Game 29 - Twins vs Angels - 5/8/12

[Seth Stohs]

Twins Lineup:

Erik Komatsu CF
Brian Dozier SS
Joe Mauer 1B
Josh Willingham LF
Ryan Doumit C
Danny Valencia 3B
Trevor Plouffe RF
Drew Butera C
Jamey Carroll 2B

SP: Diamond

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Month 2 of the season, and 5 of the 10 players starting tonight were not opening day starters.
Just an observation.

[TwinVike61]

Interesting lineup...with two catchers and all.

[TwinsGuy55422]

Very interesting lineup. Denard was due for a day off. Should be fun to see how Komatsu does in the lead off spot.

[Shane Wahl]

Is Butera seriously playing? Good god. They didn't even wait for Pavano to pitch again before getting this non-player into the lineup. THIS is why many people did not like the idea of calling him back up. This is precisely what happens with Gardenhire. Casilla and Willingham are so out of commission that they can't even DH? AND . . . is Casilla a few days from now headed to the DL? At the very least, Maloney should have been DFAed and Chang or Carson or Bates should have been promoted when Morneau (finally) went to the DL. That player could have been easily sent back down when Morneau was "healthy" enough to play again.

[Shane Wahl]

Is Butera seriously playing? Good god. They didn't even wait for Pavano to pitch again before getting this non-player into the lineup. THIS is why many people did not like the idea of calling him back up. This is precisely what happens with Gardenhire. Casilla and Willingham are so out of commission that they can't even DH? AND . . . is Casilla a few days from now headed to the DL? At the very least, Maloney should have been DFAed and Chang or Carson or Bates should have been promoted when Morneau (finally) went to the DL. That player could have been easily sent back down when Morneau was "healthy" enough to play again.

Strike that . . . Parmelee, not Willingam. So . . . the actual prospect sits while DREW BUTERA plays . . .

[TwinsGuy55422]

Is Butera seriously playing? Good god. They didn't even wait for Pavano to pitch again before getting this non-player into the lineup. THIS is why many people did not like the idea of calling him back up. This is precisely what happens with Gardenhire. Casilla and Willingham are so out of commission that they can't even DH? AND . . . is Casilla a few days from now headed to the DL? At the very least, Maloney should have been DFAed and Chang or Carson or Bates should have been promoted when Morneau (finally) went to the DL. That player could have been easily sent back down when Morneau was "healthy" enough to play again.

Yeah, that doesn't make sense to have Butera cathc or be in the lineup unless absolutely necessary. They could have had Doumit catch and Parmelee DH.

[Boom Boom]

Parmelee's on the bench as punishment for not catching that throw to first from Perkins. A throw which looked an awful lot like a balk to me.

[Shane Wahl]

Parmelee's on the bench as punishment for not catching that throw to first from Perkins. A throw which looked an awful lot like a balk to me.

I have to doubt that . . . right? I mean Perkins fooled both the runner and Parmelee with either a great move or a balk . . .

[Boom Boom]

I have to doubt that . . . right? I mean Perkins fooled both the runner and Parmelee with either a great move or a balk . . .

Obviously Parmelee should have caught that ball, it was right there. But that's the reason that a balk is against the rules, so that a pitcher can't deke the runner by stepping towards home while throwing to first. And Perkins stepped a little too far towards home.

[Top Gun]

3 catchers in the lineup, better callup a backup!

[Shane Wahl]

Obviously Parmelee should have caught that ball, it was right there. But that's the reason that a balk is against the rules, so that a pitcher can't deke the runner by stepping towards home while throwing to first. And Perkins stepped a little too far towards home.

But he can't be sitting for that reason. That's crazy.

[stringer bell]

Well, Butera caught Diamond at Rochester, so there's that. We know he'll be catching tomorrow, too. Also, I thought Parmelee could play in right field--with Butera catching, today would have been a good day to do that. This team is simply not hitting--they are now last in the league in runs scored, 11th in OBP, 13th in sluggings and OPS.

Plouffe's numbers are interesting for one reason--he has drawn an inordinate number of walks. His OBP is higher than Casilla's, Doumit's and Valencia's. Obviously with only four hits, he can't have much of a slugging percentage.

[John Bonnes]

I suppose Butera could be in the lineup because he had success with Diamond in Rochester. Try to make him feel comfortable. I'm not saying it's a great reason.

I will also point out that this is Butera has been with the team for a almost a week and he's had all of 2 AB. It might be a little alarmist to suggest he's swallowing up a ton of AB.

But yes, I'd rather see Parmelee.

[twinsnorth49]

Obviously Parmelee should have caught that ball, it was right there. But that's the reason that a balk is against the rules, so that a pitcher can't deke the runner by stepping towards home while throwing to first. And Perkins stepped a little too far towards home.

Debatable. I highly doubt he's on the bench for missing a throw. If that was the case Komatsu should be there for dropping that fly ball, it was far worse.

[twinsnorth49]

Let's go Diamond! Let's have a Canadian get this done!

[CDog]

Well, Butera caught Diamond at Rochester, so there's that. We know he'll be catching tomorrow, too.

Who is "we?" I don't know that, and I'd even make a pretty good-sized wager that he doesn't if that were legal.

[glunn]

Let's go Diamond! Let's have a Canadian get this done!

Amen! We need something resembling a ray of hope.

[StormJH1]

What is it with acquiring these 4th or 5th outfielders and then Gardy playing with his new "toys" day after day in the lineup? At least in the case of Komatsu, he's 24 years old and hasn't had an extensive look in the majors yet. But Clete Thomas was two wasted weeks, and here we go again. It's like they said on Gleeman and the Geek: if they were going to acquire a new outfielder to give all these at-bats, they might as well have given them to Plouffe or Parmelee, or even Revere.

[glunn]

Hey, we are winning by 3 runs. This is a HAPPY moment.