Stick a fork in Hunter, he is done.

[Twodogs]

Hey I'm just sayin' the fork thing seemed to work for Hunter and chances are that Mauer will end up on the DL anyway at some point, I say we chase him around and stick that fork in him, see if he can get a little better production from that. 

[Willihammer]

I wonder if we can stick a fork in Mauer, you think he would hit .318 after getting a fork stuck in him??

Only one way to find out!

[nicksaviking]

I wonder why one needs to stick a fork in something to tell if it's done?  Does no one have a meat thermometer?

[DaveW]

 

"Tori is showing us how to win"

 

Aaron Hicks

"Drew Butera is showing me how to hit"

 

Aaron Hicks

[JB_Iowa]

 

I wonder why one needs to stick a fork in something to tell if it's done?  Does no one have a meat thermometer?

 

I have one.

 

I never use it.

[formerly33]

Uh-oh, looks like we got caught.

 

[Linus]

I can't wait for the apoplexy on TD when Hunter signs an extension.  We better start praying for Arcia, Rosario and Hicks to hit a little bit or they will have to bring him back.

[twinsnorth49]

 

I can't wait for the apoplexy on TD when Hunter signs an extension.  We better start praying for Arcia, Rosario and Hicks to hit a little bit or they will have to bring him back.

Well, multiple people suffering  an apoplexy would make things pretty quiet around here, but I get your point.

 

I think it's more likely that the entire site as we know it melts down and breaks the internet.

[Craig Arko]

 

Well, multiple people suffering  an apoplexy would make things pretty quiet around here, but I get your point.

 

I think it's more likely that the entire site as we know it melts down and breaks the internet.

I'm still waiting for those Brit soccer guys to come back and raise hell.

[DaveW]

Hunter in the month of June: .210/.290/.258 .548 OPS

 

DONE.

[mickeymental]

fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice ... won't get fooled again.

[jimmer]

 

Hunter in the month of June: .210/.290/.258 .548 OPS

 

DONE.

For the season, OPS in the .730s, wRC+ of 104, and poor defense. 0.9 WAR.

[Hrbowski]

 

Hunter in the month of June: .210/.290/.258 .548 OPS

 

DONE.

Hunter showed off some massive power today. He is NOT done.

[DaveW]

Oh look! Hunter sucks again! First pitch pop outs to the INF again!

 

Never change Torii, never change.

[stringer bell]

Two hits including a long homer for Torii today. He was 3-26 going into the game. The batting average had sunk into the .250s. I guess we will have to ride out the snags and he'll probably finish the year close to last year's numbers. Torii has been okay in right field and undoubtedly a positive influence on the other young outfielders and position players. I don't want him back next year, but it looks like Terry Ryan made a decent signing in bringing in the almost 40-year old.

[Linus]

Two hits including a long homer for Torii today. He was 3-26 going into the game. The batting average had sunk into the .250s. I guess we will have to ride out the snags and he'll probably finish the year close to last year's numbers. Torii has been okay in right field and undoubtedly a positive influence on the other young outfielders and position players. I don't want him back next year, but it looks like Terry Ryan made a decent signing in bringing in the almost 40-year old.

I don't think there is a doubt about that.

[DaveW]

Hunter in July: .167/.215/.267

 

Looking a little long in the tooth, it's time the Twins start considering bringing up Arcia and having him and Hunter platoon.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

it's time the Twins start considering bringing up Arcia and having him and Hunter platoon.

I'm pretty sure that time was July 1st but somebody forgot to forward the memo.

[DaveW]

 

I'm pretty sure that time was July 1st but somebody forgot to forward the memo.

The thing is, I doubt the Twins do that, would anyone be surprised if Hunter would suddenly become a malcontent if he lost the starting role?

 

At the very least they need to move him down in the lineup, his at bats have been terrible as of late, especially in big spots. With runners in scoring position and less than two outs you can't afford to have a guy hacking at bad pitches and popping up harmlessly to the SS

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

The thing is, I doubt the Twins do that, would anyone be surprised if Hunter would suddenly become a malcontent if he lost the starting role?

 

At the very least they need to move him down in the lineup, his at bats have been terrible as of late, especially in big spots. With runners in scoring position and less than two outs you can't afford to have a guy hacking at bad pitches and popping up harmlessly to the SS

They don't even need to platoon Hunter. Sit him down, remind him that he's 40 years old, and that he needs rest if he's going to help the team down the stretch.

 

If Hunter won't listen to that entirely reasonable conversation, then screw it. He's hurting the team right now.

[Squirrel]

I think Hunter wanted to prove everyone wrong about his abilities and just gave everything he had left. Who knows, maybe there's a spurt or two left. But I think it's time to make the change. At the very least, give him more days off or split his time. If he becomes a malcontent over that, well, so it goes.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I admit, Hunter and Pelfrey both pleasantly surprised me in the season's early goings, but now here we are in July, and both seem to have a veteran stranglehold on playing time to the possible detriment of our season and/or future...

[Mike Sixel]

 

I admit, Hunter and Pelfrey both pleasantly surprised me in the season's early goings, but now here we are in July, and both seem to have a veteran stranglehold on playing time to the possible detriment of our season and/or future...

 

Which was the top concern all along.......

[Squirrel]

 

Which was the top concern all along.......

By many of us, maybe even most. But it was a fun wave to ride while it lasted. But now we've been thrown face down on the beach and it's time to find that new wave. We've been lying face down on the beach for a while now. A new wave couldn't come soon enough.

[Jham]

 

The thing is, I doubt the Twins do that, would anyone be surprised if Hunter would suddenly become a malcontent if he lost the starting role?

 

At the very least they need to move him down in the lineup, his at bats have been terrible as of late, especially in big spots. With runners in scoring position and less than two outs you can't afford to have a guy hacking at bad pitches and popping up harmlessly to the SS

 

Which means we should move up__________ because he's been absolutely stinging the ball?  I am fine with Hunter getting some days off because it's the middle of summer, it's hot, and he's 40.  He's not been super productive of late.  But much like SS, C, Pen, 1B, DH, now 3B and starting staff...  basically everyone who wasn't an All-Star,  I'm not sure we have much better options compared to trying to rest him when we can and hoping he gets hot again.  Hunter has always been a streaky hitter.  I'm not for replacing one of our best hitters with another streaky hitter just because of a slump/ assumptions due to his age.  Now getting him some rest while getting Arcia some AB's makes more sense to me.  For that matter... Rosario looks a little run down of late as well.  

A lot of guys need to play better right now.  Winning cures all.  The team looks a bit tight.  Arcia was a spark last season.  

 

[Mike Sixel]

Hunter by month:

 

May>June>July

 

this isn't a 1 month trend.....

 

But hey, he's awesome, and he is a great leader, and yadda, yadda, yadda. Wonder what faces he'll make at the media when they drop completely out of contention and he's benched......

[drjim]

 

I admit, Hunter and Pelfrey both pleasantly surprised me in the season's early goings, but now here we are in July, and both seem to have a veteran stranglehold on playing time to the possible detriment of our season and/or future...

 

How is winning games a detriment to the future? They are both FAs after the year.

[drjim]

 

Hunter by month:

 

May>June>July

 

this isn't a 1 month trend.....

 

But hey, he's awesome, and he is a great leader, and yadda, yadda, yadda. Wonder what faces he'll make at the media when they drop completely out of contention and he's benched......

 

While true, this is terribly misleading and a pretty bad use of small samples. He had a great May, a very solid June and has struggled in July. If he picks it back in August a little does that mean he is back on the upswing?

[Brock Beauchamp]

How is winning games a detriment to the future? They are both FAs after the year.

Yep. You got your wins from them. Yay, good job!

 

The key is to move on once you stop getting wins from them. As two vets on expiring contracts, this should be a relatively easy decision.

 

Will that happen? Probably not and that's aggravating.

[DaveW]

I have said it before and will say it again, the Twins should trade Hunter for some bullpen help. I am not the biggest Arcia guy, but Arcia will at least give you the same current value Hunter is giving them.