Monday pregame: Twins/Red Sox
Posted on May 12th, 2008 – 2:45 PMBy Joe Christensen
Twins second baseman Brendan Harris returns to the lineup tonight after missing two games with a sore right hamstring.
And after hitting two home runs Sunday, Craig Monroe is back in there at DH instead of Jason Kubel, who is hitless in his past 15 at-bats.
Note: Check out La Velle’s latest post about Danny Graves, Ben Revere and an updated look at the Twins’ 40-man roster.
Update (5 p.m.): Sounds like Scott Baker won’t be ready to come off the DL on May 19, the first day he’s eligible. There have been no setbacks. The team simply wants to be sure Baker heals his strained right groin completely before pushing it. In a couple days, the Twins might clear him to begin throwing bullpen sessions. Then, he’ll pitch at extended spring training before rejoining the big league team.
Red Sox (24-16)
1. Coco Crisp, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Sean Casey, 1B
9. Alex Cora, SS
Starting pitcher: RH Clay Buchholz (first career start against the Twins)
Twins (19-17)
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Brendan Harris, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Craig Monroe, DH
7. Delmon Young, LF
8. Mike Lamb, 3B
9. Adam Everett, SS
Starting pitcher: RH Livan Hernandez (first career start against the Red Sox)
Metrodome. First pitch: 6:05 p.m.
198 Responses to "Monday pregame: Twins/Red Sox"
It’s on Livan to win us this one. I only see the Twins putting up a couple runs (they are incapable of scoring more than 5 on a consistant basis). We need better than a quality start for the big Cuban. Final score: 3-2 Twins
No Ellsbury and no Youkilis - that helps. Jacoby’s leg maybe is still stinging from the HBP courtesy of Blackburn yesterday. The triumphant return of Sean Casey. Am I imagining this or has he been a Twins killer in the past?
Young gets off the schnide tonight.
Livan has starts vs Boston at Fenway in 2000 and 2006.
ERA over 12 for the 2. Looked it up on his profile in Yahoo! Sports
@Wes
I think they should sit Young for just one game. It worked for Gomez. Then Gardy can play Kubel and Monroe.
I like the lineup.
Next question. Who hits more dingers this year, Everett or Mauer (Moyer of you’re Joe Morgan)?
I have loved Livan so far as he has been great, but this match up scares me. He forces teams to chase his pitches off the plate, gives up hits, and lots of gopher balls. The Red Sox are so professional, rarely chase and hammer gopher balls. Thankfully Youkillis is not starting as that drops one monster professional hitter out of the lineup.
I am a bit scurred for Livan this start. Hope the bats are alive today.
May see the season’s first no-hitter tonight.
Seth do you really think Livan can do that tonight?
What happened to Gardy’s RLRLRLRLR stuff?
The bullpen isn’t exactly rested. I bet Livan is in to eat some innings tonight, even if he allows 6 or 7 runs.
Because it’s probably unlikely the Twins can win tonight. Have to keep some sanity in the pen for a decent chance the rest of this week.
Youk and Ellsbury >>>> Manny and Sean Casey
Crain/Bass/Korecky are all rested to go…Nathan should be able to go back/back nights, since Sunday was the first outing for him in a week 
What’s with the negativity Seth?
So did Kubel violate his parole? I like having Monroe in as the DH but i think Kubel could play left and let Delmon sit on occasion.
Seth
I wouldn’t be suprised if the Twins get no hit this year but I don’t think it will be by a right handed pitcher. (I know Gavin Floyd was close) The only guys on the Twins lineup that are actually good hitters are Mauer and Morneau, who both have less success against lefties.
Will Bert say Joe “Blower” tonight
jama how about John Lackey or Jared Weaver as a NH against us
Jama,
Jama, while your statement is true for Morneau, Mauer has actually hit lefties better than righties (.375 vs. .307) this year.
one more Righty that could also NH the Twins this year would be Felix Hernandez
I like the idea of Monroe again tonight.Kubel seems to be pressing.A Monroe/Kubel platoon seems to be in order. Young needs to stay in the line up and HIT his way out of this funk he is in.I wonder if he feels like he is getting mixed messages.Twins promote the opposite field approach,but all of the sudden they are wondering why he doesn’t pull the ball? Having only seen him a handful of games last year I don’t know if this was his MO last year as well.
romer Bucholz has actually pitched better agains LH .205 BAA than RH .359 BAA this year. Thats why there so heavy on RH hitters tonight and no Kubel.
What is going on here? People are actually using numbers to demonstrate their points?! Am I in the right place?
Monroe should keep using the pink bat. Pity that won’t happen.
The Game is supposed to be Televised on ESPN, will that game be blacked out here in Minnesota??
Tony
It is a good chance that the game will be blacked out on ESPN but it is airing on FSN also.
twins offense needs to support livan tonite- get off to an early start- twins hitters can handle bucholz…i dont know what all this no hitter crap is all about- i sure dont want to discuss thos possibilities…would rather talk about taking 3 out of 4 from those arrogant big dollar arses from the east coast…and i am monroes biggest supporter, so i am thrilled with what he did last nite and i am pushing to keep in the lineup all year and as far as i am concerned alot of you know i would like to see kubel released–we could use his roster spot very easily…..he is now dead weight…but enuf negativity and lets get this damn game in the w column….
normally dont get it on fsn and espn…fsn is what we watch here in fargo and espn has some other oddball programming…..
wouldve liked to listen to the other espn crew with steve philips tonite but that wont happen….could not listen to joe morgan and his partner last nite…terrible…..listened to game on radio with gladden and john
cmath, someone is doing their spring cleaning and waxed the woodwork. They’re eating their way out and haven’t emerged yet…
The Game is not Blacked out, Steve Phillips, Some other Dude and Orel Hershieser on the call.
Go Livantana
Interesting that this is being broadcast on both networks.
jama: “The only guys on the Twins lineup that are actually good hitters are Mauer and Morneau…”
M&M are VERY good hitters. Monroe’s been a good hitter this year. Cuddy’s okay too.
I’ll take my chances with Tolbert and Gomez too. Gomez is looking much more appropriate at the plate, has more patience.
Livan with the Pixie Jersey tonight. Worked well during his last home start.
Hope Gomez was taking notes on that bunt. Almost had it.
Okay…seriously…DnB need to knock off the jinxing.
Or at least start talking about how Mauer, Young, and Lamb haven’t hit homers yet.
and so it starts
Morneau needs to learn to run like a water buffalo the way Herbie used to.
well… it started…
Let’s see what happens if Livan can get out of this with just the 3.
This is what the Red Sox do.
In Rochester:
Danny Graves (the starter tonight)
IP 2, R 0, H 0, BB 0, K 2
This Strikezone doesn’t seem to consistent already…
i blame vavra.
YES!
WOOT
There we go, get two back.
And for those wondering…ESPN’s segment prior to today’s game was discussing the *two* young stars in the Twins lineup, Mauer and Morneau.
They were referred to as the “faces” of the Twins multiple times.
So yes, both Mauer and Morneau are getting respect.
The fearsome Monroe appears. This could be good.
You thinking Ortiz is regretting those hitting tips he gave Monroe?
These guys are much better crew than Joe Morgan
Lets not even bring Morgan back up. Tough AB by Young.
Shawn, I’m going to give this ESPN crew a try in the 2nd.
Delmon and Gomez got some nasty pitches in their AB’s…hard to blame them. Nice to see the team respond…hope Livan can get some outs…although against this lineup I have my doubts.
Danny Graves in Rochester
IP 3, R 0, H 0, BB 0, K 2 total pitches 33
orel and philips are good - that other moron should have been left back in bristol….total boston lover-probably lives in boston but definately has an east coast bias…..in my humble effn opinion
This ESPN crew is very good. Phillips has a good insight and Orel is very good. And the play-by-play guy doesn’t have Alzheimer’s. Its a good crew.
And Livan seems to settle.
Okay, the Marlins are playing well. Let’s bring it back to this game now.
nice to see that about graves, but i heard his fastball was topping at around 89 - thats a bit scary…not sure thats true but i thought i read that
Ooooh. I think that was a strike there ump. It sure was against Young/Gomez.
Livan says SHAZAM! Love that spike at the end.
Great play by Livan. Wow
his best fastball of the nite went into the mound, whats with that..??
T,
the strike zone is very wide tonight for both pitchers. (which is actually and advantage for Livan)
was he pissed about a pitch call ??
Livan? I think the spike was a celebratory reaction to that catch.
why not bunting??? perfect time for it
That was a nasty curve to Everett.
But the first two pitches to Young weren’t nasty, they were curves that kind of died. I think it caught him off guard.
Just wondering…
Is it a sin to have a three man platoon between LF and DH with Young, Monroe and Kubel? Right now it seems that it’s Kubel or Monroe AND Young. Is there some overriding reason that it isn’t Kubel or Monroe or Young? Seems like an easy way to send a message to Delmon that he hasn’t achieved Kirby status and to give the other two, who each have some ability and potential, a chance to wet their beak.
I think these guys are being mismanaged with Young being inviolate in his playing time.
Agreed mj1. Should have sacrificed.
A sort of revolving door at first at the moment.
Phillips is an idiot. Disliking/liking announcers is totally subjective.
Danny Graves in Rochester:
IP 4, R 0, H 2, BB 0, K 2 total pitches 46
Col., Young’s defense makes him adequate all-around. You might see some of what you’re suggesting in a few weeks.
Both Young and Harris are getting fooled by Buchholz’s changeup tonight.
Strikezone changed again.
T, what are you talking about?
T, I mean “A sort of revolving door at first at the moment.”
Oh noes…ESPN annoucers doing witty banter. I like that. “Try and find a jersey that isn’t Mauer/Morneau”
They find three/four in under three minutes.
I think that Kubel has lost the DH battle. I can see him in there in some games as the LF or RF instead of Young or Cuddy, but you got to remember that Kubel’s arm or defense is nothing like that of Young’s or Cuddyer’s. And frankly, I’d rather have Young in there every day developing that having some of his ABs taken away by Kubel (who’s is actually hitting worse than Young)
romer: I was referring to Lamb being forced at 2nd, replaced by Everett…who was forced at 2nd and replaced by Gomez.
Comparred to last night’s crew I didn’t mind the trio tonight. I’ll probably switch back and forth through the game to get some different perspectives.
This ESPN crew is very good. Phillips has a good insight and Orel is very good. And the play-by-play guy doesn’t have Alzheimer’s. Its a good crew.
Unfortunately they continually trumpet the Twins’ stale reputation of “playing the game the right way”.
Oh. Duh……
Morneau is a MACHINE this series.
OK Cuddy, where ya been lately?
Alrighty Kud-Year.
Veritek was right you can only throw so many curve balls in a row.
Oh SNAP loaded up for Young.
He’s come up a few times already with the bases rather crowded.
Do something this time buddy.
Alright,
here is a question:
would you rather have in the Twins’ rotation:
Lester
Buccholtz
Hughes
Kennedy
or
Blackburn?
It’s not pretty…but it gets the lead.
And that was just ugly.
I’ll have to think thrylos. My gut was to stick with Blackburn. But that’s because I haven’t seen much of Lester or Bucholtz
T,
how about what you’ve seen of Lester and Buchholtz this series?
1. Hughes/Buccholz
2. Kennedy
3. Lester/Blackburn
thrylos, to be honest…I missed most of Friday’s game, so I can’t give you a good opinion.
Bucholtz has been good, and has some NASTY stuff (curve and fastball).
It’d be close between Blackburn and Bucholtz.
i think kennedy is overrated. i’d switch kennedy with lester/blackburn
Bucholtz, Burhele, and was it that guy in Florida?
88 from Livan.
I’ve said it a number of times. With the exception of one or two games, Livan has pitched consistently well in his starts with the exception of one “ugly” inning.
If he can get through this ugly inning with minimal damage, he usually settles in.
He did it against Detroit, and so far *knock wood* he’s done it against Boston.
It’d be close between Blackburn and Bucholtz.
Potential ace vs. potential backend starter
It’s not close.
Bullpen’s will probably decide this.
Livan’s PC is at 68. He might not get past the 6th.
And Bucholtz, at 74, the same.
Make that 78 for Bucholtz
It’s a little harsh to call Bucholz a backend starter. He could be a #3 if he learns how to pitch.
snepp,
my question was about this year… not potential
snepp, who’s the ace and who’s the back-end starter?
It’s a little harsh to call Bucholz a backend starter. He could be a #3 if he learns how to pitch.
I think you’re confused, Buchholz is the one WITH ace potential.
snepp, who’s the ace and who’s the back-end starter?
That should have been a given (to anyone not living in homerland).
THAT was a big inning, against their 3-4-5 hitters.
Twins now have a chance in this game……
Neither has ace potential. Bucholz has 2 good pitches. He could be like Nolan a few no hitters when he is on but a .500 pitcher. Blackburn is like Rick Reuschel 4 or 5 ok pitches, also .500 W/L.
Well snepp, the years will tell. Someone posted that Blackburn would be 5-2 if his bullpen had supported him.
Not bad for rookie who’s still learning his strategies, and who has a 94 mph FB in his pocket.
Meahwhile, Buchholz has a 4.93 ERA this year.
Here is another minor league pitching line from tonight
Dontrelle Willis :
IP 6.0, R 3, H 5, BB 3, K 5
ride that hot bat!!!!
I was gonna say, now it’s time for Buchholz to have a big inning against the 3-4-5 Twins hitters.
anyone thinks that Kubel should get any ABs off Monroe or Young?
Pour it on!
Keep it going!
anyone else having the same problem with MLB.com gameday where you click to watch one of the available videos and no matter which one you choose it always shows the first video?
and go twins!
Buchholz sitting on the steps looking like he couldn’t get a kiss on a first date.
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
thrylos98
i will go on the record as saying I DO. do you remember the first ABs of the year for Monroe? he was awful. i love he’s hitting well. kubel will be back and will help this team. if both hit like they can, then DH becomes a strength for this team. how long has it been since we’ve been able to say that?
Looks like the Twins have found that offense that was touted in the offseason.
If they end up winning the division this year Gardy and BS better serious consideration for manager and GM of the year!
Twinsfan
The vids have been working for me tonight. But its been hit or miss other nights.
let’s keep it under control, being 3 games over .500 (4 if they win tonight) after 1/4 of the season might be a little early to start talking about winning divisions…
JP,
I hope that Kubel turns it around… but at this point he has a .238 OBP, while Monroe is really hitting the ball well. I can see him pinch hitting for a while but that’s about it…
So:
7 on Friday, 2 on Saturday, 9 on Sunday, 7 on Monday (so far)
Let’s hope Livan can stay in his groove. This is a lineup the Twins can’t afford to be “comfortable” with the lead.
thanks Razz, it’s miss for me today…
All of Gomez tonight — his facial expressions, body language, how he pumps his bat at the plate — look a little down, like he’s tired.
Rest him tomorrow and play Monroe in CF.
TwinsFan:
The Twins are playing well right now. Sweeping a 5 game homestand against two tough lineups (Chicago and Detroit) and now they’ve played even with Boston in a four game series.
I’m not hopping on a division title bandwagon, but I’m certainly going to voice my joy that they’ve been playing above my expectations lately (especially Hernandez and Monroe)
I will second JP. Kubel has 4 HRs and 18 rbis, together Monroe and Kubel have 8 hrs and 30+ rbis… thats more than Morneau. DH is not the problem for the twins it was in 2007.
Razz,
Gardy’s decisions so far lost at least 2 games for this team (more likely 4-5). There is no way he should be a manager of the year
jimmy bee …..our man is doin it again…i believe kubel is checking airline reservations…..see ya…actually kinda sad ….i have pulled for jason for so long, im just pulled out.
T
I agree with you, i’m stoked as well. Just trying to add a little perspective is all. Very impressive last three series no matter what the outcome tonight…
c,mon livan get 4 more outs….
no doubt kubel has struggled. and as a kubel fan, i’m not rooting against monroe. in fact i’m estatic that this team has options other than lew ford and tyner. monroe is a streaky hitter and gardy, if he’s smart, will ride him as long as he’s swinging well. then season is long. looking at career numbers for monroe, we are going to need kubel to hit the way he did for the second half of last year. which i think he can. IMO.
oops…maybe make that 5
TwinsFan:
The reason I was originally concerned about playoff chances was the Twins poor non-AL Central record early in the season (especially against the AL West)
This series (regardless of tonight) and the Jays series following it will be a test to see if they can play well enough outside the division.
By the end of May I’ll start to join in on the “Buyers or Sellers” talk. 
Wow, a 1st inning and then 5 shutout innings for Livan!
Thrylos
I know everybody likes to second guess Gardy, and I’d throw myself in that boat too somedays, but we are leading the division so he must be pulling more right strings than wrong ones. I don’t think you win as many division titles as they have recently with the small payroll the Twins have with a bad manager.
Well I’m goign to head to the local tav for the final innings here.
Let’s go Twins! Wrap this one up for a BIG series win.
“Gardy’s decisions so far lost at least 2 games for this team(more likely 4-5)”
Does that include pulling a starting pitcher BEFORE he gives up HR’s that we NOW know he was destined to give up?
T
At least you’re not impulse so no need to tell you to stay grounded. I’ll buy playoff tickets once Young starts to hit and Franchise is back to 06′ form
impulsive not impulse…
I don’t give much regard to the division/nondivision W-L splits yet. Only 7 weeks of baseball have been played.
bunt
would like to see a bunt here by gomez
or just hit a dribbler throught the right side
hahaha
he better be stealing this time…no more double plays…
T,
before the season I picked this team to win the division (for excruciating analysis look at my blog). Now with Monroe, Lamb and Everett starting producing, there is no excuse this should not happen….
sane
seriously why go back there?
Anticipating Everett, Gomez and Harris coming up, I was gonna say let’s see if there’s any pihranna left in this team.
that was a balk
JP,
Sorry.
Can’t stop myself from criticizing second guessing.
thrylos98 with his head either on a platter or on Mt. Rushmore.
cmathewson says he’ll guarantee the Twins to be in the upper half of most offensive categories this year too.
let me say for the record i like the move by gardy. heart of the order coming up. even with a 4 run lead, and livan showing no signs of tiring, i like the move going to the pen.
what happened to harris? re-aggravate the hammy?
romer,
re: my head on a platter:
the premise is that this team should win or Gardy’s head should be on a platter…
and here goes Rincon…
(got my point?)
CUDDY! WTF! LOL!
I’ll be the optimist and say we can get to the 9th with the lead still intact: 7-6.
Jeez, you’d think Boston is gonna score some more. I mean, 7 unanswered runs for the Twins…
would love to be in the dugout as Cuddy comes in. good job by rincon. several hit hard balls though. i would have at least one reliever up loosening up if i’m gardy and i go to rincon for a second inning.
Hope mlb doesn’t test Rincon tonight…cutting through the heart of Boston’s order!
I’ll also go on record saying that Jason Kubel should still get at-bats. I think Gardy has used Monroe very well this year. But if they use him full time, I think they are going to end up with numbers a lot closer to last year than what he is doing now. Kubel is still young, and I think is just going through a tough stretch. Like JP said, use Monroe a bit more while he is hot, but don’t be afraid to go back to Kubel as soon as Monroe cools off.
If the sox were on the verge of winning 3 of 4 and throttled a Twins young star pitcher would the announcers be questioning the batting order??
there it is Monroe struck out. bench him, cut him. awful job by Gardy having him in there. why didn’t gardy have kubel pinch hit for him?
Contract the whole team. no more twins.
Maybe Manny should bat first.
i have no problem Mauer Morneau hitting back to back. i just think harris will do better in the number 7 spot.
Gomez
Mauer
Morneau
Cuddy
DH
Young
Lamb
Harris
Everett
or 8th spot.
Here is the final of Dontrelle Willis’ AAA performance line from tonight :
IP 5.2 , R 5, H 7, BB 3, K 3
props to Steve Philips for pointing out the obvious: Mauer should bat 1st or 2nd.
Why is this a no-brainer for everyone except Gardy?
anything happen to harris tonight or did he just get taken out for rest?
Hey, something awesome happened tonight, guys…we found a new pinch hitter–his name is Jason Kubel!
props to Steve Philips for pointing out the obvious: Mauer should bat 1st or 2nd.
It makes me incredibly ill to agree with anything Phillips says.
Gardy is a genius going to the bullpen when he did.
I think that Rincon increased his trade value tonight….
“Kubel is still young, and I think is just going through a tough stretch.”
Yeah, Pete…and that tough stretch is also known as his entire career.
trade value? We can’t be trading away the bullpen now that Neshek is out…
multi hit game for D Young likely keeps his consecutive start streak alive…
I am Delmon Young–I am the king of singles
well young just might be getting those days off sooner rather than later. hope its not serious.
Kubel in left.
Garza had a good night against NYY.
Any update on Young?
yep spoke too soon…Kubes back in tomorrow…hope all is well for D Young
good news for Young. he came back onto the field was jogging around and playing catch before being replaced.
damn - we dont need to lose young now , as we know he will come around and dont need injuries…just sets him back farther and this may be serious…it looked ugly, but??? and we dont need kubel in left…
here comes pridie or span…..
c,mon crain - bring this one in for us…
No update on Harris that I’ve heard. I presume they’re just resting him.
aint it sweet
“Yeah, Pete…and that tough stretch is also known as his entire career.”
Are you trying to be ignorant? Because that’s what this statement is. Just go to any sports website and look at Kubel’s numbers from last year. He hit .273/.335/.450 and had an OPS+ of 109. He raked in the minors. He hasn’t even turned 26 yet.
But hey, never mind those numbers. “What have you done for me lately?” seems to be the only thing that a lot of folks on this blog think about. Why do you think that Jason Kubel CAN’T hit in the majors? What evidence do you have? His 117 at bats this year? I can point to his 418 he had last year that shows he can. Whatever. I assume we will just disagree about this.
WELL SAID PETE.
The Twins win 3 out 4 from the bosox.Livan(Ponson&Ortiz revisited) has pitched well.Monroe(Rondell White revisited).Vavra has become a good hitting coach lately(are you listening BC).The negative people on this board are unhappy because they have nothing to complain about!
well we can cite his career numbers, if that’s a big enough sample size for you:
he’s a .259 career hitter with 27 HR and 116 RBI in 815 at-bats…
In other words, he’s half as good as an average big leaguer (a 15 HR, 50 RBI guy)…if that makes sense…so yeah, I guess when I say he’s struggled his entire career, it’s not an overstatement.
well GENO, I will say I’m not sure if you’re including me in the ‘negative’ group or not, but I’m absolutely ecstatic that we took 3 of 4 from Boston….to top it off, the Celtics lost 2 to the Cavs over the weekend too…I’m sick of seeing the chowders rule the world and what the Twins did this weekend was sweet!
Great win tonight. Livan shows once again that if he can get out of that “ugly inning” he’ll likely settle down the rest of the game.
3 runs int he 1st, and silence after that.
He’s surprised me quite a bit this year. If the trade deadline comes and the Twins are buyers, at this time I’d say keep him around for sure.
Livan is NOT Ponson and Ortiz… he has had a far more sucessful career. Their only simularities are that they are old and they play or played for the Twins.
It is really hard to not like his signing. He could go .500 (9-9 lets say) the rest of the season and finish 15-10, which for 5-7 million dollars is a steal. Besides, say we are out of it at the deadline, we may be able to pull a decent prospect for him. Again, it is hard to not be jazzed about that move.
“In other words, he’s half as good as an average big leaguer (a 15 HR, 50 RBI guy)…if that makes sense…so yeah, I guess when I say he’s struggled his entire career, it’s not an overstatement.”
Since when was an average big leaguer a 30 homer, 100 RBI guy? There were 9 outfielders in all of baseball last year that hit 30 homeruns. 4 of them had 100 RBI. Even if we lower it to 25 and 90, then we have 13 outfielders. 13. That’s not even one for every two teams. But you go ahead and think that the average big leaguer hits 30 homers.
So, in roughly a year and a half of career at bats, Kubel has 27 home runs and 116 RBI. So, if we take 2/3 of those numbers, we should get roughly a full season. If we do that, we get 543 at bats, 18 home runs, and 77 RBI. Those numbers look pretty close to guys like Gary Matthews Jr., Michael Cuddyer, and Austin Kearns. Are any of those guys All Stars? No. I would think that most of those guys are right around league average, and definitely not “half as good as an average big leaguer.”
Again, I’m sure you will disagree with me. But when looking at the numbers, his age, his minor league numbers, etc., there seems to be a good chance that Kubel will be (and is) a decent major league hitter, and this first month of the season is just a bad stretch for him.
Kubel, Monroe, Young are all good hitters who have hot and cold streaks like most hitters. Playing hitters when they are hot and spotting them when they are not hot is a good plan.
Monroe should play often until he cools.
Just play him often until he cools or he may lose his stroke ala Tolbert.
Pete, let’s leave minor league numbers out of this…first of all, I don’t know if you or he has noticed, but this isn’t the minor leagues anymore.
Secondly, those numbers were pre-knee surgery…
Bottom line is we’ve been saddled with mediocrity with this guy for the most part with the exception of a few stretches where he looks like he’s going to develop into a real hitter…but as soon as you play him everyday, he reverts back to the average player he is
it sounds like sane is saying we should violate Kubel’s parole…
“Bottom line is we’ve been saddled with mediocrity with this guy for the most part with the exception of a few stretches where he looks like he’s going to develop into a real hitter…but as soon as you play him everyday, he reverts back to the average player he is”
Or, you can say it this way : “Bottom line is, we’ve been saddled with roughly league average production with this guy for the most part with the exception of a few stretches where he looks like he’s not going to develop into a real hitter…but as soon as you play him every day he reverts back to the average player he is”
I’m not trying to claim that Jason Kubel is an All Star player. But if he can give us even league average production out of our DH spot, then we are better off than we have been in previous seasons.
And as for the minor league numbers - they just serve as proof that Kubel can hit. He missed the entire season in 2005, and came back in 2006 and had to find his hitting stroke again. It appears that he did, since he had a pretty decent year in 2007. He’s also entering the prime years for hitters. All of that information together leads me to believe that he is a good hitter who is going through a bad month at the plate.
jason,
“it sounds like sane is saying we should violate Kubel’s parole…”
Exactly,
Keep Kubel in the cage until Monroe cools off, and then……..put him in the Work-Release Program.
