Pirates (Keller) vs Twins (Woods Richardson): 7/13/25, 1:10pm

[Richie the Rally Goat]

11 minutes ago, jaimedude said:

The guy that is really stranding  a lot of runners on base is Wallner. Wallner is striking out a ton and not even  moving runners over.  This team needs more speed in right field and to move on from Wallner. Wallner bat's in RBI spots a lot and if you look at the first half the season he isnt driving in runs much or moving guy's over. Not good at small stuff. I'm way more frustrated with Wallner than Lewis. Wallner is pulling off the fastball instead of squaring it up. Guys got talent but he isn't putting it together. 

Move on from a guy in his first year of Arbitration?

yeah, he’s having a down year, but holy crap it’s hard to complain about the previous 2 years.

i firmly believe he’ll figure it out again soon.

[Sjoski]

18 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

I’m far from a hitting guru but it seems like his entire swing needs to be retooled. Maybe he compensated for the lower leg injuries and it got everything out of whack 

Everything seems out of sync...that's a given. Hitting starts from the ground up, so his hamstrings must still be a factor.  

I hope he finds his mojo again over the break.  

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

35 minutes ago, S Bart said:

Also tough to win with constant pitching changes...maybe it is Topa time now

I'm far from a habitual Baldelli (or Maki et al) basher, but one thing I don't get is how often a reliever will be done for the day after a short inning or a partial inning. Jax needed 9 pitches to get through the 8th. Obviously there's 20/20 hindsight knowing that Durán would be iffy today and give up a run, but they did know they were in a low-scoring tie game and there was a decent chance of going to extras.

Can a reliever who probably threw more warming up in the pen than facing the Pirates not at least start another inning? Is the coaching staff so averse to handing off inherited runners between their two best relievers?

[Mike Sixel]

22 minutes ago, jaimedude said:

He's not far off from hitting well just a little late on some swings. He's actually fouling off a lot of pitches, just needs to get his timing back. The guy that is really stranding  a lot of runners on base is Wallner. Wallner is striking out a ton and not even  moving runners over.  This team needs more speed in right field and to move on from Wallner. Wallner bat's in RBI spots a lot and if you look at the first half the season he isnt driving in runs much or moving guy's over. Not good at small stuff. I'm way more frustrated with Wallner than Lewis. Wallner is pulling off the fastball instead of squaring it up. Guys got talent but he isn't putting it together. 

Wallner out hitting Lewis last year and this year.... Nor do I see why one being bad absolves the other?

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, whosafraidofluigirussolo said:

I'm far from a habitual Baldelli (or Maki et al) basher, but one thing I don't get is how often a reliever will be done for the day after a short inning or a partial inning. Jax needed 9 pitches to get through the 8th. Obviously there's 20/20 hindsight knowing that Durán would be iffy today and give up a run, but they did know they were in a low-scoring tie game and there was a decent chance of going to extras.

Can a reliever who probably threw more warming up in the pen than facing the Pirates not at least start another inning? Is the coaching staff so averse to handing off inherited runners between their two best relievers?

You really expect any manager not to use Duran there?

[jaimedude]

18 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Move on from a guy in his first year of Arbitration?

yeah, he’s having a down year, but holy crap it’s hard to complain about the previous 2 years.

i firmly believe he’ll figure it out again soon.

I don't like his defense, liability on plays in gaps or the wall, and he Wallner doesn't have a good defensive position to play. Maybe if offense was average you could like the below average speed and defensive gaffes with glove. It's similar  thing with Eduard Julien that guy makes contact and can hit but he is a minus defender not a good defensive player. 

[Doc Lenz]

Red Sox head to All Star break with 10 wins in a row with Alcala contributing. Don’t know how they have done it since their Manager is way worse than ours.

Good time to get new hitting and pitching coaches!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

17 minutes ago, jaimedude said:

I don't like his defense, liability on plays in gaps or the wall, and he Wallner doesn't have a good defensive position to play. Maybe if offense was average you could like the below average speed and defensive gaffes with glove. It's similar  thing with Eduard Julien that guy makes contact and can hit but he is a minus defender not a good defensive player. 

In 2023 and 2024 Wallner was the 5th best hitting RF league wide.

 

Ed Julien had a very good 2023, but sucked in 24, worse in 25. Very different situation, very different position.

[Sjoski]

29 minutes ago, whosafraidofluigirussolo said:

Jax needed 9 pitches to get through the 8th

Can't tell you how many times I've thought the same thing. Rocco has his methods and rarely mixes things up. He's so predictable. 

Jax had the next 4 days off to rest too. 

 

[Sjoski]

1 hour ago, Doc Lenz said:

Red Sox head to All Star break with 10 wins in a row with Alcala contributing.

Sox are 13-1  in last 14 too...

Alcala did give up 3 runs in his last outing.  So Sox win despite him. But...he's not melting down like he did here.

Btw...Wentz gets picked up by Atlanta and promptly throws 3 scoresless innings. Another coincidence? 

 

 

 

[jaimedude]

2 hours ago, Sjoski said:

Zebby Marthews pitched 4 scoreless for the Saints today. Maybe some guys have talent regardless of pitchhing coaches and some do not really need a lot of help. Figures Wentz would do well elsewhere. 

[BiggestRoccoFan]

1 hour ago, Doc Lenz said:

Red Sox head to All Star break with 10 wins in a row with Alcala contributing. Don’t know how they have done it since their Manager is way worse than ours.

Good time to get new hitting and pitching coaches!

You think the Red Sox manager is worse than Baldelli?

That's about the funniest thing I've heard all weekend long!

[Doc Lenz]

20 minutes ago, BiggestRoccoFan said:

You think the Red Sox manager is worse than Baldelli?

That's about the funniest thing I've heard all weekend long!

Someone said that earlier in the week. A bit of cynicism.

[Doc Lenz]

Just now, Doc Lenz said:

Someone said that earlier in the week. A bit of cynicism.

They said Cora was worse than our guy.

[Tlaker]

These damn one run game losses!!

Royals and Guardians both were able to win in their respective one run games…..Royals in a walk off. Tigers lose… so sure would have been nice to pull out today’s game!

Still didn’t expect 6-3 on this home stand but 48-48 would have felt better psychologically 😀