Game Thread: Minnesota Twins @ Oakland A's 7-29 @ 8:10 PM CT

[twinsbaby]

Hahahaha, go for No.1 pick again.

[David HK]

Moving stuff to the new flat today- just checked in on the game-- oh, Taylor is given the 9th- interesting... oh, Taylor walks the leadoff man- interesting indeeeed... Oh, and in the time it took to tap that out on the ol' phone-pad, Taylor gives up the game- Ummm... Did I miss the Kintzler trade earlier today, or something?

Ummm, Molly? Ummmm...what th... Oh, forget it.

[jun]

Molitor is getting more creative now. He let struggling Rogers to close. Maybe next time he can let Duffey or Pressly close.

[snepp]

 

Oh FFS.

 

Finally found sanity?

[kydoty]

Why wasn't Kintzler pitching the 9th? I haven't been around the web all day so is there a legitimate reason for him not taking the mound tonight?

[twinsbaby]

Kintzler threw 26 pitches, he needed rest. That's why we saw Rogers.

[twinsbaby]

It's tough loss, but we can't always be luck to walk many guys then hoping opponents hit DP. That's a strange way to win in our coaching staff.

[drock2190]

I'll probably take some guff for this but I'm kinda glad they lost. With the trade deadline coming up, I want them to be looking to sell, not buy. Or even worse, stand pat.

[Aggies7]

I stopped expecting playoffs after the recent play, but we've now blown late leads 3 times just this week. Please reconstruct the entire bullpen in the offseason, if possible.

[USAFChief]

I'm guessing Kintzler wasn't available, but they just had an off day Thursday.

[twinsbaby]

He was 32 years old, he threw 26 pitches and needed rest. Molitor already used this way in Duffey and Belisle, why did you think he would change mind today?

[Aggies7]

I'm guessing Kintzler wasn't available, but they just had an off day Thursday.

He threw 59 pitches combined Wednesday and last night. Can't blame PM too much for not using him tonight.

[Kwak]

I thought bringing Rogers in after Bosher's gopher ball was premature--but I had no idea that Kintzler was "unavailable".  I was going to ask why no Kintzler but earlier posts answered it. 

 

Good thing OAK is "saving" Gray--Twins will see another "tryout" SP.  Yet, they find ways to lose!  Can people truly be so optimistic in the Twins' playoff chances?  Gosh, I just can't be so hopeful.

[Danchat]

It seems like everyone in the bullpen has to have a 2-3 week of complete incompetence. Belisle, Pressly, Duffey had theirs, Rogers and Kintzler are next. Ugh.

[David HK]

I was never expecting playoffs this year- this club has too many holes; number 1, the dude in the dugout. Number 2, the whole pitching staff, especially that cobbled-together BP.

I've enjoyed the playoff flirtation, but come on, this season should have been all about auditioning and refining younger guys, not trotting out a string of retreads. While there have been a couple of savvy moves along the way, this pretention of contention has out a crimp in some key development, IMO. And by gum, isn't the manager's #1 job supposed to be putting his guys in a place to win? It's far too often we ask of our team to win in spite of our mgr's lineups and decisions.

I'm about to have a Howard Beale moment here....

[bighat]

http://www.upl.co/uploads/Screenshot141501390564.jpg

[Aggies7]

By the way, maybe we should pull back on the sell Kintzler train. I know he's a bit older for the baseball world, but tonight showed those 9th inning outs are the toughest to get. Can't just plug anyone in there and get good results.

[bighat]

 

 

I was never expecting playoffs this year- this club has too many holes; number 1, the dude in the dugout. Number 2, the whole pitching staff, especially that cobbled-together BP.
I've enjoyed the playoff flirtation, but come on, this season should have been all about auditioning and refining younger guys, not trotting out a string of retreads. While there have been a couple of savvy moves along the way, this pretention of contention has out a crimp in some key development, IMO. And by gum, isn't the manager's #1 job supposed to be putting his guys in a place to win? It's far too often we ask of our team to win in spite of our mgr's lineups and decisions.
I'm about to have a Howard Beale moment here....

 

At some point it falls on the players. Last year's 103 loss team allowed lots of young players to get their feet wet. Sano took his opportunity and ran with it to the tune of an All-Star season. Ditto for Kinzler. Rosario's had a nice year as well and is the best hitter for average on the team. But none of the other young players really improved: Duffey, Polanco, Buxton, and let's add Kepler and Rogers (who has been awful in the 2nd half) to this list...they haven't exactly blown anyone away this year.

 

Management tried to "let them all play" last year, and they are "letting them play" this year. The problem isn't that the Twins aren't letting the young guys play. The problem is that most of the young guys just aren't very good.

 

The challenge in front of the Twins brass right now is to find young guys who can actually achieve or surpass their potential.  Aside from Sano (who has a huge upside) and Rosario (whose upside is much lower), nobody's done that and they've been given plenty of chances.

[AlwaysinModeration]

I can hear the "you lost" song from the Price is Right playing after that game.

 

By the way, weren't the Twins above 500 when Buxton was playing?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

4-5.

 

We scored as many runs as we could without going over...

 

If this were The Price is Right, we woulda won.

 

Small consolation, i know...

[Vanimal46]

Unfortunately the A's won the showcase showdown... Always remember to get your pets spayed and neutered.

 

And tune in for 2 hours of soap operas after the show.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Unfortunately the A's won the showcase showdown... Always remember to get your pets spayed and neutered.

And tune in for 2 hours of soap operas after the show.

2 hours of soaps?

 

Oh, you mean all the trade rumors!