Friday July 11, 2003

The Twins Big Move

I will get to the Twins big move yesterday shortly, but I wanted to start out with a quick historical note.  On this date in 1914, Babe Ruth made his major league PITCHING debut at the age of 19 for the Boston Red Sox. I think because of the way he redefined the game of baseball with his power hitting, a lot of people may not realize just how good of a pitcher he was. After pitching 4 games in his 1914 debut (2-1, 3.91 ERA), Ruth was a primary pitcher from 1915 through 1919 with the Red Sox. Really, once he was sold to the Yankees before the 1920 season, he only pitched 5 more games for them over the next 14 season.  But, here are Ruth’s stats as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox:

Pretty interesting how he had really good ERA’s, especially compared to the league average.  Interesting, because he didn’t have a very good strikeout rate at all, and even in his better years, he walked a lot of hitters.  But, he did so and still pitched well. Two 20-win seasons. Lots of innings. But, even those last two years, there was a major reduction in games and innings. But, that very directly correlates to his increased offensive and especially increase power numbers.

OK, to the Twins Talk:

Well, the Twins made a move yesterday!  No, it wasn’t getting one of the big outfielders they have been rumored to be after (Shannon Stewart, Jeromy Burnitz, Brian Giles, etc.).  They signed Kevin Young to a minor league contract, a First Baseman!  A First Baseman who was released less than 2 weeks ago by the Pittsburgh Pirates.  A First Baseman who was in the final year of a $24 million contract, yet still was released.  A First Baseman who lost his playing time to a sausage beater!

I better explain that last sentence!  This past winter, the Pirates traded for 1B Randall Simon, a pretty solid major league hitter from Curacao who is probably best known for being the subject of some of John Rocker’s political incorrectness.  Randall Simon was arrested Wednesday night for battery after playfully hitting the Brewers employee in the Italian sausage outfit during the infamous hot dogs races during the 6^th inning at Miller Park.  Even the 18-year old girl who was in the costume thought the arrest was ridiculous, saying “It wasn't that big of a blow. I think just because I'm so small and it's such a big costume that I tumbled, and the reason I couldn't get up right away is because I couldn't get up. I wasn't like hurt so bad I couldn't get up.”  Simon was charged with a misdemeanor disorderly conduct and fined $432.

This was an absolutely ridiculous scene.  When I saw it (over and over) on ESPN on Wednesday night, I laughed. I never thought it would escalate as it has.  I’ve been at Miller Park. I’ve seen the races. Four people wear costumes of a brat, an Italian sausage, a Polish sausage, and a hot dog. They have big, heavy heads, and the whole act is funny because it is so difficult to maintain their balance as they run.  So, Simon, trying to be funny, took a very soft swing at the nearest character and hit her just enough to make her lose her balance. When she (the Italian Sausage) fell, she toppled the hot dog too.  Basically, if you’re reading this and not laughing at the absolute lunacy of the whole thing, you may agree that Simon should be arrested!  But, the race is fun, it’s supposed to be funny, the crowd laughs at their inability to run straight, and Randall Simon wanted to be a part of it, wanted to have fun with it. That’s all.  In his words:

"I thought at the moment they were trying to play with us. They were running right next to the players. I'm a fun player, and I've never hurt anyone in my life.''

So anyway, I just had to get that off my chest. But, let’s get back to the big signing of Kevin Young.  As has been documented over and over again on this and many other Twins-related web sites, the Twins don’t need another 1B.  Right now, they have Doug Mientkiewicz, Matthew Lecroy and Justin Morneau in the major leagues who can play 1B.  In AAA Rochester, Todd Sears has more than proven his ability to play 1B, and Michael Cuddyer and Shane Andrews are there too.

So, this move makes no sense!  Even getting an OF would make more sense than this. Oh, Young has played some LF and RF the last couple of years in Pittsburgh. But, I don’t remember seeing any worse OF than Young.  Everything was a basket catch (or drop), and I’m not talking graceful, elegant basket catches like many that Willie Mays made.  I’m talking 50-50 chance of catching the ball basket catches. So, I can’t imagine him being played out there.

Here are Young’s career numbers:

Sure, he’s had his moments. He did enough in 1998 and 1999 for the Pirates to give him a 4 year, $24 million contract. But, what can he do to help the Twins? 

LAST NIGHT’S GAME

It happened again. Starting pitches give a team a chance to win, or lose, most games.  As Michael from Chicago reminded me in an e-mail last week, pitching wins. Without pitching, it doesn’t matter how many runs a team scores!  Last night, Rick Reed gave up a 3-run home run to Juan Gonzalez with 2 outs in the bottom of the 1^st.  The Twins came back to cut the lead to 3-1, but Reed gave up another home run, this time solo, to Gonzalez in the 4^th.  In the 5^th inning, the Twins cut into that lead with a run to make it 4-2, still well within range.  But, right away again in the bottom of the 5^th, Reed gave up a 3-run home run to 2B Michael Young.

James Baldwin made his first Twins appearance. He came in with a couple of runners on base and induced a double-play ball from Juan Gonzalez. A great start. But, reality set in with the first batter of the next half inning, Mark Texiera, and he hit a long home run to center field. Baldwin went 2 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs (1 earned).

Joe Mays made his return to the bullpen.  He hasn’t pitched out of the bullpen for a couple of years, but the situation was perfect for Mays. They want to put him into situations where the game doesn’t hinge on any pitch. Down 5 runs in the bottom of the 8^th is exactly that situation.  Mays gave up a hit to the first batter he faced, but then 1-2-3 after that.

But again, the Twins lost… again. (fortunately, the Tigers again beat the White Sox, and Esteban Loaiza 1-0, and the Angels beat the Royals 7-1, so the Twins didn’t lose more ground, and remain 4 ½ games behind the Royals.)

Rangers starting pitcher John Thomson has not been good this year.  After last night’s game, he is now 6-9 with a 5.32 ERA. I just have the question: Why isn’t he performing better?  I watched him pitch last night, and he reminded me of Mark Prior.  Now, before I get a bunch of e-mails telling me I’ve lost my mind, let me further explain  At 6’3”, Thomson is fairly tall.  He’s lanky, as is Prior.  Thomson’s windup and delivery are what remind me of Prior.  They stand tall, lift the left leg high, and their arm motions are very similar.  Thomson throws his fastball between 93-95, just a couple notches below Prior. Now, I acknowledge, aside from that, they are different.  Mark Prior has an amazing curveball. Thomson’s was very inconsistent.  Prior has excellent control. Thomson, at times, can be all over the place, especially out of the set position. He seems real jumpy on his follow through. That said, if Thomson can 1.) get more control, 2.) better develop that curveball, and 3.) continue to get run support from the Rangers, there’s no reason he can’t be a very successful pitcher for the Rangers.

Did anyone else happen to notice that after Cristian Guzman lackadaisically threw a ball to 1B that Doug Mientkiewicz had to stretch wide to catch, Denny Hocking pinch hit for him the next half inning?  My first thought was just that Gardy was getting Hocking into the game, which he probably would have done anyway, but Guzman got Tuesday’s game off, so Hocking may have come in for Rivas or Koskie.  It should be interesting to see if anything comes of this. Will Guzman be in the lineup tomorrow night in Anaheim?

Speaking of what will happen tomorrow night… what will the outfield look like?  Torii Hunter will be in Arkansas at his high school baseball coach’s funeral (I’m really glad he’s being allowed to go!).  Lew Ford won’t be able to play for a couple more games due to being hit in BP by a line drive.  Jacque Jones is obviously still on the DL.  That leaves Dustan Mohr in LF, Bobby Kielty in CF and Denny Hocking in RF?  Maybe Gomez will play SS?

The Big Question -

Recently, Rob Neyer wrote on espn.com about the Twins problems, and asked the question, what’s wrong with the Twins?  Yesterday, Aaron’s Baseball Blog basically took credit for everything in Neyer’s column. Both articles are great and contain well-presented arguments. I’d definitely encourage everyone to read them.  But, those of us who have been following the Twins all season already knew the answers to that question.  Now, it might just be time to ask a new question or two:

Were the Critics right?  Was Last Year’s Season a Fluke?

I hate to even ask that question. I’ve stood by the Twins through all those bad years in the late ‘90s, and even if the answers to those questions are Yes, I will still watch them all the time.

But, first I think it’s important for us to acknowledge that the AL Central is a terrible, terrible division. Yes, the Twins should be leading the division by 10 games. That’s what we programmed ourselves to think.  And, yes, I absolutely believe, 100%, that the Twins have the ability to turn this thing around, to right the ship, in no time.  It could happen, and I certainly hope it does. 

The starting pitchers, aside from Lohse, have all be All-Stars.  True.  All Twins starting pitchers, with the exception of recently added Johan Santana, have ERAs well over 4.00.   

Last year, the infielders had disappointing numbers, compared to expectations.  Well, I think this year, Guzman is the only infielder well below expectations. Koskie’s been great, as has Mientkiewicz. 

The outfield, well, Jones and Hunter haven’t been great, but they haven’t taken the next step forward either.  The RF situation is so unclear, and as long as there are 37 options out there, no good will be able to come from there.

Relief pitching - LaTroy Hawkins and Johan Santana have been great!  Eddie has been mediocre.  Romero has been really not good. The rookies have all done well at times, but have been inconsistent.  Fiore, after 10 wins last year, has already been sent to the minors.

So, why do we all still believe that the Twins are so great, that they’re better than a .500 team?  I don’t know. We’re good fans, that’s what we’re supposed to think. Also, their play in the month of May is still sitting in the far back regions of our brain. 

I really, really hope that I’m wrong. I really hope that tomorrow night starts a new season, a positive streak.  Maybe instead of going 6-19, as they have in their last 25 games, they can go 19-6 in their next 25 games.

What do you think?  I’d love to hear your thoughts.  E-mail me and let me know if last year was a fluke? If we hold the Twins higher than we should.

BASKETBALL NOTES -

The big news, of course, is that Karl Malone officially has said that he will accept the $1.5 million exception and play for the Lakers next year.   Anyone who considers Malone a selfish “Me” only player can no longer say that.  He’s playing for about $18 million less than last year. All for the chance to win a championship.

The Timberwolves summer team went to 3-0 at the Orlando Summer League, beating the Miami Heat team 85-69.  Former Wisconsin Badger Kirk Penney led the Wolves team with 16 points.  Quincy Lewis and Igor Rakocevic each added 14 points.

Well, I wish everyone a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!! As always, feel free to e-mail me your thoughts on anything.

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