Scott Ullger Needs To Go!!

[bassislife]

I just got back from the dome and witnessed another GREAT Performance from our 3rd base coach Scotty Ullger!!

What in the h-ll was he thinking in the 8th??? no outs , sending Punto in from 2nd when the ball doesn't even get thru the hole!! Easy play for Jeter having Punto caught dead 1/2 way to home plate and then thrown out trying to get back to 3rd base!! We could of had runners at the corners with no outs, now we have Span on 1st with one out!! And score NO runs at all in the eight!!

Back in NY Game 2 when Joe Mauer was on 2nd base in extra innings with 2 outs, Ullger didn't send him in with the base hit I think by Cuddy to right field, and Swisher still had the ball in his glove as Joes rounding 3rd??

He has screwed up more d--n games this year, because he has no clue when to hold em or send em!!

Time for a new job Scotty!!

[Sherpa]

I have a DVR and rewound it a couple times to figure out why he went. Ullger is clearly trying to hold him and Punto has his head down not even looking at him. Just one example of some of the terrible base running in the clutch by the Twins this series. What a heartbreaking season.

R.I.P. Homerdome

I hate you Punto.

[AWH]

bassislife, not sure what you were seeing, but Ulger was holding him up. As Sherpa said, Punto had his head down and wasn't even looking at Ulger until it was too late. He even admitted so after the game. He said he thought the ball got through the infield based on the crowd reaction so he just had his head down thinking he was going to score. That one is all on Punto.

Aaron

[CAMAN]

Yeah, in the replays you can clearly see Scotty holding him up, but Punto was on a mission.

[DTro]

I just got back from the dome and witnessed another GREAT Performance from our 3rd base coach Scotty Ullger!!

What in the h-ll was he thinking in the 8th??? no outs , sending Punto in from 2nd when the ball doesn't even get thru the hole!!

Time for a new job Scotty!!

You should probably get your facts straight before calling for a guy’s head. That was Punto all the way.

Even though there is “no crying in baseball”, I’ve heard that Nick shed a few tears after the game over his judgment error, and was horribly upset. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for cheering so loud, that is what threw him off and he thought the ball squirted through the middle.

[harvey lee]

Its funny that almost everyone was in love with Nick when he was hitting great in the last few weeks with clutch hits. Then a mistake and were going to burn him at the stake.

Nick made a mistake. It happens to all of us at one time or another.

[bassislife]

I guess I was too busy watching Jeter and just assumed Ullger sent him. Maybe scotty should have tripped him??

It wasn't Mauer holding back from scoring in Game 2, that was Scotty all the way.

As far as Punto goes... He did hit the double that got him into postion to screw it up in the end. He never has been too bright as a base runner.

Scotty still needs to go!! The twins will score more runs!!

[SledNeck]

We would have lost 4-2 if punto wouldn't have overrun thr bag

[Jim Uran]

Did you see the third base coach running down the line telling him to go, and than stopping at the last second stopping him? It wasn't Punto's fault, it was Ulgers fault for not staying in his box and telling Punto to put the brakes on.

[DTro]

Did you see the third base coach running down the line telling him to go, and than stopping at the last second stopping him? It wasn't Punto's fault, it was Ulgers fault for not staying in his box and telling Punto to put the brakes on.

Punto has already admitted he heard the crowd roar and didn't look up. Ulger might have been down the line, but he never one time gave the "go" signal. When Punto finally looked up, it was too late.

Sled, if the Twins score there, its a whole different game, and you know that

[Eric Wettschreck]

After seeing the replay, and the interview with Nick, I'm going with the Ullger was doing his job stance.

For the Ullger haters out there, he's a strong candidate for the manager position that opened up in Cleveland. His name has been mentioned in a few other circles also. My thoughts are it would be very nice to see him stay.

[UdeLakeTom]

Very seldom does the 3rd base coach stay in the coaches box, they put themselves in the best position for the runner rounding the base to see them. It is up to the runner to look up. Punto admitted he didn't look for Scotty like he should have.

The only was Ullger would have been in the coaches box is if Punto was heading to 3rd from 1st and it had to be determined if he needed to slide or could go in standing up.

[maros91]

You are taught in little league to pick up your base coaches. You are a professional and you make mistakes like a 6th grader. Sorry Punto...love your hustle but I am tired of your .220 avg in the regular seasons, yeah you hit good in the ALDS but you must go.

[fishyguy]

Did you see the third base coach running down the line telling him to go, and than stopping at the last second stopping him? It wasn't Punto's fault, it was Ulgers fault for not staying in his box and telling Punto to put the brakes on.

It was all Punto's fault. Ulgers decisions, timing and positioning was spot on, textbook coaching. Punto overhustled. Ulger did not do anything that everyother 3rd base coach worth a darn from high school on wouldn't have done.

[bassislife]

If Cleveland wants him let them have him!! Make some room for Redmond next year!!

[SledNeck]

Punto has already admitted he heard the crowd roar and didn't look up. Ulger might have been down the line, but he never one time gave the "go" signal. When Punto finally looked up, it was too late.

Sled, if the Twins score there, its a whole different game, and you know that

lol, yeah whole different game! Im sure we would have won the series if not for Puntos play!

Man, punto gets alot more grief than any other Twins who screws up.

What about Joe "postseason CHOKER" Nathan?

He took his 11 million dollar arm to the mound and looked like 25 cents.

Gomez overruning 2nd (we dont fault him cause we know that hes stupid and we hold Punto to a higher standard).

Cuddyer taking the worst swings in the history of baseball with men in scoring position.

[DTro]

Originally Posted By: dtro

Punto has already admitted he heard the crowd roar and didn't look up. Ulger might have been down the line, but he never one time gave the "go" signal. When Punto finally looked up, it was too late.

Sled, if the Twins score there, its a whole different game, and you know that

lol, yeah whole different game! Im sure we would have won the series if not for Puntos play!

Man, punto gets alot more grief than any other Twins who screws up.

I guess you are taking my post wrong. The twins would’ve never even been in the playoffs without Punto. I’m a huge Punto fan. In fact I’m convinced he would’ve found a way to get a run in when we had the bases loaded with zero outs that one time.

BUT...for anyone to blame Ulger in this specific case is dead wrong. That was my point.

AND if you don’t think first and third with zero outs doesn’t change the complexion of that game last night, well then I guess that is what you think.

Shoulda Coulda Woulda

[foulpole18]

Punto doesn't look for his coach, Mauer has a hip flexor that's bothering him. I can see how that's Ullgers fault.

[SledNeck]

I guess you are taking my post wrong. The twins would’ve never even been in the playoffs without Punto. I’m a huge Punto fan. In fact I’m convinced he would’ve found a way to get a run in when we had the bases loaded with zero outs that one time.

I got what you meant, post was to all the negative stuff I read about punto across the internet today

[bassNspear]

It was puntos problem. He needs to know better then that. Punto needs.

[bassislife]

If Punto did blow off Ullger rounding 3rd, do you blame him??? All season long Ullger was putting the brakes on the runners that could have easily scored from 2nd on base hits. We could have had 10 more wins if we would have anyone coaching 3rd with any balls.

Watch the Angels!! They score from 2nd on base hits!!!

[DTro]

I'm sure that's what Punto was thinking the whole way.

[DHanson]

We could have had 10 more wins if we would have anyone coaching 3rd with any balls.

If there was ever such proof that a 3rd base coach gave a team an extra 10 wins in a season and consistently, they should be in the hall of fame. Some of the best pitchers in the league will be lucky to give their team an extra 10 wins during the season based on their performance alone. I remember Al Newman making some poor decisions before Ullger stepped in. I am with most here, Punto's fault.

[HOT SPOT]

I agree Puntos Fault. He didnt even look, he was running with his head down.

[AWH]

Watch the Angels!! They score from 2nd on base hits!!!

And the Angels have a lot more speed than the Twins. I have no problem with Ulger holding up Mauer the other night either. Watching on TV, we don't see the entire picture. If there was any question on whether he would be out at home or not, you don't send him, not with nobody out. It was absolutely the right call. Again, another situation where it's really easy to second guess after the fact. But you don't risk having your first out of the inning thrown out at home. You have to have a little faith in your hitters to get the run home.

Aaron