Article: Twins vs Indians, 08-08-2012, 11:05am

[Brock Beauchamp]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?89...2-11-05am&

[Brock Beauchamp]

Twins:
Span CF
Revere RF
Mauer 1B
Willingham LF
Morneau DH
Doumit C
Nishioka 2B
Dozier SS
Casilla 3B
(Duensing P)

Indians:
Kipnis 2B
Cabrera SS
Choo RF
Santana DH
Brantley CF
Duncan LF
Marson C
Kotchman 1B
Lillibridge 3B
(Masterson P)

[ShaeTwins]

Not sure if I should hope for another Nishi o-fer...at least then he'll play himself out of the bigs quicker.

[RickSchuette]

I don't mean to go off-topic, but I haven't heard anyone raise this question yet, and certainly Bert and Dick in the booth aren't going to raise it...of what value is it to try to bring back Carl Pavano and Matt Capps for the remainder of the season. Neither will be with us next year and they will only take valuable starts/appearances away from pitchers we know we will want to look at next season. We certainly don't owe either of them anything in terms of helping them get a better contract offer over the off-season.

[notoriousgod71]

Seriously, Dick, why would he get first base if he struck out when the ball hit him? Never in my life have I seen a catcher pick up the ball after it hit the batter and throw to first base to record an out.

I think it's debatable whether Span swung or not but the ruling isn't exactly debatable.

[stringer bell]

Nice start Duensing! Shake it off and throw some zeroes!

[Tcrose3636]

So is it safe to say if the Twins sweep the Indians in Cleveland, they will win the World Series? Last time the Twins swept Cleveland in Cleveland was '91...seem logical to me.

[Shane Wahl]

I don't mean to go off-topic, but I haven't heard anyone raise this question yet, and certainly Bert and Dick in the booth aren't going to raise it...of what value is it to try to bring back Carl Pavano and Matt Capps for the remainder of the season. Neither will be with us next year and they will only take valuable starts/appearances away from pitchers we know we will want to look at next season. We certainly don't owe either of them anything in terms of helping them get a better contract offer over the off-season.

Like strangely using Brian Duensing in the starting rotation now when there's no way in hell any sane manager would do that next year?

[notoriousgod71]

I don't know if there's any player I've ever despised as much as Nishioka.

[ShaeTwins]

I don't know if there's any player I've ever despised as much as Nishioka.

I guess the good news is that he may play himself out of the lineup defensively before he does offensively. This three game stretch has been some of the absolute worst baseball I've ever seen in my entire life (from Nishi, that is).

[notoriousgod71]

I don't know if there's any player I've ever despised as much as Nishioka.

I take that back. If the Twins were contending I'd hate him. As it is now he's kind of comical.

[Ultima Ratio]

Is Nishi super nervous or horrible or both? Never in my life have I seen a major leaguer play defense like a tee-baller.

[RickSchuette]

I doubt that Duensing is in their plans for the rotation next season. But finishing the season as a starter would improve his trade value over the off-season. That ship has sailed with Pavano...and Capps for that matter. Let Duensing and Blackburn try to get some sink back on their pitches and lower their ERA. They both know they're doubtful as far as staying in the rotation next year. Let them pitch their way off the bubble, either for the Twins or another team. Pavano will need three MLB starts just to stretch himself out to 6 innings. What value does that add to the Twins over the final six weeks of his contract?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Ugh. Nishi, you're killing us.

[notoriousgod71]

Duensing is essentially worthless if he can't even get lefties out.

[Ultima Ratio]

I'm sorry but Duensing's ship has sailed as well. He can't get anyone out any more.

[notoriousgod71]

Nishi caught a throw!!!!!

[DPJ]

I know the Twins are at the bottom of the barrel for starts, but is there really no one else that can come up and take either Blackburn or Duensing's place in the rotation.

[ShaeTwins]

I have a feeling that Blackburn will retain a spot as a starter just based on stubborn management refusing to cut him just based on the amount of cash he's making. Meh, the Twins won't contend next year at any rate, and if they are contending at any point, Blackburn will probably be having a decent year anyway.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I know the Twins are at the bottom of the barrel for starts, but is there really no one else that can come up and take either Blackburn or Duensing's place in the rotation.

Cuellar better be working some serious black voodoo magic with Hendriks down in Rochester for him not to be on the Twins roster at this point.