Souhan wants Twins to lose in one-game playoff
by Neil on Sep 21, 2009 2:18 PM EDT
46 comments
From the Strib today: "Let's hope for a Game 163 on Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the Metrodome, and let's hope that would mark the end of baseball for the Twins in 2009."
Sigh. Enough's been said about Souhan in this space and others, so I'll refrain from cracking back too much, but what kind of fan wants to hear this from their sports commentary? It's his opinion, of course, so he can say what he wants... but why even say something like that?
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Souhan
should know that anyone can win a 5-game series.
my floor is looking pretty dirty... BETTER GET OUT THE BROOM!!!
by natetheskate on Sep 21, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Souhan being a jerk again?
Color me surprised.
This is also the guy that said Mauer would “never be a power hitter”.
by fischean on Sep 21, 2009 2:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How he stays employed in this newspaper industry....
….while guys like Phil Miller lose their jobs is a crying shame.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Sep 21, 2009 3:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I hope the Star Tribune holds a 1 column playoff for Souhan’s spot on the paper. Doing this would “bid a dramatic farewell to the Metrodome.”
Fans should also “recoil from the idea” of Souhan covering Game 164. “Does anyone really want to see that?”
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 21, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don't agree with him obviously
but a good counterpoint is that if we do make the playoffs and get swept, the mediocrity of the people currently running the franchise will get rewarded, and I dont want that
www.twinkietalk.com
www.olympicsportsblog.wordpress.com
by fetch9 on Sep 21, 2009 3:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
someone was making the point
the other day on a non-local sports radio station that the problem with the Twins is that they do just enough so that ownership/management dont HAVE to do anything
by guinness junky on Sep 21, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
exactly
Why should Gardy stick around when he makes terrible decisions every game? Why should Bill Smith be around when he’s made 2 awful trades, including one that might be the worst in the history of the franchise?
www.twinkietalk.com
www.olympicsportsblog.wordpress.com
by fetch9 on Sep 21, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A couple of things
I disagree with Smith’s offseason decisions with a few exceptions. But you have to admit he did a good job in acquiring Pavano, Cabreara, Rauch and Mahay. The truth is, they have tried to win this year. Did they have enough to beat the Yankees before those moves? No. But I for one am glad he made them rather than folding in August.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Sep 21, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yep
I agree, those were solid moves. Except Cabrera, I was never into that one.
www.twinkietalk.com
www.olympicsportsblog.wordpress.com
by fetch9 on Sep 21, 2009 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
They were all good moves except for Cabrera. Cabrera seemed like a good move when he was hot right when he came over, but since then he hasn’t been great. No reason to pick him up when you have a near identical player in Harris.
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 21, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cabrera is a more heads up baserunner than Harris
my floor is looking pretty dirty... BETTER GET OUT THE BROOM!!!
by natetheskate on Sep 22, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Harris was mired in a horrendous slump when they got Cabrera
He’s not an everyday player.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Sep 22, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who isn't?
OC or Harris?
my floor is looking pretty dirty... BETTER GET OUT THE BROOM!!!
by natetheskate on Sep 22, 2009 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ideally, none of the infielders besides Morneau on the team
Let’s trade all of them for JJ Hardy. Sounds like an even swap to me.
by lookatthosetwins on Sep 22, 2009 1:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd like that
How about Delmon and Perkins?
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Sep 22, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Harris...
…starts out strong, but then he gets a little leaden in the feet and his bat slows down. He’s a nice bench guy, but the Twins needed Cabrera down the stretch to patch a glaring hole. He’s not perfect, but he was a decent patch considering what was available. That said, they should NOT sign him unless they strike out on the trade market.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Sep 22, 2009 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im gonna go ahead and say
that they shouldnt sign him, unless he’s less than 2 M. Which, considering he got 4 this year, I’m not sure is feasible.
I would rather play Punto at short than Cabrera next season. What has this world come to?
by Milt on Tilt on Sep 22, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Punto is too inconsistent
Cabreara might not be much above replacement level, but he never plays below replacement level. You have to have a short memory to forget the stretches when Punto played far below replacement level. The whole first half of this year, for example.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Sep 22, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But...
Next year is an even-numbered year, which means that Punto will start the year as the utility man after some free agent waste replaces him, then step in after the new guy stinks it up and put up a .750 OPS. Mark it down.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cabrera
he may be a replacement level hitter at short stop, but his defense is far below replacement.
I’d go so far as to say that with his recent hot streak, Nick Punto has been the better player THIS YEAR. And since Cabrera is 36 next season, you can’t expect it to get better.
by Milt on Tilt on Sep 22, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Punto vs. Cabrera
Arguing the relative merits of two SS’s aged 31 and 34 who hit .232/.332/.288 and .250/.281/.383 this year make me wonder what’s behing door number 3.
Aren’t we supposed to have a farm system? The starting SS for Rochester should always be available for a weak-bat/decent-glove option. Why don’t we have someone in the minors who could beat out these two?
by DavidRF on Sep 22, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trevor Plouffe
He put up a .720 OPS in AAA this year, which doesn’t sound bad but was actually worse than Matt Tolbert, who hits like Nick Punto with swine flu.
More ominously, I don’t know that management thinks that Cabrera’s been a problem – he had a mild hot streak when they first acquired him, and that cemented his place as the starting shortstop and number two hitter to the point where they probably haven’t even considered that they may be better off with a Harris-Punto middle infield.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Probably just doing it to drive hits to the page.
Whe local sports journalists say something so obviously stupid, it’s usually to get noticed.
by Jesse on Sep 21, 2009 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree
and when I see someone post something like this, I make a point to not click on it. Giving him traffic would just promote the problem.
by lookatthosetwins on Sep 21, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn, you're probably right.
And I just went and helped. Curses.
by Neil on Sep 22, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
counterpoint,
what rational human hasn’t thought about these Twins squeaking out a playoff birth and facing the Yanks in the first round … and despaired. Souhan was brave (stupid) enough to put his thoughts to paper. Big deal.
by montanatwinsfan on Sep 21, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Montana, you ignorant slut ;)
People said the same thing in 1987 and 1991. What rational human wouldn’t want his team to finish 1st in the division? “Despair”? Gimme a break! Souhan is stupid.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"Over? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is!" -John "Bluto" Blutarsky
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Sep 21, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have to agree
October baseball is October baseball.
my floor is looking pretty dirty... BETTER GET OUT THE BROOM!!!
by natetheskate on Sep 21, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Slut, yes.
Ignorant, no well, yes that too.
by montanatwinsfan on Sep 21, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well...
The Twins lost the first three games in Yankee Stadium in the final at-bat of the game. It’s not like they were the victims of 15-1 shellackings or something. The Twins are competitive with the Yankees, and even if they weren’t, I fail to see why getting to see three extra Twins games is such a horrid fate.
"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 Sep 21, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well put
my floor is looking pretty dirty... BETTER GET OUT THE BROOM!!!
by natetheskate on Sep 21, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree
Anything can happen. This would be one of the bigger disparities in talent in a playoff series, but its still a baseball team that wins less than 2/3 of the time against a team that wins just over half the time. Not as big of disparity as it would seem. This isn’t football, anything can happen.
by lookatthosetwins on Sep 21, 2009 5:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That was supposed to be a reply to less cowbell
I do not agree with Souhan
by lookatthosetwins on Sep 21, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
haha
but you actually ended up agreeing with me. So there!
by montanatwinsfan on Sep 21, 2009 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Too much Yankee worship in Twins-land
No one has noticed that the Yankees themselves haven’t won a postseason series since the 2004 ALDS?
The team actually sets itself up to choke when it throws so much adulation on another team like that. The famed “Yankee Mystique” is nothing more than getting inside the other team’s heads.
by DavidRF on Sep 22, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Quoting Curt Schilling
Mystique and Aura? Those are dancers at a nightclub.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
B.S. to you and David RF above!
(a very respectful and gentle B.S. mind you) I’ll give you reason for fear how about a 95 – 56 record? Aurified yet? You should be.
How about #1 in RS and team OPS? How about Cy Young candidate CC Sabathia, and #2 in BAA?
How about Mariano Rivera, a run differential of +148, or a home record of 52-23?
Curt Schilling can spout crap all he wants, but we have all watched the Twins play in Yankee Stadium and you can practically hear the Twins’ knees knocking together during the playoff games in Yankee Stadium in the past.
Of course anything can happen, and it’ll be fun to make it into the postseason, but seriously this Twins team probably has a better chance of being eaten by a shark (yes the whole team, Mijares included) than beating the Yanks with home field advantage this year.
If this were the Twins of the second half of 2006, I’d say phooey. But this is the 2009 Twins, the ones who can’t beat the Royals, the Indians, the Rangers, the Tigers let alone the Red Sox or the Yanks.
How many position players are psyched to start behind Scott ‘barely consistent and pretty good’ Baker? How much confidence does Blackburn inspire?
I can’t wait to be proven wrong, but I won’t hold my breath while I wait.
by montanatwinsfan on Sep 22, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh.. 100-win teams are usually excellent...
And they’re certainly a better team on paper, no argument there.
But every year its the same hero-worship of the Yankee franchise that makes our chances of pulling off an upset that much lower. That’s all I was saying. Gardy will over-manage, the batters will over-swing… and you said yourself, knees will knock in a building billed as being historic but is really just five months old. And its never any other 100-win team that makes their knees knock, just this one.
They take the on-paper disadvantage and magnify it with mental self-voodoo. No excuse for that.
by DavidRF on Sep 22, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well...
The Twins of 2006 were the best team in baseball going into the playoffs and promptly got swept by the A’s. That same year, the Tigers choked away a certain division title at the end of the year and then knocked out the Yankees on their way to the World Series, only to get beat by the worst regular-season World Series team ever.
I will fully acknowledge that the Twins are not as good as the Yankees. I also don’t see why the Twins can’t win a best of five series against them. I don’t care about the home field advantage, either – yeah, the Twins went 0-4 in Yankee Stadium this year, but again, they lost those four games by a combined five runs. Maybe it’s Little Mac taking on Mike Tyson, but I’ll have you know that I have beaten Mike Tyson more than once, and he does not scare me.
"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 Sep 22, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If it were Boston, I might agree,
but the Gardy-era Twins have a complete mental block against New York. To the tune of something in the range of 4 wins in their last 25 at Yankee Stadium, and not a whole heck of a lot better at home. We have a major malfunction when it comes to that team. Utter meltdown every time we play them (I don’t know if Souhan brings it up, but dare I remind us all of our first visit this year to the new Yankee Stadium, wherein we saved the Yankees season for them all by ourselves). It needs to be solved, but I don’t think the playoffs, without Morneau and with Baker/Pavano/Blackburn, is the place to solve it. Anything can happen, 5 game series, etc. etc., but still.
It would be nice for the core of the team, many of whom weren’t around in ‘06, to get some postseason experience. I do worry that squeaking in there will give management an excuse to not spend what’s necessary to have a team capable of more than just winning the Central. Then again, not making the playoffs the last two years hasn’t spurred them on.
by MCA1 on Sep 24, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Souhan was reffering to the end of the regular season in '09
No?
otherwise what a big jerk face.
Deolis Guerra = Daniel Cabrera ?
I tend to think so
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Sep 22, 2009 5:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
jerk face...
Click the link… “Do we really want this Twins team facing the Yankees in the playoffs?” is the sub-headline for his article.
by DavidRF on Sep 22, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As someone who wants to see changes...
…in the Twins system, I can understand why he’d feel that way. Also thanks for that link, Gleeman waxing poetic about good looks! I haven’t read him for years but it’s good to hearken back to the old days.
by MNPundit on Sep 23, 2009 2:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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