Game 43: Twins @ Brewers

by AdamOnFirst on May 22, 2009 10:40 PM EDT Comment 10 comments

No time to talk today, but the first series with interleague rival Milwaukee starts tongiht. The Twins put that masive 20 spot up on the White Sox last night after shifting the lineup order up, but even after that, Gardenhire said this:

Manager Ron Gardenhire said he'll "try it again [tonight] and see what happens," but he prefers Mauer batting third.

"I would really like to have a guy [in the two-spot] that handles the bat -- a guy that can bunt, a guy that can run, all those things," Gardenhire said. "That's the way it's supposed to be in the lineup.

I always thought "hitting well" was preferable to "handling the bat," but hey, I'm not a major league manager.

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Manny Parra	3-4	8	8	0	0	0	0	43.1	43	24	22	4	26	39	4.57	1.59

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Kevin Slowey	5-1	8	8	0	0	0	0	48.0	65	24	24	8	4	35	4.50	1.44

Lineup

Milwaukee Brewers @ Minnesota Twins

05/22/09 8:10 PM EDT

Milwaukee Brewers	Minnesota Twins
Craig Counsell - 2B	Denard Span - LF
J.J. Hardy - SS	Joe Mauer - C
Ryan Braun - LF	Justin Morneau - 1B
Prince Fielder - 1B	Michael Cuddyer - RF
Mike Cameron - CF	Joe Crede - DH
Corey Hart - RF	Brendan Harris - 3B
Mat Gamel - DH	Carlos Gomez - CF
Casey McGehee - 3B	Matt Tolbert - 2B
Jason Kendall - C	Nick Punto - SS

Looks like Gardenhire's biting the bullet and going with Mauer, who apparently can't "handle the bat well," or whatever, second again.

This is a very top heavy lineup for the Twins though. You've got Span setting the table with his high OBP, the Mauer and Morneau both with OPS's over 1.000, then Cuddyer with an OPS right at .900, then Jrede and Harris right about .700 each, then Gomez, TOlbert, and Punto around .500. The top needs to be good everyday to score much like this.

I ate a Bratwurst today, was that an unintentional act of cheering for the Brewers? Oh God...

GO TWINS!

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Wow

Wow, just checked back, 11 runs, the Twins are ROCKING again!

"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 May 22, 2009 10:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm glad

I’m glad that everyone is outside on this nice evening, but Cuddy went for the cycle in 4 AB’s!

by AdamOnFirst on May 22, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

cuddy

cuddy and mauer are locked in at the plate lately
cuddy with a cycle, 5 ribbies tonight so far

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on May 22, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cant Wait

Man, I cant wait for the new park to open up there. The Metrodome is just so awful. I’ve been on the field down there when I attended the U and it looks just as bad from below as it does from the stands or on tv.

Slowey looked great tonight too. I would love to see the Brewers send Hardy your guys way for him. Any takers on that deal?

by backtocali on May 23, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Metrodome

As much bad press as the Dome gets for baseball, it is a far worse stadium for football. And yes that’s in spite of the cheap seats not being able to see half of the outfield for baseball. I’d really rather have the Vikings getting the outdoor stadium and the Twins taking ownership of the dome and renovating it for their own needs, but oh well. I am certain that Target Field will be a phenomenal ballpark and a huge upgrade for the Twins, regardless.

by Boot on May 23, 2009 7:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Vikings won't need a dome in L.A.

by Evan Nelson on May 23, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

I’ve always seen the Metrodome as a football stadium that they happen to play baseball in (resulting in ridiculous things like the Baggie and no seats in 2/3 of the outfield’s first deck). Other than that it removes the elements from the equation (and is ridiculously loud, although some see that as a positive), what are its problems for football?

Evan’s comment was funny but still makes me a bit sad.

"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 May 23, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The stadium is laid out for football, that is true. But when that stadium is full, as it always is for football, it is a horrible place to be. There are not nearly enough bathrooms or concession areas. The hallways are too narrow. I was at a Vikings game once and I went to get snacks right at the start of halftime, and I did not make it back to my seat until halfway through the fourth quarter.

The field surface itself is also horrible for football. How many knees and ankles have been blown out by that playing surface? Sure, it has happened in baseball too, but not as often.

For baseball, these problems aren’t as pronounced. If the Twins could have taken complete ownership (and thus profits) of the dome, remodeled the outfield seats so they were at field level, and made that into a baseball-only stadium, I think they would have been happy.

Still, I’m very excited about Target field. It is going to be a great stadium, no doubt about that.

by Boot on May 23, 2009 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hey Gardy

Manager Ron Gardenhire said he’ll “try it again [tonight] and see what happens,” but he prefers Mauer batting third.

“I would really like to have a guy [in the two-spot] that handles the bat — a guy that can bunt, a guy that can run, all those things,” Gardenhire said. "That’s the way it’s supposed to be in the lineup.

sounds like Mauer to me Gardy, so what’s the problem?

by caluofmn on May 23, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs