Twins-Rockies: O.K., mountains aren’t so bad after all
Posted on May 17th, 2008 – 5:49 PMBy La Velle
My friends gush about how great the Denver area is. Looking at the city on television, I just didn’t see what was so appealing.
I was here 12 years ago, but I stayed around downtown for two days while covering an exhibition game between the Rockies and Royals for the K.C. Star. This weekend, I had time to look around.
I hopped in the rental car this morning and headed west on I-70, then west on Hwy 58, through Golden, Colorado, and into the mountains. As I passed something called Mayhem Creek, I started to get it.
It is a beautiful place. I was listening to the Yankees-Mets game on satellite radio but switched it off to enjoy the tranquility and the surroundings. Cars were pulled over, people were hiking and fishing. It was pretty neat.
I got out of my vehicle to read a sign by the road that explained rules and regulations. Got to the bottom and found a section that began, `Mountain Lions and Bears do live in this area,’ followed by tips in case there’s an encounter. I was particularly drawn to the tip that read, `If attacked, fight back. Use rocks, sticks and even your bare hands!”
O.K. it was time got get back in the car and head back to the city.
Carlos Gomez is not in the starting lineup because of a sore right wrist he suffered while making the big catch to end Friday’s game. He said he thought he could pinch run tonight but wasn’t sure if he could play tomorrow.
Howie Clark is here. The 34-year old Clark has been called up to the majors six times since spending 2001 in Mexico and an Independent League.
Matt Holliday is back in the Rockies lineup.
Twins (21-20): 1. Brendan Harris, 2B. 2. Mike Lamb, 3B. 3. Joe Mauer, C. 4. Justin Morneau, 1B. 5. Michael Cuddyer, RF. 6. Craig Monroe, CF. 7. Delmon Young, LF. 8. Adam Everett, SS. 9. Livan Hernandez, P.
Rockies (15-27): 1. Willy Taveras, CF. 2. Clint Barmes, SS. 3. Matt Holliday, LF. 4. Todd Helton, 1B. 5. Garrett Atkins, 3B. 6. Brad Hawpe RF. 7. Jeff Baker, 2B. 8. Yorvit Torreala, C. 9. Greg Reynolds, P
91 Responses to "Twins-Rockies: O.K., mountains aren’t so bad after all"
Okay, anyone else missing Nick Punto as the leadoff man?
Make that “as A lead off man.”
Isn’t Punto still hurt? Harris will be okay. What about Lamb in the 2 spot?
“Okay, anyone else missing Nick Punto as the leadoff man?”
Short answer - No!
who the hell else is gonna bat second
Um, Mauer?. Its insane he bats third next to the lefthanded Morneau. Makes it harder on opposing managers if its Mauer 3, Morneau 4, Cuddy 5, Kubel 6. Can’t bring in a lefty specialist to face your two best hitters back to back.
I’m sure Lamb hitting second is more about keeping Mauer in the 3rd spot and also to prevent having a bottom of the lineup of Lamb/Everett/Pitcher
if mauer bats 2nd then who bats third lamb-chops at 2nd wont hurt for 1 day in a 162 game season
is it me or is carlos gomez miss alot of games that hunter would of played through not trying to bitch but it seems that way
Lamb had his day against Boston. Harris leading off?
Yeah, I know Punto is still hurt, but Harris then Lamb? Looking at those two at the top of the order, uggh.
I’m just saying that with Harris and Lamb at the top of the order, Punto all of a sudden looks pretty good as a lead off man, by comparison.
What a sorry state of affairs.
it might be a sorry state of affairs. but it’s also a team unexpectedly tied for first place more than a quarter of the way into a rebuilding year.
More than likely, neither Hunter nor any other centerfielder in baseball besides Mr. Gomez would have the guts and speed to make that catch to retrieve Nathan’s nickel slider on 0-2. If Gomez doesn’t run into the wall, he would be playing tonight. Thanks, Carlos!!
I still don’t understand the reluctance of using Young higher in the batting order. He is the fastest player other than Gomez in this team and his OBP at this point is higher than that of Lamb and Harris (and not to mention, that of Cuddyer, Kubel, Tolbert, Gomez etc)
that was close for Mauer
Along with moving either Monroe or Young to the 3 hole and batting Mauer 2nd. I would bat Livan 8th and Everett 9th.
thrylos98 says:
May 17th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I still don’t understand the reluctance of using Young higher in the batting order
Tonight would seem like an ideal situation to put him higher up in the lineup. Makes no sense to have Harris and Lamb 1-2.
According to the Rockies’ play-by-play guys, this is the 57th consecutive inning where the Rockies have not held a lead!
i tried to listen to those guys, but they were worse than diknbert
Shawn,
Frazier is alright… he is an ex-Twin and still has his 87 WC ring on his right hand… I like these guys alright. They are not as home team focused as most away crews
Very vaudeville-esque. Over the top analysis on minutia.
i flipped and one of the guys had an irritating voise, i will probably give em more of a chance, i like that directv lets ya choose which crew you want to watch this year.
But I think they do provide more insight as a whole than a lot of other teams (White Sox)
you and i provide more insight than the White Sox guys
and, not to jinx anything, but Livan has 46 pitches through 4.1 innings with no hits and walks… and don’t say the words
make that 48 through 4.2 innings. And a hit.
53 pitches through 5.
For how often Cuddy is grounding Morneau into a force out at second I’m beginning to think the Twins idea of “protection for Morneau” is to get him off the basepaths as fast as possible to avoid pulling a hammy!
Don’t say the word!
-Knights of Neigh!
oh well… that’s it for a perfect game
You’ve got to dive (not slide) for that ball when a perfect game is on the line. Pu**y!
amen
why the h**L send Harris?
thrylos, I couldn’t agree more. Gardy BB is a continuous puzzlement.
HORSE MANURE
There should be one out, the fan interfered.
how about that Cuddyer defensive no play?
I don’t care if it was out of play that should be interference.
If Crain was any good you put him in here.
I think that Livan should make the all star team. Any objections?
DP! Nice job.
The Harris play was a hit-and-run, which has worked pretty well for the Twins over the years, and many times this year alone.
That fan non-interference cost the Twins a run. But it looked like the right call. It pays to have smart fans sitting in the front row, although they likely would have done the same thing if it were Helton going for the ball. That’s what I never understood about the whole Bartman controversy — it’s such an instinctive thing for a fan. You see a ball heading your way, you try to catch it. You don’t take the time to consider which team’s player is also trying to make a play on it.
Ah well, let’s see if they can scratch out another run here. 16 innings at Coors Field and no HRs for the Twins — that should pretty much prove this team’s punch-and-judy credentials.
I think it is a good time to take Hernandez out. It is the 8th inning.
That is strange. Gardy goes out there and doesn’t take Hernandez out. Interesting.
Call me weird, but I think you leave him in there. It’s the right call. And I’m not even a Livan backer.
The fact that Spilbourghs got a single doesn’t make it a bad move.
I think that Livan should make the all star team. Any objections?
I object, he isn’t even one of the top 20 best starters in the AL, let alone All-Star quality.
Well, it is if the finals is 3-2 but then again if they take him out and someone else gives up the run it is not good either. Tough call but it saves the bullpen at least and they have been used quite a bit.
Gardy did everything he could to try to stretch him out and give him a chance to win which i feel is fair. I just can’t believe we can’t score against the Rockies pitching, that kid had a near 6 ERA coming in to tonights g ame, and only his 2nd start. come on guys
snepp, he is 6-1 wins are what counts and Livan is getting alot of them this year. He is deserving so far.
Just getting in, been following the game at various places through the night.
It’s too bad Hernandez’s ugly inning had to come so late in the game…especially with the Twins offense struggling.
I’m going to go ahead and blame it on the thin air wrecking havoc on the Twins.
Just need a DP here.
Livan is among the league leaders in run support, which has absolutely nothing to do with his pitching ability.
Well the near 6 ERA could be nervousness for his 1st start in the majors. He obviously calmed down. Who knows?
GREAT heads up play by M&M there.
Yeah, that 6 ERA after only one start is about as reliable as looking at Blackburn’s .333 average and thinking “Wow, he’s good!”
and where is Reyes against Helton?
Livan is not an All-Star because he isn’t one of the 20 best pitchers in the league.
If he keeps winning a bunch of games without many losses, he just may be an All Star because the coaches that pick who makes it generally don’t look beyond Wins, which is unfortunate.
Great job Bass!
“Yeah, that 6 ERA after only one start is about as reliable as looking at Blackburn’s .333 average and thinking “Wow, he’s good!””
Ha!! That’s good stuff!! Great comparison!
Bartolo Colon won a Cy Young that was what happened it seemed when he beat out Johan. He had very good run support also. Wins is what seems to matter not always a top ERA.
“Livan is among the league leaders in run support, which has absolutely nothing to do with his pitching ability.”
And while his 3.9 ERA isn’t anything super impressive, you also have to consider his starts against Detroit and Chicago (1 run each over a combined what…16 innings?)
Then there’s the 1st inning blow up against Boston that he came back and pitched 5-6 shutout innings.
Then there’s 3-2 game to start the season.
He’s pitched incredibly well. And with the exception of the Texas game he hasn’t had a start where’s been ugly all night.
Thank you for making my point for me, Colon’s “Cy Young” was widely regarded as a gigantic steaming pile of crap.
Also, Everett was totally safe. *crosses arms definately*
And snepp, I won’t argue that Livan is a Cy Young or All-Star candidate. But I will argue that he’s performed as well as one could hope.
He still won the Cy Young so your point about Hernandez not being an all star is not made because they gave Colon that award.
Nora, the Twins likely won’t get anybody voted into the All-Star game.
And since they have Morneau, Mauer, and Nathan as the more well-known national faces, it’s highly unlikely Livan would get a nod.
I thought we’d see a Kubel PH?
He’s pitched incredibly well. And with the exception of the Texas game he hasn’t had a start where’s been ugly all night.
I don’t disagree with anything you said, but it’s largely irrelevant when looking at his potential All-Star candidacy.
Yeah, even if Gardy wanted Lefty/Righty matchups…Kubel’s a better power threat than Redmond.
And snepp, I won’t argue that Livan is a Cy Young or All-Star candidate. But I will argue that he’s performed as well as one could hope.
Disregard my previous comment.
Come on Lamb earn your 3 million
Speaking of All-Star pitching…at the moment would we be in agreement that Cliff Lee would be the man of choice for the AL?
LOL, yeah, Lee has been pretty decent this year.
“Come on Lamb earn your 3 million”
In one at bat?? No pressure, right? 
Come on Lamb. We just need ANY kind of hit.
Just pretend he’s Papelbon…
Way to go Mike, Swing at ball 4 with the best hitter on deck. WOOOOO!
Well dangit.
GRRRRRR! That was out of the strike zone would have been a walk. I hate when that happens.
Another outstanding pitching performance down the drain.
Twins Baseball™
Hernandez deserved better than to see Lamb swing at that!
At least Gardy blew another game. (see Detroit game 1)
Yes, this loss is entirely Lamb’s fault!
And there have been so many outstanding pitching performances outside of Hernandez and maybe Blackburn. LOL
And I am not sure why lamb would swing in that situation seeing as the Twins best hitter was on deck.
This would have been a good game to bat Mauer 2nd. Hindsight is always nice. LOL
The Twins can’t blow chances to go into first place like this.
1st place in May isn’t exactly crucial but it would have been nice.
“Yes, this loss is entirely Lamb’s fault!”
Note my sarcasm… just trying to illustrate how ridiculous some of these comments are.
Lamb had a good at bat there until the last pitch. Harris handles the bat pretty well, it seems like some games he shows a lot of patience at the plate and others he just flails, guess thats why his average has dipped a bit, but hey he is hitting for a higher avg than Luis Castillo!
Seth,
If you are talking about my comment-where did I say the loss was Lamb’s fault?
I really don’t think you are being sarcastic either. More like you trying to be condescending to people that have different opinions than yours.
Gardy is getting raw on Lavelle
LaVelle trying to get Gardy fined…
Gardy didn’t have an argument, he explained it perfectly. The ump was right there and made the call immediately. There was nothing to argue.
I missed the game completely yesterday. Looking at the lineup now, has me laughing. Poor Gardy. He doesn’t have much to work with.
Funny read on mlb.com, where Gardy talks about Everett’s throw from the hole at SS, on Friday. Everett apparently said it bounced to first, whereas Gardy insisted it rolled. Gardy is keeping his sense of humor. He’s going to need it.
I really think Gardy lost this game last night. After the Twins took a 2-1 lead in the Top of the 8th, why not go to the bullpen? The Rockies had started to hit Livan in the 7th and then it all unraveled in the 8th. I didn’t understand this move at all.
