Cleveland Indians @ Minnesota Twins (April 23&24)

[Irishmans Shanty]

Kubel leads off the third with a double, Bunt him over. Get him to third with one out.

The Twins should play for one run everytime the leadoff man gets on. Right now letting them swing away isn't working. Now you can't bunt for six months, but for the bad stretches you can.

I'd say when opposing pitchers like De La Rosa, Carmona, Sowers, and a medley of relievers not good enought be starters can hang 26 zeros between Sunday and Tuesday, that's a bad stretch.

[packerboy]

You buntaholics are a strange breed. Mauchavilian so to speak.

But I dont disagree. If you cant score with hits, try doing it with outs.

[Irishmans Shanty]

If you cant score with hits, try doing it with outs.

Yes.

I don't relish the view from "buntaholic land", but after 26 zeros in three days I'm a like a person resulting to a life of crime to feed my family.

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

He is not a leadoff, or #2 hitter,....he is a #3 hitter all the way. Actually, one of the best in baseball,.....possibly on his way to becoming the best. Although, not a leadoff/#2 hitter, he is a good enough athlete that he could also do that with the best of them,....because he has speed, can bunt, works the count, hits to all fields, knows how to move runners along, and is phenomenally smart,.....and only 24 years old. Not bad for a guy 6 1/2 feet tall. How many leadoff/#2 guys are 6 1/2 feet tall?

Isn't that everything you want in a #2 hitter?

[ChrisK]

I agree with Knowlzee, didn't Mauer win a batting championship last year? He's hitting .391 right now. He's only had three games this year where he didn't get a hit. The only weakness that I can see is that it seems like he's not getting his hits with guys on base, he only has 9 RBIs.

Judging from the numbers, the big guys are doing alright, even Hunter's hitting .308. The problem has been the lack of production from the piranhas, in particular Punto and Bartlett. I think they miss Castillo's presence, they've gone 1-4 since he's been out. It looks like Kubel is coming around though.

It sounds like White is due back in the next few days. Yeah, he's hitting .111 right now, but he has put up better numbers against lefties (even last year his average against lefties was .271) which have been handcuffing the Twins.

[Knowlzee]

Mauer could bat anywhere in the lineup, and do it reasonably well. Since the twins have Morneau, Hunter, and even Cuddyer, and with Mauer's power not quite here, yet,.....it doesn't make much sense to bat him in the middle.

I don't think penants are won with your #2 hitter,.....nor do you typically place your best hitter at #2. But, in answer to ER's question,....yes, that is everything desired in a #2 hitter, and Joe would be wonderful there, but even more valuable at #3. It's too bad the Twins don't have two or three of him.

[packerboy]

ChrisK wrote:

"I agree with Knowlzee, ..."

Always a mistake.

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

Mauer could bat anywhere in the lineup, and do it reasonably well. Since the twins have Morneau, Hunter, and even Cuddyer, and with Mauer's power not quite here, yet,.....it doesn't make much sense to bat him in the middle.

I don't think penants are won with your #2 hitter,.....nor do you typically place your best hitter at #2. But, in answer to ER's question,....yes, that is everything desired in a #2 hitter, and Joe would be wonderful there, but even more valuable at #3. It's too bad the Twins don't have two or three of him.

Jeter has a few pennants to dispute that.

[ChrisK]

ChrisK wrote:

"I agree with Knowlzee, ..."

Always a mistake.

Actually when I find myself writing "I agree with packerboy..." I know I'm in trouble. Fortunately it doesn't happen too often.