How will the Twins manage the DH?

[jorgenswest]

It might be out there but I haven’t seen the pitching match up for today.

 

Clevinger is lights out in day games so I am saving most of my bullets for the evening. Go with Smeltzer game 1 and see if he makes it a game. He has faced greater odds than this game. I guess they could open with Romero. If it goes bad let Stewart take the lumps.

 

The Indians and will likely have the benefit of a long start and a rested pen for game 2. The Twins need to win that game.

 

I do wonder if it is better to pitch two innings in one if the games or pitch one and possibly be available for game 2.

[Linus]

I would see how the game goes. If we are in it business as usual. If it gets out of hand I throw in the towel and save all bullets for the last two games

[Otto von Ballpark]

Smeltzer is starting game one.

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Good call on Smeltzer.

 

If the Twins lose game one, I might start May in the second game and just see how far he can pitch. Four or five innings even.

[yarnivek1972]

Interesting lineup. They essentially put the A lineup in against the pitcher who is logically going to be harder to beat.

 

Given that Kepler, Sano, Rosario, Cruz and Polanco are all nursing injuries, it’s hard for me to imagine any of them playing both games. Maybe Kepler or Sano would DH in game 2.

 

Also, if there is a mod in the house, perhaps we should roll this thread into the game thread.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Good call on Smeltzer.

 

If the Twins lose game one, I might start May in the second game and just see how far he can pitch. Four or five innings even.

That would be... bad? May is a short reliever now, and an important one to us. No sense messing with his normal usage when you have an 18 man pitching staff.

[VATwinsFan]

Here's a radical (if not foolish idea).   If the Twins lose the first game, does Roco dare use Berrios tonight on three days rest and then have Odorizzi pitch tomorrow?

[SwainZag]

 

Here's a radical (if not foolish idea).   If the Twins lose the first game, does Roco dare use Berrios tonight on three days rest and then have Odorizzi pitch tomorrow?

 

I see zero reason to mess with Berrios after having his best start in quite awhile his last time out.  From what I see, he has never pitched on 3 days rest, probably not a good time be toying with it.  I toss him tomorrow.

[Bomba2026]

Is game 1 on Fox Sports North? I hope so...

[Otto von Ballpark]

Here's a radical (if not foolish idea). If the Twins lose the first game, does Roco dare use Berrios tonight on three days rest and then have Odorizzi pitch tomorrow?

Definitely foolish. Most of the Twins best relievers have barely pitched the past week, and they have the upcoming Monday off too. No sense messing with any starters right now.

[Riverbrian]

To my knowledge these are uncharted waters. 

 

I don't believe anybody has tried bull-penning a double header before. If it has been done before... it certainly hasn't been done with such a key September match-up with another game to play tomorrow against the same team. 

 

The only thing I can think of:

 

If Smeltzer or Dobnak or whoever are hanging zeroes let them keep hanging them. I won't see the logic of Smeltzer throwing two 1-2-3 innings and removing him for the third inning just because it was scripted that way. 

 

 

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

That would be... bad? May is a short reliever now, and an important one to us. No sense messing with his normal usage when you have an 18 man pitching staff.

You may be right. My post was a little misleading. My thinking was if May is starting game two and getting some real easy innings, and the Twins are leading, maybe you see how it goes, and let him go out to pitch the 3rd and 4th.

 

In no way was I suggesting Rocco should approach May this morning and ask him if he can pitch 4 or 5 innings in Game two, because “we need you today” or anything like that.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Is game 1 on Fox Sports North? I hope so...

Yes, it is on FSN. Also MLB Network, it appears, for those outside the FSN market (although those folks should have MLB.TV anyway ).

[Otto von Ballpark]

You may be right. My post was a little misleading. My thinking was if May is starting game two and getting some real easy innings, and the Twins are leading, maybe you see how it goes, and let him go out to pitch the 3rd and 4th.

 

In no way was I suggesting Rocco should approach May this morning and ask him if he can pitch 4 or 5 innings in Game two, because “we need you today” or anything like that.

Even that is probably unnecessary, though. We have an 18 man staff, and every Twins reliever is available and rested (some extremely rested!). Plus an off day coming up on Monday.

 

If May breezes through an inning or two tonight, then you save him for another potential inning on Sunday.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Even that is probably unnecessary, though. We have an 18 man staff, and every Twins reliever is available and rested (some extremely rested!). Plus an off day coming up on Monday.

If May breezes through an inning or two tonight, then you save him for another potential inning on Sunday.

You trust all 18 equally? Noted.

[notoriousgod71]

This is going to be interesting for Rocco to manage since he had these lineups constructed 10-12 years ago.

[Otto von Ballpark]

You trust all 18 equally? Noted.

Ha! No. But our top 5+ are basically as rested as possible right now, and will get more even rest on Monday. I think we have been planning for them all to pitch this weekend anyway.

 

I mean, if something crazy happens, like Mays get through 2 innings on 10 pitches total or something, sure, send him out for a third. But otherwise, I wouldn't push him.

[Otto von Ballpark]

This is going to be interesting for Rocco to manage since he had these lineups constructed 10-12 years ago.

Rocco Baldelli unveiling his pre-constructed lineup for today:

 

[yarnivek1972]

To my knowledge these are uncharted waters.

 

I don't believe anybody has tried bull-penning a double header before. If it has been done before... it certainly hasn't been done with such a key September match-up with another game to play tomorrow against the same team.

 

The only thing I can think of:

 

If Smeltzer or Dobnak or whoever are hanging zeroes let them keep hanging them. I won't see the logic of Smeltzer throwing two 1-2-3 innings and removing him for the third inning just because it was scripted that way.

I’d have to look back at boxscores, but the Rodney King riots wiped out an entire series between the Giants and Dodgers which they eventually made up with 3 consecutive double headers. I would guess at least one of the teams did full bully in at least one of them.

[IndianaTwin]

 

I see zero reason to mess with Berrios after having his best start in quite awhile his last time out.  From what I see, he has never pitched on 3 days rest, probably not a good time be toying with it.  I toss him tomorrow.

 

Concur on not messing with Berrios. 

 

However, what I might consider is bringing Odo back on Tuesday on three days rest. That allows him to come back on Sunday before the day off on the 23rd and pushes Gibson back to Wednesday (five days off) and the following Tuesday after the day off (again, five days off). 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

It seems Thorpe might be starting game two—either starting, or maybe as pitcher asked to pitch the most innings in a “primary” role following the opener.

 

This per a pregame radio segment with coach Jeremy Hefner just now.

[Rosterman]

You don't have to push and get that extra inning, but glad Smeltzer is going out-of-the-gate.

 

I would almost like to see Graterol as the opener for game two, followed by Thorpe.

 

Again, get two solid innings. If comfortable, that third. But once they start putting runners on base, go to the pen.

 

If you need to use your elite (May, Duffey, Rogers, Littell) you can use them for one or two batters.

 

We know Romo could pitch in both games.

 

Heck, I would have Perez available for a couple of innings, too.

 

These games are essential to play and to TRY and win in any way possible.

 

And we need the BIG bats in both games!

 

Only switch out if we get comfortably ahead. You can start resting guys come Monday, if we are still in first place.

 

[notoriousgod71]

 

I’d have to look back at boxscores, but the Rodney King riots wiped out an entire series between the Giants and Dodgers which they eventually made up with 3 consecutive double headers. I would guess at least one of the teams did full bully in at least one of them.

 

I just looked these games up. During these six games, Kip Gross made his only start of the season for the Dodgers and Tim Crews made one of two starts for the Dodgers.

 

The Expos had two randoms start but these weren't true bullpen games as the shortest outing between the twelve starting pitchers was El Presidente, who got rocked and lasted 4.2 innings.

 

Four relievers was used in only one of the games, while 2-3 were the norm.

 

I wouldn't consider these bullpen games, just games started by a reliever that still managed to go at least 5 innings.

 

The main difference is relief pitchers were allowed to go multiple innings in these days so you only needed 3 pitchers per game.

[notoriousgod71]

 

You don't have to push and get that extra inning, but glad Smeltzer is going out-of-the-gate.

 

I would almost like to see Graterol as the opener for game two, followed by Thorpe.

 

Again, get two solid innings. If comfortable, that third. But once they start putting runners on base, go to the pen.

 

If you need to use your elite (May, Duffey, Rogers, Littell) you can use them for one or two batters.

 

We know Romo could pitch in both games.

 

Heck, I would have Perez available for a couple of innings, too.

 

These games are essential to play and to TRY and win in any way possible.

 

And we need the BIG bats in both games!

 

Only switch out if we get comfortably ahead. You can start resting guys come Monday, if we are still in first place.

 

I don't think we'll see Perez out of the pen. Sadly, he is pretty much a given to remain in the rotation at this point.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

 

 

If Smeltzer or Dobnak or whoever are hanging zeroes let them keep hanging them. I won't see the logic of Smeltzer throwing two 1-2-3 innings and removing him for the third inning just because it was scripted that way. 

 

Unfortunately, you did not get your wish.

[yarnivek1972]

Unfortunately, you did not get your wish.

He may not have stopped hanging zeroes, but I don’t think anyone would say Smeltzer should have stayed in the game. The Indians were clearly on him the second time through the order. Only Polanco’s great catch kept the Indians off the board.

[Riverbrian]

Unfortunately, you did not get your wish.

It worked out OK. I’ll give them a pass this time

[jkcarew]

How will the Twins manage the DH?

 

I don't want to come across like I think I'm way smarter than everyone else around here. But to me, this isn't very hard...

As long as he's healthy, you continue to pencil Cruz in, and you don't look back.

[Otto von Ballpark]

How will the Twins manage the DH?

 

I don't want to come across like I think I'm way smarter than everyone else around here. But to me, this isn't very hard...

As long as he's healthy, you continue to pencil Cruz in, and you don't look back.

Pretty sure the OP meant "Dear Husband."

[jkcarew]

Pretty sure the OP meant "Dear Husband."

Oh.

 

Never mind, then.