Nick Blackburn tossed one hell of a game Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the only highlight for the Twins was the pitching combo of Blackburn, Jose Mijares and Joe Nathan. Giving up five hits to the White Sox is more than Twins fans could ask at this point in the season. One run allowed should also be enough.
The bottom line is that the Twins lineup has not been a playoff lineup for a month. When your only hits are from Michael Cuddyer and Brendan Harris, there's trouble. Where were Mauer and Morneau the past week? The so-called piranhas were sunfish. Small ball went out the window outside the Metrodome.
It's time to look forward to next season and be happy this core group will be that much better next season. No doubt this was another of Ron Gardenhire's magic tricks, but next year we all must expect much, much more.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Detroit (Not) Rock City
I'm not sure which was worse Monday afternoon: Watching the terrible fill-in programming on WGN-TV as the White Sox and Tigers waited out a rain delay or Detroit's horrific pitching display during the game.
When Alexei Ramirez sat on that terrifically terrible pitch by Gary Glover in the sixth inning, things got worse.
Ramirez has always reminded me of Alphonso Soriano both in stature and batting stance. The difference, I decided Monday, is that I really love Ramirez as a player and couldn't loathe Soriano more than I currently do.
Ramirez is genuine. The Cuban 27-year-old hit that home run, gave the oh-my-gosh! look with his arms and face, then joyously loped around the bases. WGN had the camera on him as he sat alone on the bench afterwards, kissing his bat before succumbing to emotion. Ramirez dropped his face into his palms and momentarily cried. The range of emotions peculating in his body before, during and after that grand slam have to have been inconceivable. Just last year at this time he was pondering defection from Cuba (he signed a lowly contract of $4.4 million over four years with the White Sox on Dec. 22, 2007). Simply put, it was a great moment.
Here's hoping he has a downer of day at the Cell Tuesday, though.
When Alexei Ramirez sat on that terrifically terrible pitch by Gary Glover in the sixth inning, things got worse.
Ramirez has always reminded me of Alphonso Soriano both in stature and batting stance. The difference, I decided Monday, is that I really love Ramirez as a player and couldn't loathe Soriano more than I currently do.
Ramirez is genuine. The Cuban 27-year-old hit that home run, gave the oh-my-gosh! look with his arms and face, then joyously loped around the bases. WGN had the camera on him as he sat alone on the bench afterwards, kissing his bat before succumbing to emotion. Ramirez dropped his face into his palms and momentarily cried. The range of emotions peculating in his body before, during and after that grand slam have to have been inconceivable. Just last year at this time he was pondering defection from Cuba (he signed a lowly contract of $4.4 million over four years with the White Sox on Dec. 22, 2007). Simply put, it was a great moment.
Here's hoping he has a downer of day at the Cell Tuesday, though.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Finally, A Win
Sunday's win over the Kansas City Royals kept the Twins in first place and has many of us watching WGN-TV tomorrow at 1:05 p.m.
It was nice to see the Twins get some hits. It was even better to have Scott Baker look like a formidable pitcher against the Royals crummy offense. And, yes, wasn't it nice to see Joe Mauer not hit into a single double play?
Let's hope the Tigers are peeved they have to continue their terrible season. Let's hope the White Sox continue to implode. Let's hope Freddy Garcia can still pitch.
As Homer Simpson put it when he opened his Mr. Plow business: "Now we play the waiting game ... The waiting game sucks. Let's play Hungry Hungry Hippos." In all sincerity, there was no way I thought this team would win 88 games this season. No way. Damn nice job, no matter what the outcome tomorrow and Tuesday.
Who said it was over?
It was nice to see the Twins get some hits. It was even better to have Scott Baker look like a formidable pitcher against the Royals crummy offense. And, yes, wasn't it nice to see Joe Mauer not hit into a single double play?
Let's hope the Tigers are peeved they have to continue their terrible season. Let's hope the White Sox continue to implode. Let's hope Freddy Garcia can still pitch.
As Homer Simpson put it when he opened his Mr. Plow business: "Now we play the waiting game ... The waiting game sucks. Let's play Hungry Hungry Hippos." In all sincerity, there was no way I thought this team would win 88 games this season. No way. Damn nice job, no matter what the outcome tomorrow and Tuesday.
Who said it was over?
Friday, September 26, 2008
How 'bout My Minnesota Twins?
Years back I worked with a guy named Mike Augustin who would yell loudly across the newsroom, over the phone or type on the top text line of his raw stories: "How 'bout my St. John's Johnnies!?" or simply: "Myyyyyy Cubbies!"
Auggie usually was most boisterous when it was an underdog or a team overcoming long odds.
Thursday night Auggie was yelling across the heavens to St. Peter: "Myyyyyy Minnesota Twins!"
Three straight against the Chicago White Sox is deserving of any raucous fan belting it out. The way the Twins played in their sweep was nothing short of inspirational.
The finale was the capper. Down 6-1 and momentarily looking like a bumbling Triple-A team, the Twins buckled down. The dug deep. The never said never. Pick your damn cliche because whatever you call it, that's what they did.
Go-go Gomez is as goofy as they come, yet there he was going 4-for-5 with two triples and a double. Alexei Casilla looked clueless at the plate for nine innings and then drilled an 0-1 pitch into center for the game-winner. Denard Span has struggled of late, but suddenly oh-so-close to hitting for the cycle.
Joe Nathan hasn't exactly been perfect lately, but Gardy gives him the ball and he goes an unprecedented two innings, knocking down six straight White Sox for his first win.
It was pure Twins baseball, much to the delight and torture of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Justin Morneau and Delmon Young each went 0-for-5 and the Twins use seven pitchers, yet a teammate was always there to pick up the slack and spark a rally.
Twins baseball. Myyyyyyyy Twins baseball.
Three more days of fun.
Read this story and this story. Oh, and this story. How about this one? Finally, this one. Joy.
Auggie usually was most boisterous when it was an underdog or a team overcoming long odds.
Thursday night Auggie was yelling across the heavens to St. Peter: "Myyyyyy Minnesota Twins!"
Three straight against the Chicago White Sox is deserving of any raucous fan belting it out. The way the Twins played in their sweep was nothing short of inspirational.
The finale was the capper. Down 6-1 and momentarily looking like a bumbling Triple-A team, the Twins buckled down. The dug deep. The never said never. Pick your damn cliche because whatever you call it, that's what they did.
Go-go Gomez is as goofy as they come, yet there he was going 4-for-5 with two triples and a double. Alexei Casilla looked clueless at the plate for nine innings and then drilled an 0-1 pitch into center for the game-winner. Denard Span has struggled of late, but suddenly oh-so-close to hitting for the cycle.
Joe Nathan hasn't exactly been perfect lately, but Gardy gives him the ball and he goes an unprecedented two innings, knocking down six straight White Sox for his first win.
It was pure Twins baseball, much to the delight and torture of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Justin Morneau and Delmon Young each went 0-for-5 and the Twins use seven pitchers, yet a teammate was always there to pick up the slack and spark a rally.
Twins baseball. Myyyyyyyy Twins baseball.
Three more days of fun.
Read this story and this story. Oh, and this story. How about this one? Finally, this one. Joy.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
White Sox Being The White Sox
The Twins winning the first two over the White Sox is a major step. Now just a half game out behind Chicago, the Twins are proving a reality of baseball: The White Sox are poised for another of their patented season-ending blowups. Sure, Chicago is just as hobbled and have as tired a starting pitching staff as the Twins, but the White Sox also had a 2.5 game lead heading into the final handful of games in the season. Whether the Twins pull out another AL Central title or not, the White Sox fans and front office cannot be happy with how poorly Chicago has played in the past month.
Whether the White Sox win the division or not, word around the league is that Ozzie Guillen's job isn't safe. Guillen's brash behavior coupled with his sometimes team-critical demeanor has made him an easy target for a firing at the end of the season.
Heck, if Ned Yost gets fired so close to a playoff berth and so late in the season, then Guillen can't be comfortable with his job security.
Guillen's love for the Twins organization -- or more importantly, their fundamental strengths and manner of play -- is setting up his downfall. He wanted Javier Vazquez to pitch like a big-time pitcher so he calls him out in the media and Vazquez quickly gets shelled by the Twins. Guillen hoped for Vazquez to do as Twins pitchers Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn did over the past two games ... suck it up and pitch better than their now sloppy, tired and slow arms would allow. Guillen did whatever he could to get Vazquez to pitch like a Twin.
Mark Buerhle, on the other hand, did what Vazquez couldn't tonight. Fortunately for Minnesota the Twins kept all but Ken Griffey Jr. from making more than a dent on the scoreboard.
Kudos to the Twins. They continue to hang on and hang on, keeping close enough to the Sox to have a puncher's chance. The standing ten count could come tomorrow. I don't think either the White Sox or Twins will do much in the playoffs, but right now who cares? It's getting damn fun.
Doesn't it feel great to have playoff-like baseball back?
Whether the White Sox win the division or not, word around the league is that Ozzie Guillen's job isn't safe. Guillen's brash behavior coupled with his sometimes team-critical demeanor has made him an easy target for a firing at the end of the season.
Heck, if Ned Yost gets fired so close to a playoff berth and so late in the season, then Guillen can't be comfortable with his job security.
Guillen's love for the Twins organization -- or more importantly, their fundamental strengths and manner of play -- is setting up his downfall. He wanted Javier Vazquez to pitch like a big-time pitcher so he calls him out in the media and Vazquez quickly gets shelled by the Twins. Guillen hoped for Vazquez to do as Twins pitchers Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn did over the past two games ... suck it up and pitch better than their now sloppy, tired and slow arms would allow. Guillen did whatever he could to get Vazquez to pitch like a Twin.
Mark Buerhle, on the other hand, did what Vazquez couldn't tonight. Fortunately for Minnesota the Twins kept all but Ken Griffey Jr. from making more than a dent on the scoreboard.
Kudos to the Twins. They continue to hang on and hang on, keeping close enough to the Sox to have a puncher's chance. The standing ten count could come tomorrow. I don't think either the White Sox or Twins will do much in the playoffs, but right now who cares? It's getting damn fun.
Doesn't it feel great to have playoff-like baseball back?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
It's Over
Tuesday was just another in a line of too many bullpen blow-ups and lost chances for the Twins. I think it's official: The pennant run for 2008 is over.
The arms are too tired, the bats too inconsistent and the next two series feature teams just too strong for the Twins to overcome and continue this unbelievable run.
The arms are too tired, the bats too inconsistent and the next two series feature teams just too strong for the Twins to overcome and continue this unbelievable run.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Tired Arms, But Twins Are In First!
Glen Perkins' showing in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader exemplifies a problem with the young Twins pitching staff. Perkins has a tired arm.It was pretty obvious Saturday as his fastball was all over the diamond and ball movement lacking any snap.
Manager Ron Gardenhire smartly pulled Perkins and began a parade of recent Rochester Red Wings pitchers to finish off the Baltimore Orioles, 12-6.
Like Perkins, the rest of the starting staff are challenging the most innings they've ever pitched.
- Perkins (12-4, 4.11 ERA) has tossed 175.6 innings this year (that number includes the 33.3 innings he's thrown in the minors). That's the most innings he's piched in a season. He threw 134 innings in 2004.
- Nick Blackburn (10-8, 3.67) led Twins pitchers in innings pitched with 176.7 innings heading into Sunday's final game with the Orioles. His previous top inning season was 2005 (156.6 IP).
- Kevin Slowey (12-9, 3.63) is at 159.3 innings this year (13 in the minors) and is the most accomplished innings eater of the staff. Last year, Slowey combined for 199.3 innings between the majors (66.7) and minors (133.6). In 2006 he threw 140 innings in the minors.
- Scott Baker (9-4, 3.57) went just six innings in the early game Saturday and now has 158.3 innings pitched (5 IP in minors). Baker threw 169 innings at three levels of minor league ball in 2004. Baker also pitched 143.7 innings last year for the Twins when he was 9-9 with a 4.26 ERA.
- Francisco Liriano (5-3, 3.19) has thrown 62 innings for the Twins and 126 more in the minors this year (188 total). Those totals come after missing all of 2007 with Tommy John surgery. Liriano threw just 121 innings in his spectacular 2006 season (12-3, 2.16), but he did throw for a minors/majors combined innings total of 191.3 in 2005.
With 14 games remaining in the regular season, the Twins have to hold on and hope the bullpen --so atrocious lately--will respond and pick up innings.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Justin Morneau AL MVP?
The prospect of Justin Morneau becoming American League Most Valuable Player suddenly doesn't seem so far fetched. Only a month ago Morneau looked as if he might receive some third place votes in the MVP, but certainly not many for winning the award.
Chicago White Sox 25-year-old left fielder Carlos Quentin looked to be battling for the award with Texas home run derby monster Josh Hamilton, a 27-year-old outfielder. Quentin was doing it all in his first season with the White Sox, but his season is over with a wrist injury that requires surgery. Given the White Sox's first-place status, Quentin would have been an easy bet for MVP. Obviously, his statistical numbers have stalled (thankfully, because his departure has slowed the White Sox and allowed the slumping Twins to stay just a game out of first place).
Hamilton, meanwhile, is a media darling. The former drug addict who battled back with rehabilitation and newfound Christianity is the stuff sports writers and (especially) TV reporters love to write and talk about. Hamilton looked to be a lock on MVP at the mid-point of the season, pounding out home run after home run in the All-Star Derby. His first half of the season had these monster stats: .310 batting average, 21 home runs, 95 runs batted in and .552 slugging percentage. But the Rangers are 16.5 games out in the AL West and Hamilton's production has slowed (.289, 10 HR, 29 RBI since All-Star Game).
Meanwhile, Morneau continues to show he's a stronger second half player and is gaining on Hamilton's league lead in RBI. His batting average since the All-Star Game is .287, but he's hit nine home runs and 51 RBI as well as hammering out a .558 slugging percentage. It also doesn't hurt that he's carried the limping Twins as they compete for the Central title.
Other possibilities for AL MVP would have to be someone from the Tampa Bay Rays (1B Carlos Pena or rookie 3B Evan Longoria), Boston Red Sox (1B Kevin Youkilis or 2B Dustin Pedroia) or California Anaheim Los Angeles Angels (CL Francisco Rodriguez, RF Vlad Guerrero or CF Torii Hunter).
Stats to chew on with about 18 games left in the season (ages included in parenthesis for the sake of interest, as is Alex Rodriguez):
Guerrero......(32) 24 HR, 83 RBI, .298 BA
Hunter..........(32) 20 HR, 73 RBI, .281 BA, 17 SB
Pedroia.........(24) 17 HR, 77 RBI, .327 BA, 17 SB
Youkilis........(29) 25 HR, 99 RBI, .315 BA
Longoria.......(22) 22 HR, 71 RBI, .278 BA, 7 SB
Pena..............(30) 27 HR, 85 RBI, .245 BA
A.Rodriguez.(32) 33 HR, 95 RBI, .310 BA, 17 SB
Hamilton......(27) 31 HR, 124 RBI, .303 BA, 7 SB
Quentin........(25) 36 HR, 100 RBI, .288 BA, 7 SB
Morneau.......(27) 23 HR, 119 RBI, .311 BA
F.Rodriguez.(26) 2-2 W-L, 55 SV, 67 G, 61.3 IP, 70 SO, 1.24 WHIP, 2.49 ERA
Chicago White Sox 25-year-old left fielder Carlos Quentin looked to be battling for the award with Texas home run derby monster Josh Hamilton, a 27-year-old outfielder. Quentin was doing it all in his first season with the White Sox, but his season is over with a wrist injury that requires surgery. Given the White Sox's first-place status, Quentin would have been an easy bet for MVP. Obviously, his statistical numbers have stalled (thankfully, because his departure has slowed the White Sox and allowed the slumping Twins to stay just a game out of first place).
Hamilton, meanwhile, is a media darling. The former drug addict who battled back with rehabilitation and newfound Christianity is the stuff sports writers and (especially) TV reporters love to write and talk about. Hamilton looked to be a lock on MVP at the mid-point of the season, pounding out home run after home run in the All-Star Derby. His first half of the season had these monster stats: .310 batting average, 21 home runs, 95 runs batted in and .552 slugging percentage. But the Rangers are 16.5 games out in the AL West and Hamilton's production has slowed (.289, 10 HR, 29 RBI since All-Star Game).
Meanwhile, Morneau continues to show he's a stronger second half player and is gaining on Hamilton's league lead in RBI. His batting average since the All-Star Game is .287, but he's hit nine home runs and 51 RBI as well as hammering out a .558 slugging percentage. It also doesn't hurt that he's carried the limping Twins as they compete for the Central title.
Other possibilities for AL MVP would have to be someone from the Tampa Bay Rays (1B Carlos Pena or rookie 3B Evan Longoria), Boston Red Sox (1B Kevin Youkilis or 2B Dustin Pedroia) or California Anaheim Los Angeles Angels (CL Francisco Rodriguez, RF Vlad Guerrero or CF Torii Hunter).
Stats to chew on with about 18 games left in the season (ages included in parenthesis for the sake of interest, as is Alex Rodriguez):
Guerrero......(32) 24 HR, 83 RBI, .298 BA
Hunter..........(32) 20 HR, 73 RBI, .281 BA, 17 SB
Pedroia.........(24) 17 HR, 77 RBI, .327 BA, 17 SB
Youkilis........(29) 25 HR, 99 RBI, .315 BA
Longoria.......(22) 22 HR, 71 RBI, .278 BA, 7 SB
Pena..............(30) 27 HR, 85 RBI, .245 BA
A.Rodriguez.(32) 33 HR, 95 RBI, .310 BA, 17 SB
Hamilton......(27) 31 HR, 124 RBI, .303 BA, 7 SB
Quentin........(25) 36 HR, 100 RBI, .288 BA, 7 SB
Morneau.......(27) 23 HR, 119 RBI, .311 BA
F.Rodriguez.(26) 2-2 W-L, 55 SV, 67 G, 61.3 IP, 70 SO, 1.24 WHIP, 2.49 ERA
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Reyes, GRRR stink again and again
It's official. My patience with the bullpen ended today.
These guys can't do a damn thing right. I would much rather watch Scott Baker pitch another 30 pitches than that sludge we're carting out there in late innings right now. Baker would too. You could tell by the look on his face in the dugout.
These guys can't do a damn thing right. I would much rather watch Scott Baker pitch another 30 pitches than that sludge we're carting out there in late innings right now. Baker would too. You could tell by the look on his face in the dugout.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Twins stay in race despite themselves
The Twins were shellacked 9-0 at Toronto for a their ninth loss in the last 12 games. It's become a similar story throughout this long roadtrip for the Twins: no hitting, uncharacteristically poor hitting and a weak bullpen.
Somehow, though, Minnesota remains in second place in the AL Central, trailing the equally (recently) woeful Chicago White Sox by just 1.5 games.
It's difficult to keep the faith as a Twins fan. Simply put, it seems the team cannot get over the ridge on the Sox. But the next 12 games will be important. The upcoming games include a three-game series with the now-deflated Tigers, three with the woeful KC Royals, three with the terrible Orioles and three more with the clunky Indians. Winning nine of those games (a .750 clip) wouldn't be unheard of, but taking seven (.583) could be enough to put the Twins in first place heading into the final 10 games (four with Tampa Bay) and in a position to keep the chance of a playoff berth alive.
That was a difficult road trip for the Twins and fans alike. If the team can pull off a handful of games in the next two weeks, the past two weeks can be all but forgotten.
Somehow, though, Minnesota remains in second place in the AL Central, trailing the equally (recently) woeful Chicago White Sox by just 1.5 games.
It's difficult to keep the faith as a Twins fan. Simply put, it seems the team cannot get over the ridge on the Sox. But the next 12 games will be important. The upcoming games include a three-game series with the now-deflated Tigers, three with the woeful KC Royals, three with the terrible Orioles and three more with the clunky Indians. Winning nine of those games (a .750 clip) wouldn't be unheard of, but taking seven (.583) could be enough to put the Twins in first place heading into the final 10 games (four with Tampa Bay) and in a position to keep the chance of a playoff berth alive.
That was a difficult road trip for the Twins and fans alike. If the team can pull off a handful of games in the next two weeks, the past two weeks can be all but forgotten.
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