Open Thread: Twins @ Red Sox Recap

by Jesse on Jul 8, 2008 9:15 PM EDT in Game Recaps Comment 11 comments

July 8, 2008.

The offense was on display tonight, particularly Brendan Harris and Denard Span. Nick Blackburn was a fiend. Special thanks to Andersklasen, montanatwinsfan and DedicatedFlowerOfFashion for joining me in the game thread tonight.

* Who are your stars of the game?

For me, it's Harris, Span and Blackburn. Clearly.

* Who's at-bat was the turning point?

* Defensive play of the game?

* Boneheaded move of the game?

* Can the Twins pick up another series victory tomorrow afternoon?

See you tomorrow!

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Might have spoken a bit too soon on this thread…

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by joeiscool12 on Jul 8, 2008 9:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Joe Nathan

I was impressed by Joe Nathan’s composure as he sat in the bullpen during the eighth inning. He was really able to help the team there! I’m sure glad our manager squeezes every bit of productivity out of his roster!

I’m also glad that Nick Punto is hitting right now against Jonathon Papelbon while Jason Kubel sits on the bench and watches. Brilliant.

PS: Papelbon jusst got a strike call that Matt Guerrier didn’t get. Just saying.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane

by AdamOnFirst on Jul 8, 2008 9:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that

that game hurt more than last night.
a 3 run lead going to the 8th…that is a game we should win 100% of the time

lets get em tommorrow. noon (central time) start

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Jul 8, 2008 9:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Blah, that game just stunk., plain and simple.

Manny was probably the star of the game, although Blackburn definitely takes it for the Twins side.

Span’s leaping catch was the play of the game, but Blackburn’s sliding grab was a great gem as well.

I ca’t say bringing in Guerrier was “boneheaded,” but leaving him in so long may have been. Why can we never bring Nathan in during the 8th?

No, the Twins can’t pick up a series win, but I sure as hell hope we can at least salvage one win, but it will be really tough against Beckett.

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by joeiscool12 on Jul 8, 2008 10:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

counterpoint

I ca’t say bringing in Guerrier was "boneheaded," but leaving him in so long may have been. Why can we never bring Nathan in during the 8th?

dont necessarily disagree with bringing in Nathan but I have a counterpoint, cut and pasted and edited from another post:

Here is where we might all agree that Gardenhire might have made a stupid decision to leave in Matt Guerrier. Game tied, Guerrier has given up a single, a home run, a double to Youkilis, and now a wild pitch to Moss. As evidencedhere by ESPN play by play:

M Lowell struck out swinging. 5 5
K Youkilis doubled to deep center. 5 5
K Youkilis to third on wild pitch by M Guerrier.

Clearly Guerrier is a little rattled at this point and sweating under the pressure. I think I would have pulled him, ego be damned. But then, Gardenhire NEEDS to manage for the long term which includes both seasons and careers. One loss to Boston, because Crain messes up is not a big deal over the course of a season. However, leaving Guerrier in to face his fear, to feel the pressure of a big time game, to work through his own mistakes, to develop confidence that he can pitchthrough his own mistakes… …all help make Guerrier a better pitcher AND help the team throughout the rest of the season.

Gardenhire took a gamble that didn’t pay off. I think it was a smart gamble, myself. One potential loss in the course of a season vs. a chance to build some confidence, and some experience, and to test the mettle of, an important bullpen pitcher.

by montanatwinsfan on Jul 9, 2008 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's official

Crain is in Gardy’s doghouse. Guerrier had nothing tonight. And even after he gave up the game-typing homer, Gardy still didn’t get Crain up. To watch a guy whom you know will just cough up the lead is just painful.

That’s two great pitching performances in the last week wasted. In both cases, Gardy takes a guy out who has only thrown 80 pitches after giving up a measly single in the seventh. He better start leaving these starters in in those cases, cause this bullpen is weak.

For

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

by cmathewson on Jul 8, 2008 10:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I know

I saw somewhere (the Strib probably) that the Twins are saying that they probably will not make a deal at the trade deadline. But you gotta think that an upgrade in the bullpen is in the works

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Jul 8, 2008 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

Gardy takes a guy out who has only thrown 80 pitches after giving up a measly single in the seventh. He better start leaving these starters in in those cases, cause this bullpen is weak.

With that I can agree. I think Baker was gassed two nights ago, but I think Blackburn could have stayed in last night.

by montanatwinsfan on Jul 9, 2008 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs