I think that Ron Gardenhire has to get on his knees and thank the schedule makers for the unbalanced schedule. Another loss to the Yankees makes the Bombers 6-0 against the Twins on the season. I always laugh when idiots like Dick Bremer and Bert Blyleven rue the fact that the unbalanced schedule makes it so the Yankees and Red Sox only come to the Metrodome once a season. Dudes, do you realize that the Twins can't beat those teams without getting seriously lucky? The Twins should be pleased as punch that they don't have to play the Yankees more than seven times this season, as it's only seven games that they have to lose. It's only seven times that Ron Gardenhire has to scratch his head and figure out a way to lose to the Yankees. He didn't even try on Tuesday, when the Yankees smoked the Twins, but he was back at it again on Wednesday, as New York beat the Twins for the fourth time this season by the margin of one run. Terribly un-clutch hitting by the Twins and giving up key hits to the sore thumb of the Yankee lineup is a recipe for a loss, and that worked in spades on Wednesday. Brett Gardner again got a clutch hit against the Twins, a two-run, two-out single off Anthony Swarzak in the second inning that made the lead 3-0. Gardner and Nick Swisher are the only two Yankees in that lineup that have not made an All-Star team, and they combined to drive in three of the four runs. Every game against the Yankees this year has featured a hit by the sore thumb of the lineup, and a big hit at that, whether the sore thumb be Jose Molina or Brett Gardner or Francisco Cervelli. No wonder you don't win a game against them.The Twins were absolutely dreadful with runners on base on Wednesday. Remember all that stu
ff I said about Michael Cuddyer being a terrible hitter in key spots yesterday? Yeah, well, you might as well etch that in stone, because Cuddyer's at-bat in the fifth inning was one of the most pathetic at-bats I've ever seen in my life. The situation: bases loaded, two outs, Yankees up by two. A.J. Burnett has struggled with his command all game long, especially not being able to get the curveball across the plate. He had walked the pitcher -- Nick Punto -- earlier that inning, for crissakes. Instead of waiting for a fastball to hit, Cuddyer fishes for two curveballs in the dirt and takes two half-swings that looked more like dry heaves set in motion. For the millionth time this season, Cuddyer folds in a pressure situation. But, hey, he's on pace for a thirty-homer season, so we'll accept him striking out like a Little Leaguer in spots that actually mean something. Absolutely pathetic, Cuddyer.
ff I said about Michael Cuddyer being a terrible hitter in key spots yesterday? Yeah, well, you might as well etch that in stone, because Cuddyer's at-bat in the fifth inning was one of the most pathetic at-bats I've ever seen in my life. The situation: bases loaded, two outs, Yankees up by two. A.J. Burnett has struggled with his command all game long, especially not being able to get the curveball across the plate. He had walked the pitcher -- Nick Punto -- earlier that inning, for crissakes. Instead of waiting for a fastball to hit, Cuddyer fishes for two curveballs in the dirt and takes two half-swings that looked more like dry heaves set in motion. For the millionth time this season, Cuddyer folds in a pressure situation. But, hey, he's on pace for a thirty-homer season, so we'll accept him striking out like a Little Leaguer in spots that actually mean something. Absolutely pathetic, Cuddyer. In the sixth inning the Twins had a chance, too, but then Nick Punto's turn in the batting order came up with two guys on base. Are we at all surprised that Nick Punto struck out? Are we at all surprised that Ron Gardenhire didn't pinch hit for Punto then, and not in th
e eighth inning, when there was nobody on base? The answer, of course, is pathetically "no" to both questions. It's a strange paradox that Ron Gardenhire displays with his playing Nick Punto. He apparently acknowledges that Punto sucks at the plate (I mean, you'd have to be beyond stupid to not realize that -- dumber that Gardenhire, even) but he would rather keep Punto in the game as long as he can until he pinch-hits for him. Again, look at it as if Punto were the pitcher at the plate (he basically is). In the bottom of the sixth inning, with your team down by two runs against a team that you haven't beaten this season, you may not get an opportunity like you had in the sixth again. You need to pinch hit anyone for Nick Punto right then and there and take your chances with Matt Tolbert in the field from there on out. They're basically the same player -- terrible offensively, average defensively -- so it's not like you're losing anything with the glove. Instead, Ron Gardenhire thinks it's too early to pinch-hit for the pitcher, and he loses probably the best chance he has to tie the game by sticking with Punto. Denard Span struck out following Punto to end the inning, and save for a Joe Mauer home run in the seventh, the Twins' threats were all but done for the night.
e eighth inning, when there was nobody on base? The answer, of course, is pathetically "no" to both questions. It's a strange paradox that Ron Gardenhire displays with his playing Nick Punto. He apparently acknowledges that Punto sucks at the plate (I mean, you'd have to be beyond stupid to not realize that -- dumber that Gardenhire, even) but he would rather keep Punto in the game as long as he can until he pinch-hits for him. Again, look at it as if Punto were the pitcher at the plate (he basically is). In the bottom of the sixth inning, with your team down by two runs against a team that you haven't beaten this season, you may not get an opportunity like you had in the sixth again. You need to pinch hit anyone for Nick Punto right then and there and take your chances with Matt Tolbert in the field from there on out. They're basically the same player -- terrible offensively, average defensively -- so it's not like you're losing anything with the glove. Instead, Ron Gardenhire thinks it's too early to pinch-hit for the pitcher, and he loses probably the best chance he has to tie the game by sticking with Punto. Denard Span struck out following Punto to end the inning, and save for a Joe Mauer home run in the seventh, the Twins' threats were all but done for the night.Here's props to Joe Girardi on making the correct managerial decision on Wednesday by bringing in Mariano Rivera with two outs in the eighth inning. It's the kind of move that good t
eams make, by acknowledging the fact that Rivera is a surefire Hall-of-Famer and you'd have to be out of your gourd not to use him in situations that call for your best reliever to handle. It's a move that I'm sure made Ron Gardenhire go, "Really?" in the dugout when he saw Girardi call for Rivera. It's not as if the situation was so dire that only Rivera could extinguish the rally -- there was one guy on base and two outs, with pinch hitter Jose Morales at the plate. Ron Gardenhire would only use Joe Nathan in the eighth inning if the bases were loaded or if Matt Guerrier's arm had fallen off the socket. Doubtless Gardenhire was shocked when he saw the best reliever in the last decade and a half come to the mound, because he's been taught that a closer only comes in for the ninth inning, and pitches the ninth inning only. Hey, the Twins have lost countless games and at least one division title operating under that mantra, and if anything else, it rattled Gardy's confidence, because, after all, the move worked. Rivera got Morales to end the eighth and then mowed down the side in the ninth, throwing a whole eleven pitches to get four outs. And guess what -- I'm pretty sure Girardi would be willing to do the same thing again today.
eams make, by acknowledging the fact that Rivera is a surefire Hall-of-Famer and you'd have to be out of your gourd not to use him in situations that call for your best reliever to handle. It's a move that I'm sure made Ron Gardenhire go, "Really?" in the dugout when he saw Girardi call for Rivera. It's not as if the situation was so dire that only Rivera could extinguish the rally -- there was one guy on base and two outs, with pinch hitter Jose Morales at the plate. Ron Gardenhire would only use Joe Nathan in the eighth inning if the bases were loaded or if Matt Guerrier's arm had fallen off the socket. Doubtless Gardenhire was shocked when he saw the best reliever in the last decade and a half come to the mound, because he's been taught that a closer only comes in for the ninth inning, and pitches the ninth inning only. Hey, the Twins have lost countless games and at least one division title operating under that mantra, and if anything else, it rattled Gardy's confidence, because, after all, the move worked. Rivera got Morales to end the eighth and then mowed down the side in the ninth, throwing a whole eleven pitches to get four outs. And guess what -- I'm pretty sure Girardi would be willing to do the same thing again today.I do have to give Ron Gardenhire props for his classic cop-out regarding Glen Perkins, who was scratched from Wednesday's start because Perkins was "sick." I suspect Perkins got sick when he tried to recall his start against New York in May, when he gave up six 
runs in 2/3 of an inning. Either that or, more likely, Ron Gardenhire didn't want a replay of that horrendous outing but needed a good way to lie to the fans and said that Perkins was under the weather. Even more likely is the possibility that Perkins was indeed sick because Gardenhire poisoned his food the night before; good liars are ones that can back up their lies, and if need be, Perkins can show up with his face the color of guacamole and back up Gardenhire's excuse. Whatever the case, it was strangely perfect timing for Perkins to call in sick, and now that means that Francisco Liriano will pitch Thursday afternoon against spot-starter Alfredo Aceves, who picked up two wins in that nightmarish four-game sweep in May.
runs in 2/3 of an inning. Either that or, more likely, Ron Gardenhire didn't want a replay of that horrendous outing but needed a good way to lie to the fans and said that Perkins was under the weather. Even more likely is the possibility that Perkins was indeed sick because Gardenhire poisoned his food the night before; good liars are ones that can back up their lies, and if need be, Perkins can show up with his face the color of guacamole and back up Gardenhire's excuse. Whatever the case, it was strangely perfect timing for Perkins to call in sick, and now that means that Francisco Liriano will pitch Thursday afternoon against spot-starter Alfredo Aceves, who picked up two wins in that nightmarish four-game sweep in May. 
1 comment:
Hey didnt gardy try to have nathan get like 5 outs in the playoffs a few years ago and he blew it? i think that was against the yankees too. but u still wouldve found something to wine about.
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