Nothing new with Beachballer Radke

[Mitty]

When are we going to get rid of this over paid STIFF,I hate to be negative in the second game of the season but nothing has or ever will change with this BEACHBALLER!

[Jarrod32]

Yep. Rough start, then he settles down and battles for a handful of innings to let the Twins get back into it, and the Twins get a win.

Yep...nothing changes...

[nofishfisherman]

He may give up early runs but he sure as heck isn't a stiff. Every single year you know you will get a ton of innings and exceptionally consistent play from this guy. He may give up a run or two early but as long as he doesn't allow any more then what can you complain about. Generally if a starting pitcher gives up 2 runs that would be considered a decent start.

Yes last night he gave up 4 but Santana gave up just a few as well the night before. Every player has his flaw.

[fishyguy]

I think I get as frustrated as anyone with his 1st inning performances but to view him as a "stiff" would be a bit harsh. How many innings does he eat up? How many wins does he get and what is his E.R.A. when it is all said and done? He may not be a #1 starter anymore but I think he would be a big part of any rotation in baseball. That said you would think he could get through the 1st inning.

[nofishfisherman]

It is funny that its always the first inning but if a guy gives up 2 runs a game I don't care what inning there in as longs as thats all he gives up. Radke would be welcomed on any team in MLB.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Very rarely will the other team not score runs. First inning or 5th inning, they are going to score. So Radke had his normal early start, gave up a few early, then settled down and pitched well.

Control master is hardly a stiff.

With some of the younger arms in the rotation, and in our farm league, it's a good thing Radke is around. Some day, maybe soon, he'll be an excellent pitching coach.

[PierBridge]

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When are we going to get rid of this over paid STIFF,I hate to be negative in the second game of the season but nothing has or ever will change with this BEACHBALLER!

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ROTFLMAO......correct he will continue to be one of the most reliable starters in the game.

[Caesarfishinguytoo]

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When are we going to get rid of this over paid STIFF

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pitched 6-plus innings in 26 of 31 starts . . . had 18 quality starts . . . pitched 7-plus innings in 15 starts . . . led club in complete games, was second in games started, innings pitched and strikeouts and tied for third in wins . . . tied for second in league in fewest walks per-9-innings (1.0), tied for fourth in complete games and was 10th in home ERA (3.28) . . . is second on Twins' All-Time list in games started and third in innings pitched, strikeouts and wins.

STIFF???????

[bigbucks]

I have to agree with the guys supporting Radke. I believe it's the first inning, as he's establishing his control as he's warming up. He's one of those guys that never throws wild, his misses are down the middle. He establishes his "fastball", which isn't, & then puts it exactly whereever he is able to determine the ump will give him the call. Then he starts mixing in his offspeed stuff. The hitters are agressive especially in the first, because they know what he's going to do too & it's their best chance. I always figure if Radke only gives up 1 or occasionally 0 in the first, the other team's in trouble. Most of the time the opposing pitcher's not going to throw a shutout & even if they do, we can't win a game we don't score in, no matter how few our pitcher gives up.

[Mitty]

Give him time he is way over paid and will probably lead the league in home runs against ask Blyleven how far that gets you.Seriously I think the guy is no better than a number 3 pitcher and what they pay him is far too much.He had a terrible year last year if they didnt score him 7 runs he sat and complained he wasnt getting run support,like I said give him some time and he will prove me right.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Since we're talking about the good things Radke has done, let's not forget he stayed with the team when they were suckin wind. Took a pay cut to stick around. Stayed loyal to the team. Continues to play in a Twins uniform. Didn't jump ship for more $$$. 20 game winner when the team couldn't win 40 in a season. Stuck around when other players were leaving. Could have made triple his salary but stayed loyal to the Twins. In the day and age of "Me first" pro ballers Radke was "Team first." You fellas get where I'm coming from?

What do you guys want? Should the rotation be Shilling, Santana, Pedro, Prior, Johnson, with Smoltz as a closer? The Twins have one of the better rotations in the Al and Radke is definately a part of it.

Brad was never a fair weather player, even when the fair weather fans gave up on the Twins.

[nofishfisherman]

Theres always one guy that will never be happy and sees a need to start dumping a on player. In this case i think it is about as far a stretch as i can imagine. If you want to rag on someone there are far more qualifies candidates then Radke. I dare you to try to replace Radke for anything close to what he makes. If he hit open free agency and was willing to go to the highest bidder then he would be making double his current salary. New York was all over him but he said "No thank you" to the big money they were offering.

I think someone needs to get a clue. The quality of a pitcher is determined by more then wins and losses. I know some say the W is all that matters but when you are on the short end of a 1-0 score then I don't think its the pitchers fault they lost the game.

Also, does anyone else remember Radke complaining about run support last year? I don't think I ever heard any of that.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I remember Dick and Bert talking about run support. Gardy mentioned run support a lot. Heck, the players were all over the lack of run support thing.

I don't remember Radke complaining about run support. He may have brought it up, but didn't complain about it.

He went out and put in his innings and threw strikes. That's all he could do.

[Caesarfishinguytoo]

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He had a terrible year last year

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Ummm...pitched 6-plus innings in 26 of 31 starts . . . had 18 quality starts . . . pitched 7-plus innings in 15 starts . . . led club in complete games, was second in games started, innings pitched and strikeouts and tied for third in wins . . . tied for second in league in fewest walks per-9-innings (1.0), tied for fourth in complete games and was 10th in home ERA (3.28)

These are LAST YEAR'S stats...doesn't look too terrible to me!! Come on people...picking on Radke...This guy is the foundation of that pitching staff when it comes to veteran leadership.

[First Ice-Mike]

Radke is a good quality pitcher. This guy is NOT overpaid -if he played for the Yankees he would be winning 15-20 games a year easy. Radke and his Wife are very active in the community and he NEVER complains. Lohse was the one yakin' about the run support last year. Every year Radke gets some of the least run support in the league and he has never tried to jump ship. I hope the Twins get him to come back for a few more years even if we have to listen to Mitty's talk as a result.

FI

[Caesarfishinguytoo]

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Time will tell boys,time will tell.

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How long we going to have to wait???? He has been a very good pitcher for the last 11 years, how much more time do you need to prove your point?

[nofishfisherman]

Lets give him 11 more years. By then maybe one or two of Mittys points might be valid. Of course Radke will be like 50 years old by then.

I would like to know what you expect out of Radke, if you are unhappy with the last several years of his career what could he have done differently? You just aren't being realistic.

[Mitty]

Time will tell boys,time will tell.

[gman2002]

thats just it, theres nothing he could have done any differently. the guys a no. 3 pitcher. these guys mumbling about 1-2 runs a game, who have you been watching, his career record is 137- 130 barely above 500, his era is 4.22, his baa is 273. with runners on base his era is 6.98 and baa is 288. a guy would be in the hall of fame if he could hit him every game! run support ? do you have any idea what its like to come in after every first inning and be down 2-3 to zip, you think that has anything to do with run support. yea the yanks wanted him for a no. 3 pitcher, or maybe just for a tax write off. walks per game ? who is up there looking for a walk with him pitching anyway they've hit 273 against him. i don't know who your comparing him to but i don't think he was in the top 10 -15 pitchers in any year of his career. you think maddux always had run support, i doubt it but his era is also 3.01 if you guys honestly think he's worth anything i say dump him while we can get something, and you can throw cuddyer in the package to !!!

[Mitty]

Finally a post from a guy that has a lotta baseball sense,speaking of Cuddirtyer I dont think anyone will give us a thing for that dirt ball,funny we have a beachballer and dirt balller,keep posting G-Man maybe some of these so called baseball geniuss will see the light.

[fishyguy]

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Finally a post from a guy that has a lotta baseball sense,speaking of Cuddirtyer I dont think anyone will give us a thing for that dirt ball,funny we have a beachballer and dirt balller,keep posting G-Man maybe some of these so called baseball geniuss will see the light.

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Mitty and Gman,

I don't know if I have a lot of "baseball sense" as you say but I can look at stats to come to a logical conclusion.

Radke's record is 137-130 which translates to a .513 clip. The teams record in his tenure is 848-913 which is a .480 clip. I guess Brad finds a way to win games.

Last year he had a 4.04 ERA. That ranks him 26th out of all AL pitchers with more than 12 starts. (Considering most starters are getting 25-35 starts I think lowering the threshold to 12 starts was fair). If there are 14 AL teams and he has the 26th best ERA wouldn't that really make him on average a #2 starter if we are using ERA as factor.

[sdstate]

I cant believe people continually rag on Radke. He is a darn good pitcher. If haters would watch past the first couple innngs of a game maybe they would realize that. Lets look at it this way: If we get rid of Radke, who would take his place??? Lohse??? I dont think so.

[buzzsaw]

Side bet, I'll go out on a limb and say he gives up a home run in the first or second inning tonight. For the record, I like him as a player.

[rwestb]

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Side bet, I'll go out on a limb and say he gives up a home run in the first or second inning tonight. For the record, I like him as a player.

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Not tonight. I predict the twins first quailty start from Radke. Twins 6 A's 2. If I lived closer I'd take your side bet.

[rwestb]

Guess I was wrong.