Slowey leaves Twins game with right biceps strain
Posted on April 3rd, 2008 – 1:02 PMBy Joe Christensen
Twins pitcher Kevin Slowey left today’s start in the fourth inning with an apparent injury. The Angels had a 3-0 lead at the time, and Slowey had just retired Torii Hunter on a grounder to third base.
Manager Ron Gardenhire and trainer Rick McWane went to the mound to check on Slowey, and Gardenhire motioned for righthanded reliever Brian Bass. Updates to come.
UPDATE: Slowey was diagnosed with a right biceps strain and will be re-evaluated Friday. Francisco Liriano would be a possible choice to take Slowey’s place in the rotation if the injury proves serious. Liriano is scheduled to start tonight for Class A Fort Myers.
POSTGAME UPDATE: Gardenhire mentioned possibly using Tuesday’s off day to skip Slowey’s next start and keep everyone on schedule. The next two days will tell the Twins a lot about the injury, and whether Slowey needs to go on the DL. Right now, no MRI is scheduled. Gardenhire ruled out bringing up Liriano to fill Slowey’s spot. “We will not adjust his schedule because of something that happens up here. Liriano is on schedule, and he’s going to do what we set out to do, and we will not make any adjustments. Only when Liriano’s ready, and that’s a couple of starts, at least.”
344 Responses to "Slowey leaves Twins game with right biceps strain"
Hopefully it’s just precaution or a non-arm thing.
but I guess if he had even a minor stint on the DL it would solve how to make room for Liriano.
the first day the Twins would need a start is on April 13th in KC. Liriano anyone?
Who would come up in the time being? Maybe Cali so we have an extra lefty out of the pen and then slide Bass up to the starting spot for one time.
A right biceps strain according to the radio.
I get the feeling this just going to be one of those seasons that comes with rebuilding.
bring up someone that can hit the ball.
CharlieMurphy!!!!
as Rick James would shout…
pitching the 13th would keep him on schedule. sounds like a plan
with the off day the Twins would not need a pitcher until that day and could call up a BAT for the next 10 days
Liriano won’t be brought up. Bass will get the start, or Perkins. Personally, I’d like to see Duensing get a chance.
It all starts at the top- Gomez had a great opener. He’s done nothing since. He’s not the right leadoff guy. He’d be a better #2. Span is a better leadoff. Too bad there aren’t 4 starting outfield spots in baseball.
maybe our outfield should play softball
Can we have a whole team of Mauer’s instead of the whole team full of Punto’s like we have right now. This can easilly be accomplished by everyone running out and purchasing the Joe “baby Jesus” Mauer Quick Swing Batting Training Aid
Nice JJ, Gomez has had 1 good game and 1.5 bad games and you are ready to give Span the job, let’s give him a few weeks or month before we deem career minor league failure Denard Span the better leadoff option.
He’s done nothing since. He’s not the right leadoff guy.
I’m pretty sure he’s gotten a hit or two in each of the last three games.
looks like the hackers aren’t going to score any runs today.
JJ
Why would Gomez be a better #2 hitter? He doesn’t get on base and he doesn’t control the bat well. He should either lead off with his speed or he should be hitting #9 so that when he is on base the top of the lineup can drive him in. Mauer is a perfect #2 hitter when he actually plays.
Nobody has done anything. I don’t think you can pin anything on Gomez at this time. We know his OBP isn’t going to be pretty. But it’s runs scored that matter not OBP. So far he’s leading the Twins in that category. If you want to use a small sample size to draw conclusions.
Sean,
Gomez blew it in the 9th last night. Tried bunting for hits instead of moving the guy over. Then ends up with a double play. Truth is, Gardenhire brought Gomez north because Gomez steals bases. He’s not polished enough to be a leadoff guy. I’m fine with him being a #2. Span at least would bunt a guy over
Obviously you never want to see a guy get injured, and I wish Slowey the best of health. However this is potentially career changing news for a guy like Blackburn. Imagine if he continues to perform well and maintains a decent strikeout ratio while Slowey is sidelined. When Slowey gets back, the twins have 6 starters instead of 5, with a AAA roster filled with potential fill-ins. That’s an enviable spot to be in.
Mark my words, Gomez will not hit above .230 this year, and the Twins will barely win 65 games.
Amen Mark. The guy might be good in a couple years. He’s not ready.
. . . .how bout an update espn gamecast still hasnt had bass throw a pitch.???
Nobody has done anything. I don’t think you can pin anything on Gomez at this time.
Exactly. One run on Tuesday, none yesterday, and only 1 hit today.
That’s not Gomez. That’s teamwide. Even JJ’s almighty Span couldn’t hit for nine men in a game.
Personally though, I hope and think we’ll win our share of games. It’s just going to be the little things that don’t get done that is going to hurt this team, such as bunting and moving guys over. I really do hope Gomez does well. But, the things all the writers talked about with Gomez is already evident through 3 1/2 games. Exciting player, not polished.
very true T, Span can’t bat 9 times. Who knows, he probably wouldn’t hit .250 either. But, the guy played well in teh spring, has never had a shot in the bigs, and who knows, he just might be better than Gomez right now.
Mauer threw our Figgins to end the inning. Bass looks good.
IMO Bass has not had his innings stretched out, so he will not be the new starter. It will be Humber until Liriano is ready. Bass will stay as long reliever. (2-3 innings)
Any word on Slowey’s pitching? Was he throwing high?
2 K’s, 0 BB’s
One bad inning?
Liriano should be ready on the 13th. With the off day we do not need another starter until then.
you’re talking about bunting a guy over in the 9th inning. gomez could be in that position no matter what slot you have him hitting in.
Why can we not hit?
Man, this could be a frustrating year to watch the twins. If they keep playing like this I’m going to commit murder before the summer is over.
thanks charlie…btw. the royals are shutting out detroit thru four….2-0 k,c,
Span is a bum. What has he hit in the Minors? .250?
Give the team some time. They’ll start hitting. They just have to avoid the fundamental mistakes
Span is a bum. What has he hit in the Minors? Maybe .250. He has no power and a weak arm
3-4 games in does not a trend make. I’m no more or less worried than I was before the season started.
A whole team of Mauers? How would they hit into double plays?
They’ll start hitting? Like last year?
We’ve said give this team time every year for the past couple. It’s hard to watch this kind of baseball. 2-1, 3-0, 2-0 (with the Twins being the latter score). It’s like watching paint dry or my grass grow. It’s painful!
I am on Yahoo sports and their gamechannel is working well today
thanks charlie…btw. the royals are shutting out detroit thru four….2-0 k,c,
You know, for as bad as the Twins have it right now…look at Detroit. They’re supposed to be the giants of the Central and they’re getting beat by KC.
But the Royals tend to do this. They start strong, or beat up a few good teams early and then collapse by the end of the year.
Meanwhile Cleveland is on track to sweep the Sox.
So regardless of today’s results…the Twins sit third in the division going into the KC series.
I looked at LAA as a test of if the Twins could be competitive (that’s not looking to good). The KC series will be a test of if they can at least play for .500 (unless KC’s actually planning on being for real this time)
I THINK I MAY GO OUT AND BUY Joe “baby Jesus” Mauer’S Quick Swing Batting Training Aid
A whole team of Mauers? What is the limit for number of players on the DL?
Isn’t the same team as last year. And this is game 4. 158 more to go, I’m pretty sure they’ll hit sometime.
The flu strain that socked a lot Twins in ST lasted a long time and was hard to get over.
Slowey still had it last Saturday. I presume he was straining some today, and that might be the cause of his bicep thing.
JJ the only everyday players that are the same which started from last yr are Cuddy, Mauer and Morneau
yes jimmy, that is what i was referring to
Any word on Slowey’s pitching? Was he throwing high?
I think an evaluation today may be inaccurate, if he was throwing with a sore arm.
A whole team of Mauers? The opposing team’s second baseman have a tired arm and a worn out glove if that were the case
One of the reasons we are not scoring runs right now is because we are not executing the fundamentals. Earlier in the game, Mauer had a leadoff double, and Michael Cuddyer grounded out to the left side, failing to move Mauer over to third. Not to mention, the pitch was outside and Cuddyer was clearly trying to pull the ball. I’m not worried about the fact that we’re in a hitting slump. We still have a good lineup and they will start hitting, especially Morneau. I’m more worried about the fact that we aren’t executing these kinds of fundamental plays. They really make a difference. The failure of Gomez to get that bunt down last night is another example.
well its hard to tell by looking at a box score, but it looks like Bass has pitched really well and kept us in the game. Too bad 3 runs looks insurmountable (did I spell that right?) at this point.
The same team that finished 6th to last or worse in all of these categories last year (R, 2B, HR, OPS, SLG). Can’t wait.
T
Sox beat the Indians 2-1 today
Is Gardy off the hook yet for keeping all our “HITTERS” on the bench last night?
Wow, I’m sensing a lot of hate toward the guy who has our only hit today…
There’s 6 new batting order starters. It is not the same team as last year. They haven’t hit through the first 3 1/2 games. Big deal. Plenty more to go. Have a little faith.
I’m really getting sick of hearing “you really have to give credit to the opposing team’s pitcher, he pitched an incredible game and kept the Twins off-balance all night”
Bass was considered for starting but got slotted for long relief instead.
So if you consider him as a “substitute” starter today because of the injury, you can say it’s another quality start today.
I know it’s a stretch, but that would make it all quality starts in the first 4 games.
My point being, starting pitching is doing okay so far…..ironically.
Alright, Gomez is on base, I love seeing this guy on base
couldn’t we just find a monster for a dh like Adam Dunn. Oh wait we would need to repair the roof everytime he would hit a ball through the ceiling
Ok, Gomez on first, PLEASE no double play!
i am more concerned about coaching. the twins hitters make the same stupid mistakes all the time. they’re always hacking, never move runners up, can’t bunt, don’t hit the ball where it is pitched. gardy lets his favorites get away with it all the time, but if a young guy that he doesn’t like makes one little mistake they are in the dog house. vavra needs to be fired also.
A RUN!!!!!
Best managing move this season = moving Mauer to the 2-hole!
All you need to do is give him a little crap and see what happens.
Joe Ma driving in a run
Finally! A run!
Good calls a few posts up bashing Go-Go and Mauer
Now we’ll see if Cuddy can move him over…
bc twins fan-Span thinks you are a bum also.So there!Just because you were the star on your little league team,that doesn’t give you the right to bad mouth a professional player.
who scored and on who’s hit
Bass had a quick 6th. Now the Twins are having a long bottom of the 6th. Hopefully he keeps pitching and stretches out for his start next Wednesday.
a lot of you guys sure think you’re experts when we haven’t seen hardly any baseball from this team yet…I wouldn’t start making conclusions like ‘gomez isn’t a leadoff guy’ and they ‘will only win 65 games this year when they’ve only played 2.16% of the season. Get off your rockers cause you’re nucking futs.
some of the supposed ‘fans’ here are really starting to irritate me, talk about bandwagon jumpers.
Then you have people who said they’d boo Torii Hunter. how the hell can you boo one of the best and most beloved players in Twins history when he was obviously low-balled by the twins in his contract. Ya, I agree that 15 mil a season was a lot, BUT, he got offered twice that and the biggest contract LA has ever offered, can you tell me you’d take a 50K a year job over a 100K a year job doing the same thing if you were offered both? its BS if you say yes and you can’t convince me otherwise.
Let these guys play together for awhile before you start bashing, and if thats all you’re gonna do, do the guys a favor who love this team no matter what and b*tch and moan to yourself.
if you’re going to criticize, be constructive with it and don’t pass judgement. I think the twins will finish no better than 3rd in the Central this season, but i’m not gonna bash a team that has 2 outfielders who are only 22(!) starting for them (very, very rare for ANY 22 year old to be in the bigs) and a rotation that is 1 or 2 or 3 years away from truly maturing. You can’t expect the world of this team this year, and you guys are talking like it should happen now.
Would I love to see the team playing better? Absolutely, but I’m not gonna get on their case and start calling out guys when there isn’t another guy in the minors that you can say WILL do better than what they have. I don’t see any team with an A-Rod or Miguel Cabrera waiting in the wings not playing, if we had a guy like that, he’d be playing, Obviously I think they have their best team on the field right now, let ‘em play together and gain some chemistry, and talk about how bright the future is for this team, because thats obviously the plan.
end of rant.
Ok those of you that are gamecasting on ESPN, it is time to stop. The MLB.com Gameday feature is much better than gamecast once you get used to it. I love that it tells you the type, speed and slope of every pitch.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2008_04_03_anamlb_minmlb_1&mode=gameday
According to Yahoo, the Twins are batting AND playing defense.
best line of the day…Dan Gladden: “Cuddyer…spring training…no homeruns…could sure use on here”
“one here”
No Geno that fact that he is a professional give me the right to bad mouth him. Not to mention he brings in on himself when he says that stupid $hit he said to the papers in ST
Gomez singles and gets to 2B on the throw. Mauer doubles.
This is serious stuff, jimmy bee.
:)>
Craig just called.
Punto batting for Morneau.
What did Cuddyer do? (I can’t use gameday on this computer)
who scored and on who’s hit
Gomez scored on a double from Mauer.
Which is funny if you see that after reading through some of the more recent comments.
when he was obviously low-balled by the twins in his contract.
It’s not low balling when three other teams offer similiar contracts ($15M a year) and he turns them all down too.
Hunter wasn’t going to stay. His talk of “just wanting years” was all crap. Get over it.
I booed him last night. It felt good.
Are you kidding Sid? It’s hard to sense sarcasm on here.
2 RUNS!!!
Cuddyer moves Mauer to third on groundout, sac fly by Morneau scores Mauer. Angels 3, Twins 2.
Call us the Yankees I guess
That a boy Morneausie… drive in runs even when struggling.
We might have a ball game here..
Romer thank’s for the heads up. There is that horrible Gomez again. Time for a Span call up haaaaah.
Are you kidding Sid? It’s hard to sense sarcasm on here
For as much as people rip into Gardy…do you honestly think he’d EVER pinch hit Morneau for Punto?
“His talk of “just wanting years” was all crap.”
So a one year $15 million contract is the same as a 5 year $90 million dollar one? Even when all $90 mil is guarenteed?
come on.
Tracking the game on SI.com, seems to be caught up
and oh look, gomez gets a bunt down, beats it out, throwing error, advances to second, scores on Joe Mauer double.
who said he couldn’t bunt or hit? I believe thats 2 bunt hits on the season and a 4 game hitting streak to start his season, huh, would seem you’re misinformed…
fact is, you’re going to have to take the good with the bad with this team for this year. Gomez and Young (the 22 yr olds) are going to amaze you one day and disgust you the next, it’s the nature of being that young and inexperienced.
Gomez season-end prediction:
BA .268
R 88
HR 13
RBI 36
SB 52
so Gomez is ONLY hitting .357 now. Yeah he sucks
I would take it Average Joe… but if he hits 13 dingers he should drive in more than 36 runs, even with Everett hitting in front of him.
terrible terrible Gomez I am just amazed at his quickness
Ryan - word.
thats what I was getting at when I asked if you’d take a job that pays 50K a year compared to 100K a year job doing the same thing.
And I’m pretty sure every other contract I heard torii being offered was 60 mil +, and I know for a fact the white sox offered him 75. so you’re wrong. in baseball all the money is guarenteed, so 1 yr 15 mil aint even close to 5 yr 90 mil.
88 runs? that seems VERY low
No, the bottom third of our lineup is not going to afford many RBI opportunities for Gomez.
bc twins fan(not)-Who gave you the right to bad mouth a professional player? What awesome power you have.
Torii just went yard
the one thing NONE of us wanted to see! Hunter with a homerun
Gomez is lightning quick for someone 6ft 4′. Doesn’t some power eventually have to come with being that tall also. Imagine a guy that quick with some power
Touch ‘em all Torri! piss
Im not really sure how you can be a Twins fan and not be at least a little excited right now about Gomez. He has played in 4 games, has 5 hits including 2 doubles, is 2/2 in SB and has scored half of our team’s runs (3 of 6).
Are you kidding Geno? I hope you are. Maybe the fact that I am a fan and season ticket holder gives some right to bad mouth a professional player.
I meant Torii
gameday is showing the hunter pitch as a hanging slider that even punto could have hit out.
Napoli goes yard
AJ- so other than his 13 HRs (assuming all were solo shots) he will have only 23 RBI?
Let’s not get carried away Andy.
Bass got caught….twice.
rincon in for bass
bc - yeah, i was exaggerating a little bit! he could have made contact with it…maybe.
i’ll venture a guess that bass will be optioned out very soon!!
Long Gone Juan in to pitch
KC also offered Torii 5/80 mil. Its funny when this stuff comes out after the fact. So, the Angels weren’t the only club throwing substantially more than the Twins were offering.
IF by that Andy you mean a hanging slider that Punto could’ve lifted softly to right field…then yes, that was the pitch…
3.5 mil for mop up duty is a pretty good gig i’m thinkin’.
Royals lead Detroit 3-0…looking to go 3-0 on the season.
Bass just gave up the 2nd dinger this inning… his pitches look very flat this inning (watching on mlb.tv)
Slowey is not needed for another week and if he can’t make it then, Humber would probably be called up for 1 start giving Liriano 2 in the minors
That’s a little better Andy.
“Keep”: Nice rant. I’m on the same page as you.
Bass needs to be bad enough that when he gets optioned, no one picks him up becasue he is out of options. Otherwise we lose him. So expect him to put in some more innings.
Ryan -
That’s what I’m sayin’.
I’m watching the game in California and it was a huge hanging slider. Punto can’t hit anything out, but yeah it was a big hanger.
the angels must have a real hitting coach and not one that tells his players that the point of the game is to not allow the catcher to catch the pitches.
With a LHRP up there I am surprised that Gardy didn’t life Lamb for Punto.
let’s hope they don’t start the rochester yo-yo and all these young pitchers are out of options by july.
does anybody know what the aaa guys have left for options?
I’m glad Gardy left the long relief man out for the 7th inning when he had Guerrier, Rincon, Crain, Reyes, Neshek, and Nathan in the pen.
When your offense can’t score runs, and they finally get within one run, you’d think he’d play the game close then and at least go Guerrier-Neshek-Nathan.
Nope. Not our Gardy.
thanks nick…
Harris and Everett both single
quick pinch hit punto for gomez
and all these young pitchers are out of options by july.
Unless I’m mistaken…an option is essentially one per year. Not one per send down.
KC also offered Torii 5/80 mil.
All reports I saw were the following…
Twins: 3/45
White Sox: 5/75
Rangers: 5/75
Royals: 5/75
Angels: 5/90
I think one of those last four also included a club option for a six (it could very well be the Angels)
Check some of the old JoeC or LEN3 entires. It’s in there.
my guess is that by the end of the year Mulvey and Humber will be called up. That would be great to see 3 players acquired in the Santana deal all on the major league roster
thats what I was getting at when I asked if you’d take a job that pays 50K a year compared to 100K a year job doing the same thing.
The difference would be that I wouldn’t talk about how much I like working for Company X and would love to work the rest of my career there…then take the money, run, and talk trash about them the rest of the way.
Silva left with class, Santana handled his trade with class, Hunter wouldn’t know class if smacked him on the face. (Unless it offered him an extra 7 mill a year or so)
punto would have hit a hr and tied it up!
bases loaded for Joe Ma
CarGO just singled to fill the bases. One out.
Alright Mauer, lets see another hit here!
anyone want to take a guess on what mauer will do with the bases loaded?
Gogo’s single was a blooper to the opposite field. Great AB by Gogo
Grand Slam, that’s my guess
or a sac fly
See? 5-3 now. Would’ve bring 3-3 if Gardy would’ve brought in his best relievers to keep the game close.
too late.
Mauer will get up to 100 rbi’s this year if Gomez can get on base alot
that would make gardy a good manager and thus, it was never going to happen.
Really wanted more from Joe there. Even a walk.
T - if I absolutely loved my current job and where I was at, but was offered twice as much to do the same thing somewhere i knew nothing about, I’d still take the job that pays more.
I’d still take the job that pays more.
And then rip on the former company you loved for the next year or more?
Cuddy=Rally killerrrrrrrrrrrrr
I just heard yesterday during the KC game KC’s offer was 5/80 for Torii. I woudlnt’ ahve thought twice, except I didn’t think I’d heard anywhere else anyone had offered over 5/75.
and I think Torii earned the right to speak out about whatever he wanted to related to this team while he was here…
I wouldn’t necessarilly rip on the company, but I’d definitely be mad at them because they obviously didn’t recognize my worth…
Would’ve bring 3-3 if Gardy would’ve brought in his best relievers to keep the game close.
No, because then if the Twins take the lead Gardy doesn’t have his best relievers to hold it. Neshek and Nathan can’t throw every inning.
We had this discussion almost daily last season, especially towards the end when second guessing Gardy was almost a more popular game than the one being played.
Not to mention the same people saying Gardy should use his best relievers will be complaining anyway when the team needs them to hold a lead and somebody like Rincon or Bass is the only fresh arm available.
thanks T for the wonderful information it’s so unlike you to be critical of what is said. i guess options have a tie to number of years on the 40 man roster and after 3 yrs they are limited. so i’ll ask again does anybody know if any of the aaa pitchers would be in the options game?
which vet gets cut loose first or traded for nothing with some of the contract eaten? Juanie, Nicky, Reyes?
but I’d definitely be mad at them because they obviously didn’t recognize my worth…
It is not “recognizing worth” when a company grossly overpays an employee.
Especially when four other teams all agreed that Hunter was worth no more than $15M/yr.
To put it bluntly, if you’re selling a car and 100 people offer you anywhere from $1500 to $2000 for it, it doesn’t make it suddenly worth more when one person comes along and gives you $1M.
As far as Torii talking trash about the twins, I don’t have any quotes in front of me, but i remember reading in an article a few days ago him saying that people still shouldn’t underestimate the twins, doesn’t sound like trash talking to me. and I’m pretty sure any trash talking was directed at the front office, not the team, which I would say is probably justified in his case because of all the great things he did for the team and the community and state of MN.
thanks T for the wonderful information it’s so unlike you to be critical of what is said.
I hope you didn’t take that as an attack. If I misunderstood what you were asking I apologize.
Here comes Dennys sampler now.
“No, because then if the Twins take the lead Gardy doesn’t have his best relievers to hold it. Neshek and Nathan can’t throw every inning.”
Geurrier, Rincon, Crain, and Nathan were all available a better 7th inning option than Bass.
Torii is a special player and I am very sad to see him go but I also think that Gomez will be a veeeery exciting young player to watch
not the team
There was one quote that it was stupid to take Gomez over Span, and another that the team/fans would miss Santana more than Hunter because he played everday instead of once every 5 games.
I don’t have the exact quotes either, but those are the two that stand out. To me those seem like a knock on the team (specifically Gomez) and Santana (who seemed to handle the trade chaos with class)
T- grossly overpaying has nothing to do with it. If they grossly overpayed, so what? are you saying you’d say no to a job because you thought they were paying you too much? thats r-tarded.
LA obviously thought he was worth 90 mil and the biggest contract they’ve ever handed out, or they wouldn’t have offered it.
If somebody willing to pay me X amount of dollars, thats my benchmark for what I’m worth, overpaying has no relavance here.
“To put it bluntly, if you’re selling a car and 100 people offer you anywhere from $1500 to $2000 for it, it doesn’t make it suddenly worth more when one person comes along and gives you $1M.”
Um, actually it does, because you just got $1M for it.
Where have Craig and BC been
gobble,
Everyone who was optioned to the minors from the 40-man-roster has already used up their 2008 option. Going up or down the rest of the year will not change the number of options available for them.
If anyone NOT on the 40-man-roster is brought up, they have to be added to that roster. If they are subsequently optioned to the minors this year, then they will use up their 2008 option.
and I don’t really feel like those quotes are necessarily ‘bashing’ the team.
Torii probably thought Span deserved it more because he’s been in the organization, and I would say his argument against santana could have some merit. I also agree that a guy who can play every day has more value than a guy who does once every 5. But for SANTANA, i don’t know
are you saying you’d say no to a job because you thought they were paying you too much?
No. I’m saying that just because somebody tossed $90 million at Torii’s feet doesn’t mean he’s worth it.
To make a baseball comparison, the Twins traded Johan for 4 prospects from the Mets. A lot of people think the Twins traded Johan for far too little.
Do you think they’re wrong? I mean, the Twins and Mets agreed to the terms…so obviously the Twins feel Santana was worth those players and that’s all that matters.
I should add if some company was willing to offer me double my current salary for the same job, I’d likely take it.
But I wouldn’t:
A) Bash the former company.
B) Think I was worth it. (Same work…but double the money?)
Hell yes Kubel.
(apologies for the language, but it’s about time)
Kubel went yard
KUBEL HOMER!!!!!
Go kubes
thank you kubel homerun
even if we dont win i like seeing this comeback in the late inngs
Good to see somebody finally put one over the fence. I was worried for a moment they had forgotten they could do that.
THIS is why Kubel needs more at-bats
Nathan to pitch the ninth? No more save situation, he hasn’t pitched since monday and tomorow they play at night.
ok so do we let Harris and Everitt hit in the 9th and if not WHO do we have hit for them?
Reyes in for the 9th
Fans Hunter.
I’d bet Monroe will hit for one of them.
Why is Dennys pitching to Torii (some need to learn how to spell names).
pinch hit punto and when he strikes out, put him in everett’s jersey and send him up again.
gobble,
Without looking at the roster, I think most of the likely callups have already used their 2008 option.
Mulvey (for one)would have to be added to the roster to be called up and he would use this years option if the Twins optioned him back to the minors.
“I’m glad Gardy left the long relief man out for the 7th inning when he had Guerrier, Rincon, Crain, Reyes, Neshek, and Nathan in the pen.”
T, Bass’s arm might have not been “fresh”. He was in unchartered territory with his new Twins team.
Someone should have been warming up to start the 7th. Then after the cookie to Hunter, a mound visit could have been productive and probably would have prevented the Napoli homer.
I wanted Bass to keep pitching, but it should be a tie game right now.
monroe for everett for sure
They will both hit is my guess.
monroe pinch hits
I’d say Neshek in the Ninth/Tenth, and Nathan if it goes to 11. After that it’s a whim and a prayer.
As far as the bottom of the ninth…Monroe would be available. I’d let him hit for Everett and bring Punto in to run if he gets on base.
I’d let Harris hit. He’s supposed to be a good hitter.
sid i guess bass is out of options if sent down he could be lost. i read that its based on years of service after 3 yrs then options kick in. that might be wrong. confusing.
t something or someone is only worth what is paid. my idea and your idea of what something is worth may be very different. i’m happy with a $10 bottle of wine and can’t imagine paying $100 for a bottle, other people may think a $10 isn’t worth drinking.
and i really miss the .69 bottles of ripple!
damn..kc punches out det again…they are hot…
I doubt it will be a one run game when we get to the bottom half.
Why wouldn’t we let Harris hit? He has more pop in his bat than anyone on the bench besides Monroe, who will probably hit for Everett
T, Bass’s arm might have not been “fresh”. He was in unchartered territory with his new Twins team.
That’s a very good point. I’m trying to follow on Yahoo (can’t get gameday here) and so I lost track of who was pitching. Bass should’ve come out after his emergency takeover for Slowey.
Somebody should’ve been ready…Crain or Rincon maybe.
Wouldn’t it make sense to move Young and Kubel to 3rd and 4th in the lineup and move Cuddy and Morneau down in the lineup? At least until they start hitting…so far its just been painful to watch our 3 and 4 go 0 for so much.
Freaking Gardenhire outthought himself on that situation, Reyes was on a roll.
And now we have the curiosity of long reliefman Guerrier pitching setup…..and Crain is available.
Young is hitting just fine where he is. Moving him up may throw him off his game this early in the season.
Give Morneau and Cuddy through the end of the KC series to get in shape. At that point Gardy should consider juggling the lineup a bit.
This also ensures that Kubel is hitting consistently before thrusting him into the cleanup spot.
You know Kubel is going to sit tomorrow because they are facing a lefty. Gardy is going to take one of his four hitters that are producing out of the line up.
$90 Mil to play 81 games a year in sunny, warm, grassy LA infront of female fans wearing little to nothing on a team that you know will compete for a WS for the next few years and an owner who will make moves to improve your team…
or $45 mil to play 2 of 3 seasons in the metrodome in front of fairweather fans and for an owner that is cheep despite being the richest in the game.
Ummm… lets see..
Kubel has two hits this year, and one was a popup to 3B… other than his solo HR, he isnt exactly “producing”
Gardy was trying to get thru the inning with Bass. He got 2 quick outs after the HR, then grooved another one.
Gardy lost this game when he went with the B-squad relievers.
We gave Nathan the contract, but we use him one out of 4 games? Makes no sense.
Bass is out of options.
That’s two hits more then Morneau in a lot less AB’s. He would have more hits if Gardy didn’t sit him. I mean he only has a 1.111 OPS
to be postive let’s hope the angels are just really good.
gobble,
The following website covers all the option rules in a section:
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2003/01/transactions-glossary.html
I think ater 4-years (HS signing?) or 3-yrs (college signing?) in the minors a player must be protected on 40-man-roster or risked losing. Each year he is optioned after that is an option of which he gets three. Thereafter, he must pass waivers to be sent down.
I would like to see some aggregate, long term stats on the lefty-righty matchup. I bet the improvement is negligable. Just put your best freaking pitcher/hitter up there, I say.
RyanW
“Kubel has two hits this year, and one was a popup to 3B… other than his solo HR, he isnt exactly “producing””
With the ST and start that Morneau has had I’d take Kubel as the Lefty batting cleanup for now at least until Morneau gets his swing figured out…or until hockey season ends.
Tolbert to PH for Everett with 1 down. harris popped to second.
tolbert instead of monroe…thats curious….
PJS-Nathan is a closer, thus he gets used when the Twins are leading in the 9th inning. If they are only leading in one out of four games he only gets used in one out of four games.
to be postive let’s hope the angels are just really good.
Even if they aren’t, the Twins are by no means an elite team this year.
Tolbert for Everitt? What happened to Monroe?
skinny on options:
If a player is on the 40-man roster but not on the active major league roster, he is said to be on optional assignment—his organization may freely move him between the major league club and the minor league club. If a player is on the 40-man roster and not the active 25 man roster for any part of more than three seasons, he is out of options and may not be assigned to the minors without first clearing waivers. However, if a player has less than 5 years of professional experience, he may be optioned to the minors in a fourth season without being subject to waivers. If a major league player is ineligible for free agency and “has options” remaining, his team may option him to a minor league team without consequence. This is usually what is meant when players are “sent down” to the minors. Likewise, when a player on the 40-man roster is added to the active major league roster, he is “called up” to the majors.
Tolber just say K-Rod last night. That might be why.
Wow, Tolbert pinchhitting. Young and quick with the bat?
If Monroe had gotten on, Tolbert would have pinch ran for him anyway.
saw
good at bat for the kid…
WALK
I will save you, Twins with a “long fly ball to deep left! That ball is hit pretty well!”
Yahoo is broken…
<i- M. Tolbert hit for A. Everett
- A. Everett walked
Ooo weee oooo
Sounds like a wild swing from Gomez.
- M. Tolbert hit for A. Everett
- A. Everett walked
- M. Tolbert to second on wild pitch
But where’s EVERETT!
Gomez fanned on 3 pitches, 2 in the dirt.
And now the strikeout. All sliders to Gomez.
Gomez strikes out, and he and Harris advance on the Wild pitch.
is that what happened? Yahoo has two men on for Mauer.
Intentional walk to Mauer. Banking Cuddyer will fail.
Joey needs to be the hero
Mauer Intentionally walked
And now the strikeout. All sliders to Gomez.
That’s still the rookie in him wanting the big hit and not playing smart.
That can be worked out of him yet.
Tolbert PH for Everett. Walked. advanced to second on wp/strike one. Gomez fanned. Intentional pass to Mauer.
wow, walking mauer to get to cuddyer. this could blow up in k-rods face…
Everett doesn’t hit righties. At all. K-rod is right handed. Why would you want Everett in for an almost gauranteed out?
I mean Monroe
“Do you think they’re wrong? I mean, the Twins and Mets agreed to the terms…so obviously the Twins feel Santana WAS WORTH those players and that’s all that matters.”
obviously the angels thought Torii was worth 90 Mil as well. twins didn’t and I agree with their thinking on that, BUT, it doesn’t come down to what a player is ACTUALLY worth, its what 1 individual team thinks and is WILLING to pay.
and if someone wanted to pay me twice the money to do the same work, i’d definitely think I was worth it, and would gladly thank them for the raise and recognition.
Tolbert hit for everett
walking mauer to get to cuddyer was a no brainer for the angels. i’m not sure cuddy has put one good swing on the ball all week.
Why would you want Everett in for an almost gauranteed out?
I was referring to Yahoo telling me that Tolbert hit for Everett. But then that Everett walked, and then Tolbert took second.
I felt like I was in the twilight zone.
K
Game over
…or not.
my point on this whole thing I guess is I can’t knock Torii for going to LA in this situation even though he’s said he wanted to play in minnesota.
If the Angels offer was gold, the twins offer was frankinsence (sp?). which would you rather have?
Fuck
Damnit Cuddy
This will be a typical ending to games this season.
forget punto, cuddy sucks!!!!!
Big key of this game was allowing Bass to cough up 2 dingers, when he was approaching 40 pitches..
I wonder if “Keep” knows there was a game going on?
Sounded like a crafty AB for Cuddy. F-Rod is tough.
Wonder if the last pitch was in the strike zone?
How long before Delmon Young gets moved into the 3 hole?
cuddyer doesn’t match up well with k-rod, or with the angels for that matter, at least last season.
How long before Delmon Young gets moved into the 3 hole?
The way things are going it’ll be sooner rather than later.
time for a team meeting before kc comes to town….good lord the bats are still in florida…come to think of it, the bats werent there either…just where are the twins bats??? i dont want to hear that we put some good swings on the ball…cuz we didnt…..
Someone explain to me what Cuddyer has done to deserve the #3 spot? Please, enlighten me. Name one other #3 hitter in the big leagues that gets guys walked intentionally in front of him? Cuddyer isn’t a bad player by any means, but for some reason this organization thinks he’s the schiz-nit. Even Harmon Killebrew said publicly that Cuddyer can hit 40 HR’s. Huh?? WTF Harmon…
Yup, Funkytown. Gladden just said Bass’s performance was like he was doing in ST. A good 2 innings, then he gets touched.
What was Gardy thinking?
bc - i did, I was gone for a little while because I was driving home from work, got back and felt I had to defend my thoughts.
Maybe signing those large contracts lulled Cuddy and Morneau into complacency
frustrating.
Get Cuddy & Morenosey out of the 3 & 4 hole GARDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They can’t hit there way out of a wet paper bag!!
At least until they are back on track!
So after the first series, the Twins are 1-3. Notes:
1) The offense is having issues, but with the exception of Game 2 the pitching has been fairly solid. Hernandez performed well, Blackburn did way better than I think anybody would’ve expected, and aside from Bass and Slowey (who’s apparently hurt) today’s pitching wasn’t too poor either.
2) With the exception of Tuesday’s loss, the Twins have played 1-run ball. It sucks to lose those games, but it’s good to ese that they can keep close. It’s exactly what I expected from this team in 08. Close, but just not quite ready to push it over the hump.
3) The two key aquisitions in the offseason (Gomez and Young) are doing well. Gomez has made a few blunders, but it doesn’t appear to be anything that can’t be worked out over the season.
All-in-all, if they can keep the games close and less like Tuesday’s…I can stick this out for the long haul. There’s a lot of growing going on and I want to see how it goes.
Now it’s on to the KC series. They’re playing hot right now, it’ll be interesting to see if it’s sign of bad things for Detroit or good things for KC.
ya, Cuddyer in the 3 hole I don’t know about, I’d put Mauer back in there. Brendan Harris seems like he’d be good in the #2 spot, everyone says he’s a very good hit and run batter, would seem logical.
No mj1, the Twins got some hits today.
Bill Brasky, the Twins have no quintessential 3-hole guy. Mauer is as good as the next guy (Young doesn’t have great power, for instance).
4) Hunter’s average is no better than Punto’s at the moment. 
3 of 14 people liked this game. Did you?
Maybe Cuddyer should keep watching first-pitch strikes all season. That way, he’s immediately behind 0-1 and the pitcher can continue to work around him.
My batting order:
Gomez
Harris
Young
Morneau
Cuddyer
Mauer
Kubel
Everett
Lamb
Call me crazy
NTR, you can’t bat Mauer that low… and behind 3 guys who K a lot more than they walk…
I’d go:
Gomez
Harris
Mauer
Morneau
Young
Cuddyer
Kubel
Lamb
Everett
NTR, I’m tempted. But more pressure on Morneau with Cuddy batting behind him than Young.
Tough loss. At least the offense started to click a bit and we finally hit a ball over the fence. Hope Slowey is OK. His next turn on the calendar would be next Tuesday and that’s an off day after the White Sox home opener on Monday, so they could just skip over his spot and everyone could still go on the regular day.
Tough loss. At least the offense started to click a bit and we finally hit a ball over the fence. Hope Slowey is OK. His next turn on the calendar would be next Tuesday and that’s an off day after the White Sox home opener on Monday, so they could just skip over his spot and everyone could still go on their regular day.
Will the Twins see .500 again????
The issue is Mauer seems to hit into a lot of DPs.
Gomez
Mauer
Young
Cuddy
Morneau
Kubel
Harris
Lamb
Everett
That’s what i’d like to see. Cuddy batting cleanup and Morneau 5th has worked in the past, why did Gardy go along and change it now?
Same old stuff….
The Twins will not be above .500 again this season.
Keep
You are going:
R
R
L
L
R
L
L
R
I know it’s not that important bu do you think Gardy would ever do that?
Good observation, buff.
Keep how about at the bottom —
Kubel
Everett
Lamb
glad the twins got off the HR snide on Kubels upper deck shot though…
I think Gardy’s always been a little sketchy on pitching decisions, he left Rincon as a set-up guy far too long last year.
when was Bass taken out? was it the 7th? if thats the case I would have ran Guerrer or Reyes out to start that inning, they had just tied it hadn’t they? or got within 1? I’m pretty sure the 7th is the inning you start using your dominant relievers to keep it close or keep the lead, don’t get Gardy’s thinking on that.
the purpose of this new offense was to win these damn 1 run games…hard to not be disgusted 1-3 with good pitching-i have said all spring this team was going to have to score 5-6 runs a game…..joe vavra–what say you..??
Romer: I watched the game. It wasn’t a strike but it was a wicked slider and impossible to lay off. It seems that most teams have learned it’s not really necessary to throw Cuddyer fastballs ever!
I messed that up it should be RRLLRRLLR
i hope the royals dont come to the dome and sweep us! maybe Baker will pitch a one hitter again like last year against the Royals. I remember it just like it was yesterday because it was on FSN this winter like 10 times!
Thanks buff. So Cuddy didn’t look like a fool at least.
But as for Gardy……..
I presume there’s no long relief available for tomorrow. Looking for 7 from Baker.
bc - ya, I guess I wasn’t looking at that putting it together, i was just thinking of production and what I thought of their ability, Gardy probably wouldn’t put L, L like that unless someone was getting a day off or he was in a pinch. but Monroes gonna play in Kubels spot a lot, then its not bad at all, I don’t really think its that big of a deal though, i dont know…
romer
Everetts gotta hit #9 man, I don’t see any justification in putting a career .232 hitter in front of a career .281 hitter at the bottom of the order, plus, everett’s got decent speed, he used to have better. But the guy up after #9 is Gomez, I think having Lamb in front of him would hinder GoGo’s ability to cause problems and headaches for the pitcher and the D. He can’t steal or go 1st to 3rd when lamb’s on second. Everett will either be out or has enough speed not to hinder GoGo, thats why I think Everetts gotta be #9.
Gomez
Mauer
Young
Morneau
Lamb
Cuddy
Kubel
Harris
Everett
“Yup, Funkytown. Gladden just said Bass’s performance was like he was doing in ST. A good 2 innings, then he gets touched.
What was Gardy thinking?”
Gardy doesn’t “think”–he goes on gut feelings. Which is why he left Bass in because the “kid was pitching well” or “throwing the ball well” or whatever he’ll say after the game. Bottom line, he shouldn’t have even been in there for the 7th.
I’ll be happy if this team wins 70 games.
Gardy better not bench Kubel tomorrow.
not to hinder GoGo [in all forms],
is what that should say
Gomez
Mauer
Young
Morneau
Kubel
Cuddyer
Lamb
Harris
Everett
PUNTO
MAUER
MONROE
HARRIS
HARRIS
EVERETT
MORNEAU
CUDDY
GOMEZ
Slowey’s tightness progressed during the game. He says he’s okay, but couldn’t finish his patches.
Gardy took himself off the hook. Says all Bass’s pitches were great except the 2 HR’s.
Okay………..
MORNEAU
MAUER
EVERETT
PUNTO
MONROE
GOMEZ
CUDDY
YOUNG
HARRIS
OK, even I’m ready to put Punto aside for a moment….
We lost that series because of Morneau and Michelle, plain and simple….
Way to show up in the first series of the season after huge paydays, boys.
THAT’s the jimmy bee we love.
Justine and Michelle.
Actually if Cuddy and MVP are slumping, at least they did their job in getting that one run in. Cuddy advances the runner to third, Morneau gets the SF.
Thank You Romer because I try so hard. I would like to put everett in cleanup but only on days that Boof Light is pitching but that is my lineup up there only for when others are pitching they get the Punto effect
I said it in the off-season, in Spring Training (although reluctantly b/c he had a good spring), and I’ll say it again–Don’t expect much from Michelle this season. He took a step back last year, has had really only one above average season as a Major Leaguer, and just got paid….then, to top it off, Gardy starts him in the 3-hole….
As for Morneau, patience is starting to wear thin….as an earlier poster pointed out…last Sep. combined with ST combined with .000 so far…time to at least point it out.
I’m sure Bass was “pitching his tail off” or “battling” out there and “giving the boys a chance to win the game.”
Until the two HRs, that is.
You’re kidding, right, romer? A 3 hitter is not supposed to advance runners with groundouts–that’s Punto’s job. A 3-hitter may look for a RBI every now and then, and not one on a seeing-eye single with a drawn-in infield. I know I’m laying it on heavy, but 1-3 is not a fun start. Our pitchers deserved better (sans Boooof).
Morneau needs to stop trying to pull every freakin pitch. The only way he hits better than .250 is if he starts going with the pitches and “spraying” the ball around. He has enough power to go deep anywhere in the field. Just seems like he forgets this and when he does, that’s when he slumps.
Morneau should try to just make contact and not try to go yard on every single oitch
[…] to the Minneapolis Star Tribune (click here for the article) that Kevin Slowey left his start today against the Los Angeles Angels with a […]
The real problem with the Twins lineup is the complete lack of an everyday DH. It’s almost unthinkable that an AL team in this day and age can go as long as the Twins have without one. The Twins have not had a legit DH since Chili Davis (I don’t count Ortiz because he was constantly whining about his knees and wasn’t exactly stellar when he was playing anyway). The only “power threat” the Twins have is Cuddy and Morneau and even their 20-30 HR a year isn’t exactly spectacular by 2008 standards. Gardy should just play Kubel every damn day, lefty or righty, rain or shine (Monroe is a bench player). The DH spot isn’t designed to be “platooned”.
Well Jason, Cuddy’s (everyone’s) minimum job.
Of course producing an 0-fer is never a 3-hitter’s (or anyone’s) job.
But look who’s hitting behind him….the MVP with his 0-fer for the year.
When Morneau does better, Cuddy will too.
I’m with Chris D. on the DH thing…not sure Kubel is the answer but it’s amazing they can’t find a steady one.
Although you do have to point out that they’ve only had one losing season this decade and have won four division titles….so the no-DH since Chili thing isn’t quite as cut and dried as Chris D. says…
I’m with Chris D, and I think Kubel can pull it off.
Good point by Romer — case in point, the last at-bat. K-Rod clearly didn’t fear the possibility of facing Morneau with the bases loaded, at least not enough to make him throw Cuddyer a fastball. If Morneau’s swinging well, Cuddy doesn’t see that slider.
Four games people — a lot of ball left in 2008. We’re all looking for omens here, but it could be just a tough series. (Man, it’s hard to type with my fingers crossed.)
All I know is that I hope we don’t play an excited team in KC like the one that just swept the Tigers
Chris D: Barry Bonds?
I got a guy at my work that carries around a giant igloo chest to carry his lunch in. He is constantly walking behind me to go take between 14-16 crap’s a day. The other day I felt like I was on Seinfeld episode. As I was walking towards the door to leave the facilities he tears in like Kramer into jerry’s apartment almost knocking me over. Does anyone have a guy at there work or lady that takes between 14-16 craps a day and if so why are they doing that.
the above question is for romer or T or keep or anyone else that can give me any kind of a straight answer
Sign him up!
By the way…I have a tangent here because I don’t think we really want to dwell on on-field stuff too much….
A couple years ago when Bert let his F-bomb fly, my opinion was it was the most inexcusable broadcasting moment of all-time as Golden Rule Number One for any broadcaster is to never utter that word when a microphone is within 30 feet of you, live or not.
However, after peeking at this dreaded Bert and Coom demonstration series on the postgame show, combined with my browsing of the free Extra Innings promo…I now have come to the realization of what we pretty much have known all along–the FSN Twins broadcast is by far the cheesiest operation in all of pro-sports. It embarrasses the State of Minnesota and the childish nonsense, combined with Dick’s propaganda, puts it dead last among MLB Clubs that I have seen….
I now realize the FSN Twins broadcast NEEDED the Bert F-bomb incident of 2005 to lend a little adult credibility to the proceedings.
So I take it back Bert…heck, do it again if you’re so inclined.
He’s doing blow jimmy bee
a lot of strange people in the world and on this blog! remember that when you meet the average person half the people are dumber than that.
years ago i worked with a guy that would always go to the can 10 minutes before am and pm breaks so he’d get more time off. of course some people are on blogs most of the day instaed of working or in the can.
robert that sounds correct. something is seriously wrong cause this is just not normal
or maybe he has Crohns. I’ll stick with the blow theory though
you guys have a great day evening time to leave work now
Cuddyer took about 5 craps today.
everyday, every single day, just not normal Robert
Maybe 2 or 3 of you saw this post earlier on Joe C’s previous page. I was working so didn’t notice that a new page got started. I put so much thought into it, I had to share it again with all the faithful (and unfaithful) fans.
Breathe people, breathe slowly…
This place is depressing. This is game 4 of 162. Memories are also short. In June 2006, we were well under .500. In early August, Twins were in 3rd place,