Game 8 - Twins vs Rangers - 4/14/12

[Seth Stohs]

Twins Lineup

Denard Span CF
Jamey Carroll SS
Joe Mauer C
Justin Morneau DH
Josh Willingham LF
Ryan Doumit RF
Danny Valencia 3B
Chris Parmelee 1B
Alexi Casilla 2B

SP: Nick Blackburn

Rangers Lineup

Ian Kinsler 2B
Elvis Andrus SS
Josh Hamilton CF
Adrian Beltre DH
Michael Young 3B
Nelson Cruz RF
Daniel Murphy LF
Mike Napoli C
Brandon Snyder 1B

SP: Yu Darvish

[Klew721]

I will be at the game today. Hopefully they can attack Darvish!!

[Kirby_Waved_At_Me]

Who is Brandon Snyder (batting 9th for the Rangers) ? Is he a masher or a defense first kind of guy?

[J-Dog Dungan]

Snyder isn't a power kind of guy; he has been in the bigs since 2010 and hasn't hit a homerun yet. Also, in 15 games in the field, he has made 3 errors for a .968 fielding percentage

[J-Dog Dungan]

I am also wondering if (or when) Gardy will think about switching Willingham with Morneau, as Willingham has proven that he can mash homeruns in TF, but Morneau really hasn't yet. This would mirror the Yankees moving A-Rod to 3rd so that late-inning lefties would have a tough time getting through the lineup.

[John Bonnes]

This is the 3rd time Gardy has used taht Opening Day lineup this season. I don't think he was able to use the Opening Day lineup last season even a second time.

[stringer bell]

I am also wondering if (or when) Gardy will think about switching Willingham with Morneau, as Willingham has proven that he can mash homeruns in TF, but Morneau really hasn't yet. This would mirror the Yankees moving A-Rod to 3rd so that late-inning lefties would have a tough time getting through the lineup.

Give it another week. If Willingham is still mashing, it would make perfect sense. Mauer and Morneau ARE weaker against lefthanders. In their MVP years it didn't seem to matter which hand the pitcher threw with, but in every other year, there is noticeably less pop facing southpaws. Breaking up the two lefty hitters and perhaps letting J-Will see more lefties would be an advantage.

I checked M & M's stats. Mauer showed little preference in '06, '08 and '09 (batting championship years), but in other years his splits are more pronounced. Morneau was very good vs. lefties in '06, pretty good in '09 and very good in '10--his three best years. More pronounced splits in the other years.

[Riverbrian]

Good top of one

[twinzgrl]

The bats need to wake up here and not let this guy get in a groove.

[Riverbrian]

Tied after 2... Just like a new ball game now.

[Riverbrian]

Josh kinda got a hold of that one.

[twinzgrl]

Until Hamilton's blast....

[twinzgrl]

The Twins had their chance last inning, and Jamey Carroll did not come through...

[Riverbrian]

Lol... Hopefully it isn't the only chance.

[twinzgrl]

Here's the meat...what can they do?

[twinzgrl]

How can a man as big as Mauer hit so many balls that don't make it out of the infield?

[Riverbrian]

His swing just isn't built that way. He has HR power he doesn't have the HR swing

[twinzgrl]

Why do you think that they picked up Clete Thomas?

[Riverbrian]

Open 40 man roster spot and Terry Ryan must have a gut feeling about him.

[Riverbrian]

I'm ok with just dont see the need. We need the defense in OF but unless Thomas unseats Doumit it won't matter because we have Revere. Ben will probably be sent to AAA now.