tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post4913677935228798840..comments2023-12-19T20:25:36.069-06:00Comments on Nick's Twins Blog: Managing To WinNick N.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-72630035415940658062010-09-09T13:12:08.154-05:002010-09-09T13:12:08.154-05:00Yeah, Cuddy as a 50 greatest was pretty bad.
I wi...Yeah, Cuddy as a 50 greatest was pretty bad.<br /><br />I wish Gardy could get more out of Cappy. Kinda scary last night. I hope we're not undone by a closer come playoff time, but it looks more and more likely like we could be...Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10984504525577892812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-63042585252121166202010-09-09T12:30:03.966-05:002010-09-09T12:30:03.966-05:00Cuddy was one of the 50 greatest Twins? Of 2010, ...Cuddy was one of the 50 greatest Twins? Of 2010, sure. All time though? That was a joke, right?<br /><br />It just goes to show how little we Twins fans expect out of our teams and players. Being a nice guy is enough to make you one of the better players in team history. Division titles is enough to make you a great manager. <br /><br />It's no wonder decent teams feast on us in the playoffs, when things like defense, clutch hitting, doing the little things, bullpen management, and so on actually matter.Dr. Truthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-4607275459736050142010-09-09T12:01:53.118-05:002010-09-09T12:01:53.118-05:00Cuddyer has a career WAR of 11 for the twins in 9 ...Cuddyer has a career WAR of 11 for the twins in 9 seasons. And was voted one of the 50 greatest twins by someone. Scott baker has a career WAR of 14 in 5 seasons for the twins. Jacque Jones had a career WAR of 14.5 in 10 seasons. I think cuddyer gets more than enough credit for the things he does. I think he gets way to much run from the fact that he can play multiple positions really poorly. If morneau hadnt gotten hurt cuddyer would be your starting 3b right now and would probably have sub replacement value for the year while still getting praised for being willing to do it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-12354192314590540262010-09-09T00:13:10.460-05:002010-09-09T00:13:10.460-05:00A lot of people do get on Gardy's case a lot, ...A lot of people do get on Gardy's case a lot, and I won't lie I sometimes do too. Especially with how he manages the bullpen some nights. But he deserves a TON of credit for having this team 5 1/2 games ahead of the Chi Sox right now. He's had to coach through injuries too Mourneu, hardy, hudson, punto, slowey, and half the bullpen's been hurt. And even with all of that he manages to keep winning. He's thrown out lineups with guys like Matt Tolbert, Drew Butera, Jason Repko, and pitched a rookie Matt Fox in a critical game against the Rangers and they still won. I don't care what anyone says, Gardy knows how to get the best out of his players.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-31064372941289891622010-09-08T23:17:26.174-05:002010-09-08T23:17:26.174-05:00We could get the same production there out of Jose...<i>We could get the same production there out of Jose Morales with much better fielding results.</i><br /><br />This is a truly ridiculous post. Truly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-49431663856838511012010-09-08T20:39:58.259-05:002010-09-08T20:39:58.259-05:00In regards to Nick's comments above I would po...In regards to Nick's comments above I would point out that even though Gardy has feasted on bad central teams to get to .551 he still gets his ass kicked by the Yankees in both the regular and post season. I wonder what his record would be as manager of the Jays?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02938788014778471934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-5511306516202563562010-09-08T20:08:22.516-05:002010-09-08T20:08:22.516-05:00It would be real interesting to see the Twins host...It would be real interesting to see the Twins host the Rays in Round 1. All the Gardy apologists won't be able to fall back on the usual excuses: it's not the Yankees, it's not on the road, the Twins have a higher payroll than the Rays...I suppose that's part of the purpose of today's post - the Morneau pre-excuse - but still...Ed Bastnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-77556310130045298422010-09-08T19:37:09.666-05:002010-09-08T19:37:09.666-05:00The only problem I have with Gardy is that he uses...The only problem I have with Gardy is that he uses Guerrier too often, tiring him out. Otherwise I think he sets the right tone for the team and manages the team well through all the trials of a 162 game season (ie winning without Morneau). I think this is his year to win in the playoffs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-48220597650530585752010-09-08T18:00:20.594-05:002010-09-08T18:00:20.594-05:00The Twins cannot be ensured a home field spot in t...The Twins cannot be ensured a home field spot in the 1st round if they are the wild card. The 1st paragraph is a little confusing.<br /><br />I'm not a big Gardy guy but his ability to get his team to play hard for him and legitimately compete for the playoffs anually is 2nd to none in the game. I do believe he needs to win in the playoffs before i'd sign him to another contract.<br /><br />Michael Cuddyear is overrated as a 1st baseman offensively and defensively. He seems like a nice guy and all but he rarely comes through in the clutch, is down 0-2 in too many ab's, and in all fairness should have about 100 rbi's right now considering he's more protected than Barrack Hussein Obama. Defensively he's not very good at 1st where saving errors is more telling than not making them. <br /><br />Tom DeweyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-45284777403025615532010-09-08T16:58:57.582-05:002010-09-08T16:58:57.582-05:00"It's not hard to play first base as well..."It's not hard to play first base as well as cuddyer is. i would vote for anyone besides punto, span and tolbert."<br /><br />I don't think your plan works- if you move any of the infielders to first, you've got a hole in the infield that will be filled by Punto/Tolbert/Casilla (and since Punto and Casilla have both been out with injuries, there goes that option). Obviously, Span and Repko aren't going to play first.<br /><br />Stick Delmon Young at first? Kubel? Neither of them have tried the position at all. Thome's been handled with care, which is partly why he's been so effective this season. He's not going to do anything except DH.<br /><br />Cuddy's got experience and the ability to play every single day. His bat breaks up a lineup of lefties. He can play any position you ask him too (if the Twins get in a 20-inning marathon, you bet Cuddy's going to ask to pitch...) To me, that's plenty valuable.Ericanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-21783242740963888352010-09-08T16:38:34.521-05:002010-09-08T16:38:34.521-05:00Nick, as much as I like to nitpick Gardy's in-...Nick, as much as I like to nitpick Gardy's in-game management, it really doesn't have a huge impact on wins and losses. Some of his decisions factor in wins, some factor in losses. But where a manager really shows through is in the overall attitude and demeanor of a team. For example: in '06 he lets the team celebrate with champagne showers and parades in front of the Dome after they won the Division, even though they'd clinched the wild card a week ago. A two-day party, basically. What happens? They get SWEPT by a completely average Oakland team in series in which they have home field advantage.<br /><br />Say what you want about the Yanks being so much better, blah blah blah, but the Twins were in a lot of those games. Should have won a lot of those games. Didn't. <br /><br />24 games is a bigger sample size than most managers ever get. 6-18 in the posteason is unacceptable. He hasn't won a playoff game not pitched by Johan Santana since 2002. That's pathetic. <br /><br />You can't have it both ways and give him credit for the wins and a pass for the losses. In the playoffs, the stakes are higher, the lights are brighter. Teams need to be mentally tough to succeed. Gardy's teams aren't. This style works well in the regular season - he's a player's manager, guys like playing for him, he listens when they want days off, he defends his guys in the media, is patient/loyal with "his guys", etc. It works for that marathon-not-a-sprint mentality of the regular season. But when the playoff sprint begins, his clubs just don't seem to adjust.Ed Bastnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-21254421320644144152010-09-08T16:30:17.342-05:002010-09-08T16:30:17.342-05:00The problem is, Anon (no, I'm not bashing you,...The problem is, Anon (no, I'm not bashing you, this is reality), you lack the talent to play MLB first base every single day.<br />Sure, there are lots of guys who the stat heads say are a better value than Cuddy, some even were on the wavier wire. He got the big contract after 2006 when he got 100 RBIs. Yes, he's overpaid right now, but I'd still take him and so would lots of other teams.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10984504525577892812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-4929959209350664172010-09-08T16:10:37.688-05:002010-09-08T16:10:37.688-05:00Well put, DaveWell put, DaveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-37359333887998325002010-09-08T15:47:42.730-05:002010-09-08T15:47:42.730-05:00I would play multiple positions and take no days o...I would play multiple positions and take no days off for 10 mil. Not that hard to find people willing to do it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-77270611307400339352010-09-08T15:45:47.979-05:002010-09-08T15:45:47.979-05:00I personally believe the manager has very little i...I personally believe the manager has very little impact on the teams W-L as far as his game day management is concerned. Im sure they have some impact with their behind the scenes stuff but thats unquantifiable. I think gardy typically does a bad job with his in game management as far as optimizing the lineup, when guys get days off, the bullpen and all the small ball crap. That being said it probably costs them very few wins from their maximum W-L potential. One thing i have noticed when the twins play tough teams like the yankees, gardy tends to manage more than he does in games against KC. Early game bunts, hit and runs and such. Playing for one run early in ball games while reducing maximum run expectancy in "big games", especially against a potent offense like the yankees, does hurt the twins chances to win. Im sure its a tiny effect in the sample size of gardenhires playoffs games, but i think its probably real.Dave Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-502711165812922082010-09-08T15:28:38.497-05:002010-09-08T15:28:38.497-05:00Do you people really believe Gardenhire manages di...<i>Do you people really believe Gardenhire manages differently in the playoffs than in the regular season? A manager has got to win a lot of big games just to make the playoffs six times, you know.</i><br />Good point, Nick. But, I think of the 2006 opening loss to the A's. Punto jumps up trying to bunt a ball; Zito was wild as heck yet they kept swining in the name of "aggresive team approach"; Castillo gets thrown out in the first inning. Essentially, the "aggressive team approach" let Zito off the hook and rest of the series ended up going horribly wrong for a favored team.<br />Look, I think he's a good manager and has won lots of big games. But sometimes in the post season, the style of game management has to change; not drastically as "you are who you are," but some creativity would be nice. I'm not going to make claims that some have about his post season failures (I'll mostly blame inferior rosters going against superior Yankee ones), but a 6-18 record is pretty darn bad.<br />I'll take Cuddy on my team. Stat stuff aside (no, not dismissing stats here, stat heads), it's not easy to find a guy who is willing to change positions so many times in a season and not take any breaks. He's played in 82 straight and done what his team asked him to do. Big paycheck or not, the value of a guy like that speaks for itself.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10984504525577892812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-59956277741966901592010-09-08T15:11:53.789-05:002010-09-08T15:11:53.789-05:00I'm always amused by the crowd that thinks Gar...I'm always amused by the crowd that thinks Gardenhire is a "good regular season manager, bad postseason manager." As if a guy with a .551 winning percentage and five (maybe six) division titles in nine seasons going 6-18 in a measly 24-game sample demonstrates some innate fear of manage under pressure. <br /><br />Do you people really believe Gardenhire manages differently in the playoffs than in the regular season? A manager has got to win a lot of big games just to make the playoffs six times, you know.Nick N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-87231274401560637692010-09-08T14:55:18.695-05:002010-09-08T14:55:18.695-05:00Yeah Morneau is either hurt or slumping by the end...Yeah Morneau is either hurt or slumping by the end of pretty much every year anyway, this year they might have missed out on a few more weeks of solid production, but basically it's par for the course, by this time each season either he's not playing or he's at or below replacement level offensively. <br /><br />And since morneau's been out Thome's gotten way more at bats than he would have and we can all agree that has worked out, leadin the team in HRs. <br /><br />Anyway with or without Morneau the Twins are the best team in the division on paper, and it's not like the Tigers and White Sox (Ordonez? peavey?) haven't had injuries either. again this is a puff piece to frame this season like a success no matter what happens in the playoffs.here we go againnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-73986545087636240162010-09-08T14:06:40.918-05:002010-09-08T14:06:40.918-05:00What a joke!
Sorry, I love Morneau as much as any ...What a joke!<br />Sorry, I love Morneau as much as any Twins fan, but the Twins going on their run <b>Does Not</b> "almost [defy] belief". We already have precedent from 2009! No one is irreplaceable!<br />Yes, Cuddy has done yeoman work at 1st base (but he's hardly underrated), his production at the plate has left much to be desired for a guy that has been batting in the 5 and sometimes 4-spot (especially at nearly $10 Mil/yr!). He's seemingly made no effort at laying off the low and outside pitches or at least look to go opposite field with them. Leads the league in GIDPs and has failed to dig out many of the infield relays that Morneau was so adept at doing.<br />Joe Mauer obiously deserves some credit for carrying some of the hitting load, but overall he has been a disappointment at the plate by failing to build on his career-year numbers of 2009 and is a legit concern that the Twins overpaid and will be hamstrung in the out years of his hefty contract extension.<br />I just don't get the hatred that the writers have towards Delmon Young. He's 24 and looks to have the potential to end up with a Vlad Guerrero or David Ortiz-type career.<br />Batting 7th or 8th in the order, all he did in July was bat .434/.455/.736/1.191. He had 30 RBI, 6 homers and 12 doubles. Morneau's short stint in July produced .292/.320/.625/.905.<br />Morneau was already fading in June from his hot start in April and May- his numbers were <br />.299/.349/.505/.854 in June, with 16 RBI, 5 homers and 5 doubles. <br />Wondering about Delmon in June? Besides his 24 RBI, 5 homers and 3 doubles his batting line was .320/.333/.470/.807. DY has been a league leader wtih a .367 RISP and a .391 average with bases loaded (Morneau has a .284 RISP and .222 with bases loaded). Yes, I get that he's not the greatest outfielder, he can and will improve, but for badly-needed right-hand pop in a left-hand dominated line-up, Young made major strides this season in taking a leadership role on the club and hopefully establishing himself as a long-term Twin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-47493040319169437302010-09-08T13:59:08.670-05:002010-09-08T13:59:08.670-05:00I don't quite understand the "get rid of ...<i>I don't quite understand the "get rid of Cuddyer" crowd. Without Cuddyer, who's playing first right now?</i><br /><br />it's not hard to play first base as well as cuddyer is. i would vote for anyone besides punto, span and tolbert.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-65329103499361294422010-09-08T13:13:54.498-05:002010-09-08T13:13:54.498-05:00No on is saying cuddyer must go. Hes a solid play...No on is saying cuddyer must go. Hes a solid player and seems like a good teammate. I simply dont think theres anyway hes "undervalued" by twins fans. I think the opposite is true for many.Dave Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-12340404989810639412010-09-08T12:23:10.685-05:002010-09-08T12:23:10.685-05:00Dave, In addition to your negative defensive numbe...Dave, In addition to your negative defensive numbers for Cuddy he also is negative in win probability (WPA) which means that his contributions (lack thereof) at the plate have directly contributed to more losses than wins. I.e. he fails in clutch situations of games we lose more than he comes through with a big hit to help us win. <br /><br />So basically the guys a below avergage fielder and terrible in the clutch and so were paying him $10 mil to hit solo home runs in blowouts, ground into 9th inn. DPs with the tying run on base and play 3 different positions poorly. That's the greatest job in the world, man, where can I sign up?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-7559877308172085152010-09-08T12:03:20.601-05:002010-09-08T12:03:20.601-05:00I don't quite understand the "get rid of ...I don't quite understand the "get rid of Cuddyer" crowd. Without Cuddyer, who's playing first right now? Jose Morales? Some AAA guy? Danny Valencia's worked out great, but I don't think you can push your luck too much relying on rookies. If anything, the last few months have proved how capable Justin Morneau is at first base. <br /><br />Also, the "nontender JJ Hardy" faction must be pretty shy, because I haven't heard much about Hardy recently (I agree that he's done a nice job defensively, and especially in the last few weeks, offensively).Ericanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-65784219400915756422010-09-08T11:48:57.288-05:002010-09-08T11:48:57.288-05:00Michael Cuddyer has a 1b uzr of -4.4 in a partial ...Michael Cuddyer has a 1b uzr of -4.4 in a partial year so far. While thats an improvement over his putrid outfield defense its still bad. I wouldn't call well below average defense at the lowest leverage defensive position "very decent". He has an ops of .763 which is 100 points lower than his output last season, and has an wRC+ of 108 which rates his hitting as just above average for a guy hitting at a premium power position. The team clearly values him as they are paying like hes one of their top 4 players, the media treats him like a star, and most fans i think view him as atleast a very good player, while his numbers suggest that hes at best average, and this season below average. In fact, this season hes produced a WAR of .6 for 10 million dollars, and that makes him one of the worst values on the rosters. I dont think theres anything undervalued about michael cuddyer because i think just about everyone thinks hes a better player than he is. If youre looking for undervalued how about someone like jj hardy, whos produced a war of 1.9 in many fewer games that cuddyer, at a premium defensive position, for roughly half of cuddyers salary, and many fans believe the twins should non tender him after the season.Dave Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-5667700464782529732010-09-08T11:38:34.113-05:002010-09-08T11:38:34.113-05:00Gardy's a good regular season manager, especia...Gardy's a good regular season manager, especially when he can play the "little engine that could" card. He's a good fit for a small market team, like the Twins used to be, whose season goals begin and end with a division title. <br /><br />He is not a good postseason manager. Give him all the "trophies" you want, but if you want to give him credit for steering the ship in the regular season, you've got to give him some of the blame for these postseason shipwrecks.<br /><br />I'll wait to see what happens this postseason before handing out any trophies. I can already hear the excuses, though. "Well, we didn't have Morneau, how could we really be expected to win a playoff series?"Ed Bastnoreply@blogger.com