Always a "Head and Shoulders" reference with Mauer.

 

!

 

it should be against the rules to win your own thread, RB..

You really think his OPS ranking is hurting the team more than the black holes at every OF position? Or that pitchers haven't known about his first-pitch tendencies for years? MLB players and coaches are smart. No way this is the first year they've finally gleaned that throwing a first-pitch strike is a good idea against him.

 

I agree that the OF has been a bigger problem this year, but I also expect much more from Joe based on the high percentage of the payroll we spend on him. I don't know that I agree that players and coaches are that smart. After all, it wasn't until this year that they figured out that the left fielder needs to play just off the line against Joe. I also think it has taken them a long time to realize he's not going to swing at the first pitch. The 0-0 pitch to Joe now looks exactly like a 3-0 pitch, and it didn't use to.

Thatta kid, Hicks!

Whatever it is... That girl put a smell on me!!!

 

Whoops I had that one wrong too...always thought it was "that girl put a Rougnud Odor on me"

The right handed Hicks Hypothesis has encouraging early results. Gonna have to increase the experimental data before a conclusion can be reached but... It looks good so far.

There you go Hicksie, first game only hitting right handed and two hits.

If Mauer's hurting the team so bad, blame Gardy. Its not like he's short on 1B alternates.

The right handed Hicks Hypothesis has encouraging early results. Gonna have to increase the experimental data before a conclusion can be reached but... It looks good so far.

 

Today he moved his batting average to .200.

You really think his OPS ranking is hurting the team more than the black holes at every OF position? Or that pitchers haven't known about his first-pitch tendencies for years? MLB players and coaches are smart. No way this is the first year they've finally gleaned that throwing a first-pitch strike is a good idea against him.

He's the 4th highest paid 1rst basemen in MLB, he should be able to adjust to coaching/pitching/fielding decisions made against him. If he were 5th in OPS, the first pitch strikes commentary would be picking knits, he's 18th. He's not good enough to be above criticism.

 

Truthfully, I do agree with you that the dearth of talent in the outfield and at DH has hurt this team more than Sloppy Joe's issues at the plate. There has been no end to OF discussions here, and First Base should be a part of the discussion too.

He's the 4th highest paid 1rst basemen in MLB, he should be able to adjust to coaching/pitching/fielding decisions made against him. If he were 5th in OPS, the first pitch strikes commentary would be picking knits, he's 18th. He's not good enough to be above criticism.

 

Truthfully, I do agree with you that the dearth of talent in the outfield and at DH has hurt this team more than Sloppy Joe's issues at the plate. There has been no end to OF discussions here, and First Base should be a part of the discussion too.

To Willihammer's point much of the dearth of talent has been decisional by the manager as much as players available.

 

Pinto is on the bench rather than DHing.

I know this is probably a lazy response, but while I think Mauer should swing more at the first pitch - I think him not hitting once he falls behind is just a symptom of the problem. While he was striking out more last year, he still was hitting well when he was behind 0-2. I don't think between August and now pitchers figured him out after studying him for ten years. And he has always done well against NL pitching. One difference since last August is that he experienced concussion symptoms - some severe for three months. You have to wonder if that is part of the equation. Look at Justin -- it took him three years to seem to snap out of it (although change of scenery could be part of that).

 

The back could also be an issue, because he did seem to be coming around right before that acted up. I kind of wonder if they should have just put him on the DL and given it a good two weeks to heal.

 

I just have to think his drop-off is due to something more than pitchers figuring him out after ten years.

Well, this game took a pretty awful turn.

Well, this game took a pretty awful turn.

 

Yeah. That happened when Burton entered the game.

If we don't come back... Hughes is gonna have to out duel Darvish tomorrow.

Well, this game took a pretty awful turn.

 

It's a Baby Ruth!

5 runs before 3 outs?

 

Can we do it?

 

(i hope so...)

Looks a lot like the 2013 Twins today.

Bad sign when the DH gets pinch hit for...

5 runs before 3 outs?

 

Can we do it?

 

(i hope so...)

 

For a second... I believed. It was Fleeting.

Dick: "You want to win as many of your home games as you can, when you are home."

Dick: "You want to win as many of your home games as you can, when you are home."

Road home wins much harder to come by for the twins this year.

 

No Pinto again, no report of injury. That's enough Gardenhire for me.

Dick: "You want to win as many of your home games as you can, when you are home."

 

Learn somethin' every day...

Road home wins much harder to come by for the twins this year.

 

No Pinto again, no report of injury. That's enough Gardenhire for me.

Hicksie stays in for the last out of the game...

Road home wins much harder to come by for the twins this year.

 

No Pinto again, no report of injury. That's enough Gardenhire for me.

 

Sconnie nailed it: DH was pinch hit for.

well there's always tomorrow

We are experiencing a never ending string of tomorrows... :-/

For a second... I believed. It was Fleeting.

 

Someday, maybe. Just not today, i guess.

 

Well, we got the rubber band pullin' for us again.

 

Thanks all!

Sconnie nailed it: DH was pinch hit for.

Ah.

 

So that's more than enough Gardy for me.

Dick: "You want to win as many of your home games as you can, when you are home."

 

 

Baseball really does have some of the greatest minds (same with its fans - as evidenced by the postings on this board).

Baseball really does have some of the greatest minds

Too bad one of them isn't Ron Gardenhire

Didn't care much about missing another blowout until seeing that this was Hicks' first game batting right only. He deserves a ton of credit for having the courage to experiment with that in the majors, and a holiday home game to boot.

 

Only one game, but his going 2 for 4 in his righty-only debut is much more news-worthy than another Correia clunker. Both of those things may end up improving the club in the long run.