Twins 29-29, All Square & Ready To Go On A Tear

[Govs93]

There's a report on ESPN.com claiming that Mike Piazza cleared waivers, so he's available via trade.

I can't help but to think that maybe he could fill almost the exact same role that Don Baylor did in 1987. Both that team and the 2007 team are teams that played fundamentals really well, had great pitching, and a couple of pretty good bats, but had a black hole in the DH spot. Don was a big part of the playoff run back then... another player could be a key this season.

I don't think he has a lot of interest in coming here, but if he'd be willing to stick it out through a playoff run, why not try? If he wants to leave after the season, let him go. Just don't mortgage the farm to get him.

[HShockeywatcher]

DH would be a great place to fill, but is it the one place we really need to fill here?

Just an idea (not sure if Santana would be for it) but why not trade Santana for someone like Griffey? He'd be able to hit, which he does really well for a pitcher, we'd fill the field and get a better bat in there.

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

DH would be a great place to fill, but is it the one place we really need to fill here?

Just an idea (not sure if Santana would be for it) but why not trade Santana for someone like Griffey? He'd be able to hit, which he does really well for a pitcher, we'd fill the field and get a better bat in there.

I now know what Govs is going through.

WHY would we trade the best pitcher in the game for an old, can't play defense much anymore and is a huge injury risk RF? Why not trade him for Barry Bonds? He'd help us for 2 months...

Also, have you not noticed who our DH's are? Jason Tyner, Lew Ford, Rondell White, Jason Kubel... we definitely need a DH.

[Govs93]

DH would be a great place to fill, but is it the one place we really need to fill here?

Just an idea (not sure if Santana would be for it) but why not trade Santana for someone like Griffey? He'd be able to hit, which he does really well for a pitcher, we'd fill the field and get a better bat in there.

I now know what Govs is going through.

WHY would we trade the best pitcher in the game for an old, can't play defense much anymore and is a huge injury risk RF? Why not trade him for Barry Bonds? He'd help us for 2 months...

Also, have you not noticed who our DH's are? Jason Tyner, Lew Ford, Rondell White, Jason Kubel... we definitely need a DH.

Govs isn't going through anything anymore...

Suffice it to say I agree with your comments ERE.

[Irishmans Shanty]

Wildcard Leaderboard

Detroit +12
----cut line------
Seattle +11
New York +11
Twins +4
Toronto +2

THE STATE OF THE WILDCARD RACE

Twins: it's been a struggle all year, short win streaks followed by short losing streaks, but somehow they are right there with 52 games to go. Just when you think you can fit them with a toe tag and close the cooler door (like after the 13-1 loss to Toronto) they get up and win just enough one run games to stay alive. Can the Twins ride Baker to the post-season? Stay tuned, it could be a great story.

Detroit: faded last year and then steamrolled their way through the AL during the post season. They'll right the ship again.

Toronto: Just won't go away. I like their sticks, they could ride those bats if this thing becomes a sprint. Look for them to sweep the woeful road Yankees this week. Baseball in Canada lives.

New York: 29 game vacation against losing teams is over. August will not be easy, a steady diet of BOS, TOR, CLE, and LAA will slow their charge.

Seattle: Still hanging on.

[packerboy]

Well, Baker did it yesterday. Garza and the bullpen did it on Saturday. The only guy who cant seem to get it done is GMtana.

GMtana was down 2-0 but his team battled back to tie the score in the bottom of the inning. The top of the next inning GMtana gives up a lead off triple and the go ahead, winning run scores. Cytana my axe.

He has been doing that all year. You can get all lathered up about stats but does the player get the job done when needed. GMtana doesnt .

But its hard to keep your mind on pitching against the division leaders when you are preoccupied with running the ballclub.

GMtana's tone was basically" I mighy not want to be here after 08" .
Well, maybe he can hook up with a team that has made the playoffs 4 out of the last 5 years.......oh, thats right, he is on one now.

Trade him? Be my guest. He can go and lose 3-2 games for somebody else.

[ChrisK]

Johan did pitch a great game in his previous start, but the last two out of three starts have been bad to mediocre. If you're going to call out the GM you better back it up on the field. In contrast, Souhan had a nice article on Cuddyer in Sunday's paper and Cuddyer was quoted as saying something along the lines of 'Ryan doesn't question me about my play in the field and it's not my place to judge his performance'.

Garza did a good job on Saturday of pitching out of trouble, but threw too many pitches and only went four innings. That's part of the learning process I guess, he certainly has the stuff for a top line pitcher. Baker's start yesterday was magnificent, he looked a little shaky in the first two inning and then settled down to keep the Indians off balance for the rest of the game. Now Silva needs to come through with a nice start tonight.

Morneau looked terrible on both Saturday and Sunday and didn't get a hit all weekend. He hit quite well in Cleveland last weekend so maybe the Cleveland pitchers changed their approach. The Twins took two out of three without getting a hit from Morneau but that's not going to happen too often. It'd be nice to see Morneau break out of his mini-slump with a couple of dingers tonight.

[packerboy]

Amazing! IS starts this thread when the Twins are 7 back and they are now only 4.5 back.

If GMtana could shut up and pitch up to his billing, it would be even less.

Maybe Silva will put on gutty performance tonight so they can draw even closer.

Go Twins.

[HShockeywatcher]

I'm not the first to suggest to trade Santana. I'd be the first to hate to see him go, but knowing that he's the best pitcher in the game and not winning because of lack of run support, we could definitely fill all our holes getting rid of him. Without him, adding run support, we'd still have one of the best rotations in baseball and the best bullpen. It's like the KG situation. The wolves have had the best player in the game for years and for some reason can't get people around him. Well, now they finally traded him for A LOT. Same thing here.

Yes, I understand we do need a DH, so someone like Bonds or Thomas would be great. But wouldn't getting a sweet position player be good too? We have a couple that are great (but there is better out there) on defense but struggle at offense. We could slightly improve the defense and greatly improve the offense. I suggest Griffey only because I didn't put too much time into looking and know we never play the Reds. Trading for someone like A-Rod would be sweet but why would we want to turn around and want to play Santana?

Irishmans Shanty, I'm not a golf person myself, but I'm still confused how you can show the wild card race, compare it to golf, then have the top teams with the highest score. Correct me if I'm wrong (please do) but isn't that backwards?

[HShockeywatcher]

packerboy, I think it's hilarious how you can sit here, rant and rave about Santana and ignore what I've said about him. And you continue to blame him for his losses. It's funny to sit back and watch, yet I'm curious what you'd actually say if you did legitimately respond.

[Govs93]

packerboy, I think it's hilarious how you can sit here, rant and rave about Santana and ignore what I've said about him. And you continue to blame him for his losses. It's funny to sit back and watch, yet I'm curious what you'd actually say if you did legitimately respond.

You seem to whine alot about people "ignoring" you. Did it ever occur to you that none of us can make heads or tails of what you're yammering about?

WHOOPS! Damn....

[Can't Never Tried]

packerboy, I think it's hilarious how you can sit here, rant and rave about Santana and ignore what I've said about him. And you continue to blame him for his losses. It's funny to sit back and watch, yet I'm curious what you'd actually say if you did legitimately respond.

You seem to whine alot about people "ignoring" you. Did it ever occur to you that none of us can make heads or tails of what you're yammering about?

WHOOPS! Damn....

[HShockeywatcher]

Santana has a 2.98 ERA compared to 3.56 and 3.27 of Sabathia and Carmona.
Santana has given up 121 hits compared to 177 and 136.
Santana has 57 runs and 51 ER, compared to 74,66 and 53,50.
Santana has 164 SO compared to 148 and 82.

If you were to compare these pitchers (I'm sure you could do it with many others) on paper Santana comes out way on top until you look at their W/L record. Santana 11-9, Sabathia 14-6, Carmona 13-5. Hmmm.

The one stat they don't post is how many runs your team scored in your outings. I'd like another explanation for why he's not winning. He should have one loss since the all star break from his pitching and should be in first in the MLB with wins.




Okay Govs. Explain to me what part of this post you don't understand. If I'm in the wrong I'll explain it.

[Govs93]

I'd like another explanation for why he's not winning. He should have one loss since the all star break from his pitching and should be in first in the MLB with wins.

Well, I think there's only one answer to this question... it's the umps' fault.

[HShockeywatcher]

So, first you tell me you can't make sense of what I was talking about. Then instead of telling me what you couldn't understand you try to make fun of me by making an analogy to something else. That something else being something I hadn't even said.

[Can't Never Tried]

So, first you tell me you can't make sense of what I was talking about. Then instead of telling me what you couldn't understand you try to make fun of me by making an analogy to something else. That something else being something I hadn't even said.

Y'all are right you said "Refs"



edit spelling error caught by circleteacher

[grindiangrad-80]

packerboy, I think it's hilarious how you can sit here, rant and rave about Santana and ignore what I've said about him. And you continue to blame him for his losses. It's funny to sit back and watch, yet I'm curious what you'd actually say if you did legitimately respond.

You seem to whine alot about people "ignoring" you. Did it ever occur to you that none of us can make heads or tails of what you're yammering about?

WHOOPS! Damn....

[HShockeywatcher]

Wow, I applaud you. Your post is just about as helpful as me pointing out you just said "your" instead of "you're"; move on.

It's great how I get accused of something, you have nothing valid to respond about, so instead comment on how I accidentally called an ump a ref a few weeks ago.

[ChrisK]

Sure Santana has put up some gaudy numbers, but over the last four games he's 0-3, his ERA climbed from 2.65 to 2.98 and he's given up seven homers.

This is the time of year when he's supposed to put it together and pitch lights out, when he leads the Twins out of the darkness into the promised land. He hasn't done it yet, Garza and Baker have. And then he calls out the general manager. I'm with packerboy on this one, leave the general managing to the general manager, take the ball and pitch.

[Irishmans Shanty]

000-000-000-000-000-0

Nice run by the Twins' pitchers until Blake ended the drought.

Come on, hit the Boofin ball, Byrd can't dominate you like this everytime out.

[grindiangrad-80]

Make that 35-16.
Go Twins.

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

Johan Santana 2.98 ERA- 9th in MLB

Felix Hernandez 3.89 ERA- 40th in MLB

Difference of .91 runs per 9 innings.

I think we could get .91 runs out of the two quality bats that we should easily be able to get for GMtana (I like that one). And that's not even counting when the prospects included in that deal make it to the Big Show.

[Irishmans Shanty]

4/7 CHI 3, Twins 0
5/5 BOS 2, Twins 0
4/10 CHI 3, Twins 0
5/17 CLE 2, Twins 0
6/2 OAK 1, Twins 0
7/1 DET 1, Twins 0
7/17 DET 1, Twins 0
7/24 TOR 7, Twins 0
8/6 CLE 4, Twins 0

Just 5 more well timed runs by the Twins on 5/17, 7/1, and 7/17 and here we are:

Cleveland 62-50 --
Detroit 60-51 1.5
Minnesota 60-51 1.5

[Knowlzee]

Although, some of GMtanna's emotions may be talking in the article, I agree with Packerboy and ChrisK, GMtanna needs to lead this team.

Championships are won with the likes of pitching veterans such as Blyleven, Viola, and Morris stepping up when needed, and suplemented by key performances from others. A championship will not be attained if the likes of Garza and Baker are expected to lead us there,.....some day, not now. GMtanna,....is needed, on the mound.....not in the office.

[Govs93]

Championships are won with the likes of pitching veterans such as Blyleven, Viola, and Morris stepping up when needed,.

You mean veterans like those, and not like Ponson & Ortiz?

I think TR is on your train of thought... just poor GM execution this season.