Why you should like Kubel...

There are several things to consider when discussing the value of Kubel. One that this is only his 6th year of MLB he missed all of 2005 with a severe knee injury. It took a couple years for him to really get back fullfilling the huge potential he had before the injury. Really feel like last year was his first year at full strength. He could play the outfield everyday if we needed him.
Lets look at his stat compared to Cuddyer and Morneau last year. You love Cuddyer and Morneau - Cuddyer kept us in it last year and Morneau is a league MVP.

2009 Kubel Morneau Cuddyer
HR 28 30 32
RBI 103 100 94
Slugging % .539 .516 .520
AVG .300 .274 .270

He looks good compared to those big dogs. You must also keep in mind that Gardy loves him. Kubel came into the league as a hot prospect, people expected him to hit the snot out of the ball. He blew his knee out and almost was out of baseball for good. I think Gardy admires how hard he has worked to get back to the form people expected of him. Who knows how much we would have to be paying him or where he would be if he hadn't hurt his knee. We should feel fortunate to have him as a DH just the price we are paying. He will play more this year including the outfield and I think it will make his game all around better. Look for him to contribute lots of RBIs even though he's in the middle of the lineup following Mauer, Morneau and Cuddyer.

So I say cut the "beast" some slack be a good fan that cheers for all the players and realize nobody is going to play a perfect game every time out. Sure he'll leave some runs on the bases but so do our two MVPs. The hope is that if the MVPs don't get the hit then Cuddy or Kubel will, the way its been so far this season the 7-8-9 hitter will do it.

GO TWINS!

CLUTCH!

Mr Kubel was clutch in saturdays game!!

I neglected to mention that Denard was clutch friday night before with his diving catch. Sorry Denard!! You rocked!!

Not sure who will be clutch today but I am sure it will be a different player!

One more day and we play in our own outdoor park!! Wish I was going to that game!! Might just go downtown to check out all the action!

GO TWINS!

Extra Innings!

Extra innings for the Twins and Sox last night not exactly what Gardy would have liked..but the twins won! After a redeye flight to Chicago the Twins did look a little tired but the crisp evening air kept them awake enough.

The Twins had an early chance to score but suddenly their bats went quiet. The quiet bats were compunded by a baserunning error from Orlando. As they should they kept battling. They took advantage of Sox errors and stayed in the game. Loriano pitched OK not awesome but not horrible. Pitchers just need to keep the score low and we can win.

Clutch hit from JJ in the 11th inning got the extra run we needed. Rauch again did a great job closing the door. Hopefully everyone was able to get some sleep and will be up for todays early game. I am sure todays game will be even more difficult for the Twins and even for the sox who had extra innings the night before the Twins game. Hopefully the sun is out!

Go Twins!

Series #1 = Success (3-1)

Excellent start to the new season! Winning the series against the Angels at their own park is quite an achievement! Also hitting 9 homeruns! Awesome! Having had so much trouble with the Angels in the past it adds to the confidence to go in and beat them 3 out of 4! The Angels are a good team, a good hitting team and we held them down - way to go Pitchers!!!

Loved watching Thome last night! The guy ran his ass off to get a double and then hits a HUGE homerun later in the game. I say buy him a glove and put him at first base once in a while - ok maybe too far there but he looked great!

The whole team looks great. Everyone looked so focused so serious as they played but then you'd see them in the dugout smiling and high fivin'! Great team chemistry! It does seem to me that they are going about the business of baseball while still having fun! All four starters looked good especially from the stand point that they each had moments of trouble but they stayed focused and worked out of it. They seem to be pitching with confidence knowing that they can manage the game and as long as they keep it close their hitters will come thru for them. And how about that bullpen!?! Mijares came in last night and did a great job showing that Monday was not the norm. Loved watching Burnett close out the ninth, you could see how excited he was but he kept it under control and worked the pitches!

Now I know this is only 4 games of 162, its a long season and there will be bad games but looking at this line up and seeing the 6to9 hitters coming up and knocking the snot out of the ball that just makes you feel GOOD! They still play the small ball getting people on base and moving them around but to have the long ball in your back pocket is fabulous. I do not envy the opposing pitchers there is no let up in this line up. You got the big dogs and the piranhas, get past the MVPs to Cuddy, Kubel/Thome and Del then Hardy, Harris or Punto and back to the beginning. WOW!

Ok was it just me or did you feel the emphasis behind Harris's bat when he hit the homerun. Like he was saying check that out! Play me at third - of course he followed up with a strikeout and missing a scorcher down third base line. Honestly I think Punto would have handled that ball but I will admit I am a Nicky fan!! I just hope Harris accepts the role he has and makes the most of it. So far the whole team seems to understand the plan, willing to get that productive out and keeping focused.

Tonight will be the beginning of another tough series. The guys will be tired from traveling last night and they have to play early sat. Guessing Joe and Thome won't play tonight. Thinking Thome is probably sore from hoofing it around the bases last night! Get to see Loriano throw - Hope he tosses a no hitter and sends Ozzie into a tizzy!

GO TWINS!

Pavano! or 2-1

Pavano started a little rough just like Blackie and Scotty but he didn't give up any runs. Got into a little trouble loading the bases but worked his way out of that too! Think it always is helpful to the pitcher when his team gets some runs on the board. Seems to me all three starters so far have looked good, when they had problems they were able to work out of it. I know its early but everybody looks really focused.
JJ hit another dinger...what has GoGo done the last few nights? GoGo is batting .333 he is 4 for 12 all four hits in game one one double & a home run. He also has a stolen base. JJ has two HRs. Don't know what gogo has done defensively but the play JJ made in the 9th was awesome!!

Have we ever played the Angels this tough! I know Morneau has never hit like that against them! Two homeruns in two games!?! WOW! Go MorYES!!!!

This fun!!
GO TWINS!!

1-1

The bats were knocking the ball around this time for the Twins and Blackburn pitched great! Happy to have a Twins pitcher go more then 6 innings! 3 HOMERUNS!! WOW!! Love that Joe got one and happy to see Morneau hitting too! New guy Hardy plugging one out, hopefully a taste of something he'll do thru out the season! Has to feel good to him to get that so early in the season.

Bullpen
Really looked sharp! Matty G 1-2-3 really great. Duensing did his job, getting a tough out in a tight position. Huge for a young guy to step up there! Makes me really happy and feeling a good vibe. Rauch looked really dominating! All around if our pitching can do that every night we will win a lot cause these guys can HIT!

Defense
Looked sharp, turned a few double plays. Our infield defense is really going to be a strength!!

This is going to be FUN!

0-1

Not the start I would prefer but there were a few positives. I really like the new uniforms and have decided my new hat this year will be the red billed TC one!

Baker started out a little rough but he got it under control. He really looked good after the first and a third inning. Crane looked good too. Mijares.....OUCH! We left a lot of guys on base but hey at least we were getting guys on base! Those Angels are a GOOD team and we didn't look horrible just didn't put it all together. I look forward to the game tonight. I was really sleepy at the beginning of the game but then woke up really expecting the Twins to make their move.

Feeling good about Delmon hitting a homerun, expected Cuddy or Kubel to do it too! Maybe the bats will get cracking tonight. As long as we keep getting guys on base we will be good. Mijares will do better and Baker is going to stay in the groove he got in after the first.

I think the Angels are one of the better hitting teams in baseball they are patient at the plate. If we could take back a couple pitches and a couple at bats- we were right in that game. I hope Morneau relaxes a little he seems like he is really trying tooooo hard!

Our little GoGo Gomez made a great debut in Milwaukee 4 for 5 a homerun and a stolen base! WOW! I know there will be plenty of o for 4 nights for him too but I am happy that he had such a good game. I want the Brewer fans to like him especially my cousins! Good Luck GOGO!

Lets go Twins!!