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Game Thread Sun. 7/15: Twins vs. Tampa Bay, 1:10 pm CT

Tom Froemming

By Tom Froemming
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Tom Froemming All-Star

Tom Froemming

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Twins | 43-50 overall, 28-22 at home, 8-2 in their last 10

Fernando Romero | 3-3, 4.28 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 2.32 K:BB

 

Rays | 49-46 overall, 23-29 on the road, 6-4 in their last 10

Ryne Stanek | 1-2, 1.93 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 2.73 K:BB

 

Lineups:

https://twitter.com/MillerStrib/status/1018517871146782720?s=19

 

Additional notes:

In his three starts since being sent back down to Rochester, Romero only gave up three earned runs over 18 2/3 innings (1.45 ERA). He’s back up in the bigs because Aaron Slegers was placed on the DL.

 

You may be thinking to yourself “Stanek? Didn’t we already see this guy?” We did. He pitched an inning out of Tampa Bay’s bullpen Thursday night at Target Field. This will be the 12th start Stanek is making, he’s made 16 other appearances out of the bullpen.

 

This is a strategy which the Rays are calling “the opener.” I think it’s an interesting experiment, especially for a team like Tampa Bay, but it desperately needs a better name.

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jtkoupal Draft Eligible

jtkoupal

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Kevin Cash uses "The Opener" to avoid overexposure of less-talented players. He know he doesn't have the roster to compete with New York and Boston, so he has to get creative.

 

As I have been saying for months in my comments, it is a strategy that Paul Molitor should use for guys like Odorizzi & Slegers. Bring them in later to avoid exposure to the top of the lineup the third time through. You don't have to worry about the starter "settling in" and allowing first inning runs. Why not use the pitching staff in the way that makes sense to win THAT DAY!!??

 

It is not a strategy that can be implemented overnight. It has to be ushered in over a long period of time. That is why he doesn't mess with Snell, Eovaldi, & Archer. However, like it or not, it is the future of baseball. Someday, kids will have no idea what a starting pitcher or a closer is. They will laugh at how stupid people were for so long.

Platoon Cedar Rapids Kernels

Platoon

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Kevin Cash uses "The Opener" to avoid overexposure of less-talented players. He know he doesn't have the roster to compete with New York and Boston, so he has to get creative.

 

As I have been saying for months in my comments, it is a strategy that Paul Molitor should use for guys like Odorizzi & Slegers. Bring them in later to avoid exposure to the top of the lineup the third time through. You don't have to worry about the starter "settling in" and allowing first inning runs. Why not use the pitching staff in the way that makes sense to win THAT DAY!!??

 

It is not a strategy that can be implemented overnight. It has to be ushered in over a long period of time. That is why he doesn't mess with Snell, Eovaldi, & Archer. However, like it or not, it is the future of baseball. Someday, kids will have no idea what a starting pitcher or a closer is. They will laugh at how stupid people were for so long.

. Gosh, I hope they don't laugh too hard. It's bad manners. But then again we are assuming anyone will be watching baseball by then. They may all be watching soccer?
Tom Froemming All-Star

Tom Froemming

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I think "the opener" refers not to the strategy but to the designation given to the first pitcher of the game.

But we've already got a name for that, the starter.
Nine of twelve Wichita Wind Surge

Nine of twelve

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 Why not use the pitching staff in the way that makes sense to win THAT DAY!!??

 

The approach should be to use the pitching staff in the way that makes sense to win as many games as possible in a season. For example, overusing a bullpen to win one particular game could lead to losses the next two games.

Nine of twelve Wichita Wind Surge

Nine of twelve

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But we've already got a name for that, the starter.

Maybe I misunderstood what I read or heard, but I got the impression that Cash didn't want to think of the first pitcher of the game in the same way starting pitchers are usually thought of. Hence the different term.

Otto von Ballpark All-Star

Otto von Ballpark

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You may be thinking to yourself “Stanek? Didn’t we already see this guy?” We did. He pitched an inning out of Tampa Bay’s bullpen Thursday night at Target Field. This will be the 12th start Stanek is making, he’s made 16 other appearances out of the bullpen.

 

This is a strategy which the Rays are calling “the opener.” I think it’s an interesting experiment, especially for a team like Tampa Bay, but it desperately needs a better name.

I was just thinking of how this is going to screw up stats. We probably should already be filtering these "starts" out of the leaguewide IP per GS stat, somehow.

David HK Cedar Rapids Kernels

David HK

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One of the advantages of being a few decades in is that sometimes you need to wake up in the middle of the night- same as a baby- but then you can check the day game score in the meantime...

Oh, well, back to sleep...

jkcarew Cedar Rapids Kernels

jkcarew

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. Gosh, I hope they don't laugh too hard. It's bad manners. But then again we are assuming anyone will be watching baseball by then. They may all be watching soccer?

Another reason to carry more pitchers on the active rosters and make more pitching changes? Just what baseball needs right now. You’re statement is relevant.

tvagle FCL Twins

tvagle

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With the Indians loss to the Yankees last night

 

Magic Number Update entering today's games

 

Division: 77

 

Wild Card: 82

USAFChief GOAT

USAFChief

Twins Daily Contributor
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The approach should be to use the pitching staff in the way that makes sense to win as many games as possible in a season. For example, overusing a bullpen to win one particular game could lead to losses the next two games.

Agree.

 

But starter for five plus, followed by bullpen, isnt any more efficient than bullpen for 1 or 2, "starter" for five plus, then bullpen.

 

Same number of innings to each, but if it works out, the starter doesn't face the top of the order three times.

tvagle FCL Twins

tvagle

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I may be wrong about this but wouldn't a dive work better than a slide on plays like that by Doze...he's 0 for 2 on 2-out attempts

ashbury GOAT

ashbury

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Agree.

 

But starter for five plus, followed by bullpen, isnt any more efficient than bullpen for 1 or 2, "starter" for five plus, then bullpen.

 

Same number of innings to each, but if it works out, the starter doesn't face the top of the order three times.

I don't see the purpose as having to do with bullpen load.

 

What's the one time in the game a manager gets to select who comes to bat? Those first three batters in the first inning. So then when is the one best time to insert a good one-inning pitcher to neutralize them as best you can?

 

It's the corollary to people asking that the closer pitch the 7th or 8th inning, instead of potentially the bottom of the order in the 9th.

 

As an aside, something I've mentioned before, the biggest inning for scoring is the first inning. So these managers aren't setting up their batting orders at random. And for some reason, home teams have a bigger advantage in the first inning than any other game. So this "opener" strategy looks especially promising for visiting teams.

 

All of which is in line with your saying to try avoid the guy who's pitching the longest from facing the best batters 3 times.

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