Twins Blow (It)

What a disappointment! It made me sick to watch, so I'm not going to put myself through it again writing too much.

3 Stars:
Delmon Young - 3 for 5, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2B, SB. Watching the guy, I expect more. He doesn't show an ability to hit for any power and he takes some whacks at some horrible pitches. But at the same time, he's becoming one of the lineup's most reliable regulars. Defensively, he's been better than what I expected. He shows reasonable speed and can make the tough catch. That being said, his overall game still needs to inprove significantly.
Denard Span - 2 for 4, R, BB. I'm slowly beginning to come around to this "non-prospect". He's shown an ability to make good contact, take bad pitches and show speed on the basepaths. He's also done an admirable job playing RF after having not done it in the last handful of years. Yeah, he did let a double slip out of his glove and go over the fence. Yeah, he took the wrong angles on some balls and let them get to the fence. But overall, he's shown that he can get the job done at this level. Maybe he's made Craig Monroe expendable? More than likely not at this point... but if Monroe could ever gain some sort of trade value, Span could become a decent 4th OF. But, at the same time, how much time would he get with Young/Gomez/Cuddyer/Kubel playing the 3 OF spots and DH'ing? Not very much. At any rate, Span has shown that he has value. (Maybe Gomez can go to Rochester and learn to bunt...? Fat chance.)
Nick Blackburn - 5.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 0 K. To be completely honest, I went to give Marin a bath with 2 outs in the 6th... and Blackburn was rolling. 5-0 Twins. I come out a few minutes later and Blackburn is out of the game. 5-4 Twins. I don't really know what happened during that time, but up until then, Blackburn had been pitching really well. And was still in line for the win. Maybe the fact that he hadn't struck out a single batter shows that he wasn't tricking anyone. And against that lineup, you better have your best stuff. I like Blackburn and would like if he could stay in the rotation.

Tonight's junk:
Carlos Gomez - 0 for 5, including a strike out while trying to bunt with 2 strikes. I'll chip in for a plane ticket to Rochester, so he can learn how to bunt.
Joe Mauer - Great job getting 3 walks, but seriously, another GIDP? Enough already! I thought the Common Man was funny nicknaming him Joe "4-6-3" Mauer. But there is a difference between "funny" and "right." Well, there was a difference.
Justin Morneau - I know he didn't have a terrible game, but he's a former MVP... and I don't think he should be batting cleanup.
Mike Lamb - Not that it mattered, but can you say, "world's longest single"?
Adam Everett - Congrats on the two hits, but he's here for another reason. Error (3, throw) shouldn't show up in the boxscore in his 9th game as a Twin. If it was his 139th game, ok, but it's not. I'm officially on the "Cut Adam Everett Wagon". Who's with me? (Having Everett on the roster prevents Punto from playing, so there is one plus... but it's not even a big plus... and that's not good.)
Pat Neshek - I was all about getting a long-term deal done with Neshek. And I still am. Do it now... seriously, I bet we can get him for 6 years/$6.50 an hour. Joke of a performance Pat. Let me be the first to nickname Neshek "Nails". I figure batters might fear a guy named Nails Neshek. Pat? That ain't scaring anybody.
But nobody was a bigger turd tonight than...
Matt Guerrier - 4 outs, 5 hits, 5 runs, 4 earned, 1 HR (not all his fault), hold. I like that he was credited with a hold... because to me, he couldn't hold a Tiger jock tonight. Maybe he got a raw end to Blackburn's night. Or maybe he just was the unlucky recipient of the Tigers' studs finally figuring it out. I heard the equipment guy joke that he was changing the G in Guerrier to a T. Like Matt Tuerrier, as in Matt Tuerrierable. But look at the bright side, at least you're not Juan Rincon.


I feel better now. I guess I just needed to vent a little.