Minnesota Twins @ Baltimore Orioles GameThread, Sep 14, 2008 1:35 PM EDT

Gameday Thread: Twins @ O's

by Stacey on Sep 14, 2008 1:35 PM EDT

Minnesota Twins @ Baltimore Orioles

Radhames Liz vs. Nick Blackburn. Twins go for the sweep. Play ball!

Lineup

09/14/08 1:35 PM EDT

Minnesota Twins	Baltimore Orioles
Denard Span - RF	Brian Roberts - 2B
Alexi Casilla - 2B	Adam Jones - CF
Joe Mauer - C	Nick Markakis - RF
Justin Morneau - 1B	Aubrey Huff - 3B
Jason Kubel - DH	Ramon Hernandez - C
Delmon Young - LF	Luke Scott - DH
Brian Buscher - 3B	Oscar Salazar - 1B
Nick Punto - SS	Lou Montanez - LF
Carlos Gomez - CF	Juan Castro - SS

Since the outcome of this game doesn't matter, let's take a look at some of our new young players who may have a future on this team.

Since coming off the DL on Sept 1st, Adam Jones is 8 for 33 with 2 home runs and an OPS of .782. For the year his OPS+ is 92. Not too shabby for a kid who seemed to swing badly at every breaking ball when the season started.

Lou Montanez has been with the team since August 5th and has started 19 games, mostly since Mora got injured and gave the lineup some breathing room. He's handled himself well, putting up an OPS of .782 and batting just over .300. After a few mishaps in the field initially he's proven to be a serviceable outfielder and I think he'd look real good as the #4 next year.

Ok, so Oscar Salazar probably doesn't have much of a future on the team and he's not even young, but he's been playing somewhat regularly since being called up. His batting average is a very unspectacular .214 but he's only had 42 AB. He has walked 7 times and has 3 home runs. I suppose he has his uses. But when I hear people clamoring that he should get a shot over people like Mora or whoever, it just makes me shake my head because this guy isn't the answer to anything.

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Comments

I can't watch this game

If I watch it, I’ll start rooting for the Oriioles, and I have to seriously root for the Twins to win. Boston missing the playoffs is still possible.

Plus, we have football on.

The stock market will never recover, our armies will never again be #1, and our children will drink filthy water for the rest of their lives - HST

by the fix is in on Sep 14, 2008 2:18 PM EDT 0 recs

No Ravens

Kind of sucks.

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on Sep 14, 2008 2:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

Everyone's watching football

Except me.

I always say follow your dreams...even if they're about a giant spider with your father's head, and he keeps stealing your p*nis!

by Ghost of Floyd Rayford on Sep 14, 2008 3:56 PM EDT 0 recs

And in other news

The Orioles are winning 7-0.

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on Sep 14, 2008 4:00 PM EDT 0 recs

what the hell happened in here?

by Steve. on Sep 14, 2008 4:09 PM EDT 0 recs

Hey the O's are winning

I’ve had this game on in the background while doing some housework. It’s been quite lovely, except for right now. Good old Georgie.

[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8

by Stacey on Sep 14, 2008 4:10 PM EDT 0 recs

So, how about Rad today?

8 innings and no runs, I think that’s the best start the O’s have had since Waters’ debut.

"You have to discipline yourself so you don't come out with something just to say you made a trade. You have to make sure you come out better than you were before." - Andy MacPhail, 7/31/08

by getxstoked on Sep 14, 2008 4:34 PM EDT 0 recs

Best start of Liz's career

By far.

by dkdc on Sep 14, 2008 4:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

I kind of wish Dave had let him start the 9th.

"You have to discipline yourself so you don't come out with something just to say you made a trade. You have to make sure you come out better than you were before." - Andy MacPhail, 7/31/08

by getxstoked on Sep 14, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

yeah...

liz looked really good. it’s been rough, but he has actually shown signs that he could develop into a quality starting pitcher.

i don’t know what the fuck olosn’s problem is.

"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."

--Jerry Reed, on acting

by j.q. higgins on Sep 14, 2008 6:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

olson's problem is that stuff is mediocre

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Sep 14, 2008 7:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

lack of a true out pitch?

yeah. seems to be the case, i guess.

"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."

--Jerry Reed, on acting

by j.q. higgins on Sep 15, 2008 9:17 AM EDT up 0 recs

That was the knock on Maine too

Of course, he does play in the lesser leage. But it’s not as if the offenses in his division are super-crappy.

I still think we need to give Garrett much more time. After all, somebody’s gotta start the season in the rotation. Unless we grab a bunch of Rick Helling 2.0’s, which I’m afraid might be the case out of pure necessity.

by pipkin on Sep 15, 2008 10:19 AM EDT up 0 recs

Let's trade Olson for Kris Benson

by punkrawka on Sep 15, 2008 10:29 AM EDT up 0 recs

let's throw in Albers while we're at it

by pipkin on Sep 15, 2008 10:50 AM EDT up 0 recs

however...

maine’s experience w/ the o’s over two seasons is equivalent to olson’s experience last year. and now olson has had neiarly a full season at the top level this year. i’m not saying get rid of the guy and he has even shown modest improvement, but he’s definitely not where one would like him to be.

(i’d also note that maine has continually regressed since his breakout to the point where he has posted a sub 100 era+ for this year)

"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."

--Jerry Reed, on acting

by j.q. higgins on Sep 15, 2008 11:01 AM EDT up 0 recs

both valid points

by pipkin on Sep 15, 2008 11:44 AM EDT up 0 recs

Also worth pointing out

That Kris Benson never had a 100+ ERA at all, was paid a lot more, and is no longer pitching at all, let alone near league-average.

by punkrawka on Sep 15, 2008 12:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

why is it worth pointing that out?

"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."

--Jerry Reed, on acting

by j.q. higgins on Sep 15, 2008 1:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

That was the knock on Maine too

And Rick Peterson taught him a new pitch which really helped him out. Olson, like JJ, probably needs to do the same.

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Sep 15, 2008 12:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

jj?

you think johnson needs another or you’re saying he learned one in spring training (which was my understanding)?

i’ll be curious to see if they let jj audition for a role in the rotation and how that shakes out. as i said, w/ jj, patton and albers in the mix, along w/ olson, liz and penn and maybe bergesen or someone else from bowie, there’s definitely pressure on olson.

i don’t know why flanaquette lost patience w/ maine on the basis of 8 starts. i’d guess they felt as little burned by guys like douglass and towers, but when your system is churning out guys, it sort of behooves you to give a longer leash.

now, the o’s aren’t exactly flush w/ top drawer arms, but they’ve definitely got a wealth of internal options for the pen, for the rotation, for trade bait and fro chum.

"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."

--Jerry Reed, on acting

by j.q. higgins on Sep 15, 2008 1:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

you think johnson needs another or you’re saying he learned one in spring training (which was my understanding)?

He (sort of) learned one in spring training. Kranitz increased the length of JJ’s stride which created the sink on his fastball. And I’m all for putting JJ in the rotation.

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Sep 15, 2008 2:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

well, look at rad liz...

i always thought the knock on him was that, while his fastball was amongst the best in the system, if not the best, he lacked effective secondary pitches. i’ve been really impressed w/ the change he’s developing. when he’s touching mid 90s w/ that exploder and all the sudden drops an 83 mph change, it’s not even fair.

"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."

--Jerry Reed, on acting

by j.q. higgins on Sep 15, 2008 2:54 PM EDT up 0 recs