With Friday evening's 6-4 win over the Chicago White Sox, the Twins are still a mediocre 3-4 on this final homestand prior to the All Star Break. I realize that a rough patch of games can't be attributed to one player. But veteran outfielder Michael Cuddyer has stood out these past seven games and not in a good way. His lackluster .241 average tells only part of the story.
Last Friday vs. Tigers: With the score tied 7-7 in the bottom of the 11th inning, Cuddyer had two strikes on him with the bases loaded and two outs. He ended up striking out on a pitch in the left handed hitter's batters box. Twins would lose 11-9 in sixteen innings.
Wednesday vs. Yankees: Trailing 4-2 with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth inning, Cuddyer struck out on a pitch almost a foot in front of home plate. Twins lose, 4-3.
Friday vs. White Sox: With a 4-0 first inning lead and no outs, Jason Kubel was at third base and Cuddy at first. With a golden opportunity to knock out Sox starting pitcher John Danks, Cuddyer is inexplicably picked off first base, stunting the Twins' opening inning momentum. However, Cuddyer would redeem himself with a great leaping catch against the right field wall with runners at second at third. Even though the Sox tied the game on that fly ball, the go ahead run would be stranded at third base.
Let's hope that catch allows Cuddy's play to take a turn for the good in what has thus far been a moribund homestand.
------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment