Cool! RT @keithlaw Twins sign …
Posted by John on July 3, 2009 under MVB | 
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Cool! RT @keithlaw Twins sign German prospect Max Kepler - terms undisclosed. Best prospect in Europe this year. (via @mlbtraderumors)
Fan Friday - Chris Mangan
Posted by John on under MVB | Be the First to Comment
This week’s Fan Friday comes from South Dakota. Chris Mangan is the Sports Editor for the Collegian, the school paper of South Dakota State University in Brookings. Follow Chris on Twitter @mango4.
It’s the beginning of July, not even to the half way point of the season, and already a mystical number is being brought up in relation to the Twins, specifically Joe Mauer–.400.
No one has hit over .400 since 1941 when Ted Williams hit .406, it’s just too hard of an accomplishment. It seems like every year someone gets off to a red hot start and that number gets thrown around, only to see the player fade during the dog days of August.
It’s going to be a challenge for Mauer, who is hitting .392 following a 3-for-3 day against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, to hit .400. He plays one of the most demanding positions in baseball and his body takes a beating every game from foul tips and crouching.
Mauer doesn’t seem to be prone to long term slumps but he has a tendency to fade in the second half of the season. In 2006-2008, Mauer has hit just .310 after the All-Star break, including hitting .311 in the second half of 2006, when he won his first batting title.
Two people that are going to play a vital role in Mauer’s quest for .400 are Justin Morneau and Ron Gardenhire. If Morneau is able to keep up the pace he is on, pitchers are going to have to pick their poison. The extra protection from Morneau will let Mauer see a lot more pitches but it also means Mauer doesn’t have to press and try to carry the team himself.
Gardenhire might be the most important part besides Mauer though. Gardy has to be careful and not overuse Mauer so he doesn’t wear down in the second half of the season. Gardy has used Mauer has a DH several times this year, which gives Mauer’s body a chance to rest but it also lets him stay in a rhythm at the plate.
Mauer may continue to hit around .400 all season or he might fade in the second half, either way I am going to enjoy the ride.
Time for Twins is Now
Posted by John on July 2, 2009 under MVB | Read the First Comment
For the first time all season (yes, all season) the Twins are two games above .500. That sounds like I’m talking about a losing team that recently got on a little hot streak, but really the Twins have been a team that have hovered anywhere between three games under and one game over .500 for three months. Nonetheless, the club is just three games back of the 1st place Detroit Tigers and there couldn’t be a better time for the Twins to play good baseball.
The Twins turned their road woes around in the month of June going 10-6 away from home since June 8 and finishing the recent road trip to Milwaukee, St. Louis and Kansas City with a 6-3 record. Just like the bast four seasons a combination of a hot June and interleague play seem to be turning the season around for the Twins.
Today the Twins get a much deserved day off as they prepare for a big home series against the Detroit Tigers. This is undoubtedly the biggest series of the season thus far for the Twins and a potential sweep could send a strong message to who is the best team in the AL Central.
Minnesota has nine more games until the All-Star break, all at home, so now is time for our Twins to make a move.
* Speaking of the All-Star game, fans have until 10:59 pm central time tonight to cast their ballots online for the Midsummer Classic in St. Louis. Joe Mauer looks to be set to start his 2nd consecutive ASG and Justin Morneau will need a big push to pass Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis.
About 30 hours remain to vote …
Posted by John on July 1, 2009 under MVB | Be the First to Comment
About 30 hours remain to vote for All-Stars online. Help Mauer get his 2nd straight start and Morneau make a late push! http://bit.ly/SF13v
A solid 5-1 Twins victory in K…
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A solid 5-1 Twins victory in Kansas City and a series win. Looks like Morneau will be ok after leaving game with groin injury.
A solid 2-1 win for Twins in K…
Posted by John on June 30, 2009 under MVB | Be the First to Comment
A solid 2-1 win for Twins in Kansas City. Baker was a bit inefficient but great outings from the bullpen. #mntwins
Any Twins fans in Kansas City …
Posted by John on under MVB | 2 Comments to Read
Any Twins fans in Kansas City for the series? How’s the new Kauffman stadium? Looks great from tv.
Fan Friday - Jake Lunemann
Posted by John on June 26, 2009 under MVB | Be the First to Comment
This week’s Fan Friday comes from Jake Lunemann. Jake is a Twins fan since the age of 6 (when Shane Mack was his favorite player). Lunemann currently has a scouting internship with Baseball Info Solutions. BIS helps produces The Bill James Handbook and other statistical and scounting publications. You can read more of Jake’s work at www.twinsmix.com…
Every Minnesota Twins fan knew who to watch in the Twins lineup this year, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Then throw in peppered expectations for Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer, not to mention offseason acquisition Joe Crede. We all thought this team would have one of the most feared lineups that the Twins have had in the past 15 years. I am here to tell you that our teams playoff hopes hang on the shoulders of one man who you may not expect. Denard Span.
While Span was on the DL we got to “enjoy” a man who we have not seen much of this year, Delmon Young. While I have not given up on Young completely, it is fast approaching that level. Young hits for a very empty batting average and even if you were getting good production from him it would not be worth having to see him run around the outfield. Young’s defensive numbers (UZR/150=-23.2 and Range=-5.2) are similar to Washington National’s outfielder Adam Dunn (UZR/150=-22.4 and Range= -8.7) who regularly stars on ESPN Sportscenter’s Not top 10. Span on the other hand has amazing range which only seems mundane because of who patrols center field for the Twins. On top of this he is seemingly on base constantly (current OBP .388), steals bases (12), and draws walks almost as often as striking out (31:37).
So far this season Kubel has had a breakout year and Crede and Cuddyer have played as well as we could have hoped. Mauer and Morneau are each having MVP type seasons (and sadly, will probably split votes so neither will win) so really we are only missing a productive speed guy. While I think Brendan Harris and Matt Tolbert will be moderately successful given full time at bats they are not going to be the catalyst that makes or breaks a team. Denard Span is this guy. To make a comparison to another Twin, think of Cristian Guzman with more patience at the plate and better defense. A guy with the ability to spark a rally, drive in runs, and make game saving defensive plays. So there we have it, with Span at the top of the lineup, a top 10 offense in the major leagues. Without Span, we are the Chicago White Sox. Gross.
Off the TePoel: Good Rebound
Posted by Dain on June 25, 2009 under MVB | Be the First to Comment
I must say I didn’t expect a great game from the Twins today after the series-changing momentum killer bottom of the 8th inning last night. But they came out strong, survived the predictable 6th inning slump from Baker, and won the game with a combination of old and new Twins baseball. Great to see Denard Span back out there. With Gomez playing a bit better, Span stabilizing the top of the lineup, and the rest of the crew maintaining their health, we could see the offense stay hot. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll get out of this train leading to nowhere.
Is anyone else tired of the Twins not playing well until mid or late June? In 2006 it was the start of a historic run. 2008 it was a surprise. But now, for the third time in the last four years, this is a definite trend. I’m a huge Gardy fan, if you’ve ever read what I have to say, I love him as a manager. Tons of respect for the guy. But I think he’s getting too much slack here. As if we didn’t learn last year, each game counts. Get your team together by April - what else is Spring Training for?
What happened to the days of teams going out there and just demoralizing opponents for 162 games, like say, the Yankees in their run in 1996, 1998, and so on. Those were not mega star teams, early on anyway. Hard to believe, but they really weren’t. They looked beatable on paper but they just had that edge, that knack, that once the game began, you just didn’t think you could win, even if you were ahead. Those teams made a killing just edging out wins with scores like 5-2, 3-1. or 6-5. Nowadays players seem so delicate that there’s no consistency to the lineup. And if the Twins do play well and win a few games it’s like we just run with what we have and more or less approach some games like, if we win, we win, if not, oh well, at least we’ll get rested up!
That’s why he’s the manager though, and I’m not. This is a different brand of baseball and there’s a reason for it. Health is key and you don’t need to demoralize opponents. You just need to win one more game than they do to make the playoffs, and you’ve narrowed down the divisions to a handful of teams so the competition really may not be as deep when the divisions had 7 teams or more, like in the 60’s and 70’s.
Well, enough random thoughts for one night. Let’s see this team take shape before the all star break.
A New Star in Minneapolis
Posted by John on under MVB | Read the First Comment
I really am not an outspoken fan about any other sport other than baseball, but as a Minneapolis resident I do follow the Timberwolves, Vikings, and the Wild. For the first time possibly ever on Twins MVB.com I wanted to talk about the Wolves.
In case you missed the NBA Draft this evening, Minneapolis has a new sports star and I have a favorite NBA player… Ricky Rubio. Rubio is an 18 year old kid from Spain who dazzled the rest of world at the Olympics last summer in Beijing. Rubio is a tall, skinny point guard with an enormous wingspan and bedazzling passing skills.
Don’t worry, this isn’t going to become a basketball blog, but I wanted to be the first to jump on the Rubio bandwagon and start the Ricky fan club. Who’s coming with me?
