Run Red Run!

I didn't have plans on even doing a blog today, but to be honest, as much as I pick on Mike Redmond and say that he needs to retire, he seems to bring a fair amount of fun to the team and the line up. We may not have the best record when he is playing, but I know he at least tries when he's at the plate.

Today was no exception. While he may be only 1 of 3 position players who were with the team at the start of the season to not have a home run, I can officially say I have never see Red Dog run so hard since I started watching the Twins than he did today going for that triple. Plus I think I got a kick out of it mostly because of the reaction Red got from the dug out when he reached, was priceless. It's always nice to see this team acting like a team, especially after the last few weeks when things weren't going right and every one was blaming everyone else.

Of course I wish I could find video to post to go along with this post because it was just too priceless, but of course I can't find one. And there aren't any pictures either. A decent play from Red, that doesn't happen very often and you can't find anything on it. Go figure!

Props to Nicky Punto too with that perfectly placed bunt during today's game too! I've missed seeing Nick being able to drop a bunt down like that, he's tried a little to hard this season to try and make those plays and it usually ends up being strike 3 or an out at first so it was nice to see a little squeeze play today from Punts!

Also since I did this post... Joe Nathan! Stop giving all us Twins fans heart attacks. Most of these games have been stressful enough as it is and then to have to worry if you're going to be able to go out there and get the save. Whatever the issue is, please get it out of your system by Tuesday when I am at the game, k? Perhaps we can even get enough run support to give you a few days off to maybe clear your head or something.

I think we were all breathing a sigh of relief when Joe finally got that last out.

I'd like to think a few of the guys read my blog last night and learned what it meant to capitalize since I was so nice to spell it out for them and give them a few pointers. It still leaves us 4.5 games outta first and a game and a half a head of Chicago, which is key with Chicago coming to town for a 3 game series starting tomorrow. Seriously though, does the Commissioner hate us that much that we have to play the Sox so many times this season? Not that I don't mind playing our rivals, but I'd like to see some other teams more often too, like Tampa Bay!

Stats Time

Kudos to Kubes on his 3 run homer! Nice going Jason :-) And what's with all the guys getting hair cuts? Everyone leaves for 4 days and we have guys coming back with no hair!

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So while I was watching tonight's game, I decided to do a little comparison of a couple of our players. It's nothing too in-depth or nothing too complicated, it's basically just comparing numbers for 4 players:

	AB	H	SO	R	RBI	AVG
Young	192	51	59	20	25	.266
Casilla	111	20	21	8	5	.180
Morales	67	23	10	10	4	.343
Redmond	89	21	10	5	4	.236

I had thought about doing this after I heard that Jose had yet again been sent back to Rochester, but then after seeing Casilla's piss-poor performance tonight I knew I needed to do this post. It didn't surprise me that he went 0 for 4, it really didn't because I didn't expect him to do any better, that and Bert did pick him for Pick the Stick so Betsy's theory still stands true!

I understand that Bill Smith says we need a 12-man pitching staff and Gardy has said the same thing. I can see that we need a bigger pitching staff considering some of our starting pitchers have struggled lately. And Smith says having the third catcher is a luxury, fine whatever, but from what I have read Jose can be used in other areas in the infield and his batting average is so much better than Alexi.

Now I know this is probably going to set a few people off, but my opinion on the whole Redmond/Morales thing is this. While I have nothing but respect for Redmond and think he's a wonderful catcher, I strongly believe that Morales needs to be in the majors. He has nothing but proven himself while he's been up here doing everything that's been asked of him plus he knows how to kill the White Sox when we need it the most.

Delmon is a totally different area. He can be on the top of this game one day, making great plays, hitting the ball all over the place and then there are days where I can sit down and watch a game and wonder why is he still here? There are other people that deserve a chance. I know he went through the rough period with his mother dying and that's understandable, but lately I just don't know.

We need strong defense and strong offense and I'm a little iffy if we can get that from the line up we have right now.

Welcome to the Candy Shop!

There is a reason to that picture, but you're going to have to wait until possibly next Wed for the reasoning behind it.

After 3 months for the first time this season we finally, FINALLY, made it to 2 games over .500. That deserves a huge it's about time. This is an over .500 team and it's time they show it to everyone else that wants to doubt them (I'm talking to you Souhan!)

Speaking of Souhan, normally I don't give his column the time of day because it as a rule pisses me off. Today's/Last nights column was no different. When it was discussed this morning on Twitter, I decided I should read it and see what all the fuss was about, well what I found was an article that appeared to be written by a high schooler, not a professional writer (why the Tribune continues to pay him for the crap he writes is beyond me).

According to Souhan, Dickey didn't make the team out of Spring Training. So apparently the guy that was filling in for Scott while he was on the DL was a figment of our imaginations and not who Dick and Bert told us it was. It just kills me that the title of his column is "Stop me if you've heard this one: bullpen needs help". I could have stopped him as soon as he started writing the column because it's all we seem to hear from him this season.

I'll step off my soapbox now.

Onto today's game...

It was nice to have a little more cushion then we did last night, I didn't have to start pacing around my office because I couldn't bear to just sit there and listen. I am also thankful to have instant video on Gameday so I could see Cuddy's home run shortly after it happened (skittles for him!)

I really thought Papa Perk had another strong outing, he kept his pitch count down and went 7 innings. I really like what I'm seeing from him since he came off the DL.


And once we think that we've got a strong starting line-up, we lose 3 today from injuries. Red-Dogs looked painful when they were talking about during the news and even from the picture I can see why he was taken out. Justin went out with a tight left groin muscle. I really, really hope with a couple days rest he'll be ready for the series against the Tigers because I know I was looking forward to seeing him again on Saturday.

And then we have Nick Punto. As much as I love Nicky, I really wonder how long it's going to be before he ends up on the DL again. How much longer Gardy can go with being short an infielder because Nicky's got some sort of injury. I don't wanna see it come to that, but I also want a healthy team.

And did you all know that Nicky can fly?

Tomorrow: Off day! Rest up boys, the Tigers are on their way in, one day at a time. Slow and steady wins the race.

Friday: Kevin against newbie Lucas French.

On the road again...

Though it might be a small road trip and then we are back home, for 3 days, I strongly feel this road trip could show us what we are going to look like for the month of June. It worries me a little because we are the worst team in the AL right now as far as road games go, I think we're 5-24 or something like that.

I know Tampa has been in a slump right now and with both Bartlett and Iwamura on the disabled list perhaps this will help the team out a little. I am a little sad though because I was looking forward to seeing Jason on this road trip, especially since it's the last time we see Tampa. We'll at least get to see Matt. I really wonder if the trade was worth it to get Delmon here. I think it would have been best to keep those two boys. Besides, it makes me miss the piranhas!

Which brings me to the schedule. Is it really necessary for the team to see the White Sox eighteen times this season? We couldn't have split that up between some other teams, like Tampa? Is someone just wanting to rub last season in our faces or what? I realize it's our biggest rival, but still, come on people, it would be nice to see some other teams.

While watching the news tonight they interviewed Red-Dog and his interview made me LOL I was curious to know what he said to the Ump to get ejected outta the game so fast today and he was just trying to prove he tagged the guy and the next thing he knew he was gone. He looked at the ump and said, "Did you just throw me out?" He couldn't believe it. To be honest, neither could I.

But we put this series behind us and focus on the long month of June ahead and putting our "dome magic" to work on the road.

.500 was fun while it lasted

Words can't explain how much I hate Boston right now.

Quite possibly as much, if not more then, Chicago.

I'm not sure how much I love giving up our DH either, but I'm surprised Red-Dog had it in him to get thrown out. I didn't think he could get that mad!

This post will not make any sense other then me just being frustrated with plays today and all the stuff that just didn't seem to go our way.

Onto Tampa, at least we get to see Matt and Jason, yes?