caulfield12

And Josh Fields is 4/10 for KC. Hitting 5th. Still has managed 3 K's in 10 AB's. At least maybe he can help the abysmal Royals beat the Twins once.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Sep 7, 2010 -> 07:22 PM) Indeed. I remember Rongey dismissing the Twins' staff maybe 6-8 weeks ago and knew he would end up eating those words. Of course, in the end, it will always be about our pitching, lol. So basically, no Konerko, no Beckham, no Garcia...not good. Although SUPPOSEDLY Konerko could have played tonight.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Sep 7, 2010 -> 07:15 PM) haven't seen this yet, just the one terrible play by kotsay that led to 4 unearned runs. 1) Teahen just had a horrible reaction to a ball that Vizquel would have stopped. Scores on Damon's homer. One run. 2) Kotsay's error opened the floodgates. 4 runs 3) Quentin threw needlessly to the plate instead of holding the runner at first...so when Ramirez had that play deep in the hole, he has a legit shot to get the runner coming from 1st to 2nd...except that runner was at 2nd instead, leaving no outs available around the diamond. Ramirez did save one run on that play, but it obviously wasn't enough with Harrell hanging breaking balls out there. 2-3 runs (contributory negligence)

Every 10-15 games, the White Sox just have one of these horrible defensive efforts across-the-board. The bigger concern is the starting rotation with Garcia's back. You can't go to a four man. And there's just no way you can expect Harrell to beat Verlander. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes, but the fact that the Twins get production from the like of Fox (who they DFA'ed after a victory) and Valencia and our best is Harrell and Torres? Well, we've known about lack of pitching depth after Hudson at the AA/AAA level for a couple of years now. Sale can help eventually, but certainly not this season as a starter.

Teahan at 3B and not Morel or Viciedo. Teahan needs to hit and field. Double Fail. Triple if you count the spelling. Why does it seem like Teahen at 3B for the Sox is a recipe for disaster about 75% of the time? His reactions and instincts down there are just not good enough not to hurt us consistently.

I thought they took him to Lutheran Hospital. Wasn't there some comment in the papers that one of the technicians made some kind of joke "about it being broken" when he was just teasing Beckham and the x-rays were clean?

One thing that should be stated is that we were first (I think we're now second in the AL) with RISP at around .280 or .281. Second, our team batting average has also gone up from the .230's/low .240's to .271. In the end, there's no such thing as black and white with any manager. Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing how many titles Guillen could have managed the Twins to from 2002-2009, just as there's no sure way to know if Gardenhire could have managed the 2005 to the playoffs and World Series. (The Phil Jackson question, could he get a .500 team in terms of overall talent to the NBA Finals?) The grass is always greener on the other side, the back-up QB is the most popular player on the team (well, most teams), it's human nature to think someone else could do a better job and to point out how things could have been done differently. We all know how Ozzie feels about his critics, he's been plain enough in his language. Same thing with KW, for that matter. I think throughout his time managing, one of Ozzie's greatest strengths has been having faith and confidence in the starters to leave them in games and not have the early hook like Manuel. In particular, Jon Garland was used as an example of a pitcher who really grew up with Ozzie in his corner, and it's interesting how the pitcher everyone complained was too lackadaisical or laid-back or California surfer cool has been one of the most outspoken leaders trying to pull the Padres out of their free fall. Ozzie is probably somewhere between 18-24 in terms in-game managing and strategy, but he's definitely in the Top 6-8 in terms of his management of the clubhouse, different personalities (yes, Swisher and Cabrera will come up here), how to keep every player on the roster involved during the season (well, until Nix this year, haha) so they're fresh down the stretch, he cares as much as any fan even though he says some stupid things, etc. Unless you're getting Tom Kelly to come out of retirement or willing to spend millions on LaRussa or Torre or Girardi, there's no easy answer. We've heard names like Dave Martinez (because of the theory that Joe Maddon is one of, if not THE best, top 3-5 managers in the game) bandied about, I suggested Omar Vizquel...but, you never really know how someone will do when they have their own team. It's like a good student teacher versus having your own classroom, totally different to be the "players' friend" and coach versus the manager who has to be more respected and sometimes even feared. I'll give another example....Coach K has had how many assistants get head coaching jobs? How many of them have succeeded? It's not so simple as to watch and read and study the best in any field and replicate it. If that were the case, any youngster could pick up George Brett, Charlie Lau or Ted Williams hitting books and show similar results. Just like every manager or business administrator could read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and instantly have success.

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Sep 5, 2010 -> 05:27 PM) The Twins are now 23-10 against the AL West and still have a 3 game series at home with Oakland I believe. I think the Rangers lost every single game up there this year. Detroit was 2-7 and obviously could have just as easily finished 1-8. I don't think anyone could have predicted they would have ended up with even MORE of a home field advantage this year...although against a power hitting team like the Yankees in the playoffs or let's say the Phillies in the World Series, they might be in serious trouble. Then again, right now it seems like they're the team of destiny, even moreso than the Sox. Too bad the Rangers don't have to suffer the same fate as the Padres in all likelihood. And please trade Carlos Quentin for Colby Rasmus, haha. Not that this can or will ever happen. Or, if it did, Quentin would win 2-3 NL MVP awards and team up with Pujols to look like Mantle/Maris or Ortiz/Ramirez.

The Twins better freaking win the World Series if they're going to continue to get wins like this...this was ALMOST as fluky (or flukey?) as the ball that hit off the speakers in Tampa that won another game for them this year. At this pace, they win 94-95-96 games. Unreal. We sweep two series and six in a row on the road (the Red Sox for the first time in nearly 20 years) and only make up one game? You've got to be kidding me. Of course, the Twins have the Royals next, and Kubel's back. And Jim Thome continues to be the biggest story on SoxTalk since at least SoxFest.

They BETTER have Thornton ready for JD Drew if it comes to that...

I'm really really starting to hate Jenks a lot more than I ever disliked Kotsay...just because he's soaking up $7.5 million in salary. Why was Rios playing so deep against Lowrie?

Farmer and Jackson seem absolutely disgusted with the White Sox mental mistakes today on the basepaths. I've never heard their tone so critical.

Teahen's offense won't kill us at 3B, but his defense might. Same with Viciedo. If you look at all the reasons why our team "suddenly" started playing up to its potential, you'd have to list Omar and Alexei's defense, pitching from Gavin/Danks/Buehrle and the bullpen (until recently) as three of the main components of that success. Maybe it's not fair to pick on Teahen, his stats since he came back are very good, actually...despite the lack of power. The question is he can he actually play 3B for a full season and put up an 800-850 OPS? History shows it's unlikely. Now Joe Crede wasn't doing that either, but you combine a 750 OPS and Gold Glove level defense along with a reputation for clutch hitting, that's definitely workable.

Well, the Broncos, Bills and Cleveland Browns had that reputation for a long long time, as well as the KC Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings. I don't see the Twins getting past TB without the homefield advantage, Morneau and now Kubel's looking shaky. But there's a better chance they beat Tampa than the Yankees in the first round, and they do seem to match up more evenly with the Rays.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 3, 2010 -> 09:47 PM) What I want to know about Borbon's single to right that Repko threw out the runner on was why wasn't Repko playing deep in "no doubles position"? Every other team in baseball would have their outfielders playing no doubles there. I think it's simply because Borbon is such a weak hitter, like Pierre. 95% of the time, Young and Kubel/Cuddyer would play almost on the warning track...although Span can play shallow from time to time. Ask Twins' fans how many hits have fallen in short LF and RF this year or between outfielders. If they had a halfway competent baserunner who'd actually warmed up and wasn't 40 years old, the game might still be going on. And at least Capps isn't available tomorrow, so they'll have to go to another pitcher at the end unless they get a CG.

Do you really prefer the Yankees beating the Twins? I don't. Baseball was a lot more interesting from 2001-2008 IMO when there was more competitive balance and parity. Of course, replacing the Yankees with the Red Sox isn't such a great trade-off, but it's still nice to see other franchises get to the playoffs and actually win the World Series. It's kind of like the Big 10 during Bowl Season. I almost always cheer for the other B10 teams, although sometimes it's not easy to cheer for Michigan and especially Ohio State.

Murphy with the clutch 2 out hit...Alex Burnett in, Fox getting a nice round of applause/appreciation from the fans. He pitched well. And yet he probably will never start another game in the big leagues for the Twins.

Yeah, I already added Harrell's name, but Torres and Hudson didn't pitch so well for us. And he was on a teeter-totter that entire game long where he was one clutch hit away from being knocked out of the ballgame. Go back and names like Felix Diaz, Josh Stewart, Matt Ginter, Mike Porzio and Arnie Munoz conjure up nightmares...although Diaz did have one very good start against the Cubs that I can recollect.

Span already robbed a homer off Murphy's bat. If the White Sox brought up a journeyman AAA pitcher with a fastball topping out at 90 MPH, what are the odds the Rangers would only have scored 1 run off him? Then again, Harrell wasn't expected to do anything and he at least held his own in his spot start. Oh, well. Holland has pitched pretty well for the Rangers too, he's had his way with Mauer so far. Is that Keith Moreland's son playing 1B? I know I'm getting older when there are so many kids of former players in the majors these days. 77 pitches through 5 IP for Fox, I give up. It's now proven that any Twins' minor leaguer can be recalled with zero notice and play competently in the majors.

Matt "The Fabulous Mr." Fox will be starting tonight, but Burnett was recalled...Morneau to 60 day DL, but he still would be able to come back Former 2nd round pick who's had major reconstructive surgery. Righthander Alex Burnett, 0-2, 5.49 at Rochester: He spent a lot of time with the Twins earlier in the season, going 1-2, 4.39. Has a lot of talent and the Twins feel he can develop into a bullpen force. But he hit the wall at midseason - hard. And he's struggled with Rochester. He pitched two scoreless innings on Sunday. Righthander Rob Delaney,7-9,4.73 at Rochester: He's on the 40-man roster, so it makes sense. His velocity jumped toward the mid 90's around midseason. Gave up a run on two hits and a walk in a third of an inning on Wednesday. He was non-drafted free agent in 2006. Righthander Matt Fox, 6-9,3.95 at Rochester: The surprise pick. Fox has started and relieved for the Red Wings, and is 2-2, 3.07 over his last 10 outings. A great story. He was the 35th overall pick of the 2004 draft but shoulder surgery cost him all of 2005 and his fastball has never been the same. IIRC, it took a couple years for him to get his fastball out of the mid-80's (maybe not that long). He's had to learn how to pitch. Fox is expected to start tonight against Texas. startribune.com/sports (LaVell Neale)

http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/graph/USMA0046# The rain will start hitting Boston in the next 30 minutes to an hour, it's already on the radar screen. However, the possibility of a doubleheader on Saturday is looking more and more possible...instead of just one game late Saturday night.

Cortisone shot already administered. Will probably miss at least one start...Slowey likely to be recalled as early as next Monday and join the rotation.

Or you could pull the Loria/Dolan/Pirates' trick and run the franchise into the ground, pilfer all the (revenue sharing) profits out of the team, pocket a HUGE capital gain by selling the team and then retire to the island of Milena. Or just buy Milena. Actually, I wouldn't retire. I would buy a minor league franchise (probably in the Midwest League), those are much more fun to operate. And that way you'd still be close enough to make it to quite a few Sox games in person. FYI, did anyone see where Frank McCourt didn't know where he "misplaced" the $2.5 million he got when the Dodgers' sale went through, and also professed unwareness of "dodgers.com"? Incredible. Arte Moreno must be laughing up a storm (just not at this season's results).

In all fairness, Crain has probably been their best pitcher down in the pen the last 3-4 months. He's nothing like the Crain who pitched for them in 08-09, that's for sure. Guerrier is really the weak link down there and the one who was torched, if anyone...along with Alexi Casilla and their infield defense.

http://www.weather.com The Twins have to start, in all likelihood, AAA journeyman Alex Burnett on Friday night against the Rangers. Perkins isn't eligible to be brought back up yet and the other main candidate just pitched in Rochester. FRI Alex Burnett/TBA versus D. Holland (2-2) SAT Pavano (not moving up one game to start on 3 day's rest) versus Colby Lewis SUN Blackburn (pitched one inning Thursday and took the loss) versus CJ Wilson MON Liriano versus O' Sullivan TUE Duensing (pitched two innings Thursday) versus Bullington WED Slowey (he's eligible to come off DL as early as Monday) versus Greinke Baker already has taken a cortisone show in the elbow and it looks like he'll miss at least one start, with Slowey likely rejoining the rotation. I bolded the games I thought the Twins would lose, so 3-3 for them. I'm going to be optimistic that we can take 2/3 from Boston (if we actually get all three games in) and 3/4 from Detroit. We all know how difficult DH's are to sweep for either team. If we went 5-2, we could get the lead down to 2 games, but more likely it will be 3 if the Sox can go 4-3 (keeping in mind last year when we were faced with a similar trip, we went 2-8 and were summarily knocked out of the race, so we've already done better than that by sweeping CLE). Remember, the Twins were 64-65 at this same time last year and still finished 11 games over .500. In fact, their low point in September was 7 games back and at one point they sported a 70-72 record (5 1/2 GB at that point). As long as we stay within 5 games and take 2/3 from Minnesota at home, we can still win this thing. Granted, a sweep would be great, but I'm just counting on two for now. Since Minnesota fans are already aligning their playoff rotation (Liriano, Pavano, Duensing) while it looks like Kubel might be out for awhile too, this is our chance to run down the Twins again when they're overconfident and already looking forward instead of in their rearview mirror. http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/bl...L7PQLanchO7DiUr That huge bullpen mistake by Gardenhire might prove to be the undoing of their season. At the least, it forces them to start someone they never imagined would take the bump for them in 2010 and makes them look like idiots for not bringing up more relief pitchers when the rosters expanded. Crain must be sore after pitching 3 in a row and 40 pitches last night (probably won't pitch until Saturday but most likely Sunday), Capps was sore and held out last night, Fuentes has a sore back, Guerrier got rocked, it's looking doable. Plus we get Thornton back to go with Sale, so we now have two relievers.