Twins 6, White Sox 2: Mauer, Pavano, Revere Lead the Charge

by Jesse on Jul 8, 2011 1:27 AM EDT in Game Recaps

In what can only be described as fitting, Joe Mauer's first Major League game at first base saw him involved early and often. He'd collect a trio of hits on the night and a pair of runs batted in, including his RBI single in the first that nearly took the head off Philip Humber. The bottom of the first gave Joe his first opportunities to make plays at his new position, as he recorded all three outs in the inning thanks in no small part to an unassisted double play.

For his part, Carl Pavano was very good. Apart from Mark Teahen's two-run blast after the Twins were already up 6-0, he looked in control. The White Sox managed just six hits and a pair of walks in seven innings, and this is fun: Pavano didn't record a single out on a fly ball the entire game. Four strikeouts, 12 groundouts, a double play and a couple of catches from his infielders tell the tale.

Michael Cuddyer would add two hits, raising his season average to .296, but the two other offensive stars in this one apart from Mauer were Ben Revere and Tsuyoshi Nishioka. Both stole a base and collected multi-hit games, Nishioka contributing two hits and a run batted in with Revere getting three hits and a pair of runs batted in.

A few nice defensive plays helped out the cause. Mauer made a couple of nice moves at first that might seem routine to an everyday first baseman, but for a guy making his first Major League start there it's easy to see that he's just a natural talent. His reflexes and instincts make him a natural ballplayer, and it's easy to see why people talk about him playing other positions. It's because he could. Danny Valencia made a nice stab and throw from deep behind third base and in foul territory, and Drew Butera followed a popup behind the plate and into the crowd to make a great catch to end the game.

Glen Perkins (nine pitches) and Matt Capps (eight) pitched perfect innings in relief, and that's the story. This one was all Twins, and I'm not ashamed to admit I love beating the White Sox. They're a good team, but they're directly in front of Minnesota in the standings and we all know that this team needs to rack up as many wins as they can as quickly as they can. Great win.

Studs

Revere, Mauer, Cuddyer, Nishioka, Pavano, Tom Kelly in the broadcast booth

Duds

Nobody

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Comments

He he he!!!!!

Hell yeah we got the win.

by LittleLad on Jul 8, 2011 1:33 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

If I live to be 100, I’ll never understand how Hawk has a job as a broadcaster.

by Brady Eyestone on Jul 8, 2011 1:52 AM EDT reply actions

I love beating the Sox, but I don't hate the Sox

Dunno why that is. Maybe it’s A.J. Maybe it’s Ozzie, whose comments are often offensive, but who seems like the first guy that’d say “shit, my favorite player is gay? Then I’m sorry for insulting gays. Fuck the straights now, I want all gay players.” (He does strike me as that kind of guy, and his man-love go-around with Gardenhire has been amusing for years, now.)

Normally, I hate big-market teams in any sport, but there’s something so “Second City” and depressed about Chicago fans which is totally out of proportion to their market that I don’t despise it. I hate LA and Boston and NY teams far more. I want the Twins to beat the Sox every time, but the years some other Central squad tops us I’m OK with Chicago doing well . . .

Steve Goodman lives.

by twinsbrewer on Jul 8, 2011 2:16 AM EDT reply actions

don't let

the hoodlums at SSS hear you say that.
i don’t know any of them there that would reciprocate that sentiment.
GO tWINs!!!
also, i really need to remember my Y! password…FB connect sucks.

by Zach Hoefs on Jul 8, 2011 2:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Facebook is down right now.

I'm a proud fan of the Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys!
"Life is precious and time is a key element. Let’s make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own." – Harmon Killebrew

by Jessy S on Jul 8, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Chicago White Sox

The Little Engine that Could

by clutterheart on Jul 8, 2011 6:36 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

BOOO!!1 MAUER BALL HOG!!!1 MOAR HOMERUNS!!! MOAR MOAR!!1

"It happened in the moment, and it happened." - Carlos Gomez

by myjah on Jul 8, 2011 3:37 AM EDT reply actions

We should have known that our gold glove catcher was going to be good at blocking balls at first base as well

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 8, 2011 3:47 AM EDT reply actions

Nishioka with a great stop in the fifth inning too

He’s on a roll offensively too right now.
6-13 in his last 4 games.
I hope he keeps it up!

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 8, 2011 3:55 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

He did look pretty good there, really

I bet he could play 3B or corner outfield positions just fine also.

by spanspanspan on Jul 8, 2011 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions

He throws really well

That arm is completely wasted at 1B. 3B is a natural place to move, he’s even a natural platoon partner with Valencia.

by DJL44 on Jul 8, 2011 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't understand

why you think Valencia needs a platoon partner. The only position on the diamond that should need a platoon is catcher! all the other positions should be held down by one guy.

Valencia – 3B with no platoon!

...formerly known as 33MorneauMVP

by BCTwins on Jul 8, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Everyone could use a day off

Giving Mauer 20 games at 3B won’t hurt Valencia. Valencia is not an all-star, there is no reason to play him everyday when you can get more production out of a platoon situation. Having players with complementary skills is a great way to build a baseball team. Everyone contributes and is put in a position to help the ballclub.

Platoons are a great way to win baseball games. I’m going with Earl Weaver, not BCTwins on this one.

by DJL44 on Jul 8, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

They should've kept Punto then.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"God grab your neck but never choke" -Ozzie Guillen

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jul 8, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Casilla's a switch hitter

Casilla did a good job as a utility guy last year. I think he’s a natural utility infielder. Now to find an everyday second baseman….

Just to illustrate, these are Valencia’s platoon splits:
vRHP .240 / .279 / .368 / .647
vLHP .359 / .420 / .552 / .972

I don’t think I need to mention that Mauer usually hits a lot better than a .650 OPS against RHP. A .650 OPS is certainly an acceptable split at 3B if it comes with a good glove but if you can improve why would you choose not to?

by DJL44 on Jul 8, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

20 games off a season is not a platoon

I can’t find a number, but I can’t imagine more than 30-40% of the starters in MLB are left-handed. If you’re “platooning” Valencia, that’s how often he’d play.

Seems like you’re talking more about some sort of situational arrangement, where if Mauer isn’t catching anyway, he could fill in at 3B to give Danny a day off. Sort of like this 1B thing is supposed to be.

"...and we'll see ya tomorrow night!" - Jack Buck, Game 6, 1991 World Series

by WindyCityTwinsFan on Jul 8, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Well Yeah

Because if he’s platooning at 3B with Valencia full time then he isn’t spending any time behind the plate. Mauer needs to catch at least part time as long as he is able. 80 games catching, 20 at 3B, 40 at 1B/DH would be a good mix.

by DJL44 on Jul 8, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Twins have faced a LH starter 33% of the time in the past ten years

They average 54 games/year against a LH starter. If there’s one thing I wish Gardy would do, it’s look more at platoon splits. Kubel and now Revere are facing LH pitching way too often, and Cuddyer and Valencia could use some days off against the toughest RH starters.

by matthew0211 on Jul 8, 2011 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I wish he pic had been against the Rays

Caption: lol, I make almost as much as your entire team.

But otherwise…

lol, Pavano looks funny from this side.

lol, this position is so easy. I should start sharing my milk with Morny.

by spanspanspan on Jul 8, 2011 3:47 AM EDT reply actions

ffs, THE.

by spanspanspan on Jul 8, 2011 3:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Or...

lol, Butera thinks he’s a catcher.

by spanspanspan on Jul 8, 2011 3:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Great game!

It was crazy, I saw Nishioka smile! I’ve been his harshest critic since Game 1, but he’s proving me wrong over the last few games and I love it. Woulda been nice if he caught the strike Butera threw to him at second when the game was out of reach, though.

I also love Tom Kelly in the broadcast booth. There’s something so endearing about his complete lack of booth etiquette and experience (I timed it, he spoke for 44 seconds about Phil Humber’s curveball, lasting well into the next at-bat). While comparing him on an artistic level, and to his broadcasting peers, he has to be the worst in the game. But that’s exactly what makes him great. I found myself hanging on his every word, whether it was his insistance on calling Dick Bremer “Richard,” or him being on a first-name basis with every player on both teams (including “Anthony” John Pierzynski), I was entertained throughout the entire game. Bert Blyleven is one of my favorites, but I love Kelly in there as well. I just don’t know what he’s going to say next. Does it get better than that?

Mauer looked tough defensively as well as offensively. But considering his low power numbers – even during his recent Mauer-like hitting streak – we should put the brakes on any serious future talk of him playing 1B. I mean, the Twins didn’t pay Doug Mientkiewicz $23 million to bat .320 with six home runs, did they? Mauer’s huge contract was given because he’s going to end his career as the best hitting catcher of all time. He would have gotten maybe half of that deal if he played 1B. But at least everyone will shut up about him playing 1B now. He did it, he’ll do it again. Cuddy’s been switching up positions for the last decade, but he’d be in RF in a Game 7 situation. Mauer would be behind the plate. Maybe even Morneau would be at 1B. Wouldn’t that be great?

by Neal Coolong on Jul 8, 2011 8:02 AM EDT reply actions

For me, personally,

the novelty of TK as a broadcaster wore off at the beginning of the second inning. I picked up the remote to switch to the Chicago broadcast after he said “diamond-cutter” for the 1.543×10^37th time. Then I thought about what I was about to do and put the remote back down.

I’m not trying to knock TK here, jus’ sayin’.

by fastfred on Jul 8, 2011 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions

OTOH

We’d not have heard “diamond cutter” so many times if teh boys weren’t smacking it through up the middle all night. TK started off sounding awkward, but got more comfortable as the game went on. I really enjoyed his perspective & insight.

And not a single mention of “downward plane” all night #stuffbertsaysdrinkinggame.

Let’s not forget “Anthony”.
SSS thread:
“who calls AJ Anthony?”.
“His mother”.

TK was AJ’s pro baseball father.

by DerTwain on Jul 8, 2011 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I can get with that

The “TKisms” got to me quicker than the “Bertisms” do. I’m probably desensitized to the latter. I think if he didn’t talk over RICHARD every time, it’d be a lot better.

If he can keep himself from telling the story about how good Rios was in AA ball again, that would be a great start. I thought I was having deja vu or something.

It’s a fun change, though. I’d still rather have TK than Coomer or someone like that.

by fastfred on Jul 8, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Good to get different perspectives

It is a rare person who doesn’t repeat themselves over the course of 1000 conversations.

by DJL44 on Jul 8, 2011 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Where's that anti-Mauer guy?

Seems like this would be the perfect time for that guy to come in and tell us how much Mauer really sucks.

The beard abides.

by Jason Kubel's Beard on Jul 8, 2011 8:34 AM EDT reply actions

Weird to see Mauer with a felt cap on

He’s otherwise always wearing a helmet (C/DH).

by DavidRF on Jul 8, 2011 8:48 AM EDT reply actions

cool to see his face though

never know what his experssion is behind the mask….you always had to go by body language. pointing at the pitcher after a called 3rd strike to end the inning, a quick trot out to the mound after Mijares throws 3 straight balls, a look to the umpire after blocking the plate and taking a throw to nab a runner….but now, now you can see he actually knows how to smile. that’s cool!

The beard abides.

by Jason Kubel's Beard on Jul 8, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions