Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Please Gardy....

[PierBridge]

I missed that.....but I do expect some type of shenanigans tonight...

[Duffman]

Delmon will take one in the back tonight, both benches will be warned, and then Gardy will fly off the handle and get tossed. It's a given.

[Coach1310]

In-spite of another base running blunder by Delmon it sure was nice to see him try to run AJ over at the plate.. That's more respect earned by Delmon.... But I do see a pitch to the rib cage in the near future for his actions.

Go delmon another monster game!

For all we know, they had the contact play on which means you go as long as the pitcher doesn't field it. I'm more upset that he didn't slide as I think he would have had a shot to score because AJ was so far out in front of the plate.

[PierBridge]

Could be Coach, but with the entire infield in I'm not sure that play was on. No big deal he had a great game as predicted offensivley and made a nice defensive play.

Make no mistake if AJ did that to Mauer we would be all over AJ and would want some serious redemption.

[Rick]

Yip,

I see Delmon getting buzzed

[SledNeck]

If Delmons hit I hope he turns around and body slams AJ

[PierBridge]

You and about a Zillion others would like to see that!!!!

I think it was a combination of it being a HUGE game and not wanting to give us a free runner and maybe AJ's coach and team-mates throwing AJ under the bus....??????

[PierBridge]

YAWN!.....

[PierBridge]

Not really trying to pile on anyone here, well maybe Sled who deserves it.

I think Coach like most of the time with his post and others had a legitimate beef with making some line-up tweaks earlier in the season but.........What in the world has happened to Delmon Young I've never seen anything like the decline or slump he is in, EVER.

We've come to expect the fielding blunders like in today's game when he mis-played the ball that led to the tying run but his bat, putting it nicely is missing in action.

What gives?

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Guys go through slumps. Delmon has some great raw talent and it bugs me when people talk about trading him. Yeah his defense is average, or even sub par but not terrible. We have seen that he has skills in hitting the ball and I would like to see him at least another season before passing judgement.

[PierBridge]

I'm not saying trade him especially now. And yeah I get slumps.

I'm just perplexed how he went from All Star potential with MVP type of numbers to batting .200 for the last 100 AB's and more recently striking out 9 times in his last 5 games and only hitting 2 balls hard in the last 2 weeks one of which was a 360 foot blast that missed a HR by a foot that he managed to bungle into a single.

He's striking out more than Cuddyer or Kubel who at least draw some walks 20 this month between them to Delmons almost impossible to think of total of 2 for the month.

It's just hard to fathom from Delmons hot month earlier in the year that I would rather have Punto, Tolbert or even Harris at the plate right now than Delmon.

I would certainly think/hope he turns it around here soon!

[Coach1310]

NO DOUBT Delmon is struggling right now. I think his struggle is part of the progression that MLB players make. He worked his tail off this off season and it showed... then he went on a tear and now slumping. I think he has lost his edge a bit.. maybe getting a little too comfortable and not working as hard as he should be to polish things... I also think it has a lot to do with opposing teams working harder to make it difficult. Without having to worry about preparing to pitch to Morneau, just more time to focus on the weakness' of other Twins hitters.

I really think it is a normal struggle for players in the point of their career that Delmon is. Highly touted prospect. Brought up early. Fights through some struggles in a poor franchise and battles maturity issues. Finally figures out he can't do it all on his own or only his way.... goes through a stage where he can't make an out... loses a bit of his work ethic and now the rest of the team is struggling so it shows through even more.

Hopefully we can get Justin back and Delmon can find some middle ground and Kubel can hit his way out of a wet paper bag.....

[PierBridge]

Excellent observations Coach!

I'm thinking a bit of fatigue and teams being more careful with him and knowing Delmon will swing at any bad pitch for the most part.

2 walks this month is not except-able and the opposing teams know it. Why throw him a strike if you don't have to.

And we need to move on from the Delmons a 25 year old excuse, he's been in the league 6 years now.

[jwmiller33]

well said coach!

[blue_healer_guy]

Delmon is a opportunistic (sp) hitter, throw him junk u get him out. Can't complain with his offense this year.

[blue_healer_guy]

The canadian is going to come back.

[Coach1310]

And we need to move on from the Delmons a 25 year old excuse, he's been in the league 6 years now.

If this is directed at me, I guess I wasn't making an excuse, as I don't think I mentioned his age at all.... I just think it is a normal occurence with his slump and considering all the factors, I'm not real worried about it.

[SledNeck]

lol@ ignoring his age

[Big Tom]

Finally figures out he can't do it all on his own or only his way.... goes through a stage where he can't make an out... loses a bit of his work ethic and now the rest of the team is struggling so it shows through even more.

Hopefully we can get Justin back and Delmon can find some middle ground and Kubel can hit his way out of a wet paper bag.....

Good observations coach although I don't think Delmon lost his work ethic any more than other Twins have at points this season, in fact he started out lousy. Many players have great months or multiple good months and some awful months. Look at the monthly BA avg's high and low for these Twins this year.

Cuddy high BA of .317 in July, low of .235 in June

Mauer high BA of .382 in August, low of .271 in June

Kubel high BA of .316 in June, low of .219 in April

Young hig BA of .434 in July, low of .208 in August, (also .222 in April)

We've seen some very good stretches for Mauer, Cuddyer, Kubel and Delmon and some not so good ones. Here's hoping most of them can turn it on in the upcoming weeks and carry it through the post-season.

[Big Tom]

Nice game winner from Delmon tonight. I hope it gets him going again.

[soldoncass]

It was an encouraging sign.....the guys taking some pitches, and making the pitcher pitch. Mauer always does it(took one for the team), Kubel sometimes(took one for the team), Cuddy made him prove he could throw strikes....he couldn't...tie game, Young even took 1 or 2.....that helps him get one he can reach (rbi). Team game, everyone did their jobs for 2 innings at least. Looks to me like Gardy would like to get a running game going.....can't do it, not enough speed. Bullpen was strong tonight......very nice.

[SledNeck]

Well well well

Ps. I hope morneau is on his way back. Took for granted all the low throws he would dig out with ease.

[soldoncass]

Just watched the replays......great catch by Repko in LF......sloppy play to GIVE Detroit the lead......Duensing pitched well......oh and Repko was SAFE on that steal.

[PierBridge]

Just watched the replays......great catch by Repko in LF......sloppy play to GIVE Detroit the lead......Duensing pitched well......oh and Repko was SAFE on that steal.

Yeah great catch we probably lose the game if Delmon is in left-field last night no way he makes that catch.

Nice to see Delmon get the bat on the ball finally. Sometimes thats all it takes is a lucky seeing eye ground ball hit to snap out of a epic slump!

Cuddy was clutch again, of course we have come to expect that the last 3 years from MR August/Sept!!!!!

Go Twins!

[Harmonica Bear]

Cuddy not so clutch at first base....