Rapid reactions game 1:

[Kelly Vance]

 

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.

If you want an example of dumb managing, try overusing a pitcher in April. You want to see him on IR? That's the way to do it.  No need to bring him out for the 7th when there are 7 other relief pitchers on the staff that were fresh. The big O had thrown 93 pitches. That is plenty for opening day. And smart managers don't risk injury to a starter for the sake of one game. 

 

[ashbury]

As bullpen meltdowns go, this one was pretty mild. Try being a Red Sox fan today. Yeesh.

[Dantes929]

I have watched the replay many times now.    If there is one play that changed the game it was the strikeout pitch that wasn't caught.    Unless he was crossed up that was a really poor effort on the part of Castro.    If he makes an honest effort to block that pitch then we are not talking about Rodney, Molitor or Duke.   If he had got in position to make the play and it still skipped away that is one thing.   On the replay it really looked like he half assed it.

[Kelly Vance]

Look, folks, that's baseball. My takeaway is the Twins almost won in a close extra inning  game when they didn't hit. I think the wiser view is this is just one of those games. It wasn't a mistake to let Duke pitch when he had it going on  except for one pitch. The big O was great. Reed looked mostly good too. And Molly got all three FA RPs in the first game. As for Rodney, he is a pro's pro. Perk got lit up now and then too. It happens. Jones hit a good pitch, maybe too good. Like I said, it happens, and Jones can do that to anybody. 

[Kelly Vance]

 

I have watched the replay many times now.    If there is one play that changed the game it was the strikeout pitch that wasn't caught.    Unless he was crossed up that was a really poor effort on the part of Castro.    If he makes an honest effort to block that pitch then we are not talking about Rodney, Molitor or Duke.   If he had got in position to make the play and it still skipped away that is one thing.   On the replay it really looked like he half assed it.

I won't argue, but I think it is a fair comment that catchers known for framing often revert to glove versus shifting the body to block. Remember, they have like a split second to react anyway.  I'd rather look at it this way, Rosario's long fly carries three more feet, we win in 9. Makes me feel better anyway

[slash129]

C'mon ... Jones is a 5-time All-Star and this happened in the 11th inning ... These types of games go either way ... The sky isn't falling ... Enjoy games like these; they won't all tip to the wrong guys.

[puckstopper1]

 

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

Way to stir the pot Dave! 

 

I'm more concerned about the bats than Rodney.  Also the Orioles won, but what about the performance of their closer?  Brach's line was horrible.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

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.

 

This... pitching gave up 3 runs in 11 innings. The loss is on the offense, particularly everyone taking wild swings and misses at pitches they had no business trying to hit. 

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

Rapid Hawt Taeks

[mikelink45]

Fascinating to see the emotions.  I guess we are really hungry for a championship and game one already reaches fascinating levels of judgment and emotion.  I was not happy about the choice of Rodney when they got him, but this is not a reason to jump on him.  The length of the Duke use is of more concern.  We have a lot of questions in the pen I think and I can only hope all the pitching related hires in the coaching arena can figure out the right way to use the tools we have. 

​Grossman's at bat was excellent and I would suggest that they make Sano watch it every time he strikes out in a key situation. 

[BoofBonser]

Rodney saved the game by inducing that double play in the 10th
Just got burnt by a stud in Adam Jones

 

The bats need to step up... had many chances to win the game in the late innings
Also, such incompetent manager-ing by Molitor ... why would you leave Duke in to face another righty? 
Especially in a 0-0 ballgame 
The stat column should read 3-2 Orioles W: that lefty for Baltimore, L: 1/2 Rodney, 1/2 Molitor

[ahart10]

NEED GREG HOLLAND NOW!!!!!

Lol

[Rosterman]

Odorizzi pitched so well. But the Twins also have 8 relief pitchers that could pitch...and probably should've considering the day off Friday.

 

Saw the bench. A pinch runner, a guy with decent on-base. Would you have made BOTH changes?

 

I still want to see Buxton bat higher, moving Dozier to the #3. Have Sano hit 5th or 6th, depending on how you feel about Rosario (but no Rosario 4th). 

 

I would actually put Escobar 9th, leading into the lineup turnover.

 

So, Paul Molitor on line-up construction and use of bullpen. Two areas I hated the "Manager of the Year" book in 2017.

 

 

 

[yarnivek1972]

Odorizzi pitched so well. But the Twins also have 8 relief pitchers that could pitch...and probably should've considering the day off Friday.

 

Saw the bench. A pinch runner, a guy with decent on-base. Would you have made BOTH changes?

 

I still want to see Buxton bat higher, moving Dozier to the #3. Have Sano hit 5th or 6th, depending on how you feel about Rosario (but no Rosario 4th).

 

I would actually put Escobar 9th, leading into the lineup turnover.

 

So, Paul Molitor on line-up construction and use of bullpen. Two areas I hated the "Manager of the Year" book in 2017.

So, reading between the lines, you are saying Buxton leading off and Morrison 4th?

 

I’m not sure it makes sense for someone with Buxton’s lack of pitch recognition to be leading off. You generally want a guy who can work the count and get on base at a good rate. Maybe someday, but Byron isn’t that guy yet. He definitely should be at the bottom of this batting order in 2018.

 

Dozier and Sano are similarly streaky hitters. When hot, either is certainly capable of carrying an offense. Not sure either is really suited to the 3 hole. Dozier kinda is what he is. I think the hope is Sano develops into a Miguel Cabrera type hitter.

 

Not sure how it makes sense to bat Escobar who hit over 20 HR last year 9th, after Castro.

 

Given where these guys are in their development, I think the lineup is as good as it can be.

[Brock Beauchamp]

If Buxton is who we think he is, I don't see a scenario where it makes sense for him to leadoff.

 

Just because a dude is lightning fast doesn't mean he's a leadoff hitter. We need to get that silly notion out of our heads.

 

You don't burn an .800 OPS on a leadoff hitter just because he has wheels. You put that guy second or third so he can drive in runs with that .800 OPS and if he happens to get on base and steal a bunch of bags for the 3-4-5 hitters, huzzah.

[Rhino and Compass]

Every game this season has come while I'm at work. That's going to have to change, Ugh. 

[Number3]

I knew the switch would not be turned on offensively and I know that Molitor is a weak link in the team and will cost them a minimum of 15 games. Tomorrow's game really is in the really need to win if not must win category. Because they need to get off to a decent start and the Pirates showed  a lot of moxy today (Twins next opponent). (Same old Gardenhire btw as Tigers manager).

[h2oface]

Just as Morris famously "pitched to the game", relief pitchers must. If the game is tied, and you are the pitcher, you don't throw it down the middle of the zone to Jones. Just because the offense hasn't scored but 2 runs, (it could still be tied at 10-10, and be the same situation), doesn't mean Rodney's desire to try to just blow a first pitch meat past Jones isn't solely his, and only his, fault. That and the fact that Jones didn't miss it. (The pitch to Schoop was basically the same, a little faster, but he missed it. Hardly an example of a good pitch, regardless of the result). If you are up 3 runs, and trying to close it out, then you can throw that pitch, and the one run won't necessarily hurt you and your team. Mentally, and physically, that was a bonehead decision and pitch, and not the offenses fault!

[PseudoSABR]

 

If Buxton is who we think he is, I don't see a scenario where it makes sense for him to leadoff.

 

Just because a dude is lightning fast doesn't mean he's a leadoff hitter. We need to get that silly notion out of our heads.

 

You don't burn an .800 OPS on a leadoff hitter just because he has wheels. You put that guy second or third so he can drive in runs with that .800 OPS and if he happens to get on base and steal a bunch of bags for the 3-4-5 hitters, huzzah.

Why do we burn Dozier in the same manner then? If the leadoff spot doesn't make sense for Buxton than it makes less sense for Dozier, unless we believe Buxton is going to be a low OBP guy indefinitely. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Why do we burn Dozier in the same manner then? If the leadoff spot doesn't make sense for Buxton than it makes less sense for Dozier, unless we believe Buxton is going to be a low OBP guy indefinitely. 

You should know by now how much I dislike Dozier in the leadoff spot. I've certainly brought it up often enough.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Just as Morris famously "pitched to the game", relief pitchers must.

Will this myth die already? I can't find the article now, as it's over a decade old, but there was a lengthy examination of Morris' entire career and there is absolutely no evidence he pitched better or worse based on the score.

 

If someone else has it handy, I'd appreciate the link again.

[Brock Beauchamp]

When it comes to leadoff hitters, we all love to point at Rickey Henderson. Well, I have a couple of points about that:

 

- If Rickey was playing baseball in the modern era, he wouldn't lead off. No way, no how does a modern GM put that career .820 OPS (much higher in his prime) in the leadoff spot.

 

- Even if a GM decided it was best to put Rickey in the leadoff spot because of those wheels, there are "wheels" and there are "Rickey wheels". If we talk about career stolen bases, Rickey's utter dominance of that stat would be the equivalent of a non-steroid Bonds hitting 1200 home runs in his career. Rickey didn't just steal bases, he took them at will. Damn, he was even known for mocking pitchers by holding up two fingers when he reached first base (as in "two pitches for you, two bases for me"). If we were to rate the best base-stealers in baseball history fairly, it would read like this:

1. Rickey Henderson

2. Rickey Henderson

3. Rickey Henderson

4. Lou Brock

5. A bunch of old guys with photos from chew tobacco cards, who cares

6. Tim Raines or Vince Coleman or somebody else, I can't even remember because whatever

 

Rickey was that dominant. Yet we all pretend that because one guy was so dominant at a position that all other faint shadows of that player must hit in the same position because reasons.

 

No one will dominate the bases like Rickey so let's judge Byron fairly; put him in a position to drive a bunch of runners to the plate with his power but also a position where he can swipe bags and be driven in as often as possible. That's the 2-3 spot in the lineup, obviously depending on where he lands with his power and OBP.

[alskntwnsfn]

Regardless of where Buxton hits I’d propose that the next 2-3 hitters should be the best fastball hitters on the team. Pitchers don’t want to throw off speed stuff with him on base. Without looking at fangraphs I’d assume that would be Dozier, Mauer, and Sano. So with that line of reasoning, Buxton should be hitting lead off. I get the reasoning for hitting him lower, but I’d rather give up some RBI opportunities for Buxton if it means putting our best hitters in an even better position 35% of the time.

[alskntwnsfn]

Buxton is such a good base stealer because of his speed that pitchers do have to adjust. The message to hitters with him on base should be he can go at any time. Look fastball and if you get one to your liking, even if he’s running, try to punish it. If you get a breaking pitch and he goes, either take it or at least try to get on top of it.

[h2oface]

 

......... No way, no how does a modern GM put that career .820 OPS (much higher in his prime) in the leadoff spot.

 

Except the Astros' crazy Jeff Luhnow ( or is it A. J. Hinch, manager, who is responsible?), the modern GM who continues to lead off George Springer, with a career OPS of .838 (.889 in 2017), short as that career may have been so far. Hey.... that strategy   won a pretty modern World Series.

[Doomtints]

Aaron Hicks update:
Injured again.

[mickeymental]

maybe so, but hicks has an ops of 1.000 on the season.

[Mr. Brooks]

I knew the switch would not be turned on offensively and I know that Molitor is a weak link in the team and will cost them a minimum of 15 games. Tomorrow's game really is in the really need to win if not must win category. Because they need to get off to a decent start and the Pirates showed a lot of moxy today (Twins next opponent). (Same old Gardenhire btw as Tigers manager).

No manager is worth anywhere near 15 wins (or losses).

If they were, the best ones would make upwards of $50 million per year.

[Riverbrian]

 

I knew the switch would not be turned on offensively and I know that Molitor is a weak link in the team and will cost them a minimum of 15 games. Tomorrow's game really is in the really need to win if not must win category. Because they need to get off to a decent start and the Pirates showed  a lot of moxy today (Twins next opponent). (Same old Gardenhire btw as Tigers manager).

 

Game 2 of a 162 game season being a "must win" has got to set a record of some kind. 

 

Thank God We Won. 

[USAFChief]

Game 2 of a 162 game season being a "must win" has got to set a record of some kind. 

 

Thank God We Won. 

It gets late early around here.