Pagan or Jax

[USAFChief]

Twins lead a postseason game 3-2, top of the 8th coming up. Opposition has the top of the order due up. Thielbar not available. Starter not an option. 

Who pitches?

I give the ball to Pagan over Jax.

[jorgenswest]

I am glad I am not locked in on deciding today but I would give it to Jax. I think Pagán has a better chance of both a clean outing and a crooked number. The crooked number leads to the other team’s top set up man which is almost certainly better than Pagán or Jax.

This Tuesday I would hand the ball to Pagán.

[CRF]

If the way they're both pitching at that time, is the same as right now...I'm with you. I'd give it to Pagan. I really hate the guy, but he's better at the current time than Jax. 

[Linus]

I’m not sure. It is an interesting question that I would not have guessed existed a couple months ago. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Pagan or Jax

No?

[LA Vikes Fan]

2 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Twins lead a postseason game 3-2, top of the 8th coming up. Opposition has the top of the order due up. Thielbar not available. Starter not an option. 

Who pitches?

I give the ball to Pagan over Jax.

Is Balazovic an option? If not, and I can't believe I'm typing this, Pagan. Jax looks like he needs a 15 day IL stint with a tired arm.

[Danchat]

I'd give the ball to whomever has pitched better in the past two weeks or so - essentially I'd go with the hot hand.

[FlyingFinn]

Jax. Still think the more important the situation is, the worse Pagan pitches (but he has done a lot of good this year).Pagan has two blown saves in his last 7 appearances.

[Brock Beauchamp]

[LastOnePicked]

[glunn]

Pagan if there is no one on base. Jax if there is anyone on base.

[Dave Borton]

12 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Who pitches?

You pitch the hottest hand in the BP at the time. Right now that is Balazovic or Pagan. Keep Balazovic on an accompanied curfew. <winks/>

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Pagan.

Jax just doesn't have an 'out' pitch right now. 

Absolutely crazy to me that the front office didn't learn anything from last season. 

[John Belinski]

The past few games Jax has been throwing some pitches that are being hit hard. Yesterday he got 2 strikes on high pitches and then throws pitch right over the plate that the batter hits when another high pitch may have been strike 3.  Have not been a big fan of Pagan, but he has shown he can get batters out with a very good fastball. If we need a strikeout then Pagan seems like a better choice.

[chpettit19]

Jax, but it's a closer call than I'd like. Jax and Duran are both uncomfortable to watch right now, but Jax has given up at least 1 run in an inning 3 times since May, and doesn't give up HRs. He's certainly shaky right now, but it's not like he's giving up runs left and right.

I give Pagan props for making it through this year as a very serviceable middle reliever, but I still wouldn't put him anywhere near the situation as described above. I fully expect Jax to get himself straightened out before the postseason. He's done it before and he'll do it again. He's allowing too many runners for sure, but he's still getting through innings with the lead intact. I'll take my chances with him over Pagan in a high leverage spot.

[Road trip]

Neither.   The 5th and possibly the 4th starters (Ryan + Ober? Maeda?) moves to the pen for the postseason.  I know it would be a new role, but any of the bunch would be better.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

25 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Jax, but it's a closer call than I'd like. Jax and Duran are both uncomfortable to watch right now, but Jax has given up at least 1 run in an inning 3 times since May, and doesn't give up HRs. He's certainly shaky right now, but it's not like he's giving up runs left and right.

I give Pagan props for making it through this year as a very serviceable middle reliever, but I still wouldn't put him anywhere near the situation as described above. I fully expect Jax to get himself straightened out before the postseason. He's done it before and he'll do it again. He's allowing too many runners for sure, but he's still getting through innings with the lead intact. I'll take my chances with him over Pagan in a high leverage spot.

Who is going to come in and take over leverage setup duty from Pagan and Jax between now and the post season? Stewart doesn’t have an ETA. Thielbar and? 
Balazovic?

Sands?

Winder?

Floro?

Currently minor leaguer?

What choice will Rocco have, if not Pagan?

In the post season, every inning is leverage. There needs to be several leverage setup men to get to Duran.

[chpettit19]

8 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Who is going to come in and take over leverage setup duty from Pagan and Jax between now and the post season? Stewart doesn’t have an ETA. Thielbar and? 
Balazovic?

Sands?

Winder?

Floro?

Currently minor leaguer?

What choice will Rocco have, if not Pagan?

In the post season, every inning is leverage. There needs to be several leverage setup men to get to Duran.

I think the only hope for playoff success is starters getting through 6 and Thielbar, Jax, and Duran are on top of their game. I don't see another reliever I'd use in a postseason game right now. 

As of now Pagan is likely 4th in line, yes. But the question was simply Jax vs Pagan. And I'd still go Jax.

[Patzky]

Maeda: "Rocco, don't lose that number you don't want to call nobody else.."

[Patzky]

24 minutes ago, Road trip said:

Neither.   The 5th and possibly the 4th starters (Ryan + Ober? Maeda?) moves to the pen for the postseason.  I know it would be a new role, but any of the bunch would be better.

I think you could likely pluck Maeda in a break the glass for emergency scenario.

[NeverSeenATwinsPlayoffWin]

There is a platoon question at hand here. Pagan is much better against RHB, and Jax is much better against LHB. To me, this is more of a platoon question than a question of which one I prefer as a setup man.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

48 minutes ago, Road trip said:

Neither.   The 5th and possibly the 4th starters (Ryan + Ober? Maeda?) moves to the pen for the postseason.  I know it would be a new role, but any of the bunch would be better.

The odds of having Lopez, Gray, Ryan, Maeda and Ober all healthy going into October seems low to me. I haven’t seen a clear time table on Ryan, he’s probably back in time, but unclear. 

[IaBeanCounter]

8 hours ago, glunn said:

Pagan if there is no one on base. Jax if there is anyone on base.

I believe that it is reversed.  For the season Pagan has inherited 22 runners, allowed 8 to score (36.4%) and left 4 runners for the next pitcher.  Jax's numbers are 6, 4 (66.7%) and 9.  Tomorrow in that situation I would use Pagan as he has an ERA of 1.26 and a WHIP of .56 since the AS break.  Jax's numbers are 3.09 and 1.48.

In the post season I would use Jax first and if he had problems I would have Pagan come in to clean it up, unless there were 2 outs and then Duran for a 4 out save.

[Craig Arko]

I’d think Rocco will have to rely on both of them. And that may or may not work out. But it’s what we have.

[Squirrel]

2 hours ago, Patzky said:

I think you could likely pluck Maeda in a break the glass for emergency scenario.

I think they have before ... maybe in 2021? In a long extra inning game?

[IndianaTwin]

Assuming he's righted himself, Duran for the two-inning save. 😃 

But he wasn't one of your choices -- I'd go Pagan. 

[Battle ur tail off]

19 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Is Balazovic an option? If not, and I can't believe I'm typing this, Pagan. Jax looks like he needs a 15 day IL stint with a tired arm.

Jax needs to either do that or some low leverage for right now. Pagan has been hot, ride him until he loses it. I was worried when Rocco took Sonny out at 80 pitches and handed it to Jax yesterday, he has been bad his last handful of outings. We got lucky to win that game IMO.

[howeda7]

22 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Twins lead a postseason game 3-2, top of the 8th coming up. Opposition has the top of the order due up. Thielbar not available. Starter not an option. 

Who pitches?

I give the ball to Pagan over Jax.

Jax 100%. Not even a question.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I kind of like the mentality of a guy who gives up a bunch of runs and loses the game night after night, and then still has the cojones to say he belongs in the all star game. 🙂

[RpR]

Jax has stunk recently , Pagan is doing what was expected, end of story, for now.