Meet your 2008 Twins!

pacman · Post by **pacman** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:20 pm

Twinkies Win 5-0, 3-1 vs Royals so far this season, Livantana is 3-0, who woulda thunk it?

Govs93 · Post by **Govs93** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:03 am

We got a taste of what we Twins fans can expect in 2010 last night here in KC. Temps below 40, 25 MPH winds, rain/snow mix while walking to the car on the way to the game... bring it on!!! Based on what I was seeing from the fellow Minnesotans in the stands down here, liquor sales will be brisk on those cold April nights at Govs93 park in 2 years.

Livan looked good last night. He did what he's god at - getting the ball put in play. We're thinking that his extra layer of "insulation" may have helped in his success last night, which is why we're taking Boof and the Twins again tonight.

Liriano returns to the bump tomorrow afternoon and it should be a little warmer, so we're curious to see how that goes.

GR3343 · Post by **GR3343** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:34 pm

Boof looks promising tonight...crap, there goes the no-no in the bottom of the 5th. Still, he's sharp so far. Let's hope they can cash in on their "quality" at bats the rest of the way.

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:01 am

Another OK week for the Twins, splitting with the Sox and going 2-1 in Kansas City.

They got good pitching across the board, especially from the starters. Livantana used smoke and mirrors to win his third game of the year but I do have a nagging concern that he could be this year's Ramon Ortiz. Liriano made his first start yesterday and though it was clear that his control was off and he was not back to the 2006 form, he pitched well enough considering.

The hitting remains a concern. I haven't seen a lot of games this year but I saw Gomez have a horrible at bat with the bases loaded and none out on Saturday, waving at three straight pitches out of the strike zone. He can spark a rally, but he can also throw water on one, I guess that's what we'll have to put up with this year. Kubel had a good week with a grand slam against the Sox and another homer on Saturday. He seems to be starting to put it together. Meanwhile, Morneau, Mauer and Young have not gotten untracked. It's early, but these guys need to start hitting for this team to make any noise this year.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:40 am

Well ChrisK, your summary was right on.

However, its like a broken record. The movie "Groundhog Day". Deja vu all over again.

Pitching is OK and offense is in and out.

Looks like Kubel is turning a corner. How many times have we heard that?

Monroe is quickly turning into this years bargain basement, scrap heap free agent flop hitter.

They change the names but the summary stays the same.

Livan is a better pitcher than Ramon Ortiz but he wont sustain this the second time around the division.

Bring back Radke.

MNHockey75 · Post by **MNHockey75** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:10 pm

Isn't it time to release Craig "Tony Batista" Monroe? How many times are the Twins going to pick up these over-the-hill rusty veterans who can't hit a 82 mph fastball?
Is anyone besides Morneau or Kubel going to hit a ball past 325 feet?

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:16 pm

The difference between this year and previous years is that the pitching isn't as deep as it has been so more is expected of the hitters.

Speaking of the same old refrain another guy that needs to pick it up is Mike Lamb aka this year's Tony Batista. He's hitting .176 right now with zero homers. He's a liability in the field from what I've seen so they need to get some pop from him.

However, I do think that Kubel has finally turned the corner. He finished strong last year with a .273 batting average after being at .247 at the All Star break. He's also looked more confident at the plate.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:12 pm

ChrisK wrote:The difference between this year and previous years is that the pitching isn't as deep...

another guy that needs to pick it up is Mike Lamb aka this year's Tony Batista. He's hitting .176 right now with zero homers.

However, I do think that Kubel has finally turned the corner

I dont know that the pitching isnt as deep. Its early but Baker, Boof, Blackburn are a pretty solid 3 after Livan and if Liriano can contribute, they may be just as deep even without Johan. (see the Adios Santana thread for further details) It wont be '06 but it could be at least as good as last year.

Lamb was a key acquisition to fill a big hole. He aint doin it.

Kubel has shown flashes before. If he could just hit 15 HRs and bat .270 as the lefty DH and Monroe could do the same as the righty DH,how huge would that be?

Lets HIT THE BOOFIN BALL

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:52 pm

You're right, the issue with the staff isn't depth, they've got a lot of promising young pitchers. But they did lose three out of their top five pitchers from last year (Santana, Silva, Garza) so I'm not expecting much from the staff this year. They've pitched well so far which is a good thing but I'd be surprised if it holds up through the year.

Kubel had 13 homers last year and as I said before hit .273 so he should hold up his end of the DH platoon. If only they could find a right handed Kubel, I don't think it's Craig Monroe.

MNHockey, it's Craig "Rondell White" Monroe and as Neutron pointed out earlier next year it will be <first name> "Craig Monroe" <last name> and so on.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:23 pm

020-0
000-0

Go Nicky go!

pacman · Post by **pacman** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:53 pm

Blackburn is doin the job and the Offense is on Fire,

020-003
000-00

sinbin006 · Post by **sinbin006** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:08 pm

What has gotten into them

???

020-0030
000-004

pacman · Post by **pacman** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:35 pm

Twins Start to pull away again

020-003-4
000-004-

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:38 pm

I'm rarely one to promote aggression but...............

Step on their throat! Step on their throat! Step on their throat!

Zamboni Guy · Post by **Zamboni Guy** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:39 pm

And Span tips in Rodriguez's air ball for a homerun.

Now 9 to 5.

sinbin006 · Post by **sinbin006** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:25 pm

020-003-40
000-004-16

Zamboni Guy · Post by **Zamboni Guy** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:27 pm

No member of either team's bullpen deserves to win this game. This has been ugly.

sinbin006 · Post by **sinbin006** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:36 pm

020-003-400 = 9
000-004-16x = 11

We HIT THE BOOFIN BALL, but so did the Tigers

sachishi4 · Post by **sachishi4** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:52 pm

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:43 pm

sinbin006 wrote:020-003-400 = 9
000-004-16x = 11

Even if the Twins go on to win the World Series this year, this will be one of many, many, many frustrating and disappointing losses.

He who can not handle losing and failure can not be a professional baseball fan.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:34 am

Well amen to that IS.

But last nights game proves what I have been saying all along.

You cant just have a team full of hitters. Their hitting is fine but you cant win without pitching and defense.

They should have traded for some more pitching in the off season.

PITCH THE BOOFIN BALL

GR3343 · Post by **GR3343** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:55 am

packerboy wrote:Well amen to that IS.

But last nights game proves what I have been saying all along.

You cant just have a team full of hitters. Their hitting is fine but you cant win without pitching and defense.

They should have traded for some more pitching in the off season.

PITCH THE BOOFIN BALL

Indians forever · Post by **Indians forever** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:39 am

I have a feeling this is what it is going to be like all year long.

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:42 am

The hitters didn't come through last night. When your bullpen coughs up a lead like that it's the hitters job to get the team back in the game.

HIT THE BOOFIN' BALL!!

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:16 am

For the next three months, the Twins just have to balance their L's and W's.

Hang around, hang around, hang around, hang around

get hot for a stretch.

So far, so good.