I'd love to hear any rationale

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

FYI, I am fine with however Rocco wants to use Gibby in the KC series now that we have clinched, but I will continue to have meltdowns if he is used in the postseason.

The Twins will likely pitch 18 innings of bullpen ball in the first four games of the series.

 

Without Gibson, where you do expect to find those 54 outs? Even if he's only out there to get five of them, that's close to 10% of the way there.

[TFRazor]

 

One of the reasons is Rocco is a terrible coach when it comes to pitching management. No reason at all to bring him in.

We've won 99 games... That's a pretty impressive number if he's terrible at pitcher management

[Mr. Brooks]

The Twins will likely pitch 18 innings of bullpen ball in the first four games of the series.

 

Without Gibson, where you do expect to find those 54 outs? Even if he's only out there to get five of them, that's close to 10% of the way there.

Wait, they play four games in the first round??

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Wait, they play four games in the first round??

Yes, unless one team sweeps in three games.

[Mr. Brooks]

Yes, unless one team sweeps in three games.

That's the joke....

 

You must be too young to remember the Twins of the oughts?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

That's the joke....

You must be too young to remember the Twins of the oughts?

ah-hah

 

Sometimes I need to be hit over the head with a smiley face

[yarnivek1972]

The Twins will likely pitch 18 innings of bullpen ball in the first four games of the series.

 

Without Gibson, where you do expect to find those 54 outs? Even if he's only out there to get five of them, that's close to 10% of the way there.

With the way Gibson has been pitching, why do you expect he can get any of them without giving up runs? Depending on who you are calling starters and relievers, you’re talking about 18 innings divided between 8 or 9 pitchers, or two innings each in 5 days. That’s a pretty typical regular season workload.

[launchingthrees]

 

 

One thing to keep in mind is that Rogers should not be anywhere near the ninth inning in a close game against the Yankees. If there is a time when he should be used in a flex role, it's against the Yankees.

 

 

I happen to agree with this. The question is whether or not Rocco sees it that way. I tend to doubt it. Rogers will be pitching in the highest leverage spots.

[Twodogs]

You'd prefer Sergio Romo throwing 85 MPH frisbees to Stanton, Encarnacion, and Judge in Yankee Stadium with a 1-run lead? No thanks. I'm sticking with Rogers. He's had a couple bad outings but he's been the guy for most of the year. I think he can do it.

 

I could be wrong, but I'm thinking what he meant by using Rogers as a flex option means that you use Rogers when you need him, or it will be a moot point and you won't need anyone to close out the 9th anyway?

[Twodogs]

It's all about finding if there's a post season role for Gibson. We are going to need long relief - Berrios can go 6 or 7 tops, Odorizzi 6 tops and Dobnak 5 or 6 tops. We;re going to need a lot of 2 to 3 inning releif appearances. Expect Rocco to audition Gibson, Perez, Smeltzer, Thorpe, and maybe even Graterol for that role. There's probably room for 2 or 3. Who gets it?

And that all assumes that the starters do well. Those guys won't be going 6 if they give up 3 or 4 bombs or 3 or 4 walks. So if they pitch too carefully they will be walking a lot of guys and going deep into the counts. If they are agressive then they could get lit up. So it will be a tight rope walk.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I could be wrong, but I'm thinking what he meant by using Rogers as a flex option means that you use Rogers when you need him, or it will be a moot point and you won't need anyone to close out the 9th anyway?

Rogers would still pitch high leverage innings, I just wouldn’t necessarily save him for the ninth.

 

For example, if the Yankees have a lefty coming up in the seventh or eighth in a close game, I’d make sure the lefty doesn’t beat me and I might use Rogers in that situation, leaving other righties to face righties.

 

It’s not as if Rogers is bad against either hand of batters but I’d play matchups over inning usage. The Yankees are almost completely right-handed, which means Rogers has a slight disadvantage most of the time.

[Twodogs]

Rogers would still pitch high leverage innings, I just wouldn’t necessarily save him for the ninth.

 

For example, if the Yankees have a lefty coming up in the seventh or eighth in a close game, I’d make sure the lefty doesn’t beat me and I might use Rogers in that situation, leaving other righties to face righties.

 

It’s not as if Rogers is bad against either hand of batters but I’d play matchups over inning usage. The Yankees are almost completely right-handed, which means Rogers has a slight disadvantage most of the time.

Yeah, I agree. You use him when the situation presents itself. You don't necessarily wait until the 9th.

[insagt1]

Pretty clear Twins are looking for anything positive to keep Gib on the post season roster. Its true he really hasn't pitched well since coming off his time on the IL...no matter how its spun. But some of the alternatives might not be a whole lot better. Graterol, for instance really shouldn't go near the Yankees this year. Not ready. Harper, not good enough anymore. Romero--forget it. Stewart...no. Thorpe...an adventure whenever he pitches. Perez...his last month was....well, terrible.

 

So, by default Gib may have a spot. Not because he has 'earned it' but because. So lets hope we see him rise to the occasion. He knows too he may be playing for a contract next year. What better way to impress than to succeed in post season....and maybe even stifle the hated Evil Empire!

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Pretty clear Twins are looking for anything positive to keep Gib on the post season roster. Its true he really hasn't pitched well since coming off his time on the IL...no matter how its spun. But some of the alternatives might not be a whole lot better. Graterol, for instance really shouldn't go near the Yankees this year. Not ready. Harper, not good enough anymore. Romero--forget it. Stewart...no. Thorpe...an adventure whenever he pitches. Perez...his last month was....well, terrible.

 

So, by default Gib may have a spot. Not because he has 'earned it' but because. So lets hope we see him rise to the occasion. He knows too he may be playing for a contract next year. What better way to impress than to succeed in post season....and maybe even stifle the hated Evil Empire!

Graterol is a shoo-in to make the roster. I'm not sure what you're worried about but him dropping 101mph fastballs followed by 90mph sliders that had batters Bugs Bunny-ing means he's one of the 25 to head to New York.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Graterol is a shoo-in to make the roster. I'm not sure what you're worried about but him dropping 101mph fastballs followed by 90mph sliders that had batters Bugs Bunny-ing means he's one of the 25 to head to New York.

hopefully Rocco doesn't pull a Gardy and keep Rodgers out there for 3 innings refusing to play Graterol because he's a rookie.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

hopefully Rocco doesn't pull a Gardy and keep Rodgers out there for 3 innings refusing to play Graterol because he's a rookie.

God, that was brutal. I still haven't forgiven Gardy for it.

[Thegrin]

My memory may be clouded by the years, but after Molly & Rocco, Gardy & Andy are starting to look good.

[yarnivek1972]

My memory may be clouded by the years, but after Molly & Rocco, Gardy & Andy are starting to look good.

I must have missed Gardy’s 100 win season.

[Thegrin]

I must have missed the year that Gardy had 5 30+ HR hitters and a solid 5 man rotation.

[Mr. Brooks]

I must have missed the year that Gardy had 5 30+ HR hitters and a solid 5 man rotation.

Gardy had 2 MVP's, the best starting pitcher in baseball, the best closer in Twins history, plus Torii Hunter and Brad Radke... and still managed to get swept by the A's.

 

This team has made the most of it's ability, but from a pure talent aspect, that 2006 team had way more talent.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I must have missed the year that Gardy had 5 30+ HR hitters and a solid 5 man rotation.

Gardy didn't do himself any favors, either. For example, sitting Cuddyer for basically forever, "play second, bat second", and making some truly inexplicable lineup decisions didn't exactly help the Twins score runs.