Game 36 - Twins @ Detroit - 3/16/12

[Seth Stohs]

Twins Lineup:

 

Erik Komatsu CF (Denard Span scratched with hammy)

Brian Dozier SS

Joe Mauer DH

Josh Willingham LF

Justin Morneau 1B

Ryan Doumit C

Trevor Plouffe RF

Alexi Casilla 2B

Jamey Carroll 3B

 

SP: Nick Blackburn

[Gernzy]

Good to see Morneau back in the lineup. Lets hope he brings a spark back to the offense.

[Shane Wahl]

Not gonna lie, I like Dozier hitting 5th or 6th (aside from the obvious fact that Mauer should be batting second).

[James]

Gave up on Plouffe at 3rd, or are they looking for better infield defense? Or just a day off for the other guys?

[Ultima Ratio]

Best lineup (on paper anyway) we've seen in 2-3 weeks. Will this translate to runs.... not holding my breath.

[Top Gun]

I'm lookin forward to the Twins sweeping the Tigers!

[Mike Sixel]

I'd like Plouffe in RF full time for a month....

[Alex]

I'd like Plouffe in RF full time for a month....

 

I really don't care where he plays, but I hope he gets regular at bats for a bit.

[SweetOne69]

I'm lookin forward to the Twins sweeping the Tigers!

The odds of a sweep are pretty good (2 game series), but the odds aren't in the Twins' favor.

 

I like our chances of winning tomorrow, but not tonight. Hopefully Blackie can't cobble together a good outing.

[Seth Stohs]

Erik Komatsu in CF and leading off tonight. Span scratched with the hammy.

[IdahoPilgrim]

The odds of a sweep are pretty good (2 game series), but the odds aren't in the Twins' favor.

 

I like our chances of winning tomorrow, but not tonight. Hopefully Blackie can't cobble together a good outing.

I would go the other way - I'm more worried about Fister than Porcello. Besides, maybe Blackburn will have a surprise good outing. What's that saying about the blind squirrel and the nut?

[Thrylos]

So Komatsu (a hitter who should not be hitting higher than 8th - like Mastroianni last night) leads off today. Why? Because he is playing CF and that is where the CF has to start according the manager of the millennium?

[NorthwestTwinsFan]

So Komatsu (a hitter who should not be hitting higher than 8th - like Mastroianni last night) leads off today. Why? Because he is playing CF and that is where the CF has to start according the manager of the millennium?

Gardy doesn't like to screw up the lineup continuity I guess, even though the Twins have used about 40 different lineups. Who knows.

[IdahoPilgrim]

So Komatsu (a hitter who should not be hitting higher than 8th - like Mastroianni last night) leads off today. Why? Because he is playing CF and that is where the CF has to start according the manager of the millennium?

He does have a .333 OBP. The only higher in the lineup are Willingham (who you want clean-up) and Mauer (who you want 2nd or 3rd).

[Guest USAFChief]

So Komatsu (a hitter who should not be hitting higher than 8th - like Mastroianni last night) leads off today. Why? Because he is playing CF and that is where the CF has to start according the manager of the millennium?

There are at least 4 hitters in the lineup that "should not be hitting higher than 8th." Do you propose Gardy double-fill the 8 and 9 spots, and leave 1 and 2 open?

 

There are legitimate things to question Gardy about. This isn't one of them.

[Shane Wahl]

Dozier!!!!!

[mikeee]

who's your tiger?

[Shane Wahl]

Who else do you propose leading off in such a situation? Komatsu and Mastroianni are good OBP guys. Unless you suppose moving Mauer there, I am not sure what else to do!

[Guest USAFChief]

So far at least, Dozier appears to be able to stay at SS, and hasn't been overwhelmed by MLB pitching. Nice to see.

[TwinsGuy55422]

I know it's still early, but I am liking Dozier more and more.

[Alex]

Dick just mentioned that Twins have turned more DP than they have hit into. Wonder if it has anything to do with the number of "opportunities."

[NorthwestTwinsFan]

Well, hopefully the Twins aren't done scoring runs. 5 probably won't be enough to win this game.

[Guest USAFChief]

F*** Nick Blackburn.

 

Locking him up was a stupid decision right up there with all the other stupid decisions Twins management has made over the past few years.

[woolhouse]

At least Blackburn is following the leadership of the veteran Pavano, coughing up those runs right back to the Tigers the same inning.

[mikeee]

Blackie gives them all back.

[TwinsGuy55422]

It seems impossible for the Twins to score some runs and follow up by by putting a zero on the board. This is getting so old.

[NorthwestTwinsFan]

If Blackburn stays in the rotation all season, he will have a great shot at 20 losses.

[Alex]

Well, hopefully the Twins aren't done scoring runs. 5 probably won't be enough to win this game.

I totally get that line in Richard III now, "My kingdom for a starting pitcher!"

[NorthwestTwinsFan]

Mercifully, Cabrera gives the Twins a free out with idiotic baserunning.

[mikeee]

Let's hear it for some boneheaded baserunning by the Tigers to give the last out.