Molitor is a mediocre manager

[DaveW]

Yet another extra innings loss where Perkins doesn't throw one pitch. Unacceptable. Bullpen usage has been a big fat F from him this year as has lineup construction.

 

Should have never fired Gardy.

[twinsnorth49]

Perk can only save the game Dave, don't you know the rules?

 

It's all about roles, just play your role man.

[beckmt]

You can only use what you have. Twins bullpen is a mess and needs a makeover(quickly). Fien was somewhat unlucky, but he and Boyer are more 7th innings guys than 8th. That is not the manager's fault. Problem is now the problem is known and Twins will have to overpay for the needed help. Bargain Basement Bullpen is not doing the job this year.

[beckmt]

Thompson should not have been left to face Cain in the 10th.  That was the issue as I saw it, but when you have an 8 man bullpen and only 4 of them can be somewhat trusted in close situations we need to bring help now.  Look at what Detroit did today, we should follow them.

[ckrolak]

Gardenhire isn't fit to tie Molitor's shoes.  If Molitor is making any mistakes, he's allowed.  It's his first year.  He will get better.  I would hope that he will make some mid-year adjustments, so we'll see how things go in the second half.  I think Sano will get better and will be a contributor.

[JustinCB]

He did a nice job setting them up to get out of the bottom of the 9th. Thompson should never have been allowed to sniff that situation in the 10th when Perkins was available though. So net loss I guess.

[jimbo92107]

Molitor's managerial talents will improve like magic the moment he's got better players. I guarantee it.

[Shane Wahl]

Michael Tonkin struck out eight in three innings for Rochester tonight. What is that dude's deal?

[blairpaul715]

 

Michael Tonkin struck out eight in three innings for Rochester tonight. What is that dude's deal?

AAAA player?????

 

[h2oface]

 

Should have never fired Gardy.

 

Yikes! It doesn't look like any other team is knocking on Gardenhire's door. Joe Maddon - clubs were pounding. I think that says a lot. Doug Mientkiewicz still gets my vote. I hope Molitor is succesful, but wants to retire after a couple few years. I think youth and savvy is needed with this generation of players. (I understand that Maddon is 61). I look forward to younger managers.

[TheLeviathan]

I'm getting a little exhausted with these threads Dave.

 

The way this team is hitting and pitching out of the pen, these decisions seem like all they could do is delay the inevitable.

[jimmer]

Molitor is an inexperienced manager with a team that played over it's abilities the first two months.  We don't have enough info to rate him 'Mediocre'.          

[HitInAPinch]

I think it's pretty simple why Perkins wasn't put in:  he couldn't get a Save. 

 

ok, ok, just my pet peeve, but it seems like every time Perkins is in a game, it's to pick up another cheap "Save rule #3a" save.  #3c is another one, but Perkins will never pitch 3 innings.....

 

Fan Graphs has a nice little article on Saves and a replacement for it:  Shutdowns.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/library/shutdowns-not-saves-the-logic-and-the-leaders-from-2014/

 

 

[Platoon]

I guess I would have gone righty Cain, and then Duensing to the lefties! But he didn't. Regardless, after Cain made third I walk em full. Force outs save at least a step, and if he walks them in, meh! He really did put Thompson in an untenable situation with Cain. Btw, Cain must have had a hell of a jump. As to the poor scmuck rookie, if the third base coach told him to go, he got hung out to dry. Even with that off line throw he was out by a couple yards.

[Winston Smith]

Gardy has big fork in him we don't want him back!

[twinsnorth49]

We just need a single thread for these titled, " Who's fault is it we lost this time"?

[d-mac]

Yikes! It doesn't look like any other team is knocking on Gardenhire's door. Joe Maddon - clubs were pounding. I think that says a lot. Doug Mientkiewicz still gets my vote. I hope Molitor is succesful, but wants to retire after a couple few years. I think youth and savvy is needed with this generation of players. (I understand that Maddon is 61). I look forward to younger managers.

No qualifier need on Maddon. He is the the definition of savvy.

[DaveW]

 

The way this team is hitting and pitching out of the pen, these decisions seem like all they could do is delay the inevitable.

It still would give you a better chance to win. The margin for error with a team like the twins is so small anyways that they need to be giving themselves any edge to win. Pitch Perkins in the 10th and 11th and roll the dice the rest of the way. Losing all of these extra inning games with Perkins not throwing a pitch is inexcusable. If he is tired the next day oh well, let someone else close out the 2 or 3 run lead.

[Willihammer]

Normally I'd agree except Perk did throw the day before, and two days before that. I'd pin this one on the GM.

[USAFChief]

It still would give you a better chance to win. The margin for error with a team like the twins is so small anyways that they need to be giving themselves any edge to win. Pitch Perkins in the 10th and 11th and roll the dice the rest of the way. Losing all of these extra inning games with Perkins not throwing a pitch is inexcusable. If he is tired the next day oh well, let someone else close out the 2 or 3 run lead.

Pitching 2 innings may or may not have been an option for Perkins, he's accustomed to 1 inning stints and pitched the night before.

 

But if we're assuming Perkins could and would go 2 scoreless, then shouldn't your argument be "Perkins should have pitched the 7th and 8th innings last night."?

 

Because arguing he should have pitched the 10th and 11th is just classic second guessing. "Perkins should have been in pitching at the moment the Twins lost the game. Not before, and not after. It was correct to use lesser relievers up to then, but not specifically then. I'm ok with Boyer, because in retrospect, he didnt give up a run."

[Willihammer]

Honestly, Thompson has 24 ks to 19 balls in 46 innings. All relief. Similar story in the minors. Being left handed should not be such an automatic ticket onto this team. Cut him!!!

[DaveW]

Pitching 2 innings may or may not have been an option for Perkins, he's accustomed to 1 inning stints and pitched the night before.

 

But if we're assuming Perkins could and would go 2 scoreless, then shouldn't your argument be "Perkins should have pitched the 7th and 8th innings last night."?

 

Because arguing he should have pitched the 10th and 11th is just classic second guessing. "Perkins should have been in pitching at the moment the Twins lost the game. Not before, and not after. It was correct to use lesser relievers up to then, but not specifically then. I'm ok with Boyer, because in retrospect, he didnt give up a run."

Yes but I have given up on that fight as managers will never put in their closers in th 7th and 8th typically

 

Once you get to extras there is no excuse not to have Perkins in.

[Kwak]

 

Yet another extra innings loss where Perkins doesn't throw one pitch. Unacceptable. Bullpen usage has been a big fat F from him this year as has lineup construction.

Should have never fired Gardy.

You couldn't be more wrong about firing Gardy.   One of the biggest reasons for the success of the rotation this year (over seasons past) is the elimination of Pitch to Contact and Manage by Pitch Count.  I term the new style Pitch to Defense.  First example:  Gibson's game--the frequent defensive shifts followed by pitching inside to induce batters to hit into a 3-man front, often on the trademark of the bat. 8th inning, Twins up 1-0.  Gardenhire's style was to "replace his starter so "he couldn't lose the game".  If perchance he did leave Gibson in, as soon as the walk (Hosmer ?)--out he goes!  Molitor trusted  Gibson (well, he was pitching a strong game!) to finish-up the 8th.  Gardenhire management--"pound the strike zone, and trust in stuff".  Molitor management--"Pitch to Plan".

 

Second Example:  Milhon'e game.  He was throwing only  abit better than 60% strikes--and that total was enhanced by over-eager batter's "swinging-out-of-zone".  Milhone was not pounding the strike zone, he was nibbling.  KC was hammering him--oh NO!--they were scratching runs. Scoring singles, by singles or outs.  Milhone would have had several "visits" to the mound by Anderson--another Gardenhire favorite tactic.

[ScrapTheNickname]

I love watching Molitor manage. He put five infielders in last night, and wasn't that great?

 

The front office, in tandem with the pitching coach and manager, need to address the bullpen, but that doesn't mean Molitor sucks as a manager!

[jimmer]

 

Yet another extra innings loss where Perkins doesn't throw one pitch. Unacceptable. Bullpen usage has been a big fat F from him this year as has lineup construction.

Should have never fired Gardy.

If you don't like Molitor, there were more options than just keeping Gardy. I'm glad Gardy is gone.  I've wanted him gone for many, many years (well before the consistent losing started).

[ScrapTheNickname]

A note about extra innings game.

 

The home team, on average, wins extra innings game .531 of the time.

 

This is logical, as we know, because the home team literally gets to bat AFTER the visiting team scores or doesn't score, EVERY TIME.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/155

 

(and surely there are other sources for this type of statistic)

[jimmer]

out of curiousity, how often do home teams win the game, period?

[mikecgrimes]

I've never been impressed with Molitor, clearly the defensive shifting has helped a lot with the pitching but given the success of the starting pitching we should be in a much better position.  Molitor is giving up outs on the bases over and over.  First day of spring training it was all about taking the extra base, but he can't give his players anything that gives them an advantage.  This reminds me a lot of when Christian Ponder replaced Donavan McNabb everyone was impressed because his flaws were less annoying.  I'm on record at this point that Paul Molitor is not better then Gardenhire, if he fails to go .500 with this roster he needs to be one and done, no need to waste time with a 60 year old who will never get it.

[mikecgrimes]

 

Yikes! It doesn't look like any other team is knocking on Gardenhire's door. Joe Maddon - clubs were pounding. I think that says a lot. Doug Mientkiewicz still gets my vote. I hope Molitor is succesful, but wants to retire after a couple few years. I think youth and savvy is needed with this generation of players. (I understand that Maddon is 61). I look forward to younger managers.

 

Heard Reusse speculating Mientkiwicz could get the Miami job when it opens up probably in a few weeks.

[USAFChief]

out of curiousity, how often do home teams win the game, period?

Through 2007, it looks like .539.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/352