| BCWWF |
03-01-2005 12:54 PM |
Quote:
FORT MYERS, FLA. -- It's been argued that video games are distracting, too violent and contributing to the downfall of young society.
But seldom are they considered clairvoyant.
Twins catcher Joe Mauer was on the phone recently with one of his buddies from the Twin Cities. The subject: video games.
"He's got the new baseball game," Mauer said. "and said the game had me batting second in the order."
The first four batters in the Twins order in the game were Shannon Stewart, Mauer, Torii Hunter and Justin Morneau -- which sounded familiar to Mauer.
It happens to be the top part of the batting order Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is considering for his Opening Day lineup.
It's a lineup that could be the best the Twins have fielded in years. It's a lineup in which the speed bumps have been smoothed out, creating a more consistent attack.
http://www.startribune.com/stonline/..._1180222.e.jpg
The Twins scored 780 runs last season, only 10th in the American League and down from the 801 runs they scored in 2003.
Twins players in camp are eager to see what a lineup with several veterans packaged with impressive young hitters such as Mauer and Morneau will do for a full season.
"I think, if we have everyone healthy, we have good potential of having, not a power offense, but a consistent, run-producing offense," Stewart said.
Here's the lineup Gardenhire has in mind: 1. Stewart, 2. Mauer, 3. Hunter, 4. Morneau, 5. Lew Ford, 6. Jacque Jones, 7. Michael Cuddyer, 8. a shortstop, 9. Luis Rivas.
"If we have all these guys in the lineup -- Morneau, Mauer, Hunter, Jones, Cuddyer, Lew Ford and Shannon -- we can have some fun," Gardenhire said.
Two things stand out about this batting order. One, Gardenhire prefers left-right balance. Two, Mauer and Hunter aren't prototypical hitters for the spots they are in.
Many guessed that Mauer would bat third and Morneau fourth, but Gardenhire wants to guard against opposing managers being able to use left-handed specialists late in games.
"The lineup sets up easy like that with some good hitters and some pretty good balance all the way through," Gardenhire said. "Any other way it looks like I'm bunching lefties up. I give the opposing manager an opportunity to bring someone in like [Chicago's] Damaso Marte and eat you up for an inning and a half. Innings are big toward the end. You don't want to give away an inning. And if you put the pressure on the other manager like they do on us to bring in one guy left-right-left out or right-left-right out, it makes a little difference. Make them make moves."
Several Twins believe Mauer, who batted .308 in 35 games last season. already is the team's best hitter, suggesting he should bat third. Gardenhire said he feels Mauer will thrive in situations in which Stewart is being held on at first, giving Mauer a big hole between first and second to hit through.
"Yeah, I've heard about batting second," Mauer said. "It's fine with me. I'd be happy batting eighth or ninth."
Gardenhire is not looking for Mauer to bunt guys over. He wants to hit and run with him and let him blast a few over the fence.
"If you bat guys like Mauer second, catching him five times a week, six times, he's going to get close to 500 at-bats," Gardenhire said. "I think that's what you want to do with Mauer. I've seen him swing."
It would appear to be an even bigger stretch to bat Hunter --who's never batted above .289 or had an on base percentage over .334 -- third.
But Hunter's heart starts beating faster just thinking about batting between Mauer and Morneau all season.
"I'm in between two good lefties," said Hunter, who batted .271 with 23 homers and 81 RBI last season. "I can get on base or get some fastballs with big Morneau behind me."
It was suggested to Morneau, who batted .271 last season with 19 homers and 58 RBI in 74 games, that he spend the season snarling menacingly from the on-deck circle while Hunter bats.
"Maybe I'll just show 'em," he said, jokingly, as he pulled his shirt sleeves up to reveal his biceps.
Hunter said he believes Gardenhire has come up with a lineup with more bite in it.
"I think our lineup will be a different look," Hunter said. "In the Central Division, a lot of teams won't know what to do [with us] for the first half of the season. I think it's going to be fun."
La Velle E. Neal III is at lneal@startribune.com.
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