The official start of spring comes when baseball is back and games matter. Many “professional” sources are saying the Twins will finish below terrible teams like the White Sox and the Royals. Ridiculous. Sorry, but the offense is better. Delmon Young is good enough to make even the casual fan say, “Torii WHO” after this season. We also improved by subtraction in relegating Nick Punto to the bench (where he belongs). The rotation is sketchy, but exciting. Anyway on to the game….
Surprises:
1. Livan Hernandez with a quality start…amazing!…..DO NOT GET USED TO IT.
2.Carlos Gomez took a walk…..all the reports say he has no patience. He could be the first person to steal 100 bases since Vince Coleman if the patience wasn’t a one time deal.
3. Carlos Gomez caught a ball (at chest height) that Torii Hunter would have had to dive for. Now thats speed.
4. Craig Monroe gets a start over Kubel (and against a right handed pitcher) this is the reason that Gardy is overrated as a manager. Monroe has nothing left in the tank and Kubel is a very bright piece of the future. Kubel should get all at bats against right handed pitchers and most against left handed pitchers.
THINGS I NOTICED BUT WAS NOT THE LEAST BIT SURPRISED
1. When Kubel entered the game he got a hit…monroe was an OFER.
2. Torii Hunter 0-4. He looked like a fool against Nathan. Oh he also let a ball drop he could have caught. that should go in the surprise section after playing so many seasons here.
3. People cheer Torii, but Boo Pierzynski….unbelievable. AJ netted us Nathan, Liriano, and Boof. He never made a single negative comment to the press about our team while he was here. Torii netted us negative comments towards the team in the press on a consistent basis. He also tried to punch Morneau and hit Punto. He also dove for a ball against Oakland in the playoff series that basically led to getting swept.
4. Carlos Gomez is fast…and I mean the fastest player to ever play the game.
Anyway, I’ll end it there. Perhaps I will post again tomorrow when Torii goes 0-4 again tonite.
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