Vikings Message Board.Com

PurpleMustReign wrote:Allow me to mention one other thing I can't stand about Gardenhire... he is not demanding toughness from his players. I find it impossible to believe that all of the injuries on the Twins this season warrant missing games like this. No I don't know the "pain" these players are in, but when you have this many players on the DL, some of these guys need to play through the pain. Be men for Christ's sake.

I would agree. Im not saying baseball inst demanding, catching especially, but it isnt like any of the other major sports are, physically. Injuries are one thing, pain/soreness is another. Pussies.

The last few games I have to give Guardy some credit. He is letting the starting pitches throw later in games, Im sure its because he has absolutely no confidence in his crappy bullpen, but last night would have been a perfect "guardy moment". With no outs in the top of the 9th, Pavano gave up 2 hits, which left runners on 2nd and 3rd. 99 out of 100 times, Guardy would pull the starter at that point, he didnt, and Pavano pitched out of it for the complete game win. Our starters have been going late into almost every game lately, and its working, what do you know! I know its because Guardy is forced to, since our bullpen is one of the worst in MLB, but at least he isnt stubbornly doing what he has always done in the past. Still hate him as a manager, but he could be worse lately.

I too am shocked at how Gardy has handled the starters lately. I saw a stat the other day that the Twins have the best starting rotation in the league over the last few weeks, and whaddya know, that's about low long it's been since Gardy started ignoring his "100 pitch" rule. Aside from Duensing, our starters have been ON FIRE lately. Not with gaudy stats like Ks but just solid pitching.

Really interested to see what happens with Liriano the rest of the season. Aside from the illness/injury hiccup he had right after his No-Hitter, he's been looking better and better with each start since then. In his almost no-hitter against the Rangers, he looked WAAAYYYY better than during his no-no against the Sox. He just needs to maintain confidence and build off of it, instead of getting rattled so easily.

And wooohooo for a sweep of the ChiSox! After we did some small-ball in the win on Wednesday, I had to chuckle knowing that it probably drove Ozzie Guillen crazy. Then today I read this quote:

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has a new nickname for these no-name Minnesota Twins who have started to perform like their predecessors.

“These are the little sardinas here; they are [expletive] sardines,” said Guillen, who named the 2006 Twins “Piranhas” for how they attacked. “You see a bunch of midgets out there. But they can play.

To me it is no coincidence that the starters are pitching this well while Gardenhire is letting them pitch.
And, like pg, as much as I dislike Gardy, I have to give credit where it is due. This roll the Twins have been on is nothing short of spectacular. They are getting contributions from practically the entire Rochester farm club. I like Ben Revere. Is it possible Delmon Young will be on the block?
They are only 8.5 games back in a very weak division and it is still well before the All-Star break. I like our chances. But again, I have to give Gardenhire some credit to get these guys to play very good baseball, especially the starting rotation.

PurpleMustReign wrote:Is it possible Delmon Young will be on the block?

Young, Slowey, Valencia...they should trade someone to get some solid relief pitching. Our starters aren't going to maintain this streak for long, and if we're really going to make a comeback this season we're gonna need some good RP.

Still completely baffled that they let ALL our decent relievers go away. Really, really dumb non-move.

HornedMessiah wrote: Young, Slowey, Valencia...they should trade someone to get some solid relief pitching. Our starters aren't going to maintain this streak for long, and if we're really going to make a comeback this season we're gonna need some good RP.

Still completely baffled that they let ALL our decent relievers go away. Really, really dumb non-move.

Valencia is probably the only one of the 3 the Twins would get anything for. And he is the only one Id want the Twins to keep. He has been in a slump lately, but he can hit. Not sure if its true, but I read somewhere he is a punk in the clubhouse, IF thats true, trade him.

Bottom line, youre right, the Twins need to find a way to add some players to the bull pen. You or I could probably beat out the relievers they have now, its crazy.

purple guy wrote:

I posted that here a few weeks back and I was just repeating something I'd heard on KFAN. That Dark Star guy with the super-gravely voice said it. Apparently he has some sources close to (or on) the team, and they were going through the roster player-by-player and he'd give a short opinion on each. When they got to Valencia, he basically said something like, "He's a punk. He's got a bad attitude" and that was it. End of opinion.

If it's true, then Valencia's days as a Twin are numbered. This team isn't afraid to drop a guy based purely on personality conflict (Rauch). It also jives with that rumor a month or so ago that Morneau erupted at Valencia and Young in the lockerroom.

HornedMessiah wrote: I posted that here a few weeks back and I was just repeating something I'd heard on KFAN. That Dark Star guy with the super-gravely voice said it. Apparently he has some sources close to (or on) the team, and they were going through the roster player-by-player and he'd give a short opinion on each. When they got to Valencia, he basically said something like, "He's a punk. He's got a bad attitude" and that was it. End of opinion.

If it's true, then Valencia's days as a Twin are numbered. This team isn't afraid to drop a guy based purely on personality conflict (Rauch). It also jives with that rumor a month or so ago that Morneau erupted at Valencia and Young in the lockerroom.

Ah, yea that could have been what I read. Dont remember. But as you said, if there is any truth to it, he'll be gone.

We just played well against a couple division leaders (Cleveland and Texas) and again vs a division rival in the White Sox. Now we play another cellar dweller this weekend, I suppose we'll crap the bed and lose the series????

HornedMessiah wrote:I posted that here a few weeks back and I was just repeating something I'd heard on KFAN. That Dark Star guy with the super-gravely voice said it. Apparently he has some sources close to (or on) the team, and they were going through the roster player-by-player and he'd give a short opinion on each. When they got to Valencia, he basically said something like, "He's a punk. He's got a bad attitude" and that was it. End of opinion.

I have to think if that was true we would have heard something about it more, you know? Or maybe not, who knows...

I've been saying for a long time how my biggest Gardy complaint is how he handles the pitching staff, especially the starters. Well, this season, perhaps because of the crappy bullpen, he has let his starters do their jobs, and all of a sudden the starters are pitching like All-Stars, and the bull pen (with the exception of Alex Burnett) have been doing much better. Scott Baker is on fire.
And Alexi Cassia and Ben Revere are doing a great job at the top of the order. I think Mauer should be dropped some in the order for now and put Cuddyer or even Young in the third spot. Mauer hasn't really hit too well since he came back.
But, my original point, maybe... just maybe... Gardenhire has learned, or is learning something, that the 100 pitch count may not be a brick wall like he thought it was for so long.

PurpleMustReign wrote:I've been saying for a long time how my biggest Gardy complaint is how he handles the pitching staff, especially the starters. Well, this season, perhaps because of the crappy bullpen, he has let his starters do their jobs, and all of a sudden the starters are pitching like All-Stars, and the bull pen (with the exception of Alex Burnett) have been doing much better. Scott Baker is on fire.
And Alexi Cassia and Ben Revere are doing a great job at the top of the order. I think Mauer should be dropped some in the order for now and put Cuddyer or even Young in the third spot. Mauer hasn't really hit too well since he came back.
But, my original point, maybe... just maybe... Gardenhire has learned, or is learning something, that the 100 pitch count may not be a brick wall like he thought it was for so long.

Youre right, he is much better. But I think its out of necessity. The bull pen is absolutely terrible, so he has no choice. Nonetheless, its working. Yesterday I was sure he would yank Baker after 7, but he let him throw in the 8th, and it worked out perfect, didnt need the pen, just Capps. Capps, too, has been good. Last 3 save attemps were all wins, and a combined 33 pitches in all 3 games, thats efficient!

Can you imagine if the Twins had not dug themselves such an enormous hole???

Sweep! Hottest team in baseball right now!

Unfortunately I think they're gonna hit a rough patch this next week though, playing @Giants and @Brewers, two first place teams. Hopefully they can win half of those games.

We are definately on a roll, even when they came back and tied the game, I still felf the Twins would win it, I wouldnt have said that 3 weeks ago. The next 2 series will be tough if Morneau, Mauer, and Thomes bats dont show up (if any of them play). The home stand wasnt against any good teams, and only squeeked a couple of them out, we'll have to be better just to split the next 2 series IMO. Only 8 games back and one of the hottest teams (I think the Red Sox are hotter, they lead their division) in MLB, I hope they can keep it up. My guess is 2-4 the next 6.

purple guy wrote:We are definately on a roll, even when they came back and tied the game, I still felf the Twins would win it, I wouldnt have said that 3 weeks ago. The next 2 series will be tough if Morneau, Mauer, and Thomes bats dont show up (if any of them play). The home stand wasnt against any good teams, and only squeeked a couple of them out, we'll have to be better just to split the next 2 series IMO. Only 8 games back and one of the hottest teams (I think the Red Sox are hotter, they lead their division) in MLB, I hope they can keep it up. My guess is 2-4 the next 6.

The way the starting pitching is going lately, I could see us doing better than that. This will definitely be a good barometer of our seson coming up, I think./