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goldy313 wrote:I don't know what to make of this team and though I'm far from calling for Gardenhire's head something is terribly wrong. How can a weak hitting third baseman be unable to bunt? This last failed attempt was about his 5th. At best Punto is a defensive replacement but he sees the field as an everyday third baseman here. How does an All Star catcher try and turn a 2 out bloop hit into a triple and get thrown out by 10 feet?

The Twins have always prided themselves on playing the game the right way, these Twins aren't playing the game the right way and aren't good enough to get away with it.

The bright side is soon it will be September 1st and I won't have to watch White, Punto, Casilla, etc. butcher the game of baseball anymore. If after the September call ups I see Punto in the line up I will scream!!!!

I hear what you are sayin' too. We get used to seeing them play smart baseball. Mauer may go the rest of his career without making the 3rd out at 3rd base. It has just been that type of year.

Thanks to the 11-3 victory over the Skippers tonight, the temperature did rise from -2 to -1 today.

Still a little too cold yet for my liking.

Back from CA now, Dodger Stadium was cool.

Nice to see the guys explode for 11 runs, but it'd be better if they could save some of those runs for when they really need them. According to the radio, Morneau got his first RBI for the month of August. I read a quote yesterday where he said he was really tired, he felt more worn out than he's ever felt and I'm kind of baffled by that, it's not like this is his first full season in the majors. This team seems to be pretty much dead in the water and if Morneau is too worn out to make a push they are in big trouble.

This will be a tough offseason for Terry Ryan, he'll need to make decisions on Hunter and trying to extend Santana and/or Nathan, plus Cuddyer and Morneau will be eligible for arbitration. They'll have Liriano back though it may take him a half season to get up to speed but Ryan will need to figure out how to get some more punch out this lineup.

ChrisK wrote:...Ryan will need to figure out how to get some more punch out of this lineup.

Punch we need, we've got Judy covered.

Make that 33-10.
Go Twins.

11 runs last night- should be enough to last thru Labor Day.

Glad you are back firm LALA land Chris but you are suffering form a case of California dreamin if you think Ryan is going to extend GMantana.

Plus, I dont think its the right thing to do. This organization has pitching depth. If Liriano comes back healthy, they will have a good staff without GMtana.

Ryan should trade GMtana for a close to ready hittng prospect(like Morneau was 3 years ago); sign Hunter and get a free agent bat.

But...... he should check with GMtana before doing anything.

packerboy wrote:Glad you are back firm LALA land Chris but you are suffering form a case of California dreamin if you think Ryan is going to extend GMantana.

Plus, I dont think its the right thing to do. This organization has pitching depth. If Liriano comes back healthy, they will have a good staff without GMtana.

Ryan should trade GMtana for a close to ready hittng prospect(like Morneau was 3 years ago); sign Hunter and get a free agent bat.

But...... he should check with GMtana before doing anything.

I agree PB. It's not nuts to trade Johan. But I think Hunter is gone regardless.

Make that 32-10.
Go Twins.
Hunter with the slam.
And I wanted him to bunt this year.

grindiangrad-80 wrote:Make that 32-10.
Go Twins.
Hunter with the slam.
And I wanted him to bunt this year.

WHy would you want Hunter to bunt his year?? Does he get a bonus if he does???

Old joke...

Ramon Ortiz traded to the Rockies for a AAA infielder... isn't that about the same as we got for Castillo?

They've won their 60 and lost their 60, all that's left is the 42 that determine the success/failure of a given season.

EREmpireStrikesBack wrote:
Ramon Ortiz traded to the Rockies

Who?

Govs93 wrote:

EREmpireStrikesBack wrote:
Ramon Ortiz traded to the Rockies

Who?

Better known as "The Human Victory Cigar". (Irishmans Shanty, 2007)

Neutron 14 wrote:

Govs93 wrote:

EREmpireStrikesBack wrote:
Ramon Ortiz traded to the Rockies

Who?

Better known as "The Human Victory Cigar". (Irishmans Shanty, 2007)

OH! That guy!

We'll miss him.

They are pretty far back but worse, they arent playing well.

But no matter how the season ends, you have to be impressed with how Garza and Baker are doing.

Silva had a great outing in his last start so the pitching has really come around except for GMtana who is busy with personel moves.

The hitters need to keep it up and we will have some suspense left if they can get it back under 5.

Govs93 wrote:

Neutron 14 wrote:

Govs93 wrote: Who?

Better known as "The Human Victory Cigar". (Irishmans Shanty, 2007)

OH! That guy!

We'll miss him.

I'm sure Ramon will find the thin mountain air as the perfect remedy for his inability to keep the ball in the park, however, the humidor in the Rocky Clubhouse ought to balance things out.

Last year at this time the Twins were 70-49, 7.5 games out and in third, one game behind 2nd place CWS

They were a way better team last year but ......you never know.

Expanding on that, our boys are way off from where they were last year but so is everybody else in the division except CLE, for now.

If the Twins had the same record as last year, they would be in first place by 5 games. Interesting.

packerboy wrote:Last year at this time the Twins were 70-49, 7.5 games out and in third, one game behind 2nd place CWS

They were a way better team last year but ......you never know.

Expanding on that, our boys are way off from where they were last year but so is everybody else in the division except CLE, for now.

If the Twins had the same record as last year, they would be in first place by 5 games. Interesting.

It should also be noted that they're hitting a softer part of their schedule (Texas, Baltimore, Kansas City, White Sox) and the series they have left against contending teams are against primarily 2 teams... Cleveland and Detroit.

I agree that there is very slim hope left, but if you look ahead the last month and a half, they truly do control their own destiny. If they want to get it done, they don't need any help - they can do it themselves. I'm not sure this team has the cojones to get it done, but I'm not too proud to eat crow if they do.

Good point Govs, I agree the Twins still control their own destiny. That window of opportunity will close soon but in the here and now they don't need a lot of help as their biggest obstacle will probably be themselves.

I heard my idol on the radio today and he had some interesting comments about Torii Hunter's impending free agency. He said Hunter will be looking for a 5yr/$80 million dollar deal but he also said if he were a GM he wouldn't invest that because Hunter has played his whole career on artificial turf. If other GM's think Torii will break down sooner rather than later and you factor in the deep class of free agent centerfielders, maybe Hunter won't be as expensive to resign as we think.

Indians forever wrote:

grindiangrad-80 wrote:Make that 32-10.
Go Twins.
Hunter with the slam.
And I wanted him to bunt this year.

WHy would you want Hunter to bunt his year?? Does he get a bonus if he does???

Early in the season, I was calling for the Twins to bunt when they had runners on 1st and 2nd with noone out. I even hammered on Hunter for not laying one down in those situations.
He has definitely earned the right to swing away.
It's still a long shot- but they are keeping us interested.
Go Twins.

He would probaby resign here for 4yr/15mill.

I dont know if the Twins will do that but how do they stay competitive if they dont?

There is nobody in the minors and the guys they have now, even when they are havng good years, wont be enough.

I dont see how they can replace Hunter.

Plus, he is worth a lot to them in marketing.

Its dumb that he hasn't resigned by now.

Who are the guys on the team who are ending with their contracts this year or soon?

000-100-100-000-000-01-000-0

Allow me to translate this....resign Silva, resign Silva, resign Silva!

Make that 31-10.
Go Twins.

Make that 31-9.
Go Twins.
If we can skip Bonsers starts, we may have a chance.
Of course, scoring zero, makes it hard on any pitcher.