Game one (over) reactions.

[DaveW]

 

Agreed. It's one thing if it's June and he's 2 for his last 50. But he's usually better early, and all we needed was a sac fly, which we got.

It was a weird SF though, one could make the argument that with Suzuki up and Buxton on deck that the Orioles would have been much better off not catching that foul ball.

 

Suzuki only had 4 SF all of last season, while that doesn't tell the "whole" story, I do think that you have better options then Suzuki in that case. Yes, Suzuki doesn't strike out a lot, but a high number of his "outs" don't end up with a run being scored their.

 

Seems like a perfect chance for Santana or Arcia to "prove" themselves to be honest. Two guys that may be a part of the future of this team, rather than Suzuki who is probably (hopefully) gone after this season.

[DocBauer]

Sorta.

 

Yes, I know it's one game but there are a few thoughts I have and I'm guessing most other people share:

 

 

-Fien, 3.87 xFIP as a RP, that is pretty poor. His pitches looked terrible today and his k rate has taken a nose dive the last two seasons, if he struggles over the first couple weeks I hope the Twins don't hesitate moving on from him.

Unto itself, I never had a problem with re-signing Fien. I don't think it was necessary, and I still believe the money should have been applied elsewhere. (More on that to come) We all know the numbers and success..or lack thereof..of a RP can be volatile. Fien has been very solid for the Twins, though I have always liked him better in the middle innings. In the absurd realm of sports contracts, Fien was re-signed as a bounce back candidate for not much money. And it won't hurt the Twins to part with him should performances like this continue.

 

I think it would be fair to say a month from now things could change as the Twins have a plethora of talented RP at Rochester and Chattanooga, LH and RH to bring up.

[howeda7]

 

It was a weird SF though, one could make the argument that with Suzuki up and Buxton on deck that the Orioles would have been much better off not catching that foul ball.

 

Suzuki only had 4 SF all of last season, while that doesn't tell the "whole" story, I do think that you have better options then Suzuki in that case. Yes, Suzuki doesn't strike out a lot, but a high number of his "outs" don't end up with a run being scored their.

 

Seems like a perfect chance for Santana or Arcia to "prove" themselves to be honest. Two guys that may be a part of the future of this team, rather than Suzuki who is probably (hopefully) gone after this season.

You're over-thinking it. I don't care how weird it was, it got the job done. It was the top of the 7th, not the bottom of the 9th.

[DocBauer]

 

2.Yeah, May is the real deal. I still would like to see him get a real shot at the rotation to see if he can be the "real deal" in the rotation as a solid #2/#3 type. If he fails, then put him back in the pen where you know he is a stud. Part of me worries that he would be our best SP on the team currently and we aren't using him to his full potential

This still rubs me the wrong way! I think May could be excellent in the pen. He could be a top set up man, maybe even a closer. Buy why are we trying to find out NOW?

 

We know the Twins actually have some rotation depth for once. And we've already been over that topic again and again. And the mantra of "these things tend to work themselves out" is a very true statement. And we know why May moved to the pen last year, because we needed him there then. But we wouldn't have if the Twins had made a serious move to upgrade beyond Jepsen. Same if they had made a serious move this past off season. Duffey is working a third pitch, and seemed to lose control or confidence this spring, at least to some degree. He'll probably be fine. Berrios is still very young, missed some spots this spring, but he'll be fine too.

 

But how much better would we all feel about the rotation, short term as well as long term, with May...pitching well and getting better by the start in 2015...if he were in the rotation now instead of Nolasco? I am not blasting Ryan or the staff on this, but I think it's still a shkrt-sighted mistake.

[DaveW]

 

Fien was re-signed as a bounce back candidate
 

This is my main issue though.

 

Fiens xFIP's as a Twin:

4.18

2.71

3.87

4.27

 

Fiens k/9 as a Twin

8.2

10.6

7.3

5.2

 

He is also 32 years old.

I don't really see how he is a bounce back candidate, his k/9 has taken a nose dive and his xFIP overall hovers around 4, which is "Ok" for a 4th/5th starter, but quite poor for a bullpen guy, especially one you are giving "big" innings too.

 

In 2013 he did have a real nice ERA 2.03, but that was because of an insane 84% strand rate, basically he was super lucky and got bailed out a ton by teammates (sort of like how Abad bailed him out today).

 

Even then, signing him isn't the worst thing in the world for 2016, however signing him to be one of your 3 "top" options for "big" 6th/7th/8th innings is a huge mistake.

 

[DaveW]

 

You're over-thinking it. I don't care how weird it was, it got the job done. It was the top of the 7th, not the bottom of the 9th.

It got the job half done. Down One Run late: Runners on 3rd and 2nd with one out?  Getting the job done is getting in both runs by the end of the inning. Getting one run in is a "half win" since you are then just tied.

 

Get both runs in and suddenly that game likely ends up a completely different way.

 

Of course that is all 20/20 hindsight, but again today and moving forward you need to go with a better option then Suzuki. Against a RHP Arcia gives you a better chance to not only tie it up, but take the lead by 1 or two runs in that situation by a non significant margin.

[jimmer]

 

It got the job half done. Down One Run late: Runners on 3rd and 2nd with one out?  Getting the job done is getting in both runs by the end of the inning. Getting one run in is a "half win" since you are then just tied.

 

Get both runs in and suddenly that game likely ends up a completely different way.

 

Of course that is all 20/20 hindsight, but again today and moving forward you need to go with a better option then Suzuki. Against a RHP Arcia gives you a better chance to not only tie it up, but take the lead by 1 or two runs in that situation by a non significant margin.

we could have used that great hitting catcher we signed as a PH for Suzuki there....

[DaveW]

 

 

This still rubs me the wrong way! I think May could be excellent in the pen. He could be a top set up man, maybe even a closer. Buy why are we trying to find out NOW?

We know the Twins actually have some rotation depth for once. And we've already been over that topic again and again. And the mantra of "these things tend to work themselves out" is a very true statement. And we know why May moved to the pen last year, because we needed him there then. But we wouldn't have if the Twins had made a serious move to upgrade beyond Jepsen. Same if they had made a serious move this past off season. Duffey is working a third pitch, and seemed to lose control or confidence this spring, at least to some degree. He'll probably be fine. Berrios is still very young, missed some spots this spring, but he'll be fine too.

But how much better would we all feel about the rotation, short term as well as long term, with May...pitching well and getting better by the start in 2015...if he were in the rotation now instead of Nolasco? I am not blasting Ryan or the staff on this, but I think it's still a shkrt-sighted mistake.

Agreed, and while the rotation has "depth" most of it as it stands now at the major league level is mid rotation or worse.

 

Santana is a solid #3, Gibson looks like a solid #3, Hughes- Who knows, he is anything between a 3 and a 5 at this stage, Milone- Solid #5. Nolasco....ugh, don't get me started.

 

May at least IMO and several others has the upside to be a "solid three" or even better! #2 upside, with a solid #3 (That doesn't cost Hughes/Santana money) as his midpoint.

[DaveW]

 

 

we could have used that great hitting catcher we signed as a PH for Suzuki there....

Yeah, he is another option, or Santana or even...gulp...Nunez! Suzuki when it's all said and done will likely be the Twins worst hitter on the 25 man roster.

[DocBauer]

 

6. Yeah, Plouffe is a perfectly solid player who has a nice long career ahead of him in this league. As a solid average to above average third baseman depending on the season.

The question becomes though: should he be blocking Sano at 3rd base?

This is still a tough question to answer. For the NOW, what we have to ask ourselves and wait to see is how much better we are with Park? We obviously don't know the answer yet. It's very difficult to say "don't go get a guy who could make a difference because you have to juggle the lineup some."

 

But I believe Rosario is a very talented young man with a bright future, though there may be some speed bumps here and there. Ditto for the even more talented Buxton, who will be OK eventually, if not soon. But I also believe Kepler is the real deal. And sooner or later, push is going to meet shove and a decision or two is going to have to be made. If Mauer doesn't continue down the path of the past few seasons, if Park doesn't flame out, then where do you put and play everyone?

 

Everything I've read, and what little I've seen, Sano can play 3B. At least well enough to be OK, with the potential to be better than just OK. At least for a few years. So do we move Plouffe next off season? The team might be better this year with Sano in RF, but what comes next? And when does "next" become a forced reality?

[Halsey Hall]

It's a good thing there was a rain delay or we might have struck out 20 times!

 

Letting Suzuki hit was the right move, as was Jepsen in the 9th. I didn't want to see Perkins in there, and like I've stated earlier this spring, May could end up being our closer. 

[jimbo92107]

 

It's a good thing there was a rain delay or we might have struck out 20 times!

 

Letting Suzuki hit was the right move, as was Jepsen in the 9th. I didn't want to see Perkins in there, and like I've stated earlier this spring, May could end up being our closer. 

True, May developed closer stuff last year, when we started seeing him hit the four corners with mid-90's fastballs, like Joe Nathan used to do. Plus May has a hard slider that shows middle, then dumps out of the zone. That's all a closer needs. 

[jokin]

 

Suzuki is one of the worst hitters in the game. There is no excuse for not pinch hitting. He is terrible. Why have arcia on the roster?

 

Gotta think Arcia as a no-brainer in that late game decisiion. And Santana was barreling up on the ball like a madman in ST.... why not PHing for Buxton (who looks like a month or so in Rochester would do him good)?

[jokin]

 

It's a good thing there was a rain delay or we might have struck out 20 times!

 

Letting Suzuki hit was the right move, as was Jepsen in the 9th. I didn't want to see Perkins in there, and like I've stated earlier this spring, May could end up being our closer. 

 

Agree 100% with point 1.

 

But totally disagree with points 2 and 3. Two better hitting options sitting on the bench with the game on the line- poorly thought out. Jepsen got by on a lot of luck last season with balls hit right at the defense, he threw two fat ones today and paid the price- velo down a tick.

 

Agree on point 4, Perk's closing days seem to be numbered.

 

Point 5? Of the guys currently rostered, the Twins will be very stubborn before they let May leap-frog the "proven vets", but it seems likely that he will end up being the best (and most obvious) option to close.

[jokin]

 

It's baseball. 

 

The Twins had first and third in the ninth and two outs and so did the Orioles.  They got a hit.  And we didn't.

 

1) Nothing in that other than the random sifting through of odds.

 

 

 

2) We'll figure out the bullpen.  Over time.

 

1) How about taking active, not random, steps in improving the odds?

 

2) That's the problem... "over time"...  ie, by the time they realize they were two arms short to start out the season, they'll already have lost maybe a half dozen winnable games directly because of an inferior pen- (and it's likely going to take 88-90 wins this year to make the playoffs).

 

 

[jokin]

 

Yeah, Abad (more like APerfectlyAccetable so far amirite?) bailed out Fien that inning for sure. Those were some ugly/easy to hit pitches. IMO Duffey can't come up soon enough, or Pressly can't be "promoted" to the more crunch time spots soon enough.

 

I just can't trust Fien in a close game at this stage.

 

I would be stunned if Fien is still on this roster after May 31- it appears that whatever he enamored the Twins with is all used up.

[jokin]

 

we could have used that great hitting catcher we signed as a PH for Suzuki there....

 

Ouch

[jokin]

 

Yeah, he is another option, or Santana or even...gulp...Nunez! Suzuki when it's all said and done will likely be the Twins worst hitter on the 25 man roster.

 

Better than Murphy

[nytwinsfan]

 

One other thought: DickBert were talking about how Pressly came up as a SP prospect for the Red Sox, now I am not saying he should be a SP, but wouldn't in be wise for the Twins in their current state to stretch him out a bit?

 

There is no reason why he shouldn't be a guy that they can't turn to for 2-3 innings when needed.

 

Pressly looked really good. His pitches had some good movement and he really hit his spots. Hope that wasn't just a good night.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Letting Suzuki hit was the right move, as was Jepsen in the 9th. I didn't want to see Perkins in there, and like I've stated earlier this spring, May could end up being our closer.

Hopefully May doesn't become the closer, or he may not have appeared in a game like yesterday's, and we may not have even reached the 9th tied.

[Mike Sixel]

Why was letting one of the worst hitters in the game hit the right move? 

[lukeduke1980]

 

Not sure I can agree with Rosario looking good at the plate.  Guy still swings at everything.  No plate discipline.

Like the one he struck out on over his head...

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The Twins have another minor dilemma on their hands by the way Danny Santana finished spring training. Hitting everything in sight. I'd like to see Santana get into the lineup somehow to see if they can capitalize on that late spring training performance and get him hitting again, but I don't want to see Escobar removed from the lineup either. It would also be tough to take Buxton out of center, example being of what an easy catch Buxton made of that deep Chris Davis ball in the 8th.

[HitInAPinch]

IMHO:  A lot of good things in this game. 

 

Sano looked good in right.  Not a finished product [needs to speed up his throws] and that double over his head was a play many MLB rightfielders would have played the same way.

Pressly, Abad and May in the bullpen.

Mauer and Escobar hitting.

 

My only real criticism:  with such a crappy start to the game, why not rotate players in like Kelly used to do early in the year? 

Get D. Santana in there and see if he can extend his SP hitting. 

Get Arcia in there to see if he'll start hitting.

Heck, I'd even run Nunez out there.

 

161 to go  

[Halsey Hall]

 

Agree 100% with point 1.

 

But totally disagree with points 2 and 3. Two better hitting options sitting on the bench with the game on the line- poorly thought out. Jepsen got by on a lot of luck last season with balls hit right at the defense, he threw two fat ones today and paid the price- velo down a tick.

 

Agree on point 4, Perk's closing days seem to be numbered.

 

Point 5? Of the guys currently rostered, the Twins will be very stubborn before they let May leap-frog the "proven vets", but it seems likely that he will end up being the best (and most obvious) option to close.

After thinking about it, you're probably right with Suzuki. Santana could have hit for Suzuki or even Buxton with the hot bat he's had lately, and stepped right into centerfield. My gut was telling me no Perkins. Had it gone extra's, it would have been very interesting with the pitchers. There's no ties in regular season.

[Vanimal46]

Lots of good points in this thread. The biggest blunder IMO was not pinch-hitting for Suzuki, especially in the 9th inning. You can say the 7th inning too, even though in hindsight he got the sac fly... I believe in the 9th Britton was pitching, who's LH. I would have thought Santana or Nunez was ready to step up to the plate and switch in Murphy for the defensive replacement. 

[jimmer]

Sano needs to work on his throws back to the infield. Other than the one he aired out and missed his target, he seemed tentative. His routes of course need to get better.overall, he looked shaky to me.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Given the oddities of last night's game and the fact it was Opening Day, I simply can't get too worked up about not pinch-hitting for Suzuki.

 

If this continues to be a trend as the season progresses, then I'll get a bit more worked up about it.

[Mike Sixel]

Isn't this the over reaction thread?

[DaveW]

 

Given the oddities of last night's game and the fact it was Opening Day, I simply can't get too worked up about not pinch-hitting for Suzuki.

 

If this continues to be a trend as the season progresses, then I'll get a bit more worked up about it.

What does opening day have to do with anything? Does Opening Day count less? Are teams not supposed to take out their "opening day starters" at any point? It was a close game. You have to manage game one just like you would manage game 100.