Category Archives: Minnesota Twins

2011 Twins Game Logs, Minnesota Twins, MLB

Game 126: Yankees at Twins

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The good news is the Twins have a chance today to avoid losing a series to the Yankees for the first time since Aug. 11-13, 2008.

The bad news is the Twins are sending Nick Blackburn to the hill, who is going through a bad stretch. He has given up at least four runs in four of his last five starts, although his one good start came against the Red Sox, the one team with a better offense than the Yankees. So, you never know.

Since the Delmon Young trade, the Twins are averaging 5 runs per game and that stretch includes facing Justin Verlander and C.C. Sabathia. Hopefully, they can do better than that against Ivan Nova. They'll most likely need it. GO TWINS!!

2011 Twins Game Recaps, Minnesota Twins

Game 125: Twins 9, Evil Incarnate 4

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Ahhhh. Savor that one for a while.

It might have been more fun to do that to Captain Cheeseburger, but I'm not sure. A.J. Burnett probably represents the biggest reason the Yankees' dominance over the Twins is so infuriating. It wouldn't be so bad if their stars dominated the Twins, but it seems like any role players or even disappointing players they put in there against the Twins have their best games against them.

Burnett has probably been one of the more disappointing Yankees of recent years but he sure seems to have no problem dominating the Twins. That was until Saturday.

I was worried this one could be ugly for Francisco Liriano. His control problems against a team known for its patience can be a bad combination. Fortunately, Liriano showed that when he consistently throws strikes, he can dominate any lineup.

2011 Twins Game Recaps, Minnesota Twins, MLB

Game 119: Indians 3, Twins 1

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No more excuses.

If I thought that the Twins had packed it in for the season like most teams would have a long time ago, then I would understand it. But, that would mean Ben Revere playing and Trevor Plouffe on the roster, so I don't believe that.

Josh Tomlin? Really? His picture is next to the word "junkballer" in the dictionary. He's got nothing. A team with this many lefties who supposedly can hit should be teeing off on him.

I saw one inning in which a bunch of hard-hit balls found gloves, but I'm tired of the excuses. But what I'm really tired of is incompetence.

I'm tired of seeing impatient at-bats. I'm tired of seeing not making routine plays. I'm especially tired of seeing Matt Tolbert. Is there anyone that has brought so little to a team that was allowed a major league job for this long? He has zero power. He can't hit from either side of the plate. He has no patience at the plate. He's a below-average fielder. He might have average speed, but he's not a good base stealer. He makes me long for the days of Nick Punto or even Denny Hocking. Even Al Newman.

I'm not asking for the Twins to try to make a miracle run. Right now, I'm just wanting to see some sign of hope for 2012.

2011 Twins Game Recaps, Minnesota Twins

Game 118, Indians 3, Twins 2

A pinch hit recap for Twayn...I wish I was on vacation and he were writing this.

I was really looking forward to having all of our opening day starters back together again. Then Cuddy tweaked something in his neck in early batting practice and Kubel had to sub in right. Good start out of Pavano. Not a good outing by Perkins. Mountie and Lexi back in the lineup - Laddie back out of the lineup in the 7th with a tweaked hamstring...lots of "tweaking" tonight.

Batters 1 through 6 were 1 for 20 with a walk and rare were the outs made on well struck balls (typically they didn't even leave the infield). That's simply not going to cut it. Most exciting moment for the hometown 9 may have been the Dude's 400+ ft fly out to center in the 5th. Nishi had both rbi's for the Twins, but also had a pretty gawd-awful night in the field.

"We basically gave it away," Gardenhire said. "We missed a lot of plays. It's a tough loss for us. We need some people to play a lot better baseball. It's kind of embarrassing to tell you the truth."

I couldn't agree more. Highlight of the night for me was the shout-out to Rhubarb_Runner of WGOM and é rayhahn, rayhahn fame who is "jostling for position" with someone named Matt Krieger...and Rhu_Ru didn't even submit the winning answer tonight!11!1!

For some reason, I've been hanging on to hope that this team would make a run and challenge for a playoff spot. Watching them run around like monkeys f*cking a football tonight has pretty much cinched it for me. How about you?

2011 Twins Game Recaps, Minnesota Twins

Game 116: Red Sox 4, Twins 3

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WP: Albers (4-3), LP: Capps (3-6)

I didn't see a recap for last night's game...perhaps that was done on purpose? I have no doubt this will add very little to the current GOSO sentiment currently enveloping the WGOM, but I'm bored this afternoon and this post from JoeC included some interesting thoughts from the manager about the pitcher last night. Full disclosure, I didn't watch the game - just heard the end of it in the car, but a career high in walks is pretty brutal. However, Gardy seemed to think that F-Bomb did okay.

There were a lot of pitches that were close, borderline, just missing, and we like where the ball was, down around the knees. That's a pretty good start for him. Hopefully he can continue that process.

As you can see from the strikezone plot, Frankie was down in the zone. I guess my hope is that he can continue to work on staying down, throwing strikes and getting ahead in the count for the remainder of the year. His value to the Twins depends on those moments of brilliance associated with that funky delivery and left arm.

 

Minnesota Twins

Do the Twins Lack Passion?

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I just want to run something by everyone.  I’m not sure I agree with it myself, so I want to know what other people think.

As the Twins continue to lose, one of the things I’ve noticed is that there seems to be a lack of passion or intensity within the team.  We’re not reading articles about how frustrated the team is.  We’re not hearing about people being upset about the situation.  There seems to be no fire, no spark, no life. The basic reaction to a loss is, “Well, darn.  We’ll have to try again tomorrow.”

It’s easy to look lifeless when you’re losing, of course.  Still, I wonder if part of the reason for this is the way the Twins have gotten rid of every player who might cause problems for Ron Gardenhire.  People who are fiery, people who are passionate, are not always the easiest people to be around.  Intense people sometimes have that intensity come out in ways that are not the best.  Still, it seems to me that having a few people around who can stir things up is a good thing for any organization.  I wouldn’t want a whole team of them, but having a few can keep you from becoming complacent and accepting of situations you shouldn’t accept.

This is not to say that I think the Twins don’t care.  I assume anyone who wears a big league uniform cares.  I think, though, that this caring seems to be expressing itself in a very workmanlike way, rather than in an enthusiastic, passionate way.  Emotion plays a role in all sports, and I don’t see much emotion in the Twins right now.

Again, I’m not totally convinced of this argument; that’s why I’d like to hear other opinions.  It could be that the reason the Twins are losing is just a plain old lack of talent and ability, and that there’s no need to look any farther than that.  There’s a part of me, though, that says a well-applied bat to a door would not be the worst thing that could happen to this team.

2011 Twins Game Logs, Minnesota Twins, MLB

Game 114: White Sox at Twins

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I started following the Twins on an everyday basis in 1986. My family had moved to Minnesota in 1984 and we had gone to a handful of games the previous two years, but I had not really discovered the joy of baseball yet.

Then, a plucky center fielder with a unique body build suddenly discovered his power stroke and the country began to take notice. I remember Bob Costas saying he would name his son after him if he was hitting .350 at the All-Star break. And, of course, that was how Keith Michael Kirby Costas was named.

Kirby was so fun to watch, it didn't really matter how bad the Twins were (and they were pretty bad that year), I just had to watch (or as often or not listen to home games) to see what he would do next. He could do it all. He could hit for average and power, he could steal bases and was a Gold Glove center fielder who specialized in leaping over the short center field wall at the Metrodome to rob the opponents of home runs.

The next season, of course, the Twins won the World Series, and what a magical ride that season was. That season cemented my love affair with baseball for life, but it was Kirby that piqued my interest to begin with. Of course, he's most famous for his Game 6 in 1991, but he was pretty good in Game 6 in 1987 as well (4-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a SB). Of course, he also was the ALCS MVP in 1991.

Of course, his career was too short due to glaucoma and his life was too short due to a stroke, which I guess is appropriate since he was deemed to be too short to play in the major leagues for much of his youth.

Today, Kirby will be remembered at Target Field, which will include a pregame video tribute. I sure hope I get to see it, along with a couple Thome dingers.

I mentioned yesterday that the Twins need to finish 30-19 to finish at .500. I would be happy, all things considered, if they could do that. I also would like to think they could pass the White Sox. A big step toward that goal can be accomplished today with a win. It's Peavy vs. Duensing. GO TWINS!!!

2011 Twins Game Recaps, Minnesota Twins, MLB

Game 113: White Sox 6, Twins 1

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Well, it was a step in the right direction, but not a big enough one.

Carl Pavano did his thing and gave the Twins a very good start. More than just a quality start, which the Twins did not have in the previous six games. Unfortunately, the Twins forgot how to catch the ball or take a pitch or three against a pitcher they hadn't seen before.

The Twins are now 10 games back and 11 games under .500 with 49 games left. For the Twins to just get back to .500, they will have to go 30-19. It was going to be a historic comeback if it was going to happen, but it's pretty apparent, it's not going to happen. I'd say it is time to play the kids, but really, who would that be? Plouffe, maybe. Call up Luke Hughes and send out Tolbert, I guess. But I think we pretty much know what these players offer. Revere, of course, should get more playing time. Let Delmon, Span, Cuddyer and Kubel rotate an off day.

I doubt we'll see the Twins ease up on the throttle yet. The upcoming series with the Indians and Tigers should take care of that.

I did at least get a chance to listen to TK in the booth. When someone has real insight into the game and chooses to use it, they don't have to have the most dynamic personality to be a joy to listen to. I especially enjoyed his sarcastic jabs at Adam Done and Anthony John.

2011 Twins Game Logs, Minnesota Twins, MLB

2011 Game 109: Minnesota Twins at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (MUST WIN GAME!!!!!!11)

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the dunce

v.

that other santana

welcome back, span. we're glad you’re still here, and we’re glad to have you back.

the twins come back from a rare day off and face off against the LAAAAAAAAAA angels. on the mound is ervin santana, whom i'm told has been pitching alright as of late. since we’re obviously not having a fire sale, might as well start winning, i guess. now's as good a time the start as any...

Minnesota Twins, MLB

Twins Add Top Leadoff Hitter to Lineup

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The Twins added an impact player at the trade deadline when they added centerfielder Denard Span. The young Span is under contract with the Twins through 2014 with an option for 2015. Span is expected to meet the team in Anaheim in time to bat leadoff and play center field in Tuesday's game.

The Twins gave up a dominant but expensive middle reliever and a light-hitting, speedy outfielder to obtain Span. They may have given up more, as well, but none of those details have been confirmed and may never be. They also optioned Luke Hughes to Rochester to make room on the 25-man roster for Span. This also will take pressure off young Ben Revere, who has had exciting moments displaying his speed and defensive range, but he has had trouble reaching base consistently and teams have been taking advantage of his weak arm in center field. Span, on the other hand, had a career .366 on-base average and has an average arm for a center fielder. The two players could make an exciting pair in the outfield if Revere starts to take playing time away from left fielder Delmon Young, who has yet to come close to his breakout 2010 season.

The Twins failed to add any other help at the trade deadline but are rumored to be working on bringing in an impact left-handed bat for the middle of the lineup in August.

Of course, none of this means anything if they're non-Baker starters keep pitching like crap. Now if only the Twins could find a starting pitcher just entering his prime that throws strikes and has a good K rate. He doesn't even need to have an out pitch.