boom all over the place. Need to work on the ballistics.
Okay, in the mess that was Cuddyer's throw, that was a pretty pathetic attempt by Morneau to stab that ball. But that won't make the airwaves.
Don't forget _elm_n finding another wall he couldn't handle.
Oh, doofypants. That's a dumb way to give up a run.
That was positively Jacque-ian.
7 - Buscher 8 - Young 9 - Pussy can we just bat 3 pitchers ?
It could be worse...we could be the Royals.
Are you saying Tony Pena, Jr is not so good?
LOT'S of people are saying that
mm. Quality baseball all around.
Small market teams doing the little things right.
heh.
Dazz: "When you're not that good, you can't go for the style points. blah blah, get off my lawn."
Well, he would know...
LOL. I was too lazy to type that, but it was my precise thought. I figured someone would pick me up.
Wow, that Mauer cheering section. When was the last time a Twin captured the opposing houses like that?
Royals fans are always excited when a Major League team comes to play an exhibition series.
It's the reverse of when they were home to the Kansas City Monarchs.
I have their jersey, thanks to the awesomeness of Buck O'Neil.
Hi everybody!
Brewer!
Hey meat!
I'm drinking this English Mild Brown Ale I made, and I finally, finally, made a successful brown ale. Once I get that Cali Common and hefe bottled (and aged a bit), expect a package.
Mmmmmmmmmmm package.
I do have to warn you it won't be until September most likely. (stupid aging process)
Tex.
So, they're definitely trying to break the aforementioned LOB-in-a-no-hitter record.
This game is shaping up to be a frustrating one.
I like Ho Che ver's mugshot:
I had dude's jersey once.
this uniform??
I had the road gray camouflage.
wow...a rangy Delmon!
I love how Gordo had to hesitate about half an hour before determining that _elm_n caught that.
Just another day of Plus Defense for Delmon.
Sit down, Princess Willie.
Woah, 4 BB, no hits, no runs.
the record is safe!
Whoo!
OH HELL YES THAT'S A BASE HIT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE BACK IN THE GAME BOYS!
Nothing like getting the first hit, a player in scoring position, and having the bottom of the order coming up...
Ah, how I love a good hit down the line. Hochevar, this is where we slap you around. You only wish you could Jeremy us.
Oh, right, I just remembered who the next three hitters were.
And we only wish Buscher-Young-Punto weren't up.
Buscher, Young, and Punto would strike fear in the hearts of anyone.
Well...at least they were flyballs...?
Of course, only these assholes can hit three fly balls in a row with a guy on second and no one out, and not have him even move to third.
Hey. They really are a special brand of powerlessness.
Dazzle, it's already been reported in the Strib comments that Crede's back is broken.
from holding up the bottom of the order?
The fucking weak popups are back. Place that douchebag on the DL.
His ribs feel better, but his suck-itis just won't clear up.
OH HELL NO THAT'S ANOTHER LEFT ON BASE LOOKS LIKE IT'S GAME OVER SEASON OVER BOYS!
There was a "StatFreak101" logged in for a little while a couple days ago. I thought maybe it was another fako version of you. I hoped. I still hope. I pray.
Hmmm, I don't remember him having any numbers on his handle.
Yeah, me neither. I wondered if maybe he was banned and came back under the similar moniker. Stick, if I'm out of line talking about possible banishments here, lemme know.
Nah. He wasn't banned. He just goes into hibernation every so often.
I seem to recall him being laughed out of here for being such an incredible reactionary.
I seem to recall. I seem to recall. To be fair. Yeah, me neither. Oy!
Wow, and I wasn't even trying!
I'm seem to recall that he did.
Indeed, he did.
Right. He went on voluntary leave after enough people told him to stop spilling his koolaid all over the WGOM rug.
Yep, sf101 is his handle.
I'm pretty sure that was his actual user name. He certainly is an elusive quarry these days!
Well: me + paying attention =/= reality
Just another day of Plus Defense for Buscher.
Buscher really flashing the leather out there. Heh.
I'm not sure I understand why wearing a robe with leather pants underneath makes sense for a third baseman, but I guess these guys have their superstitions.
I'm out. Bring 'em back.
Top of the order. This is where we slap you around, Hochevar. You only wish you could Jeremy us.
...that better?
Lets hope so.
Does anyone else notice how often Dazzle brings up "humping"?
An auspicious beginning!!!! Welcome aboard!
That's one of his many foibles I like to pretend don't exist.
Pull up a chair, arsonist! After getting a real avatar, that is
Almost as much as jam-shots.
w00t!
BongHits!Dude, you ever spilled bong water on a mattress? ;)
Try this.
Ah, Dizz, you know better, starting pitchers don't really get stronger as the game progresses.
stronger smelling, yes
He said that?! Wow, pretty much every pitcher in the league has a line that proves otherwise. Dazz is so simple. It's not even "conventional wisdom," which is dumb, but at least a bit forgivable. The things he says, any idiot could tell aren't true.
This avatar seems suitable.
Better than the best gm evah, fo-sho
What is it? Can it score runs?
If it can win on Mondays, I'll pay anything.
Nice. welcome
As much as Dazzle grates me on the radio, this picture is one of my favorite baseball pictures ever:
I hate these
canshits.Jerk.
That's because they are defective.
whoorps:
http://www.pdngallery.com/20years/sports/images/17_richard_mackson.jpg
That smells like a good avatar.
Is that "poppin' or lockin'"?
How the hell did a single to left field allow Pena (never mind how the hell he was even on base) end up at 3rd?
You see who we have in left field?
Yeah. I was just kinda hoping that it was something somehow not related.
hit and run
I about killed Young for taking that ball on the run, but hey...it worked out.
So that tiny red dot I saw on Delmon's uniform was from the laser sight on your rifle?
Heh. The idea of me knowing how to operate a gun is laughable.
Wow, Dizz is totally pissed off, now get off my lawn.
Are Span and Young having a torrid off-the-field affair? Jeez, guys, get a room.
My radio is kind of abuzz with static, and it makes it sound like Dazzle is spitting in my ears.
He always sounds like that.
As opposed to the usual vomit?
Vomit is tough to get out of the inner ear, I'll take the spittle.
Speaking of spit in the ear, NG, do you have some musical videos you'd like to share with us?
POST SOME VIDS!
Geez Louise. Okay. I'll post something soon.
Sorry, I didn't mean to yell. Youth isn't being served, son. And just so you know, we're all counting you. ;)
Someone needs to explain this "I just got out of bed" hairstyle business that people seem to be wearing these days. Are young people just lazy?
Oh, and get off my lawn!
young people? I know for me, it's just lazy
But, like, do you use gel to make it look that way?
heck no! I said I was lazy, didn't I?
-If I wasn't so lazy, I'd punch you in the face.
-But you are lazy, right?
-Oh, don't get me started.
Well, Pena not scoring makes up a bit for Cuddyer's error.
Wow, Blackburn somehow browned out of that mess.
Nah, Blackburn Royaled out of that mess.
...my wife doesn't love me enough to watch baseball with me.
At least she doesn't point out the fact that she thinks Blackburn is "so much cuter than Nathan" every fifth day.
Har. I kid the Milk Matriarch. We're a great couple...despite her apathy toward baseball.
As for baseball crushes, she's had but one - Johan Santana - and it's hard to complain, seeing as how I had a bigger crush on him than she did.
During the Yankees/Mets tilt, she pointed out that Luis Castillo's fly was down. Now I'm wondering if the big-screen HD TV is a threat to the marriage. It might be.
Either someone smeared the FSN camera lenses with marmalade, or there is a ridiculously orange sunset in KC right now.
Oh, boy! Kick Some dirt, Gardy!
+1 outburst
w00t! I'm not arguing balls and strikes, I'm arguing you suck.
One of my favourite baseball quotes of all time.
It's a seriously good quote.
Spooky, take note-- I once tried to bring that Gardy quote into a fight with the girlfriend. Thankfully, for the relationship I opted not to.
Ha! That's awesome.
I've said some crazy horrible things over our seven years together. We're an awesome pair, but when we're angry, man, do we get cruel.
Gardy had enough.
Please let this be one of those mystical ejections that fires up the team.
a shot of grit straight to the heart
Dazz suggesting the opposite. What a curmudgeon.
Kubel needs to learn to fall over and grab his ankle in agony next time he hits himself
So what was Gardy pissed about?
Missed it. I was matching socks. Seriously...
That's one of my jobs, too, but I did a boat load on Saturday.
I was cleaning out my drawers, earlier. (The punchlines just write themselves.)
When I was a kid, I got a six-pack of white socks for Christmas every year. There was no matching. Now, every pair is unique.
the ball was hit down the first base line. Kubel stood in the batters box while the 1B man tagged the base. Kubes claimed it was fouled off his foot
I think Gardy was hankering for some KC ribs myself
Kubel hit a ball off his foot that bounced to the first baseman who took it to the bag. The ump called him out, then refused to ask any of the other umps what they saw. Then steam started shooting out of Gardy's ears.
Oh, great. That's something this game was really missing.
I thought KC already had one run?
ARGH!
eff you Bert. You tell him to swing the bat and then the son of a gun hits a dinger.
I'm on the blame bert band wagon, otherwise known as the BBWAA.
Don't I know it.
Did anyone want to comment on Gleeman's post today, suggesting that the Twins should bunt more? Ubes? Beau? DK? SoCal? I know you guys love numbers.
I'm not saying that I don't like the guy, but Gleeman has really lost my interest of late.
I'm with you. Going over there is more of an obligation for the past couple months.
Why go there when you have the WGOM?
To open links to models in bikinis?
That's becoming my sentiment more and more.
Okay, this is just not good analysis:
So, if Laddie bunts more he's a better hitter? That makes very little sense to this artist.
I think the idea is that he's simply so terrible otherwise that yes, bunting would actually improve his numbers.
Yeah, but that's a poor argument all together. Laddie sucks at the plate, and if he bunts in every PA he still sucks. It's just not good analysis, IMO.
Who said do it in every at-bat? That's ridiculous. He pointed out that Gomez's non-bunt numbers are almost identical to last year, so basically his regression this year was almost exclusively because of the lack of bunt hits. For guys with blazing speed and little power, bunting for a hit is a very good weapon. I've always felt that Gomez should try to bunt for a hit every time he comes up in a normal sacrifice situation (no outs, runner on first) because he would be more likely to reach base than if he didn't bunt and if he failed, he at still would more than likely advance the runner.
What I thought was interesting was that Gogo is pretty much the same as last year in his non-bunt at bats. :(
I generally really dislike bunting outside of pitchers and people who hit like Matt Tolbert, but Gomez pretty much qualifies as one of those people. I didn't give that AG post more than a cursory glance this morning, so I can't say more than that yet.
This team is playing like it's a game above .500
This inning calls for a gin 'n tonic. Thank god I have the gin.
Meat, if this keeps up, I'm gonna join you in that gin.
(Oh, Buscher/Young/Punto is up. I'm definitely joining you)
I am about six Brooklyn's deep myself.
Sigh. Everyone's getting drunk but me.
Look, I'm not suggesting that I have a problem, I can quit when I want, but dude, it's just a little gin.
Who said anything about "getting"?
Heh. I almost left that word out.
Wow, does that sound bad when taken out of context....
No homo?
I was several (domestic) beers into the evening, and made the choice to upgrade.
There is good American beer. You know, like the ones that you and cheaptoy have sent me.
You'll get no argument from me.
Thanks for the compliment. However bS wouldn't agree that this is beer.
Oh man, that's my bowling beer!
And Andrew just whimpered in his sleep.
I have one can left. I'm saving it for the Fourth this weekend.
Cheers, meat.
With the wedding coming up isn't this brand a little more like it?
This is what we got up here:
I should also note that I "stole" that bottle of Bombay from my mom's house.
I'd say the Twins are due for some hits, no?
I am thinking the same thing
Dazz and Gordo bickering about whether Kaufmann is a homerun park. Gladden ."..always thought it was..." Gordo slaps him down with the threat of numbers. None provided.
Well, before they moved the fences in, it most definitely was NOT a home run park.
I finally turned them off and switched to Gameday. I generally dont care either way about their broadcasts, but tonight, they are pissing me off
Whereas they often piss me off, but I generally don't care...
If Young and Span continue this adolescent footrace to the ball, is it possible _elmon's range improves?
A one-f'ing hitter? Even with the crappy bottom of the order we're sporting, that's just sad.
The Twins must be hos, because they be getting shaved.
Hi
yo!Ha!
And the only way to counter such a thing is with your own Dickey.
Placement?
Placement, placement, placement.
PLACEMENT!
*Coaching visit to mound*
Coach: "How the hell do you let this guy on base?"
Ho shaver: "just wait a batter, and you'll see."
I would have preferred a strike out.
I don't suppose Punto slid into first again, injuring himself so as to go back on the DL, by chance?
I think that the Royals are in for a little Dicking.
Tonight on FOX!
Please sign these waivers saying you did not give me the idea for stories based around Dicking the Royals.
Doesn't matter. Kings was on NBC, and it was cancelled.
I love me some Dickey.
That sounded more manly in my head. /scrubs ref
I went there a couple of days ago, myself.
I've got an orange soda that says Dickey lowers his ERA for the umpteenth straight appearance.
I drank the orange soda anyway.
Oh, you bastard, you.
The Orange Soda is gone. I kept pounding them, hoping maybe the next one was a beer that accidentally had an orange soda label slapped on.
As much sugar is in that stuff, if you leave it sitting around long enough it might get there.
Sure, now youse tell me
the funniest part of this thread is that I actually DID have an orange soda in my hand. Oh, sweet serendipity :-)
Ha! So even when you're not trying to be a smartypants, it happens.
I can only shutter at how terrible such a thing would taste.
OH BOY!
*sigh*
And I will see you guys tomorrow night!
Heh.
Who'd a thunk it? The Royals like getting Dicked.
Well, they did enjoy a good Balboning back in the day.
...too far a stretch? Yeah, probably.
Well, that does it for my desire to keep following Gameday. If anything really good happens, you guys need to be really excited about it so I know what's happening. Otherwise, I'm totally going into irrelevant mode.
.500 here we come.
Well that's new!
I think I'm better served by finishing packing for our trip to MN tomorrow. I'll take cheaptoy's lead and leave the browser open, but I don't think I can follow this game directly anymore.
bleh, I've had enough of this game
any other North Dakotans?
Yep, there are a few around.
North Dakota? Never heard of the place.
top of the order. We could still bring the Save into play.
Apparently, DSPAN-2 reads gleeman.
I just want to say that Futurama is the greatest show ever.
I finally got around to it on Netflix a while back, and right now I'm early in season two...I can't believe the drop in quality from season one to two. Hopefully it's just an early-season hiccup.
Oh it does, if you ask me. (I can't get enough of the Slurm factory episode). There's some gems in there.
Comedy Central has the episode from the 1st season where Fry moves in with Bender going at the moment, and it kills me every time.
The payoff at the end of that episode is sublime.
"Why would you want to live in a closet?"
The one with Fry's dog kills me every time.
Yeah, I tear up at the end of that one, and my fiancee says I have no feelings.
I feel a hat coming on.
Some Mauer Pauer would be good here.
A lot of cheering for that Harris hit. And now the Mauer chant. Must be a lot of Twins fans there.
Smooth as silk.
wow. just. wow.
Honest to God, I have a Kessler whiskey belt buckle.
Oh, for f*&^'s sake...
Move. Him. To. Third.
Oh, I knew I was an atheist for a good reason.
Dazzle to Jeebus: "Oh, No, Joe!"
I hate to say it, but when I heard the "Let's go, Mauer" chant, I thought of Jeter.
Now I need a shower.
gimme some sugar baby
Oh Canada!
Yes!
Oh, damn that double play ball...
Shoulda been a salami.
Blammo! Very nice AB there.
Mountie up, suckas!
It's an OSOC.
opposition save opportunity created?
aye.
Mountie!!!!
Well, we cut the lead in half. And you know, when you're facing a guy like Luke Ho-Shaver, all you can do is hope you can work him hard and get to the bullpen.
Time to prep the grill. Burgers tonight.
'course, I could just throw them on the pavement. We are down to 100 F. at 7:40 pm.
If it makes you feel any better, we got down from 95-ish to 80.
Heh. It's going to be 64 in about 2 hours. /rubbing it in.
We should get down into the 70s by about 1:00 a.m.
Let's see. Cuddyer/Buscher/Delmon vs. Soria. Advantage...Royals
That's what, 8 pitches the last two nights? Why is Gardy letting him go past his pitch count now?
Jesus, Gordo. Let us know that it's still in the park.
Huh...not sure why Delmon didn't run in front of Span and make the play there.
Gordo had that one in the seats, too. He really has awful depth perception. It happens every game. Several times.
WTF. Sunspots or summat? My MLB Audio keeps cutting out.
Daytwah has 2 on in the top of the third in Oaktown, 0-0. I'm about to shift to the Big Screen.
The White Sox fought up to .500 today, we're about to drop to it, and Detroit can't freaking be stopped. What a day...
Gordo: Should be an easy play for _lm_n Young.
Me: Really? I was sure that was as made up as the Golem, Yeti, Santa Clause, and the Easter Bunny.
Cuddy go fizzle...
I'm playin' the Death Card on Soria. Buscher will deliver.
Busch? Really?1? There isn't anyone to PH here?
Buscher doing that thing he does.
He's no Tolbert.
I was going to say "make outs", but that would only cover half his game.
Our bench is sooo pathetic.
I hope the nukes have been locked and loaded because this game definitely deserves a heavy bombardment.
_elm_n? Really?1? There isn't anyone to PH here?
Fuck Gordo.
High Drive.Foul.Boo.
That was a big ol' pile o' suck.
dialhfsidufhaweihgah!!!!!!freaking.500again!!!!!!!!aoipefhaoisef!!!!!!!!!stilljustonewinonmondays!!!!!!!!!!!!!aiopsdfgoiaphsfdvgoh
Why would any pitcher ever thrown Delmon anything but a fastball? The guy has absolutely no bat speed. He creamed Soria's curve, even though it was 15 MPH slower than previous pitch. And then his next pitch was in the catcher's glove before Delmon was halfway through his swing.
There might be no basis for this, but I'm really feeling a "cut your losses and get the hell outta here" type of move with this guy.
He's totally expendable on this team. Addition by subtraction. But Bill Smith doesn't want to look stupid, so Delmon keeps playing.
Or because
JasonJustinJeremy Pridie is your "fifth outfielder"...Well, um...move Mauer out there, I guess...
Pridie is the fifth outfielder in Rochester. The only reason he was brought up was because he was on the 25-man roster and it was only a two-week thing and we were going to play a bunch of games without the DH so Kubel was going to be in the field. If we truly needed a long-term addition from Rochester for the outfield, David Winfree would be the first pick. Gardy sounds like he would be fine with Punto or Tolbert playing in the OF if necessary, so a fifth OF is really unnecessary. Dump Delmon, bring up Steven Tolleson and see what he can do at second and have Punto and Tolbert shag in the outfield.
Amen on the Tolleson call. We seemed to have done pretty well without _elm_n in the St. Louis series.
Except I heard Gardy on the radio on Friday and he's convinced that Tolleson can't cut it at second base. He also made it clear that Punto was in his doghouse in depths never discovered by Lew Ford. He was livid with Punto for his injury and then confusing recovery.
Punto's injury is all on Gardy. He's allowed this sh!t to go on for years. YEARS!
I don't disagree, but Gardy wasn't mad about the cause of the injury - he was mad about the lack of recovery.
That's just stupid.
Wasn't that Gardenhire's same problem with Liriano in 2006? He suggested Liriano was faking, then he came back and hurt himself? I'm not imagining this, am I?
Punto played hurt for most of 2007, causing him to be awful all year, and now Gardy's mad at him because he won't play hurt. Overall, I think Gardy's okay as a manager, but he sure has some huge blind spots.
To be fair (and why do I feel the need to be fair?), a lot of managers and head coaches are impatient with players when they are injured, as if the injury were somehow the player's fault. Gardenhire and his lackeys have called out certain players before for not being tough (including our baseball lord and savior Joe Mauer), so this is not new. In this case, however, the player IS at fault. And so is the manager. I wonder if Gardy would hesitate to yank say, Matt Tolbert, for not running out a routine ground ball. Why, then, has he allowed this to go on? I cannot, for the life of me, understand it. I may have mentioned this before, though.
I think that the fairness is justified here. I often feel like Gardy's a little too macho in the way he views injuries, but that puts him in the same category as 95% of the industry. It'd be nice if he was in the 5% (even that might be generous), but in all likelihood if he got fired, his replacement would look at injuries in almost the same way.
and have Punto and Tolbert shag in the outfield.
I'm not sure that the Twins really want to draw the kind of fans who would come to see that.
Oh, behave!
Well, that sucked. Could only listen on XM. The Royals' radio guy made it sound like the Twins were hitting the ball hard the first few innings, but right at fielders. Any thoughts?
Mauer hit a warning track flyball in the first and Cuddyer hit a hard grounder at Teahan in the second. Those were the only two that I can remember.