a few thoughts

[USAFChief]

1.  If Sano is going to play RF, then let him play RF.  No pinch running, no "defensive replacements,"  no taking him out of the game unless it's been decided.  If he's that bad, he can't play RF for the first 8 innings, if he's ok for the first 8 innings because we need his bat, we need his bat at the end of the game too.

 

2.  There's not a lot of options on the bench.  I get that.  Somehow, the Twins were petrified of losing Santana--a guy who put up a .530 OPS last year without a position--and he's on the team, so he's on the team.  But for petesakes...batting second?  4 games into the season?  What's Arcia's role again?

 

3.  I said it last night in the game thread, will say it again...when Trevor May is your best pullpen arm, you don't use him for 2 innings, especially when you're trailing, because there's a very good chance you'll need him again, the next night.  Who here wouldn't have rather seen May come on for the 8th tonight over Jepsen?  Maybe May doesn't hold the lead, but I'd sure rather go at it with him.  The pen is bad enough without misusing what you do have.

 

4.  Santana looked pretty good tonight.  So there's that.

 

//rant

 

 

[alarp33]

Agree with all points. If Arcia isn't going to hit for Santana in the 9th he should not be on the roster (he should've hit, and should be on roster, FYI)

[Pius Jefferson]

I get Nunez scores more easier from 2nd on a hit but with two outs do you pull Mauer after already taking Sano out of the game? 

[alarp33]

I get Nunez scores more easier from 2nd on a hit but with two outs do you pull Mauer after already taking Sano out of the game?

 

I would not have. How many balls does Nunez score on that Mauer doesn't in that situation? 1 of 20?

[USAFChief]

 

On behalf of my client, I agree with you on all counts and commend you for your excellent thoughts on these subjects.

Recommend you secure a big retainer.  Cash.

[jokin]

 

3.  I said it last night in the game thread, will say it again...when Trevor May is your best pullpen arm, you don't use him for 2 innings, especially when you're trailing, because there's a very good chance you'll need him again, the next night.  Who here wouldn't have rather seen May come on for the 8th tonight over Jepsen?  Maybe May doesn't hold the lead, but I'd sure rather go at it with him.  The pen is bad enough without misusing what you do have.

 

 

 

Too soon for a "Kevin Jepsen- Put a Fork in HIm" thread?

[Foghorn Leghorn]

 

Agree with all points. If Arcia isn't going to hit for Santana in the 9th he should not be on the roster (he should've hit, and should be on roster, FYI)

Yep. What is Molitor doing??

What is TR doing? He built a god awful bullpen

I tried to tell everyone in my thread he messed up not going for a pen guy in FA! I was bashed and was told I was trolling...lol

[Primetime82]

After watching that EPIC stealing attempt by Nunez last night, I almost fell off the bed when Molitor pinch ran him again!! Clearly Molitors early partying years and age are catching up with him, lol!

 

Since when is 50 year old Nunez fast? I'd actually bet money Sano and Mauer are damn near faster then him.

[twinsnorth49]

Time fir sum managin Mollie.

 

syrusly.

[Rosterman]

Jepsen IS the 8th inning guy, with Abad, for now. May is a long guy.

 

The games have still been close (except for all the danged strikeouts). But, yes, where is Arcia.  But, hey, if we do let him go, he goes elsewhere. That's the long (and short) of it.

[USAFChief]

 

Jepsen IS the 8th inning guy, with Abad, for now. May is a long guy.

 

 

I can't fully express how much I hope that's not the case.

[jimmer]

Ok, so when people were defending May going to the bullpen, the main defense is how he would be used as a guy a 7th or 8th inning guy in high leverage situations.  Now he's the long guy (like TR alluded to when the decision was made).  Best use of May?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I get Nunez scores more easier from 2nd on a hit but with two outs do you pull Mauer after already taking Sano out of the game?

 

That was the real stunner to me. Why pull Sano and then Mauer too? In a one run game?

 

List of guys who have been pulled for pinch runners in first four games:

 

Sano

Mauer

Dozier

 

Supposedly all these guys are either fast, smart base runners, or both. Mauer and Dozier are All Stars. Sano will be. It makes no sense. Literally makes no sense. The extra split second a pinch runner *might* get to home plate *if* there's a close play isn't worth the cost of losing those players when their spots come up after another couple innings. Not in a regular season game, anyway. JMO. It's just not worth pulling those guys from a close game in April.

[Mike Sixel]

Awful use of the bullpen so far

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Too soon for a "Kevin Jepsen- Put a Fork in HIm" thread?

somebody get on it

 

(and by "somebody"........)

[Squirrel]

 

1.  If Sano is going to play RF, then let him play RF.  No pinch running, no "defensive replacements,"  no taking him out of the game unless it's been decided.  If he's that bad, he can't play RF for the first 8 innings, if he's ok for the first 8 innings because we need his bat, we need his bat at the end of the game too.

 

2.  There's not a lot of options on the bench.  I get that.  Somehow, the Twins were petrified of losing Santana--a guy who put up a .530 OPS last year without a position--and he's on the team, so he's on the team.  But for petesakes...batting second?  4 games into the season?  What's Arcia's role again?

 

3.  I said it last night in the game thread, will say it again...when Trevor May is your best pullpen arm, you don't use him for 2 innings, especially when you're trailing, because there's a very good chance you'll need him again, the next night.  Who here wouldn't have rather seen May come on for the 8th tonight over Jepsen?  Maybe May doesn't hold the lead, but I'd sure rather go at it with him.  The pen is bad enough without misusing what you do have.

 

4.  Santana looked pretty good tonight.  So there's that.

 

//rant

I wouldn't call this ranting. I'd call this constructive point-making.

[jokin]

 

Ok, so when people were defending May going to the bullpen, the main defense is how he would be used as a guy a 7th or 8th inning guy in high leverage situations.  Now he's the long guy (like TR alluded to when the decision was made).  Best use of May?

 

So what you're saying is he's still kind-of in the same limbo as when he was first "demoted" back in early July. It seems like they're just waiting for the justification for moving Milone or Nolasco off of the roster to re-insert either he and/or Duffey back in the rotation.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Well said, Chief. The problem isn't pulling Sano for defense in the 8th, though. The problem is having Sano playing RF. It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. If he stays in and gives up a double, everyone loses their mind. If he's pulled and the game is lost with the tying run in second and Sano's spot in the lineup at bat...that's a lousy outcome too.

 

The problem is Trevor Plouffe is too good a guy and they couldn't trade him. And they stumbled into signing Park without devising a good strategy.

 

It seems to me that the strategy they decided on was the worst option. And ironically, the riskiest option, given how cautious Terry Ryan typically is.

[TheLeviathan]

Seriously, what the hell does Arcia have to do to get in a game?

[Platoon]

I get Nunez scores more easier from 2nd on a hit but with two outs do you pull Mauer after already taking Sano out of the game?

 

Yes, because if the run doesn't score, and their OF is pretty good, the game is over. Always live to play another day.

[Platoon]

Ok, so when people were defending May going to the bullpen, the main defense is how he would be used as a guy a 7th or 8th inning guy in high leverage situations. Now he's the long guy (like TR alluded to when the decision was made). Best use of May?

Are you seriously suggesting that what Terry says, is not the same as what Ryan does?

[Platoon]

somebody get on it

(and by "somebody"........)

Calling Dave, calling Dave, you out there Dave?.............

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Twins scored a season-high in runs last night:

 

Three.

 

The biggest problem ain't the bullpen, folks.

[TheLeviathan]

The Twins scored a season-high in runs last night:

Three.

The biggest problem ain't the bullpen, folks.

It's not illegal for the bullpen to help out. And we had a lead when we handed it over. Biggest? No, but still an issue.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's not illegal for the bullpen to help out. And we had a lead when we handed it over. Biggest? No, but still an issue.

Sure, it has been an issue that May and Jepsen, the Twins' two best bullpen arms, have started badly and handed away games.

 

I don't expect that to continue so I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be worked up about.

 

Except for Casey Fien. I'm worked up that he's even on the roster.

[Platoon]

The Arcia thing is a little strange. A LH bat, who has to be there as a PH, has not hit in 4 close losses. It's fine if your organizational theory excludes PH'ers. But then don't carry one on your roster. I don't know if they are treading water waiting for a trade opportunity, but he isn't going to play here, barring an injury.

[Brock Beauchamp]

To me, the biggest mistakes of last night were Rosario trying to go big with that catch, allowing the go-ahead run to stop at third, and the absolutely horrific, terrible Santana plate appearance.

 

I had to turn off the TV after the Santana plate appearance. Davis was struggling with control and Santana handed away that AB for no good reason.

 

Also, Oswaldo Arcia.

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Arcia thing is a little strange. A LH bat, who has to be there as a PH, has not hit in 4 close losses. It's fine if your organizational theory excludes PH'ers. But then don't carry one on your roster. I don't know if they are treading water waiting for a trade opportunity, but he isn't going to play here, barring an injury.

Well, it makes sense he didn't appear in Baltimore, as their closer is left handed.

 

But last night? Eh... Maybe not so much.

[ExpectMorePayLess]

 

I get Nunez scores more easier from 2nd on a hit but with two outs do you pull Mauer after already taking Sano out of the game? 

I think players are more likely to pull hamstrings later in games on cold days.  Standing out there for hours tends to tighten those muscles up by games end.  A fresh set of legs helps with possibly scoring and avoiding injury at that point in the game.  I think that is a long term substitution as much as it is a short term situation.  And nobody knows his players better than the manager.  Way way to early in the season to start second guessing Mollies moves.

[OrangeKicks]

I'm getting bad "Gardy" vibes from this team right now. Immensely skilled players (Sanó and Rosario) are losing playing time due to a small sampling of at bats, while "scrappy" guys like Danny are being given additional playing time with an even smaller sampling of at bats.