Monday Breakfast & Baseball: Brian Duensing is the Cavalry

by Jon Marthaler on Jul 19, 2010 7:00 AM EDT in News

Ah, the day after a walk-off win over Chicago. Feels good, doesn't it? Your Monday news is here:

Duensing prepares for move to rotation | StarTribune.com
Cavalry, thy name is Brian Duensing. The lefty threw four innings Sunday, and may be on the way to being the new Nick Blackburn in the rotation.

Butera to play Junior Ortiz to Pavano's Scott Erickson? | StarTribune.com
Drew Butera might be Carl Pavano's personal catcher for the rest of the year. If so, Butera's mustache growth had better get on its horse, as he'll need every last bit to keep up with the Pavstache. (Also, if this does happen and Butera sticks around until the end of the year, it will be one of the greatest upsets in Twins history.)

Sox's meltdown highlights disturbing trend - ESPN Chicago
The folks in Chicago note that only one team in the division has a decent intradivision record - and it isn't the Whiteys.

Baker shooting for another second-half boost | twinsbaseball.com
Fresh off a cortisone injection, Scott Baker is ready to attack the second half. Or something like that.

Nick Blackburn sounds sad - TwinCities.com
Quote from the righty: "That was just huge for the guys to pick me up. I don't know how much longer they're going to keep putting up with that stuff."

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Carl Pavano and Delmon Young are my favorite Twins of 2010...

by Moojenowski on Jul 19, 2010 7:10 AM EDT reply actions

I didn't realize this, but

but DEMON is actually first in the AL and 3rd in all of baseball in avg w/ RISP!
who would have guessed, before this season, that Demon would be Mr. Twinsclutch

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 19, 2010 7:46 AM EDT reply actions

When you're pitching like Blackburn,

you go down to AAA and see if you can get things figured out. It probably should have happened a start or two ago, but hopefully Duensing can step up and Blackie can get things fixed in Rochester.

by Luke in MN on Jul 19, 2010 8:20 AM EDT reply actions

It's too bad to see Blackburn doing so badly

But it’s more than time we give Duensing a try instead. You’re right, hopefully Blackburn can fix things in Rochester.

Souhan in Chinese! : "一會兒，德爾蒙楊想與他無關的隊友。不想讓他們打他。難道不希望他們偷了他的頭盔。不希望他們成為他的Facebook的朋友。"

by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Jul 19, 2010 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

FANTASTIC!

I made it to the game. Had seats up in section 218. Was able to stare right down the first base line and out into that beautiful MNPLS skyline. MAN, Target Field is so much better than the dome it is unbelievable. What a game!

And since it was my first and only game in about 12 years, and such a good come from behind victory, I must be good luck.

Which means if there is a home game 163, you all really need to chip in for my flight home to St Paul and my game 163 ticket.

No. Really. You should.

In ‘87 dad brother and I went for a long trip to the BWCA in the middle of the summer. The Twins were doing oh, so so. When we came out of the wilderness MN had strung together a serious winning streak and you know the rest. See y’all in 6 days …

My life's goal: to force fischean itno using her moderator powers

by montanatwinsfan on Jul 19, 2010 8:38 AM EDT reply actions

Have fun, Montana!

by Jesse on Jul 19, 2010 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Glad you had a good time

Did many people leave before the 9th? I bet they were kicking themselves later.

Souhan in Chinese! : "一會兒，德爾蒙楊想與他無關的隊友。不想讓他們打他。難道不希望他們偷了他的頭盔。不希望他們成為他的Facebook的朋友。"

by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Jul 19, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Serves 'em right.

Fair weather fans.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
Minnesota Twins 2010: GAME 163 OR BUST!!!

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jul 19, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I laughed out loud when we came back against the Phillies after most of their fans had left the stadium

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

by cmathewson on Jul 19, 2010 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I know what you're saying, but

let’s hope Duensing is NOT “the new Nick Blackburn in the rotation.” I’ll take the new Denny Neagle (even though he was in our rotation for like 5 seconds).

by MCA1 on Jul 19, 2010 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

Hopefully Blackburn can get things straightened out in AAA or wherever he goes.

We need him to figure it out- not just from a game standpoint but from a financial one as well.

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 Jul 19, 2010 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

Does Blackburn have options?

I have not seen that addressed yet. If he doesn’t, they can’t just send him to AAA, although I suppose it’s not all that likely that anyone will claim his 4-year deal on waivers.

"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 Jul 19, 2010 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

He does, yes.

by Jesse on Jul 19, 2010 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Time Between Pitches

Baker, Blackburn and Slowey need to be forced to Not walk around the mound, lick their fingers, screw around with their hats etc.
Take a lesson from Pavano and Buerhle….
Get the ball, get the sign and pitch.

by rancher33 on Jul 19, 2010 12:03 PM EDT reply actions

I had the same thought.

I’d also tell Slowey — “Joe’s an all star, you’re not. Throw what he tells you to throw. Period.”

It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.

by SteadyDietOfCheese on Jul 19, 2010 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

They interviewed Mauer on Slowey

This is what he said:

“With Slowey, he definitely is not going to have all his pitches working on any given day. So you have to see what he has working and play to his strengths that day.”

Not exactly a ringing endorsement. And you could tell he was trying to sound diplomatic. My sense is, Mauer puts down braking balls and change ups and Slowey shakes him off for the fastball a lot. So Mauer doesn’t get a sense of what’s working for him and what isn’t. Also, Slowey might snap off a good curve every other time. On a good day, two out of three breaking balls have good downward movement. He’ll hang one up there and they’ll hit it into the seats, and he won’t throw it again for a few innings.

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

by cmathewson on Jul 19, 2010 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Blackie

should stop going around the diamond w/ hugs!

by caluofmn on Jul 19, 2010 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Hugs are the problem

They should have stuck with fist bumps, which are like gentle bloody knuckles.

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

by cmathewson on Jul 19, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I mean…Buehrle

by rancher33 on Jul 19, 2010 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

Slowey in particular has really slowed his pace this year

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

by cmathewson on Jul 19, 2010 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

After the "B," you can put the letters in his name in any order and you'll be understood.

Bhuerle,
Bruehle,
Buerleh, etc.

by Luke in MN on Jul 19, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Liriano

The Sox announcers noted during his start that Joe is (per coaching instruction) TRYING to slow Liriano down. Apparently there is a feeling that he gets going too fast and makes mistakes. Fine by me if it eliminates mistakes, I guess, but that game WAS aggravatingly slow.

by dctwin on Jul 19, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions