Milwaukee Series Lineup

[travistwinstalk]

OK so the Twins head to Milwaukee for a weekend series against their border war foes in the Brewers. They face the Brewers 2 aces in Gallardo and Greinke on Saturday and Sunday so it should be a fun series as Miller Park should be packed of Twins fans making the drive down. So here is my question, with the games in a National League park there is no DH, therefore do you have Mauer and Morneau play all three days in the field or do one or the other get a day off in the series being that they also have Monday off. Another aspect to keep in mind is Drew Butera is coming off a 3 hit game yesterday and Scott Diamond is pitching tonight and Butera has caught Diamond in his 2 previous gems. Do you mess up the combo and have Mauer catch him or do you stick with the Combo and give Mauer a full day off as he comes into the series in a 3-19 stretch and hitting only .179 in May. If I am making the lineup I probably sit Mauer tonight and bring him back and catch Saturday and Sunday and have Morneau if he is up to it play 1st all 3. So what does everyone else think.

[Top Gun]

Ryan Doumit (calf) is expected only to be available as a pinch-hitter for the weekend series against the Brewers.

 

Not surprising. It had looked like Doumit was headed for the disabled list, but the Twins have decided to hold off. He's not ready to start just yet but thinks he'll be available for DH duty starting next Tuesday. "Best-case scenario is ... I'll be ready to DH or do something like that [Tuesday], the first game in Chicago, so that's what I'm hoping for," Doumit said.

 

 

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

[Gernzy]

Yeah that would work. You want to keep Mauer and Morneau in every day if you can. Doumit hurting acutally helps this series since we don't have to find a place for him. He might not play all weekend. I'm good with Drew tonight. Keep him in while the bat in hot.

[Mauerzy4Prez]

This is an interesting dilemma for the Twins to have... In my opinion it all falls on whether or not Morny can play in the field for sure tonight, if not all three games. If you are looking to give Joe a much needed break, and also can't put Morneau in the field yet, then who will play first? Jamey Carrol, Doumit, Dozier? Man I miss the good ole' days when Cuddy could just slide from one position to the next on a days notice...

 

I would like to see the lineup like this tonight: Span (CF) Dozier (SS) Morneau (1b) Willignham (lf) Doumit © Ploufe (rf) Cassilla (2b) Carrol (3b) Diamond (P)

[Mauerzy4Prez]

And if Doumit can't go because he is still suffering from his celebration related injury, you shift drew in to catch, and the lineup looks like this...

 

Span (CF) Dozier (SS) Morneau (1b) Willignham (lf) Ploufe (rf) Cassilla (2b) Butera © Carrol (3b) Diamond (P)

[Top Gun]

Morneau was finally starting to come around with the bat in mid-April before he began dealing with soreness in his surgically-repaired left wrist. While he eventually required a stint on the disabled list, he returned as soon as he was eligible Wednesday and doubled in a win over the Tigers. For what it's worth, Morneau has told Twins manager Ron Gardenhire that he would rather play first base than serve as the designated hitter. His injury history is still a major red flag, but perhaps he's finally feeling healthy.

[Seth Stohs]

I think I'd give Mauer the Friday game off for several reasons. 1.) He's struggling really bad, 2.) he needs it, 3.) give credit to Butera for a good day yesterday, and 4.) let Diamond and Butera work together until proven then shouldn't.

 

I'd give Morneau a day off either Saturday or Sunday as well.

 

I get that we want these guys to play every day, but have to be smart with both of them. Playing Morneau every day early in the season is likely what affected the wrist.

[whydidnt]

  Seth Stohs said:

I think I'd give Mauer the Friday game off for several reasons. 1.) He's struggling really bad, 2.) he needs it, 3.) give credit to Butera for a good day yesterday, and 4.) let Diamond and Butera work together until proven then shouldn't.

 

I'd give Morneau a day off either Saturday or Sunday as well.

 

I get that we want these guys to play every day, but have to be smart with both of them. Playing Morneau every day early in the season is likely what affected the wrist.

I think you make great points regarding both Mauer and Morneau. The only issue I have with it is that it means Butera plays 2 out of 3 games. So much for him just being an "emergency fill-in", huh? I think we'll see Revere starting at least 2-3 games, depending on Span's availability, and Plouffe will be back at 3B when Revere and Span are both playing. I know it won't happen, but I'd still like to see the Twins flip Willingham to RF and put Revere in LF. I doubt Willingham will be any worse in RF than what either Plouffe or Doumit has been.

[Thrylos]

I'd like to see this tonight:

 

Revere (CF)

Dozier (SS)

Mauer ©

Willingham (LF)

Morneau (1B)

Plouffe (RF)

Cassilla (2B)

Carroll (3B)

Diamond (P)

 

And for the rest of the series, unless Span is ready and he gets there instead of Revere against LHPs (CF) and Plouffe against RHP (RF) and batting lead off with Revere moving ahead of Carroll if they are both there.

 

I am glad that Butera has been having some hits, but the law of averages will prevail and there is no way you bench either Mauer or Morneau for him. That. Simple.

[travistwinstalk]

I would play Morneau at 1st all 3 days if able becasue they have a day off on Monday to rest his wrist. I don't want Butera playing more than one day and I think tonight is the right day for that to happen.

Tonights Lineup

1. Span

2. Dozier

3. Morneau

4. Willingham

5. Plouffe

6. Casilla

7. Butera

8. Carroll

9. Diamond

 

Saturday

1. Span

2. Dozier

3. Mauer

4. Willingham

5. Morneau

6. Plouffe

7. Casilla

8. Carroll

9. Pavano

 

Sunday

1. Span

2. Dozier

3. Mauer

4. Wilingham

5. Morneau

6. Casilla

7. Carroll

8. Revere

9. Marquis

[Shane Wahl]

Pretty much what Travis just said for the 3 days, though I would let Willingham get the day off on Sunday and Morneau on Saturday. I know that means weakening the lineup 2/3 games with Butera involved and one big guy out each game, but it seems simply impossible that Pavano and Marquis are going to self-destruct--the law of averages will likely work against Drew and for Pavano and Marquis.

 

"Man I miss the good ole' days when Cuddy could just slide from one position to the next on a days notice..."--M4Prez

 

You mean between RF and 1B? Because he was effective in RF, adequate in 1B and terrible everywhere else. Trevor Plouffe could fill that role this year--I would think he or Willingham would be the emergency 1B, though it would be funny to see short little Carroll stretching at first.

[Mauerzy4Prez]

I agree that he was not very good anywhere else, especially in the middle infield... however I would trust Cuddy making a throw from short to 1st any day before I'd trust Plouffe with it.

Either way, if Mauer needs rest and you don't feel ready to play Morneau at first tonight because of his wrist, somebody has to fill in at first. I would bet that you see Plouffe there before Willingham, Plouffe is our "role player" this year and Josh already made it very clear that he is most comfortable in LF. MLB.com has Josh only playing in 3 games (4 total innings) in his career at first...

[Shane Wahl]

Going forward next week, assuming the health of Span and Doumit, the following looks kinda nice:

 

Span, CF

Mauer, C/1B/DH

Willingham, LF/DH

Morneau, 1B/DH

Dozier, SS (this spot in the lineup is where I think he belongs right now)

Doumit, DH/C/RF

Plouffe RF/3B

Casilla 2B or Mastro/Komatsu RF

Casilla 2B or Carroll 2B/3B or Revere LF/RF

 

Gardenhire won't do it that way, undoubtedly, but I like it. One fairly optimal lineup for some of the time would be:

 

Span, CF

Mauer, C

Willingham, DH

Morneau, 1B

Dozier, SS

Doumit, RF

Plouffe, 3B (let's just hope that he gets it going)

Revere, LF

Carroll or Casilla, 2B

 

With speed and defense on the bench to come in late.

[Yoshii]

They should just put Morneau, Mauer, and Doumit in the outfield, call up Parmlee again, have Butera catch, DFA the Asian guy, and throw Willingham/Revere on the bench. Simple Solution.

[Yoshii]

They should just put Morneau, Mauer, and Doumit in the outfield, call up Parmlee again, have Butera catch, DFA the Asian guy, and throw Willingham at third, Span at SS and Revere at 2b. Everyone else benched.

 

Simple Solution, duh.

[SweetOne69]

I think Butera will catch tonight and tomorrow (he is the personal catcher for Walters, Diamond and Pavano). Mauer will have tonight off, play 1st tomorrow and catch on Sunday. Morneau will play 1st tonight and Sunday and have tomorrow off.

[Mauerzy4Prez]

  Yoshii said:

They should just put Morneau, Mauer, and Doumit in the outfield, call up Parmlee again, have Butera catch, DFA the Asian guy, and throw Willingham at third, Span at SS and Revere at 2b. Everyone else benched.

 

Simple Solution, duh.

This is meant to be a joke right?...

[stringer bell]

I presume they are playing Saturday night, Sunday day games. In that case, they should give Morneau one of the two games off and have Mauer play first base. It would end up something like this: Butera catches Friday and Sunday. Morneau, first base Friday and Saturday. Mauer, catcher Saturday and first base Sunday. If there is a lefty, give Morneau the day off versus the lefty with Mauer at first.

[SirLoin]

I would say tonight would be a great game for Mauer to have a day off. He's been struggling at the plate, and I think someone mentioned yesterday that Mauer looked to be moving a little slower than usual. My questions is whether Span is ready to play again?

[Shane Wahl]

Saturday and Sunday are both day games.

[ashbury]

Marquis pitching Sunday means we have a genuine NL pitcher in the 9th spot. He's gone .197/.216/.283. Basically Drew Butera, with a smidgen more pop.

[DJSim22]

Tonights Lineup

1. Span

2. Dozier

3. Morneau

4. Willingham

5. Plouffe

6. Casilla

7. Butera

8. Carroll

9. Diamond

 

Saturday

1. Span

2. Dozier

3. Mauer

4. Willingham

5. Morneau

6. Plouffe

7. Casilla

8. Carroll

9. Pavano

 

Sunday

1. Span

2. Dozier

3. Mauer

4. Willingham

5. Morneau

6. Plouffe

7. Carroll

8. Marquis

9. Revere

[TwinsFanLV]

  Yoshii said:

They should just put Morneau, Mauer, and Doumit in the outfield, call up Parmlee again, have Butera catch, DFA the Asian guy, and throw Willingham/Revere on the bench. Simple Solution.

Referring to any player as "the Asian Guy" is simply racist. I'm surprised and disappointed that whoever monitors these threads has not removed this comment.

[TwinsFanLV]

Would you have said, "The Black Guy"?

[snepp]

You may be overreacting just hair.

 

 

Park the PC revolution crap, there wasn't anything malicious in that post.

[DJSim22]

  TwinsFanLV said:

Referring to any player as "the Asian Guy" is simply racist. I'm surprised and disappointed that whoever monitors these threads has not removed this comment.

I could be wrong, but I think he just forgot the name or didn't know how to spell it. If someone said "the white guy" I wouldn't take offense.

[TwinsFanLV]

Neither of you are the target group for this offense. Forget I said anything. Explaining racism to Minnesotans is wasted breath. Have many Asians in your Hastings neighborhood?

[Dilligaf69]

  Seth Stohs said:

I think I'd give Mauer the Friday game off for several reasons. 1.) He's struggling really bad, 2.) he needs it, 3.) give credit to Butera for a good day yesterday, and 4.) let Diamond and Butera work together until proven then shouldn't.

 

I'd give Morneau a day off either Saturday or Sunday as well.

 

I get that we want these guys to play every day, but have to be smart with both of them. Playing Morneau every day early in the season is likely what affected the wrist.

 

 

 

Wrong twice today buddy!

[Dilligaf69]

I think You will see Plouffe sit the next two games...poor guy, I thought the 2 HR's this week would get him going.

[Guest USAFChief]

I sort of have trouble believing anyone is looking for excuses to get Drew Butera into the lineup. Mauer and Morneau should be in the lineup all three games this weekend.