Twins outlook

**DolphLundgren** · 08-25-2009, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

because his team is under .500. That's exactly how. It's not an East coast bias (Justin Morneau just called, he won the MVP with the Twins over Jeter mind you). His team is under .500, Teixiera is the best player on the best team in baseball. End of story. Please look up how many MVP's that didn't at least have their team in contention. Please.

That argument is, by far, the stupidest argument for an MVP in all of sport.

**DolphLundgren** · 08-25-2009, 10:09 AM

I assume that, if the Red Sox come back and nip the Yankees for the division, you'll have to give the MVP to...well...one of the Red Sox, right?

**IcSyU** · 08-25-2009, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by DolphLundgren

That argument is, by far, the stupidest argument for an MVP in all of sport.

And guess what, IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR! It's not just Major League Baseball, it happens in football, basketball, you name it! I can't help that you live in this little fantasy world while all of us hang out in reality.

I don't know if you caught the edit or not, but I'd like for you to look up Morneau's UZR. Here's a hint for you, it's jnot better than Teixiera's, and Mauer won't have one. Morneau is a former MVP, and Teixiera is actually better than him this season defensively.

**DolphLundgren** · 08-25-2009, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

And guess what, IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR! It's not just Major League Baseball, it happens in football, basketball, you name it! I can't help that you live in this little fantasy world while all of us hang out in reality.

I don't know if you caught the edit or not, but I'd like for you to look up Morneau's UZR. Here's a hint for you, it's jnot better than Teixiera's, and Mauer won't have one. Morneau is a former MVP, and Teixiera is actually better than him this season defensively.

Yeah, and Ken Caminiti is a former MVP. I hear Tex is better than him this season, too.

I'm not arguing for Morneau, so that last post was kinda..well..yep.

I'll stand by it: anyone who says that Mauer isn't the best player in the AL, and therefore the MVP, is stupid. Just flat-out stupid.

**IcSyU** · 08-25-2009, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by DolphLundgren

I assume that, if the Red Sox come back and nip the Yankees for the division, you'll have to give the MVP to...well...one of the Red Sox, right?

Yep, because in order for that to happen, Dustin Pedroia or someone for the Red Sox is going to have to get scorching hot. I'm by no means saying it's over because weirder things have happened, but the Red Sox are limping right now, and the Yankees have been the best team in baseball for a few months now.

**bawbie** · 08-25-2009, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by DolphLundgren

I'll stand by it: anyone who says that Mauer isn't the best player in the AL, and therefore the MVP, is stupid. Just flat-out stupid.

I think the argument is that the best player doesn't win the MVP. The MVP, as currently voted on, is better defined as the best player on a good team.

**jdoggivjc** · 08-25-2009, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by bawbie

I think the argument is that the best player doesn't win the MVP. The MVP, as currently voted on, is better defined as the best player on a good team.

Or, in the Yankees case, a decent player that hasn't won the MVP yet.

**IcSyU** · 08-25-2009, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Or, in the Yankees case, a decent player that hasn't won the MVP yet.

Decent? Only pushing top 10 in the American League in overall hitting and the best first baseman. Morneau is truly awful this season if Teixiera is just decent, and those are the two best first baseman in the American League imo.

**Steve** · 08-25-2009, 10:29 AM

Tonight is a another key chapter in the Twins unpredictable season. They have given fans multiple reasons to jump off the bandwagon, but somehow have managed to avoid being stuck with a fork and declared done.

For those who didn't notice, Swarzak was sent back to Rochester this past weekend and replaced with Amando Gabino. I doubt if Gabino is on many fantasy team rosters - his career highlights include being an undrafted free agent, a converted 3rd baseman, a rule 5 minor league draft acquisition, and a total of 12 starts in his professional career. That said, he has put up some respectable numbers in AAA. The upside is 5 or 6 servicable innings - the downside is a long night for the bullpen.

I would settle for a Duensing level outing. Duensing's route to the majors is equally as amazing. He was cut from his youth baseball team as a 10 or 11 YO because the coach kept the kids who could pitch. He caught on with a lesser team only because he was a lefty. He didn't stand out until after his JR year in HS when somehow the light came on. He had a great SR year and earned a scholarship to Nebraska. He worked his way up to being a go-to guy until he blew out his elbow and had Tommy John surgery. He made his way back enough by his SR year to earn an opportunity with the Twins.

For the Twins to pull this off, they need both of the improbable guys to keep living the dream. They also need Blackburn to build off his last outing, Pravano to be Pravano, and Baker to continue to be the best pitcher in baseball since early June. The Baker comment might surprise many, but nobody can top his current 10-1 streak.

The bullpen has had too many blowups this season, but there is enough talent there to get the job done if the starters can get to the 6th or 7th inning. The surplus outfield problem has been a savior with a string of minor injuries. Cabrera has been a more valuable pickup than I thought he would be. The big impact has been on the rest of the infield. Harris has been able to hold down 3rd when Crede is not available. Punto is back to what he is best suited for - 1 or 2 games a week. The surprise has been Casilla. Being paired with Cabrera has brought out the best in him. He went from looking completely lost to playing at an all-star level in the past month.

**mj4cy** · 08-25-2009, 10:30 AM

I wish they had two awards:

1 for best overall player
1 for most valuable player to their team

**shagcarpetjesus** · 08-25-2009, 10:46 AM

Mauer should win the MVP, hands down. How many catchers in the history of baseball have had an offensive season like this? Maybe Piazza? Johnny Bench? Teixeira is having a nice year, but first basemen put up those kind of numbers all of the time. The Twins might not finish above .500, but Mauer should definitely get extra consideration for the historical significance of his season.

And for those of you who think Teixeira should win the MVP, I'd suggest that he's not even the best first basemen on a playoff bound team this year.

Avg/OBP/SLG HR RBI
Teixeira .288/.385/.556 31 93
Cabrera .341/.407/.570 26 80

Teixeira has better numbers when it comes to homers and RBI, but that's not exactly shocking considering he gets to play half of his games in the launching pad of new Yankee Stadium and in the middle of one of the most ridiculously stacked lineups in baseball. Miguel Cabrera is better across the board in all of the slash stats while playing in a more offensively neutral home environment. If you're going to argue that the MVP has to go to a player on a playoff bound team, I'd vote for Cabrera over Teixeira at this point.

**shagcarpetjesus** · 08-25-2009, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

Decent? Only pushing top 10 in the American League in overall hitting and the best first baseman. Morneau is truly awful this season if Teixiera is just decent, and those are the two best first baseman in the American League imo.

Miguel Cabrera???? See me post above.

**mj4cy** · 08-25-2009, 08:01 PM

Twins down 3-2....BIG triple by Span. He's quietly hitting 307 right now this year.

**06Panther** · 08-25-2009, 11:00 PM

Twins win again. 4 games back.

**jtd9046** · 08-25-2009, 11:03 PM

First walk-off win since May 13th for the Twins.

Big win with the call-up on the mound. Great job by Crain and Majares out of the bullpen!

Back to .500, now the key is to creep that to a few games above and stay in this race.