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Startribune.com sports coordinator Howard Sinker used to cover the Twins and now shares season tickets with friends in Section 219 of Target Field. He blogs about baseball from the perspective of a long-time fan who loves the game, doesn’t always believe the hype and likes hearing what others think.
When things catch up to you
Posted by: Howard Sinker under Twins offense Updated: August 25, 2010 - 11:50 AM
Last year, much love was properly directed toward Michael Cuddyer for the way he filled in at first base -- at the plate and in the field -- when Justin Morneau's back went bad. It was a 21-game stretch at the end of the season, during which Cuddyer batted .325 with a 1.073 on base-plus-slugging percentage. There were also eight home runs and 24 RBI as the Twins rallied from seven games back to overtake Detroit. To compare, in the 21-game stretch before that, his numbers included a .237 average and .758 OPS.
This year, with Morneau gone until who-knows-when because of his concussion and its after-effects, Cuddyer has started the last 42 games at first base.
His performance reinforces that, over time, it gets harder and harder to sustain excellence.
By the numbers, Cuddyer has done just fine in those 42 games -- a .299 average, .829 OPS, four homers and 27 RBI.
Just fine, however, doesn't bring home trophies -- and it pales compared with the MVP-range numbers that Morneau was putting up before he got kneed in the head while sliding into second base on a Cuddyer ground ball back in early July.
And, as the last two nights have shown, Cuddyer can't consistently make his infielders better by making some of the defensive plays that part of what Morneau brought to the park. He couldn't scoop up bouncing throws from J.J. Hardy on Monday and Orlando Hudson on Tuesday.
Perspective here: This isn't meant to thrash Cuddyer. It's simply to point out the package that the Twins are missing with Morneau on the disabled list and without a projection of any sort for his return. Cuddyer has done a good job at the plate -- although his penchant to lunge at pitches and ground into double plays reared again on Tuesday -- and a good job in the field.
To expect him to be Morneau's equal over an extended period is ridiculous.
But the edges are fraying a bit.
Same goes for Jason Kubel in right field and Denard Span in center. Kubel acknowledged that he messed up Tuesday night when he called for and then pulled up on Bengie Molina's fly-ball double, which helped Texas take a 3-2 lead in a game that ended with a one-run loss.
"I guess I just got scared or something. I don't know." Kubel told La Velle after the game.
Yes, Kubel has made some acrobatic plays in right field, but he is hardly the definition of a rangy outfielder -- and his fine-looking plays sometimes look that good simply because he has to work harder to get to the ball. Obviously, that's better than not being able to get to those balls, but it's another sign that the Twins are forcing their offense and their pitching to overcome the challenge of second-rate outfield defense.
And Span's arms-outstretched "what happened" body language as Kubel retrieved the ball looked to be a sign of mental fraying. Bad enough for Kubel mess up the play, almost as bad for Span to call extra attention to it through body language. (Did that remind anyone else of Kyle Lohse in his Minnesota days?)
And one more thing: I love what Carl Pavano has brought to the Twins and I respect the heck out of Drew Butera's defensive skills. But Pavano is 6-5, 3.40 ERA in his 11 starts with Butera and 9-3, 3.69 ERA in his 14 starts with Mauer.
As the games get bigger, is it time to reconsider that automatic Pavano-Butera pairing?
Maybe if Jim Thome had gotten four swings Tuesday night, the offense wouldn't have been quite so futile.
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