Game Thread: Twins (Keuchel) v Rays (Bradley), 9/13/23 @ 12:10 CT

[wsnydes]

1 minute ago, SwainZag said:

AK just might never be an above average hitter against lefties.   .206/.285/.346 for his career and .114/.220/.250 for the season against them.  Rocco saw a chance to grab the lead as having Solano up there gave them a much better chance in bringing the run home.

I really hope that isn't the case, but I thought the situational PH was warranted.  Even though I don't really like it.

[Parfigliano]

Lets get at least a FG this inning.

[mrtwinsfan]

Emilio,   well deserved !!!!!!

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

2 clean innings from Floro and Pagan - 1 they have now been used,  and avoided any blow ups.  3 more innings to go unless extras.  

[RpR]

9 minutes ago, mrtwinsfan said:

How is A.K. EVER GONNA LEARN,   Dumb move Rocco,  

Assuming he can learn, big assumption.

[GusGus11]

2 minutes ago, SwainZag said:

AK just might never be an above average hitter against lefties.   .206/.285/.346 for his career and .114/.220/.250 for the season against them.  Rocco saw a chance to grab the lead as having Solano up there gave them a much better chance in bringing the run home.

100% fair point. But this is a situation to find out. Hes never been awful vs them in the minors.

And someone like Kepler has been awful for 10 years against lefties. But this second half has gotten hot and hit them well. Even though 10 years of data says he should be the platoon.

So letting AK hit there with out lead and only the 5th inning is something we should let the kid try. If it was the 8th? 100% go Donny.

But this is why teams uses lefties vs us early on. We are predictable and they know we will sub and they will gain the late inning edge with righties. 

[Cap'n Piranha]

2 minutes ago, GusGus11 said:

Kepler 100% coming back next year. Man has he been huge.

Absolutely mental developmental strategy though for our young lefties. Kirilloff is 26. We gonna platoon him and every other lefty their whole lives?

5th inning with many ABs left in the game. Up 7.5 games in the division and we dont let him face a lefty?

Insane 

No brainer, Kep at $10M will be back.  It will be interesting to see if Falvine tries to extend him (say tack on 2 more years and a club option for a third, turning it into, in essence, a 3 year $40M contract with a $16M option and $4M buyout).

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

1 minute ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

No brainer, Kep at $10M will be back.  It will be interesting to see if Falvine tries to extend him (say tack on 2 more years and a club option for a third, turning it into, in essence, a 3 year $40M contract with a $16M option and $4M buyout).

At this point you would think Kepler comes back,  what about Polanco?  

[GusGus11]

Armstrong has a .81 era in 44 innings? Thats nuts.

[mrtwinsfan]

3 minutes ago, RpR said:

Assuming he can learn, big assumption.

So letting AK hit there with out lead and only the 5th inning is something we should let the kid try. If it was the 8th? 100% go Donny..    Spot on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Parfigliano]

1 minute ago, GusGus11 said:

Armstrong has a .81 era in 44 innings? Thats nuts.

Lower now.

[Cap'n Piranha]

2 minutes ago, GusGus11 said:

100% fair point. But this is a situation to find out. Hes never been awful vs them in the minors.

And someone like Kepler has been awful for 10 years against lefties. But this second half has gotten hot and hit them well. Even though 10 years of data says he should be the platoon.

So letting AK hit there with out lead and only the 5th inning is something we should let the kid try. If it was the 8th? 100% go Donny.

But this is why teams uses lefties vs us early on. We are predictable and they know we will sub and they will gain the late inning edge with righties. 

I don't disagree with you in theory--I want our young lefties to get PAs against lefties, to find out if they can be every day regulars, or if they will have to be just platoon guys.  That said, in a tie game, with a runner on third, I think you do try and cash in on an opportunity to hit a righty against a lefty; it's unlikely a better situation than that will arise later in the game.  If there's no one on base, I 100% think AK should get the chance.  If it's a 4+ run lead for either team, even with a runner on third, 100% AK should get the chance.  But the situation really did dictate making that move.

[9moons27]

16 minutes ago, mrtwinsfan said:

How is A.K. EVER GONNA LEARN,   Dumb move Rocco,  

Didn't work, but AK has been a dud.

[Parfigliano]

Pagan out for a 2nd inning.  Not usual Rocco move.

[Parfigliano]

Got TP set up now.

[GusGus11]

1 minute ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

I don't disagree with you in theory--I want our young lefties to get PAs against lefties, to find out if they can be every day regulars, or if they will have to be just platoon guys.  That said, in a tie game, with a runner on third, I think you do try and cash in on an opportunity to hit a righty against a lefty; it's unlikely a better situation than that will arise later in the game.  If there's no one on base, I 100% think AK should get the chance.  If it's a 4+ run lead for either team, even with a runner on third, 100% AK should get the chance.  But the situation really did dictate making that move.

I just think with 2 outs and it being the 5th is why I let him do it. 1 out where contact is more essential is tougher.

That said at least the pinch hitter was Solano a legitmately good hitter who can also be fine vs righties later on unlike Farmer or especially Luplow.

And yeah kinda like you mentioned my theory/mindset on it is mostly cause I consider all remaining games meningless standings wise. Guardians are not catching us and we are not catching the Al West winner. So i wanted to see him try.

[GusGus11]

exhibit 1,754 why we need more trustworthy relievers

Pagan should not be asked to come back out this inning. But we have no good options.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

why the hell do you put Pagan out for a second inning.  He got lucky in his first inning.  

[Cap'n Piranha]

3 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

At this point you would think Kepler comes back,  what about Polanco?  

I'd be shocked if Polanco isn't back as well.  Falvine loves depth and good contracts, and they are not going to be able to get a player of Polanco's caliber for under $10.5M.  Additionally, they hate losing an asset for nothing, so they're going to exercise the option.  If they do trade Polanco, it will only be if they feel supremely confident in Correa, Lewis, Lee, and Julien handling the non-1B IF positions, and they are able to get a significant pitcher in return (someone at the Lopez or Duran level, at minimum).  I don't see any team trading a pitcher like that for a guy who will turn 31 next year, and is seemingly becoming more injury prone.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Is the ESPN strike zone way off or was that 2nd pitch a strike right down the middle called a ball?

[USAFChief]

Just now, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

why the hell do you put Pagan out for a second inning.  He got lucky in his first inning.  

?

You mean...the Twins should have added a reliever or 3 at the deadline??

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

?

You mean...the Twins should have added a reliever or 3 at the deadline??

Standing pat was also an option, I've been told.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Emilio Pagan spits nails for two innings against a postseason team, just like we all predicted.

[USAFChief]

Nice recovery, Pagan. 

[GusGus11]

I think Kepler and Polanco both come back

 

Too good of price on both. If Lee gets up here early and all young guys are hitting and/or Kepler/Polanco go back to being mid. Then we have them as trade bait for back end starter depth or forsure bullpen help that im sure we will need again next year.

Bring them both back for good prices and they help us win or become trade pieces.

[Parfigliano]

Ok Pagan did his job.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

?

You mean...the Twins should have added a reliever or 3 at the deadline??

Nope,  even though Pagan may get out of this inning,  Pagan either has his stuff or not,  and generally the effectivenes goes down the more pitches he throws.  So he should only be used in 1 inning situations.  We have other reliever for this part of the game.  

[wsnydes]

Haha!  You guys doubted Pagan!

 

 

(Ducks)

[GusGus11]

Hell of a job by Pagan.

Unfair to ask him to do that, but he got through it.

[Aggies7]

Emilio Houdini