Article: Game Thread: Twins @ Padres, 8/1@9:10pm CT

[TwinsCD]

Given that a bunch of Twins went to play Pebble Beach before going to Oakland, you'd think they were ready to get the 9-irons out to hit these low pitches instead of taking them.

[yarnivek1972]

You're severely over-analyzing it. You still manage within each game to win. You don't let the pitcher hit when you're behind with 6 outs left.

IMO leaving Berrios in would have provided a better chance to win. And I said so before the move was made.

Edited August 2, 2017 by yarnivek1972

[Aggies7]

Yep. Taking Berrios out was definitely a brilliant decision. Grossmann struck out. Busenitz gave up 2 runs. Odds are Berrios does neither of those things.

It was still the right decision. The wrong decision was having a guy on your roster who gives up a bomb to a career .194 hitting catcher. You're acting like berrios is rod carew.

[TwinsCD]

 

Yep. Taking Berrios out was definitely a brilliant decision. Grossmann struck out. Busenitz gave up 2 runs. Odds are Berrios does neither of those things.

 

But they were trying to develop Busenitz as a closer!!!  C'mon, you were looking for development, weren't you?

[yarnivek1972]

It was still the right decision. The wrong decision was having a guy on your roster who gives up a bomb to a career .194 hitting catcher. You're acting like berrios is rod carew.

No. I'm acting like Berrios is way better than anyone in the pen.

 

Even if the Twins scored in the 8th, they had to send someone out to pitch.

[OldTimeTwinkie]

Our great pitching evaluators trade 2 solid major leaguers for low level low ceiling pitchers and take the remaining fight out of this team. But wait till next year and the year after......let alone that Granite is on this team.

[glunn]

Losing streaks are hard on us fans and on the players, and the fact that the Twins went into sell mode probably demoralized the clubhouse.

 

That said, I think that a new manager makes sense.

[SwainZag]

Oof. That was not a strike.

It's exactly the pitch you want Sano laying off on a 2-2 as well. It should have set up a full count where he was forced to their a strike, but gets gifted a K.

[SwainZag]

Losing streaks are hard on us fans and on the players, and the fact that the Twins went into sell mode probably demoralized the clubhouse.

 

That said, I think that a new manager makes sense.

I guess it's my opinion it's not fair to fire Molitor mid-season based on the pitching talent he has had to work with. Doing it after the season gives a new manager and potentially sweet of coaches a fresh slate to work with.

[Aggies7]

Losing streaks are hard on us fans and on the players, and the fact that the Twins went into sell mode probably demoralized the clubhouse.

 

That said, I think that a new manager makes sense.

**** the clubhouse if they're demoralized. They did it to themselves by blowing easily a dozen very winnable games in the last month or so. The roster as it is is not good enough to compete.

[jun]

Granite has already hit into 5 DPs now. Mauer has 8 and Sano has 9. Rosario has 5. Sano leads the team.

Edited August 2, 2017 by jun

[TwinsCD]

 

Our great pitching evaluators trade 2 solid major leaguers for low level low ceiling pitchers and take the remaining fight out of this team. But wait till next year and the year after......let alone that Granite is on this team.

 

You're exactly right.  They ran the white flag up the pole when there's still a fighting chance at the WC.  But we're the minority that wants to try to win now when everyone else wants to say they can't win this year but maybe they will next year or in 19.  All of these so-called prospects that we picked up might as well be college kids since we won't see them until 2020.  A lot of good that does us now.

[yarnivek1972]

Granite has already hit into 5 DPs now. Mauer has 8 and Sano has 9. Rosario has 5. Sano leads the team.

Kirby Puckett GIDP 27 times in 1991, which led the AL. He GIDP 17 times in 1988 and was an MVP candidate.

[snepp]

Inspired effort this evening.

[jun]

Kirby Puckett GIDP 27 times in 1991, which led the AL. He GIDP 17 times in 1988 and was an MVP candidate.

Well Granite is no Puckett. He has no power and no arm. His best asset is his speed. He looks more and more like Revere. Revere can at least leg out a few hits. Edited August 2, 2017 by jun

[Danchat]

Wow, three losses in a row to two of the worst teams in baseball... so what was all that about being buyers?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Wow, three losses in a row to two of the worst teams in baseball... so what was all that about being buyers?

I have not lost the faith.

 

This sort of epic comeback in the post season race would prove us worthy to be there.

 

Characters being built here

.

[Joe A. Preusser]

lol ... the keeper of the music ... no one plays a note without me ...

 

With a low bow I humbly appologize and beg the music czar's forgiveness.

 

Of course my only musical talent lies in the recorder...is your orchestra looking for a first chair recorder...ist?

[AlwaysinModeration]

We wanted Busenitz we got Busenitz. The nose dive continues - Mayday Mayday

Is Mayday Malone available to close?

[Mike Sixel]

 

A lot of discussion today about the importance of developing guys over the course of the rest of the year. Pinch hitting for Berrios was a wasted opportunity to help Berrios develop. He had a shot at a complete game.

Pinch hitting is a move one makes when one is trying to save one's job IMO.

 

couldn't disagree more. Berrios learns nothing by staying in that game. complete games are meaningless to development, and probably bad for players' arms in the long run.

[yarnivek1972]

couldn't disagree more. Berrios learns nothing by staying in that game. complete games are meaningless to development, and probably bad for players' arms in the long run.

He finished the 7th with like 75 pitches. He could easily have pitched one more and two maybe if the Twins had scored.

 

It's not so much the reward of the complete game. It's the experience of getting key outs late in a game, when one is starting to get tired.

[Mike Sixel]

 

He finished the 7th with like 75 pitches. He could easily have pitched one more and two maybe if the Twins had scored.

It's not so much the reward of the complete game. It's the experience of getting key outs late in a game, when one is starting to get tired.

 

you don't let a pitcher hit in a 1 run game. That's just bad strategy. That's also part of learning. I think you are vastly over thinking what he can learn in this situation, vs trying to win the game. And yes, in development seasons, you still make decisions to try to win.

[yarnivek1972]

 

you don't let a pitcher hit in a 1 run game. That's just bad strategy. That's also part of learning. I think you are vastly over thinking what he can learn in this situation, vs trying to win the game. And yes, in development seasons, you still make decisions to try to win.

And I still maintain that keeping Berrios in the game was the best chance the Twins had to win the game.  You are certainly free to disagree with that, but given the performance of the bullpen of late, I think he had a better chance of keeping the game close than anyone else the Twins could have used.

 

As I said, even if the Twins get Grossman on and get him in they still have to send someone out to pitch.  Someone who has probably been struggling of late.  Because that describes everyone down there other than Hildenberger and Belisle.

[wsnydes]

 

He finished the 7th with like 75 pitches. He could easily have pitched one more and two maybe if the Twins had scored.

It's not so much the reward of the complete game. It's the experience of getting key outs late in a game, when one is starting to get tired.

Which they didn't do anyway.  In a 1-0 game, you've got to try to muster a baserunner and the pitcher isn't likely to do that.  PH for Berrios was absolutely the right move.

[wsnydes]

 

Kirby Puckett GIDP 27 times in 1991, which led the AL. He GIDP 17 times in 1988 and was an MVP candidate.

Good contact hitters typically hit into more DPs.  Look at Miggy Cabrera's DP numbers.  They put the ball in play more, thus hit into more DPs.

[yarnivek1972]

Good contact hitters typically hit into more DPs. Look at Miggy Cabrera's DP numbers. They put the ball in play more, thus hit into more DPs.

I guess that was kinda my point. Especially Puckett, who early in his career had an extreme downward swing, much like Granite. Granite has zero to gain by hitting the ball in the air. On a good day, he might hit a warning track fly ball. He truly is far better off putting the ball on the ground and hoping for the best more often than not.

[wsnydes]

 

I guess that was kinda my point. Especially Puckett, who early in his career had an extreme downward swing, much like Granite. Granite has zero to gain by hitting the ball in the air. On a good day, he might hit a warning track fly ball. He truly is far better off putting the ball on the ground and hoping for the best more often than not.

I know, I was agreeing with you.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I know, I was agreeing with you.

 

that must have been the confusing part, two TD posters agreeing so quickly!