Article: Twins vs. Athletics, 07/13/2012, 7:10pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?79...13-2012-7-10pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

Twins:
Span CF
Revere RF
Mauer DH
Willingham LF
Morneau 1B
Plouffe 3B
Dozier SS
Butera C
Carroll 2B
(Liriano P)

A's:
Crisp CF
Weeks 2B
Reddick RF
Cespedes DH
Carter 1B
Gomes LF
Norris C
Inge 3B
Hicks SS
(Griffin P)

[DPJ]

Where the hell do the A's continue to find these arms?

I know Oakland can Petco a pitcher, but they keep trading arms only fill them with no name talent that gets the job done.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Where the hell do the A's continue to find these arms?

I know Oakland can Petco a pitcher, but they keep trading arms only fill them with no name talent that gets the job done.

Yep. Billy ****in' Beane. That's all I can say about it.

Luckily for the rest of the division, he can't find bats to go with those arms.

[Winston Smith]

I hope when Liriano is traded they trade Butera with him!

[twinswon1991]

The All Star game was so taxing for Joe he couldn't man up and catch a game after 4 days off. We need to quit calling him a catcher when he only does the job part time. Nothing like paying 23 mil for a slap hitting DH who forces us to play freaking Butera 50 games per year!

[J-Dog Dungan]

The All Star game was so taxing for Joe he couldn't man up and catch a game after 4 days off. We need to quit calling him a catcher when he only does the job part time. Nothing like paying 23 mil for a slap hitting DH who forces us to play freaking Butera 50 games per year!

Have you been watching ANY Twins games lately when Liriano is pitching? It has always been Butera catching, because he seems to be able to get through to Liriano on the mound where nobody else has been able to.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It has always been Butera catching, because he seems to be able to get through to Liriano on the mound where nobody else has been able to.

Except for that time Liriano had his best season ever with Joe Mauer behind the plate in 2010.

But whether or not Joe should be catching Liriano, it's certainly not his decision. Gardy is the one to blame for that.

[twinswon1991]

Have you been watching ANY Twins games lately when Liriano is pitching? It has always been Butera catching, because he seems to be able to get through to Liriano on the mound where nobody else has been able to.

If Joe can't get thru to pitchers what value does he have besides a DH/1B? Seriously quit calling this guy a catcher.

[minn55441]

If Joe can't get thru to pitchers what value does he have besides a DH/1B? Seriously quit calling this guy a catcher.

If not a Catcher, what would you suggest we call him? He has 145 of his 283 AB's while catching. If you are curious, he has 88 while DHing and another 50 while playing first base.

[twinswon1991]

If not a Catcher, what would you suggest we call him? He has 145 of his 283 AB's while catching. If you are curious, he has 88 while DHing and another 50 while playing first base.

He is a high value utility guy who catches 3 days a week. A rich man's Skip Schumacher with less speed but better vs LHP.

[Brock Beauchamp]

A rich man's Skip Schumacher with less speed but better vs LHP.

Calling Joe Mauer a rich man's Skip Schumacher is like calling Craig Biggio a rich man's Nick Punto.

[stringer bell]

While I am beginning to despise having Butera catch Liriano every time, I have mixed opinions about Mauer. IMHO, how much Mauer catches is a much tougher call. If Mauer is behind the plate too much, he misses games because he gets beat up, If Mauer catches too little, his value at a premium defensive position is not maximized. Gardenhire has used Mauer about 50% of the time as a catcher, I guess I'd like to see him there a bit more. The nonsense of Butera being Liriano's catcher should stop, but in a lost season, it bothers me a bit less.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'm a little skeptical of this game starting on time.

[Badsmerf]

Why does is ****ing matter how much Mauer catches this year? He isn't blocking anyone. He isn't taking AB's from Jim Thome. Get off it. Let him build his legs up. Next year this team will be better, and the after a playoff caliber team. Let Mauer spend his time behind the plate then, when there ARE bats that need to be in the lineup. Who ****ing cares right now.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Why does is ****ing matter how much Mauer catches this year? He isn't blocking anyone. He isn't taking AB's from Jim Thome. Get off it. Let him build his legs up. Next year this team will be better, and the after a playoff caliber team. Let Mauer spend his time behind the plate then, when there ARE bats that need to be in the lineup. Who ****ing cares right now.

What he said.

[glunn]

I'm a little skeptical of this game starting on time.

I cannot take much more of this damn All Star break. They need to play tonight even if they have to wear SCUBA gear.

[Top Gun]

I'm so ready for baseball.

[Brock Beauchamp]

The weather is starting to clear. They might just make it on time.

[glunn]

Those last two games in Texas were blacked out here, so it has been a LONG time since I watched a game. I got so desperate that I had to watch the Yankees and Red Sox and the stinking AAA all star game.