Mariners 10, Twins 6: Bullpen Blows Up

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Twins sent Bailey Ober to the bump Tuesday night, looking to secure at least a split with the visiting Mariners. While Ober was sharp for five innings, a bullpen meltdown did the Twins in.

Image courtesy of © Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Bailey Ober - 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (84 pitches, 58 strikes, 13 whiffs)
Home Runs: Ryan Jeffers(7)
Bottom 3 WPA: Steven Okert -0.443, Jorge Alcalá -0.432, Carlos Correa -0.185

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Ober Gets Behind
Bailey Ober started Tuesday night for the Twins and was going up against a Mariners lineup that Simeon Woods Richardson and friends held to a single run on Monday. The first inning saw both sides go down in order, but Seattle didn’t take the field until after Carlos Correa made a slick play on a Jorge Polanco ground ball back up the middle.

Coming back for the second inning, Mitch Haniger swung at a fastball up in the zone and got all of it. His big fly was deposited into the left-field seats, and Seattle led for the first time in the series. After Ober plunked Luis Urias with two outs, Dylan Moore made it hurt with a double to drive in the second Seattle run.

Two-Out Excitement
Jose Miranda lined a ball to right field with two down in the 3rd inning to give the Twins their first base hit and baserunner against Emerson Hancock. Edouard Julien then took a walk before Trevor Larnach stepped in. The hot-hitting lefty ripped a line drive to right field, allowing Miranda to score Minnesota’s first run and push Julien to third base.

Ryan Jeffers stepped in against Hancock, and he of the sausage master designation, earned a toss with a big three-run blast into the left field seats. The big homer was his seventh of the season, and continued a run of good fortune since the Twins returned their home run sausage to the dugout during the 5th inning of last night’s game. Max Kepler did replenish the bodies on the bases with a double, but Correa grounded out to end the inning.

Ober came back out and immediately responded to the lineup’s impressive showing. Striking out two in the 4th inning, he made quick work of the Mariners and got Seattle to sit down in order. Minnesota mounted another threat in the bottom of the 5th inning, but couldn’t push Kyle Farmer and Jeffers beyond first and second base. Up 4-2, Rocco Baldelli started with the platoon changes bringing in both Manuel Margot and the aforementioned Farmer to hit for Julien and Larnach.

Ober to the Bullpen
With 84 pitches through five innings, Baldelli turned the game over to the bullpen and gave Ober the rest of the evening off. Cole Sands continues to be great in relief this season and worked a quick 1-2-3 inning complete with a strikeout of Polanco. After Minnesota went down quietly in their half, it was Jay Jackson who got the 7th inning.

Mitch Garver singled to lead off the inning before Jackson struck out Ty France. Urias then singled to left field and the Mariners had a threat with runners in the corners. Moore popped up a foul ball behind the plate, but Jeffers never saw it and the ball bounced harmlessly. On the next pitch, Jackson nearly plunked Moore, and he took a walk to load the bases. Steven Okert came on, and Mariners manager Scott Servais went to Cal Raleigh looking to even the game. Getting a hanger from Okert on a 3-2 pitch, the Big Dumper punished a ball and cleared the bases for a grand slam. Minnesota found themselves trailing 6-4 in the 7th inning.

Minnesota Doubles Down
Looking to immediately answer, Jose Miranda stepped in and just missed a home run, instead doubling off the right field wall. Farmer followed him with a double of his own, and that brought the Twins back within a run at a 6-5 deficit. Margot stepped in and grounded out to third on a second pitch that was out of the zone. Failing to move Farmer over, it was yet another wasted at bat. Farmer attempted to steal third on a Jeffers strikeout, and while he was initially called out, the Twins challenged the play only to have that result confirmed.

Picking up where they left off in the 7th inning, Kepler doubled to open the 8th inning and immediately put the tying run in scoring position. Austin Martin pinch hit for Alex Kirilloff and grounded into the shift at first base. He hustled down the line though, and slid into first base safely. Unfortunately, pitcher Tayler Saucedo was injured while covering first base and slipping on the bat had him going down in a head. The ball laid on the dirt and Kepler alertly scampered home to tie the game. Saucedo eventually walked off under his own power, but it was clear he had gotten substantially injured.

More Mariners Damage
Returning for a second inning of work, Alcala was back out to kick off the 9th inning. A misplayed fly ball at the wall by Martin gave Moore a leadoff triple, and he came around to score before Minnesota recorded an out. Seattle loaded the bases, and while the Twins got Polanco to punch out again, a sacrifice fly from Haniger pushed the lead to 8-6. A wild pitch made it 9-6, France singled home Julio Rodriguez to make it 10-6 and this one was all but over.

Minnesota went down in order during the bottom of the 9th inning and they’ll look to start a new win streak again tomorrow.

Notes
Josh Winder, who has been rehabbing from injury since spring training, is beginning a major league rehab assignment with the St. Paul Saints. He had pitched in games with Fort Myers already.

As the Twins, Comcast, and Bally Sports all continue to pass the buck around, it was Diamond Sports Group’s business that decided to place the blame elsewhere today. It’s certainly an interesting stance considering they are dealing with bankruptcy.

It was Dollar Dog Night. The 9x9x9 challenge took place. It was completed, and will never be attempted (by me, personally) again. While it didn’t seem to be overly aggressive while competing, it certainly is something that creeps up on you as time goes on.

What’s Next? 
Chris Paddack was solid throughout the Twins' winning streak and he’ll look to continue that production against the Seattle Mariners. Working against starter George Kirby, Rocco Baldelli will be hoping for another strong performance from his back-of-the-rotation starter. 

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

 

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[FlyingFinn]

What a season Jeffers is having! Keep it up.

[USAFChief]

I would conservatively estimate Rocco gets outmanaged 3 times per week.

Chalk one up for this week.

[Parfigliano]

Rocco made several questionable decisions tonight.  I thought he pulled Ober to early and I will never understand his need to use Margot as a PH.

[Parfigliano]

14,710 attendance is weak.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Steve McQueen has the summary for this game:

I was home!

Still, we should forgive a bullpen that has performed well thus far, and not be too hard on a rookie misplay in the outfield.

Saucedo's knee hyperextension is perhaps the most sickening injury to watch since Josh Naylor's right field collision a few years back. Hope it's not too serious.

[2wins87]

I'm not one to complain about most modern baseball trends, but I think I'm sick of the slider specialist reliever.

Even for guys where it works most of the time, I've just come to really dislike watching 60-70% sliders, constantly trying to get hitters to expand the zone, lots of balls and long counts, with no other pitch to get guys out.

I never really trusted Wisler, Romo I guess was the best possible version of it as a guy who made a career out of it but even he wasn't always the most fun to watch and he did it better than anyone else.

I'm not enjoying Jackson and Okert much this season, who teamed up for an all time ugly inning of just throwing slop pitches. When the hitters didn't chase they had nothing else to go to but a slider in the zone. A 3-2 pitch with no where to put Raleigh, everybody in the world knew it was going to be a slider. If he managed to locate it perfectly in a corner it probably would have been OK, but more often than not, it's going to be a less than perfect execution and it's either a walk or a ball in the seats.

[Rosterman]

I'm putting it all on Rocco.

Last year, the Twins pitching worked BigTime. 

You have to let the starters do the workload. Simeon could've gone into another inning. Ober was good for another inning.

You have to use some relief pitchers twice in a row, but you also have to set yourself up that you don't need to use three (or more) in any game.

This game. You need Ober to pitch six. Sands to give you wo innings if possible, as he IS the long man. 

Even when you have the game tied, don't send Alcala out for a second innings. You have to keep them punched down...any of the three that pitched Monday should still be able to pitch today. Of course, switching out your top-of-the-lineup in the 5th with Farmer and Margot, who will be your comback guys in the 9th, also shouldn't have beeen in play. Sorry, Rocco...you don't have to use every player off the bench every game.

Of course, it doesn't matter if you win or lose a game. Just how many guys can play that day, and that you keep your bullpen in some sort of rotation, I guess.

[mikelink45]

Margot and Santana are really disappointing. And Margot is a waste of a roster spot. Bring up Kiersey.  Martin keeps proving he is an IF playing in the OF 

[DocBauer]

Seattle is a good team, and hot recently. You can't and don't win them all. I don't always agree with moves that Rocco makes, think he generally makes good ones, and over the past few weeks he's made a lot of good and right calls. But i did feel he made some poor choices in this game.

1] I just don't understand PH that early in the game to remove a couple of your best bats. What was it, the 5th? You still have a lot of game to play.

2] Ober was at 85 pitches through 5. In a close game, MAYBE it was time to pull him rather than try to squeeze another inning out of him. But as good as Sands has been this season, he's the ONE GUY in the pen who's "built" for more than 1 inning based on being a SP pretty recently. He should have at least started the 7th in hopes he'd have similar success as he did in the 6th. Alcala has shown time and time again that he has the ability to be good/very good for 1 inning. But they keep INSISTING he should throw 2 at a time! Why? The history of results show his production and final results are clear. 

3] I don't understand running Farmer from 2B with 1 out and Jeffers at the plate. Was it a bad hit and run attempt? Being aggressive is one thing. Running yourself out of an inning is a big mistake.

4] Jackson is not a bad arm if he's your 8th or 9th option. STINKS that as soon as we get Duran back we lose Stewart for a week or two. Can Topa help offset his loss? I sure hope so. I don't like the idea of tossing away depth in the pen...and St Paul doesn't have a lot to offer...but when I look at a healthy Twins pen, I've got Duran, Jax, Stewart, Thielbar, Topa, Okert, Duran, Funderburk, and Sands. That's 9 before Staumont hopefully getting right, Winder hopefully getting right, and a couple veteran fliers like Blewett and previously very good Diego Castillo doing solid work. I know guys have bad days, and guys will have IL stints. And Jackson isn't exactly terrible, but he's not exactly good either. Would the FO dare to cut him when Topa is ready? Again, he's probably the 9th or 10th guy when everyone is healthy. How far do they take the "veteran depth" debate?

KUDOS to Martin for his hustle! He BLEW that gimme triple, which happens for rookies, indicating he's still got stuff to learn. And that one play might have been the difference in tonight's game, along with mis-using Sands and Duran. But I'd still stick with him over Margot when Buxton is back. Other than a semi-decent bat, with no power, and a single RBI against a RHP a couple games ago, Margot just looks like someone who fell off a cliff.

Time to get ready for game 3! Go Twins!

[2wins87]

Alcala was not at his sharpest tonight but I do feel for him. He had a good inning, then really got hung out to dry in his second inning, a role he does not seem well suited for, and now he probably gets sent down for a fresh arm.  The ump also started expanding the zone for the Mariners pitchers in the last few innings while shrinking it for Alcala which was tough.

I don't know all the information from the training staff et al that Rocco might be working with, but not getting more length out of Ober and/or Sands does seem to have done them in. Maybe both 50-50 decisions individually, but they really snowballed into disaster tonight. If the plan was to go one pitcher per inning for 4 innings maybe at least switch Alcala and Sands in case they needed length for extra innings or the situation that ended up happening?

Given the way the Mariners are built, it's a pretty safe bet that every game of this 4 game set will be close, so 5 inning starts and a bunch of one inning relief appearances are going to leave the bullpen usage chart looking pretty iffy.

Anyway, hopefully tomorrow will end better.

[chpettit19]

Really bad game by Rocco. I don't do a whole lot of complaining about his pitcher usage, but I really don't understand tonight's decisions. If you know your pen is short handed you have to get another out of Ober or Sands, at a minimum. Ideally you get 1 more out of Ober and 2 out of Sands and then you're sitting pretty. I know they like to give relievers clean innings, and I can appreciate that, but you have to be willing to risk a mid-inning pitching change to avoid needing to use the entire bottom half of your pen in a close game.

I've long complained about the early pinch hitting and tonight was another one. Really bad game from Rocco.

[Ted Schwerzler]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

I would conservatively estimate Rocco gets outmanaged 3 times per week.

Chalk one up for this week.

I don't know that I agree with that, but tonight wasn't good.

[SwainZag]

Walking a very poor hitter in Dylan Moore followed up by  meaty hanging slider to Raleigh were the game changers.  I also think Ober or Sands should have gone one more inning.  Expecting 3 innings from Jackson/Okert/Alcala/Funderburk in theory works, but you don't have a truly dominant arm to get you out of a jam if needed.

That being said....if the pen is going to get blown up, I'd rather have it all in one night rather than spreading it across the week.  Would love to see another gem from Paddack tomorrow to get them back on track.

[DocBauer]

9 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Margot and Santana are really disappointing. And Margot is a waste of a roster spot. Bring up Kiersey.  Martin keeps proving he is an IF playing in the OF 

Going to disagree with you slightly here.

I think Martin's natural position is the OF, LF and CF to be precise. The problem was the Jay's sticking him at SS and the Twins following suit because they A] Didn't want to mess too much with him when first acquired, and B] The Twins kept him in the dirt at SS because they believed it would help his versatility at 2B and 3Bbecause, you know, it would only help, even though they stated he was a natural OF who could move there at any point. The problem is they DIDN'T just move him to where he should be! It's why a lot of us objected to the idea of him being a primary backup to Buxton, along with Castro, right out of the gate. His defense, and offense, needed more time at AAA. Taylor kept holding out for a better offer...which he never got...and that lead to the trade for Margot.

EXCEPT, Margot is no longer considered a legitimate CF option by the Twins, has made a few bad plays in the corners, and has been barely average against LHP, and ABYSMAL against RHP, save a single RBI recently. I'm not one to take a bad month from a veteran and declare him toasted. Late starts and surprises...good and bad...happen. But Margot just looks utterly lost and appears to have fallen off a cliff.

I hate being that "knee jerk" guy, but I would also drop him and bring up Keirsey at this point. He's on a 3 year run of finally being healthy and producing, while getting better and better during that run. He was great at AA in 2023, solid at AAA in 39 games to finish. He's been outstanding in 30 games this season. Do we really care he hits from the LH side as replacement for the barely competent RH Margot? He's a LEGITIMATE CF with speed and defense with some pop who MIGHT hit some. He and Martin can cover CF, along with Castro, who can continue to play anywhere. When Buck is back, you send down whoever makes most sense at the time. 

NOT a big fan of Santana. But at least he's providing good defense. I still believe he can help as a defensive replacement, and a solid RH bat against LHP. So far this season, he's been a much better batter against LHP, which is on cue for his career. I'm talking about almost .300 points better in OPS! IRONICALLY, he somehow has more RBI as a LH despite atrocious batting numbers. But I've heard Larnach, despite his changes in approach and stance that have lead him to sudden production, might still be suffering some from turf toe. That's kept him out of the OF mix somewhat so far if true. So while I'm not a fan of the Santana signing, there's enough there to work with that I'm not ready to bail just yet.

At least he's contributed and shown signs of life. It really feels like Margot is just a mistake who's taking up space.

[Ted Schwerzler]

Austin Martin's misplay at the wall was huge. That's definitely a reflection of lack of awareness for a field, and Willi Castro not being a traditional centerfielder.

His hustle single was big, but you can't give up a triple like that.

[Schmoeman5]

46 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Really bad game by Rocco. I don't do a whole lot of complaining about his pitcher usage, but I really don't understand tonight's decisions. If you know your pen is short handed you have to get another out of Ober or Sands, at a minimum. Ideally you get 1 more out of Ober and 2 out of Sands and then you're sitting pretty. I know they like to give relievers clean innings, and I can appreciate that, but you have to be willing to risk a mid-inning pitching change to avoid needing to use the entire bottom half of your pen in a close game.

I've long complained about the early pinch hitting and tonight was another one. Really bad game from Rocco.

My question is why does no one question him on it? I'd love to hear an explanation.

[h2oface]

Margot should never have been acquired. Cut him NOW!

Jackson, Margot, Santana, Olkert. Strangers for a year, or in Margot and probably Jackson’s case, until they are cut and have caused even more loses. They don’t have to play every game. Innings eater at 6 ERA is foolish. 

Jeffers losing that 2nd out pop up in the 7th sure didn’t help.

Baldelli said he had a well rested bullpen in the post game. When can Ober pitch in the 90s for pitch count?

[Jocko87]

Seems like as good a time as any to remember that this is a regular season game and managerial decisions are going to seem very odd but they aren't the same things Rocco would do in the playoffs.

I am confused by the Sands Alcala pitch count mix though. I thought for sure it would be 2 for Sands.  Alcala usage is bizarre.

[Mark G]

2 hours ago, Jocko87 said:

Seems like as good a time as any to remember that this is a regular season game and managerial decisions are going to seem very odd but they aren't the same things Rocco would do in the playoffs.

I am confused by the Sands Alcala pitch count mix though. I thought for sure it would be 2 for Sands.  Alcala usage is bizarre.

I concur completely.  Problem is, the regular season is what gets you to the playoffs.  And, as was said quite well by many posts above this, Rocco has way too many games like this in the regular season.  And it's not his first season; it may just be time to accept the concept that he is a good clubhouse manager, but not a very good game manager.  While the former may be very desirable, the latter is just as important.  

[CRF]

We got Rocco'd. He makes mis-managing an art form. 

[Karbo]

It was painful watching Jackson out there. I agree Rocco mis-managed things. Ober should have been allowed to come out for the 6th, and Alcala should only go 1 inning. I just haven't see Jackson look very good at all yet this year but since he throws sliders this team will try to fix him. The trade for Margot was a total waste of a good prospect!

[Peter]

That was ugly frustrating and painful to watch. Need our starters to at least go 6 innings. Our bullpen was terrible last night got behind count all game long-Jeffers error in 7th losing foul ball was costly as was martins mistake in 9th along with stealing farmer from 2nd. Paddock needs to go deep today and shut down Seattle-who’s going to pitch in bullpen. They have to be out of gas. Let’s hope twins can win next 2 but got bad feeling they lose both.

[bighat]

1. Jeffers losing that foul pop-up before Jackson walked the bases loaded is the turning point. It doesn't go down as an error, but that's a fairly routine major league play, and gets caught 95% of the time. Instead of 2 outs and men on 1st & 3rd, the M's had 1 out and the bases loaded. 

2. Is Jackson worth keeping on the roster? When Topa comes back is he outrighted? 

3. Rocco is pinch-hitting Manuel Margot because the Twins are still trying to get something out of him. They want to show faith in him and keep using him, the only way to get him out of this season-long slump is to play him. This might look like "bad managing" but it's a marathon and Rocco is trying to get this guy on the field. Margot will either force his way into relevancy or upper management will be forced to make a decision. Sitting him on the bench just prolongs the problem. 

4. Twins now losers of 2-of-3, both losses being very winnable games. Let's hope things don't get ugly. A win today fixes a lot. 

[LewFordLives]

6 hours ago, h2oface said:

Margot should never have been acquired. Cut him NOW!

We'll probably never know how negotiations went with Michael A. Taylor, but it sure would be nice to see him in CF with Buxton out.

[Whitey333]

Nothing unusual about Roccos mismanaged game.  He does it a lot.  Many times his questionable moves are head scratchers.  I absolutely hate his early pinch hitting moves taking out proven hitters.  Many times these hitters have had good games, sometimes homering in the game only to be taken out and pinch hit for by some stiff who just keeps getting out.  What a waste.  And even the bat boy must know not to pitch Alcala two innings in a row. Just another typical day where Rocco is bad field manager.  Nothing unusual there.

[TwinsDr2021]

This is just one game and the Twins are going to lose another 50 - 60, so I am not all that concerned with this game. I am more concerned about  burning out the pen. They have been asked to throw asked to throw quite a bit of innings the last few days, more than I believe necessary. We have seen this play out in the past and it never has really worked out. I completely understood taking out each starter pitcher, but sometimes to save a pen or exposing relief pitchers that just aren't that great you ask SWR to go get another out or three, you ask your number 2/3 starter 28 year old starter to go out and get another 1 or three outs.

IMO the more we are seeing Jackson, Sands, Okert, Alcala pitch the more results like this will happen.

On a positive note Ober, Jeffers, Kepler, Sands and Miranda all looked. I am a bit worried about AK but I think he will get out of the slump soon.

 

Finally, man the Twins batters look great when they aren't just swinging for the fences ever pitch. Kepler, Larnach, Miranda at bats were a thing a beauty, and since Jeffers cut down on closing his eyes and swing as hard as he can, he has turned into an early season MVP type player.

[wabene]

44 minutes ago, LewFordLives said:

We'll probably never know how negotiations went with Michael A. Taylor, but it sure would be nice to see him in CF with Buxton out.

Careful what you wish for: .221    .274    .256    .529 OPS   56  OPS+

.256 slugging? Yikes power was the calling card of his strikeout prone bat last year

  

[chpettit19]

7 hours ago, Schmoeman5 said:

My question is why does no one question him on it? I'd love to hear an explanation.

You mean the media? They ask him about both his pen usage and pinch hitting. Immediately after the game they were all posting on Twitter, etc. about Rocco saying it was an easy decision to pull Ober tonight because he just didn't have his stuff. I don't watch post-game pressers, but the media asks him about these things.

[wabene]

56 minutes ago, bighat said:

. Rocco is pinch-hitting Manuel Margot because the Twins are still trying to get something out of him. They want to show faith in him and keep using him, the only way to get him out of this season-long slump is to play him. This might look like "bad managing" but it's a marathon and Rocco is trying to get this guy on the field. Margot will either force his way into relevancy or upper management will be forced to make a decision. Sitting him on the bench just prolongs the problem. 

This is a good point all the knee-jerk anti-Rocco pitchfork crowd should consider (sorry to link you with this inflammatory sentence bighat,😂, my bad). For all we know Rocco was opposed to Margot's addition to the roster. Hopefully if Margot's performance doesn't improve they release him. It is early though and Rocco has to play him at some point now. Is there a better option than trying to give him the most favorable matchups possible by hitting him against leftys?

Edit: I would not be pinch hitting for any batter that is rolling like Larnach is right now, ever.