GAME THREAD: 9/30/20 Minnesota Twins VS Houston Astros, 12:08 CDT

[Darius]

Fitting way for that one to end....lose to a team below .500, putting up 2 runs in 18 innings. Absolutely pathetic. I don't really know where to go from here. First team eliminated from the postseason, and 18 straight.

There’s nowhere to go. The team we see is done. The window was never open, like we thought. With Cruz likely not coming back, Garver and Polanco from MVP caliber to afterthoughts, Rosario gone, May gone, Buxton and Donaldson forever getting owies and not playing huge games, etc....this thing is over for a number of years....again.

[RIP BYTO]

I watched a team that was not particularly interested in continuing on with their season.

[Aggies7]

 

Surprised the team actually tweeted the final score. I wonder if they'll leave it up this time or take it down like yesterday. Spineless organization

They took it down yesterday because the graphic said “twins win” and we all know that wasn’t true 

[JNess21]

Maybe this isn't fair considering the playoffs is a small sample size but I think next year you tell Rocco "Win in the playoffs or you are out of here". Maybe he'll manage with a little more fire and if the players love him so much they'll get the job done.

[Vanimal46]

ANd the guy we got for the guy we traded away...left off the playoff roster!!!

They knew too much info about him Chief. They had the tactical advantage!

[Darius]

https://twitter.com/LaVelleNeal/status/1311406813087174656?s=20

Who cares? Honestly? The best story this sorry franchise can muster from another playoff disaster is a mediocre pitcher blubbering on a mound of his 3rd MLB team?

[dex8425]

 

I watched a team that was not particularly interested in continuing on with their season.

Good quick way to get out of the bubble.

[Taildragger8791]

And now we enter 6 months of winter and begin an unbelievably depressing Minnesota sports abyss. Vikings and Wolves are trash fires. MLB offseason will be another disappointing slow burn with little to show for it. Not much in the sports world to look forward to until April.

[twins_89]

I truly think the Twins need to find a new hitting coach for next season. 

[kydoty]

I would feel a lot better if we were just getting outplayed.

 

But we don’t just lose these games. We lose them in embarrassing fashion.

 

Everything during the regular season that made us great and got us to this position suddenly disappears, year after year. And the unbelievable brain farts. Getting the 3rd out twice on the basepaths. Polanco suddenly can’t accurately throw the ball from 20 feet in the 9th inning. The cleanup hitter getting himself ejected which accomplished nothing.

 

This streak has transcended players, managers, GM’s, owners and even stadiums. I’m Charlie Brown thinking it’s going to be different this time, but it never is.

[Mill1634]

 

There’s nowhere to go. The team we see is done. The window was never open, like we thought. With Cruz likely not coming back, Garver and Polanco from MVP caliber to afterthoughts, Rosario gone, May gone, Buxton and Donaldson forever getting owies and not playing huge games, etc....this thing is over for a number of years....again.

I think this is an extreme overstatement. It sucks, but the window isn't closed. You saw one of the more promising prospects today in AK, who hit the ball hard twice. Rooker was really good in his time up here. Jeffers wasn't all-star level by any means, but if he puts the numbers up over 100-120 games, it is a top 12 catcher in the game, with his defense. Alcala threw gas out of the bullpen, and can turn into a legit late inning option. Kenta evolved into a stud pitcher. May could very easily be brought back, and the same can be said with Cruz. The sky isn't falling Twins fans.

[operation mindcrime]

https://twitter.com/LaVelleNeal/status/1311406813087174656?s=20

Good riddance!

[LewFordLives]

 

Nothing like getting shot with your own gun

But fitting in many ways.

[Bandit34]

Radio team making excuses for this team. Sad. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Tom Kelly was a great manager

And TK is younger than Dusty Baker. Bring him back!

[RIP BYTO]

Not blaming the umps at all for this sweep, but they probably were the only thing that was more inept than the Twins this series.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

This streak has transcended players, managers, GM’s, owners and even stadiums. I’m Charlie Brown thinking it’s going to be different this time, but it never is.

Curse of Charles Schultz? I guess he died in 2000.

[operation mindcrime]

And now we enter 6 months of winter and begin an unbelievably depressing Minnesota sports abyss. Vikings and Wolves are trash fires. MLB offseason will be another disappointing slow burn with little to show for it. Not much in the sports world to look forward to until April.

I hope the Vikes can get the #1 pick too!

[Primetime82]

Rocco does it again, why the f&ck didn’t Berrios come back out for another inning?? AND why would you bring in Stashek? I’m going back to my best reliever in Duffy personally.

 

Obviously they need to hit the ball, but the coach didn’t do anyone any favors. Rodgers has also been **** all season and he goes back to him on back to back days??

[LVTwinsfan]

I hope the Vikes can get the #1 pick too!

I think hockey starts in Dec

[Longdistancetwins]

 

Curse of Charles Schultz? I guess he died in 2000.

As I mentioned last year at this time, Schulz was from the Twin Cities.

[ashbury]

And Gaetti. And Hrbek. Guys with guts and courage.

Guys who looked in the mirror and held themselves accountable.

 

Gaetti's famous quote about choking, in a season when they weren't quite ready to win, showed a degree of self-awareness and an intent to improve I don't recall from any of the current squad.

 

Puckett would say ‘Jump on my back. I’m driving the bus tonight,' every game, not just the Game 6 we all remember, and win or lose it reflected a willingness to lead.

[Diesel]

My honest thoughts:

1. Kirilloff and Rooker need an actual shot next year. Eddie Rosario is expendable.

2. Try to bring back Cruz, but if not, use a rotating DH.

3. Give Royce Lewis and Blankenhorn the shot to replace Adrianza and Marwin (who won’t be resigned).

4. Do whatever it takes to bring back James Rowson.

5. Go all in on Trevor Bauer. He gives it his all, and will help the mentality of the team.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

As I mentioned last year at this time, Schulz was from the Twin Cities.

Yup, that's what I was getting at!

 

So we need to re-hire TK next year, and if that doesn't work, we need to re-animate Charles Schultz (unless he was cremated, in which case breaking this curse becomes much trickier).

[jud6312]

 

May could very easily be brought back, and the same can be said with Cruz. The sky isn't falling Twins fans.

But why would they want to? I don't see the Twins overpaying for either of them, and if the money is equal elsewhere ...

 

May has a big arm, generally good stuff, and will likely get paid to go close somewhere. If he stays here, he'll likely remain behind Rogers in the pecking order and won't get that kind of money because of it.

 

Cruz is going to have a lot of options if the DH goes universal. Why take the same money to stay with a sorta contender if a real one comes knocking?

[MNT1996]

 

My honest thoughts:
1. Kirilloff and Rooker need an actual shot next year. Eddie Rosario is expendable.
2. Try to bring back Cruz, but if not, use a rotating DH.
3. Give Royce Lewis and Blankenhorn the shot to replace Adrianza and Marwin (who won’t be resigned).
4. Do whatever it takes to bring back James Rowson.
5. Go all in on Trevor Bauer. He gives it his all, and will help the mentality of the team.

 

I'd say Kepler is expendable at this point too. Give Kirilloff, Rooker, and Larnach all a shot. 

 

I think the Twins need to clean house. Trade Rosario, Sano, Kepler, Polanco. Don't resign Gonzalez, Avila, Romo, Adrianza.

[nicksaviking]

 

 

That's some hard hitting stuff from a beat writer after 18 straight playoff losses.

[LVTwinsfan]

Well, I don’t think Rocco’s laid-back approach to managing is working. you know take batting practice if you want, or go take a nap. What do you need a manager for?

[twinssporto]

 

There’s nowhere to go. The team we see is done. The window was never open, like we thought. With Cruz likely not coming back, Garver and Polanco from MVP caliber to afterthoughts, Rosario gone, May gone, Buxton and Donaldson forever getting owies and not playing huge games, etc....this thing is over for a number of years....again.

You left out Buxton not stealing...WTF?

[Diesel]

I'd say Kepler is expendable at this point too. Give Kirilloff, Rooker, and Larnach all a shot.

 

I think the Twins need to clean house. Trade Rosario, Sano, Kepler, Polanco. Don't resign Gonzalez, Avila, Romo, Adrianza.

Kepler is on a cheap contract, and has shown he can be really good. Unless he can bring a lot back, it wouldn’t be worth it. Same goes for Sano and Polanco.