Torii needs to shut his [stupid] mouth

by ravenfly on Aug 7, 2007 11:13 AM EDT

Now, I love Torii as much as the next guy. I've got nothing but respect and appreciation for his years of holding down CF on Twins teams good and bad. But the man seriously needs to stop talking to the press.

Joe C's latest entry is yet another example. Yes, Mr. Hunter, we all know that the bottom half of the lineup has been perhaps this team's biggest problem. No, Mr. Hunter, your less-gifted teammates don't need you throwing them under the bus by admitting that you swing for the fences because you have no faith in the guys hitting behind you.

Anyone else feel like Torii's just personally done with playing here?

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I dont read it that way

"No pressure where we're going to pop or anything, but you really want to get that two-run homer before you get too far down."

I am assuming that he means too far down as in score, not the line-up. I get your take as well Adam, but I don't think any of us can deny that there is very little power from the top or the bottom. Sure Kubel can crank a ball now and again, but since the squad has three legitimate power threats, I can see why they would be tempted to go for the big cut. Personally, I would love to see controlled level swings out of everyone...allowing the bat speed to do its thing for each individual player, but that is neither here nor there.

While a lame excuse for the whole team's inability to hit paul "speed of light" byrd, i can understand the reasoning behind the comment.

by mbennett on Aug 7, 2007 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

Same old thing.

Torii likes to talk. Lately that talk has been getting annoying. I agree with you that he shouldn't be running his mouth all the time. Some people will say that it is just his personality. Still doesn't make it right or good for the team. That said. I agree with Hunter. I do not believe that enough has been done to field a contending team. Santana who is usually silent about these sort of things has spoken out regarding the way the team is "worried about the future at expense of the present"(paraphrase). I have heard TR speak the same words so many times "we as an organization will not risk the team's future for the present." If you do not make any moves to improve the roster during contending years. You will be missing those important players needed to win. I hate to say it, but Hunter may be right on this one.

by WITwinsfan on Aug 7, 2007 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

I think he is right, to an extent...

I don't think anyone is arguing against Torii's facts... Mauer, Cuddyer, Morneau and Hunter are most certainly pressing due to the fact that once you're past the 3-6 hitters, there is very little chance to score in the next two innings.

Is he right? Yes. The issue at hand is: should he have said it?

Torii's off-handed and tactless comments may be meant by him as motivation, or they may just be the ramblings of a conceited jerk. I don't know his reasons for saying these things, so I will just hold off judgment. It's going to be impossible to know for sure, because it would be hard to get a team reaction to his comments without getting into a press war of words. So, I'm hoping nobody says a thing. And this latest round of insensitive crap from our "leader" just goes away.

by Neil on Aug 7, 2007 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Hummmm.......

Maybe instead of our highest paid hitter batting sixth (sixth?), we should move him to 8th, allowing one or two of these light hitters to ahead of him with the possibility of getting on base, rather than having Torii following clubbers Cuddyer and Morneau.

Yes, I have trouble with our rally line-up for the 8th and 9th inning reads Kubel, Buscher, Punto, Tyner, Casilla with absolutely no one on the bench to punch one out of the park, let alone hit a sacrifice fly if that was all that was needed. Sure, Redmond is the best hitter on the bench, but he is still basically a line drive guy, and then we have to watch Gardy shudder as he uses his second catcher.

The Twins do need one...really two...hitters. If nothing else, having someone of substance on the bench.

I'm comfortable with Tyner and Bartlett at the top of the order, but playing Tyner means he's in left of DHing. Buscher will hopefully bring mroe average than Punto to the corner, but not the punch the Twins so desperately need.

Punto replaces Rodriguez.

Someone replaces White.

Everyone's been picked up, so is there anyone to repalce Buscher?

I could live with Tyner and Kubel rotating in left, for now.

Can the Twins find three pieces to make their offense more complete, please?

check out Twinkies autograph collection at www.TwinsCards.com

by twintown on Aug 7, 2007 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

What's this about???

Hunter's hitting .233/.291/.425 since the break; Mauer & Morneau aren't exactly tearing it up; and Cuddyer's only played 1/2 the games.

While the guys at the bottom have been struggling, Torii comes off as saying he's pressing because they're so putrid - in other words, it's their fault that he's not performed well since the break.

IMO, Torii's a bit too wrapped up in providing good copy for the pressies, even at the expense of his teammates.

by BD57 on Aug 7, 2007 1:15 PM EDT reply actions

Can we.....

Just have one thread about things Torii says in the press? There's no Twins story that interests me less than things that players say to the media, particularly during such a frustratingly mediocre season. If the board wants to get worked up about it, then fine. But the amount of threads dedicated to player ramblings in the press is getting out of hand.

by TheMattWilke on Aug 7, 2007 1:47 PM EDT reply actions

seriously

"I don't care about feelings." - Lou Pinella

by natetheskate on Aug 7, 2007 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Even just ONE bat...

would make a big difference. I think Casilla/Bartlett/Kubel are fine complementary pieces, right now even, to go with those big 4. Buscher is even acceptable if he can do OKAY as basically an 8/9 hitter, but DH absolutely MUST be upgraded. Piazza would really help, I think.

TR needs to get that deal done.

by djskilbr on Aug 7, 2007 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

I wish that were the case.

I occurred to me the other day that Mike Cuddyer might have had his career year last year.
24 hr, 109 rbi .284/.362/.504 .866 ops

he's not gonna come close to those numbers this year, at least in the areas you want your four hitter to produce in.

10 hr, 58 rbi .283/.363/.440 .803 ops

what does next year hold?

by wcooley on Aug 8, 2007 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm

On the plus side, Torii is making it easier and easier to imagine him gone after the season.

He's gonna turn into a clubhouse problem somewhere someday...

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on Aug 7, 2007 8:13 PM EDT reply actions

Re:

It's going to be August 8th tomorrow and the Twins haven't scored a 4th run in a game yet this month. The clubhouse isn't going to need Torii or Johan's comments to inevitably tear itself apart a la 2005.

by TheMattWilke on Aug 7, 2007 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

talk about inferiority complex

Hey Torii and Johan. F--- you! We never needed you anyway. I'm gonna laugh at the team that pays $X million for your salaries. We have a bunch of scrubs who we don't pay much to and we don't get much in return for, and that's the way we like it in Minneapolis.

You guys are so overrated. Forget that you're having a career year, Torii. Forget that you're the reincarnation of Sandy Koufax, Johan. Screw you. Good riddance!!

Kansas City here we come!

"I don't care about feelings." - Lou Pinella

by natetheskate on Aug 7, 2007 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Johan

To Johan's credit, I haven't heard him say anything before or after his Castillo outburst. He has neer thrown his teammates under the bus. He has never said "Yeah, I'd like to play in New York."

Hunter does all that all the time.

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged