They don't have "That Guy"

[Eric Wettschreck]

When the Twins got rid of Punto, love him or hate him, they lost the fire. The one guy who had the Pete Rose, 110 percent on every play, Charlie Hustle, kind of guy. And it shows.

Seems like they always had a guy that, not the best player on the roster, gave his all. Punto, Denny Hocking, etc. Now they have no one. Sure Mauer and Moreneau go out every day and do their work, but they just don't have "That one guy" anymore. No one fires up the clubhouse.

There has to be some hard chargers down in Rochester right now just licking thier chops waiting for a call up.

[jwmiller33]

I completely agree Eric. Punto always had that fire and drive to dig deep down and give 100% on every play. Now I will be the first to admit he was a horrible hitter, and I think when he hit .290 in 06, Gardy had a man love for him ever since. I definitely didn't like the idea of the Twins picking up his option for this year, because that option was at $5 mil. However, after we declined to pick up that option, we should of immediately stepped up and tried to re sign him for less. St Louis got a good deal by signing him at $750,000. Considering what the Twins payroll is this year, I think that would be a bargain for a player of Punto's caliber. I am especially surprised we let Punto walk away after we knew Hardy and Hudson weren't coming back.

[WyoChris]

Interesting opinion, but i'm glad Punto is gone. I don't hate him, but I don't think he was a great addition to the team.

You can say the same for someone like Valencia....... and now that L Hughes has been called up you can probably say the same thing for him.

[zamboni]

Hocking gave it his all? Why didn't anyone tell me that?

[genegodawa]

Did they just find him?

Liriano no-hits Windy's WSox!!!!!!!

Hey Sled:

TRADE LIRAINA NOW WHILE HIS VALUE IS UP.

Nothing better than watching a nail-biter between 2 inept offenses in wonderful Chicago Spring weather.

(I only saw the 9th...but I liked it)

[thatoneguy]

Punto? Hocking? I'm going to get a hernia from laughing.

[brian6715]

Punto? Hocking? I'm going to get a hernia from laughing.

Yea thinking that Punto or Hocking are the answer to any of our problems is the exact reason why we always dominate the Yankees in the playoffs.

[Superduty]

If Punto was healthy(BIG IF), he would be an upgrade to our current middle infield. I think we could name any established major league middle infielder and they would be an upgrade to the current debacle. Casilla, Tolbert, Hughes, Cuddyer? I wonder if their combined batting avg. is over .600?

[jwmiller33]

Yea thinking that Punto or Hocking are the answer to any of our problems is the exact reason why we always dominate the Yankees in the playoffs.

so you think Punto wouldn't be an upgrade at either MI positions right now? paaaaaaalease! I'll take Punto over Casilla any day of the week

[jellio]

If Punto was healthy(BIG IF), he would be an upgrade to our current middle infield. I think we could name any established major league middle infielder and they would be an upgrade to the current debacle. Casilla, Tolbert, Hughes, Cuddyer? I wonder if their combined batting avg. is over .600?

You said it right there.......if Punto is an upgrade from our current situation then it's going to be a long road....maybe the one off no hitter tonight will be enoough to pull them threw until everyone is healthy...I'm still holding out for a turn around I'm not giving up.

[Scott K]

I think us scoring one run wont be the fire that will light this team up. They need to give some one a good whoopin, like 15-0, I think that will lift the team more then a score of 1-0

[Harmonica Bear]

Then again, once you start winning a few 1 run games... attitudes change for the better. I guess winning does that period.

Nothing against Punto, he's not an answer here. Whats he doing in St. Louis? 220?

[B. Amish]

.382 on base percentage and .250 average this year so far.

he wasn't a very good hitter, but he always gave you a good at bat, fouled off a lot of pitches, worked deep counts, drew walks.

[jwmiller33]

and he is much better defensively than casilla, punto, tolbert, cuddyer, valencia, nishioka, hughes or anyone else that has played MI or 3B for us this season

[rundrave]

.382 on base percentage and .250 average this year so far.

he wasn't a very good hitter, but he always gave you a good at bat, fouled off a lot of pitches, worked deep counts, drew walks.

you forgot to mention that he has only played in 12 of the 30 games this year and only has 28 at bats. I am willing to bet he will miss plenty more before the year is done.

[jwmiller33]

Not sure if you are aware but he was on the DL to begin the season with a hernia. He has played in all but a few games since coming off the DL. Lets remember he is a utility bench player, not an everyday starter for STL

[rundrave]

Not sure if you are aware but he was on the DL to begin the season with a hernia. He has played in all but a few games since coming off the DL. Lets remember he is a utility bench player, not an everyday starter for STL

thats my point, even if we still had him, he wouldnt be much if any of an upgrade over the mediocre people we currently have because he is always hurt.

Regardless of how good his glove is, or how flexible he is as utility player he wouldnt have contributed any more that what we currently have. Id rather see him play everday and be mediocre and atleast have an opportunity to do something, then be on the DL doing nothing.

[PierBridge]

When the Twins got rid of Punto, love him or hate him, they lost the fire. The one guy who had the Pete Rose, 110 percent on every play, Charlie Hustle, kind of guy. And it shows.

Seems like they always had a guy that, not the best player on the roster, gave his all. Punto, Denny Hocking, etc. Now they have no one. Sure Mauer and Moreneau go out every day and do their work, but they just don't have "That one guy" anymore. No one fires up the clubhouse.

There has to be some hard chargers down in Rochester right now just licking thier chops waiting for a call up.

Great post and spot on!

The guys that just look at batting average will never understand the importance of defense, hustle, attitude and what your teamates and coaches think of you so I won't waste any time on this like I have in the past!

[thatoneguy]

nobody who follows baseball closely uses batting average to evaluate a player's worth (at least not as a primary measure, anyway). Likewise, nobody with two working synapses puts value on garbage players like Punto or Hocking who "play hard" but do not contribute much of value to the club.

MN isn't struggling because they "lost the fire;" they are struggling because their two best hitters - Mauer and Morneau - aren't healthy, their pitching staff has grossly underperformed (last night being the rare exception), they have had a rash of injuries to supporting players, and guys expected to fill key complementary roles (including a "hustle" player like Tolbert, aka Punto part deux)...well, they suck.

No need to overthink it.

[Superduty]

The guys that just look at batting average will never understand the importance of defense, hustle, attitude and what your teamates and coaches think of you so I won't waste any time on this like I have in the past!

I hear ya Pierbridge! A guy like Punto that plays with a fire under him and a great glove has a spot on my team any day. He's not worth the $5 million a year option, but his current salary of $750,00 makes him a bargain.

[zepman]

The great teams have leaders that are "that guy".

Kirby Puckett was "that guy"!!

Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are not....it IS that easy.

[swampman]

there were a few "that guy" players on the twins world series teams, puck for sure I really miss a guy like dan gladden never super numbers but I loved the way he played the game

[blue_healer_guy]

OMG, another fricken Punto manbro that actually thinks he is a mlb type player. If you seriously think that piece of whatever is that, your in your basement playing fanasty baseball with your pants down! All though our newist manbro is butera.

[PierBridge]

Great insight as always mjrose.....

Actually this Punto deal could end up costing us a chance to make a run. We're 2 to 3 games better if he's still on the club right now with the way the infield is playing and to suggest we wouldn't be a better club with arguably the best utilty infielder to ever play the game is just insane to say the least.

one word.... Alexicasilla...