Lineup? (day before musings)

by montanatwinsfan on Apr 5, 2009 10:19 AM EDT Comment 5 comments

Tomorrow is the big day but unlike most opening days the lineup is still in doubt; serious doubt. With Span and Crede struggling, and four outfielders at his disposal, I think Gardenhire should seriously be considering both Buscher and Young as opening day starters. But that is only half the problem as injuries have been a serious issue so far as well: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090403&content_id=4117890&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min

Injuries to Baker, Bonser, Mauer, Punto, and nor Morneau make the starting lineup a question that will probably not be answered until Monday (just watch Gardenhire post his starters today and make me look silly - something I don't really need any extra help with). One thing we know for sure, barring an arrest for his second DUI, and immediate deportation, Francisco Liriano will take the mound to start the game and Nathan will be there in the ninth if the game is close.

I'm not smart enough to even speculate on what other pitchers will nab which relief roles (or starteing roles for Baker), but in the interest of starting a conversation on this fine Sunday morning I'll throw out a proposed starting lineup:

Gomez cf

Casilla 2nd

Kubel dh

Morneau 1b

Cuddyer rf

Young lf

Buscher 3b

Harris ss

Redmond c

Of course, if Morneau can't start (unlikely after Saturday's performance) Buscher will have to play at 1st, with Crede at 3rd. Would some of the rest of you prefer Punto starting at ss?

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I think he'll go with this

Span LF
Casilla 2B
Cuddyer RF
Morneau 1B
Kubel DH
Crede 3B
Gomez CF
Redmond C
Punto SS

With maybe Gomez hitting 9th instead of 7th. I think Young draws the short end on opening day. We’ll see.

by Eric in Madison on Apr 5, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Span won't be sitting, i don't think

Span won’t be sitting, I don’t think. He didn’t get continuous at bats to get him going for nothing. Yesterday Gardy had Morneau hitting third ahead of Kubel, and interesting strategy, with the 3 big righties following right after.

Once again, one of Cuddyer or Young (or even Crede, but I don’t think he’s a middle of the order bat, a good 6th 7th hitter maybe) tepping up and being a middle of the order quality presence would be huge for the lineup. I’d love to see Mauer second followed by Cuddyer, Morneau and Kubel or Mauer third followed by Morneau Cuddyer and Kubel.

"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 Apr 5, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Eric in Madison's lineup

only thing is Morneau and Cuddyer might be switched
(cudd batting cleanup) ..maybe

that way you have lefty righty lefty righty thing going

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Apr 5, 2009 4:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gomez batting leadoff

Whether or not span sits, Gomez better not be batting leadoff. He was one of the worst offensive players in the game last year and a good spring doesn’t change that. If Span is in, I like Eric’s lineup. If he isn’t, I’d do something more like this, although it probably wouldn’t happen.

Casilla
Cuddyer
Morneau
Kubel
Crede
Young
Gomez
Redmond
Punto

Not a lineup to strike fear in the hearts of our opponents… we need Mauer back ASAP

by lookatthosetwins on Apr 5, 2009 9:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs