SB Nation - Bob Keppel

Joe Mauer Homers Again, Brian Duensing Does It Again

Jesse — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:35:09 -0000

3 months ago: Minnesota Twins' Michael Cuddyer hits a two-run, bases-loaded single off Oakland Athletics' Gio Gonzalez in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

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Twins 8, Athletics 0

Once again, I'd like to divert three of today's runs to Saturday afternoon's contest. Done? Good.

It's not like Brian Duensing was unhittable, or perfect in hitting his spots. But he did what other, more "talented", Twins starters haven't been able to do this year on a consistent basis, and that's get outs when he needed them. Oakland managed a number of base runners over Duensing's seven innings, landing eight hits and a trio of walks, but every time it seemed like Brian was getting into trouble he found a way to slither out and come away unscathed.

Rajai Davis has been a bright spot for the A's this season, filling in pretty well as a leadoff hitter and more or less finding his role. But he's been a bit of a frustration at times as well, and today he was picked off first base to lead off the game before getting caught stealing later in the afternoon. Going into 2010, Davis is definitely one of the players for A's fans to look forward to, given his ability to reach base while being a pretty good defender in center field.

While Davis excelled in the leadoff role today (three hits and a walk in five PA's), Denard Span matched him. Just without the outs on the bases. Span reached base four of his five times at the dish, scoring twice while shifting over to right field before the game.

Those lineups I posted for the game thread were taken from LEN III's pre-game blog over at the Strib, but apparently between the initial lineup card and the first pitch both Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel were scratched due to soreness. The result was a rather lopsided offense for the Twins, with Delmon Young moving all the way up to the five hole. Luckily, Span, Orlando Cabrera, Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer did most of the damage, combining to go 8-for-14 with three walks.

Yes my friends, that is outstanding work.

With those four guys pounding it out at the top of the order, the game was made pretty easy. Duensing got out of trouble, Bob Keppel and Joe Nathan finished the game off, and for whatever reason the A's couldn't just string together the hits necessary to scratch across a single run. As did the Twins on so many occasions this season, they had their opportunities and just couldn't get the job done.

It was great to see the Twins win again, and they're going to have to do a lot of it over these last three weeks. 19 games left, seven against the Tigers. Torii Hunter and the Angels took down the White Sox, moving the Twins back into second place in the AL Central, so can Minnesota still snag this division at the last possible second? Maybe. The battle continues tomorrow.

Stars
#5: Orlando Cabrera (1-for-3, BB, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, .052 WPA)
#4: Denard Span (2-for-3, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI, .059 WPA)
#3: Michael Cuddyer (3-for-4, 2 RBI, .124 WPA)
#2: Joe Mauer (3-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, .128 WPA)
#1: Brian Duensing (7 IP, 8 H, 6 K, 3 BB, 0 R, .189 WPA)

Twins Acquire Ron Mahay: Analysis & Fallout

Jesse — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:19:46 -0000

ESPN's Buster Olney has reported that the Twins have picked up southpaw reliever Ron Mahay from the Kansas City Royals.

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Ron Mahay	1-1	41	0	0	0	0	0	41.1	55	26	22	9	19	34	4.79	1.79

Those are Mahay's straight up stats from this season, and they're nothing to brag about. The 38-year old lefty is joining his eighth major league team, and I wouldn't blame you for thinking that's more because of his inability to become irreplaceable than because he's just that popular. Still, being able to hang around to this age as a bullpen specialist is a tribute of some kind.

Minnesota's front office does understand that their bullpen and rotation are in need of a little boost, and Randball's Stu has already covered the hot topic of last night when the Twins claimed Rich Harden, but even though the Twins are paying just a pro-rated portion of the major league minimum for one month of Mahay you have to ask the question: is this an improvement?

Jose Mijares and Brian Duensing are currently the only two lefties on the 25-man roster, with Mijares as the southpaw out of the 'pen. Adding the veteran Mahay gives the Twins an extra option from that side of the rubber, giving them another choice when working match-ups late in the game. Wait, did I just say "match-ups"?

Pitcher	AVG VS RHB	OPS VS RHB	AVG VS LHB	OPS VS LHB
Ron Mahay	.340	1.043	.278	.778
Joe Nathan	.180	.468	.161	.542
Matt Guerrier	.221	.644	.167	.441
Jose Mijares	.276	.756	.130	.439
Jesse Crain	.244	.646	.356	1.092
Bob Keppel	.282	.834	.304	.852
Jeff Manship	.500	1.038	.222	.541
Brian Duensing	.277	.809	.250	.629
Philip Humber	.429	.984	.385	1.004

Sure, there's some small sample size considerations here with guys like Humber, Manship...and even probably Keppel and Duensing, What it looks like we're getting in Mahay isn't necessarily a guy who is a definitive statistical improvement over half of this crew, but he is a guy who's seen...well, not "it all", but he's seen a lot. And we're getting a guy whose longevity may or may not mean something to the men who pitch in front of him and the guys who field behind him. Maybe the biggest positive we're getting from the acquisition of Mahay is the appearance to the players that yes, actually, the front office is trying to do something.

In a pennant race, given the choice between a 38-year old veteran and a non-hype rookie who's gotten shelled, who do you choose?

Fallout

Somebody is going to be removed from the 25-man roster, first of all. This could be Joe Crede, although this would put pressure on the Twins in regards to the post-season roster. It needs to be set by the end of the month, and considering this rule...

In cases of injury replacements on the post-season roster, only position players can be inserted for position players, and likewise pitchers for pitchers

...things could get difficult. Putting Crede on the DL and using Mahay to fill his roster spot means the Twins would need to make a move on another position player prior to September 1, unless they want to fake an injury to someone like Alexi Casilla...which I wouldn't advise they do. Not that they'd listen to me.

The most likely, and most logical, scenario sees the Twins sending Armando Gabino back to Rochester, having Mahay fill his spot, and keeping four starters on the roster; Thursday's off-day keeps everyone on rest, and with rosters expanding on Tuesday the Twins could have another starter ready to drop into the rotation.

Of course, none of this means that Crede shouldn't be sent to the disabled list.

More importantly than possibly all of that, is making room on the 40-man roster. Even with Boof Bonser, Pat Neshek and Kevin Slowey not taking up space by being on the 60-day DL, all spots are filled. The Twins could shift either Francisco Liriano or Glen Perkins to the 60-day DL, or they could attempt to remove someone by passing them through waivers. Of course, this assumes the Twins would want to bring this person back. It's more than realistic to entertain the notion that someone like Humber could get his walking papers.

Conclusions

Picking up Mahay wasn't a bad move, but we really have to hope he either performs better for the Twins than he did the Royals, or is simply used more effectively than he was with the Royals. But what's fun is that the most intriguing part of this acquisition isn't the acquisition itself, it's what happens to get that acquisition on the field.

What are your thoughts?

Upcoming...fallout and conclusions...

Meet: Armando Gabino

Jesse — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:34:49 -0000

Who else we've met in 2009: Luis Ayala, Jose Morales, Sean Henn and Bob Keppel

After having the luxury of being able to watch the Twins run off a streak of wins before taking a major league mound for the first time, tonight Armando Gabino will become the tenth pitcher to start a game for Minnesota in 2009.

Gabino's career began quietly, signing with the Cleveland Indians as an undrafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2001 when he was 17. He was also a third baseman originally, and was converted to a pitcher in 2003. In 2004, the 20-year old right-hander made his debut in the State-side Indians' system, pitching a decent but unimpressive 19 innings for Burlington, a Cleveland rookie-league squad. He allowed just one home run on 20 hits, walking five and striking out 12. He allowed 13 runs, but only nine were earned.

Left unprotected, the Twins nabbed him in the Rule 5 draft after the season. Whatever he may have shown in those 19 innings, Minnesota must have seen something that caused them to take a flier. They may have even liked him prior, as he played in the Dominican. Making his Twins-system debut in '05, Gabino made just three starts in 17 appearances and was hammered. 45 hits and 12 walks in just 30 innings led to 28 runs, and suffice it to say the Twins started in rookie league for the third consecutive season in '06.

This time, however, five good games (including one start, his last until this season in Rochester) earned him a promotion almost immediately. He spent most of 2006 in Beloit, appearing in relief 16 times while not experiencing significant fluctuations in walk or strikeout rates. His groundball rate did rebound, which helped keep balls in the park.

Excellent walk rates, allowing less than a hit per inning and keeping the ball in the park earned him a promotion after just 22 innings with Beloit in 2007. In Fort Myers, now 23, Gabino continued to excel: 27 hits in 37 innings, just one home run and 25 strikouts earned him his second promotion of the year. In 16 innings in New Britain, Gabino didn't allow a run. He retired 14 on strikes, and generally was on fire.

Minnesota kept him in double-A for the whole of 2008, where he made 49 relief appearances and accumulated 81.1 innings, to the tune of a 3.10 ERA. The walk rates had doubled since Beloit, but he was still excelling at keeping the ball in the park.

This season saw him dropped into triple-A for the first time at 25, eight years after signing with Cleveland. His first 31 appearances were all out of the bullpen, but with Brian Duensing and Anthony Swarzak in Minnesota the Red Wings were in need of starters. In those five starts, Gabino compiled a 2.16 ERA. Impressive, to be sure.

Owning what's been called a "heavy" fastball in the low to mid-90's, a breaking ball and an off-speed pitch, Gabino's "stuff" might actually be better than Swarzak's. When he makes his debut tonight, watch the movement he displays not just on that slider, but on his fastball as well. Right now, the Twins are in desperate need of a guy to step up and fill some empty shoes, and if Armando can strike while the iron is hot, then this will becomes his job to lose.

Good luck tonight, Armando. Pitch your tail off.

Armando Gabino

#63 / Pitcher / Minnesota Twins

Height: 6-3

Weight: 210

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Aug 31, 1983

Twins Weekend Notes: Cuddyer Homers Twice In One Inning, Rainville Retires, Boof Bonser's Return

Jesse — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:40:22 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

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It's been a long weekend, what with the Twins playing for their lives and Brett Favre officially throwing a pass as a Viking. So in case you missed it, here's all your Twins info in one glorious nugget of a post.

Most notably, the Twins swept the hapless Royals...hapless may seem like a harsh term, considering Kansas City could have won Friday or Saturday's contest. But a sweep is a sweep and it couldn't come at a better time. Both Chicago and Detroit lost today, giving the Twins just a 4.5-game deficit with 38 games left to play.
Michael Cuddyer's two homers in the seventh inning of Sunday's contest made him the first Minnesota Twin to ever accomplish the feat.
It sounds like Boof Bonser's recovery from a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his throwing arm is coming along quicker than anticipated. While Rustin Dodd's report says Bonser could return to the Twins in September, I'm going to have a hard time believing he'll be ready to step into the rotation until I see him putting up some good numbers at higher levels toward the end of his rehab stint. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather see Bonser available to pitch than Brian Duensing as a starter or Bob Keppel from the bullpen, but we're not quite there yet.
Dodd also has quotes from Ron Gardenhire stating that Francisco Liriano's "tired arm" may need more than the allocated 15 days to recover. This is a curious case, and if a guy is going to suffer from a "tired arm", then to me that validates speculation that in the future he might be more effective out of the bullpen. Does six innings a week with a five-day break wear you out more than an inning at a time two or three times a week? Regardless, Liriano will have to work on his endurance, strength, mechanics...something. Because it's not as though he was being over-used as a starter.
This is from earlier last week, but in case you missed it, minor league pitcher Jay Rainville unexpectedly retired. It's believed that the surgery in 2006 has been the culprit in zapping him of his high-potential heater; since the Twins drafted him in 2004 with the 39th overall pick, he'd been tabbed as a future power arm for the big league rotation. Rainville was solid in his return in 2007, but had struggled some since his promotion to double-A. If this is the end of the pro-ball road for the 23-year old right-hander, he finishes his minor league career with a 37 - 31 record in 527.1 innings (97 starts, 106 appearances) with a 4.08 ERA. He struck out 396. Happy trails, Jay.
Joe Crede was scratched again before Sunday's contest due to a "tight back". No word on whether he'll be available for Monday's opening salvo with the Orioles, but that's pretty much a daily given by this point.
Justin Morneau missed all three games of the weekend after being sent back to Minneapolis to rest and deal with his dizziness. He nor Crede have been placed on the disabled list, so the Twins are running a short bench until they're either back or placed on the DL retroactively.
If you're going to any of the Rangers games at the end of the week, be sure to pick up a program. I'm doing the Dugout Splinters section once again.

See you tomorrow!

Twins Sweep Royals, Michael Cuddyer Homers Twice In One Inning

Jesse — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:07:43 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

4 months ago: Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Carl Pavano throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Good news, everyone! Twins 10, Royals 3

Carl Pavano rolled through most of his afternoon, mowing down Kansas City impressively for five innings, throwing up zeros and his hands in the air like he just didn't care. He allowed a few singles until he crested, retiring ten in a row to take him through the end of the fifth.

Mike Jacobs singled in David DeJesus for a run in the sixth, and after the Twins scored eight in the top of the seventh Pavano came out for the seventh as well. Mark Teahen and Mitch Maier both singled to start the frame before Pavano was able to fight back, and he allowed just one more run before finishing the seventh inning (and his afternoon) with 108 pitches.

Pounding the strike zone with mostly fastballs and changeups his first time through the Royals order, Pavano adjusted the second time through, throwing more sinking fastballs and sliders. He was around the plate all afternoon, and he made the Royals earn every single they picked up. Of the eight hits Pavano surrendered, only DeJesus' double to lead off the top of the sixth was for extra bases. No walks and just two strikeouts, he succeeded by inducing contact and keeping his defense active. Outfielders fought the sun, and Brendan Harris flashed some quick reflexes, but for the most part the defense did it's job without flash or error.

This was also the game that should probably show the Royals fans, players and front office that sending Alex Gordon down to triple-A (for service time I'm sure, regardless of the official why) was the wrong move. Teahen was ~~playing~~ manning the hot corner this afternoon, and proceeded to let a small handfull of hits trickle or fly by him. On the opposite corner of the infield, Billy Butler is much the same--a talented athlete who's even less mobile. Josh Anderson in right field didn't have a good afternoon, either.

Bob Keppel pitched a scoreless inning, his third scoreless appearances in ten over the course of August. Jeff Manship pitched the eighth, allowing one run by tightening up after letting his first two hitters get on base.

Offensively the story of the game would be one Michael Cuddyer. Cuddyer homered twice, dropping bomb numbers 21 and 22 in the eight-run seventh. That feat means Cuddyer is the first Twin to homer twice in the same inning. Congratulations, sir! (Hat tip: fischean)

Denard Span picked up a triple and three RBI, with Brendan Harris and Orlando Cabrera each tallying a double to join the extra-base hit parade. Every Minnesota hitter picked up at least one hit, with Cuddyer, Span, Joe Mauer and Carlos Gomez picking up multiple-hit days.

Most importantly, the number one thing for today: while the Twins won, the White Sox lost. ~~If the~~ ~~Tigers~~ ~~can't overcome a 5-1 deficit in the seventh, the'll lose too. With any luck, Minnesota will be just 4.5 games out when the sun comes up tomorrow morning.~~ Division-leading Detroit lost too, after a late pounding from the A's, leaving the Twinks just 4.5 games out.

Three wins in a row = winning streak. Here's hoping we can ride this crest for a few days.

More Twins/Royals coverage from SB Nation.
The best Royals coverage on the 'net.

Stars of the Game
#3: Denard Span (2-for-5, 3B, 3 RBI, R, .103 WPA)
#2: Carl Pavano (7 IP, 8 H, 2 K, 2 R, 0 BB, .206 WPA)
#1: Michael Cuddyer (3-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, .222 WPA)

Quote of the Game Thread, from tobynotjason:

Posted this to SBG too:

After Delmon’s PA last inning I poked around Baseball Reference a little. I know his historically consistent 2nd-half improvement is well-known, but check this split out — it’s one I haven’t seen mentioned (and I apologize if it has been):
CAREER vs. Power pitchers (28%or more K+BB rate): .508 OPS.
Vs. Avg Power/Finesse (24-28% K+BB rate): .720.
Vs. Finesse pitchers (less than 24% K+BB rate): .951 OPS.

No, that is NOT typical. But it IS dramatic. Basically, if a pitcher relies on his stuff to strike guys out, he’s going to to own Delmon. If he relies on suppressing walks and/or inducing groundballs (the usual picture of a guy with less than 24% K+BBs, D. Young’s decent to great. If Prof. Gardenhire took note of this and benched him against power pitchers, his overall numbers would look pretty darn good. The problem, of course, is that means Gomez and his .474 OPS vs. Power pitchers (he splits like Young only worse across the board) plays, so it doesn’t get the team very far, I suppose. Still, though, interesting numbers.

Twins Hang On to Beat Royals

Jesse — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:20:07 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

4 months ago: Minnesota Twins left fielder Delmon Young (21) and center fielder Carlos Gomez (22) celebrate in the outfield after their 8-7 win in a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. The Twins won the game 8-7. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Twins 8, Royals 7

No Justin Morneau, no Joe Nathan, no problem? Not exactly. While Brian Duensing pitched about as well as could be expected, his bullpen wasn't able to close the door on an early lead. Bob Keppel and Jesse Crain each were tagged for a pair of runs, although Crain's second wasn't necessarily his fault.

Jose Mijares, on in relief of Crain, had Crain's man on third when he induced a shallow pop-fly to center field. Whether it was the wind, the lights or whether Carlos Gomez just didn't track it, he over-ran the ball and it bounced out of his glove as he stretched back over his head to try and make the catch.

Opposing Gomez's blunder was Alexi Casilla's superior play in the bottom of the third. Billy Butler slapped a grounder, a quick bouncing ball that looked like a sure shot to end up in right field and score at least one if not two runs. At a full sprint Casilla charged to his left and took a sprinting dive into the gap. He came up with the ball and threw onto first for the final out if the inning.

That was the way it was all night between the Royals offense and the Twins pitching. Kansas City out-hit the Twins 14-11 on the night, while also picking up three walks. Luckily the pitching was good enough when it counted, holding the Royals to a 3-for-19 mark with runners in scoring position. Matt Guerrier picked up a five-out save to lock down the win, although the ninth was just as shaky as the rest of the game.

Notes, studs and duds after the jump.

Michael Cuddyer blasted his 20th bomb of the season, while also tallying his 29th double. Cuddles is now batting .272/.340/.503 on the season. After years of offensive mediocrity (at best), the fact that a guy whose OPS of .843 makes him fourth on the team is very impressive.
Jason Kubel also picked up a pair of hits, including a double, and plated a trio of runs on the night.
Even after dropping the can of corn in the seventh inning, Gomez picked the ball off the grass and proceeded to gun down Alberto Callaspo as he tried to take third base. Mis-TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKE!!!
Mijares wasn't charged with a run on Saturday night. He was the only Twins pitcher who wasn't.
Since July 10, Gomez is hitting .288/.345/.463. Honestly.

Stars
#3: Jason Kubel: Three runs driven in off a pair of hits--that'll do, Patches. That'll do.
#2: Michael Cuddyer: A big homer, a double, a pair of RBI's and a walk? Giggidy.
#1: Matt Guerrier: Okay he allowed a run, but he gave Joe Nathan a night off after he'd thrown more than 50 pitches on Friday night, and he still shut the door. Job done.

Dude
#1: Jesse Crain: AARRGGHH!!!
#2: Bob Keppel: Ditto.
#3: Delmon Young: 0-for-5, 5 LOB. AARRGGHH!!!

Baker Toppled By Tigers, Cuddyer Doesn't Invoke Ghost Runner Clause

Jesse — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:59 -0000

More photos » by Duane Burleson - AP

4 months ago: Minnesota Twins' Michael Cuddyer hits a solo home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, in Detroit. The Tigers defeated the Twins 8-7. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

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Twins 7, Tigers 8

This is getting old, really fast. I understand that every summer campaign is a time bomb, and that eventually the fuse runs out for everyone save one club. But it's how the Twins continue to drop games that's frustrating. The next logical sentence is: well, if the Twins were a better team they'd be winning games like this.

"Better team" breaks down into "better players", and the front office has done an admirable job of bringing in veterans at close to zero cost. But you still need to play the games, and you still need to find a way to win.

You couldn't have asked more from Michael Cuddyer. He nearly homered in his first at-bat, pulling it just foul down the left field line, before knocking one over Curtis Granderson's head for a double in the second inning. Mike Redmond would plate him. In the fourth Cuddyer launched another one Granderson's way, but this one left the yard, hitting about four feet above the fence. Delmon Young followed that shot with one of his own, number four on the year, that made Cuddyer's home run look small. Young absolutely destroyed the pitch from Jarrod Washburn, and had it landed about 15 feet lower would have been an exact replica of the previous pitch. Cuddyer and Young each took a ball low in the zone, stuffed them in a rocket launcher, lit a cigar, laughed maniacally and lit the fuse. That's a deep center field.

By now you know Scott Baker managed to squander that lead in about 10 minutes. In the bottom of that inning, Marcus Thames led off with a solo shot before the Tigers fought back with three consecutives singles. A double by Gerald Laird tied the game, and within seconds the Twins were down 4-3.

It was hard, because right from the start of the game you could see that Baker wasn't hitting his spots. His fastballs were tailing in on right-handed hitters, his breaking balls were up, and you could tell that two things were going to happen: the Tigers were going to start hitting lots of foul balls, and balls were going to start landing for hits if not home runs. Baker survived the first three innings unscathed through sheer grit and determination (and maybe a little luck...think Denard Span's diving catch in center field and Alexi Casilla diving to his left), but after Detroit pegged him in the fourth it was only a matter of time before their depth charges blew him out of the water.

Miguel Cabrera's two-run homer in the fifth with one out was the knock out punch. Or hit. The Twins would leave him in just long enough to give up another hit before lifting him for Bobby Keppel. Keppel pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, the first time he's kept the opposition off the board in five appearances. In fact, over his last nine appearances he's only managed to do that twice. Since July 20 (nine appearances, 11 innings) his ERA is a boggling 10.64. Yes, that includes today's pristine outing.

Casilla would show up again later in the contest, tripling in the sixth to score a pair and bring the Twins to within one. Cuddyer's single in the seventh would tie it until Matt Guerrier collapsed in the heat (metaphorically, mind you). Those two runs were the killer, as Cuddyer's Superman alter-ego could only hit one more solo homer in the top of the ninth to bring the game to its final score.

It was a hot one in Detroit today. The heat index was 99, if not higher as the sun reached its most ferocious, and it's hard to blame any one person for how it affected them. But in the end a loss is a loss.

On days like this, the guys who have it all worked out (like our Cuddles) should be allowed to invoke the ghost runner clause. That way, after he hits a double he can just turn to the ump and say "Ghost Runner!", and go hit again. The ghost runner advances in proportion to however many bases the hitter picks up. Easy.

Stars of the Game
#3: Mike Redmond (3-for-4, R, RBI, .114 WPA)
#2: Alexi Casilla (2-for-3, 3B, 2 RBI, excellent diving stop, .214 WPA)
#1: Michael Cuddyer (4-for-5, 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, .343 WPA)

Duds
#1: Scott Baker
#2: ~~Bob Keppel~~ Matt Guerrier

The Morning After: Funny, when you think about it

Jon Marthaler — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:00:29 -0000

More photos » by Paul Battaglia - AP

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Step back for a second. Forget that you're a Twins fan, that you feel connected to the team, that you are happy when they win and sad when they lose and that other people feel this way and that, really, you're connected to all of the other people who feel happy when they win and sad when they lose.

Now think about this: the Twins made a trade at the deadline, but for a hitter. While division rivals traded for pitching, the Twins went for offense, which made sense, don't get me wrong. But the Twins decided to dance with what brung them, on the mound, figuratively speaking.

And here's what happened:

Friday they gave up 11 runs in 11 innings. Saturday they gave up 11 runs in nine innings. And Sunday, they gave up 13 runs in nine innings. Progressively worse throughout the weekend.

R.A. Dickey pitched in all three games. He pitched 4.1 innings, gave up only five hits, and three runs. He was in many ways, the star of the weekend on the mound for Minnesota. On Friday, Bob Keppel and Jesse Crain combined to give up six runs without getting an out. On Sunday, Glen Perkins pitched to five batters in the fifth inning, and retired none, all of whom scored.

Now step back again. Forget that the Twins are your team, or that baseball is your favorite summer sport, or that you were frustrated or dismayed by the weekend. Think about the Twins drawing over 110,000 fans this weekend. Think about how they failed to get pitching help in the offseason or at the deadline. Think about all the people (and I was among them) who went to the Dome this weekend, many possibly for the final time to watch the Twins, and who saw what appeared to be a bunch of beer-league rainbow tossers on the mound.

Honestly. It's funny. It's verging on hilarious. It's like seeing a video clip of a father pitching a baseball to his very young son on America's Funniest Home Videos, all the while knowing that Dad's about to take an unexpected line drive to the groin. You've seen it before. You've got a pretty good idea of what to expect. And even so, as dear father doubles over in pain, you laugh, because it is funny, not because it's painful for Pops but because it's well and truly hilarious.

At least, this is what I keep telling myself...

Oakland wins hard-to-believe, hard-to-take game, 14-13 over Twins

Jon Marthaler — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:06:13 -0000

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP

The moment of the tag, as Cuddyer has not one foot but both feet on the plate.

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Forty years ago last night, man walked on the moon for the first time. It's something most folks thought they'd never see, and yet it happened.

So too, last night's Athletics victory, a 14-13 Oakland triumph in a game Minnesota led 12-2 after three innings, that ended on - of all things - a blown call at home plate, as Michael Cuddyer scored from second base on a wild pitch but was incorrectly ruled out by home plate umpire Mike Muchlinksi. (See the picture above, which was snapped at the moment the tag was applied. Note how Cuddyer's right foot has already crossed the entire plate, and his left is now touching home.)

All that said, it's a game the Twins did not deserve to win. The Twins pitching staff gave up 14 runs and 22 hits to a team that regularly goes entire series without matching either one of those totals. Matt Holliday led Oakland, hitting a pair of home runs, including a game-tying grand slam in the seventh inning off of the heretofore-unimpeachable Bobby Keppel. In a night of horrid pitching performances, Keppel's might have been the worst; he allowed two inherited runners to score, plus gave up three runs of his own, all without getting an out.

Nick Blackburn was awful, giving up seven runs in five innings. Brian Duensing gave up three more. Jose Mijaresneeded only one pitch for the loss, giving up a solo home run to Jack Cust with his first pitch in the seventh.

And so Minnesota dropped a game it led by ten runs, a game in which Justin Morneau hit a grand slam AND a three-run homer, a game that took until the small hours of the morning for Twins fans.

We went back to the moon only a few times after July 20, 1969. Let's hope the Twins never play another game quite like this one.

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Dickey Throws Fastball, Twins Lose to Rangers

Jesse — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:38:31 -0000

More photos » by Donna McWilliam - AP

Texas Rangers' Ian Kinsler goes BOOM off a lame fastball from R.A. Dickey against the Minnesota Twins in the 12th inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, July 19, 2009. The Rangers won 5-3. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

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This is how to lose a game in bizarr-o world.

There have been times when the middle of the Twins batting order have provided all the offense needed for the win. It's happened with astonishing regularity, actually. But when you can blank the middle of Minnesota's lineup it gets much easier for anyone to take the Twins down.

Francisco Liriano didn't pitch badly, even pitching himself out of a one-out-man-on-third situation in the fifth inning, when he struck out Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler to limit the inning's damage to one and keep the Twins in front 3-2. Liriano struck out six over six-plus innings, and allowed just two earned runs. He combined with Bobby Keppel, Jose Mijares and Matt Guerrier to give the Twins 10 innings of three-run ball. Sadly the game lasted 12 innings, and the Rangers scored five.

The run that scord in the fifth came on a ball that got by Joe Mauer, who also managed to go 0-for-6. It was enough to make me cry, so I'm going to stop talking about it now.

After pitching a scoreless eleventh, Brian Duensing came out for his second inning of work and promtly gave up a leadoff single to Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Andrus moved him up with a successful sacrifice bunt, and Gardy pulled him for R.A. Dickey.

Dickey, who confused even Gameday by throwing five knuckleballs in a row (dubbed by Gameday as curveball, curveball, changeup, curveball and changeup), decided to "freeze" Kinsler with a fastball. Dickey wound up, got everything he could into it, and blasted an 85-mph fastball right over the middle of the plate. Kinsler picked it up right out of Dickey's hand, plotted it's trajectory, licked his finger to test the wind, took a barometer out of his pocket to test the air pressure, ate a steak dinner, and then destroyed the fastball for a two-run walk-off skyjack.

It's going to be easy to blame the knuckleballer for this one, but this was a team effort. Or lack thereof. Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer and Mauer were hitless, and it has to be said that if the game is in danger you bring in Joe Nathan. He can throw 10 pitches, get out of the inning, and sit down. I know he's pitched this series, but it doesn't matter. Your best reliever should be up and ready to go.

Delmon Young collected a pair of hits in his first start since July 10, and took his second walk of the month as well; that's two more than he managed all of June. Young is now hitting .400/.455/.600 in 20 July at-bats. Denard Span and Alexi Casilla drove in a run each, took a pair of walks between them, and Casilla even got a hit. But there was one other Twin who managed a hit last night. His name is Nick Punto.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the second inning, Punto took a 2-2 hanging slider from Rangers starter Derek Holland and hit it over the fence. Unbelieveable is what it was. In a game where Dickey threw a fastball, Mauer was hitless in six tries and allowed a passed ball, and a home run was over-turned by replay...that was the biggest surprise. Punto's shot cleared the fence by the proverbial skin of its teeth, but there it went: Nick's first home run of the season. And it tied the game at one.

Punto also picked up the defensive play of the game for Minnesota, turning an unassisted double play. With runners on first and second it could easily have been called an Infield Fly, but it wasn't; Punto slid and couldn't quite get there, picked up the ball, tagged the runner and then stepped on second base. To be fair, Nick did make a legitimate effort to catch the ball...or at least he made it look like a legitimate effort.

Stars of the Game
#3: Bobby Keppel (1.2 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, 0 R, .151 WPA)
#2: Matt Guerrier (2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, .348 WPA)
#1: Nick Punto (DP 6-U, 3-for-4, HR, RBI, R, .112 WPA)