Sox n Twins

[toughguy]

Should be a fun baseball weekend. The Twinkies are swinging the bats well. Looking like it's gonna be a fun season.

Twins will take 2 of 3 before coming home to open up the big box store field.

[PierBridge]

I just may have to watch all 162 games this year!

[mr_jman]

Sweep and come home 6-1! I actually think 5-2 is realistic but not too out there to think the Twins can't do it!

[toughguy]

If they can pulll off winning Friday after getting to Chicago at 6:30 AM followed by winning a noon game today I like their chances for a sweep!!!

[Big Tom]

Windy is ever so quiet. Dang 3.5 out and the first week isn't even over yet.

[bassNspear]

need to have a good start thats forsure

[cbrooks]

Did anyone watch that game today? In the end when Jim Thome hit it deep was Hardy waved by the third base coach to go home? I couldn't see if he was signal home and the announcers didn't say. That wasn't even close.

[JBMasterAngler]

He was given the go ahead to score. I chalk that loss up to the 3rd base coach. Hardy slowed down before getting to 3rd, once he did that he should've been held. Normally I'm a fan of plowing over the catcher, but this was one time it wouldn't have been a good idea. Hardy is too small and A.J. had too much time with the ball. Of course there's no guarantee we would've won that game, but it sure couldn't have ended worse.

Also, why is mijares still on the team?

[SledNeck]

2 of 3 in Chicago aint bad at all

MeatGarbage is a liability out of the bullpen

[PierBridge]

Also, why is mijares still on the team?

Mainly because he was/is one of the best left handed relief pitchers in the game.

If we let frustrated fans make irrational decisions based on small samplings we would not have the following players on the team. Cuddyer, Kubel, Crane, mijares, Young and Gardenhire omongst many others.

[going4it]

I think last year was the same way with him. He has had a slow start to the season. I remember another pitcher like that. Guy by the name of Johan.

[OnAFly]

Crain? You're defending Crain! He's been better lately, but he'd have to be lights out for another year before I can consider him anywhere near reliable!

[PierBridge]

Yes I defend the Crains, Punto's and T-Jacks of the world!..

[SledNeck]

Crain has definately turned his career around

[pikestabber]

Thank God they went with Rauch as the closer and didn't tune into my idea of using Mijares, but I have to throw a life preserver as he was lights out last year after June or so. He will come around and be a big part of this bullpen (although he hasn't impressed me so far this year).

As for the "play at the plate" in Chicago, even though Hardy was only halfway between third and home ...three things allowed me to sleep that night:

One, that was a PERFECT throw to the cutoff man and an even better one to the catcher. Had either been offline just a bit, the play would have been much closer. Two, we were going against Jenks who has shut us down on a very consistent basis over the years, and sometimes you just have to take a chance when others chances may not come. Three, Hardy was never committed to coming home (you can see he slows down before third base), and he is not a top flight speed guy to begin with--he hits the wall rounding third and just doesn't have the gas in the tank to barrel home. Put Punto in that position and he would have came home full steam whether waived around or not...say what you will about his offense, the man flat out runs bases harder than anyone in MLB (how many other guys slide headfirst into first base?). Tough loss, but 2 of 3 in Chicago, and 5 and 2 for a team that doesn't fare well on the road, and 6 and 2 overall, tastes pretty darn good! Now let's finish the sweep of those other Sox at home!

[rundrave]

send Hardy around 3rd and home, or let Punto bat next?

Id send Hardy regardless of how close or not it would be, Punto stinks at the plate.

[Scott K]

Dont they have a decent pinch hitter that would come in on cases like this?

[JBMasterAngler]

Yeah...Thome! He's the one that hit the fly ball.