(BULLETIN: AT 12:42 p.m., Michael Cuddyer drove in a run with a DOUBLE!)

After another wretched performance and with a day game coming up, I've decided to feature some of the comments from Tuesday's Cuddyer post -- and my comments about your comments.

I've always thought that Section 219 comments are a cut above most blogs -- and about four cuts above some of them. For the most part, you all proved me right yet again.

Here goes:

awalter 6710: Going back to 2009, I think the media actually had a significant role in forcing the Twins to make a move at the trade deadline. It was the first time (only time?) I remember most local reporters writing articles indicating that "the time was now" and that it was absolutely necessary for the Twins to make a move - - and they did. I would really like to see more of the same now. This team is awful on most fronts, and it is at least refreshing to read candid posts.

Me: Even if the Twins were at full strength, we'd be talking about moves that still need to be made: A right-handed bat and an ace to bolster postseason hopes. Talking about the postseason is a bit silly right now, but Job 1 on the player acquisition front would be a bullpen makeover. The Twins brought a lot of arms to spring training but, much like the Libyan resistance, they don't have enough good ones.

minnesotacat: I'm just as irritated at Cuddyer as everyone else but I have another question. What is wrong with 95% of our hitters this year? Are we doing something different in spring training in the hitting department? I can't remember a season where we have such a pathetic team batting average. I understand that half of our players are from AA and AAA right now but even with them figured in we should be hitting better than this. That was a good pitching performance last night that got wasted because we couldn't hit the ball.

Me: Two reasons for the pathetic batting average. The unoffensive fill-in players and the lack of spring training at-bats for Morneau, Cuddyer, Young and Mauer due to their injuries. Keep that in mind the next time players talk about spring training being too long. Guys need time to get down their timing and that just didn't happen this spring.

ljkjdk: Conspiracy - Twins piling on as another bad MN team now, during a Vikings stadium push, reducing overall 'sports' enthusiasm in time for stadium deal to crumble, sending Vikings packing. Ok...maybe not, since they generally don't compete head-to-head with fan $$. But fun to throw out there.

Me: Sorry, I prefer to think they really thought taking the trees out of center field would make everything better.

nyy27titles I get a huge kick out of this (Cuddyer)! His strategy to get a fat new contract with the twins seems to be to portray himself as the ultimate twin and do all the media (blogs, interviews and advertisements) work he can while forgetting what his actual job on the field is! Fortunately, for a NY fan that loves the annual first round bye, I have a good feeling Billy will fall for Cuddy's act and resign the guy.

Me: What's the deal? Did you get banned from the New York Post comments section?

bphorizon: This is absurd. Cuddy's numbers are bad yes, but to pin the season on him is ridiculous! AT LEAST HE PLAYS! Right Mauer? Delmon? Morneau's month long flu? Fact is .240+ for Cuddyer is 3rd best in this everyday lineup of slop right now. Who is he supposed to be driving in? Whoever hits the 2-out single we manage every inning? B-c of the injury to Mauer, Young, Thome, and the fact that Justin Morneau is hitting more like Justin Timberlake, you are asking Cuddy to be the savior! He's not that type of player, and never has been. Yes he did a great job in for Morneau a couple times, but he's always benefited from who is around him in a lineup. Right now nobody is protected in this lineup at all. Walk Kubel and get the rest of our lineup out. Cuddy is actually hitting .297 in his last 10 games, which on this offense is MVP-like. Using Span, Kubel, Cuddyer, and Valencia, and we get 1-2 runs a game. Otherwise we have 5 easy outs of late. Morneau/Timberlake included. Yet 2 articles in a row have turned into readers ripping Cuddy. Ummm...yea...that's the problem.

Me: I think Justin Timberlake would have more home runs than Morneau and more RBI than Cuddyer if Gardy put him in the lineup every day.

stick333: Cuddy should be batting 8th in the order. Problem is: there's only three others qualified to bat 1-7.

Me: Ouch. Just ouch.

cjvirnig: If nothing else, Cuddyer's lack of production will make Bill Smith's job easier this winter. Joe Mauer obviously will have to move to right field maybe as early as next season. At this rate, you probably bring Jason Kubel back and let Cuddy walk. If Mauer insists on catching for another year, Kubel can play right. I like the idea of one day having Mauer play right and Kubel be the DH. That way, every third or fourth day Mauer can DH and Kubel can play right. Seems like the most logical course of events.

Me: In terms of 2011, I give credit to Cuddyer's agent for negotiating what turned out to be a fortuitous clause in his contract. Cuddyer's option for 2011 had to be picked up within five days after the 2009 season ended. I wonder if the Twins would have brought him back for $10.5 million based on his 2010 performance. I don't see a scenario in which Cuddyer is back in 2012 unless he takes a massive pay cut and understands that a reduced role could be part of the deal.

ellinal: Blow up the whole team, it's time to begin afresh. Is everyone only just now realizing that Cuddaver's dimples are adorable, but he is pretty much worthless at the plate??

Me: Nothing special here, except to point out that name-calling pretty much gets me to ignore everything else in a comment. The only exception to that rule, of course, is Yankees third baseman Cheater McSmug.

mpcolt: Howard - you earned your keep. You generated comments - good, bad, and ugly (how the Twins have played this season). We all agree that the Twins "team" must improve individually and as a group.

conormacleod: Howard ... This would be more fitting for a Twitter post (Cuddyer stinks, more at 11) rather than a spot on the Star Tribune website. For a person that generally takes the time and effort to post thoughtful information, this was a disappointment. I guess you were in a hurry.

Me: Not even Section 219 can get a 100 percent approval rating. Thanks for your comments ... and for reading the blog.