Benchwarmerjim

QUOTE (flavum @ May 18, 2010 -> 11:54 PM) So now the Twins play their only two games at Fenway this season, right after the Red Sox played the Yankees two of the toughest games of the year. And they play the Brewers more than the Red Sox this season...that's fair. yeah, Im not a big fan of this schedule. After Thursday, the Twins are completely done with the BoSox (unless they meet in the playoffs). Next week, the Yanks come to Target Field and then thats it for games against the Yanks for the year (which might not be a bad thing I guess. lol) the Blue Jays only appearance at Target Field is the last series of the year

the Yankees must put a sign of them choking the Twins in the clubhouse or something because its just ridiculous how the Twins can win in New York. Grand Slam this and Grand Slam that and heartbreaking loss year after year

I have a question maybe you Chicagoans can answer...why does it seem like there are hardly any games on WGN anymore? The Sox seem to be once every 2 weeks and the Cubs are on maybe twice a week

the best team? probably the 1992 team. Puckett, Knublauch, Shane Mack (man, he had a great run when he was with the Twins. 5 years, batted .309 and OPS of +120), Chili Davis. John Smiley was brought in and won a ton of games. Kevin Tapani and Scott Erickson followed and Rick Aguilera closed the door in the 9th. The most memorable game that year was a game against the arch rival Oakland team. Eric Fox took Aggy deep and the Twins never could quite recover after that. I think other people would say the 2002 ALCS team or the 2006 comeback kids team, but the 1992 team had a ton of talent Now, if you ask me what is my favorite team? it had to be the 2001 team. After the 1992 season the Twins sucked, signing washed up hometown heros like Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor (who actually was very good for the Twins), Terry Stienbach. They dismantled the team trading Knoblauch to the Yanks, Aggy to the Cubs, Tapani to the Dodgers. The 2001 team was the team that brought baseball back from the doldrums with Hunter, Jones, Lawton, Mintkiewicz, AJ, and Radke leading the way. I spent my teenage years going to the Dome with attendance figure of like 7,500 (but really there were about 5,000 there). The team started to win with a cast of character and all of a suddent going to the Dome was cool again. I will never forget that I think Twins fans think need 1 'Ace' type pitcher to really get over that 'The Yanks are going to beat us in the playoffs' thing they have. I tend to agree The Twins have an asset in Glen Perkins. He is left handed and has his outs with Management. I think if the Twins make a move, Perkins is the centerpiece You can keep Teahen.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 8, 2010 -> 09:45 PM) So basically you guys suck and are nothing like the magical RISP machine from 2008? lol no, the funny thing about the futility with the bases loaded is that the Twins are amongst the top team (batting average wise) when runners are in scoring position...batting something like .275

Mauer pinch hit with the bases load tonight. he struck out Drew Butera then hits a 2 runs single. The Twins have been horrible with the bases loaded this year. only 8 hits now in about 50 at bats, and getting closer to 60 plate appearances (if you included walks and such)

I guess I didnt follow it too closely, but why did the White Sox get rid of Jim Thome? It probably had something to do with age/bad back, but Im glad he's on the Twins now (not trying to sound like Im rubbing it in or anything) .263 /.391 /.596 /.988 slash line. 5 HR 15 RBI in 59 PA

Mauer's replacement today Wilson Ramos had 4 hits, the fist time a catcher making his debut had 4 hits since like 1900

Wilson Ramos is catching today. He is one of the better hitting prospect in the minors for the Twins. He is 2-2 so far today

Joe Mauer missed last nights game with a bruised heel. he'll miss todays game too. there is panic in Twins Territory

yeah it kind of sucks, but that doesnt excuse Scott Baker from blowing a 6-1 lead. The thing about the Span play is that the 3rd base ump Emmel didnt move too much from his position to get a good read of the play. That is what Gardy was objecting to (according to the radio) and thats why he got kicked out. As a Twins fan, I am getting used to really bad umpire calls Gardy is making a run at Bobby Cox's ejecting record. I think he is up to 48 ejections

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 28, 2010 -> 09:31 AM) Morneau left in the 5th inning of yesterday's game with back stiffness. They're saying it's minor and unrelated to last year's back injury. apparently Verlander was really fooling Morneau with his pitches, and the last at bat, Morneau swung for the fences and missed the ball completely and pulled a muscle. So, Cuddyer will move to first and Kubel will move to the OF (assuming Morneau doesnt play tonight and tomorrow afternoon, which I expect)

Aaron Gleeman notes that Liriano has not only struck out a lot of people, but is getting ground ball outs too.

the Twins are still scoring in weird ways without the dome. Check out the 3rd inning from tonights game - J. Morneau singled to center - M. Cuddyer singled to shallow right, J. Morneau to second - J. Kubel struck out swinging - D. Young safe at first on shortstop A. Cabrera's fielding error, J. Morneau to third, M. Cuddyer to second - J.J. Hardy walked, J. Morneau scored, M. Cuddyer to third, D. Young to second - M. Cuddyer scored, D. Young to third, J.J. Hardy to second on wild pitch, D. Young scored, J.J. Hardy to third on J. Masterson's fielding error - B. Harris hit sacrifice fly to center, J.J. Hardy scored - D. Span struck out swinging thats right 4 runs on 2 hits totaling about 375 feet

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 20, 2010 -> 11:04 AM) What did TOR draw against KC at home last night on a Monday? Must have been brutal... the announced attendance was 10,314, but I would bet 8,500 is more accuarate

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 17, 2010 -> 11:30 PM) Also, have there ever been Co-CY winners? Because we're definitely headed down that avenue in the NL. 1969. Mike Cuellar (Bal) and Denny McLain (Det) tied for the Cy Young.

for anyone that is wondering, Target Field seems to be playing 'big' in this early season. The Power alleys are death traps for long outs. You can seem to carry the ball a little down the extreme left field foul pole area. The BoSox players crushed a few balls and they turned into out. Delmon Young has hit about 5 balls hard into power gaps all outs (Although Scotty Pods made a pretty good play tonight to rob Delmon of a hit)

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 11, 2010 -> 11:17 PM) So you don't think it was a bad trade? I think it was pretty awful. I'm glad y'all made it, though. now, yes I do. But at the time I was all for it. The Twins need a right handed bat. And at the time the Twins had a surplus of ptiching. Would I have traded Garza, probably not but Im not making the decisions I will say this. Delmon has looked more competent at the plate during this first week of the season. He drew a walk against Buerhle! maybe he has turned a corner

there was no room for him. Last year the Twins had Span, Young, Kubel, Cuddyer, and Carlos Gomez all rotating around. I do take exception to one line form the piece: But the Twins made a trade they have since regretted, sending pitcher Matt Garza(notes) and shortstop Jason Bartlett(notes) to the Rays for outfielder Delmon Young(notes) I dont think the Twins publicly or privately (through reporters) have once said that they regret the trade. The some fans (maybe its a 50/50 split) were against it at the time (the Statheads bloggers) or have come around it regretting it (after watching Delomns god awful defense and failing away at a 1st pitch outside the zone to dribble it back to the pitcher). But the Brass, they are sticking by it. Gardy seems to like Delmon. Teammates seem to like him too. So I dont know where the writer got his info I cant believe I spent a few minutes of my life defending Delmon Young

the Twins have hit 9 HR's in the first 4 games not..used...to..so..much..power.....

* Electronic equipment that interferes with other fans' enjoyment of the game Laptops could fall under this category but personally, I would allow laptops into the game

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Apr 2, 2010 -> 04:37 PM) Twins have been talking about trading Ben Revere (Top prospect) for Heath Bell. I would rephrase that as 'people are making stuff up'. The Twins have no CF option if Span gets hurt (Cuddyer would play there in a pinch. He played a handful of ST games in center. Punto has played some CF in his career too. ). Revere impressed the Twins brass in camp and my gut feeling is that he would be called up if Span got hurt for an extended time.

QUOTE (Whitewashed in '05 @ Apr 1, 2010 -> 11:28 PM) I caught that at lunch as well. That thing was a no doubter. It was the first time I've seen him in a Twins uni and it didn't feel right. I don't like that feeling... first seeing Crede and now big Jim!? next year it''l be Mark Buerhle!

and FWIW, Fransisco Liriano was pretty much named the #5 starter for the Twins this year. There had been talk of him in the closer role. His first start of the season will be in Chicago

any lineup that features Nick Punto on a regular basis can not be considered for Best Lineup in Baseball