Once more: Joe Mauer could be a werewolf

Comparison photos. Separated at birth?

Top: actor Taylor Lautner. Bottom: Twins catcher Joe Mauer (in high school at Cretin-Derham Hall).

O-Hud Set to Join Twins

Second baseman Orlando Hudson Makes Twins Central Division Favorites

It will be announced within the next few days that the Twins have come to an agreement with former Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Orlando Hudson. Hudson's signing will be squeezed between the signing of DH Jim Thome and what is sure to be the soon announcement of a 10-year-deal between the team and 2009 AL MVP Joe Mauer.

It's a hell of a run for the Twins. These signings not only prove Minnesota will be the Vegas favorite to win the Central Division, but also bodes well for future chances at Division, League and even World Series titles.

OHud is a two-time all-star (2007, 2009) and has won four Gold Gloves (AL 2005, NL 2006, NL 2007 and NL 2009).

Last year with the NL West Division Champion LA Dodgers, Hudson hit .283 with a .357 on-base-percentage.

In eight seasons (Toronto, Arizona and LA), Hudson has a career average of .282. He doesn't steal a ton of bases or hit for a lot of home run power (just 77 career homers), but in the seven full-time seasons he's been a starter, O averaged 28 doubles and 59 RBI per year. Those are solid stats for one of the best fielding second basemen in the last 30 years.

Will he make the Twins better? Simply put, with Hudson at second base, the Twins will be the strongest team up the middle (C-SS-2B-CF) in the American League.

A few more fun thoughts:
STARTERS (11)
C-Joe Mauer (2010 MVP, 2009-10 Gold Glove, 3-time All-Star, 3-time AL batting champ)
1B-Justin Morneau (2006 MVP, 3-time All-Star)
2B-Orlando Hudson (4-time Gold Glove, 2-time All-Star)
SS-JJ Hardy (2007 NL All-Star)
3B-Brendan Harris/Nick Punto
LF-Delmon Young
CF-Denard Span
RF-Michael Cuddyer
OF/DH-Jason Kubel
1B/DH-Jim Thome (5-time All-Star)
BENCH (3)
C-Jose Morales
INF-Matt Tolbert
INF-Alexi Casilla
STARTING PITCHING (6)
Scott Baker, RH
Carl Pavano, RH
Kevin Slowey, RH
Nick Blackburn, RH
Glen Perkins, LH
Francisco Liriano, LH (2006 All-Star)
RELIEF PITCHING (5)
Joe Nathan (4-time All-Star), RH
Matt Guerrier, RH
Jon Rauch, RH
Jose Mijares, LH
Jesse Crain or Pat Neshek, RH

New proposed lineup:
Denard Span (L), CF
Orlando Hudson (S), 2B
Joe Mauer (L), C
Justin Morneau (L), 1B
Michael Cuddyer (R), RF
Jason Kubel (L) or Jim Thome (L), DH
Delmon Young (R), LF
J.J. Hardy (R), SS
Brendan Harris (R), 3B

Back in the Pen!

After a too-long hiatus, the Bullpen Catcher has returned to the pen.

Time for a few thoughts about the first month of the Twins season:

1. Well, the Twins bullpen leaves a lot to be desired. When you have a knuckleballer in there, a few folks who can't keep the ball down, and Joe Nathan playing less than stellar, things are just not going to go well for this team. Right now it's starting pitching or nothing for the Twins. Maybe the Joe Crede aquisition was the big front page deal of the off-season, but what really stands out is how badly the team needed bullpen help and did nothing but get a very shakey Luis Ayala.
2. It sure is different when Joe Mauer plays, huh? When he's in the lineup and catching behind the plate, the Twins have a formidable lineup and strong defense. When he's not, well, you have either the option of Red Dog slapping one over to right field every once in a while or Jose Morales hitting, but struggling to mitt the ball.
3. When this pitching rotation gets in synch it could be fun to watch. Unfortunately, it's early and we haven't seen all five of the big arms put it together in the same karma zone. The first time this happens this year, the Twins will vault to first place. Think of it: Baker tosses one of his gems, Slowey follows it up, Liriano dominates, Perkins fools another team and Blackburn looks like he did when he was brilliant at times last year. That will be a hell of a week when it happens -- and it will sometime this season.
4. It would be nice to see Joe Crede get a hit.
5. It was the right choice to send Alexi Casilla to the minors. What the heck was that we were watching. Two words on Alexi so far this season: Clue Less.
6. Isn't it cool that of all the Big Four outfielders that Denard Span is the one producing? Span had that godawful Spring Training and then stepped into the regular season like it was last season again. He's one heck of a leadoff hitter.
7. Punto? Come on.
8. Ron Gardenhire is doing a pretty darn good job so far. Just on the guts of moving Casilla to the minors and in sticking with Span in the leadoff spot despite pressure to do other things is impressive enough.
9. Admit it: we all look over at that new stadium no matter what when we drive down I-94 or are on that side of town. Try not to look next time you're over there. Just try ...

Time To Think About 2009

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.

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?

Insights and Thoughts

Here are some recent insights and thoughts about the Twins as they head into August:

• Though I hoped it would happen, releasing both Livan Hernandez and Craig Monroe came as a bit of a surprise to me. There was no reason to hang on to these two any longer and it creates space for both Michael Cuddyer (when he gets off the DL) and Francisco Liriano to get on the roster.


• This move also places the season and future directly in the hands of the young team and provides them with a catalyst of a team that should be together (ala the 1987 team).


• While milling about in the stands during the 5-1 loss to Cleveland Saturday I spoke to a scout about the current state of the team. I asked him if he thought the Twins would give in and make the 6-foot-5 (or taller) Joe Mauer a third baseman any time soon. He said at Mauer's height he's better suited to play first base, where Justin Morneau is likely to play for the next decade. That being said, Mauer may not be able to play third base -- something this particular scout emphasized strongly -- and another position may be needed for him. He said it's more likely the Twins would make Mauer an outfielder and backup first baseman than to have him play third. When pressed, he thought two years more of Mauer catching would be about all that we could expect, unless Wonderboy suffers another knee, ankle or other leg injury that precipitates a move quicker. If Mauer is moved to the outfield in the future, look for the Twins to trade one of their now young outfielders for whatever help is needed to fill out the roster (ie. third base).


• Oddest moment Saturday: Three straight bunts by the Twins in the thrid inning (Gomez, Span and Punto), showing Scott Ullger to be the greatest small ball (acting) manager since Phil Garner's Milwaukee Brewers of the mid-to-late-1990s.


• Coolest moment Saturday: In the middle of one of the most boring games in recent Twins history, the scoreboard had a sing-along with TC, the mascot. The song? "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond. That's not unusual. What was unique were the 40,000 in attendance continuing to sing the song a capella for an extra few minutes, including the chorus and the "ba ba bum" and "so good, so good, so good" parts. Classic en masse self-entertainment.


• Hey, that guy in the TC bear suit hitting softballs into the upper deck before Saturday games needs to get paid more. He's the only entertaining thing leading up to the Saturday games and one has to wonder how he can hit so well with that big foam head on. Sign him up. Maybe that's Kent Hrbek under there.


• All the buzz around the Dome is about Sunday's start by Liriano. Even the scouts sitting among the players' wives are excited to see what the lefty can do in the series finale.


• The Twins continue the mantra that no deal was a good deal at the trade deadline because they didn't want to hurt the chemistry in the clubhouse. Odd that finding good fits in a clubhouse is suddenly an excuse after the Twins latched on to former Devil Rays bellyacher Delmon Young in the offseason. If his offense upside was more important than a bad attitude (remember, this is the guy who hit an ump with a bat in the minors), then why are the Twins suddenly so worried a good setup man in the bullpen would send the team downspiraling?


• Just to be fair, shouldn't Mike Lamb be released right now, too?

Twins take 3 of 4 from Red Sox

Twins playing as well as they look
in those cool sleeveless jerseys
By Bullpen Catcher

Monday's win over the defending World Champions gave the Twins the series and legitimatizes their chances to challenge for a playoff berth this season. Livan Hernandez improved to an unbelievable 6-1 overall while several other Twins are showing similar look again stats. Joe Mauer is supposed to hit .333. Justin Morneau is supposed to hit around .282 and be on pace for 122 RBI (which is his current rate). Joe Nathan is supposed to be impressive and dominating (as he's been all season). But what the heck is with Adam Everett popping off a home run? How about Craig Monroe hitting .284 with four home runs? I'm not sure anyone thought someone named Tolbert would be hitting .274 or that Nick Blackburn would be so darn good already.

Spaz Neshek's injury will test the bullpen, but Jesse Crain seems to be recovering better from his arm problems of last year. Maybe Glen Perkins will stick around long enough to provide a solid left-handed starting slot for the Twins.

Either way, this team is overachieving and chugging along. I've said it all season, but if the Twins can just hang around .500 they've got a chance to get into the Wild Card standings leaders at the end of the season. With the Central so darn mediocre, who knows?

A final surprise: The Twins are currently playing better than the Yankees, Blue Jays, Indians, Tigers, Mariners, Phillies, Mets, Braves, Brewers, Dodgers, Rockies and Padres. [I won't mention that the Tampa Bay Rays have a better record than the Minnesotans, though.]

Trip to Detroit creates new trends

Blowing a lead in Detroit
shows the Twins of '08
By The Bullpen Catcher

In the blowing the lead department in losing to the suddenly terrible Tigers, the Twins demonstrated their new trends of 2008:

Neshek is the new Ron Davis; Kubel is the new Cuddy; Mauer is the new Punto; Span is the new Gomez. Ugh.

Twins 162-0, Gomez MVP, Hernandez 35-0

If nothing, the first Twins game of the season was exciting. In Minnesota's 3-2 win over the soon-to-be 2008 World Champion L.A. Angels of Anaheim, California, Monday night the fans learned a few things about this version of the Twins:

• Carlos Gomez is, if nothing else, entertaining;



• and sounds exactly like Tony Olivia in a post-game interview;



• Torii Hunter was never really great in big pressure situations -- particularily in the playoffs or first games back in his old stadium;



• Livan Hernandez is more entertaining to watch than his virtual statistical twin Carlos Silva;



• Hernandez is a far cry less exciting to watch than Johan Santana;



• Joe Mauer is now officially the best in the league at a "productive out" (according to Dick Bremer), and we should look forward to a season full of him grounding out to second base in order to push Gomez over to third. Ugh;



• Justin Morneau is nowhere near in a groove;



• Delmon Young is no Lew Ford (thank God!);



• Craig Monroe looks to be no Rondell White (thank God!);



• and, Michael Cuddyer looks just fine out there in right again.

In all reality, it would be best if Gomez could pop off two games a week like Monday's this season (2-for-3, 2 runs scored, a double, 2 stolen bases, a bunt hit, and--gasp!--a walk). He has Cristian Guzman's speed with the baserunning ability of Rod Carew. That's a nice distraction if he can get on base somehow.

* * *

Another Thought ...

No doubt the Twins will struggle desperately due to lack of consistent starting pitching (how long do YOU think it'll be before they offer a contract to 45-year-old David Wells?). The bullpen is strong enough to take games from the sixth inning on and Joe Nathan should be great again, but what can we possibly expect of this rotation?

That pitching issue is a big one, but the real problem with this team is lack of bats off the bench.

On Monday with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Twins brought in Jason Kubel to pinch bloop-hit for Monroe. He singled to put men on first and third, which made the Angels intentionally walk George Herman "Bab" Lamb to load the bases. This brought up Brendan Harris. When your team is up one run on a team as good as the Angels, it's time to pinch hit with some pop instead of sending up Harris and Adam Everett. But who to use?

Nick Punto was already off the bench, pinch-running for Kubel (damn that was a tiring single to run out). Mike Redmond was a possibility, but he had to be available if Mauer got injured or the game headed for extra-innings. All that was left was someone named Matt Tolbert, our new light-hitting utility infielder (hey, isn't Punto already on the roster?). My thinking from the bullpen is there is a need for one more hitter capable of hitting higher than .200 off the bench.

Enjoy the quest for the perfect season.

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.

Mauer to stop catching? Ugh.

More calls for Mauer to move
Each injury has same result: Position change

By Bullpen Catcher

Joey Mauer's latest leg injury (this one a hamstring issue) has everyone coming out of the woodwork to tell us Mauer needs to switch to third base. Even the honorable Jim Souhan shot this out today.

Most of these folks argue Mauer's bat is too potent to miss from the lineup due to the horrors of playing catcher. Some talk of Mauer's now 6-foot-6 frame being way to lanky to bend down. There are arguments the Twins need a solid third baseman more than they need a solid catcher.

They're wrong. For now.

What indication does anyone have that Mauer would be any good at third? Third base, from experience, is probably the toughest position next to catcher on the field. But it's different from catching. Third basemen are constantly throwing from odd angles and deep spots, the throw is a long one and an overly zealous arm can give up more bases quickly. The balls coming off bats when Boofie is pitching can be near deadly. It's not a paradise. It's not simple. Plus, guess what you need to do at third? That's right, crouch and bend down.

If Mauer were to move, third is not the place. Think about how crappy Michael Cuddyer fared at the plate when he tried to play there. He obviously was all messed up, because the bottom line is he's been consistent at the plate for the Twins. The Nina, The Punto and The Santa Maria played well at third, but he is one of the best fielders in the American League. Problem with Punto: he hits like my niece.

Is Mauer going to be another Punto? There's no sign of that in him. Would he be another Cuddyer (or, for a further statement of such difficulties, another Alex Rodriguez -- look at his stats the first year he played third)? Most likely.

Oh, I forgot. Who will play catcher for this team if Mauer moves to third? Redmond? Um, folks, he's nearing 40. He's been a backup for years because that's his role (see Punto, Nick, for further evidence of a fill-in player at full time).

I'll give you this: Mauer can't catch forever. The knee surgery and the other leg injuries and just being too darn tall will take its toll. He's not a third baseman, though. He has three options in my mind: first base, right field and left field. Of those, right field seems most agreeable. Good right fielders don't need to be too mobile, they should have cannons for arms, they typically are the better hitters in the lineup. Cuddyer has been in the outfield -- and done well for the Twins -- and should be able to adjust to left field. First base is just too much Justin Morneau's for Mauer to consider, but maybe Mauer could take a few ground balls there later.

Jason Kubel, the consummate left fielder of the future for the Twins, would fetch a nice player in return if traded. This leaves the Twins looking for a catcher and third baseman in free agency.