Twins 10, Tigers 4: Swift Start Stuns Scherzer
by Jon Marthaler on May 3, 2010 10:42 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
Email
PrintMinnesota slapped Detroit starting pitcher Max Scherzer's offerings around early and often, scoring seven runs in the first two innings and coasting to a 10-3 victory over Detroit. Scherzer also allowed three runs in the fifth inning, giving him a ten-spot in the ER column, his worst start in the major leagues.
Given a seven-run lead to work with, Scott Baker was more than up to the admittedly minor task, striking out six and allowing three runs in seven innings. It could have been much worse, though; the Twins starter stranded runners in scoring position in four different innings. Given that Baker blew a five-run lead against Detroit in his last outing, that seven-run lead didn't feel particularly safe at several points, but the right-hander worked through his troubles.
At the plate, it's difficult to work through all of the notables in a ten-run game. Michael Cuddyer hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Denard Span slapped a two-run triple in the second - but perhaps the big story is catcher Wilson Ramos, who had three more hits, including a pair of doubles. Ramos drove in a run, as well.
Wilson Ramos is playing better than he is able.
That said, allow me to plead with you all to remember that Ramos is 22 years old, and has played 70 games above Single-A, and it's still a little early to be worrying about how Ramos and Joe Mauer can exist in the same organization.
Alex Burnett closed out the final two innings, though he did allow the apparently-unstoppable Austin Jackson (3-5, single, double, and an RBI triple) to make the score a bit closer in the ninth.
After the jump, the three Twins standouts of the night.
Honorable Mention: Denard Span
2-5 tonight, making the center fielder 7-14 in May so far. Perhaps Span just needed to turn a page in the calendar to break out of his rut.
3. Scott Baker
"Solid" is the word we're looking for. Three runs in seven innings isn't spectacular, but the Twins will take it, especially on this night.
2. Wilson Ramos
Three more hits, but we'll put him at second star because a pitch reached the backstop. You may now commence arguing about whether this was his fault or not. (It was scored as a wild pitch.)
1. Michael Cuddyer
Given the team's struggles with runners in scoring position, Cuddyer's first-inning homer felt a bit like a pattern had been broken. It eventually would prove to provide all the runs the team would need, as well.
102 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
That was posted fast
Good thing Detroit didn’t come back in the 9th :D
Go Twins!
Let's Go Twins!
Minnesota Wild Off-season: In Fletch We Trust.
I was pretty peeved when Jackson tripled in the ninth.
Ruined parts of the story that I had written by the top of the eighth. :-)
by Jon Marthaler on May 3, 2010 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
i was just going to say that
super fast
Baseball reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.-Terence Mann/James Earl Jones in FoD
I think that dive Cuddyer made in the ninth
should be enough to put him behind Ramos
especially if a pass ball is the reason he’s in second
"Baseball is the only major sport that appears backward in a mirror" ~George Carlin
by thewild_viking_twins on May 3, 2010 10:47 PM EDT reply actions
Granted it didn't really mean anything, being up so much and what not
"Baseball is the only major sport that appears backward in a mirror" ~George Carlin
by thewild_viking_twins on May 3, 2010 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe, but...
I don’t think he would have made that dive in a one-run game. Up seven, I think he took the chance to try to end the game, knowing that if he missed it wouldn’t matter.
Also, I’m afraid to jump on the RAMOS FOR MVP NOW bandwagon. Optimism frightens me.
by Jon Marthaler on May 3, 2010 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I'm happy about Ramos for sure
but, to me at least, he has “flash in the pan” written all over him
"Baseball is the only major sport that appears backward in a mirror" ~George Carlin
by thewild_viking_twins on May 3, 2010 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Flash in the pan?
Regression is likely. But to pretend you can look at a guy and see one way or the other whether he’ll be a flash in the pan is a bit arrogant, no? For these things, I defer to the experts. TK said he’ll be a star. I’ll go with that.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
"Flash in the Pan"
Flash in the Pan? Maybe is you mean the ‘hitting .700 part.’ But remember, he’s still a top level prospect.
"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
Have you seen the hits he is getting?
He is taking pitches in on his hands and lining them to left, pitches down and away are being slashed to right, and pitches out over the plate are being crushed to center. Right now, he is putting on a clinic of how to hit a baseball. Will he continue to be this good? Well, last I checked no one has ever had a career batting average of .778, so he’ll probably start getting out at some point on a more regular basis. Nevertheless, he has two things you can’t teach: outstanding hand-eye coordination with power to all fields.
Great win by the home team
Let’s keep our foot on the gas pedal tomorrow
Baseball reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.-Terence Mann/James Earl Jones in FoD
La Velle says that Blackburn is indeed starting tomorrow
Manship will be sent down.
Baseball reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.-Terence Mann/James Earl Jones in FoD
I kind of wish the SS Manship would sail one more time
I don’t trust Blackie against the Ligers even at home.
Will it be Glue factory nag or Black stallion today?
"For the parents of a Little Leaguer, a baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into innings."
— Earl Wilson
Any one willing to start betting on where/when Ramos will be traded?
My guess is the Sox if Vmart is still suckin it up by the trade deadline.
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. ~ Terence Mann
shouldn't "If" also be included
among your “where/when”?
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
I suppose
But I feel like a trade is the more feasible option.
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. ~ Terence Mann
by John Veldhuis on May 3, 2010 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Why trade Ramos anytime soon?
I really hope the Twins wait at least until this offseason to trade Ramos. Unless of course someone blows them away with an offer. That is a pretty good RHB off the bench come September and October.
There's always the possibility of an offer they can't refuse,
but yeah, barring that they won’t trade him this year.
I could see Ramos being the 2011 version of Jim Thome
I think Thome is only on a one-year deal, so maybe Ramos steps in next year as the DH/pinch hitter/backup catcher.
That seems like a bit of a waste
I’ve said this before, but I think ultimately, trading him is the correct move. I’m in no rush; I suspect the off-season is more likely.
But his great value is as a starting catcher. As a starting catcher, his offense is a huge plus, and he appears like he’s going to be fine defensively. But his offense doesn’t profile as an upper level DH/1B. It just doesn’t. He isn’t patient, his power is good, not great.
We Are the Washington Generals
by Eric in Madison on May 4, 2010 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes
Wilson Ramos looks like he’ll be an elite offensive catcher. An elite offensive catcher, though, is generally just an average DH.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
I'm waffling
Unless he’s an elite hitter (not just an elite offensive catcher), it is a waste. Right now, he’s hitting like Pujols. Nobody expects him to maintain that. The problem is, nobody knows how good a hitter he is because a) his last full year was in the FSL where home runs go to die, b) he was injured for much of last year, c) people don’t trust winter ball numbers. The last two winters and this spring, he hit like Pujols. People don’t count that in their evaluation of him. They just see a kid who only played a little last year and has like 50 games above A+ ball.
BTW, Pujols had 24 games above A+, where he hit: .324/.389/.565. Ramos didn’t hit anywhere near that in A+. Also, Albert had more walks than strikeouts in A+. Ramos had three times more strikeouts than walks. So there’s little reason in the numbers to suggest that Ramos will be anything near Pujols long term.
But if he continues to hit anywhere near Pujols, it might make sense to do a DH/C platoon with Mauer. In other words, you have both in the line-up everyday and each catches two to four days a week. You carry Morales as a back-up/emergency catcher but otherwise you don’t carry a designated hitter. Kubel is your everyday left fielder.
That plan only makes sense next year because Thome is looking an awful lot like, well, Thome. But I could see calling him up in September and doing some kind of super platoon with Delmon and Ramos against lefties and Kubel and Thome against righties.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Awesome game!
Wow great offensive output for two consecutive games! I can’t help but gush about Ramos! He has been absolutely spectacular. Congrats to him for his 1st MLB RBI tonight! 7 strong innings for Baker, a good rebound outing for him. GO TWINS!!!
Plus we're another game up on the Tiggers!
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"Positive happines come whit sucess if you no have that is all bs" -Ozzie Guillen
by less cowbell, more 'neau on May 3, 2010 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Ok, question of the night
How many of you have clicked the link for “Cougar Life?”
We Are the Washington Generals
by Eric in Madison on May 3, 2010 11:04 PM EDT reply actions
one of the rare times
I’m sad to have ad block
Beadlemaniacs - Award winning* college basketball blog (new and improved!)
College Hockey!
me too
I have no desire to watch them devour 20 somethings with their feminine wiles and slutty guile.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
they like Punto
have too much grit and getafteritness for us to understand
"For the parents of a Little Leaguer, a baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into innings."
— Earl Wilson
LNP is the cougar of the Twins
"It wasn't long ago that Kubel communicated mostly by nodding and mumbling." - Souhan
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on May 4, 2010 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Answers to important questions
For all the people ragging on Mauer’s batting average, “Where’s the other .655, Joe?”, we now have an answer: Wilson Ramos has it.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
Ramos!
If he keeps this up, he’ll be tough to send back down. Course, that’s what I said in Spring Training.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
good enough except
I believe he woul dbe up in th ebigs on most teams, just would be bad to have him sit with Mauer playing. Is he trade bait? where to?
by Rickfansince76 on May 4, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
He was better than Butera last spring
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
I'm thinking that is not saying much
I can’t think of a worse catcher in all of baseball right now.
Sheldon,
sometimes it pays to take a deep breath and pay attention to what others are saying even when you are so certain you are right. Its not about being better than Butera.
Ramos has a minor league line of .228 .336 .441 .777 with 77 walks and 216 strikeouts. That is not the next coming of Jim Thome let alone Albert Pujols.
He’s got things to work on in the minors still and sitting on the bench behind (an uninjured ) Mauer isn’t going to help him any. Starting Butera as the bench catcher and having Ramos playing everyday in AAA was the right call for Ramos. Now, with Mauer injured, calling Ramos up to play was the right call too.
It is obvious that you have a hardon for the guy, but please quit humping his leg.
by montanatwinsfan on May 4, 2010 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions
We obviously have a philosophical difference
You say, let guys play everyday. I say bring the best 25 guys to the major league roster. What? He’s going to forget how to hit a baseball after sitting on the bench a couple days. Yeah, right. That is such a baseball cliche.
Ramos is great so far, but...
…let’s not start counting chickens. He ain’t Joe. But if he keeps this up, he will be delightfully plump tradebait. How’s Boston’s farm system looking these days?
http://www.realityfish.com
by Robin G on May 3, 2010 11:21 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I want Buchholz as a starting point
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. ~ Terence Mann
by John Veldhuis on May 3, 2010 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Ugh. No.
He’s way overrated.
http://www.realityfish.com
by Robin G on May 3, 2010 11:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I still think he has a high ceiling.
Plus he sings ‘Sweet Caroline’ so well in that commercial!
But realistically they won’t give him up. The best way to use him would be to get a grade A third base or second base prospect.
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. ~ Terence Mann
by John Veldhuis on May 3, 2010 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions
+1
"For the parents of a Little Leaguer, a baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into innings."
— Earl Wilson
+1 on Buchholz being overrated
"For the parents of a Little Leaguer, a baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into innings."
— Earl Wilson
Yep
Hughes or Cain is the type of talent we would need, not that I want to consider actually doing it right now. I’m having too much fun watching this kid hit.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Ask the Indians
how Masterson is working out for them. I’d rather not have one of their overrated fringe starters.
by Disorderly Conduct on May 3, 2010 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Joe Mauer - Twins' Catcher4Life!
Or at least the next 8 years.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"Positive happines come whit sucess if you no have that is all bs" -Ozzie Guillen
by less cowbell, more 'neau on May 3, 2010 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't be silly
We need to see what we actually have with this kid before we trade him. The last thing I want is another Bartlett/Garza trade where we trade talented players who become superstars after they leave because we did not have much patience with them.
Also, keep in mind that Mauer has had his share of injury problems and those usually increase the older a person gets. I think the days of Mauer staying healthy for an entire season are over, which is why I thought the Twins overpaid him. But that is a different topic that has already been discussed ad-nauseum on this board. The point is that we are going to need someone better than Drew Butera for those stretches of Mauer needing time off.
Can we just enjoy some good games by the young man before we speculate on what we'll get for him in a trade?
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
What's the rush anyway
So you get a decent infielder or something for him. Big deal. Would finding an infielder on the open market really cost so much that it would be worth risking the knees of your $184 million dollar man? I love that we’ve got a guy who takes the pressure off Mauer to play every day. Someone would have to offer a really droolworthy player to get a top catching prospect like Ramos.
If he’s one of the top catchers in the league, he should bring one of the very top prospects in the league at some other position, because a really good-hitting catcher is rarer than any other position. Like an ace-level young pitcher, or an infielder with serious all star potential.
But I for one am in no hurry to unload the young man. Let’s just enjoy him for a while.
+1
thank you!
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
I agree....
the only person we should accept for Wilson Ramos is Tin Lincecum.
It would never happen, but just sit back for one moment and imagine….
The beard abides.
by Jason Kubel's Beard on May 4, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
I credit the win
on the Twin’s ability to avoid loading the bases.
Let's not get too trade happy
Oh, Ramos is hitting .778, lets trade him while we can!!! Lets be serious here people! Lets enjoy this kid for as long as we have him, which hopefully is a really long time!
Ramos will start gently falling back to earth, to a tune of .350, but he is by no means, as thewild_viking_twins suggested, a flash in the pan. I suppose all of Ramos’ minor league numbers are also a flash in the pan, along with his winter ball statistics. Ramos is “The Real Deal”, and while it is unreasonable to assume that he will continue hitting .778, there is no reason to expect him to drop off the face of the earth.
So, for now, lets take it easy on the trade talks. The Twins may or may not be in discussions – but if/when we make a trade, lets make sure it is fair value. To automatically pick names to trade for is preposterous…this isn’t ESPN Fantasy league.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
I don't think anyone is in a rush to trade him
We Are the Washington Generals
by Eric in Madison on May 4, 2010 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Question
What’s the deal with Tiger hatred of the Twins. I was browsing Bless You Boys and it seemed like a huge percentage of their posts are just straight up Twins hate. Is this all just from 163? There aren’t many teams in baseball I actually hate (Yankees being the major exception), so it just kind of surprises me.
Anyone know anything about this? I wasn’t under the impression that Twins-Tigers was all that great of a rivalry.
The amount of Twins-hate in this division is rather surprising.
The Tigers and the Indians being the most outspoken (besides the White Sox).
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. ~ Terence Mann
by John Veldhuis on May 4, 2010 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes
Royals are more just respectful, mostly because they know they don’t really have a shot at the division and they recognize that the Twins are either surprisingly good or surprisingly resilient year after year.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
I respect they Royals
Because they respect us. I feel like they know that our system works and that it’s a model that they should try to follow. Once they come around, and they will eventually, I’ll look forward to competing with them.
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. ~ Terence Mann
by John Veldhuis on May 4, 2010 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm a little surprised too
But hell, I like it. I’ve been huge on the White Sox rivalry for awhile now, but seeing how things have intensified and varied in the central races the past few years I welcome this animosity. I don’t necessarily hate the Indians and Tigers in return, but it’s still fun.
by MarshalltheIrish on May 4, 2010 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions
maybe we are all just drinking the kool-aid
and the Twins are not the good guys of the division?
"For the parents of a Little Leaguer, a baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into innings."
— Earl Wilson
blasphemy.
The twins use their talents for good and not for evil.
every villian is a hero to his own story
but I’m kidding, everyone knows the Twins are the White Hats to Chicago’s Black Sox
"For the parents of a Little Leaguer, a baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into innings."
— Earl Wilson
Well, they were leading the AL Central last year until the very last game, that is. :)
And look at how many times we’ve won or came close to winning the AL Central this past decade, especially in the last month. It’s not very surprising at all. Take it with a grain of salt, AL Central blogs have some pretty entertaining stuff. During the last series, LGT had this hilarious thread going about building a robot during the 1st game.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"Positive happines come whit sucess if you no have that is all bs" -Ozzie Guillen
by less cowbell, more 'neau on May 4, 2010 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions
When you win, you are hated...
Seems pretty simple to me. We have won the division 5 of the last 10 years. The last season the Twins were not relevant was 2000. The last decade has been to the Twins what the 90’s were to the Indians. The Indians had a little more postseason success, but never got the ring.
Fill-In Players
I was reading a lot of the same stuff you were and it seems like a lot of teams get really sick of how the Twins will get their best player hurt (or are released/traded) every year and then the fill-in guy actually does better. Cuddyer and first last year for Morneau, Rauch filling in for Nathan, Span for Hunter, and now Ramos for Mauer. This is personally my favorite thing about the Twins but I could see where this would get annoying to other teams.
by Run Delmon Run on May 4, 2010 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
if they don't like it
they should hope the teams they root for do a better job at scouting and drafting…
"For the parents of a Little Leaguer, a baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into innings."
— Earl Wilson
easy to say b/c I don't have to do the actual work
"For the parents of a Little Leaguer, a baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into innings."
— Earl Wilson
For sure my favorite thing
But, yes, I can see how that would suck the hope right out of the division and get a little old:
May 2: “Yes! Mauer is out for the series! We’ve got a chance to gain some ground!”
May 3: “Who the #$!% is this Ramos kid? %$@-ing Twins.”
that sounds like an actual quote from the rest of the AL Central
"For the parents of a Little Leaguer, a baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into innings."
— Earl Wilson
This is one post from the game recap from BYB. They wanted haikus about the game.
" Michael cuddyer
Time to have your head smashed in
With my new hammer "
Wow… really? Your team lost 10-4 and this is how you feel better. Pretty lame if you ask me.
I think this is a paraphrased joke from South Park.
Remember the episode “Terrance and Phillip in Not Without My Anus”?
I think the original haiku was:
“Dr. O’Dwyer
Time to have your head smashed in
With my new hammer”
Or something like that.
I don't watch South Park
so I would have no idea. But anyway it’s still dumb to say something like that.
Oh, it's just a joke :)
And there is still some resentment over Game 163 at BYB. We won, they lost, it all works out.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"Positive happines come whit sucess if you no have that is all bs" -Ozzie Guillen
by less cowbell, more 'neau on May 4, 2010 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions
God I hate this song
I took a road trip with my aunt and she played this song over and over and over and over and over
I'm not particularly a big fan, either.
But I do think a lot of the Twins hate is based on being just a tiny bit jealous :)
"A-Rod has that arrogance about him. I’d drill him." -Bert Blyleven
by fischean on May 4, 2010 7:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The Tigers' hitting coach deserves a lot of the credit
His swing was like Carlos Gomez’ prior to this year. Now he has really shortened his swing and takes everything the other way.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
I don't blame Ramos for the wild pitch
His arms are a foot shorter than Mauer’s. Ramos fielded everything he could reach, and he looked solid behind the plate. Not bad as a batter, either.
really?
he showed bad form on the pitches he missed. He tried to glove them rather than smother them. At least from my perspective.
by Milt on Tilt on May 4, 2010 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
He should have gotten in front of it
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Apparently, Max Scherzer is the Twins' little bitch now...
"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
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
