New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins (April 9-11)

[State Champ 97]

make that 3-0
runners 2nd and 3rd.
Posada ground rule double
Kubel looked very bad in LF on that one.

[TomTheBomb]

5-0

p.s. I hope one of you guys has Ponson on your fantasy team!

[Irishmans Shanty]

Before you start pounding Sir Sidney for this one, let's think a bit first.

Minus one swing of the bat by Justin Morneau yesterday, the Twins would have 0 runs in the last 26 innings.

Hit the Boofin ball!

[grindiangrad-80]

I agree IS. Maybe 2 or 3 pitches he could have back. No runs, a little shaky on D, not exactly the way to beat the Yanks.

[boblee]

Two positives so far through 5 1/2 innings...

Kubel got an RBI hit.

Garza is on the horizon.

[NightRider]

Can Ponson, he was horrible, Garza needs to be brought up.

[Govs93]

Can Ponson, he was horrible, Garza needs to be brought up.

While I'm not thrilled with the way he pitched, I don't think they can jump the gun that quickly... and I'm sure they won't. He made a bunch of mistakes against one of - if not the - best offense in the league, but against a lesser team, he would have been ok rather than a disaster. I'm not going to make excuses for the guy, but it's a tough way to start, and with defense (and another Cuddyer brain fart on the basepaths) like they had tonight, it makes it even tougher. (so much for the "no excuses)

I'll be curious to see how well he does against the Devil Rays in his next start. They're not exactly the gimme they used to be - they have some talented kids.

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

Take away the 2 HRs he gave up and nearly all of the hits he gave up were hardly even hits. Bartlett wasn't his usual self in the field and if they had Tyner (and maybe even Rondell) in LF instead of Kubel, there goes some more runs. The hits that the Yanks were getting weren't hard hit balls, they just found holes. As much as I don't like Sidney, they gotta give him at least 2 more starts to see what he has.

Either way, my prediction doesn't look too shabby. What ya'll got to say now?

[Govs93]

According to La Velle, Alexi Casilla & Josh Rabe are on their way to town because Rondell White & Jeff Cirillo are going on the shelf.

[TomTheBomb]

While I'm not thrilled with the way he pitched, I don't think they can jump the gun that quickly.

Not that anyone cares about TomTheBomb's opinions, but I agree. It was his first outing, a new club, a new environment, and it was against the Yankees. Give him at the very least another shot.

The announcers on ESPN said it right: as a 5th starter, he could possibly do the job. If you're looking for a guy to get 15 wins, he's probably not your man.

I also agree with the EmpireYankeeLover that our D was of no help. And that the offense needs to get the ball rolling.

p.s. I was regretting not keeping Puvano for a 2nd start in the fantasy league!

[Irishmans Shanty]

From the centerfield camera, Ponson looks exactly like a much heavier Scott Erickson. The number, the hair, I thought it was 1991 last night.

Did the North Stars win last night?

[Govs93]

From the centerfield camera, Ponson looks exactly like a much heavier Scott Erickson. The number, the hair, I thought it was 1991 last night.

Did the North Stars win last night?

Nope. They lost to the Jets.

[ChrisK]

Just to assuage packerboy, I haven't been scouring the waiver wires for a lefty reliever as both guys I mentioned are down in Rochester. And Perkins had a good start yesterday.

And he's right about the boofin' hitting and it's not like they've faced a lot of stellar pitchers in the last week. Punto and Bartlett went O-for-Monday, Mauer, Cuddyer and Morneau stranded 7 guys between them. The piranhas are looking more like sunfish right now. Left field's turning into a hole, Tyner and Kubel are both only hitting .200 and White is now on the DL. I wouldn't say the roof is falling in or anything but the Twins will need more production from these guys.

They'll need a good start from Bonser tonight as the Twins will be facing a premier pitcher in Pettitte. EmpireYankeeLover's predictions are looking better right now unless the Twins bats start popping.

And the North Stars start the playoffs this week against the Black Hawks. Those were the days...

[Irishmans Shanty]

And he's right about the boofin' hitting and it's not like they've faced a lot of stellar pitchers in the last week.

They've failed to hit on all levels; they can't hit in the cold, in the heat, indoors, outdoors, against righties, lefties, rookies, or veterans.

They can make anyone look dominating right now.

[packerboy]

Quit using those fancy words, Chris.

They are lucky to be 4-2.

Bartlett is shaky at best right now. That has to end. Id sit him.

If they arent going to hit, who cares if Ponson is out there.

You wont beat the Yankees scoring 2 runs no matter who is pitching, including Johan.

[State Champ 97]

He's right. Hit the ball and score some runs or it doesn't matter who is pitching. Pavano hasn't won a game since 2005.
Ponson got some unlucky breaks early but did pitch well for the next couple of innings. Kubel looked horrible in LF. Give Ponson a couple of more outings, along with Silva and see what happens. One or both will implode by June 1st.

[Neutron 14]

Just to assuage packerboy,

Anagram?

And the North Stars start the playoffs this week against the Black Hawks. Those were the days...

Secord Sucks!...Secord Sucks!...Secord Sucks!...

[Irishmans Shanty]

A few years Murray Bannerman was hired to come in and work with our goalies for a practice.

As Murray and I were lacing it up before practice I had a hundred questions I wanted to ask him about those 80's Hawks/Stars games. At risk of looking like a total dope, I restricted myself to one question. I asked him if Dino and Secord really hated each other or did they tip a few together after the game.

Murray said the angst between Dino and Secord was genuine and it began when they were in Canadian Jr. leagues.

[ChrisK]

packerboy, I figured you could handle words like that, sorry. Thank God I picked 'conundrum' and not 'assuage' when I made my bet with EmpireYankeeLover last fall. I probably would've been tarred and feathered off the board.

I don't want to turn this into a North Star hockey memory thread but with the hockey playoffs starting I thought of the spring of 1991 and hearing the yells from the apartment next door when the Stars scored on the Black Hawks. I think that rivalry was the fiercest of any sport in Minnesota, the Packers-Vikings is a polite contest compared to it. You kids don't know what you're missing.

And spring 1991, Jack Morris getting knocked around by the A's in his first game and thinking 'here we go again.'

[ChrisK]

They are lucky to be 4-2.

Bartlett is shaky at best right now. That has to end. Id sit him.

If they arent going to hit, who cares if Ponson is out there.

You wont beat the Yankees scoring 2 runs no matter who is pitching, including Johan.

Patrick Reusse apparently has been reading us again because his column says basically what packerboy's saying here (read it at http://www.startribune.com/508/story/1110508.html )

In regards to Bartlett, he ends with this observation:

"Count on this: The sight of Casilla, a dynamic young player, should take care of whatever has been bogging down Bartlett in this first week of the season."

Let's hope so!

[Neutron 14]

packerboy, I figured you could handle words like that, sorry.

You and packerboy can assuage all you want, we don't care. Hell, we wont even look!

[Govs93]

packerboy, I figured you could handle words like that, sorry.

You and packerboy can assuage all you want, we don't care. Hell, we wont even look!

Assuagefest?

[Neutron 14]

If the anagram fits......

[boblee]

I attended a game last year where Rabe committed two errors in left field. I'm not too excited about his call up. I am happy to see Casilla get the call. I'd give him the start tonight.

[packerboy]

'anagram'....I thought that was one of those computer projected people that werent really there but stll talk to you like that Q guy on Star Trek: Next Generation........or is that monolyth?