Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop

by Jesse on Jul 31, 2008 5:00 PM EDT in News

And it's not necessarily a bad thing.

Boof Bonser is still in the bullpen, Livan Hernandez is still in the rotation, Mike Lamb is still taking up a bench spot and Craig Monroe is still this team's fifth outfielder. The Twins, quite predictably, have done nothing at the trade deadline, but that's not to say it's a horrible thing to have done.

There were no easy, clear-cut deals to make. Rumors of Rich Aurilia or Jose Castillo, should they have come to fruition, wouldn't help this team. The one, single move this team needs to focus on is finding a way to get Francisco Liriano into the rotation. And, no matter how frustrating things may look after another silent trade deadline, the Minnesota Twins will get Liriano into the rotation.

A guy like Hernandez could clear waivers. Could Boof? Maybe. But it doesn't really matter, because no matter what happens the organization should (and does) have a backup plan. They know which pitcher(s) they're willing to part with in order to find a spot for the 24-year old southpaw, and one way or another, we'll see it happen with in the next three or four days. We know whose numbers could be up: Livan's, Boof's...Brian Bass. The move will be made. Now it's just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Minnesota has taken a conservative gamble, and I'm not going to argue with it. They're counting on Nick Punto to be effective in the field and hitting second. They're counting on Michael Cuddyer to return and be the offensive force they need him to be. They're counting on Delmon Young to hit for more power, for Denard Span to continue to be the presence he's been on both sides of the ball, and on Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau to lead this team into the post-season. It's a ploy we've seen before, and the crazy thing is...

...it's worked before.

I'm not asking anyone to go on blind faith, because this is frustrating as hell. But one thing is for certain: the season will go on, whether we cheer for this team or not. So we sit in the seats at the Dome, and we grab a beer and sit on the couch, or we order up another plate of buffalo wings at the bar...and we cringe every time Brian Buscher has to prove himself again, or every time Jesse Crain makes an appearance for the third time in four days. But there's nothing we can do. And that is the worst feeling there is.

Adam Everett and Lamb could still get their walking papers. They can be replaced. At least one pitcher will lose his job in the next few days. Or hours. It's tough to sit here on July 31st and put faith into a team that has denied itself the opportunity to make an obvious improvement, but it will come.

And in the end, who expected the Twins to be in this good of a position when the year started? Not this guy. Make no mistake: this team is on a road for 2010. So while Trade Deadline '08 may have come and gone like one of those fake holidays you never remember (Columbus Day, Flag Day, Boxing Day, Easter), it's not like this is The End for our beloved Minnesota Twins. There are better days coming.

In the mean time, 2008 is still here. And we're still in the pennant race. And we didn't trade for Ken Griffey Jr., who isn't performing as well as Jason Kubel on some levels.

Minnesota didn't make a big splash. But they didn't complicate matters, either. This organization knows what it has to do going into the last two months of the season, and it's going to be a lot of fun to watch.

Stay tuned.

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Comments

stupid question

when do waivers start?

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Jul 31, 2008 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

Major improvement

I keep hearkening to Bill Smith’s claim that they would only do something if it constituted a major improvement for the club. Unless they had landed Roberts or Beltre without giving up a significant contributor for the major league team, they were not making a trade. Both players have a high price tag. So the Twins will go with the guys they have and try to do something with waivers.

Meanwhile the two biggest upgrades they can make will come from within: Getting a healthy Cuddyer back in the order and calling up the best pitcher in the organization—Liriano. Why make a trade that delays those two things?

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jul 31, 2008 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

La Velle just said that the team tried to get something done, but they weren’t desperate. He mentioned that they wanted Beltre and were willing to add to the payroll and thought this would mean no major prospect. The Mariners never gave in though.

by Twins Territory on Jul 31, 2008 5:16 PM EDT reply actions

Was at last night's game...

...and I cannot imagine how disappointing it has to be to the guys on the field knowing that every time Hernandez takes the mound they are going to be digging out of a 4-5 run hole. If not the first inning, certainly the first couple. Liriano has to be back up here asap and the spot he needs to take is Hernandez’. If not, we will lose 8 or 9 of the last 11 that Livan starts…and that very likely will take us out of the hunt for post season play.

Who goes and how they do it isn’t as important as it is to get The Franchise up here and starting every fifth day…beginning the first game next week.

by roger13 on Jul 31, 2008 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

If anybody but Livan is taken out of the rotation to get F-Bomb in there it’s a bad move. Livan is just getting worse, and nobody else deserves the boot.

by Twins Territory on Jul 31, 2008 5:28 PM EDT reply actions

Blech

find a spot for the 24-year old southpaw, and one way or another, we’ll see it happen with in the next three or four days

I admire your confidence—it hasn’t happened in the last 3-4 weeks when it should have, so I hope you’re right that it happens in the next 3-4 days.

As for the trade deadline…I’m a little irritated, frankly. They are so freaking risk averse, and especially with the Casilla injury, they clearly need infield help, and they failed to do anything. I know, I know, who knows what the price was, etc. Well, at some point the excuses run out—being the little team that could(n’t) eventually loses its appeal. Go freaking win.

by Eric in Madison on Jul 31, 2008 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

This Organization

Is A Bunch of Morons, Why WHY WHY Did We not do anything, We are going to Finish second at best in the AL Central, When the White Sox Got Griffey, You Should Do Something, but no, they just sat their with their thumbs up their collective Asses and did crap.

by Tony_O on Jul 31, 2008 6:01 PM EDT reply actions

hey

settle down man. This team has the talent to put in a good run here. Maybe they wont finish first but they will certainly provide a problem. While I am upset that we could not get rid of Bonser/Bass, I see the Twins waiving goodbye to one (or both) of them and bringing up Liriano (and if both are gone, M Gomez).

This was supposed to be only a “rebuilding” year for the Twins and they certainly can be proud of their positions in the standings. 1 1/2 games out of first is nothing to sneeze at.

by BCTwins on Jul 31, 2008 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude it's not 1994

Griffey’s not a dealbreaker for the Twins run.

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

by natetheskate on Jul 31, 2008 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Deadline Deals

The Twins made the playoffs four times in five years while making exactly one fairly high-impact deal at the trade deadline (Shannon Stewart). It’s certainly not a necessity, and Ken Griffey is merely replacing Paul Konerko in the lineup, which isn’t that huge an upgrade, plus he’s probably a downgrade from Swisher defensively, and Swisher was no great shakes in center either.

Also, remember that the Stewart deal was not the Twins’ biggest deadline move this decade – that would have been in 2001, when they traded Matt Lawton (arguably the team’s best hitter) for Rick Reed. There were no playoff games in the Metrodome that year.

"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

by BeefMaster on Aug 1, 2008 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Middle Infield

is my main concern for the team now. A few days ago with a healthy Casilla I honestly was ok with no trade. I just wish we could have gotten an upgrade over Everett. There’s no good middle infield options in the minors other than maybe Tolbert I suppose. Even he’s not that great though. If Punto can continue to hit well we may be alright. However if Everett becomes a regular presence in our lineup and Punto reverts back to 2007 Punto the offense is gonna go downhill in a hurry. Let’s hope that maybe Casilla could at least be back for the playoffs if we can make it that far.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Jul 31, 2008 6:24 PM EDT reply actions

I would much rather have Matt Macri playing in the Infield than Adam Fricken Everett.

by Tony_O on Jul 31, 2008 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah. Casilla’s injury definitely lowers the depth on the team, but I’d rather trot out the Punto/Harris/Buscher compination than one that involved Luis Castillo and/or Rich Aurilla. Granted, I also believe Macri should be up at the major league level rather than Everett, as he performed very well (/small sample size-ingorasming).

The only thing I want from the Twins is to have Liriano in Hernandez’s rotation spot. I don’t think I can take another night of watching him in the sleeveless jersey launching meatballs at the opposing players.

On the other hand, a good thing to come from last night was the invention of the Dick ‘n Bert drinking game. You take a shot when one of the following is mentioned: the outfield in Oakland, hitting/pitching being contagious, needing a quality start, California math, Livan being the captain/anchor/whatever of the pitching staff, any time someone is circled, whenever Bert calls Span “Darnell”, and Bert whining about the use of pitch counts. If anyone else has ideas, shoot ‘em at me. I’d like to expand it before Livan’s next start.

by matty_b on Jul 31, 2008 6:55 PM EDT reply actions

How about....

If Piranhas are mentioned, you take a shot.

If Bert pronounces a week day in a funny manner, you chug a beer.

If Dick DOES NOT call a nice defensive play by yelling “OH, WHAT A PLAY BY (...)”, everybody immediately becomes the designated driver(s).

by PhoenixV on Jul 31, 2008 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Well if it counts, last year when Bert Dropped the F-Bomb live on the air, I Chugged 3 cans of Budweiser lol

by Tony_O on Jul 31, 2008 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Livan Drinking Game

Take a chug of beer everytime he gives up a hit or walk
Take a shot everytime he gives up a homerun
Take a row of tequila shots everytime he wiggle out of a jam
Funnel a beer everytime he makes it into the 6th inning

(this way your happy when he does well)

Gardenhire's major league career: Banjo hitting, futility infielder who couldn't lick it.
Rick Anderson's major league career: Strikethrower who never made it happen with his sub 90's fastball.
Really gives a new definition to living vicariously through other people, don't it?

by caseintheface on Jul 31, 2008 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Think about this:

After a hundred games, you’re playing for first place against the White Sox. It’s what everyone in the organization has been working for all season.

Why wouldn’t you want Liriano to pitch that game?

The only people this is helping are the White Sox and the Tigers. It’s ridiculous.

And yes, there are things we can do. We can organize a boycott of Twins’ games until Liriano is brought up. Even a few guys with signs milling in the pre-game crowd could cause a ruckus.

If they beat your best that’s one thing. But, if they beat your 8th or 9th best pitcher, then you really have to scratch your head.

There’s no earthly or sensible reason why Liriano did not get a start in this series.

by Old Twins Cap on Jul 31, 2008 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

Tweekin

I would have been happy with the folowing moves.

Trading Bonser so he can get a fresh start somewhere else, and it allows us to bring up Liriano

getting Hawkins, we could have had him for very little, same for Gruddzy.

These are small moves to tweak the roster and improved the teams depth. I didn’t feel that the team needed to do anything big. At this point Buscher deserves the chance to start till the end of the season. There are going to be several FA at 3b available in the offseason anyways. But I feel like getting this additional depth for a run now would also boost morale for the team and the fans. No one believes that the Twins need to do anything major at this point.

by doofus on Jul 31, 2008 11:01 PM EDT reply actions