Out of the mouth of Twins broadcaster, Dick Bremer, "And the Twins last hope, Rondell White comes to bat with two out in the bottom of the ninth."
How does Dick make these comments and maintain any decorum? More amazingly, how does Bert Blyleven not become hysterical and have to leave the booth?? I know I lost it and started laughing hysterically. And then of course the "last hope of the Twins" strikes out to end yet another shut out of the Twins.
Showing posts with label MN Twins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MN Twins. Show all posts
Monday, September 3, 2007
Cleveland 5 (and adding), Twins 0 (we will threaten, but I don’t think we will score)
Since I took a look at the starting line up for Twins today, I have been pouring over the stats of several players, attempting to understand why these players (I won’t call them batters, no one else in the majors would) are in the line up. The most glaring and continuous presence is Mr. Punto. When compared to the stats of Rodriguez or Bucher, he has a slightly better average?!? This strains all thought processes, but is apparently the case. Now Buscher has only 3 Abs against lefties, so you wouldn’t think that would be enough to exclude him, but Gardy knows more than the rest of us, which is why Punto is in the line up and we are all stuck with trying to fathom the reason why!!!!
The other conundrum in the line up is Mr. White. RonDL is hitting (I blush to call it that) slightly better against lefties than against righties (which says not a lot). Mr. Kubel is hitting better against righties or lefties than RonDL is hitting against anything but a batting T.
Once again Gardy’s line up is so puzzling and just distressing. We are out of the playoff run – so why can’t we see some one other than Punto in the line up? Having him in the line up if you think you still have a chance at the playoffs makes no sense, and if you are out of the playoffs, Punto in the line up, again, makes no sense. This should be a time to get a jump on next year and try out something different. Why not move Cuddyer to third for a few games? We are calling up Lew Ford, and we have Lois Rodriguez on the bench, they can cover right field. When Cuddyer played third regularly in 2005, I for one was driven batty by his performance. I remembered him being simply awful at the plate, but I checked his stats for 2005, he was hitting .263! Wouldn’t that have been nice at third this year, and of course Cuddy has a little pop in his bat.
Moving Mr. Mauer would be something to try, but of course his hamstrings are unstrung, and he is again warming the bench and haunting the training room for rehab. The Twins need to make some hard decisions and move Mauer, having him sit on the bench being Mr. Nice Guy is not putting up any hits, or god-forbid, runs for a team that is hurting for both. Both local newspapers sports writers today have proposed moving baby Jesus to third base, and this could be a good place for Joe. It keeps him in the action of the game (the third base “hot spot”) and gives his legs and those infamous hamstrings and knees some rest.
Gardy has become all hot and bothered because both local newspapers are advocating moving Mauer from catcher to another position where he would be less likely to be injured and warming the bench. In his comments, Gardy has apparently lost the point those writers were trying to make. Neither are saying that Joe is a bad catcher defensively. They know that Joe makes a good backstop at the plate, when he is in the game. The point that Gardy is steaming past is the “when he is in the game”. Joe is too tall to be an every day catcher. To keep Joe’s valuable bat in the line up, he needs to move to a less physically stressful position that could enable him to play everyday.
The main thing is the Twins need to do some things differently. This year’s mix has not worked. Change is long overdue for this team.
The other conundrum in the line up is Mr. White. RonDL is hitting (I blush to call it that) slightly better against lefties than against righties (which says not a lot). Mr. Kubel is hitting better against righties or lefties than RonDL is hitting against anything but a batting T.
Once again Gardy’s line up is so puzzling and just distressing. We are out of the playoff run – so why can’t we see some one other than Punto in the line up? Having him in the line up if you think you still have a chance at the playoffs makes no sense, and if you are out of the playoffs, Punto in the line up, again, makes no sense. This should be a time to get a jump on next year and try out something different. Why not move Cuddyer to third for a few games? We are calling up Lew Ford, and we have Lois Rodriguez on the bench, they can cover right field. When Cuddyer played third regularly in 2005, I for one was driven batty by his performance. I remembered him being simply awful at the plate, but I checked his stats for 2005, he was hitting .263! Wouldn’t that have been nice at third this year, and of course Cuddy has a little pop in his bat.
Moving Mr. Mauer would be something to try, but of course his hamstrings are unstrung, and he is again warming the bench and haunting the training room for rehab. The Twins need to make some hard decisions and move Mauer, having him sit on the bench being Mr. Nice Guy is not putting up any hits, or god-forbid, runs for a team that is hurting for both. Both local newspapers sports writers today have proposed moving baby Jesus to third base, and this could be a good place for Joe. It keeps him in the action of the game (the third base “hot spot”) and gives his legs and those infamous hamstrings and knees some rest.
Gardy has become all hot and bothered because both local newspapers are advocating moving Mauer from catcher to another position where he would be less likely to be injured and warming the bench. In his comments, Gardy has apparently lost the point those writers were trying to make. Neither are saying that Joe is a bad catcher defensively. They know that Joe makes a good backstop at the plate, when he is in the game. The point that Gardy is steaming past is the “when he is in the game”. Joe is too tall to be an every day catcher. To keep Joe’s valuable bat in the line up, he needs to move to a less physically stressful position that could enable him to play everyday.
The main thing is the Twins need to do some things differently. This year’s mix has not worked. Change is long overdue for this team.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Twins Geek: The Untold Story of How Joe Helped Nick Out of his Slump
In a tale with a moral - here is the natural Punto hitter revealed.
Twins Geek: The Untold Story of How Joe Helped Nick Out of his Slump
Twins Geek: The Untold Story of How Joe Helped Nick Out of his Slump
Friday, August 31, 2007
Mystery of Nick Punto - and how it affects the Twins
One aspect of the ongoing Nick Punto mystery is the fog it has cast over the other problems with the Twins. Because the lack of offensive contributions from Nick Punto have been so glaring and so long lasting and his every day appearance in the line up so inexplicable; it is easy to focus on Nick as the source of all the Twins’ offensive woes.
We tend to forget that fixing the Nick Punto problem earlier this season, would not necessarily have fixed the Twins. If Nick had been removed from every day status (as any normal human filling the position of manager would surely have done) then the other positional offensive weaknesses would have been easier to target.
Left field is one position that has been a revolving door of players. It needs to be filled with an everyday player with reasonable fielding skills, a bat with a little pop, and the ability to get on base – this sounds a lot like Joe Mauer. Moving Joe to left field solves his injury problem and his future longevity issues while filling one of the holes that has been hidden by the ground fog of Punto’s failed offense.
Removing Nick Punto at third base requires that position to be filled. The Twins have a player with almost a full season of major league experience at third. Their experienced player has the much-desired pop in his bat and a respectable batting average. Who might this answer to the Nick Punto problem be? Michael Cuddyer.
We tend to forget that fixing the Nick Punto problem earlier this season, would not necessarily have fixed the Twins. If Nick had been removed from every day status (as any normal human filling the position of manager would surely have done) then the other positional offensive weaknesses would have been easier to target.
Left field is one position that has been a revolving door of players. It needs to be filled with an everyday player with reasonable fielding skills, a bat with a little pop, and the ability to get on base – this sounds a lot like Joe Mauer. Moving Joe to left field solves his injury problem and his future longevity issues while filling one of the holes that has been hidden by the ground fog of Punto’s failed offense.
Removing Nick Punto at third base requires that position to be filled. The Twins have a player with almost a full season of major league experience at third. Their experienced player has the much-desired pop in his bat and a respectable batting average. Who might this answer to the Nick Punto problem be? Michael Cuddyer.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Cleveland Indians 8, Minnesota Twins 3; August 27
Post game notes -
………………….
Gardenhire post game interview – “how about that Punto? He is really coming around. We figure if we keep giving him at bats and keeping him in the lineup every single game; come December or January his hitting should really be starting to come around.”
………………………….
The Fox Sportsnet North talking heads, Coomer and Anthony LaPanta, talked about the Cleveland Indians starting pitcher. Paul Byrd has beaten the Minnesota Twins four times this year. Asked for the secret to his success in keeping the Twins from hitting and scoring Byrd said, “See this piece of string? I keep it just for the Twins. I stretch it out on the ground, the Twins hitters’ eyes lock on it and their bats point at the ground. Then they mostly hit ground balls for outs, for double plays and yes, even for triple plays.”
The triple play turned by the Indians in the seventh inning was Cleveland's first triple play at home since June 7, 1976 – which was also against the Twins.
La Panta asked Byrd how he came up with his Twins hypnotic technique. Byrd referred La Panta to the Wikipedia articles on chicken hypnotism. Byrd just used a natural talent and expanded it to Twins batter control.
………………….
Gardenhire post game interview – “how about that Punto? He is really coming around. We figure if we keep giving him at bats and keeping him in the lineup every single game; come December or January his hitting should really be starting to come around.”
………………………….
The Fox Sportsnet North talking heads, Coomer and Anthony LaPanta, talked about the Cleveland Indians starting pitcher. Paul Byrd has beaten the Minnesota Twins four times this year. Asked for the secret to his success in keeping the Twins from hitting and scoring Byrd said, “See this piece of string? I keep it just for the Twins. I stretch it out on the ground, the Twins hitters’ eyes lock on it and their bats point at the ground. Then they mostly hit ground balls for outs, for double plays and yes, even for triple plays.”
The triple play turned by the Indians in the seventh inning was Cleveland's first triple play at home since June 7, 1976 – which was also against the Twins.
La Panta asked Byrd how he came up with his Twins hypnotic technique. Byrd referred La Panta to the Wikipedia articles on chicken hypnotism. Byrd just used a natural talent and expanded it to Twins batter control.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Twins recent moves confusing?
Have the Twins recent trades and acquisitions left you feeling confused? Feeling as if you are in a dark tunnel and unsure if the light is the end of the tunnel or a train, rushing toward you? Check this article out - at least you will know that you aren't alone - Confusion Reigning Supreme in Twins Land
Monday, August 13, 2007
This Week in Twins History
number 14 retired by Minnesota Twins. Number 14 was worn by Kent Hrbek throughout his career with the Minnesota Twins. The Twins were the only team Hrbek played with during his career. Hrbek came up with the Twins in August of 1981 and played with the team up til his retirement in August of 1994. During his tenure with the Twins Hrbet was a part of the two World Series that the Twins have won.
Hrbek's number 14 was retired on August 13, 1995.
Hrbek's number 14 was retired on August 13, 1995.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Ground breaking rescheduled
“Twins have rescheduled the groundbreaking for their new ball park to August 30th. Team ownership figures the current line up will have been declared dead by then. The team can then be economically interred while the ground breaking goes on. ‘Multi-tasking, that’s the way to make millions’, said owners lap dop TR”
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Twins 11, KC Royals 4
What a change a day can make. Yesterday I'm handing out stinking up the game awards, tonight, the Twins are smelling sweeter than newly mown grass. Who knows what worked tonight and whether it will work tomorrow? Only time will tell, but it was a fun game.
Thought control
A little over a year ago, in the fabled season of 2006, the Twins were stinking up the place really badly in June. They were producing no runs, the pitching was spotty at best and the fielding was starting to fall apart. It tore at my heart. I remember the point where I tearfully addressed the Twins (on TV) telling them they should be ashamed. They should be very ashamed. They were playing truly awful baseball. Coming off the field there weren’t any points where they could have said we were close, or we played well, the other team was just a bit better or any of those bromides. The Twins just stunk. And to make this stink even worse for any long time Twin fan, this was a year they had dedicated to the memory of Kirby Puckett.
My address to the Twins via my TV set expressed my low point in fandom for this decade. I was about to throw in the towel and find something less painful to do with my evenings - perhaps to watch bowling? But right at this same time Gardenhire had a chat with Morneau and we all know what happened after that. This same stinking bunch of ball players somehow pulled things together and played in to a divisional title and another abortive try in the playoffs.
Maybe, if all the Twins fans gather in front of their TVs and radios, and we all address the team at once?
My address to the Twins via my TV set expressed my low point in fandom for this decade. I was about to throw in the towel and find something less painful to do with my evenings - perhaps to watch bowling? But right at this same time Gardenhire had a chat with Morneau and we all know what happened after that. This same stinking bunch of ball players somehow pulled things together and played in to a divisional title and another abortive try in the playoffs.
Maybe, if all the Twins fans gather in front of their TVs and radios, and we all address the team at once?
Rondell White Ponders Retirement
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that
This is sound thinking on Rondell's part. I only wish that he would think of retiring before the season ends.
After coming off the DL most recently, his legs are still a problem. Gardenhire has rested him for most of the Twins last home stand just so he could play on grass at KC; and then Rondell is in the game at DH. Suprisingly Rondell did get a base hit last night and he did work the pitches better than most of the Twins batters. But Rondell is not the bat the Twins can build an offense around for the next couple of weeks, much less till the end of the season.
Ultimately Rondell in or out of the lineup makes very little difference to the Twins at this point. One bat whether hitting or not can't change a Twins offense which has become simply offensive.
Twins outfielder/designated hitter Rondell White is leaning toward retiring at the end of the season, which would end a 15-year career.
This is sound thinking on Rondell's part. I only wish that he would think of retiring before the season ends.
After coming off the DL most recently, his legs are still a problem. Gardenhire has rested him for most of the Twins last home stand just so he could play on grass at KC; and then Rondell is in the game at DH. Suprisingly Rondell did get a base hit last night and he did work the pitches better than most of the Twins batters. But Rondell is not the bat the Twins can build an offense around for the next couple of weeks, much less till the end of the season.
Ultimately Rondell in or out of the lineup makes very little difference to the Twins at this point. One bat whether hitting or not can't change a Twins offense which has become simply offensive.
Anywhere a Twins team is
there will be no hitting or run support. Don't believe me? Here's the proof - from the Twins minor league system this news tidbit -
• Righthander Zach Ward, 3-15 with a 3.21 ERA at Class A Fort Myers, won on Monday for the first time since May 26. Run support is part of the reason for his poor record.
Recruitment of hitting coaches should be a priority with the Twins system from the top down. Lack of timely hits that translate into run support is apparently everywhere you go in the Twins system.
I say recruitment of hitting coaches should be a priority, because recruiting players into the Twins farm system who show potential as hitters doesn’t seem to be. I offer this news tidbit in support of my premise:
From the Korean Times, 8-6-2007
• Righthander Zach Ward, 3-15 with a 3.21 ERA at Class A Fort Myers, won on Monday for the first time since May 26. Run support is part of the reason for his poor record.
Recruitment of hitting coaches should be a priority with the Twins system from the top down. Lack of timely hits that translate into run support is apparently everywhere you go in the Twins system.
I say recruitment of hitting coaches should be a priority, because recruiting players into the Twins farm system who show potential as hitters doesn’t seem to be. I offer this news tidbit in support of my premise:
From the Korean Times, 8-6-2007
“Two South Korean prospects, Choi Hyeong-rok and Choi Hyun-wook, joined the U.S. Major Leagues' Minnesota Twins Monday.”
“Infielder Choi Hyeong-rok, who stands 1.81 meters tall and weighs 87 kilograms, has played shortstop and batted .226 with one homer and nine RBIs in 16 local competitions.”
“The 1.85 meter lefty Choi Hyun-wook has good speed and has accumulated a .281 batting average with four RBIs in 20 games.”
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Stinking up the game award goes to -
I could pick the entire Twins team, but that would be too easy. So instead I will take a cheap shot at the incredible non-Kubel. The non-Kubel was 0-4 and left three runners languishing on the bases. Now the non-Kubel wasn't alone in leaving runners on the bases, or in going 0 for 4 tonight, but he was alone in leaving 3 on the bases. So the stinking it up the mostest award goes to the non-Kubel.
My husband wants to know why I didn't give the stinking up the game award to one of the Twins pitchers. We have two candidates to choose from. Hubbly proposed that the award should go to Cali. After all, Cali walked in a run.
My point is that it was only one run. The Twins brought in Cali after the lights out game delay. For his first batter the Twins management has Cali intentionally walk the guy. Always a great strategy, bring in a reliever and then make him pitch everywhere except the strike zone. The miracle then, is that the reliever somehow finds the strike zone again, which some times happens. Tonight for Cali, he re-located the strike zone for the first batter after the intentional walk, then he lost the strike zone for the next two batters, which walked in the run. Cali finished the inning by getting the third out on a liner to second. So, I don't think this is a stinking performance at all.
Now Bonser, he could be a candidate for the stinking up the game award. He lost the game, didn't he? He didn't pitch a shut out, which is what all Twins starting pitchers are now required to do. After all one run scored by the Twins , do I dare to call it an, offense should be enough for any pitching staff to win with.
So let's give two stinking up the game awards - one to the non-Kubel and one to Boof (who should know better than to pitch for the Twins).
My husband wants to know why I didn't give the stinking up the game award to one of the Twins pitchers. We have two candidates to choose from. Hubbly proposed that the award should go to Cali. After all, Cali walked in a run.
My point is that it was only one run. The Twins brought in Cali after the lights out game delay. For his first batter the Twins management has Cali intentionally walk the guy. Always a great strategy, bring in a reliever and then make him pitch everywhere except the strike zone. The miracle then, is that the reliever somehow finds the strike zone again, which some times happens. Tonight for Cali, he re-located the strike zone for the first batter after the intentional walk, then he lost the strike zone for the next two batters, which walked in the run. Cali finished the inning by getting the third out on a liner to second. So, I don't think this is a stinking performance at all.
Now Bonser, he could be a candidate for the stinking up the game award. He lost the game, didn't he? He didn't pitch a shut out, which is what all Twins starting pitchers are now required to do. After all one run scored by the Twins , do I dare to call it an, offense should be enough for any pitching staff to win with.
So let's give two stinking up the game awards - one to the non-Kubel and one to Boof (who should know better than to pitch for the Twins).
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Goodbye Luis Castillo - some thoughts
I have been accepting the conventional wisdom that Luis Castillo would be leaving at the end of this year. That the Twins just couldn’t come up with the bucks required to hold onto this great lead off hitter, who went almost one full year without committing an error fielding. That freeing up the salary from Luis Castillo was the only way we could clear enough bucks to hope to hold onto Torii Hunter, and in the future Johann Santana and possibly Joe Nathan, too. Today I started to think about some of these assumptions. This thought process was started by comments made by Johann to the Minneapolis Tribune.
Santana expressed his unhappiness with the Luis Castillo trade. What really caused the unhappiness to boil over to the press was that no further acquisitions were made, just a couple of minor league players who may contribute “in the future.” It seems to be a trend that Santana may have had enough.
All of this started me thinking about my unhappiness with the Luis Castillo trade and everyone’s assumption that the Twins wouldn’t/couldn’t resign him. And a thought popped into to my noggin’ – why not? We resigned the dubious skill (sic) of Rondell White after his 2006 season spent mostly on the DL. When Rondell did play the role for which he was acquired – DH – his batting average was (and is) appalling. Instead of cutting him loose last winter the Twins, those miserly paymasters, resigned him.
Rondell was only making $2.5 million, so this may explain why the Twins resigned this rather questionable talent. But Rondell has never filled the role for which the Twins picked him up – DH. The only time he hits is when he’s also playing in the outfield. As an outfielder Rondell plays okay and he does hit, but the Twins have many, many outfielders in waiting, all of them lower in price and all who could be part of “the future.”
Luis Castillo was only signed through the end of this year. Everyone in the press and the blogs has been saying that the Twins wouldn’t be able to resign him. The common wisdom was that Luis Castillo would go for way more money than the Twins could afford. I’m questioning this now. The Twins were paying Castillo about $5.7 million for 2007. They have now saved $2 million of that to apply to buying the guys better lunchmeat I guess.
Now I know that there is a large difference between $2.5 million and $5.7 million. I also know that there is a really big difference in the contributions past, present and (what could have been the) future of White and Castillo. The Twins could not have known that White would be on the dl again this year. But the Twins did know that White could not fill the needed role of DH and that should have been enough to NOT resign him last winter. There – I’ve just found half of the money needed to resign Castillo.
So, since we can’t afford the skills and bat of Luis Castillo, then by God, we had better not afford Rondell White again this winter!!!!
Santana expressed his unhappiness with the Luis Castillo trade. What really caused the unhappiness to boil over to the press was that no further acquisitions were made, just a couple of minor league players who may contribute “in the future.” It seems to be a trend that Santana may have had enough.
All of this started me thinking about my unhappiness with the Luis Castillo trade and everyone’s assumption that the Twins wouldn’t/couldn’t resign him. And a thought popped into to my noggin’ – why not? We resigned the dubious skill (sic) of Rondell White after his 2006 season spent mostly on the DL. When Rondell did play the role for which he was acquired – DH – his batting average was (and is) appalling. Instead of cutting him loose last winter the Twins, those miserly paymasters, resigned him.
Rondell was only making $2.5 million, so this may explain why the Twins resigned this rather questionable talent. But Rondell has never filled the role for which the Twins picked him up – DH. The only time he hits is when he’s also playing in the outfield. As an outfielder Rondell plays okay and he does hit, but the Twins have many, many outfielders in waiting, all of them lower in price and all who could be part of “the future.”
Luis Castillo was only signed through the end of this year. Everyone in the press and the blogs has been saying that the Twins wouldn’t be able to resign him. The common wisdom was that Luis Castillo would go for way more money than the Twins could afford. I’m questioning this now. The Twins were paying Castillo about $5.7 million for 2007. They have now saved $2 million of that to apply to buying the guys better lunchmeat I guess.
Now I know that there is a large difference between $2.5 million and $5.7 million. I also know that there is a really big difference in the contributions past, present and (what could have been the) future of White and Castillo. The Twins could not have known that White would be on the dl again this year. But the Twins did know that White could not fill the needed role of DH and that should have been enough to NOT resign him last winter. There – I’ve just found half of the money needed to resign Castillo.
So, since we can’t afford the skills and bat of Luis Castillo, then by God, we had better not afford Rondell White again this winter!!!!
Monday, July 30, 2007
The bottom half of the Twins
Ran some stats on the bottom half of the Twins line up. In the last month their averages look like this -
Hunter .233
Kubel .239
White .000
Buscher .250
Punto .218
Hunter has the most at bats of the group. Kubel has more RBIs than Torii during the last 30 days, even though Torii has 19 more at bats than Kubel. With this group making up the bottom 5/9ths of the batting order, the Twins can just throw in the towel during these five almost-sure outs.
Hunter .233
Kubel .239
White .000
Buscher .250
Punto .218
Hunter has the most at bats of the group. Kubel has more RBIs than Torii during the last 30 days, even though Torii has 19 more at bats than Kubel. With this group making up the bottom 5/9ths of the batting order, the Twins can just throw in the towel during these five almost-sure outs.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
MN Twins - this band of brothers
Saturday's game was a "got to win" game for the Twins. We had our ace, Santana on the mound, we had played so bad for so long that Gardenhire had finally sounded off about the "embarrassing" play of the Twins. And something had clicked and the Twins had managed to pull it off - a win.
Now today going into the game, given the Twins past perfomance, I was only hoping that the game wouldn't hurt too much. That the Twins would a least play well defensively, even as we lost. And then this little pitching jewel happens and the defense is working behind the pitcher and finally here it is the top of the eighth in Cleveland. The Twins entered the inning trailing 1-0. C.C. Sabathia and Matt Garza had both pitched exceptional ball. Garza had given up one run off a double in the second. Twins had threatened but not scored (second verse, same as the first).
And then we enter the top of the eighth inning, and a little string of miracles starts again today:
Top of the ninth – Lewwwwwwwwwww Ford homers!
Bottom of the ninth – Joe Nathan takes the ball and will fight for his save.
Arghhh - Joe gives up a lead off double. Then finally he gets the first out on a ground ball out to the shortstop. Oh and now pain and agony, Nathan leaves a ball up. Blake connects for a base hit, but the runner on second does NOT come in to score. Still just one out, runners on the corner. In the grand tradition of Twins relievers like Eddie Guardado, Rick Aquilero, Al Worthington, and the arch nemisis RON DAVIS - Joe Nathan is making things interesting.
And then, the final miracle, the Indians Gutierrez, hits into a pitcher's best friend, the inning ending double play. TWINS WIN!!!!!!!
Now today going into the game, given the Twins past perfomance, I was only hoping that the game wouldn't hurt too much. That the Twins would a least play well defensively, even as we lost. And then this little pitching jewel happens and the defense is working behind the pitcher and finally here it is the top of the eighth in Cleveland. The Twins entered the inning trailing 1-0. C.C. Sabathia and Matt Garza had both pitched exceptional ball. Garza had given up one run off a double in the second. Twins had threatened but not scored (second verse, same as the first).
And then we enter the top of the eighth inning, and a little string of miracles starts again today:
· L. Ford grounded out to shortstopAnd at the end of it all the Twins are in the lead 3 – 1!!
· J. Tyner hit by pitch (the beginning of miracles here – Sabathia’s conrtol slips a notch
· J. Bartlett struck out swinging
· M. Redmond hit for N. Punto (here we have the second miracle – Gardy pinch hits for his fave boy Punto; the third miracle, the tribes right fielder plays Mike shallowly – forgetting that Redmond can push the ball)
· M. Redmond doubles to deep right, J. Tyner scores
· L. Rodriguez ran for M. Redmond
· And now get ready for a string of miracles -
· J. Mauer safe at first on second baseman J. Barfield's throwing error, L. Rodriguez to third, L. Rodriguez scored, J. Mauer to second
· J. Morneau doubled to deep left, J. Mauer scored
· R. Betancourt relieved C.C. Sabathia
· T. Hunter popped out to second (unfortunately the little string of miracles ended here).
Top of the ninth – Lewwwwwwwwwww Ford homers!
Bottom of the ninth – Joe Nathan takes the ball and will fight for his save.
Arghhh - Joe gives up a lead off double. Then finally he gets the first out on a ground ball out to the shortstop. Oh and now pain and agony, Nathan leaves a ball up. Blake connects for a base hit, but the runner on second does NOT come in to score. Still just one out, runners on the corner. In the grand tradition of Twins relievers like Eddie Guardado, Rick Aquilero, Al Worthington, and the arch nemisis RON DAVIS - Joe Nathan is making things interesting.
And then, the final miracle, the Indians Gutierrez, hits into a pitcher's best friend, the inning ending double play. TWINS WIN!!!!!!!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Cleveland vs MN - 10-4 (final; at least we scored)
It's only the top of the seventh and, yes, the game has been in the bag since the bottom of the third. Really, when the Indians scored their first two runs of the game you knew the game was finito for the Twins. The Indians continued their batting practice and ran up a total of 6 runs in the third. Bonser made it through 2.2 innings and was relieved by Ramon Ortiz who (finally) managed to get the final out in the third.
Ortiz pitched well for the Twins, but then in the bottom of the sixth Gardy pulls Ramon, and brings in Rincon (the "Hero" from Thursday's shellacing by the Blue Jays). Rincon proceeds to walk the first batter to face him, and then gives up a home run.
So it goes with the parade of try outs for the 2008 MN Twins team continuing. Buscher is up from triple-A Rochester to play third and see if he can hit major league pitching. I expect that we will be seeing more minor leaguers in the coming days and weeks, as the Twins use the last half of 2007 to get ready for 2008 and beyond.
In the top of the seventh, the non-Kubel demonstrated some of his future abilities and hits a home run, with a runner on base (that's a two run home run). Will this wake the team up? Will they suddenly remember that part of the game that involves scoring runs? Will they figure out how to TURN a double play more often that they hit into one?????
It's hard to kill the hope in a Twins fan's heart. We go through such adversity year after year, and yet we keep believing. Yes, we keep believing because there were those years of '87, and '91; and we had a player called Kirby.
Ortiz pitched well for the Twins, but then in the bottom of the sixth Gardy pulls Ramon, and brings in Rincon (the "Hero" from Thursday's shellacing by the Blue Jays). Rincon proceeds to walk the first batter to face him, and then gives up a home run.
So it goes with the parade of try outs for the 2008 MN Twins team continuing. Buscher is up from triple-A Rochester to play third and see if he can hit major league pitching. I expect that we will be seeing more minor leaguers in the coming days and weeks, as the Twins use the last half of 2007 to get ready for 2008 and beyond.
In the top of the seventh, the non-Kubel demonstrated some of his future abilities and hits a home run, with a runner on base (that's a two run home run). Will this wake the team up? Will they suddenly remember that part of the game that involves scoring runs? Will they figure out how to TURN a double play more often that they hit into one?????
It's hard to kill the hope in a Twins fan's heart. We go through such adversity year after year, and yet we keep believing. Yes, we keep believing because there were those years of '87, and '91; and we had a player called Kirby.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
If I can't watch the game - did it really happen?
A new rule, games not available to be watched locally should not count against the team. So today's game (I have my fingers in my ears so I can't hear all the runs that were scored) was simply exercise for the Blue Jays (and they got a bunch, didn't they?). ....mumble , mumble, Jays tied team record for most runs scored in an inning........ can't put fingers in ears far enough to keep all the runs out....LNP gets a hit, then is thrown out stealing (I've heard this somewhere before)...... da, da, da, and we were resting RonDL after he appeared in what, 2 games?!?.......mumble, mumble, mumble; and the non-Kubel ends the game by striking out LOOKING - dead silence.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Here we are in the top of the ninth
Torii Hunter standing at third with one out and Rondell White is at bat. Dick Bremer mentions that the Twins are rapidly running out of outs here in the top of the ninth. I say "You're right Sherlock, and I predict that Rondell White, the Great Hope, will burn up one of those outs" - and then loe and behold - Rondell strikes out!!! And he's not a 100%? -oh, just wait till he gets back to full performance. (heavy sarcasm should be applied here)
And then to end the inning Tyner flys out to center field.
Santana was not on tonight - perhaps the stress of trying to pitch shut out baseball every time its he takes his turn on the mound is beginning to tell.
Twins out hit Toronto, but of course we had fewer runners cross home plate - and that Baby, is where it counts.
And then to end the inning Tyner flys out to center field.
Santana was not on tonight - perhaps the stress of trying to pitch shut out baseball every time its he takes his turn on the mound is beginning to tell.
Twins out hit Toronto, but of course we had fewer runners cross home plate - and that Baby, is where it counts.
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