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
Showing posts with label Hunter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hunter. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Santana's gone, team "could" be good by 2010. Yippee.
It's apparent now that the Twins are settling for the let's-be-good-when-the-new-stadium-opens mode. How else do you justify the settlement the team came to in giving away Johan Santana?
The team didn't need three new, young, totally unproven arms that are three years away from challenging for a fifth starter spot.
The team did need a starting centerfielder.
They didn't get him.
Granted, Carlos Gomez has the tools to be darn good. I'll give him that. But starting in Torii Hunter's old spot come April? Um, no.
Here's where we are as Twins fans: hope the Mauer-Morneau-Cuddyer-Young crew can post enough offense to offset the totally depleated pitching staff.
One thing's for sure: they may be good in 2010, but 2008 could get ugly. Time to trade Joe Nathan and get something of importance back and not just another prayer for 2010.
The team didn't need three new, young, totally unproven arms that are three years away from challenging for a fifth starter spot.
The team did need a starting centerfielder.
They didn't get him.
Granted, Carlos Gomez has the tools to be darn good. I'll give him that. But starting in Torii Hunter's old spot come April? Um, no.
Here's where we are as Twins fans: hope the Mauer-Morneau-Cuddyer-Young crew can post enough offense to offset the totally depleated pitching staff.
One thing's for sure: they may be good in 2010, but 2008 could get ugly. Time to trade Joe Nathan and get something of importance back and not just another prayer for 2010.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Should He Stay Or Should He Go Now?
"Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An’ if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know!
Should I stay or should I go?"
- The Clash
By Bullpen Catcher
Joe Strummer could just as well be singing his classic lyrics to Twins management.
Should Torii stay or should he go?
Should Johan stay or should he go?
Should Joe Nathan stay or should he go?
Should Terry Ryan stay or should he go?
The answers are as simple as the tune by The Clash: If any of them go it may be trouble; if they stay it may be double.
Longtime Star Tribune fossil/grump Sid Hartman made up something the other day (as is his usual wont), telling the WCCO-AM radio crowd Torii Hunter is for sure to be a Twin next year. He claims the Twins are readying money and lining up an offer for the Gold Glove centerfielder and put him under the TC lid for the rest of his career. Facts have never been Sid's best friend. Neither have common sense. If Hunter goes, sure there'll be trouble (ticket sales, jersey sales, center field defense, good quote), but if he stays it could be double. Double in the sense that it will cost the team from bringing whatever money they would dole out for Hunter to such better investments as Johan Santana and Justin Morneau.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Wednesday there are absolutely zero talks between Hunter's agent and Twins GM Terry Ryan. A Chicago Tribune story yesterday claims the White Sox's top free agent pursuit of the offseason will be to re-tool center field with Hunter. The Dallas Morning News had a story claiming the Rangers' top need of centerfield will be addressed this winter with Aaron Rowand, Andruw Jones or Hunter being their top picks.
There are six weeks left in the 2007 season. The Twins pulled to within six games back in the Central. As Tom Powers adequately pointed out, the season is all but over for this team.
As Hunter's stock rises for offseason bidders, Johan Santana's takes exponential leaps. Santana becomes a free agent at the end of the 2008 season. I believe, as several Hall of Famer's claim, Santana is the best pitcher in the Major League right now. Every day the Twins don't lock Santana up to a long-term contract costs them money -- or Santana. The two-time Cy Young Award winner could fetch upwards of $20 million per season for a five-year contract.
Should they stay or should they go now? Heck, with decisions like this Terry Ryan might be thinking about leaving as fast as his hair.
(Torii Hunter photo courtesy of http://www.mlb.com)
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An’ if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know!
Should I stay or should I go?"
- The Clash
By Bullpen Catcher
Joe Strummer could just as well be singing his classic lyrics to Twins management.
Should Torii stay or should he go?
Should Johan stay or should he go?
Should Joe Nathan stay or should he go?
Should Terry Ryan stay or should he go?
The answers are as simple as the tune by The Clash: If any of them go it may be trouble; if they stay it may be double.
Longtime Star Tribune fossil/grump Sid Hartman made up something the other day (as is his usual wont), telling the WCCO-AM radio crowd Torii Hunter is for sure to be a Twin next year. He claims the Twins are readying money and lining up an offer for the Gold Glove centerfielder and put him under the TC lid for the rest of his career. Facts have never been Sid's best friend. Neither have common sense. If Hunter goes, sure there'll be trouble (ticket sales, jersey sales, center field defense, good quote), but if he stays it could be double. Double in the sense that it will cost the team from bringing whatever money they would dole out for Hunter to such better investments as Johan Santana and Justin Morneau.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Wednesday there are absolutely zero talks between Hunter's agent and Twins GM Terry Ryan. A Chicago Tribune story yesterday claims the White Sox's top free agent pursuit of the offseason will be to re-tool center field with Hunter. The Dallas Morning News had a story claiming the Rangers' top need of centerfield will be addressed this winter with Aaron Rowand, Andruw Jones or Hunter being their top picks.
There are six weeks left in the 2007 season. The Twins pulled to within six games back in the Central. As Tom Powers adequately pointed out, the season is all but over for this team.
As Hunter's stock rises for offseason bidders, Johan Santana's takes exponential leaps. Santana becomes a free agent at the end of the 2008 season. I believe, as several Hall of Famer's claim, Santana is the best pitcher in the Major League right now. Every day the Twins don't lock Santana up to a long-term contract costs them money -- or Santana. The two-time Cy Young Award winner could fetch upwards of $20 million per season for a five-year contract.
Should they stay or should they go now? Heck, with decisions like this Terry Ryan might be thinking about leaving as fast as his hair.
(Torii Hunter photo courtesy of http://www.mlb.com)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Time To Think Positive About 2008
Next Year's Team Can Be Now
By Bullpen Catcher
The Catcher has returned to the Bullpen after a well-earned vacation.
As the Twins continue to play mediocre baseball, it's time to look ahead rather than dwell on the negatives that so easily abound right now.
Good moves by the Twins of late: Luis Rodriguez is now playing in the minor leagues with Lew Ford. This rightly allows youngsters Garrett Jones, Brian Buscher, Alexi Casilla and Tommy Watkins a chance to prepare for next season.
As duly pointed out in a nice column last week, it's time to ready everyone for next year. Even if the Tigers and Indians falter at an historic rate the rest of the season and the Twins get in the playoffs, they will be promptly disposed of by the likes of the Red Sox or Mariners.
In regards to the Times article: I agree it's time to let the youngsters play. But Mauer at leadoff? At first it seems an odd proposition. He's the Twins best hitter, but tends to be dismal with runners in scoring position. I would have suggested he'd fare better as a No. 2 hitter, but maybe leadoff isn't a bad idea. Heck, Barry Bonds used to lead off for the Pirates.
Anything different would be better. Morneau isn't himself. Cuddyer is playing as could be expected (last year was obviously a career year). Torii Hunter is back to being Torii Hunter.
Soon it will be time for the Bullpen Catcher to unveil some deeper thoughts on next year, but for now I've got a few bags to unpack ...
By Bullpen Catcher
The Catcher has returned to the Bullpen after a well-earned vacation.
As the Twins continue to play mediocre baseball, it's time to look ahead rather than dwell on the negatives that so easily abound right now.
Good moves by the Twins of late: Luis Rodriguez is now playing in the minor leagues with Lew Ford. This rightly allows youngsters Garrett Jones, Brian Buscher, Alexi Casilla and Tommy Watkins a chance to prepare for next season.
As duly pointed out in a nice column last week, it's time to ready everyone for next year. Even if the Tigers and Indians falter at an historic rate the rest of the season and the Twins get in the playoffs, they will be promptly disposed of by the likes of the Red Sox or Mariners.
In regards to the Times article: I agree it's time to let the youngsters play. But Mauer at leadoff? At first it seems an odd proposition. He's the Twins best hitter, but tends to be dismal with runners in scoring position. I would have suggested he'd fare better as a No. 2 hitter, but maybe leadoff isn't a bad idea. Heck, Barry Bonds used to lead off for the Pirates.
Anything different would be better. Morneau isn't himself. Cuddyer is playing as could be expected (last year was obviously a career year). Torii Hunter is back to being Torii Hunter.
Soon it will be time for the Bullpen Catcher to unveil some deeper thoughts on next year, but for now I've got a few bags to unpack ...
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