Game Thread: Twins @ Blue Jays, 7/25/18 @ 3:07 PM CT

[Don Walcott]

Just give up a homer so this train-wreck is over

Isn’t there a site for Jays fans?

[yarnivek1972]

Maybe get the pitches down just a tad?

[VATwinsFan]

This is all rather fascinating to watch, in a macabre sort of way.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Interesting. Save the best reliever remaining for a hypothetical situation that may not happen. 

 

Belisle lucked out there on a bullet being caught and Morales's blunder. If he gives up a run, the game is over and Rodney never pitches. For all we know, the Twins could score 4 runs and then the save situation doesn't exist either.

 

Silly old-school thinking. 

 

To win an extra inning game on the road, you will have to protect a lead in the last half inning.  It's overwhelmingly likely that lead will be less than 3 runs (I don't have numbers, or know how to obtain them, but I have to think well over 90% of extra inning games won by road teams enter the final half inning with a lead of 3 runs or less).  Therefore, saving your closer for a save is perfectly logical.  Unless you think Rodney should have pitched in the 8th tonight, since, you know, the Twins could have scored 12 runs in the top of the 9th and eliminated the save opportunity.

[Don Walcott]

Interesting. Save the best reliever remaining for a hypothetical situation that may not happen.

 

Belisle lucked out there on a bullet being caught and Morales's blunder. If he gives up a run, the game is over and Rodney never pitches. For all we know, the Twins could score 4 runs and then the save situation doesn't exist either.

 

Silly old-school thinking.

Depends on what you mean by old school. Last I checked the closer only comes in a tie game in the ninth at home for every team every time. Maybe every team is old school.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Is there really nobody else that could pitch?

 

Supposedly there's some guy named Magill, but I don't think he's pitched since the Bicentennial.

[Mill1634]

Raising Matt's trade value.

 

Smart play, MOY!

[mrmpls]

M.V.P. Matty

[VATwinsFan]

Belisle comes through like we all knew he would.

 

[Don Walcott]

Way to go, Matty! Now let’s win this crazy, interminable **** show!!

[slash129]

Raising Matt's trade value.

 

Smart play, MOY!

Or the length of his upcoming contract

[GCTF]

At this point they should probably just extend Belisle and let him write in whatever dollar amount he wants.

[Cap'n Piranha]

WCCO still has Buxton intros coming back from commercial breaks.  Seems weird.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Two innings of leadership from Belisle-- does Molly bring him out for a third inning of leadership?

[Don Walcott]

Two innings of leadership from Belisle-- does Molly bring him out for a third inning of leadership?

Don’t we have anyone older? . . . oh, wait.

[Mill1634]

Twins bats seem deflated since the 8th 

[yarnivek1972]

Hey, Mejia is still on the roster, right?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Let's pretend we "sequenced" Dozier's double into a different inning earlier...

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

C'mon LoMo, go 1-for-5 today and raise your avg

[yarnivek1972]

Maybe bring in Gibby?

[jtkoupal]

 

To win an extra inning game on the road, you will have to protect a lead in the last half inning.  It's overwhelmingly likely that lead will be less than 3 runs (I don't have numbers, or know how to obtain them, but I have to think well over 90% of extra inning games won by road teams enter the final half inning with a lead of 3 runs or less).  Therefore, saving your closer for a save is perfectly logical.  Unless you think Rodney should have pitched in the 8th tonight, since, you know, the Twins could have scored 12 runs in the top of the 9th and eliminated the save opportunity.

1. There doesn't need to be a designated "closer," and someday there will not be anywhere.

 

2. The relief ace doesn't need to be standing in shrink wrap until it's a save situation if the game is on the line earlier. There is no rule preventing bringing the closer/relief ace in earlier. (Glen Perkins admitted he saved more games in the 7th/8th innings instead of the 9th)

 

3. Brining in Rodney in the 8th when there was trouble would have not been a bad idea. He was warming, so perhaps he was not ready in time, but it it were possible, it would have been the right thing to do. Take your chances with your next best guy later if the game progresses to that

[D. Hocking]

Morrison will save the day with winning RBI  (or perhaps already did - not sure how delayed game day is).

 

Should a .192 hitter be batting 5th?

[Don Walcott]

Morrison will save the day with winning RBI (or perhaps already did - not sure how delayed game day is).

 

Should a .192 hitter be batting 5th?

He extended the day.

[tvagle]

Rodney unavailable today.......

 

 

 

He had an appointment at the CNO - Canadian Naturalization Office

[mrmpls]

Take a strike here Max

[TwinsCD]

 

I have a call: Kepler HR

 

Grand Slam anyone?

[tvagle]

Keep the line Walking boys!

[Nine of twelve]

Just tuned in to see the last two walks. C'mon Maximilian!

[jtkoupal]

 

Depends on what you mean by old school. Last I checked the closer only comes in a tie game in the ninth at home for every team every time. Maybe every team is old school.

There is no rule involving "closer" usage. The manager is free to use his staff however he wants. Tampa Bay doesn't use a closer. Bringing in the relief ace in the highest leverage situation (often not a save situation) can win more games over the course of 162 games. Glen Perkins said he saved more games as a 7th/8th inning guy than a 9th inning guy. Fear not, I promise it will catch on eventually around baseball, everything will be ok.

[VATwinsFan]

Jays almost out of pitchers.