Scott Ullger Needs To Go!!

[IFallsRon]

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.

It was a fundamental mistake a professional does not make it that situation.

[Eric Wettschreck]

True I Falls. However, it was a mistake that was made by the player and not the 3rd base coach.

[fishorgolf]

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

?

[PierBridge]

I-falls is one of the chief Punto bashers on here so don't look for any compassion there!

In the end its on Punto as he noted after the game. But Ulger has to be more ANIMATED and concise in that situation. You don't just stand on the Twins logo in that situation with your hands straight out and not moving at all... granted it was tough for both player and manager to determine if the ball went through or not so both get a bit of pass there I suppose.....

Nick Punto Rocks! so get use to it my friends!!!!!

[SledNeck]

it was one baserunning mistake by Punto

if all the twins had the OBP of punto in this series then we might have swept the yankees

[bassislife]

No more finger pointing!!

They both need to go!!!

[Mr.Seaguar]

There could be like a Forrest Gump thing, the fans yelling 'Stop Punto!'. Then maybe, 'I love you, Nicky'. It could happen.

[Coach1310]

#1. Ulger's actions on that play could make a "Coaching 3rd Base Video". He did everything he should have done, except maybe tackle Punto before he got too far around the bag. Coaches don't "stay in the coaches box" because they need the angle to see the play in the field and it also allows them more time and a better angle for the baserunner when deciding stay or go.

#2. Punto is completely at fault. I love Punto, but I don't think he should be an everyday player. With that said, the reason he is in the lineup is because he works his tail off, makes all the plays he should and does the fundamental things to perfection.... he made a mistake in a BIG spot and that is punishement enough.

As far as the game.... Pavano was dealing!! I hope we can get him signed for a year or two.... After last night and Maurer having to sit in the dugout and watch the Yanks celebrate, I would be much more worried about locking up Joe than I would where Scotty Ulger is gonna be next season.

[bassislife]

I hope "Nervous Nellie" Nathan was watching in the dugout also!

Twins could spend 10 mill in a better way, that's for sure!

[AWH]

bassislife, just curious, what would you like to see them do for a closer next year? I'm all for improving the team any time you have a chance. I'm just curious what you think their options are.

Aaron

[bassislife]

He may or may not be in a Twin uniform. How did they find Nathan? Take the 10 mill and the scouts and find someone!

Not sure how one becomes a "Closer" . Is a "Closer" someone that can pitch 1-2 innings, get 3-5 outs? If so, then there are plenty of good starting pitures in the league that could get that done to close up a ball game and would be smiling all the way to the bank with the 10 mill!

[JBMasterAngler]

What are the chances we can get pedro martinez from the phillies and turn him into a closer? He can still throw his stuff if it's only for 1 or 2 innings.

[jigging-matt]

Yes Nathan has had a few problems at the end of the season, but over the last few seasons he has been one of the best closers in the league. Yes, he did struggle at the end, but he still had 40+ saves this year. You don't get those kind of numbers if you are some junk arm.

[SledNeck]

well maybe we should pick up a closer that can pitch into the post season, otherwise whats the point of playing if the goal isnt to win the world series

[fishyguy]

well maybe we should pick up a closer that can pitch into the post season, otherwise whats the point of playing if the goal isnt to win the world series

Using that logic then the only returning players for next year are Pavano, Blackburn, Mauer, Cuddyer, Span, and Punto. Everyone else was pretty disapointing this post-season so we may as well just ship them off, including your boy Delmon. Kubel and his 28 jacks are worthless since he had a bad post-season, because really what is the point of having a guy who will threaten to have 30 homers, 100 RBI, and .300 average in the regular season if he is going to bat .073 in the ALDS. In fact, Morneau should probably go also. MVP or not, if you can't stay healthy for the post-season, you really serve no purpose on the team in the regular season either.

OK...sarcasm laden rant is over.

[SledNeck]

LOL nathan makes about as much as all those guys put together minus morneau.

[AWH]

Actually, just so we're sticking with the facts, the 2009 salaries of those players minus Morneau were over $28 million. Nathan's salary was $11.25 million. Mauer made over $10 million this year, Cuddyer over $7 million, Punto was $4 million.

Aaron

[bassislife]

"Nervous Nellie" was paid 11.25 mill?? Are the twins nuts???

Lets see here... 50 games, 11.25 mill mmmmm.... Thats $220,000 per game pitched ... break down, about 22 pitches per game = $10,000 per pitch! Latley he was getting paid about $150,000 per inning just to throw balls and blow games!

[AWH]

We've obviously been very spoiled by what Nathan has done over the past 6 years. The number of closers that had better seasons than Nathan this year is a very short list. The only ones you could legitimately say had better years are Mariano Rivera, Papelbon and Andrew Bailey. There's a few more that had similar years to Nathan. And the majority were considerably worse.

Be glad you aren't following the Phillies if you're going to get worked up about Nathan. Brad Lidge made $12 million this year. He had 11 blown saves, had an 0-8 record and an ERA over 7. If closers were so easy to come by, do you think the Phillies would still be having him close games in the post season? If the Twins wouldn't have signed Nathan for $11 million, there would have been plenty of teams that would have jumped at the chance to sign him.

Aaron

[DTro]

Closers are overrated.

[AWH]

I would agree that they're overrated...unless you have one of the top shut down closers in the game. There's a reason that the Yankees rarely lose when they have a lead going into the 9th and his name is Mariano Rivera.

Aaron

[Drewski]

Closers are overrated.

Pretty much.

[bassislife]

Phillies should get rid of Brad Lidge! And I hope Nathan jumps on another team so we can face him in the playoffs!

[Cicada]

Joe Nathan tied this season with Mariano Rivera for the Rolaids Relief Man Award given to the best closer in each league. They give you 2 pts for a win, -2pts for a loss, 3pts for a save, -2 pts for a blown save, and one bonus point for a save when the tying run is on base when you enter the game. Both had 132 pts this year. The National League leader was Heath Bell with 121 pts. Rivera made $15 million this year. That means Nathan's salary is in the ball park, so to speak. The only thing I will say against Nathan is that you rarely see him take the ball in the eigth inning, but that is a coaching decision. Face it, he's still as good as it gets for that position, you are not going to replace him period. You are seeing the best the game has to offer and you can't appreciate that.

[bassislife]

I must have missed something in last nights game and in Friday nights game with Nellie on the mound. Best? If that's his best, that's my point!