Friday lineups: Twins/Tigers
Posted on May 23rd, 2008 – 2:50 PMBy Joe Christensen
Brendan Harris is back at shortstop, and the top of the Twins’ order starts with Carlos Gomez and Alexi Casilla.
Updates to come…
Update: Scott Baker, on the DL with a strained right groin, threw live batting practice in Fort Myers, Fla., and had his second pain-free session in three days.
Pitching coach Rick Anderson said Baker will pitch in an extended spring training game Monday with a goal of going three or four innings and 55-60 pitches.
If everything keeps going well, Baker will pitch in another game five days later. The Twins want to be extra careful with this, but there is finally a timetable for his potential comeback.
The team was still awaiting the results of Adam Everett’s MRI exam.
Update: Forgot to mention this, but Gardy said Matt Macri likely will start at third base on Saturday, when the Twins face Tigers LHP Nate Robertson.
Twins (23-24)
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Jason Kubel, DH
7. Delmon Young, LF
8. Mike Lamb, 3B
9. Brendan Harris, SS
Starting pitcher: RH Kevin Slowey
Tigers (20-27)
1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Gary Sheffield, DH
4. Magglio Ordonez, RF
5. Magglio Ordonez, 1B
6. Carlos Guillen, 3B
7. Matt Joyce, LF
8. Edgar Renteria, SS
9. Pudge Rodriguez, C
Starting pitcher: RH Armando Galarraga
Comerica Park. First pitch: 6:05 p.m. (Central).
90 Responses to "Friday lineups: Twins/Tigers"
“the top of the Twins’ order starts with Carlos Gomez and Alexi Casilla.”
Love it!
Some people have mentioned stamina as a problem w/ Slowey’s troubles come the 5-6th innings, but I have a feeling it’s a problem w/ hitters seeing him a 2nd & 3rd time through the order. IMO Slowley seems better suited in a relievers role like Guerrier give us 1-3 innings of solid work and that’s it.
Slowey is by NO means overpowering, and on top of that he doesn’t have a dominant out pitch. What he needs to do is when Baker gets healthy is either work out of the bullpen and work on perfecting either a breaking pitch or a change-up that is un-hittable. Until he developes that dominating pitch he is going to get hit and hit hard.
I agree on Slowey. He has good movement on the fastball for about four innings. Then it starts to straighten out and he can’t get by with a straight fastball and three mediocre secondary pitches. If just one of those pitches was above average, he could get deeper into games. When Baker gets back, I hope they send him down to work on improving his change-up. If he had a Radke-like change, he could get over the hump. Or maybe he could go down and develop a fork ball, a la Mike Trombley.
Personally I’d rather have slowey stay up to work with Andy, he’s on of the best in the game. It would be great to see him pick up a little extra velocity on his fastball and develope a killer change. I’d have him take Korecky’s spot in the bullpen or hopefully Juan rincon!
I like the lineup except I am about ready to give up on Baaa Baaa at third. Sometime during the weekend, I hope Macri gets a shot to see what he can do. I think they face Robertson on Sunday, so that would probably be the best shot.
cmath
I read somewhere that the Twins don’t feel Slowey would develop an out pitch if they sent him down because he can get by with what he has at AAA. He needs to learn to get Major League hitters out and he can’t do that down there.
Slowey shows what can be done with great command of an average fastball, but he won’t establish himself until he is able to add another pitch that is ML average or above.
Right now I would take Slowey over Bonser just because Slowey is more consistant. Slowey gives up 3 runs every game, which keeps the team in the game. For the month of May you can’t make the same claim with Bonser. He averaging over 5 runs per outing this month and with our offense that won’t cut it.
Slowey has pitched well enough to win all 3 games since coming off of the DL. In all 3 games we had no offense and the bullpen failed.
Game 1: L 6-2 (bullpen gave up 3 runs)
Game 2: L 5-3 (BP gave up 2)
Game 3: L 6-2 (BP gave up 3)
SweetOne your leaving out the fact that Slowey never completed 6 innings in any of those starts. With our bullpen being over worked as it is having a pitcher who can’t even make a quality start isn’t helping matters. In addition Slowey has given up 3 ER’s in every start so far this year.
Bonser just needs to be more willing to throw his curveball, it is very good and if he can get it over he could be very dominant but he is so reliant on his fastball that he gets hit around too much
BC,
I didn’t miss that fact:
For the Month of May Bonser has only pitched more than 6 once (6 1/3) and in that game he gave up 4R (3ER). His other 3 starts he as gone 6,6, and 4).
Basically, Bonser gets 1 more out than Slowey and gives up twice as many runs.
Until somebody steps up, I prefer Slowey over Bonser when Baker comes back.
Dan… I think Slowey could sure work on another pitch or the comand of his pitches, but I dont think he can just add velosity to his fastball. Sometimes you just have to live with what velosity you have.
Just an observation when Nate Robertson pitches against the Twins. They guy seems to get every pitch called on the out half of the plate, even when it looks to be 3 inches off the plate.
It’s frustrating to watch Morneau get these pitches called against him when it looks like the count could just as easily be 2-0 instead of 0-2. We’ll see how it goes this weekend.
fire the umpires!
I believe in 2 of those games Slowey started the Twins took the lead just to have Slowey give it right back at the bottom of the inning or top of next inning. He doesn’t seem to have that “killer instinct” mentality.
Gman,
I know, but it would be nice if he could get a little extra on that fastball, but the only thing I could think of is if he toned up a little more and had a little extra push off the rubber. However, getting a tighter spin on his breaking pitches would do far more than any increase in velocity, and it is more easily done.
Ok i misunderstood you i thought you were defending Slowey in saying he’s pitched well. I think he deserves the same amount of time that Bonser has been given. With as young a pitching staff as the Twins have i’m not surprised by some of the inconsistency.
Saam it was Joe’s previous blog where he indicated sending Slowey down would not help him.
Tolbert is more valuable to our team than people think. As long as he was healthy we had a solid backup at any position in the infield.
I agree with most concerning Slowey.I’m of the opinion that he will never become a quality ML starting pitcher.Watch the speed differential on his pitches tonight.There is only about a 4-6 mph difference between his fastball and slider,and not much movement on his slider.he rarely throws a change up.Because he doesn’t have a dominant pitch, ML hitters spoil his quality command pitches,forcing him into high pitch counts by the fifth inning or so.
I think he and Bonser are candidates for the bullpen when Baker and Liriano come back.Hopefully Baker can be back by mid June.Liriano will take a little longer but I think he’s getting closer to being an effective ML pitcher.Whether or not he ever regains his dominance is anyones guess.
I think I am suffering from deja vu. Didn’t we have these same concerns with scott baker, and didn’t we finnally realize that not all pitchers come out like Liriano and set the world on fire? THis is his 16th ML start, give him some time!!!!! you can’t evaluate until at minimum of 30 starts
JJ - Punto is the hidden MVP of this team.
Twins record when Punto has started: 9-5.
Twins record without Punto starting: 14-19
Twins record with Punto active: 17-15
Twins record without Punto: 6-9
Tolbert starting: 9-11
Tolbert not starting: 14-13
Tolbert active: 20-20
Tolbert not active: 3-4
Hurry back Nicky.
You heard it here first… Slowey will win more than 150 games at the major league level in his career. He’ll make the necessary adjustments. I like how he throws his fastball at various speeds. The changeup will develop. There’s too much track record of dominating success (including strikeouts) to assume he’s anything less than a starter at this point. People were saying these things about Scott Baker until about midseason of last year. He’ll be fine. Give it some time.
So if Ordonez gets on batting 4th, and is also batting 5th, does he get a ghost runner like kids do playing backyard whiffle ball??? 
Defense will be pretty interesting as well!
Where can I get some action on the over/under being set at 150 for Slowey’s ML Career win total. I’d take that under and CRUSH! That’s 10 years of 15 wins per season,…I think not. That’s a lot to predict for a Cole Hamels, Tim Lincecum,… pick a hot young pitcher.
Seth the difference is Baker can throw 92-94 and his breaking ball and change up are much better,plus he has more movement on his pitches.I repect your opinion but unless Slowey really changes his approach I don’t see it.150 wins? Thats alot of wins.Slowey deserves a shot because of his minor league track record,but the Twins and their fans need to realize that not every minor league phenom pans out to become a star.
Slowey will win more than 150 games at the major league level in his career.
Wow Seth, that is a bold prediction. Brad Radke, who had a better change-up and curve ball throughout his career than Slowey will likely ever have, only won 148 games in his career. At this age, Radke already had 42 wins. Slowey has 4. Suffice it to say that Slowey has a lot of catching up to do, which is highly unlikely considering how much he has to develop to come close to Radke’s ability.
cmath- I just looked up Radkes numbers as well since Slowey is often compared to Radke.You are spot on. If you take out Radkes great ‘97 season he was actually one game under .500 for the rest of his career.A little over the top on Seths part with predicting 150+ wins.
The only way Slowey wins 150 games is if his team (the Twins?) wins 90+ games consistently for 10-15 years and he stays healthy. (which hasn’t been the case this year)
I would take the “under” at 100 wins.
I’ll take the under at 70 wins.
Okay someone please explain to me what is an extended spring training game. I thought spring training was over back at the end of March.
Luke,
Players who are deemed not ready for Low-A ball (Beloit)stay at the Fort Myers facility working on their skills and playing simulated games. This is called extended spring training.
This goes on until the short-season teams (Elizabethton and the GCL Twins) start their seasons in late June, fortified by players who are signed after the June draft.
All the players who come to minor league spring training but do not make full season teams end up in extended spring training. It’s something like 40 players every year. Every team has players like these–primarily foreign players–who need to develop in extended spring. So they have an unofficial league to get live hitting, pitching and fielding practice against comparable competition. A lot of players do rehab in this environment so they can work on specific things without hurting real minor league teams.
Slowey can win 150-200 games in the majors if healthy. He is still 24. His career ERA in the minors is 1.94 and career WHIP 0.85. This year he leads the Twins starters with a 1.16 WHIP. Lately his slurve has been better as well as his change up. As far as a need for an “out” pitch to be a good pitcher, what is Greg Maddux’ ‘out’ pitch, again?
Wow, so the Twins had two on in the 1st without a hit?
Dang…
I don’t know about winning 150 games, but I think Slowey will be a fine starter for the Twins for many seasons.
I’ve never been a big fan of Jason Kubel, but there is one thing I really like about him. He generally keeps Craig Monroe out of the lineup. That’s good enough for me.
Now we are up to 200 wins for Slowey? I realize its Friday night but did some one start drinking a little early?Slowey may end up being a servicable ML pitcher, but there are plenty of guys who dominated in in the minors and didn’t make it in the Majors.
I did notice that Slowey dropped a little 73 mph slow curve in the first.Thats a start,because he needs to vary his speeds a lot better than he has to this point.If thats part of the learning curve thats great,but lets not mention Slowey and Maddux in the same paragraph just yet.
Thanks, Sane. I had no idea
thrylos98,
Slowey will have to average 15 wins per year for 13 years (final year - 37-yrs-old)to win 200 games.
That would be one great career for a guy with just OK stuff.
If I thought I could find you in 2021, I’d try to put a bet down against that possibility.
150 wins for Slowey?…….200?……. who says 250?……..who will give me 300?……who believes Kevin Slowey will become the greatest pitcher who ever lived?……..who..
craig,
200 wins are possible since he is off to a fast start this year with…. zero? wins so far.
Maybe not.
I’ll take Slowey and Boof to combine for 500 wins and the Twins to win 5 championships in the next decade! I’ve already sent the Pollad’s the money for the playoff and World Series tickets…man it’s going to be sweeeet!
With the Twins averaging 95 wins for the next ten years, I don’t see a reason why Slowey won’t be good for 20 of those each year. Give him another 15 a year for the next 5 years (he will only be 40 then) and that’s 275 + what he has already (4). That’s 279. So, it seems the over on 250 is a pretty safe bet.
Seriously, he looks really good tonight.
Lamb with the dinger. Woohoo!
He dropped the barrel of the bat on that one. (Credit to Bert for that description)
Lamb HR.In the words of the late great Jack Buck “I don’t believe what I just saw!” Seriously way to go Lamber.Maybe this willget him swinging like he can.
You can take Lamb out of the running for the last to homer sweepstakes, however Young and Mauer are still neck and neck…
Giving credit where it is due… Casilla with a couple of nice plays. That last play in the 5th was a rocket that he picked. He can make the great plays. He just needs to make all the routine plays. C’mon kid, I really do want you to succeed. I do so want you to make me eat my words this year.
Casilla and Gomez back to back would put great pressure on the other team. I’m pullin’ for ya Alexi. Make the simple plays and hit .250 and I’ll be happy.
Give credit were credit is due.Nice effort by Slowey.To many pitches though.If he hadn’t gotten out of the fifth I was going to suggest he change the number on his back to 5 2/3.
Tigers are a bunch of whiners. Move on.
Sorry, just tuned in. Why was Leyland tossed? By 3b ump?
rebel, Hard to say for sure, because it mostly happened between innings, but best guess is that Leyland was bitching about the high strike called on Guillen just before he ended the inning with a weak GO to Slowey. The pitch was center of the plate and couple inches above belt. Don’t see that one called much anymore, but it is technically a strike.
why it was 3b ump? I think they were getting tired of his yappin and someone decided to toss him.
Alright, I figured something like that. Thanks!!
Bring on Bobby K!
Thanks Thames. We might not have found a way to get an out this inning without those baserunning gaffes. Yep, both of them in one at bat. Cool!
Well those 3 runs are going to put a mark on those stellar Reyes numbers.
Apparently his little league coach didn’t teach him to never make the first or third out at 3rd base. I’d like to buy thames’ coach a round…
Can someone explain to me why our lefty specialist was brought out to face 3 right-handed batters who all hit significantly better against left-handers than right-handers?
Arghhh. 4 runs. They go for the cycle in the right order, ending with the HR. OK, now we have some work to do.
Great 4 runs. I thought our relif pitching was supposed to be good. I am not impressed this year.
Lokys
To make sure Nathan has a save opportunity tonight…you know we don’t want to be too far ahead.
If the Twins starting pitchers don’t get through the 7th or 8th innings once in awhile the bullpen is going to be dead by July 1st.
Gardy is to blame. That is setting him up to fail basically. I know the relief pitchers have been overworked but this situation did not help that out at all.
Mark this day on the calendar. Two hits I didn’t think were possible this year, a Lamb HR and a Lamb triple. Wow.
Maybe Seth’s new relief statistic is getting to their heads
Regarding the Reyes move, the first batter was to be a lefty (Joyce) and was replaced by righty Raburn. But then you have righties Renteria and Rodriquez followed by Granderson (lefty) who was pinch hit by thames and Crain came in.
For those who didn’t see the Thames at bat, it was beautiful…
He smoked one down the left field line and comes hard in to 2nd base ahead of DY’s throw. Unfortunately for him, his hard slide took him to the SS side of the bag and about 2 feet off the bag. Casilla scrambles after him with the ball and Thames takes off for 3rd.
Casilla has ball in bare hand and tags him about 15 feet before 3b. Thames continues jogging towards the dugout. What he didn’t know is that Casilla dropped the ball! 3b coach is screaming at thames. He turns around in time to have Casilla catch up with him near the dugout and tags him again.
Alright. Nice job making up for the runs the Tigers scored.
I just noticed that they have given DY an assist on that Thames play. That will be the most generous assist he will ever receive — throw to 2nd and get the out at the 3b dugout. lol
“Can someone explain to me why our lefty specialist was brought out to face 3 right-handed batters who all hit significantly better against left-handers than right-handers?”
Thames was a RH pinch-hitter.
sane, that’s a 3 batters late. see post at 8:42
looks like the word is out: don’t pitch to lamb.
Very entertaining game…
Slowey 6 shutout innings;
Lamb HR and triple;
DY assist with throw to Casilla and final tag made at Detroit dugout;
Leyland gets tossed;
Reyes gives up one more ER than he has all year (gives up 3 without getting an out)
Casilla with a nice pick at 2b;
Harris still looking comfortable and confident at SS;
Cuddy with 2 intentional walks (nice move Detroit, haha);
Mauer with a bunt single to set up the 2 RBI double by Morneau.
yep, six scoreless innings from slowey, everybody in the lineup gets a hit, the team shows signs of scrap and gets back to .500. not much to complain about tonight …
…….”not much to complain about tonight…”
when has that ever stopped anyone?
Cuddyer sucks
I agree that there isn’t much to complain about but, I will anyway. I wish Casilla would play a game without a single mistake, physical or mental. If he tags Thames with the ball in the glove, he doesn’t drop it. The Twins hit a homer, drew a lot of walks, and beat a guy who has given everyone else a tough time. Good win!
Five down… 145 to go… If you’re going to predict something, might as well go bold, right?
A shortstop has to be able to throw the ball from the hole and a second baseman has to be able to make the DP pivot at 2B.
Those were two areas where the Twins were really hurting. That has changed. Casilla at 2B and Harris at SS, display at least the minimal fielding skills necessary to do their jobs. Harris appears a much more competent SS than a 2B.
The bonus with the Casilla and Harris combo, is that they contribute something to scoring runs.
Funny that Casilla was deep in Gardy’s doghouse, and Harris had ended up their also. Injuries and chance, may have afforded Gardy, the best all-around middle INF combo, he’s had all year.
“Five down… 145 to go… If you’re going to predict something, might as well go bold, right?”
You never know, it’s possible. Slowey has the arm, and he also has the brain. I like all the young Twins starters, but Slowey is my favorite. I think eventually he will become, the best of the bunch.
Enjoy the fluke Kevin Slowey seen tonight.
He will be back to his usual 4 ER in 5 1/3 in his next several starts.
“If he tags Thames with the ball in the glove, he doesn’t drop it.”
If he tags Thames with the ball in the glove, he is fundamentally incorrect because he cannot throw the ball ahead to the third baseman (if it were necessary) with the ball in his glove.
Carlos G,
“Can someone explain to me why our lefty specialist was brought out to face 3 right-handed batters who all hit significantly better against left-handers than right-handers?”
You are right.
My first answer was incorrect.
I was watching two games simultaneously and didn’t realize that Granderson’s spot was the 4th batter in the 7th inning.
My final answer is:
Reyes was not a “lefty specialist” tonight.
Tonight his assignment was to pitch the 7th inning, period.
He failed.
Craig,
“Casilla at 2B and Harris at SS, display at least the minimal fielding skills necessary to do their jobs. Harris appears a much more competent SS than a 2B.
The bonus with the Casilla and Harris combo, is that they contribute something to scoring runs.
Funny that Casilla was deep in Gardy’s doghouse, and Harris had ended up their also. Injuries and chance, may have afforded Gardy, the best all-around middle INF combo, he’s had all year.”
My thoughts exactly!
I have to say that I am rather impressed by Slowey tonight. Before tonight, I was strongly leaning toward sending him to long relief when Baker gets back, but tonight he showed me what I saw when I watched him pitch last year in Rochester. To me, Boof can hit the bullpen.
Also, I had a question for those who are very in-tune with the roster moves in the minor leagues. Any reason we couldn’t take Sergio Santos off the 40-man? His numbers are rather unimpressive, and I can’t see him being claimed off waivers at this point (although he probably has a couple options left). That way, we could put Hughes or Plouffe on the roster. Also, why hasn’t the club put Neshek on the 60-day DL? He will be out at least two months, so I don’t see the harm.
Boy, wonder what Gardy said to them after the Rox series. They came out against Texas and had some good offensive nights, and now open with a flourish against Detroit.
And they held Detroit to only 4 after Seattle got pounded in the previous series.
Good start to the series. Hopefully they can take at least one more and walk out with another series win.
Also, I missed Lamb’s homer, but checked in just in time for the Thames play.
I have to admit, I wish I would’ve stayed home…the new Indiana Jones flick is definately not worth it.
Pity.
“That way, we could put Hughes or Plouffe on the roster.”
If the Twins decide that either Hughes or Plouffe is MLB ready, they could add him to the 40-man roster at that time.
To add one of them, and then option him to the minors this year would waste an option year.
Until they are pretty sure the kid is going to stick in MLB, they probably would not add him to the 40-man roster prematurely.
Okay, what’s going on with ESPN? It seems like they’ve really gotten on an instant replay kick.
Every single homerun they played came with a slowmo + zoom so they could verify it was in fact a homer.
I do so hate when they go on campaigns…
