The Twins refuse to get fired up

Whether you think Ron Gardenhire is a good manager or not, there is one thing that seems to frustrate everyone. The team never seems to show much fire when out on the field. Sure, there is the hustle and the manager likes to come out and argue every once in a while, but they never come out and seem to play with any emotion. This is something that stat heads and non-stat heads tend to agree on. (Also, and not really related to the point, I saw that while Joe Mauer was slumping early, Gardenhire wanted him to bunt more. It happened so long ago that I don't want to waste a post on it, but ugh.)
I mentioned this earlier, but I had a conversation on the topic with a friend yesterday. After Tsuyoshi Nishioka got his leg blown up by Nick Swisher, Gardenhire insisted that it was a clean play and he had no problem with it. Even if this was the case (and not everyone agrees with whether or not it was a clean slide) how can you not try to draw some inspiration, put some fire in the belly of the team that always seems lackluster, particularly versus this particular opponent. Why not try to at least suggest that the team should stand up for the new guy who is having a tough time fitting in with the new team in a new country?
My friend suggested that they would, and to expect a fastball in the ribs of an unfortunate Yankee the next time we play them. We are actually making a wager on the topic, because I am in full disagreement. When have the Twins EVER stood up for a player? When was the last time a pitcher threw at an opponent to send a message? I mean, there was Mijares last year, but then Delmon Young flipped out at MIJARES and Gardenhire took Young's side. This isn't a team that mixes is up anywhere but on the field.
Just expect the Twins to get pushed around again.

Meanwhile, in Baltimore

J.J. Hardy has three doubles on the season, as well as a couple of RBI. It hasn't been a great start to the season yet, but it's been pretty decent, I suppose. Why do I bring this up? Oh, I don't know...

I bet he's moving a hell of a lot faster than Tsuyoshi Nishioka though.

It would be funny were it not so predictable

There is a joke about the Twins and Ron Gardenhire's roster management that friends of mine make whenever we are talking about Gardy and his assemblage of a lineup card. The joke is that no matter who plays second base, they will bat second in the lineup. last year, when Orlando Hudson was out of the lineup, it didn't matter if it was Nick Punto, Matt Tolbert or someone equally terrible with the bat, they always seemed to find their way to the 2 hole. That takes me to the past two days, wherein Joe Christensen has filed these reports:
"Gardy Says Nishioka will play second base"
Naturally, that was preceded by this:
"Gardenhire envisions Nishioka in no. 2 hole"

Perhaps we should move Mauer to second, so he can bat 2nd. You know, where he belongs.

Spring Training: A Vignette

Alexi Casilla: Yoshi, que se supone que la segunda jugada en la actualidad. Vamos a ser el mayor tándem doble matanza en la historia!

Tsuyoshi Nishioka: 私はスペイン語、背の低い男を理解していない

 Rod Carew: Oh God...

The Twins may be getting a fellow from Japan

Re-purposed from a post at the 'Stache earlier today

I hope everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable Thanksgiving, and have already made all your Black Friday purchases. My Thanksgiving sucked, and I had to work until 2AM this morning, so there really was no way I was going to top that off by waiting outside of Radio Shack. I do know that my team, the Twins have done a little holiday shopping and won the bidding on Tsuyoshi Nishioka. This is exciting. Sure, you could say it’s stability for the infield somewhere down the line (assuming they can work out a contract, of course), but I’m really excited to see how Ron Gardenhire will do with another ethnicity in the clubhouse.
Think about it. Gardenhire has (even in my opinion) developed some pretty good players under his watch. Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer… Jason Kubel is even coming along pretty well. His successes with other ethnicities are somewhat limited, at least in regards to positional players. The only African American who has really left an impact on the Twins that came up with Gardenhire as manager has been Denard Span, who hit in the .260s as a lead off guy this year. Delmon Young came from Tampa, and really only got a shot at playing regularly when Justin Morneau went down for the season. Latin American players are even more hamstrung in the Twins organization.  Quick name the best Latin position prospect the Twins have had in the last 8 years. Waiting. Waiting. Alexi Casilla, maybe? Jose Morales?
As much as I kid Ron Gardenhire, he is essentially a bad strategic manager, but generally a very welcoming and instructive manager in terms of fundamentals. The problem is with the organization, which doesn’t have much in terms of Hispanic coaching, and Hispanic players just struggle to develop. I can’t imagine things will be different for Nishioka. At least he’s 26, and perhaps he already has all the tools. Right? Right?! Anyways, I hope he doesn’t suck.

So enough of that, let's watch a video of this guy, shall we?

I can see Nishioka and Gardenhire hitting it off right away, can't you? Definitely the tough as nails, gritty player the Twins have been so sorely lacking. Here he is, playing a baseball game that his team is up.... 22-0?! I think he may struggle with American pitching...



This is going to be interesting. I hope they sign him, just for the potential comedy.