Vikings Message Board.Com

Matt Guerrier is so overused. I can't believe the Twins keep calling on him. He pitches in every game that I see. And, of course, he blows it more and more often through the season, and he will continue to do so until The Twins coaches learns that they can't use the same guy every freaking game.

Both teams tried to lose last night, we just tried harder . We used everyone but Cuddeyer to pitch I think, lol. Wow, not good to play that kind of game the night before we play Texas. And Blackburn was supposed to start tonight, wonder if that changes now that he threw a little last night?? Who ever starts, need to go DEEP into the game. The line up last night was aweful, worst he has thrown in there in a long time, I was surprised we stayed in the game so long with that line up, but like I said, looked like both teams wanted to lose.

purple guy wrote:Both teams tried to lose last night, we just tried harder . We used everyone but Cuddeyer to pitch I think, lol. Wow, not good to play that kind of game the night before we play Texas. And Blackburn was supposed to start tonight, wonder if that changes now that he threw a little last night?? Who ever starts, need to go DEEP into the game. The line up last night was aweful, worst he has thrown in there in a long time, I was surprised we stayed in the game so long with that line up, but like I said, looked like both teams wanted to lose.

Yes, but in spite of all that, the Twins still won the first game of the Texas theory by the respectable score of 4-3. There's something magical about this team. Where I work -- Washington DC -- I can't tell you how many baseball fans marvel about the Twins, and how they take a modicum of talent and figure out a way to win the Division (known as the "fly over Division") year after year.

DanAS wrote:
Yes, but in spite of all that, the Twins still won the first game of the Texas theory by the respectable score of 4-3. There's something magical about this team. Where I work -- Washington DC -- I can't tell you how many baseball fans marvel about the Twins, and how they take a modicum of talent and figure out a way to win the Division (known as the "fly over Division") year after year.

The Twins have, by far, the most complete team in the Central, and have for years. But that isn't enough for me. IMO, on paper, the Twins have just as much talent, albeit most of it raw and very unpolished, as Boston, or Texas, and more than Chicago. I also think, if you matched them up position by position with NYY and TB that it is very close, on paper. NY and TB have a huge edge in probably the most important category however: Coaching. The way Gardy abuses pitchers (Guerierr for example) and manages the game will never allow the Twins to have postseason success. His "righty vs lefty" crap has lost him far more games than it has won. Even if, for example, lefties are hitting .350 against Jon Raush and righties are hitting .150, it means lefties are still making out more than 6 times out of 10. That's pretty good odds, quite frankly. He pulls a pitcher after 3 pitches whether he gives up a hit or strikes the guy out, and then complains that he has a thin bullpen. That's the kind of #### I don't have time for. Let your pitchers do their jobs.

DanAS wrote:
Yes, but in spite of all that, the Twins still won the first game of the Texas theory by the respectable score of 4-3. There's something magical about this team. Where I work -- Washington DC -- I can't tell you how many baseball fans marvel about the Twins, and how they take a modicum of talent and figure out a way to win the Division (known as the "fly over Division") year after year.

The Twins are good, outside of pitching and managing. While Guardy obviously has his strenghts, he does a lot of stupid ####, as PMR has stated. Our line up right now, with injuries, is scary. Every win we get with this line up, is a bonus win IMO.

I love Thome. What a friggin STUD!

ALMOST two epic collapses by the Twins and their bullpen this weekend. Blackburn should have stayed in, or if he needed to come out, Raush sould have stayed in for one more batter. He had no troubles, was throwing strikes, but just because he allows one (at the time) meaningless hit, good ol' idiot manager brings out his overworked staff and they almost blow the game. Actually, they should have blown the game.

God Almighty, between he and Chili, I don't know who to loathe more.

PurpleMustReign wrote:ALMOST two epic collapses by the Twins and their bullpen this weekend. Blackburn should have stayed in, or if he needed to come out, Raush sould have stayed in for one more batter. He had no troubles, was throwing strikes, but just because he allows one (at the time) meaningless hit, good ol' idiot manager brings out his overworked staff and they almost blow the game. Actually, they should have blown the game.

God Almighty, between he and Chili, I don't know who to loathe more.

I think Childress is a better coach than Guardy a manager. He is an idiot. If not for a fluke call to end the game, we likely lose, pulling Rausch was typical. Heck, Blackburn could have at least started the 8th. But NO the mighty pitch count or stupid thing by Guardy and he goes to the bullpen earlier than needed, which is exactly why our pen is over used, he calls on them too soon and rotates them out too fast.

The Red Sox had a melt down too, could have extended our lead..........

twins have the 3rd best record in all of baseball. only the yanks and rays are better. we're 8-2 in our last 10 games. we start what should be a good series for us against the royals. i like where we're at.

vikeinmontana wrote:twins have the 3rd best record in all of baseball. only the yanks and rays are better. we're 8-2 in our last 10 games. we start what should be a good series for us against the royals. i like where we're at.

I like where we are at too, now. But if we make the playoffs, we dont have the pitching to beat the likes of the Yanks, Rays, and Texas would even scare me even tho we just swept them. We will probably win the division, but with our staff of pitchers who all rely on contact, will get lit up by good swining teams. Our only hope is our bats stay hot. Should be interesting, but I dont have high hopes for them in the post season.

purple guy wrote:
I like where we are at too, now. But if we make the playoffs, we dont have the pitching to beat the likes of the Yanks, Rays, and Texas would even scare me even tho we just swept them. We will probably win the division, but with our staff of pitchers who all rely on contact, will get lit up by good swining teams. Our only hope is our bats stay hot. Should be interesting, but I dont have high hopes for them in the post season.

ya i share your concerns. but we've already played a long season without one of our best players and consistently play good ball. one thing that people need to remember is these guys play over a thousand innings in a season. they see tens of thousands of pitches, batters, etc. many mistakes are going to be made. some games will look bad. some will look great. some days the guys will have "it". others...not so much. but we'll win 90 plus games this year and bad teams just don't do that. i'm concerned with our pitchers too...but i have been concerned about them since last march! i am very impressed with how they have played despite some prett major roster weaknesses. but the playoffs are another season, and i'm not going to write this team off yet. i think they have it in them to make a little noise. keep your fingers crossed!

purple guy wrote:I love Thome. What a friggin STUD!

No wonder Jim Thome left Cleveland

Matt Capps has been pretty mediocre so far. This guy was an All-Star?

I'm glad they picked up Fuentes (or Flores?) as another closer option. Capps is nowhere near the kind of overpowering shutdown guy that we need. We'll still have him under contract next year, so if Nathan comes back full strength then they should trade Capps.

HornedMessiah wrote:Matt Capps has been pretty mediocre so far. This guy was an All-Star?

I'm glad they picked up Fuentes (or Flores?) as another closer option. Capps is nowhere near the kind of overpowering shutdown guy that we need. We'll still have him under contract next year, so if Nathan comes back full strength then they should trade Capps.

No kidding. He is not much of a closer. I think Rausch was a better closer. Not a bad pick up, but adding Capps is not that impactful of a move.

purple guy wrote:
No kidding. He is not much of a closer. I think Rausch was a better closer. Not a bad pick up, but adding Capps is not that impactful of a move.

I agree, although I would keep him if he was ok as a setup man.