Ron Gardenhire Loses Another Game for the Twins

Paul Peterson — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:54:58 -0400

Sunday afternoon I was looking forward to watching my first-place Twins go for the sweep against the Kansas City Royals.

I got my can of peanuts and can of Coke ready and turned on my high definition 46" LCD...I was ready!

First disappointment.....The game isn't in HD. Oh well I think, it still looks better than the 13" tube TV upstairs.

I turn the TV on just in time to see the starting lineups.

Second disappointment.....Kubel is in right field, Lamb is at first, Adam Everett and Nick Punto are in the game together at the same time.

Third disappointment.....Why in the heck is Punto batting second?

We just take over first place and this is the lineup?

I know that the players need a rest from time to time, but why is Morneau DHing? Is first base that strenuous?

Oh well I figure, lets see what happens. All of a sudden Everett comes up with a couple of clutch base hits. WOW! Gardenhire is a genius! What a divine puppet master he is!

Then I watch as Punto comes up time after time in crucial run producing situations. Four strike outs! This is why you cannot bat a ninth place batter second.

What is the attraction with Punto? Defense? OK, fine, he is the best defensive second baseman we have on our team. I don't have a problem with him playing second, but not with Everett in the game. Why isn't Harris playing SS? Defense?

I looked up the numbers and found that Harris has a .974 fielding percentage vs. Everett's .962.

But Everett has more range you say.....Yes, but Harris will make the routing plays. Everett has no arm left. The team got into first place with Harris as the main SS, so why did he lose playing time to Everett?

Harris' hitting excelled while playing SS. Why screw with that?

Then there is the outfield situation.....Kubel and Young cannot play the field at the same time. It is questionable that Kubel should ever be out in the field. Span has been doing an awesome job in the field and at the bat when playing right field. Why screw with that?

I know Gomez is struggling, but he plays a great centerfield. I would just have him bunt every time at bat.

The Lamb at first move reared its ugly head when he didn't get back to the bag in time for an easy play, and two runners scored on the error.

Then there is the bullpen issue. Why did Nathan not come in for at least one inning? I don't care which inning, but why leave your best reliever sitting on the bench? The book says to only use your closer in save situations on the road.

Well, with this bullpen you need to throw that book out the window.

Good one Gardy! You lost another one due to your stubborn by-the-book, play everyone in every position, screw with the lineup ways.

Now the Yankees come in just being swept by the Angels and their season on the line, a team that works the count like no other and will be into our bullpen by the fifth in every game. Not to mention our hitters can't hit against anyone who puts the NY pinstripes on, not even Ponson.

Punto needs to play second and bat ninth. Gomez needs to play CF and bat eighth and Harris needs to play SS and bat seventh. Brian Buscher needs to bat second. Span stays in right field. Lamb and Everett need to be emergency defensive replacements and pinch hit/run situations only! Morneau doesn't get a break, sorry!

Hurry back Alexi Casilla! We need ya!

And please get some bullpen help!

Twins Need to Stand-Pat and Look to 2010.

Paul Peterson — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:18:38 -0400

All of the trade rumors are great fun, but if I was the GM of the Twins I wouldn't make a move unless it makes my team better through 2010. The Twins have done a great job staying close to first place all year, but they don't have enough to win the division much less any playoff bracket.

The whole rotation is made up of basically first year (young) pitchers minus Livan Hernandez. They have lost our best set up guy (Neshek) for the season, and nobody has really stepped up in his role. They released a valuable part of our relief staff for the last 4 years in Juan Rincon who somehow forgot how to pitch. The next best guys are Crain and Guerrier who don't seem have enough stuff to finish off a batter.

Now, it seems the Twins have lost one of the teams most valuable players in Casilla for the season and replaced him with Gardenhire man-crush player Punto. Cuddyer was having a down year until he got hurt, and it is not known for how long. Lamb has been a big disappointment. Kubel has been doing well in his platoon role as a DH, but Craig Monroe can't hit lefties. Carlos Gomez and Delmon Young have no concept of the strike zone.

And best of all, Adam Everett is now back on the roster, which is like having another Nick Punto except with less range and a worse arm.

If you think adding a right handed bat and a relief pitcher is going to put the Twins over the top, you're wrong.

If you think the Twins should trade any of our young pitchers or young outfielders for a patch job, you're just plain crazy.

Not all is bleak, however.

This team has a bright future in outfield with Young, Gomez and Span. They will get better every year. Their rotation looks to be one of the best rotations in baseball once we get Liriano in place and a few more years under their belt. Casilla is showing promise as a great hitter AND great fielder. Morneau and Mauer are studs. A healthy Cuddyer and Neshek and some smart free agent signings the next two years will put the Twins in a great position to not only win the division, but win the whole thing in 2010.

Who knows, maybe they will be ready for 2009?

Bleacher Report - Articles by Paul Peterson

Ron Gardenhire Loses Another Game for the Twins

Twins Need to Stand-Pat and Look to 2010.