The Twins completed their series victory today with a win over the Indians. It wasn't exactly pretty, but a win is a win. Couple that with a Tigers victory over the White Sox and the Twins now sit 2.5 games back in the Central Division heading into a 4-game showdown with the ChiSox. Personally, I wouldn't be disappointed with a split, although that wouldn't be progress. However, I expect by the time the Twins leave Kansas City (August 10), they will be on top of the AL Central. You can put that on the board! (The Twins are also 2.5 game back in the Wild Card Race. They trail both the Red Sox and Yankees, and they are currently playing.)
Three Stars - I think today's game is tough to pick!
Nick Blackburn - 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, BB, 3 K. This is a great line! His performance, on the other hand, wasn't this pretty. Blackburn had to deal with leadoff runners every inning... ok, not every inning, but pretty close. He was able to wiggle his way out of trouble and left the game with only one run allowed and a win staring him in the face. And then Reyes came in... No matter, Blackburn pitched very well. If it weren't for bad luck (or a bad bullpen?) - and thus, a few extra wins - I really think he would be in the running for AL Rookie of the Year. At 7-6, though, it's not gonna happen.
Craig Monroe - 2 for 4, 2B, R. I gonna give Monroe the benefit of the doubt today. On a day where the offense wasn't too visible, Monroe was able to get the ball rolling on a bloop double. This started the 2-run 6th inning and put them back in a position to win the ballgame. For today, Craig, we'll forget that your "specialty" - hitting against left-handed pitchers - you came into the game batting .125 (10 for 80), but just for today!
Denard Span, sorry Justin Morneau - I know, Morneau had a pretty big-deal double in the 9th, but let's talk about Denard Span and his defense! I forget the inning, but Span made a great catch running towards center and leaping/turning to snag a sure double. And then in the bottom of the 8th, a shot to the gap, a sure go-ahead double... wait, here comes SuperSpan. Dare I say it... does Gomez make that catch? He probably does, but holy smokes, what a catch!
Tomorrow, White Sox, 7:05, Slowey, Buehrle, GIDDYUP!
By the way, Francisco Liriano - you may have heard of him - pitched for Rochester. He improved his record to 10-2. 6 IP, 8H/1BB, 4 ER, 9 K. Not the greatest line, but surely skewed by a 3-run HR. With over 100 pitches, and roughly 60% strikes, it's definitely better than it was in April, but still not how it was in 2006. I go back and forth (oscillate, if you will) on whether or not I think it's F-Bomb time. Right now, I'm content with the rotation... but for real, can't Liriano be the 8th inning guy? I don't want to hear how it would screw him up... two months of relief... isn't there a reason for "spring training"?
On another, unrelated note - am I the only person that thinks that Barry Bonds could help somebody?!? Honestly, he seems to be messed up, sure, but he was injured last year and still managed to hit 28 homers. How about a .480 OBP? How about averaging over a walk a game? Mauer leads the team in walks - less than half a game. I'm not saying Kubel is junk - because Kubel would be the most directly affected when it comes to playing time. But let's compare:
Jason Kubel - $1.3 million in '08, .263/.327/.451, 13 HR, 20% K-rate
Barry Bonds - $200,000 (prorated minimum), 07 stats - .276/.480/.565, 28 HR, 16% K-rate
To me, that's more production for less money. And I'm not even going to say anything about how it would positively affect the on-field production of Mauer, Morneau, Young, etc. Off-the-field, locker-room type-stuff, yeah, maybe that wouldn't be great... but Bonds wouldn't need to be a leader... he would just need to take walks and hit HRs, which, I remind you, he's still pretty good at.
I'm not calling for the Twins to sign Bonds... but I really think he's unfairly taken the blame for what was wrong with baseball the last bunch of years. He deserves another shot.
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2 comments:
I agree. Signing Bonds might make for more of a circus atmosphere, but it will only help them prepare for the playoffs (and in this case, make the playoffs as well). The Twins will never do it though, it goes against everything that they stand for.
BTW, when is Liriano coming up? Ridiculous!
Thanks for the comment Fisk. It is a pipe dream, but it should at least come up in any discussion about "making the team better." Of course, I can make all decisions from my computer without having to face the media.
As far as Liriano goes, it's anyone's guess... but it doesn't help that he (or his agent) is being a whiny bitch about it. If the Twins were planning on calling him up, they have to wait now -- can't let the agent think he has any power. With that being said, he should be the 8th-inning guy.
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