Before the All-Star Break, the Twins were winning with great starting pitching and that same trend continues for the Twins as their starters propelled them to a 2-1 series victory.
On Friday, Glen Perkins 6 shutout innings and improved to 7-2 on the season. He gave up 3 hits and 3 walks but kept the game in control and lowered his ERA to 3.84 on the season. Craig Breslow, Jesse Crain, and Boof Bonser all combined for 3 perfect innings in relief to hold the victory.
On Saturday, Livan Hernandez fell behind 2-1 after a 2-run home run to Chris Davis in the 2nd inning, but after that it was vintage Livan. He shut down the next 12 batters he faced by working the corners and using his vast difference in speed. With this outing, Hernandez stands at 10-6 with a 5.29 ERA on the season and continues to get support from the organization before the trade deadline. If they decide to trade him, he certainly could improve his value with another good performance.
And finally on Sunday, although Scott Baker pitched a great game the offense seemed to use up all of its gas on Satuday. After scoring 14 runs on 16 hits the night before, the Twins offense could only muster 3 hits on Sunday which left Scott Baker in a tough situation. His perfect game was broken up in the 6th inning after Taylor Teagarden launched his first hit of his career into the seats in center field. And despite giving up just 1 run on 2 hits over 8 innings, Baker still fell victim to the loss after the Twins were shutout by Vincente Padilla, "Everyday" Eddie Guardado and C.J. Wilson. With the loss, Baker fell to 6-3 on the season but still lowered his ERA to 3.26. Baker also struck out 8 batters which gives him a 12 K lead over Nick Blackburn for the team leader. Baker has also had 4 less starts than Blackburn, which makes it all the more impressive.
Delmon Young had a great series. The 22-year-old left fielder went 8-12 with a home run, 3 RBI's, and his first 4-game series of his career. A couple weeks ago, I mentioned how Young was finally starting to get into his stride and he doesn't look to be stopping. Since I posted that, he's hit .385 with 2 home runs and 11 RBI. If he continues this, he will add great depth to our lineup and although he likely will never hit between Joe Mauer & Justin Morneau (at least not anytime soon), he certainly may give Gardenhire a reason to move him to #5 behind Morneau and ahead of Jason Kubel.
Despite participating in both the home run derby and the 15-inning All-Star Game in which he scored the winning run, Justin Morneau doesn't seem to have missed a step at all. The Canadian Slugger went 3-11 but drove in 5 runs, two of which came off of his 15th home run of the season. His counterpart in the Home Run Derby, Josh Hamilton went 2-8 in the series without a home run. Morneau was hit on the hand by a pitch that he swung threw in the 9th inning of Sunday's game, but he finished the at bat and seems to be alright for the series.
Joe Mauer went 4-11 with 4 runs scored, 3 RBI and he hit his 6th home run of the season and all have come since June 2nd. Since June 2nd, Mauer has hit .333 (44-132) with 13 doubles, 6 home runs, 23 RBI and 27 walks. He is in contention yet again for another batting title and with Ian Kinsler going 0-11 in the series, Mauer moved within .04 points of the AL batting lead. Morneau is a close 3rd hitting .322 on the season.
Brian Buscher continues to show why he deserves to be the everyday 3rd baseman for the Twins, going 5-10 with a home run and 4 RBI. Alexi Casilla went 4-10 in the first two games, but 0-4 on Sunday, the day of his 24th Birthday. Carlos Gomez went 2-13 with 2 doubles, but his spot on top of the lineup appears to be in jeopardy although his likely replacement at the top Denard Span went 2-12 in the series. Still, Span is getting on at a much higher percentage and it appears that if Gomez doesn't turn it around early in this series he might be hitting 9th in the Cleveland Series.
The Twins are set to face the Yankees in a 3-game series which begins tonight at Yankee Stadium. It's the last time the Twins will play there (unless if both teams meet in the playoffs) and it fortunately for the Twins they don't have to face Joba Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte, both who are having great seasons. Instead, the Twins will face Sidney Ponson (5-1, 3.96) tonight, Darrell Rasner (5-7, 4.97) tomorrow, and Mike Mussina (12-6, 3.49) on Wednesday. For the Twins, Nick Blackburn (7-5, 3.65) will face Ponson, Kevin Slowey (6-6, 4.26) will take on Rasner while Glen Perkins (7-2, 3.84) gets to face Mussina.
Should be a great series!
Friday's Game Ball
Delmon Young - Left Field
Line: 4-4, RBI, SB
Twins win, 6-0.
Saturday's Game Ball
Justin Morneau - First Base
Line: 2-5, double, home run, 5 RBI, walk
Twins win, 14-2.
Sunday's Game Ball
Scott Baker - Starting Pitcher
Line: 8 innings pitched, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 8 K
Twins lose, 1-0.
July 21, 2008
July 19, 2008
Decisions, decisions
As I'm sure you know, the Twins are currently being investigated by the Players Union after Francisco Liriano and his agent decided to file a grievance against the organization to see if they are violating his rights in the collective bargaining agreement by keeping him in the minors to delay his arbitration eligibility.
Liriano's agent claims that there is "reasonable cause" to investigate and claims that since both he, his client, and the team is now "dominating" that he should be in the major leagues. While I don't disagree that he should, I believe that he has zero say on when this team should promote him and I actually believe that his agent could be delaying his re-arrival in the majors by making this into such a big issue.
Both Bill Smith and Ron Gardenhire have made public statements, both claiming that it's not the agents place to tell the team what to do and that it's obviously not a financial motivation as he was already in the major leagues earlier in the season. I agree with both Smith and Gardenhire on this issue, and I don't agree with either a player or an agent trying to force the team's hand on promoting/trading/releasing a player, if the team is winning. I'd be fine with Liriano's agent calling out the organization if this team was in 4th place and out of contention. But the fact of the matter is is that this team is on a 23-7 streak and has had great starting pitching over the last month or so. To get Liriano in Minnesota, I believe a trade will be made, but it's just a matter of...when?
With the trade deadline approaching quickly, the Twins likely will make at least one or two moves and moving a pitcher (or two) is likely. Livan Hernandez's name seems to have been on the trading block since the signed him in the off-season. Heading into the season, everyone new he'd be a candidate to be traded before the July 31st trade deadline as he signed just a one-year contract and veteran starters are always of need come the second half. And as of right now, although there hasn't been a ton of rumblings about his departure, it seems likely that Liriano will be taking his place in the rotation before August 1st roles around. The Twins likely won't get a lot in return, but thats' never stopped them from moving a veteran before at the deadline (ala Luis Castillo).
The Philadelphia Phillies just acquired Joe Blanton, who although has a much brighter future than Hernandez, isn't having a much better season than the 33-year-old Cuban. But still, that didn't stop the Phillies from giving up a few good prospects for the 5-12 Blanton who's sporting a very poor 4.96 ERA, despite pitching for one of the best teams (when it comes to defense and pitching) in the American League in the Oakland Athletics.
I don't see the Twins getting nearly as much in return, but I think it could be enough for the Twins to make a move. Here are my proposed trades for the upcoming deadline (which will likely change numerous times over the next 12 days):
Reason: Bonser looks to have no future with the team and the Rangers are always struggling to add pitching. Bonser (at least to me) seems to have the "benefit from a change of scenery" label which could make him an attractive trade chip at a team that looks to make a second half push. The Twins have quite a few injuries at outfield in the lower minors and so both Beltre & Murphy could definitely fill holes well. Beltre has a lot of potential, and it'd be nice to see him in the organization. Another player that the Rangers may try to trade could be Nelson Cruz who is absolutely crushing the ball in AAA. I don't see the Twins trading for another outfielder, but that may (or may not) change if Michael Cuddyer is out for much longer. Although Denard Span has filled in very well, Nelson Cruz's bat would fit in nicely for the Twins as he has a very good line against left-handers. With the loss of Bonser, I propose that the Twins call up Matt Macri and hopefully at that time Matt Tolbert is almost ready to play and can finish off the season in Rochester before coming back to the Twins. If not calling up Macri, make room for this next guy:
Reason: The Twins know that adding Beltre would make them better both offensively and defensively, so I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to pull off this move. He mashes left-handers, something this team has struggled doing thus far this season, he makes amazing plays at third base, and is still in our price range for the next year and a half. With Danny Valencia improving and becoming the likely "3rd Baseman of the future", adding a for-sure producer like Beltre until Valencia is ready would be great. The only thing that may hold this trade back is the Mariner's unwillingness to trade him. Although they'd love to shed his salary in hopes of signing Yu Darvish this off-season, the organization feels that they owe something to their fans and losing Beltre would seemingly crush them. I disagree, and I believe that if they can do this and then trade Raul Ibanez this team is just making themselves better for the future and I'm sure most of their fans would agree. I don't see the Twins having to give up too much in return for Beltre, as they'd basically be taking on his full salary which is about $19 million from now through 2009. Baseball Prospectus agrees.
Reason: I know I may be having "pipe dreams" with my compensation for both Hernandez and Bonser, but I truly believe that a team looking to make a push in the 2nd half will go a little above and beyond to get a valuable starter. The Twins in return get a solid outfield prospect along with a good pitching prospect. I think this is a reasonable deal for both teams and it'd open up a spot in the rotation for Francisco Liriano.
Reason: Ok, maybe I'm really stretching it here. Lahey was the first pick in the Rule V Draft but was reclaimed off of waivers by the Twins. Still, he holds a little value after a solid 2007 campaign. I see this more as the Orioles wanting to dump salary and the Twins just picking up a solid reliever who should be able to be a quality setup man for them. And his deliver should remind the Twins of another setup man who's currently on the shelf. And with this move, hopefully the Twins can find another place for Brian Bass, and I'm hoping that place is in Rochester, New York.
Reason: Both of these guys have done absolutely nothing this season. Everett is injured, but when he gets back I expect him to see very little playing time and as of right now, Mike Lamb cannot crack the starting lineup. I see there being little to no chance that Lamb is on the roster, and I think Everett is gone as well. It's unfortunate because Twins fans expected a lot from both of these guys, but the two former Astros just couldn't get anything going.
So that leaves us with this lineup/bench heading into the "Dog Days" of summer.
CF - Carlos Gomez
2B - Alexi Casilla
C - Joe Mauer
1B - Justin Morneau
3B - Adrian Beltre
DH - Jason Kubel
LF - Delmon Young
RF - Michael Cuddyer
SS - Nick Punto
C - Mike Redmond
INF - Brendan Harris
1B/3B - Brian Buscher
OF - Craig Monroe
OF - Denard Span
And this rotation/bullpen:
1 - Scott Baker
2 - Nick Blackburn
3 - Kevin Slowey
4 - Glen Perkins
5 - Francisco Liriano
CL - Joe Nathan
SU - Chad Bradford
MR - Matt Guerrier
MR - Jesse Crain
MR - Craig Breslow
LG - Dennys Reyes
I can also see there being a change in the lineup, such as Gomez going to #9 and everyone else moving up, but at this time it seems like Ron Gardenhire is set on Go-Go being numero uno in his lineup.
Although if the Twins want to contend, I doubt they trade away pitching for prospects (besides Hernandez) and I also believe that it's more likely to see the Twins stay quite at the deadline, although I do think at least one or two moves will happen. Only I see one of them being a release of some sort and the other being to make room (somehow, someway) for Francisco Liriano. In other words, at this time I doubt we acquire Adrian Beltre. But things can certainly change. And although he does seem like he would, I think the injury to Michael Cuddyer will play a part in the teams decision to add a bat.
Liriano's agent claims that there is "reasonable cause" to investigate and claims that since both he, his client, and the team is now "dominating" that he should be in the major leagues. While I don't disagree that he should, I believe that he has zero say on when this team should promote him and I actually believe that his agent could be delaying his re-arrival in the majors by making this into such a big issue.
Both Bill Smith and Ron Gardenhire have made public statements, both claiming that it's not the agents place to tell the team what to do and that it's obviously not a financial motivation as he was already in the major leagues earlier in the season. I agree with both Smith and Gardenhire on this issue, and I don't agree with either a player or an agent trying to force the team's hand on promoting/trading/releasing a player, if the team is winning. I'd be fine with Liriano's agent calling out the organization if this team was in 4th place and out of contention. But the fact of the matter is is that this team is on a 23-7 streak and has had great starting pitching over the last month or so. To get Liriano in Minnesota, I believe a trade will be made, but it's just a matter of...when?
With the trade deadline approaching quickly, the Twins likely will make at least one or two moves and moving a pitcher (or two) is likely. Livan Hernandez's name seems to have been on the trading block since the signed him in the off-season. Heading into the season, everyone new he'd be a candidate to be traded before the July 31st trade deadline as he signed just a one-year contract and veteran starters are always of need come the second half. And as of right now, although there hasn't been a ton of rumblings about his departure, it seems likely that Liriano will be taking his place in the rotation before August 1st roles around. The Twins likely won't get a lot in return, but thats' never stopped them from moving a veteran before at the deadline (ala Luis Castillo).
The Philadelphia Phillies just acquired Joe Blanton, who although has a much brighter future than Hernandez, isn't having a much better season than the 33-year-old Cuban. But still, that didn't stop the Phillies from giving up a few good prospects for the 5-12 Blanton who's sporting a very poor 4.96 ERA, despite pitching for one of the best teams (when it comes to defense and pitching) in the American League in the Oakland Athletics.
I don't see the Twins getting nearly as much in return, but I think it could be enough for the Twins to make a move. Here are my proposed trades for the upcoming deadline (which will likely change numerous times over the next 12 days):
Twins trade Boof Bonser to the Texas Rangers for Engel Beltre & Steven Murphy
Reason: Bonser looks to have no future with the team and the Rangers are always struggling to add pitching. Bonser (at least to me) seems to have the "benefit from a change of scenery" label which could make him an attractive trade chip at a team that looks to make a second half push. The Twins have quite a few injuries at outfield in the lower minors and so both Beltre & Murphy could definitely fill holes well. Beltre has a lot of potential, and it'd be nice to see him in the organization. Another player that the Rangers may try to trade could be Nelson Cruz who is absolutely crushing the ball in AAA. I don't see the Twins trading for another outfielder, but that may (or may not) change if Michael Cuddyer is out for much longer. Although Denard Span has filled in very well, Nelson Cruz's bat would fit in nicely for the Twins as he has a very good line against left-handers. With the loss of Bonser, I propose that the Twins call up Matt Macri and hopefully at that time Matt Tolbert is almost ready to play and can finish off the season in Rochester before coming back to the Twins. If not calling up Macri, make room for this next guy:
Twins trade Anthony Swarzak and Anthony Slama to the Mariners for Adrian Beltre
Reason: The Twins know that adding Beltre would make them better both offensively and defensively, so I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to pull off this move. He mashes left-handers, something this team has struggled doing thus far this season, he makes amazing plays at third base, and is still in our price range for the next year and a half. With Danny Valencia improving and becoming the likely "3rd Baseman of the future", adding a for-sure producer like Beltre until Valencia is ready would be great. The only thing that may hold this trade back is the Mariner's unwillingness to trade him. Although they'd love to shed his salary in hopes of signing Yu Darvish this off-season, the organization feels that they owe something to their fans and losing Beltre would seemingly crush them. I disagree, and I believe that if they can do this and then trade Raul Ibanez this team is just making themselves better for the future and I'm sure most of their fans would agree. I don't see the Twins having to give up too much in return for Beltre, as they'd basically be taking on his full salary which is about $19 million from now through 2009. Baseball Prospectus agrees.
Twins trade Livan Hernandez to Marlins for Scott Cousins and Sean West
Reason: I know I may be having "pipe dreams" with my compensation for both Hernandez and Bonser, but I truly believe that a team looking to make a push in the 2nd half will go a little above and beyond to get a valuable starter. The Twins in return get a solid outfield prospect along with a good pitching prospect. I think this is a reasonable deal for both teams and it'd open up a spot in the rotation for Francisco Liriano.
Twins trade Tim Lahey for Chad Bradford
Reason: Ok, maybe I'm really stretching it here. Lahey was the first pick in the Rule V Draft but was reclaimed off of waivers by the Twins. Still, he holds a little value after a solid 2007 campaign. I see this more as the Orioles wanting to dump salary and the Twins just picking up a solid reliever who should be able to be a quality setup man for them. And his deliver should remind the Twins of another setup man who's currently on the shelf. And with this move, hopefully the Twins can find another place for Brian Bass, and I'm hoping that place is in Rochester, New York.
DFA both Mike Lamb & Adam Everett
Reason: Both of these guys have done absolutely nothing this season. Everett is injured, but when he gets back I expect him to see very little playing time and as of right now, Mike Lamb cannot crack the starting lineup. I see there being little to no chance that Lamb is on the roster, and I think Everett is gone as well. It's unfortunate because Twins fans expected a lot from both of these guys, but the two former Astros just couldn't get anything going.
So that leaves us with this lineup/bench heading into the "Dog Days" of summer.
CF - Carlos Gomez
2B - Alexi Casilla
C - Joe Mauer
1B - Justin Morneau
3B - Adrian Beltre
DH - Jason Kubel
LF - Delmon Young
RF - Michael Cuddyer
SS - Nick Punto
C - Mike Redmond
INF - Brendan Harris
1B/3B - Brian Buscher
OF - Craig Monroe
OF - Denard Span
And this rotation/bullpen:
1 - Scott Baker
2 - Nick Blackburn
3 - Kevin Slowey
4 - Glen Perkins
5 - Francisco Liriano
CL - Joe Nathan
SU - Chad Bradford
MR - Matt Guerrier
MR - Jesse Crain
MR - Craig Breslow
LG - Dennys Reyes
I can also see there being a change in the lineup, such as Gomez going to #9 and everyone else moving up, but at this time it seems like Ron Gardenhire is set on Go-Go being numero uno in his lineup.
Although if the Twins want to contend, I doubt they trade away pitching for prospects (besides Hernandez) and I also believe that it's more likely to see the Twins stay quite at the deadline, although I do think at least one or two moves will happen. Only I see one of them being a release of some sort and the other being to make room (somehow, someway) for Francisco Liriano. In other words, at this time I doubt we acquire Adrian Beltre. But things can certainly change. And although he does seem like he would, I think the injury to Michael Cuddyer will play a part in the teams decision to add a bat.
July 15, 2008
Morneau wins derby, but Hamilton deserves the buzz
As you probably already know, Justin Morneau won the Home Run Derby last night and did it in a booing Yankee Stadium which had fans screaming for Josh Hamilton to win it, after he belted a record-breaking 28 home runs in the first round.
That's not the only reason, fans at Yankee Stadium wanted Hamilton to win. Back in 2006, Justin Morneau "stole" the MVP award from Derek Jeter. Morneau beat Jeter by 14 points (320-306) for the honor, and despite both having very good numbers the award was given to Morneau probably in part to him leading his team from out of nowhere in the tough A.L. Central to win the division on the last day.
It was actually a shock to everyone throughout the league as a player from Minnesota beat out one of the best Yankees of all time for an award, especially this prestigious, despite having similar numbers. It was truly remarkable.
But I'm not blaming that for any reason as to why the fans chanted for Hamilton. Because Hamilton's heart-warming story is truly the reasoning behind not only the Yankee fans, but also all of baseball loving this guy. And although his 28 home runs played a big part of his love at Yankee Stadium, there's another reason why fans immediately were hoping he would've won regardless of who it was against.
In nearly two-and-a-half years, Hamilton has seen his life go from the lowest of lows, to now the highest of highs. The former 1st overall pick in the 1999 draft by the Rays was at one point out of professional baseball for nearly 4 seasons due to a drug addiction which almost got the best of him.
Finally in Fall of 2005, a confrontation with his grandmother made him quit both drugs and alcohol all together and he hasn't used since. He committed himself to getting clean and going back to what he loves doing most, playing baseball.
After being reinstated by MLB to play, Hamilton played in 15 games in 2006 before being chosen with the first overall pick of the 2006/2007 Rule V Draft. Taken originally by the Chicago Cubs, his rights were traded for $100,000 to the division rival Cincinnati Reds where he had to break camp with the team despite having only had a little over 20 AB's in anything over High-A ball which was all the way back in 2001.
He hit .350 with 4 home runs and 8 RBI in 40 at bats for the Reds in Spring Training and was kept on the 25-man roster as a 4th outfielder. But thanks to an injury to Ryan Freel, Hamilton got nearly 300 at bats and hit .292 with 19 home runs and had an OPS of .922, Hamilton established himself as a breakout player and his story started gaining more and more publicity as time has progressed.
In the off-season, he was traded by the Cincinnati Reds due to the fact that they had top prospect Jay Bruce on the cusp of the big leagues and they found a trading partner who could give them an up and coming pitcher to help their disastrous rotation. That player was pitcher Edison Volquez who despite having good numbers in the minors, was still trying to solidify himself as a major league starter. So it was really a win-win for both teams, the Rangers got an up-and-coming slugger after trading Mark Teixeira the previous season and the Reds got a good, yet inexperienced pitcher in return.
I don't expect either team knew what was going to happen after that trade happened. Volquez has established himself as one of the best pitchers in the National League and is currently in the thick of the NL Cy Young competition while Hamiltion has established himself as one of the best sluggers in the AL and is also in the thick of an award, the MVP award.
So in just about two years, Hamilton has gone from being kicked out of baseball due to his drug and alcohol addiction to being one of the best players in all of baseball. Words cannot describe how unbelievable of a story that is.
It is truly remarkable and his story has also garnered rumors of a potential movie being made, which looks to be likely at some point in the future. So if anyone is questioning the love Hamilton is receiving for coming in second place, remember his story.
Still, congrats to Justin Morneau. But I believe the true winner in all of this is Josh Hamilton.
That's not the only reason, fans at Yankee Stadium wanted Hamilton to win. Back in 2006, Justin Morneau "stole" the MVP award from Derek Jeter. Morneau beat Jeter by 14 points (320-306) for the honor, and despite both having very good numbers the award was given to Morneau probably in part to him leading his team from out of nowhere in the tough A.L. Central to win the division on the last day.
It was actually a shock to everyone throughout the league as a player from Minnesota beat out one of the best Yankees of all time for an award, especially this prestigious, despite having similar numbers. It was truly remarkable.
But I'm not blaming that for any reason as to why the fans chanted for Hamilton. Because Hamilton's heart-warming story is truly the reasoning behind not only the Yankee fans, but also all of baseball loving this guy. And although his 28 home runs played a big part of his love at Yankee Stadium, there's another reason why fans immediately were hoping he would've won regardless of who it was against.In nearly two-and-a-half years, Hamilton has seen his life go from the lowest of lows, to now the highest of highs. The former 1st overall pick in the 1999 draft by the Rays was at one point out of professional baseball for nearly 4 seasons due to a drug addiction which almost got the best of him.
Finally in Fall of 2005, a confrontation with his grandmother made him quit both drugs and alcohol all together and he hasn't used since. He committed himself to getting clean and going back to what he loves doing most, playing baseball.
After being reinstated by MLB to play, Hamilton played in 15 games in 2006 before being chosen with the first overall pick of the 2006/2007 Rule V Draft. Taken originally by the Chicago Cubs, his rights were traded for $100,000 to the division rival Cincinnati Reds where he had to break camp with the team despite having only had a little over 20 AB's in anything over High-A ball which was all the way back in 2001.
He hit .350 with 4 home runs and 8 RBI in 40 at bats for the Reds in Spring Training and was kept on the 25-man roster as a 4th outfielder. But thanks to an injury to Ryan Freel, Hamilton got nearly 300 at bats and hit .292 with 19 home runs and had an OPS of .922, Hamilton established himself as a breakout player and his story started gaining more and more publicity as time has progressed.In the off-season, he was traded by the Cincinnati Reds due to the fact that they had top prospect Jay Bruce on the cusp of the big leagues and they found a trading partner who could give them an up and coming pitcher to help their disastrous rotation. That player was pitcher Edison Volquez who despite having good numbers in the minors, was still trying to solidify himself as a major league starter. So it was really a win-win for both teams, the Rangers got an up-and-coming slugger after trading Mark Teixeira the previous season and the Reds got a good, yet inexperienced pitcher in return.
I don't expect either team knew what was going to happen after that trade happened. Volquez has established himself as one of the best pitchers in the National League and is currently in the thick of the NL Cy Young competition while Hamiltion has established himself as one of the best sluggers in the AL and is also in the thick of an award, the MVP award.
So in just about two years, Hamilton has gone from being kicked out of baseball due to his drug and alcohol addiction to being one of the best players in all of baseball. Words cannot describe how unbelievable of a story that is.It is truly remarkable and his story has also garnered rumors of a potential movie being made, which looks to be likely at some point in the future. So if anyone is questioning the love Hamilton is receiving for coming in second place, remember his story.
Still, congrats to Justin Morneau. But I believe the true winner in all of this is Josh Hamilton.
July 14, 2008
Twins looking for help
As I posted last week, the Twins clearly have two holes right now; a third baseman and good set-up man. And according to La Velle E. Neal III, the Twins feel the same way.
The Twins recently made contact with the Seattle Mariners about acquiring Adrian Beltre, who not only would fill 3rd base adequately with his stellar defense, but he also mashes against left-handed pitching which is a big concern:
It's unknown what the price tag on Beltre would be, but since he's on board for $12 million both this season and next season, I'm guessing it wouldn't take too much to acquire the 29-year-old from the Mariners. Despite making multiple moves in the off-season to improve the team from their great '07 season, the Mariners find themselves 20 games behind the division leading Angels and are definitely going to "sell" at the deadline. And although it may seem like the Mariners could ask for a lot for him, I believe that since it gives them such salary relief that the price tag will not be that much.
Heck, perhaps the Twins could make a blockbuster move and acquire both Beltre and Erik Bedard. It'd cost considerably more, but I think the Twins would be able to handle it (but unfortunately I don't see it happening).
The only problem with that, is that Bedard is not currently signed long-term which means the Twins would likely not keep him for past next season, which makes a trade with the Twins unlikely. But crazier things have happened.
Impact: This gives the Twins a strong right-hander who is great against southpaws and it sures up 3rd base for at least the next year-and-a-half. This would give the Mariners two ML ready arms. But the only way I see the Twins giving up this little is if the Mariners are going out of their way to dump his salary (which looks unlikely). So I believe they'd have to offer another "decent" prospect (like Oswaldo Sosa, Anthony Swarzak, etc.).
It's unknown who the Twins are looking at for relief help, but there are capable arms available and the Twins just need to find the right deal.
The Twins recently made contact with the Seattle Mariners about acquiring Adrian Beltre, who not only would fill 3rd base adequately with his stellar defense, but he also mashes against left-handed pitching which is a big concern:
“The one thing we had a hard time with in the first half was left-handed pitching,’’ he said. “When (Michael) Cuddyer comes back, that’s always gong to help, but if you have to make adjustments we need to hit lefties better than we did this half.And then Neal gives us the splits:
vs. Left-Handed Pitchers: .265/.315/.380 with 17 home runs in 958 AB's.That's a pretty considerable difference, and Beltre would definitely help in that area. He's currently hitting .347 with an OPS of 1.008 with 4 home runs in 75 AB's against southpaws. Those stats are much better than his numbers against right-handers.
vs. Right-Handed Pitchers: .283/.344/.419 with 48 home runs in 2,324 AB's.
It's unknown what the price tag on Beltre would be, but since he's on board for $12 million both this season and next season, I'm guessing it wouldn't take too much to acquire the 29-year-old from the Mariners. Despite making multiple moves in the off-season to improve the team from their great '07 season, the Mariners find themselves 20 games behind the division leading Angels and are definitely going to "sell" at the deadline. And although it may seem like the Mariners could ask for a lot for him, I believe that since it gives them such salary relief that the price tag will not be that much.
Heck, perhaps the Twins could make a blockbuster move and acquire both Beltre and Erik Bedard. It'd cost considerably more, but I think the Twins would be able to handle it (but unfortunately I don't see it happening).
The only problem with that, is that Bedard is not currently signed long-term which means the Twins would likely not keep him for past next season, which makes a trade with the Twins unlikely. But crazier things have happened.
The Move
Adrian Beltre, 29, 3rd Base
for
Brian Duensing, 24, Starting Pitcher
Boof Bonser, 26, Starting/Relief Pitcher
Adrian Beltre, 29, 3rd Base
for
Brian Duensing, 24, Starting Pitcher
Boof Bonser, 26, Starting/Relief Pitcher
Impact: This gives the Twins a strong right-hander who is great against southpaws and it sures up 3rd base for at least the next year-and-a-half. This would give the Mariners two ML ready arms. But the only way I see the Twins giving up this little is if the Mariners are going out of their way to dump his salary (which looks unlikely). So I believe they'd have to offer another "decent" prospect (like Oswaldo Sosa, Anthony Swarzak, etc.).
It's unknown who the Twins are looking at for relief help, but there are capable arms available and the Twins just need to find the right deal.
Game Balls for Tigers Series
Thursday's Game Ball
Justin Morneau - First Base
Line: 5-5, 2 doubles, home run, RBI, walk
Twins win, 7-6 in 11 innings.
Friday's Game Ball
Nick Punto - Shortstop
Line: 1-2, double, 2 RBI's, walk
Twins win, 3-2.
Saturday's Game Ball
Brendan Harris - Shortstop
Line: 3-3, home run, 4 RBI
Twins win, 6-5.
Sunday's Game Ball
Nick Blackburn - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 5 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 2 BB, 4 K
Twins lose, 4-2.
Justin Morneau - First Base
Line: 5-5, 2 doubles, home run, RBI, walk
Twins win, 7-6 in 11 innings.
Friday's Game Ball
Nick Punto - Shortstop
Line: 1-2, double, 2 RBI's, walk
Twins win, 3-2.
Saturday's Game Ball
Brendan Harris - Shortstop
Line: 3-3, home run, 4 RBI
Twins win, 6-5.
Sunday's Game Ball
Nick Blackburn - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 5 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 2 BB, 4 K
Twins lose, 4-2.
July 11, 2008
Update
Sorry about no post today, as some of you know there were some wicked storms that passed through the Twin Cities yesterday and sure enough we lost power for quite a while (about 6 hours). So I couldn't get a post up for today, but I hope sometime over the weekend I can get something up.
Go Twins!
Go Twins!
July 10, 2008
No post tonight, sorry!
Sorry, I'm a little busy so posting will be short. The Twins were absolutely annihilated yesterday against the Red Sox. After jumping off to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, the Twins lost 18-5. And after the 6th inning, the game was still close before a 7-run 7th inning broke the game wide open.
All of our pitchers were terrible.
Livan Hernandez: 4 1/3 innings, 11 hits, 6 runs
Boof Bonser: 1 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 4 runs
Craig Breslow: 1/3 innings, 1 hit, 2 runs
Brian Bass: 1 1/3 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs
Dennys Reyes: 1/3 innings, 1 hit, 1 run
The team had no chance.
Denard Span started in center field and leadoff in place of Carlos Gomez. He went 1-3 with 2 walks. He got thrown out by Josh Beckett in the first inning while trying to steal 2nd (before he even began to move his arm back) and was charged with a throwing error, but I think it was more so Livan Hernandez's fault for not backing up Joe Mauer at home plate. I was impressed with Span's arm strength on the throw. It looked near above average, and after hearing he had a "noodle arm" I'm very impressed.
Joe Mauer & Justin Morneau continued to play well. Jason Kubel & Morneau's homer contest continues to stay close with both at 13 apiece. Delmon Young is now hitting .293 after another 3-hit game. And Nick Punto is continuing to play well both offensively and defensively.
Sorry about the short post. I hopefully will have more time tomorrow.
Game Ball
Joe Mauer - Catcher
Line: 2-3, run, double, RBI, 2 walks
Twins lose, 18-5.
Also make sure to check out the links on my side. And for a good read, head over to the "Bleacher Report" as myself, Andrew Kneeland and Nick Nelson (among others) answer a few "Twins Whatnot" questions.
Have a good day!
All of our pitchers were terrible.
Livan Hernandez: 4 1/3 innings, 11 hits, 6 runs
Boof Bonser: 1 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 4 runs
Craig Breslow: 1/3 innings, 1 hit, 2 runs
Brian Bass: 1 1/3 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs
Dennys Reyes: 1/3 innings, 1 hit, 1 run
The team had no chance.
Denard Span started in center field and leadoff in place of Carlos Gomez. He went 1-3 with 2 walks. He got thrown out by Josh Beckett in the first inning while trying to steal 2nd (before he even began to move his arm back) and was charged with a throwing error, but I think it was more so Livan Hernandez's fault for not backing up Joe Mauer at home plate. I was impressed with Span's arm strength on the throw. It looked near above average, and after hearing he had a "noodle arm" I'm very impressed.
Joe Mauer & Justin Morneau continued to play well. Jason Kubel & Morneau's homer contest continues to stay close with both at 13 apiece. Delmon Young is now hitting .293 after another 3-hit game. And Nick Punto is continuing to play well both offensively and defensively.
Sorry about the short post. I hopefully will have more time tomorrow.
Game Ball
Joe Mauer - Catcher
Line: 2-3, run, double, RBI, 2 walks
Twins lose, 18-5.
Also make sure to check out the links on my side. And for a good read, head over to the "Bleacher Report" as myself, Andrew Kneeland and Nick Nelson (among others) answer a few "Twins Whatnot" questions.
Have a good day!
July 9, 2008
Clubs making moves, what should the Twins do?
Update (11:55 AM): According to Joe Christensen of the StarTrib, the Twins have had "internal discussions" about adding Adrian Beltre, but that they haven't discussed anything with the Mariners. I believe that it's more just to show that they're discussing a few different options, but I doubt anything comes of this. Still Beltre was one of the guys I was going to list, but being that he has a fairly big salary for next year it may be unrealistic. Then again, the Twins have the funds to add his contract and it'd probably mean that the team doesn't have to give up "an arm and a leg" to acquire the 29-year-old third baseman.
Hey everyone. I don't have the desire to talk about yet another gut wrenching loss for the Twins against the Red Sox, so you'll have to settle for something else... SPECULATION!
Longtime readers of the site (if there are any...joking...hopefully) probably know that I'm a huge fan of speculating on things such as potential for minor leaguers as well as possible trades/free agent signings. So with the trade deadline approaching quickly, I think it's appropriate to address what I believe the Twins need and what I think they should do.
Two contending teams in the NL Central have already made huge splashes in acquiring a top-of-the-line starter in both cases. The Brewers acquired Twins nemesis C.C. Sabathia for top prospect Matt LaPorta while the Cubs acquired Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin for a slew of young ML-ready players.
Both teams expect there to be a fight to the finish and the race could come down to the very end. In regards to the AL Central, the Indians and Royals are clearly out of it which leaves the Tigers, White Sox and Twins. The White Sox have had a great first half and figure to continue their success in the second half. There's a reasonable chance that both teams could acquire a difference maker prior to the deadline, as both teams have a history of trading while having the "win now" mentality. If the Twins want to stay with it, I believe that they'll have to do something, although knowing the Twins' history of deadline moves, that seems very unlikely to happen.
Problem: The Bullpen
Since the loss of Pat Neshek, the Twins have had to rely on Matt Guerrier for all of their setup duties (don't laugh at "duties") and I believe this team could really use another setup-type reliever which could allow the Twins to either jettison Boof Bonser or Brian Bass.
Options: (in no particular order)
Doug Brocail, Astros: Although he's 41-years-old, he still has proven to be very effective and would really help bolster our bullpen. It's likely his last season, and with the Astros unlikely to compete for a playoff spot, he could be on the move.
Chad Bradford, Orioles: Bradford would be the perfect addition to our bullpen. With one submarine pitcher on the shelf, we could bring in another in Bradford. The Orioles don't have a chance at contending and Bradford is due $3.5 million next year. He also could be on the move.
Chad Qualls, Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks probably won't want to get rid of Qualls, but he'd be a good fit for this team. He's about to turn 30-years-old and is still very cheap. He was the centerpiece of the Jose Valverde trade, so it may take a little more to get him.
Problem: Third Base
The Twins signed Mike Lamb in hopes that he'll be at least serviceable until they can find a replacement from their minor leagues (Danny Valencia or Deibinson Romero), but after a terrible first half he has now found himself on the bench and has only played a handful of games in the last month and really has no business on this team anymore. With Brian Buscher playing well and now it looks like he'll be platooning with Brendan Harris while Nick Punto continues to play very well at shortstop, Lamb continues to fall further and further on the depth chart. As much as I've enjoyed watching Brian Buscher he is definitely unlikely to continue playing at a high pace and has already started on somewhat of a downward slide, hitting .192 over his last 7 games.
Options: (in no particular order)
Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers: Although the Dodgers may now be inclined to keep Garciaparra around due to the lack of health in their middle infielders, he certainly makes sense as a trade candidate. He's always been a favorite player of mine and if he can stay healthy (which I admit is a big "if") then I think he'd provide a great veteran bat in this lineup.
Casey Blake, Indians: The Indians are most definitely going to "sell" which is evident with the trade of C.C. Sabathia. Casey Blake doesn't seem to be in their long term plans, and just seems like a "Twins-guy." I think he'd fit in very nicely and this team needs guys that can hit against left-handers as the team is currently hitting .261 with a terrible .683 OPS vs. southpaws.
Dallas McPherson, Marlins: He's back on his "power surge" this season as he leads all of the minor leagues with 31 home runs and although the homer happy Marlins probably could use his bat, they have not promoted him due to his terrible defense. He'll likely only be a DH in the majors, but I think he's worth a shot regardless of his defense if his bat is as good as advertised. But buyer beware, he's shown great numbers throughout the minors but hasn't shown up in the majors. Then again, he's had chronic back problems which definitely played a role in his lack of production in the majors.
The team certainly does not have a glaring need at any position, but they certainly could benefit greatly with a couple upgrades. And really, I could get into upgrading nearly every position, but these two are the ones that really worry me.
I doubt the Twins make a big move prior to the deadline. The only moves I could see happening is them making room on their roster by parting with one of the following players:
None of them would surprise me, although I'd prefer to hold onto both Breslow and Bonser. The only reason why I'm mentioning Breslow anyways is because of his lack of playing time and although he's preformed very well, he just isn't being used.
I also think that the club needs to make a few internal changes. Things like changing up the batting order and possibly changing positions.
Carlos Gomez is proving each and every at bat that he does not deserve to bat leadoff, and although the Twins want to give him as many at bats as possible, at this point they need to do what is best for the team and not just Carlos Gomez. Denard Span on the other hand showed that he could bat leadoff while at Rochester this season and is continuing to prove it since his latest promotion. I propose the Twins switching Span and Gomez as I think it'd benefit the entire team.
Also, with Denard Span playing so well both at the plate and in the field, it's going to cause a "problem" when Michael Cuddyer is finally healthy. Now, I know what I'm about to say is not going to sit well with quite a few readers, but I'm just listing it as an option. I propose the Twins to move Cuddyer back to third base and let Span continue to start in right field. Cuddyer was dreadful at third base his first time around, but that was also when he was still unsure of his roster spot (even though he started most of the games). Now his roster spot is 100% secure, which we may or may not agree with, and I think his experience as an everyday player over the last few years would allow him to be at the very least serviceable at the hot corner. Heck, if the Twins were fine with the way Mike Lamb played there, I think Cuddyer would be just fine.
Those are really the two moves I'd like to see the Twins make prior to the deadline, and if they don't seem to be working out, then perhaps make a move which can keep us in contention. However, I expect another very slow trading day for the Twins.
***
Hey everyone. I don't have the desire to talk about yet another gut wrenching loss for the Twins against the Red Sox, so you'll have to settle for something else... SPECULATION!
Longtime readers of the site (if there are any...joking...hopefully) probably know that I'm a huge fan of speculating on things such as potential for minor leaguers as well as possible trades/free agent signings. So with the trade deadline approaching quickly, I think it's appropriate to address what I believe the Twins need and what I think they should do.
Two contending teams in the NL Central have already made huge splashes in acquiring a top-of-the-line starter in both cases. The Brewers acquired Twins nemesis C.C. Sabathia for top prospect Matt LaPorta while the Cubs acquired Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin for a slew of young ML-ready players.
Both teams expect there to be a fight to the finish and the race could come down to the very end. In regards to the AL Central, the Indians and Royals are clearly out of it which leaves the Tigers, White Sox and Twins. The White Sox have had a great first half and figure to continue their success in the second half. There's a reasonable chance that both teams could acquire a difference maker prior to the deadline, as both teams have a history of trading while having the "win now" mentality. If the Twins want to stay with it, I believe that they'll have to do something, although knowing the Twins' history of deadline moves, that seems very unlikely to happen.
Problem: The Bullpen
Since the loss of Pat Neshek, the Twins have had to rely on Matt Guerrier for all of their setup duties (don't laugh at "duties") and I believe this team could really use another setup-type reliever which could allow the Twins to either jettison Boof Bonser or Brian Bass.
Options: (in no particular order)
Doug Brocail, Astros: Although he's 41-years-old, he still has proven to be very effective and would really help bolster our bullpen. It's likely his last season, and with the Astros unlikely to compete for a playoff spot, he could be on the move.
Chad Bradford, Orioles: Bradford would be the perfect addition to our bullpen. With one submarine pitcher on the shelf, we could bring in another in Bradford. The Orioles don't have a chance at contending and Bradford is due $3.5 million next year. He also could be on the move.
Chad Qualls, Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks probably won't want to get rid of Qualls, but he'd be a good fit for this team. He's about to turn 30-years-old and is still very cheap. He was the centerpiece of the Jose Valverde trade, so it may take a little more to get him.
Problem: Third Base
The Twins signed Mike Lamb in hopes that he'll be at least serviceable until they can find a replacement from their minor leagues (Danny Valencia or Deibinson Romero), but after a terrible first half he has now found himself on the bench and has only played a handful of games in the last month and really has no business on this team anymore. With Brian Buscher playing well and now it looks like he'll be platooning with Brendan Harris while Nick Punto continues to play very well at shortstop, Lamb continues to fall further and further on the depth chart. As much as I've enjoyed watching Brian Buscher he is definitely unlikely to continue playing at a high pace and has already started on somewhat of a downward slide, hitting .192 over his last 7 games.
Options: (in no particular order)
Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers: Although the Dodgers may now be inclined to keep Garciaparra around due to the lack of health in their middle infielders, he certainly makes sense as a trade candidate. He's always been a favorite player of mine and if he can stay healthy (which I admit is a big "if") then I think he'd provide a great veteran bat in this lineup.
Casey Blake, Indians: The Indians are most definitely going to "sell" which is evident with the trade of C.C. Sabathia. Casey Blake doesn't seem to be in their long term plans, and just seems like a "Twins-guy." I think he'd fit in very nicely and this team needs guys that can hit against left-handers as the team is currently hitting .261 with a terrible .683 OPS vs. southpaws.
Dallas McPherson, Marlins: He's back on his "power surge" this season as he leads all of the minor leagues with 31 home runs and although the homer happy Marlins probably could use his bat, they have not promoted him due to his terrible defense. He'll likely only be a DH in the majors, but I think he's worth a shot regardless of his defense if his bat is as good as advertised. But buyer beware, he's shown great numbers throughout the minors but hasn't shown up in the majors. Then again, he's had chronic back problems which definitely played a role in his lack of production in the majors.
The team certainly does not have a glaring need at any position, but they certainly could benefit greatly with a couple upgrades. And really, I could get into upgrading nearly every position, but these two are the ones that really worry me.
I doubt the Twins make a big move prior to the deadline. The only moves I could see happening is them making room on their roster by parting with one of the following players:
Mike Lamb, 3B
Craig Monroe, OF/DH
Brian Bass, RHP
Boof Bonser, RHP
Craig Breslow, LHP
Craig Monroe, OF/DH
Brian Bass, RHP
Boof Bonser, RHP
Craig Breslow, LHP
None of them would surprise me, although I'd prefer to hold onto both Breslow and Bonser. The only reason why I'm mentioning Breslow anyways is because of his lack of playing time and although he's preformed very well, he just isn't being used.
I also think that the club needs to make a few internal changes. Things like changing up the batting order and possibly changing positions.
Carlos Gomez is proving each and every at bat that he does not deserve to bat leadoff, and although the Twins want to give him as many at bats as possible, at this point they need to do what is best for the team and not just Carlos Gomez. Denard Span on the other hand showed that he could bat leadoff while at Rochester this season and is continuing to prove it since his latest promotion. I propose the Twins switching Span and Gomez as I think it'd benefit the entire team.
Also, with Denard Span playing so well both at the plate and in the field, it's going to cause a "problem" when Michael Cuddyer is finally healthy. Now, I know what I'm about to say is not going to sit well with quite a few readers, but I'm just listing it as an option. I propose the Twins to move Cuddyer back to third base and let Span continue to start in right field. Cuddyer was dreadful at third base his first time around, but that was also when he was still unsure of his roster spot (even though he started most of the games). Now his roster spot is 100% secure, which we may or may not agree with, and I think his experience as an everyday player over the last few years would allow him to be at the very least serviceable at the hot corner. Heck, if the Twins were fine with the way Mike Lamb played there, I think Cuddyer would be just fine.
Those are really the two moves I'd like to see the Twins make prior to the deadline, and if they don't seem to be working out, then perhaps make a move which can keep us in contention. However, I expect another very slow trading day for the Twins.
Game Ball
Don't feel like blogging about the game. For a good recap, head over to Twins Fix.
Game Ball
Brendan Harris - Third Base
Line: 2-4, 2 runs, double, triple, 2 RBI
Twins lose, 6-5.
Game Ball
Brendan Harris - Third Base
Line: 2-4, 2 runs, double, triple, 2 RBI
Twins lose, 6-5.
July 8, 2008
Did Gardy "Screw the Pooch?"
With respect to a few, the Twins' bats just merely did not show up last night. Daisuke Matsuzaka was working them up, down and all-around the strike zone but yet the Twins again were unable to figure out the 27-year-old Japanese pitcher.
Twice they had the bases loaded, once in the 1st and again in the 8th (he allowed 2 of the base runners before being relieved by Hideki Okajima) and both times they left all the runners on the bases. Matsuzaka's windup disrupts a lot of (inexperienced) batters' timing, and with the Twins having a lot of inexperienced players, there's no wonder why he's been able to just 18 hits (just one home run) in over 22 innings he's pitched against the Twins.
But regardless of how good Matsuzaka is, the Twins missed a few golden opportunities to drive in a few runs and they missed miserably, something this team is not used to when it comes to having runners on base. Delmon Young alone left 7 men on base.
The Twins' Scott Baker had the better game of the two hurlers. The 26-year-old right-hander went 7 shutout innings of 5 hit ball and gave up just 2 walks while striking out 7. Baker was pulled after throwing just 94 pitches, something that Manager Ron Gardenhire probably regrets. After retiring 3 of the 4 batters he faced in the 7th inning, Baker was pulled from the game prior to the 8th inning in place of Brian Bass. Bass ranks last in current pitcher's FIP at 5.20. And as you can guess it, Bass comes in and gives up a double, RBI single, and a walk while just recording one out to give the Red Sox the lead, and ultimately the win. He could have walked Ramirez, who I know (I know) is struggling, but it would have potentially set up the double-play ball for Mike Lowell.
I don't understand Ron Gardenhire's thought process when it comes to putting in some pitchers in pressure-filled situations. Bass is obviously the Twins' worst relief pitcher currently on the roster and really has no business coming into a game against one of the best lineups in all of baseball with the game tied up in the 8th inning, especially when the team hasn't really had to tap into their bullpen for more than 3 innings since they needed to against the Brewers 10 games ago. So Gardenhire can't use the "my bullpen is beat up" excuse for this one, as he could've really gone with just about any of his other relievers besides maybe Matt Guerrier.
And speaking of which, why has he not used Craig Breslow? Unless I'm unaware of a reasoning as to why he isn't being used, Breslow has not pitched in 6 games. In regards to his FIP, he leads the team and although he's only pitched in 10 2/3 innings for the Twins, he has still not allowed a run to cross the plate, meaning that his LOB% is 100%.
Breslow has never faced the Red Sox, but he did throw 1 1/3 perfect innings of relief against the Cleveland Indians, his former team. I'm not going to get into a comparison between the Indians and Red Sox, as obviously the Red Sox and Indians can't really be said in the same sentence this season in regards to offense (unless you say, "the Indian's lineup suck compared to the Red Sox"), but he probably would love a chance to face another of his former teams. Bass has faced the Red Sox, and he gave up 3 walks and two runs (including a home run) in just 1 1/3 innings earlier this season. And in both that and this appearance, he was facing the heart of their batting order. And in both, he was lit up.
Gardenhire's reasoning for Bass to be in there over a guy like Breslow was because he was set to face two right-handers and just one left-hander. However, I also would not buy that excuse as prior to the game Bass had a .303 BAA right-handers and Breslow had just a .171 BAA right-handers.
Even if it wasn't Bass, there were other options that Gardenhire could have used. Nick Nelson gives a few.
Joe Christensen offers a few reasonings for the thoughts behind the decisions made in the game:
Oh well, as the ol' saying goes, "there's always tomorrow" (or I guess in the Twins' case, tonight). However, the Red Sox will send out Jon Lester who is coming off of a complete-game shutout and has been outstanding at home. While the Twins send out Nick Blackburn who although is also coming off of a good performance, has been terrible on the road this year and has gotten hit hard (nearly a .400 average) by the Red Sox in each of his two appearances against the defending World Champions (1 start, 1 relief appearance).
What is your take?
Game Ball
Scott Baker - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 5 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, no decision
Twins lose, 1-0.
Twice they had the bases loaded, once in the 1st and again in the 8th (he allowed 2 of the base runners before being relieved by Hideki Okajima) and both times they left all the runners on the bases. Matsuzaka's windup disrupts a lot of (inexperienced) batters' timing, and with the Twins having a lot of inexperienced players, there's no wonder why he's been able to just 18 hits (just one home run) in over 22 innings he's pitched against the Twins.
But regardless of how good Matsuzaka is, the Twins missed a few golden opportunities to drive in a few runs and they missed miserably, something this team is not used to when it comes to having runners on base. Delmon Young alone left 7 men on base.
The Twins' Scott Baker had the better game of the two hurlers. The 26-year-old right-hander went 7 shutout innings of 5 hit ball and gave up just 2 walks while striking out 7. Baker was pulled after throwing just 94 pitches, something that Manager Ron Gardenhire probably regrets. After retiring 3 of the 4 batters he faced in the 7th inning, Baker was pulled from the game prior to the 8th inning in place of Brian Bass. Bass ranks last in current pitcher's FIP at 5.20. And as you can guess it, Bass comes in and gives up a double, RBI single, and a walk while just recording one out to give the Red Sox the lead, and ultimately the win. He could have walked Ramirez, who I know (I know) is struggling, but it would have potentially set up the double-play ball for Mike Lowell.
I don't understand Ron Gardenhire's thought process when it comes to putting in some pitchers in pressure-filled situations. Bass is obviously the Twins' worst relief pitcher currently on the roster and really has no business coming into a game against one of the best lineups in all of baseball with the game tied up in the 8th inning, especially when the team hasn't really had to tap into their bullpen for more than 3 innings since they needed to against the Brewers 10 games ago. So Gardenhire can't use the "my bullpen is beat up" excuse for this one, as he could've really gone with just about any of his other relievers besides maybe Matt Guerrier.
And speaking of which, why has he not used Craig Breslow? Unless I'm unaware of a reasoning as to why he isn't being used, Breslow has not pitched in 6 games. In regards to his FIP, he leads the team and although he's only pitched in 10 2/3 innings for the Twins, he has still not allowed a run to cross the plate, meaning that his LOB% is 100%.
Breslow has never faced the Red Sox, but he did throw 1 1/3 perfect innings of relief against the Cleveland Indians, his former team. I'm not going to get into a comparison between the Indians and Red Sox, as obviously the Red Sox and Indians can't really be said in the same sentence this season in regards to offense (unless you say, "the Indian's lineup suck compared to the Red Sox"), but he probably would love a chance to face another of his former teams. Bass has faced the Red Sox, and he gave up 3 walks and two runs (including a home run) in just 1 1/3 innings earlier this season. And in both that and this appearance, he was facing the heart of their batting order. And in both, he was lit up.
Gardenhire's reasoning for Bass to be in there over a guy like Breslow was because he was set to face two right-handers and just one left-hander. However, I also would not buy that excuse as prior to the game Bass had a .303 BAA right-handers and Breslow had just a .171 BAA right-handers.
Even if it wasn't Bass, there were other options that Gardenhire could have used. Nick Nelson gives a few.
Joe Christensen offers a few reasonings for the thoughts behind the decisions made in the game:
And even before seeing this, I couldn't place all the blame on Ron Gardenhire and Brian Bass anyways. Had the offense score just one run, there's a reasonable chance that Brian Bass would have never even began to stretch in the bullpen, let alone come into the game. So had the offense score one run, the loss could have (potentially) been prevented.1) Scott Baker threw 94 pitches and was spent after seven innings. The game-time temp was 82 degrees, and it was plenty humid.
“You get a little gassed,” he said. “There’s no breaks [in Boston’s lineup]. It’s almost like a playoff atmosphere in this stadium. You’re letting it fly pretty much the whole game.”
2) Brian Bass had a 1.23 ERA over the previous two weeks.
3) Manny Ramirez batted .161 on Boston’s just completed 3-7 road trip.
4) Righthanded hitters were batting .291 against Hideki Okajima, compared to .220 for lefties.
5) Delmon Young has put the first pitch in play in 57 of his 339 plate appearances this season. He is batting .304 when that happens.
Oh well, as the ol' saying goes, "there's always tomorrow" (or I guess in the Twins' case, tonight). However, the Red Sox will send out Jon Lester who is coming off of a complete-game shutout and has been outstanding at home. While the Twins send out Nick Blackburn who although is also coming off of a good performance, has been terrible on the road this year and has gotten hit hard (nearly a .400 average) by the Red Sox in each of his two appearances against the defending World Champions (1 start, 1 relief appearance).
What is your take?
Game Ball
Scott Baker - Starting Pitcher
Line: 7 innings pitched, 5 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, no decision
Twins lose, 1-0.
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