MLB: Twins May Have Landed Lee

[jtd9046]

I have no problem in saying the Twins are.

As a fellow Twins fan, this statement worries me. Not the statement itself, the fact that it's coming from someone who thinks Punto should start over a healthy Hardy.


It will come down to who plays the division well (which they Twins have to this point) and who comes away with a few more on the ro-ad.


EDIT:

Twins 19-10 against the central.
Tigers 14-16
Sox 13-17

 

[RING4CY]

As a fellow Twins fan, this statement worries me. Not the statement itself, the fact that it's coming from someone who thinks Punto should start over a healthy Hardy.


It will come down to who plays the division well (which they Twins have to this point) and who comes away with a few more on the ro-ad.


EDIT:

Twins 19-10 against the central.
Tigers 14-16
Sox 13-17

That's alright. I'm not worried about what you have to say. It's obvious I'm smarter than you. After all, you are a Packer fan.:wink:

 

[CrossCyed]

Well, the remaining combined winning percentage of future opponents:

Minnesota: .484
Chicago: .490
Detroit: .491

 

[CycloneYoda]

Well, the remaining combined winning percentage of future opponents:

Minnesota: .484
Chicago: .490
Detroit: .491

Unlike previous stats in this thread, that dealt with what has already happened, this set is fluid and will change. The %'s are close enough that in a month, this could be reversed. Hard to rely on the fluid nature of what is current and what might be.

 

[QuickQuestion]

MLBTradeRumors isn't a source. It's a link dump.

MLBTradeRumors is likely the most reliable source of actual information. It may be a link dump, but at least they use every source available and not just one person's Twitter.

Again, until I see MLBTradeRumors report that it's a done deal, it hasn't happened.

I should call you out on the idiocy that is your argument though. Unless you claim to only use direct sources, that is, Cliff Lee/Minnesota management/Seattle management or in other instances such as your local news using a sports feed in which they didn't have a reporter on site, you're just being argumentative or trying to libel an incredible useful and devoted website.

 

[CrossCyed]

MLBTradeRumors is likely the most reliable source of actual information. It may be a link dump, but at least they use every source available and not just one person's Twitter.

Again, until I see MLBTradeRumors report that it's a done deal, it hasn't happened.

I should call you out on the idiocy that is your argument though. Unless you claim to only use direct sources, that is, Cliff Lee/Minnesota management/Seattle management or in other instances such as your local news using a sports feed in which they didn't have a reporter on site, you're just being argumentative or trying to libel an incredible useful and devoted website.

I'm just saying that MLBTR "reporting" a trade isn't any more valid than anything else.

 

[QuickQuestion]

I'm just saying that MLBTR "reporting" a trade isn't any more valid than anything else.

And I'm just saying that any MLBTradeRumors is the only website I take seriously when it comes to trade talks. This, in my own opinion, makes them more valid, that, and they only report a trade has taken place when it has actually taken place. If you want to rely on Twitter accounts and radio shows, by all means, but Iowa State would be in a very different place of all those things were as reliable as MLBTR.

 

[Wesley]

JJ is up and down.

 

[ICCYFAN]

Crap, I thought this thread was about Derrick Lee...:sad:

 

[jtd9046]

Send J.J. Hardy and his .219 average to Seattle. Why Punto (batting .253) was benched in favor of Hardy when J.J. came of the DL baffles me.

Are you still baffled? Hardy has already raised his average to .247 in the 10 games since his return for the DL.

 

[RING4CY]

Batting .343 since returning from the DL. And a whole whopping 3 extra base hits and 3 RBIs to show for it.

 

[Bipolarcy]

Batting .343 since returning from the DL. And a whole whopping 3 extra base hits and 3 RBIs to show for it.

People who bash Punto show their lack of baseball knowledge. Seriously. He may not be the best stick in the lineup, but you can't beat his defense, baseball smarts and versatility. I wouldn't mind seeing Punto playing third base all the time, but for the fact that you'd have to leave either Thome, Cuddyer, Kubel or Young on the bench when he plays.

When Hardy left the lineup is when the Twins started falling apart. It didn't help that three fifths of the rotation couldn't make it past the third inning either. But Hardy has sort of been the glue to the infield, is solid at shortstop and provides extra pop at short that Punto doesn't have. I would never want to see Punto replace Hardy there, but Punto has his value too.

 

[RING4CY]

I wouldn't mind seeing Punto playing third base all the time, but for the fact that you'd have to leave either Thome, Cuddyer, Kubel or Young on the bench when he plays.

Punto being in the lineup has little to no effect on the 4 guys you mentioned. Whenever Punto is inserted in the lineup right now, he's replacing Valencia at 3rd or Hardy at short.

When everyone is healthy (Morneau at 1st being the only guy missing right now,) the Twins have Cuddyer playing 3rd base. If the Twins insert Punto at 3rd, move Cuddyer back to right field. Where he should be. That would take Kubel out or he would have to be slotted at DH. Which is fine, because the Twins didn't sign Thome to be a full-time DH when everyone is 100%

When Hardy left the lineup is when the Twins started falling apart.

I don't buy that for a second. Hardy missed an entire month. The Twins were 9 games over .500 after the last game Hardy played June 6. The Twins were 8 games over .500 when Hardy returned July 3.

 

[jdoggivjc]

People who bash Punto show their lack of baseball knowledge. Seriously. He may not be the best stick in the lineup, but you can't beat his defense, baseball smarts and versatility. I wouldn't mind seeing Punto playing third base all the time, but for the fact that you'd have to leave either Thome, Cuddyer, Kubel or Young on the bench when he plays.

When Hardy left the lineup is when the Twins started falling apart. It didn't help that three fifths of the rotation couldn't make it past the third inning either. But Hardy has sort of been the glue to the infield, is solid at shortstop and provides extra pop at short that Punto doesn't have. I would never want to see Punto replace Hardy there, but Punto has his value too.

Why the heck would one of two designated hitters (Thome and Kubel) and two outfielders (Cuddyer and Young) have to sit on the bench if you were to put a utility infielder into the lineup? Yeah, Cuddyer comes in to play the infield when needed, particularly 1B, but he's primarily a RF. I can understand you saying that one of Hardy, Hudson, or Valencia would have to sit if you play Punto, but you shouldn't be accusing someone of a lack of knowledge of baseball and then say that DHs or outfieldiers would have to ride the pine in order to get a utility infielder into the lineup.

 

[jtd9046]

People who bash Punto show their lack of baseball knowledge. Seriously.

Haha. Than what do people who stick up for Punto in the starting lineup over JJ Hardy show? You don't lose anything defensively with Hardy, you don't lose any average, and you gain the potential for some pop out of his bat.

You may lose some speed, but this years Twins team isn't built to push him around the bases like they were with Span, Gomez, and Casilla hitting near him in the lineup.

Punto is a utility player, a good one at that, and that's where he should stay.

 

[Bipolarcy]

Why the heck would one of two designated hitters (Thome and Kubel) and two outfielders (Cuddyer and Young) have to sit on the bench if you were to put a utility infielder into the lineup? Yeah, Cuddyer comes in to play the infield when needed, particularly 1B, but he's primarily a RF. I can understand you saying that one of Hardy, Hudson, or Valencia would have to sit if you play Punto, but you shouldn't be accusing someone of a lack of knowledge of baseball and then say that DHs or outfieldiers would have to ride the pine in order to get a utility infielder into the lineup.

Have you guys been following the Twins? they've been playing Cuddyer at third, (he's at first now that Morneau is out). When Cuddyer's at third, Young, Span and Kubel are in the outfield and Thome DHs. If Punto is at third, then Cuddyer is in the outfield, which means Kubel or Young are not. if Kubel is not in the outfield, then either he or Thome DH. Playing Punto at third takes one of those four guys (Kubel, Thome, Young, Cuddyer) out of the lineup. What have I got myself into if you guys don't even know this much?

Obviously, that's not the case when Cuddyer is at first, which is only a temporary situation until Morneau comes back. When Morneau comes back, they're going to be faced with the same dilemma when Punto plays third. It's not quite so complicated when Punto plays short or second, replacing Hudson or Hardy.

 

[Steve]

Have you guys been following the Twins? they've been playing Cuddyer at third, (he's at first now that Morneau is out). When Cuddyer's at third, Young, Span and Kubel are in the outfield and Thome DHs. If Punto is at third, then Cuddyer is in the outfield, which means Kubel or Young are not. if Kubel is not in the outfield, then either he or Thome DH. What have I got myself into if you guys don't even know this much?

Almost all of Cuddyer's time at 3rd came when Hudson and Hardy were sidelined with injuries. Now that the middle infield combo is back available, Gardy has more options than being forced to play Cuddyer at 3rd. Cuddyer was drafted as a SS, but his days of being more than a stop-gap 3B, 2B, or SS are long behind him.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Have you guys been following the Twins? they've been playing Cuddyer at third, (he's at first now that Morneau is out). When Cuddyer's at third, Young, Span and Kubel are in the outfield and Thome DHs. If Punto is at third, then Cuddyer is in the outfield, which means Kubel or Young are not. if Kubel is not in the outfield, then either he or Thome DH. Playing Punto at third takes one of those four guys (Kubel, Thome, Young, Cuddyer) out of the lineup. What have I got myself into if you guys don't even know this much?

Obviously, that's not the case when Cuddyer is at first, which is only a temporary situation until Morneau comes back. When Morneau comes back, they're going to be faced with the same dilemma when Punto plays third. It's not quite so complicated when Punto plays short or second, replacing Hudson or Hardy.

Almost all of Cuddyer's time at 3rd came when Hudson and Hardy were sidelined with injuries. Now that the middle infield combo is back available, Gardy has more options than being forced to play Cuddyer at 3rd. Cuddyer was drafted as a SS, but his days of being more than a stop-gap 3B, 2B, or SS are long behind him.

This. Cuddyer only plays the infield when the team is running out of options (or if Morneau isn't available to play - the Twins don't even typically carry a backup 1B on their active roster because of Cuddyer's ability to fill in when need be). Which, once again, I find it ironic someone questioning someone else's fanhood of a team when they they themselves don't know that if the Twins are completely healthy, Cuddyer's playing in right field.

 

[Iastfan112]

This. Cuddyer only plays the infield when the team is running out of options (or if Morneau isn't available to play - the Twins don't even typically carry a backup 1B on their active roster because of Cuddyer's ability to fill in when need be). Which, once again, I find it ironic someone questioning someone else's fanhood of a team when they they themselves don't know that if the Twins are completely healthy, Cuddyer's playing in right field.

Wrong Hardy, Hudson and Cuddyer all played in the infield July 3rd, 4th and 6th. Soon thereafter, Cuddyer switched from 3rd to 1st due to Morneau's injury. Thome was more of the deciding factor where Cuddyer would play. Thome's ability to hit lefties has deteriorated signifcantly the past couple of years. Thus if a righty is on the mound Cuddyer often played at third in order to ensure the Twins would have Thome, Cuddyer, Kubel, and Young all in the lineup. If it was a lefty Cuddyer would usually play in RF because Thome's bat wasn't an asset.
The question is will it shake out the same way after Morneau comes back, who knows.