Molitor, does he actually "get it"?

[DaveW]

This game was as poorly managed as I have ever seen, guy hasn't improved at all. Baring a playoff berth he better be gone at seasons end.

[drjim]

Posts like this make me miss BYTO.

 

He managed fine.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

He pushed all the wrong buttons today.

 

Also, too much pinch-hitting for the DH lately, and asking the clean up hitters to sacrifice bunt.

[yarnivek1972]

This loss is on Kintzler, period.

[drjim]

He pushed all the wrong buttons today.

 

Also, too much pinch-hitting for the DH lately, and asking the clean up hitters to sacrifice bunt.

He did neither of those things today. Does that mean he pushed the buttons slightly better?

[DaveW]

Posts like this make me miss BYTO.

 

He managed fine.

Why was the best player not in the lineup for a second straight day?

[drjim]

This loss is on Kintzler, period.

And the multiple hitters who couldn't get a runner home from third with less than two outs (or a two out single). Molitor should have managed them better.

[drjim]

Why was the best player not in the lineup for a second straight day?

Sounds like a mental break. I approve if it's well thought out.

 

Is that really all you got for what you originally posted here?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

He did neither of those things today. Does that mean he pushed the buttons slightly better?

He did neither of those things today. Does that mean he pushed the buttons slightly better?

Didn't see the fun part of the game, but in one inning later he took the bat out of both Polanco and Mauer's hands by sac bunting Polanco. Maybe Molitor had top secret info in that situation that he will clue us in on.

 

I agree the players need to execute (Vargas? Hello?), and the bullpen has been doing a great to job (Kintzler today excluded)

[Willihammer]

This was a team effort but Molitor deserves some blame. In order of importance

 

1. Yet another poor effort from Gibson who has proven time and again that he isn't good enough to be a starter on a winning ballclub.

 

2. Kennys Vargas was totally overmatched by Odorizzi's curveball. I think I counted six whiffs on that pitch alone tonight. Just embarassing AB's.

 

3. Kintzler blew a 2-run lead. He's been alright most other nights though so I give him a pass on this one.

 

4. Escobar up and 2 outs in the bottom of the (11th?) with the bases empty, and Sano sat on the bench. This one's squarely on Molitor. Sano could have won the game with one swing. Failing that, he takes over at third. If the game turns into a marathon (like it did) he gets 1-2 more PAs. Instead, Escobar ended the inning.

 

5. With the bases juiced and the score tied in the 13th(?) NOW Mollie goes to Sano. We only needed one run! Grossman and his .415 OBP sat on the bench while Sano struck out trying to hit a pointless grand slam. This is on Molitor and Sano.

 

6. Everyone not named Mauer left 1,482 runners in scoring position.

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

And the multiple hitters who couldn't get a runner home from third with less than two outs (or a two out single). Molitor should have managed them better.

There's nothing preventing the manager from calling time during an at bat, and going out to the plate to help his batter stride through a couple of practice swings, before jogging back to the dugout.

[Squirrel]

This was a team effort but Molitor deserves some blame. In order of importance

 

1. Yet another poor effort from Gibson who has proven time and again that he isn't good enough to be a starter on a winning ballclub.

 

2. Kennys Vargas was totally overmatched by Odorizzi's curveball. I think I counted six whiffs on that pitch alone tonight. Just embarassing AB's.

 

3. Kintzler blew a 2-run lead. He's been alright most other nights though so I give him a pass on this one.

 

4. Escobar up and 2 outs in the bottom of the (11th?) with the bases empty, and Sano sat on the bench. This one's squarely on Molitor. Sano could have won the game with one swing. Failing that, he takes over at third. If the game turns into a marathon (like it did) he gets 1-2 more PAs. Instead, Escobar ended the inning.

 

5. With the bases juiced and the score tied in the 13th(?) NOW Mollie goes to Sano. We only needed one run! Grossman and his .415 OBP sat on the bench while Sano struck out trying to hit a pointless grand slam. This is on Molitor and Sano.

 

6. Everyone not named Mauer left 1,482 runners in scoring position.

You forgot Dozier making the 3rd out by trying to get an extra base in the bottom of the 8th. I think that deserves to be part of the team effort, too.

[DaveW]

Sounds like a mental break. I approve if it's well thought out.

 

Is that really all you got for what you originally posted here?

Name the last 1.000 ops player who was pulled for such a "break"

 

Sano went 1-2 today, clearly he was good enough to out preform the two guys who got starts over him today....

[drjim]

Name the last 1.000 ops player who was pulled for such a "break"

 

Sano went 1-2 today, clearly he was good enough to out preform the two guys who got starts over him today....

Good point. I bet he starts tomorrow.

[spinowner]

 

Why was the best player not in the lineup for a second straight day?

I assume you are referencing Sano. The manager's job is to win as many games as possible during the course of the season. You have to pace your players, and Sano clearly needed a break. In other words, he is not their best player right now. Mauer is.

[spinowner]

Runners on second and third in the 14th, one out, Castro batting with less than two strikes. I'm nowhere near as experienced or knowledgeable as any major or minor league manager, but I think the suicide squeeze is an underutilized play. I'm not advocating using it all the time but I think that was a situation that called for it. If it fails the trail runner still advances to third and you still have another out to work with. 

[Twinfan & Dad]

I can't believe our TWINS lost today. They should never ever give up a lead in the 8th,9th or 15th or anytime. If our TWINS ever have a lead period they should win. As far as strikeouts, failure to move runners over and plain dumbass baserunning or manager moves, fire them all they shouldn't be human. This team is a Championship destined bound club and anyone screwing up should be either optioned or fired. COME ON MAN! This is baseball. Players are human and this roster isn't perfect. GO TWINS!

[Twinfan & Dad]

Sano had been on fire. 11k in 14ab. Maybe a rest was needed. I'm not a Molitor fan either but to his defense who would have thought this group would be in first 46 games into the season. NOT ME! A few young guys I was hoping could help like May, Burdi and Jay have all had injuries so you tell me who is ready to help now? We have a new front office in place that are smarter than we are and want to win. We have a young team that the best days are ahead of them. We have a young and talented front office that get it! Relax and let the process play out.

[ashbury]

Runners on second and third in the 14th, one out, Castro batting with less than two strikes. I'm nowhere near as experienced or knowledgeable as any major or minor league manager, but I think the suicide squeeze is an underutilized play. I'm not advocating using it all the time but I think that was a situation that called for it. If it fails the trail runner still advances to third and you still have another out to work with. 

Infield was playing in, as I recall. That would cut down the chances of success.

[Riverbrian]

I have no problem with any of the moves made by Molitor today. I wish Kintzler would have nailed down the save. He almost did but didn't. Things like that happen sometimes. I believe only Britton was perfect in the closer role last year. I wish Castro would have put that ball in play with Adrianaza on third but he didn't... Things like that happen sometime. 

 

If you look at the disagreement between the members of TwinsDaily on the moves made by Molitor you'll see that nothing is unanimous. If nothing is unanimous and everyone is passionate. There isn't a move that he can make without getting torn apart by someone. 

 

Tomorrow is another day. I can't wait to find out what people get mad about tomorrow. 

 

 

 

 

[Rosterman]

What a Game! WHAT A GAME. Gibson still here? Do we have a managable bullpen? You have Duffey for one out...worrying more about tomorrow than today, perhaps?

 

Were there too many walks. ALL the pitchers bad, or just the ump making close calls. Do the Twins have any idea of who can bat where and why in the lineup?

 

Yes, everyone ha a bad day (Vargas) and a worse inning (Kintzler). That the Twins came back, went ahead, and also tied has to be applauded. That they couldn't get a guy home from third, had to drag Hector out to pitch, well...the otehr team was having their managerial ups-and-downs, too.

 

[SwainZag]

 

Posts like this make me miss BYTO.

He managed fine.

 

Agree 1000%.

[Rhino and Compass]

The tough thing for Molitor, and really for any manager, is that the best thing to do is usually nothing. Don't bunt, don't make so many pitching changes, and don't rock the boat to "send messages". The team starts losing, or a player starts slumping, and you feel like you have to do something, but almost anything you do is the wrong decision. 

[HitInAPinch]

 

Agree 1000%.

 

There's no such thing as 1000%.  Geezzz, that makes me MAD

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mad-magazine_6300.jpg

[Oldgoat_MN]

Escobar has an 18% strikeout rate. Sano and his 45% SO rate pinch hit for him with the bases loaded in the 11th. Sano at that point had struck out in his 8 previous plate appearances.

 

If the batter makes contact with the ball we have a chance to win the game.

Who has more likelihood to make contact? Do we need a grand slam?

I can understand pinch hitting Sano in some circumstances.

This was not one of those.

[Reider]

The Twins lost a hard fought 15 inning battle at the end of May and they are still 2 games ahead of Cleveland for first place in the ALC. I like this a lot better than the Twins being the second worst team in the Major Leagues. They are doing a lot better than I expected this year, so I'll take it. Be happy and enjoy the ride!

[Riverbrian]

Escobar has an 18% strikeout rate. Sano and his 45% SO rate pinch hit for him with the bases loaded in the 11th. Sano at that point had struck out in his 8 previous plate appearances.

 

If the batter makes contact with the ball we have a chance to win the game.

Who has more likelihood to make contact? Do we need a grand slam?

I can understand pinch hitting Sano in some circumstances.

This was not one of those.

If there is less than two outs I'd agree with you but with the bases loaded and two out.... You need a hit or a walk. Sano has the high OBP and both are slumping.

[DaveW]

Escobar was 0-5 on the day and not a very good player to begin with. Sano should have gotten the start over him!

[Old Twins Cap]

Tough loss.  When you have so many twists and turns and you end up losing, in retrospect it seems as if the Twins found a way to lose the game.  Which they did.

 

Several replay calls seemed to go against the Twins by the length of a baseball spike. 

 

That's a bad day.  The only way to deal with it is to pick yourself up and play again the next day.

 

Prolly tougher on the die-hard fans than players.

[Darius]

I can't put any of it on Molitor. The team was in some very favorable positions late in the game, and the players didn't execute.

 

Twice, there were runners on third with less than two out to win the game. One with the fastest player in the League (arguably) on third. You have to be able to put a ball in play and cash one of those in.