Twins Have Won 10 of 11: Who's Hot?

by Jesse on Sep 26, 2009 10:06 AM EDT in By the Numbers Comment 18 comments

Let's run it down.

Michael Cuddyer, of course: .391/.404/.848 (no, that's not his OPS, that's his slugging percentage) with six homers and 18 RBI. 18, I hear you ask? 18.
Delmon Young's been playing regularly, and has collected multi-hit days six times over these 11 games. He's batting .349/.370/.558. He's even walked twice!
Denard Span has missed a couple games, but returned last night and picked up a pair of hits and an intentional base-on-balls. His OBP in this span is .375, which is actually below his season line but still just find for a leadoff hitter.
Nick Punto continues to hit well with an average of .294 and an OBP of .429. With a season OBP of .332, he currently is on base at a higher rate than any other middle infielder on the team. By a significant margin.
Orlando Cabrera has started hitting again, picking up a pair of big home runs. He's hitting .295/.347/.523.
In spite of going hitless last night, Jose Morales continues to look good at the plate and has appeared in seven games, with a .300/.400/.400 triple slash.
Am I forgetting anyone? Any hitters? Any hitters who are about to win their third batting title in four year? Oh yeah, Joe Mauer and his .457/.596/.686 line! Joe's picked up 16 hits, including a pair of doubles and a pair of homers, as well as 12 (TWELVE) walks. Add to that four intentional base-on-balls. And one strikeout.
Nick Blackburn has contributed 13.1 innings of two-run ball.
Carl Pavano hasn't been great, but has been good enough over three starts: 19 IP, 4.26 ERA. Not great, but the Twins have still won all three contests.
The Twins have also won all three of Brian Duensing's starts. Two shutout starts where the opposition couldn't score over 13.1 innings, and then a third that wasn't nearly as impressive.
Jesse Crain has strung together six consecutive scoreless appearances (although it's now been over a month since Crain has been charged with a run).
Just one run against Jose Mijares in seven appearances.
Five innings and six appearances under Matt Guerrier's belt have garnered opponents just one run.
How about the big man, Jon Rauch? Five scoreless appearances.
Joe Nathan has retired nine on strikes over 6.2 innings, giving up one run.

Lots of contributors over the last string of days, and it's been mucho exciting. Tonight we get to see the boys do it all over again.

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oops

Morales, Majaris. Potato, Potato. Lets call the whole thing off.

by mmaland on Sep 26, 2009 10:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I saw that too...should be changed now...

by Jesse on Sep 26, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was loud. I was listening to the KC radio feed, and it you could tell it was a home run as soon as he connected. Good for him. Amazing how many guys relax and perform better when they know they’ll play every day.

by Han Joelo on Sep 26, 2009 10:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I know, right?

Still waiting for consistency of that guy…

by Jesse on Sep 26, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was shocked that that's his ninth homer

As of June, he had 0 homers and a total of two extra base hits. Wha’ ’Appened?

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

by cmathewson on Sep 26, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Magic?

"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 26, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I knew Cuddy was involved!

"But seriously, the banana guy is just sitting there now quietly taking in the game. You can’t do that. You’re either the banana guy or you’re the businessman." -Daniel Louden

by fischean on Sep 26, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We still have the contradiction

that the Twins record is a lot better without Morneau in the lineup. I understand that they aren’t playing the Angels, Yanks or Red Sox, but still, this is a small sample aberration that goes against logical analysis.

by Old Twins Cap on Sep 26, 2009 10:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, its like on Star Wars (nerd disclaimer)

Luke got stronger after Obi-wan died. So maybe Morneau is projecting himself into the AB’s of Punto and Young. Or kind of a Lord of the Rings thing after Gandalf died, the individuals in the fellowship had to step it up another notch. With that analogy, Crede would be Boromir, the Tigers would be Saruman, and yup, you guessed it, Yankee stadium is Mordor and Steinbrenner is Sauron. And Punto is Frodo.

by Han Joelo on Sep 26, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well that makes you Tolkien

by Old Twins Cap on Sep 26, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So is Boof Bonser Tom Bombadil?

by Jesse on Sep 26, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....................no.

Tom Bombadil had amazing power, he seldomly used it, but he had it.

Boof, sadly, has only his name.

by montanatwinsfan on Sep 26, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure, but he might come our rescue at the last minute.

“Oh no, our bullpen and or back end of the rotation is in trouble and is possibly being eaten by a tree!”

“Let’s call Boof Bonser, he has a good curveball and might just be healthy enough to pitch, and pull Nick Punto out of that tree!”

“Hey dol! Merry dol! Ring a dong goatillo! Ring a dong! Hop along! Fal lal the willow! Boof Toof, jolly Boof, Boof Bonserillo!”

by Jesse on Sep 26, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ha!

could he save LNP from the inevitable failed bunt?

by montanatwinsfan on Sep 26, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Easy....

All those people listed above weren’t playing that well when Morneau was in the lineup.

If Justin was healthy, there’d be room for him in this lineup.

by DavidRF on Sep 26, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think this lineup-

in doing so well-has really made one thing clear to me; Cuddy is expendable. With our 3 outfielders playing well when they get consistent at-bats, I think we can afford to trade him. I love what Cuddy has done, so I’m not trying to cut his effort down at all. But I do think its safe to say that we will get his prodution at 1st with Morneau, and the fall off in the outfield may not be that bad. I WOULD rather trade Young that Cuddy, but we will get more for Cuddy hand down. Just a thought. I know people get pretty passionate about Young and Cuddles, so who knows what will happen. Either way, right now, I am VERY happy that he is a Twin.

I always loved that one.

by FoulJack on Sep 26, 2009 1:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This would be easier to handle

if Young could hit like this on a consistent basis. That’s my issue here. Young would have some pretty big shoes to fill, because as the only “big” bat who’s a right-hander Cuddles gives the middle of this lineup four very potent hitters. And with how weak the bottom of this order has been for most of the season, taking away that reliable bat is a big deal.

by Jesse on Sep 26, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs