Rapid reactions game 1:

[DaveW]

Rodney is a terrible choice as a closer, that dude blows so many games it’s ridiculous. I know it’s not a blown save but he still gets the loss. Bad.

 

Molitor still outsmarts himself too often, no reason to pull Jake O after 93 pitches, also left Duke in way too long. This loss is on the manager as well.

 

Good thing April games don’t count as much as July/August games

[yarnivek1972]

I would wager 93 pitches will be one of the 5 highest totals thrown by any starter today.

[DaveW]

He could have came out for the 7th, no reason not to.

 

Dude was pitching lights out, I get it if he has given up a couple runs or something.

 

Just dumb managing. I guarantee you one of the actually great managers: Hinch, Maddon etc would have brought him back out, because great managers know how to win games.

[Mike Sixel]

What was Rosario doing out there, sliding?

[yarnivek1972]

He could have came out for the 7th, no reason not to.

 

Dude was pitching lights out, I get it if he has given up a couple runs or something.

 

Just dumb managing. I guarantee you one of the actually great managers: Hinch, Maddon etc would have brought him back out, because great managers know how to win games.

Game one, 93 pitches. That’s two reasons right there.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Rodney is a terrible choice as a closer, that dude blows so many games it’s ridiculous.

Rodney's save percentage the past two seasons:

 

2017: 86.7%

2016: 89.3%

[DaveW]

Saves are a meaningless stat and save percentage is almost just as meaningless since the ones that are 2-3 run leads can be handled by literally any RP.

Go back and check out his mariners run.

 

He is one of the last guys you want in a legitimately close game.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Saves are a meaningless stat and save percentage is almost just as meaningless since the ones that are 2-3 run leads can be handled by literally any RP.
Go back and check out his mariners run.

He is one of the last guys you want in a legitimately close game.

Right, he absolutely killed the 2014 Mariners with those 69 appearances, 2.85 ERA, and 2.83 FIP.

 

Yes, he had a bad 2015 for the Mariners. Then he bounced back and had a decent but short run with the Cubs that season.

 

He's a relief pitcher. It happens.

[yarnivek1972]

So, are you going to pretend you wouldn’t be grousing if it had been Pressly that had been taken deep?

 

It was a curious decision to bring him into a tie game, but once he’s in, you HAVE to stick with him as long as possible.

[DaveW]

Right, he absolutely killed the 2014 Mariners with those 69 appearances, 2.85 ERA, and 2.83 FIP.

 

Yes, he had a bad 2015 for the Mariners. Then he bounced back and had a decent but short run with the Cubs that season.

 

He's a relief pitcher. It happens.

He sank the 2015 mariners, go back and check out the game logs, he literally sank that entire team. He is 41 and coming off of a poor season for a closer as well.

 

He should be a 6th inning guy, not a guy pitching in crunch time for a playoff team.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

He is 41 and coming off of a poor season for a closer as well.

3.03 FIP.

[DaveW]

So, are you going to pretend you wouldn’t be grousing if it had been Pressly that had been taken deep?

 

It was a curious decision to bring him into a tie game, but once he’s in, you HAVE to stick with him as long as possible.

Pressly is a much better option in a close game then Rodney.

[DaveW]

3.03 FIP.

Meaningless and super flawed stat when used on its own.

 

How’s that ERA look? You know the stat that actually measures results (even more so for a closer!)

 

Also 41.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Meaningless stat.

How’s that ERA look? You know the stat that actually measures results (even more so for a closer!)

Right, it's meaningless. 

 

Because ERA really stabilizes over ~60 innings.

 

Besides, if you want to actually talk results, Rodney got the job done in 2017. He was a closer and converted ~87% of his save opportunities.

 

But you just brushed off his save percentage a few minutes ago, didn't you?

 

Either debate honestly or step away from the keyboard for a few hours. We all know you're passionate about the Twins but try to keep a level head about things.

[DaveW]

Rodney is terrible, have said it for years, this isn’t over reaction. He sank the mariners 2015 season, he is 41, he is a terrible choice for a closer for a team that should make the playoffs. He has cost us one game so far, hopefully he is demoted from

The role before he costs us too many more.

 

Seen it before, history repeating itself Brock.

[jimmer]

Its pretty easy to sit back after the game and pick apart what went wrong.  Unfortunately the game isn't played that way. 

 

Pulling Odorizzi in the first game after six WAS the right thing to do.  The problem was bringing in Duke in a scoreless game and leaving him in too long.  But then, Molitor made a really good decision to put Grossman in to hit for Buxton,

 

Yeah, Rodney is very volatile as a reliever, but he is who the FO got, so Mollie uses what he has.

 

We lost the game.  An extra innings game.  I'm not going to get worked up over it or make an rash judgments this early.

 

 

[jimbo92107]

Can't blame this on Rodney. Twins hitters had plenty of chances to win this one, but nobody except Grossman came up with a key hit. 

[jimmer]

 

Can't blame this on Rodney. Twins hitters had plenty of chances to win this one, but nobody except Grossman came up with a key hit. 

Yup, only two runs in an extra inning games.

[yarnivek1972]

Pressly is a much better option in a close game then Rodney.

You did watch him pitch last year, right? He gave up TEN (10) HR in 60 IP last year. Ten.

 

Rodney has given up 8 in the last two years and 60 in over 800 career IP. Him giving up a HR is extremely rare.

[gunnarthor]

Tough loss but an extra inning loss on the road to start the season isn't really worth that much angst. The Twins will be fine.

[Danchat]

 

Pressly is a much better option in a close game then Rodney.

     Did we watch the same Pressly last year?

[Craig Arko]

Reaction? They lost. Next game is Saturday.

[laloesch]

No reason to over react. Nice to see a starter pitch a really good game other than Berrios and Santana. This is good news all the way around. Just need to work out the bullpen rhythmn. A little more offense would be helpful as well.

[Squirrel]

We have game wrap discussions here: http://twinsdaily.com/topic/29102-article-bal-3-min-2-opening-d%E2%80%99oh/

 

Disappointing loss, but it was only game 1. Redirect the post-game discussion to the above thread.

[ashbury]

This loss is on the offense. Score 4 legitimate runs in the first nine innings, and the 2-run outburst in the seventh and a meaningless HR off our closer in the 9th still results in a win. Instead, the two runs we actually scored were of the kind that would have us yelling "snakebit!" if it happened against us. Too many one-for-fives in the box score, not to mention the ofers.

[Battle ur tail off]

I agree with others. Yes, some things could have gone the other way pitching-wise. But to give up 3 runs in an extra inning game is not bad. Needed some more offense. One or both of those Rosario deep shots goes another 2-3 feet and the Twins win the game in 9. They will be fine. Good fight shown by the team, not too worried, it's only one game.

 

[gocgo]

 

Meaningless and super flawed stat when used on its own.

How’s that ERA look? You know the stat that actually measures results (even more so for a closer!)

Also 41.

ERA is a meaningless stat too.  Depends on the quality of the defense behind the pitcher.  All hits are not created equal.  The fly ball that falls in front of Grossman for a hit would get caught by another outfielder, and yet it counts as a hit the same as the line drive up the middle.

[PseudoSABR]

It's just a bummer to waste a start like that out of Odorizzi.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Keep calm and carry on.

[Dantes929]

 

Its pretty easy to sit back after the game and pick apart what went wrong.  Unfortunately the game isn't played that way. 

 

Pulling Odorizzi in the first game after six WAS the right thing to do.  The problem was bringing in Duke in a scoreless game and leaving him in too long.  But then, Molitor made a really good decision to put Grossman in to hit for Buxton,

 

Yeah, Rodney is very volatile as a reliever, but he is who the FO got, so Mollie uses what he has.

 

We lost the game.  An extra innings game.  I'm not going to get worked up over it or make an rash judgments this early.

I'm not a fan of Rodney and think he was the worst get of the off season.  That's not hindsight because I have stated it many times.  I would love to be proven wrong but don''t fault Molitor too much about that.   Subbing Grossman was an ok decision but not just because he got a seeing eye pop single.   What about Duke was a mistake?   He struck out 4 guys that innings and only one was a lefty.    Before the triple he had three strikeouts and an intentional walk.   No one had even put the ball in play.   He then struck out the guy after the triple.    If he had struck out Joseph's as well would any one be complaining?   You said it was a mistake bringing him into a scoreless game.   If that is because of a general distrust of him then that is a different story.   Like I said, I have that feeling about Rodney.   Unfortunate to have that kind of feeling about your closer.