Article: Twins vs Indians, 08-08-2012, 11:05am

[Brock Beauchamp]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?896-Twins-vs-Indians-08-08-2012-11-05am&

[Brock Beauchamp]

Twins:

Span CF

Revere RF

Mauer 1B

Willingham LF

Morneau DH

Doumit C

Nishioka 2B

Dozier SS

Casilla 3B

(Duensing P)

 

Indians:

Kipnis 2B

Cabrera SS

Choo RF

Santana DH

Brantley CF

Duncan LF

Marson C

Kotchman 1B

Lillibridge 3B

(Masterson P)

[ShaeTwins]

Not sure if I should hope for another Nishi o-fer...at least then he'll play himself out of the bigs quicker.

[RickSchuette]

I don't mean to go off-topic, but I haven't heard anyone raise this question yet, and certainly Bert and Dick in the booth aren't going to raise it...of what value is it to try to bring back Carl Pavano and Matt Capps for the remainder of the season. Neither will be with us next year and they will only take valuable starts/appearances away from pitchers we know we will want to look at next season. We certainly don't owe either of them anything in terms of helping them get a better contract offer over the off-season.

[notoriousgod71]

Seriously, Dick, why would he get first base if he struck out when the ball hit him? Never in my life have I seen a catcher pick up the ball after it hit the batter and throw to first base to record an out.

 

I think it's debatable whether Span swung or not but the ruling isn't exactly debatable.

[stringer bell]

Nice start Duensing! Shake it off and throw some zeroes!

[Tcrose3636]

So is it safe to say if the Twins sweep the Indians in Cleveland, they will win the World Series? Last time the Twins swept Cleveland in Cleveland was '91...seem logical to me.

[Shane Wahl]

I don't mean to go off-topic, but I haven't heard anyone raise this question yet, and certainly Bert and Dick in the booth aren't going to raise it...of what value is it to try to bring back Carl Pavano and Matt Capps for the remainder of the season. Neither will be with us next year and they will only take valuable starts/appearances away from pitchers we know we will want to look at next season. We certainly don't owe either of them anything in terms of helping them get a better contract offer over the off-season.

Like strangely using Brian Duensing in the starting rotation now when there's no way in hell any sane manager would do that next year?

[notoriousgod71]

I don't know if there's any player I've ever despised as much as Nishioka.

[ShaeTwins]

I don't know if there's any player I've ever despised as much as Nishioka.

I guess the good news is that he may play himself out of the lineup defensively before he does offensively. This three game stretch has been some of the absolute worst baseball I've ever seen in my entire life (from Nishi, that is).

[notoriousgod71]

I don't know if there's any player I've ever despised as much as Nishioka.

 

I take that back. If the Twins were contending I'd hate him. As it is now he's kind of comical.

[Ultima Ratio]

Is Nishi super nervous or horrible or both? Never in my life have I seen a major leaguer play defense like a tee-baller.

[RickSchuette]

I doubt that Duensing is in their plans for the rotation next season. But finishing the season as a starter would improve his trade value over the off-season. That ship has sailed with Pavano...and Capps for that matter. Let Duensing and Blackburn try to get some sink back on their pitches and lower their ERA. They both know they're doubtful as far as staying in the rotation next year. Let them pitch their way off the bubble, either for the Twins or another team. Pavano will need three MLB starts just to stretch himself out to 6 innings. What value does that add to the Twins over the final six weeks of his contract?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Ugh. Nishi, you're killing us.

[notoriousgod71]

Duensing is essentially worthless if he can't even get lefties out.

[Ultima Ratio]

I'm sorry but Duensing's ship has sailed as well. He can't get anyone out any more.

[notoriousgod71]

Nishi caught a throw!!!!!

[DPJ]

I know the Twins are at the bottom of the barrel for starts, but is there really no one else that can come up and take either Blackburn or Duensing's place in the rotation.

[ShaeTwins]

I have a feeling that Blackburn will retain a spot as a starter just based on stubborn management refusing to cut him just based on the amount of cash he's making. Meh, the Twins won't contend next year at any rate, and if they are contending at any point, Blackburn will probably be having a decent year anyway.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I know the Twins are at the bottom of the barrel for starts, but is there really no one else that can come up and take either Blackburn or Duensing's place in the rotation.

Cuellar better be working some serious black voodoo magic with Hendriks down in Rochester for him not to be on the Twins roster at this point.

[Guest USAFChief]

Hey...all this complaining about Nishioka. The twins are undefeated with Nishioka in the lineup and averaging over 10 runs per game on offense!

[GCTF]

Nishi Scoreboard

 

Errors 3

Hits 0

 

Is there some kind of kamikaze mission he could be assigned to?

[notoriousgod71]

Is Nishi super nervous or horrible or both? Never in my life have I seen a major leaguer play defense like a tee-baller.

 

What's the board policy on racist jokes as long as I'm not flying off the deep end?

 

I'll refrain from saying anything if it's frowned upon.

[Ultima Ratio]

Hey...all this complaining about Nishioka. The twins are undefeated with Nishioka in the lineup and averaging over 10 runs per game on offense!

Nishioka the Twins' talisman?

[DPJ]

Cuellar better be working some serious black voodoo magic with Hendriks down in Rochester for him not to be on the Twins roster at this point.

oH YEAH Liam...the teams top pitching prospect who's done nothing but pitch well at AAA. Should the Twins start him...no lets keep rolling out the rotting flesh of Duensing and ****ing Blackburn.

[RickSchuette]

I suspect we are seeing the difference between a ball being hit to a second basemen at 90 mph in Japan, and 125 mph in America. The speed and power of the MLB game is clearly a flight or two over his head, something neither he nor the Twins thought would be the case. Unfortunately, he's been blessed with outfield speed, but cursed with a second baseman's arm. The Twins front office knows he isn't working out. I suspect they're letting him prove it to himself that he doesn't belong at this level. He isn't the first player to bust at the MLB level. Every team tries some things that don't work out.

[Brock Beauchamp]

oH YEAH Liam...the teams top pitching prospect who's done nothing but pitch well at AAA. Should the Twins start him...no lets keep rolling out the rotting flesh of Duensing and ****ing Blackburn.

It seems to me as if they're working on something specific with Hendriks. He was sent down at an odd time and the organization has been mum about him since. It'd be nice if someone gave the fanbase an update on him.

[Ultima Ratio]

What's the board policy on racist jokes as long as I'm not flying off the deep end?

 

I'll refrain from saying anything if it's frowned upon.

I believe political correctness is a variety of censorship and different from racist jokes(which I think you ought not commit), but use you own best judgment I suppose.

[DPJ]

It seems to me as if they're working on something specific with Hendriks. He was sent down at an odd time and the organization has been mum about him since. It'd be nice if someone gave the fanbase an update on him.

I would also like the Twins to come out and say something but JR would give you his first born before that happens.

 

Is it odd that the Twins think a prospect is better off working with the AAA pitching coach over Rick Anderson the god of teaching sink?

[Ultima Ratio]

Got to make them pay here Doumit!