Article: Twins vs. Orioles, 07-19-2012, 12:10pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

Was that a legit hit off a lefty for Morneau or a little flair into right?

Totally legit. Not a screamer but a solid liner to the RF.

[snepp]

I need Plouffesie to come through here in order to reset my aggravation level.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I need Plouffesie to come through here in order to reset my aggravation level.

Drink!

[Guest USAFChief]

Why can't Burton pitch four outs again? It's not as if he's asked to do it a lot.

 

And I didn't say to lead off the eighth with your best reliever. That makes even less sense than leading off the ninth with your best reliever.

 

But in a one run game with two guys on base, why isn't the best reliever out there? It's the "swing moment" of the game and there are only four outs left to get.

They have said all year they are reluctant to use Burton for more than an inning. They spent half a year trying not to even use him on back to back days.

 

The problem isn't bullpen management. The problem is the relievers not getting the job done.

[Mike Sixel]

Your best reliever should only pitch the ninth, about 40-45 innings per year. And, you should pay him millions mire than the relievers that pitch more innings, and about half of your hitters....../s

[Brock Beauchamp]

They have said all year they are reluctant to use Burton for more than an inning. They spent half a year trying not to even use him on back to back days.

 

The problem isn't bullpen management. The problem is the relievers not getting the job done.

I agree that the relievers, particularly Burnett, didn't get it done. I had zero problems opening the eighth with Burnett and he failed to finish the job.

 

The entirety of my problem comes from there being a runners on base situation and making the call to Swarzak, who is not one of your best relievers. By holding on so dearly to the save statistic, Gardenhire has taken his best pitchers out of the game and now the team will probably lose the game.

 

Now, instead of managing a bullpen based on need & situation in favor of a statistic, the Orioles are the ones who will be getting that statistic.

[greengoblinrulz]

Burton has pitched 5 4out ballgames this year, but this one was different because Gardy refuses to use a closer for more than an inning.

He tried it with Capps last year & it didnt work & will never attempt it again.

This is the 4th time in the last 13gms that Gardy has overworked Perkins/Burton in games they were behind & were not available for games with the lead & Burnett blew those games....Alex should NEVER pitch in an important gm/inning as he's nothing more than a mop up type guy.

[Guest USAFChief]

I agree that the relievers, particularly Burnett, didn't get it done. I had zero problems opening the eighth with Burnett and he failed to finish the job.

 

The entirety of my problem comes from there being a runners on base situation and making the call to Swarzak, who is not one of your best relievers. By holding on so dearly to the save statistic, Gardenhire has taken his best pitchers out of the game and now the team will probably lose the game.

 

Now, instead of managing a bullpen based on need & situation in favor of a statistic, the Orioles are the ones who will be getting that statistic.

Fair enough.

 

Can I also sneak in...Swarzak didn't exactly give up a rocket and spansie probably should have caught that ball?

[CDog]

ESPN Play-by-Play stating that Anthony Swarzak is pitching for Balitmore to start bottom of the 9th. Weirdest trade ever!!!

[Brock Beauchamp]

Fair enough.

 

Can I also sneak in...Swarzak didn't exactly give up a rocket and spansie probably should have caught that ball?

Span absolutely should have caught that ball. I don't know why he pulled up in that situation. That's a flat-out "all bets are off" situation where you dive for it.

[DaveW]

So basically Burton and Perkins were unavailable? I'm not sure what else they were supposed to do then, Swarzak has been pretty decent in the pen and his 9th inning just showed that as well.

 

I'm personally more upset that Span didn't catch that ball in CF, he took an absolutely awful route, if the Twins lose this game this will be twice in the past week or so that Span's defense basically lost the game for the Twins.

[DaveW]

Span absolutely should have caught that ball. I don't know why he pulled up in that situation. That's a flat-out "all bets are off" situation where you dive for it.

His route was awful, any CF in MLB and 95% in AAA should have made that catch.

[Brock Beauchamp]

So basically Burton and Perkins were unavailable? I'm not sure what else they were supposed to do then, Swarzak has been pretty decent in the pen and his 9th inning just showed that as well.

There's no reason for Burton to be unavailable. He didn't pitch yesterday.

[greengoblinrulz]

There's no reason for Burton to be unavailable. He didn't pitch yesterday.

wasnt unavailable at all......just ONLY available for a 9th inning save. Anything else, he's cant pitch.

Pure Gardy, they lose it in the 8th cause of it.

[CDog]

The entirety of my problem comes from there being a runners on base situation and making the call to Swarzak, who is not one of your best relievers. By holding on so dearly to the save statistic, Gardenhire has taken his best pitchers out of the game and now the team will probably lose the game.

Not that it makes it right or wrong...but it's not like Gardenhire is the only one or even in the minority there. It's very much "the way of things" at this time. I would imagine it will change in about...five years. Maybe ten. (This post won't be saved anywhere to hold me accountable to that prediction, will it?)

[Boom Boom]

Well, Perkins and Burton got a day off. That's kind of like a win.

[Guest USAFChief]

Tough loss. Second game in a row where a "quality start" gets wasted.

 

If I have any problem with pen management, I'd ask why Perkins pitched the ninth last down down by one. But even that can be explained, sort of.

[mnfireman]

Once again the Twins grasp defeat from the clutches of certain victory. Getting pretty hard to watch this stuff, could have been a 4 game sweep to salvage the homestand, instead 2-5.

[Highabove]

Burton has been plagued by injury's the last two years.

 

Since April, they have stated that Burton would not pitch back to back days.

[Top Gun]

Poor managrment by the manager! It's all Gardy fault, I think he doesn't care anymore, and it's getaway day.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Burton has been plagued by injury's the last two years.

 

Since April, they have stated that Burton would not pitch back to back days.

Burton hasn't pitched since the 17th.