Comments on: RISP and offensive woes http://firegardy.com/2009/04/29/risp-and-offensive-woes/ Mismanaging games since 2002 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:41:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Marv http://firegardy.com/2009/04/29/risp-and-offensive-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-2407 Marv Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:47:57 +0000 http://firegardy.com/?p=619#comment-2407 <p>'We’re sure as hell not going to win 30% of our wins by walkoff.'</p> <p>That made me grin. I suppose you don't think we will continue to win 100% of our 1 run games either, huh?</p> <p>Pessimist.</p> ‘We’re sure as hell not going to win 30% of our wins by walkoff.’

That made me grin. I suppose you don’t think we will continue to win 100% of our 1 run games either, huh?

Pessimist.

]]> By: sirsean http://firegardy.com/2009/04/29/risp-and-offensive-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-2406 sirsean Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:38:39 +0000 http://firegardy.com/?p=619#comment-2406 <p>No, you're not missing anyone. The right handed batters on our team have pretty much all sucked this year. (Except for Morales from the right side, but he's a switch hitter so he doesn't really count, I guess.)</p> <p>I see some hope in that, actually. We've managed to stay close to .500 when only 2-3 of our players are hitting, they're all left handed, we don't have Mauer, and we have 5 guys batting under .250 with no power and there's close to no way any of them do that for the whole season.</p> <p>Once these guys start to pick it up, we should be able to win some more comfortable games. We're sure as hell not going to win 30% of our wins by walkoff.</p> No, you’re not missing anyone. The right handed batters on our team have pretty much all sucked this year. (Except for Morales from the right side, but he’s a switch hitter so he doesn’t really count, I guess.)

I see some hope in that, actually. We’ve managed to stay close to .500 when only 2-3 of our players are hitting, they’re all left handed, we don’t have Mauer, and we have 5 guys batting under .250 with no power and there’s close to no way any of them do that for the whole season.

Once these guys start to pick it up, we should be able to win some more comfortable games. We’re sure as hell not going to win 30% of our wins by walkoff.

]]> By: Marv http://firegardy.com/2009/04/29/risp-and-offensive-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-2405 Marv Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:35:16 +0000 http://firegardy.com/?p=619#comment-2405 <p>Kazmir is starting for the Rays tonight. He is a LHP, so I should think we will see Harris, as he is the only bright spot among our RH batters so far. (am I missing someone?) Should be interesting to see what Gardy does.</p> Kazmir is starting for the Rays tonight. He is a LHP, so I should think we will see Harris, as he is the only bright spot among our RH batters so far. (am I missing someone?) Should be interesting to see what Gardy does.

]]> By: Erica http://firegardy.com/2009/04/29/risp-and-offensive-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-2404 Erica Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:15:55 +0000 http://firegardy.com/?p=619#comment-2404 <p>I agree with you guys- I hope whatever lineup Gardy uses tonight includes Harris. I missed the Boston/Cleveland games (vacation in Phoenix!), but Harris at second and some bench time for Casilla sounds good. </p> <p>Lucky last-minute victory last night, but it's a shame Liriano didn't get the win.</p> I agree with you guys- I hope whatever lineup Gardy uses tonight includes Harris. I missed the Boston/Cleveland games (vacation in Phoenix!), but Harris at second and some bench time for Casilla sounds good.

Lucky last-minute victory last night, but it’s a shame Liriano didn’t get the win.

]]> By: sirsean http://firegardy.com/2009/04/29/risp-and-offensive-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-2403 sirsean Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:29:13 +0000 http://firegardy.com/?p=619#comment-2403 <p>Those things all sound good, especially sitting Casilla vs LHP and keeping Cuddyer on the bench until he gets straightened out.</p> Those things all sound good, especially sitting Casilla vs LHP and keeping Cuddyer on the bench until he gets straightened out.

]]> By: MarkW http://firegardy.com/2009/04/29/risp-and-offensive-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-2402 MarkW Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:20:15 +0000 http://firegardy.com/?p=619#comment-2402 <p>I do agree Cuddyer should ride the bench for a while so he can pull his head out... I would actually prefer to let Kubel start in RF and have Young DH vs Lefties and Buscher DH vs Righties... Span in LF and Gomez start playing everyday again in CF, while batting 9th (someone needs to tell him to settle down), I know it's exciting to play in the majors at age 22, but really, let's focus here.</p> <p>Span LF, Gomez CF, Kubel RF Young DH</p> <p>Infield stays as is, except I think I'd start to use Harris more vs LHP at 2B, give Casilla some time to sit as well...</p> I do agree Cuddyer should ride the bench for a while so he can pull his head out… I would actually prefer to let Kubel start in RF and have Young DH vs Lefties and Buscher DH vs Righties… Span in LF and Gomez start playing everyday again in CF, while batting 9th (someone needs to tell him to settle down), I know it’s exciting to play in the majors at age 22, but really, let’s focus here.

Span LF, Gomez CF, Kubel RF Young DH

Infield stays as is, except I think I’d start to use Harris more vs LHP at 2B, give Casilla some time to sit as well…

]]> By: MarkW http://firegardy.com/2009/04/29/risp-and-offensive-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-2401 MarkW Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:12:31 +0000 http://firegardy.com/?p=619#comment-2401 <p>Biggest issue is the following players are not exactly knocking it around much to start the season: Cuddyer, Crede, Young, Gomez and Casilla (from the right side of the plate), all are RH batters and all are struggling... Right now, I'd rather have as many LH bats in the lineup vs a LHP than the opposite... and that includes Kubel AND Buscher vs LHP (but really, how much worse could it be than watching Cuddyer fan 3 times a game?)</p> <p>Morales is hitting .375 or something ridiculous, so to expect improvement from Mauer at the catcher position when he returns might be asking a bit much as Morales has made up for it, at least offensively... Mauer could provide a bit more pop, or extra base hits, but overall, I dont think offensively much will change (just the fact that Mauer can sustain it all year, where as Morales will probably fade in time)... Of course I'm ignoring what Mauer will contribute to defensively.</p> <p>I do agree that Morales should stay up, which will no doubt either land Redmond on the DL (allowing them to keep Morillo for a while longer) or sending either Gomez down or waiving Morillo... honestly I think they'll wave Morillo and hope he clears and then put him in AAA.</p> <p>But again, if we can pull one out tonight, we'll be 11-11 after 1 month of baseball... I'll take that for April 2009!</p> Biggest issue is the following players are not exactly knocking it around much to start the season: Cuddyer, Crede, Young, Gomez and Casilla (from the right side of the plate), all are RH batters and all are struggling… Right now, I’d rather have as many LH bats in the lineup vs a LHP than the opposite… and that includes Kubel AND Buscher vs LHP (but really, how much worse could it be than watching Cuddyer fan 3 times a game?)

Morales is hitting .375 or something ridiculous, so to expect improvement from Mauer at the catcher position when he returns might be asking a bit much as Morales has made up for it, at least offensively… Mauer could provide a bit more pop, or extra base hits, but overall, I dont think offensively much will change (just the fact that Mauer can sustain it all year, where as Morales will probably fade in time)… Of course I’m ignoring what Mauer will contribute to defensively.

I do agree that Morales should stay up, which will no doubt either land Redmond on the DL (allowing them to keep Morillo for a while longer) or sending either Gomez down or waiving Morillo… honestly I think they’ll wave Morillo and hope he clears and then put him in AAA.

But again, if we can pull one out tonight, we’ll be 11-11 after 1 month of baseball… I’ll take that for April 2009!

]]> By: Schulte http://firegardy.com/2009/04/29/risp-and-offensive-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-2400 Schulte Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:12:14 +0000 http://firegardy.com/?p=619#comment-2400 <p><i>That’s supposed to be the manager’s job.</i></p> <p>We are clearly in the wrong line of work.</p> <p>Maybe when Cuddyer reaches 150 plate appearances, Gardy will come to his senses.</p> That’s supposed to be the manager’s job.

We are clearly in the wrong line of work.

Maybe when Cuddyer reaches 150 plate appearances, Gardy will come to his senses.

]]> By: sirsean http://firegardy.com/2009/04/29/risp-and-offensive-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-2399 sirsean Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:07:36 +0000 http://firegardy.com/?p=619#comment-2399 <p>Loyalty has value, but only to a point. Cross a certain line, and instead of demonstrating to the other players that "Gardy has your back," you run the risk of demonstrating "If you convince Gardy to like you, you can get a big contract and lots of playing time no matter HOW badly you perform."</p> <p>You REALLY don't want young players seeing examples like that.</p> <p>It's well past time that Gardy realizes that he's crossed that line and that he needs to bench Cuddyer and let more talented players give it a shot.</p> Loyalty has value, but only to a point. Cross a certain line, and instead of demonstrating to the other players that “Gardy has your back,” you run the risk of demonstrating “If you convince Gardy to like you, you can get a big contract and lots of playing time no matter HOW badly you perform.”

You REALLY don’t want young players seeing examples like that.

It’s well past time that Gardy realizes that he’s crossed that line and that he needs to bench Cuddyer and let more talented players give it a shot.

]]> By: FunBobby http://firegardy.com/2009/04/29/risp-and-offensive-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-2398 FunBobby Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:04:30 +0000 http://firegardy.com/?p=619#comment-2398 <p>I honestly think that Cuddyer will never get back to his 06 (or even 07) levels. So why are we playing him? This has always been one of Gardy's biggest flaws: giving guys playing time for things they have done in the past. This is also a big problem with most twins fans: liking a guy too much for things they have done in the past. </p> <p>I've always been of the belief that you shouldn't cheer for individual players, but for the team. I don't care who Gardy puts on the field as long as we win, and currently it doesn't look like he is giving us the best chance of winning by putting Cuddyer out there day in and day out.</p> I honestly think that Cuddyer will never get back to his 06 (or even 07) levels. So why are we playing him? This has always been one of Gardy’s biggest flaws: giving guys playing time for things they have done in the past. This is also a big problem with most twins fans: liking a guy too much for things they have done in the past.

I’ve always been of the belief that you shouldn’t cheer for individual players, but for the team. I don’t care who Gardy puts on the field as long as we win, and currently it doesn’t look like he is giving us the best chance of winning by putting Cuddyer out there day in and day out.

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