Slowey Wins Again

by Jesse on May 28, 2009 2:38 AM EDT in Game Recaps

That's number seven.

The last two games of this series turned into Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better. Every time the Red Sox scored, the Twins would turn around and do the same. Wednesday night, Boston scratched a run across in the top of the third. Minnesota came back with three in the bottom half.

Boston picked up another run in the sixth to cut the gap to one. Then the Twins did the same to extend their lead to two once again.

We didn't see Kevin Slowey at his best, but he's starting to look more and more like the toughest competitor in the rotation. He buckles down when things get tough (it's a cliche', I know), and he finds a way to make a good pitch when he needs to. In the first inning last night Slowey's pitch count ballooned, but he kept the Red Sox off the board. It paid off, and he battled through another five, finishing the night with 99 pitches.

Offensively, Denard Span was the player of the game. His perfect night also included a walk and a stolen base, and you can't ask for much more than that from your leadoff hitter. Span's OBP is now an uber-impressive .409; certainly a pace that's not likely to be maintained, but considering Denard's prospect status just a couple of years ago, I'd have never guessed it was possible. He's been a catalyst for this offense this season, and a great leadoff hitter.

Jose Mijares, Matt Guerrier and Joe Nathan combined to throw three scoreless innings and preserve the win. Mijares' walk of Kevin Youkilis in the eighth was the only blemish for the crew, who otherwise didn't allow a single base runner.

Nick Punto's 0-for-4 night means he's still hitting for a lower average (.187) than David Ortiz (.193). On the bright side, we're not paying LNP double-digit millions.

Stars of the Game
#3: Jason Kubel (2-for-3, 2B, BB, R, RBI, .170 WPA)
#2: Denard Span (4-for-4, 2 R, BB, SB, .177 WPA)
#1: Kevin Slowey (6 IP, 6 H, 5 K, 1 BB, 2 R, .123 WPA)

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Comments

Speak about lack of respect...

…you are tough Jesse. A 4 for 4 night with a walk can’t get top billing!

by roger13 on May 28, 2009 7:52 AM EDT reply actions

Span was #1 star

over Slowey, IMO, but another quality start just keeps the rotation going. Now if only we can get Liriano going…

by Adam Peterson on May 28, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Punto....

does nothing to help this team. His defense isn’t even solid anymore. He made a horrible throwing error in the first that could have opened the door for a huge Red Sox inning if not for great pitching by Slowey. Later in the game he comes up with no out and Tolbert on first and instead of sacrificing him over he hits into a double play. And with Gomez on third late in the game all he can do it knock a sharp ground ball that isn’t deep enough to score him. I know we don’t have a lot of options here, but I don’t think Punto would start for any other team in the league

by STLVikesFAN on May 28, 2009 8:00 AM EDT reply actions

I used to think...

…that Punto was an excellent utility player. And I was hopeful that he would have another decent year, and maybe he still will. But you are right, for a player who doesn’t hit a ton he needs to do the little things right. And he doesn’t.

Unfortunately, Tolbert is a better backup for second and short because at least he bunts well and costs about $3.6mm less. I haven’t stated my opinion of the Garza/Young trade as of yet and I remain hopeful that Delmon Young will still turn into the player we all hoped for. But Jason Bartlett at shortstop would look real nice on this team right now.

Doesn’t look like we have a shortstop in the high minors demanding to play with the Twins. Plouffe has never hit (Barlett hit around .330Ave a couple times at Rochester) for a high average and although young, an average over .300 isn’t likely from him. Maybe the Twins need to go out and find a top level defensive shortstop next year and live with whatever he brings to the offense.

by roger13 on May 28, 2009 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Punto's lack of contribution

looks like he’s reverted back to his 2007 offensive form. Tolbert’s been about as bad. IMO, we should send Tolbert down and bring Casilla back up. See if he’s learned the lesson.

RE: Punto’s defense…the errors this week have been ugly, but they don’t concern me as much as an apparent steady reduction in his range. Looking at UZR/150:

2007: 42.2
2008: 17.9
2009: 7.7

Not huge sample sizes for any year, but large enough to concern me. Punto needs to be all world defensively to make up for atrocious hitting. Last year, he was around league average offensively and superb defensively. This year, he’s terrible offensively and merely good in the field. As a result, he’s been below replacement value (-1.5 runs) so far in 2009.

by Adam Peterson on May 28, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Punto

is this years Batista, the waaaay overpaid subpar veteran that this organization seems to have a constent love affair with. we need to overpay an veteren for mediocre to atrocious play every year. this year it is Punto.

Will the Real Thor Please Stand Up ... ?

by the Real Thor on May 28, 2009 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

punto

Hasn’t hurt the team (-.1 WAR) nearly as much as Delmon (-1 WAR) has. Let’s chillax with the Punto hate for awhile. Even in a down year he’ll still be a 5 run or so guy on defense.

stop by Waving the Wheat (http://wavingthewheat.wordpress.com/) and The College Hockey Blog (http://thecollegehockeyblog.wordpress.com/)

by fetch9 on May 28, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions