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Twins @ Indians Thread

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Sorry I missed the last series, took a mini-vacation with the girlfriend to get away for a while. Anyway, the Indians took 2 of 3 from the Reds, winning the final two games, including yesterday 9-2 as they scored six runs in the ninth inning. Anyway, on to this series... the Indians have 9 of their next 18 games against Minnesota and the White Sox, so they can make up some room here if they play well.

The match-ups for the series are:

Monday- 7:05 PM- Scott Elarton vs. Kyle Lohse
Tuesday- 7:05 PM- Jake Westbrook vs. Joe Mays
Wednesday- 7:05 PM- Kevin Millwood vs. Carlos Silva
Thursday- 7:05 PM- C.C. Sabathia vs. Brad Radke
 
From TwinCities.com

LET THE FIGHTS BEGIN!!!

MLB makes pitch to retain calm at Jacobs Field

TOM POWERS

The Twins and Indians better play nice.

Or else.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire already has been put on notice. Bob Watson, baseball's chief disciplinarian, sent a letter in which he threatened him with a five-game suspension for any resumption of the hostilities that surfaced earlier this month at the Metrodome.

The teams begin a four-game series tonight at Jacobs Field.

"We will take nothing," the letter stated ominously.

But following Sunday's extra-inning victory over the Brewers, Gardenhire said he wasn't even going to tell his players about Watson's warning.

"I'm not telling nobody," he said. "These are grown men. We are going in there to play baseball. If (stuff) happens, (stuff) happens."

Stuff probably will happen. Lots and lots of stuff. If it doesn't happen early in the series, then it likely will in the finale when C.C. Sabathia and Brad Radke tangle in a rematch. Sabathia is open about hating the Twins. The Twins are open about citing Sabathia's lack of class.

And Radke has no problem buzzing Cleveland hitters.

Gardenhire was fined $750 for being ejected in the series finale against Cleveland on May 5. He was livid after the umpires issued a warning to both teams. Two Twins were hit by pitches that day. No Indians were hit.

Shannon Stewart also was fined $1,000 for having words with reliever Jason Davis after a play at the plate. Davis drilled Stewart with a pitch earlier. He has since been demoted to the minors.

"That guy got what he deserved," Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson noted.

Asked what he expected in Cleveland, hot-hitting Lew Ford said: "I know what you're saying, but I don't want to fuel anything. I don't know what to expect over there."

Michael Cuddyer shrugged.

"Who knows what's going to happen? I saw Jason Davis was sent down. Whatever happens, happens."

The Twins-Indians rivalry has taken a nasty turn over the past year or so. Sabathia and Torii Hunter have been feuding for some time. Sabathia usually pitches tight to Hunter.

On May 5, benches cleared following the Stewart-Davis confrontation behind the plate. Davis was backing up a throw as Stewart scored. The two brushed past each other and exchanged words.

"We haven't stirred up anything in the past," Gardenhire said. "We're going there to play baseball. But if boxing breaks out, that's OK too."

That doesn't sound like someone who is overly concerned about the prospects of league discipline. However, Gardenhire is right when he points out that the Twins haven't initiated any of the brushback wars. The Indians have taken the initiative there.

Gardenhire said he knows why.

"It got old watching them celebrate (division titles) in the '90s," he said. "I guarantee you it's the same thing on their side now. It's healthy. And you're going to get that when you play someone 19 times."

The problem has been that one or two Twins get hit, then the umpire issues a warning before there is any retaliation. Gardenhire's thinking is: If their guy is throwing at our guys, eject him. Don't issue a warning that ties the hands of my pitchers.

It was suggested to Gardenhire — OK, by me — that Kyle Lohse, tonight's starter, should drill the first Cleveland hitter in the ribs, thereby getting in the first and last lick before the warning is issued.

"I can't," Gardenhire insisted. "Watson said that at the first sign, everyone goes. I'll get a five-game suspension and my pitcher will be gone."

No doubt Cleveland manager Eric Wedge received the same warning.

It should be interesting. The buildup makes it feel like the old North Stars are going to Chicago to play the Blackhawks. With all the bad blood, you know there is going to be trouble.
 
since there is no thread for the cincy series, i'll post my comment here.

how 'bout that 2 run blast from c's in the second game of the series? looks like we may have a new DH/PH in town :chuckles: . i guess the pitchers have to do everything this season. damn, he really got ahold of that one.

danny graves got DFA after his horrendous performance yesterday, which included some naughty hand gestures to the crowd :fu: . i guess he is demanding to be released or traded also. i wouldn't mind picking him up, but pitching is the least of our worries.
 
game 43... (25-17) minnesota twins at (19-23) cleveland indians
kyle lohse (3-2, 5.19) at scott elarton (1-2, 7.05)

final score: indians 2, twins 1
winning pitcher: arthur rhodes (3-1)
losing pitcher: kyle lohse (3-3)
save: bob wickman (13)

elarton pitched a solid 5+ scoreless innings, but ended up with another no decision. wedge pulled him out at the right time. i guess he learned something from jake's last outing.

both bullpens, rated 1st (indians) and 2nd (twins) in the AL, gave up a run a piece. the lawton/rhodes trade is looking like a steal. this guy has really revived himself....and wickman, who would'a thought that he would still be our closer at this point, let alone have 13 saves (just make sure you have a bottle of maalox nearby).

the tribe has now won three in a row, and gained some ground in the central. the offense is still dragging, but it looks like boone may be snapping out of his funk. gerut has been on a tear since he was called up last week, but victor still looks lost at the plate. how much longer will we go with him (i would have never thought i'd be saying that)?

well, it's looks like juan gone could be up as soon as next week. let's hope he gives this offense a much needed boost. it will be interesting to see what they do to make room for him on the roster.
 
Good win last night, doing the little things late in the game.

Watching Grady play is truly a lot of fun, he goes all out on every play, and I thought he beat out that sac bunt last night.

Ludwick has to be the one on the chopping block for Juan Gone, but he has no options left, so I'm not certain that he can be the one... they can't possibly send Grady or Gerut down right now. It will be interesting to watch.
 
westbrook pitches tonight, he's 1-7 with 5.80 era. Westbrook has either been on, or off so far. No in between yet. I expect a solid outing tonight, he knows it's a big game, and he must step up.
 
I'm really getting annoyed with eric wedge, he is not an in game coach at all. We always have trouble scoring runs when westbrook pitches. It's a fact that has gone on all year. Yet, when we actually get an opportunity, 1st and second, nobody out, wedge doesn't make the proper decision, and play small ball, and have belliard bunt them over. could have been 2nd, and 3rd, 1 out, with our hottest hitter in gerut coming to the plate, which he ends up grounding it up the middle, which could of a hit if the 2nd basman was a normal depth, or if the infield was brought in, instead they set up in double play depth, and we're OUT of the inning. Jesus Christ wedge, know the situation for christ sakes, he continues to sit on his hands in all situations, and lets see what happens, and time, and time again, we fail. Learn!
 
Tribe loses 6-3 in 11 innings as a 2 out single cleared the bases just out of the reach of Grady Sizemore.

I don't like Wedge, but we cannot fire him this year. One of the reasons C.C. signed the extension was that he liked that the FO and staff had security. The continuity is important, even if this year brings nothing. Its still a young team and will continue to grow.

I don't know if anybody listens to Kevin Keane on the postgame, but he had an interesting topic last night, talking about sophomore slumps. Which two players are hitting right now? Jody Gerut and Grady Sizemore. This is Sizemore's first year and Gerut struggled last year in his sophomore season. It doesn't explain Blake, Belliard or Boone's struggles, but it was an interesting take.
 
HUGE win last night in extra innings, 3-2. Broussard hits a HR in the 9th off Nathan to tie the game. Then in the 10th Victor walks (Belliard pinch runs), Sizemore bunts him to second and Hafner gets a lazy fly to left to fall and Belliard scores. Good win. CC vs Radke tonight, going for 3 of 4.
 
millwood was placed on the 15 day DL with a groin injury today. brian tallet was called up from AAA. milly's injury doesn't sound too serious, and i'm glad we finally get a chance to see tallet again. the guy has been lights out in spring training, and in AAA this season. of course, i'm not glad to see millwood hurt though. contrary to his record, he was having a pretty solid season. he just suffers from what most of the tribe starters have suffered from all season long, no run support. i wouldn't mind inking this guy to some kind of deal for the next couple of years.

great win last night, but we still only scored 3 runs. the bats need to wake up soon.

i heard traber pitched 7 shutout innings the other night too. that's great news.

as for the batting struggles...boone was out for over a year, so that's his excuse. he has showed signs recently of snapping out of his funk. ronny "the tongue" belliard is hitting around his career average...and blake, yikes! i think he had a fluke/career year last season. he looks horrible at the plate. i'd rather they ditch him than ludwick when juan gone gets the call. the most surprising though is vic. what the heck happen to this guy :confused: ? yeah, he starts out slow every year, but it's almost june, and he still likes completely lost at the plate. i'm starting to get very concerned about him.
 
one last bit of info.....

in 9 starts, tallet is 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA. he's worked 46 1/3 innings, allowing 36 hits, walking 14 and striking out 35.

rumor has it traber will replace him in buffalo.
 
Traber is ready to move up again. He has been filthy at AA.

Having Millwood injured now really isn't that bad. Honestly, if I were a manager, I would have six starters, and every starter would take a trip to the 15-day DL at least once during the season to preserve them for the stretch drive.

Tallet has been amazing at Buffalo (along with Tadano, Cabrera, etc.) and deserves a look.
 
game 46

(26-19) minnesota twins at (21-24) cleveland indians
brad radke (4-4, 3.65) at cc sabathia (3-3, 3.48)

final score: twins 5, indians 4 -- 11 innings

winning pitcher: jesse crain (5-0)

losing pitcher: david riske (1-2)

save: joe nathan (14)



cc had one bad inning, the 4th. he pitched 8 2/3 innings, giving up 4 runs. c's was still hitting 98 on the radar in the 9th.

i should rip on blake more often. the guy went 3-6 with a single, double, and a triple, just missing the cycle by a HR.

jody gerut continues to hit, he had 3 singles. ronnie was 2-5.

three nights in a row we went into extra innings, and we only win one of the games. well, i guess we got the split, but that's really not gonna cut it anymore. we didn't end up gaining any ground. the tribe still sits 11.5 games back. what a hole this team has dug.

this twins/indians matchup has been great the last couple of seasons. very close, intense games.

oh yeah, one more thing....wedge, why the hell did you pinch hit for benny in the ninth? and why didn't boone lay down the bunt in the tenth, with vic on base.
 
I was actually calling for Hernandez or Martinez in for Hafner in the 8th with Blake on 3rd and nobody out. Martinez hit a sac fly off Romero in the first game, and he was sitting on the bench in the 7th. It takes something to pinch hit for your 3rd or 4th hitters, but it would have been the right time.
 

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