Reds 5, Twins 4: Twins Lose Another Winnable Game Against the Reds

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

10 hours ago, mnfireman said:

Unacceptable to be up 2 after 6 and lose. A teams best BP arms are supposed to cover 7, 8, and 9 with the lead; maybe they give up 1 run, but should not give up 3 runs, especially when it breaks down to 1 run in each of the 7th, 8th and 9th innings. If the team thought these were their best BP options, its time to blow things up and bring the kids up, even if some of them have to do the BP thing for a year. Let's see if they can show any reason to keep them before the team needs to count on them,,,

Well, this bullpen is going be like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride for the near future. But my biggest takeaway from this loss was the runners we left on base. Gotta get more runs across the plate. 

[Jack207]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Twins Fan said:

Well, this bullpen is going be like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride for the near future. But my biggest takeaway from this loss was the runners we left on base. Gotta get more runs across the plate. 

 

[Jack207]

Funderburk is not MLB caliber reliever!

[JD-TWINS]

Bradley looked solid for the most part ………very encouraging! The guys have to continue to put runs on board when opportunity is right in front of them.

Critical maybe, but Taj cannot give up an RBI single with two outs & an 0-2 count on the batter. I live in Cincinnati and Stephenson has numerous holes in his approach at the plate………Bradley, again up 0-2 in count, throws a middle of the plate - thigh high breaking ball that got ripped. Mistakes happen but in this situation they really shouldn’t. My point here is the PEN guys are not the only ones making mistakes that cost Team runs they shouldn’t be giving up.

[David Maro]

Only thing I can say is I said yesterday they have to score 6 to win. 

[DJL44]

25 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Critical maybe, but Taj cannot give up an RBI single with two outs & an 0-2 count on the batter. I live in Cincinnati and Stephenson has numerous holes in his approach at the plate………Bradley, again up 0-2 in count, throws a middle of the plate - thigh high breaking ball that got ripped. Mistakes happen but in this situation they really shouldn’t. My point here is the PEN guys are not the only ones making mistakes that cost Team runs they shouldn’t be giving up.

Pretty sure that ball was supposed to break and finish out of the strike zone. It didn’t break.

People here need to expect more failure. Batters will hit .250 at best with runners in scoring position. This bullpen will have an ERA around 4.50 and will give up a run every other inning. The defense will be among the worst in the league.

The frustration I have isn’t with the players for playing to their abilities. My frustration is with the front office looking at this team through Kasota Gold colored glasses and failing to address the obvious issues. Either build a contender now or rebuild with the hopes of building a contender in 2 years. Don’t waste your assets chasing 82-80.

[Hubie29]

10 hours ago, Jacksson said:

Bullpen snatches DEFEAT from the jaws of Victory.

With all due respect, Funderburk needs to be in AAA as his family issues are no doubt taking his focus away from executing at the MLB level

With a man on 3rd and 1 out both Keaschall, foul popup to 1B and Larnach, strikeout CHOKE and leave the runner stranded.

With a man on2nd and 1 out both Gray, strikeout and Buxton, groundout to 3B, CHOKE and leave the runner stranded.

With a man on 2nd an 1 out both Jeffers, groundout to 3B and Larnach, line out to SS, CHOKE and leave the runner stranded.

With runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out, Buxton CHOKES and grounds out to 3B.  THEN with runners on 3B and 2B and 2 outs, Martin CHOKES and flys out to CF leaving both runners, who were in scoring position stranded.

With the bases loaded and 2 outs, Gray CHOKES and strikes out leaving all 3 runners stranded.

With a man on 2b and NO OUTS, Larnach CHOKES and grounds out to the PITCHER, failing to advance the runner. THEN with runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out BOTH Kreidler, pop out to 2B and Gray, strikeout, CHOKE and leave the runners stranded.  It never occurred to Shelton to bunt the runner over to 3B with ZERO outs??

Game NOW tied in the bottom of the 8th and Buxton, Martin and Clemens ALL STRIKE OUT.

Bottom of the 9th, trailing by a run 1 out , bases empty and Keaschall and Wallner both CHOKE and strikeout - END OF GAME.

Batter #1, Buxton, 2K, #2, Martin 2K, #9, Gray 3K.  Total team Strikeouts = 12

All Funderburk has to do is to get 1 OUT.  Twins up 4-2 with a runner on 2B with 2 outs.  Funderburk HITS THE FIRST BATTER HE FACES and then GIVES UP AN RBI SINGLE TO THE SECOND BATTER.  The damage done, he gets the 3rd batter out, stranding 2 baserunners but the score is now 4-3.

All Orze has to do is get 3 outs and not give up a run.  First Batter singles, Second batter singles = runners at the corners with ZERO OUTS.  Third batter strikes out and the fourth batter hits a sacrifice fly tying the game.

All Sands has to do is get 3 outs and not give up a run.  First batter singles, is bunted over to 2B by batter #2 then batter #3 singles to CF and drives in the go ahead run.  With the game securely LOST, Sands gets the next two batters out, stranding a potential insurance runner at 1B.

Congratulations: Bullpen, Shelton, Hawkins, CHOKE ARTIST Twins batters. 

Sounds like the paramedics might have had a busy day!

[Jeff K]

14 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

If Kriedler is playing CF over Outman on days when Buxton is DH or taking the day off, then Outman is worthless on the 26 man roster. I don't have much of an interest until this team starts the youth movement. 

I am 100% on board with that call out.  Emanuel Rodriguez hit his 4th dinger yesterday at 117 MPH.  He should be in the Twins lineup in one of the corner positions.  And Kaelen Culpepper ought to get a chance at Shortstop.  NOW!

[Jeff K]

11 hours ago, DJL44 said:

The prospects will have to pitch in front of the same lousy Twins defense as the current bullpen.

Actually, that depends on who is called up.  Kaelen Culpepper is an upgrade at shortstop and Emanuel Rodriguez would be an upgrade in RF.

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Pretty sure that ball was supposed to break and finish out of the strike zone. It didn’t break.

People here need to expect more failure. Batters will hit .250 at best with runners in scoring position. This bullpen will have an ERA around 4.50 and will give up a run every other inning. The defense will be among the worst in the league.

The frustration I have isn’t with the players for playing to their abilities. My frustration is with the front office looking at this team through Kasota Gold colored glasses and failing to address the obvious issues. Either build a contender now or rebuild with the hopes of building a contender in 2 years. Don’t waste your assets chasing 82-80.

So, I realize the ball wasn’t intended to land in the middle of the Zone (nobody’s perfect) - but it’s not Funderburk’s intention to hit the guy either. My point is Taj shouldn’t be “all praise” and PEN guys be “all blame”. It was a piss poor 0-2 pitch!

In a parallel, (not trying to pick a battle here) but I do not understand how so many are upset, frustrated, or unsympathetic to the Front Office (regardless of who is in charge) when ownership has essentially abandoned them. $155-$160M in ‘23 on payroll & in ‘26 the spend is $105M……….$10M to Correa & $22M to Lopez ………. this has the Team operating in 2026 with a spend of $73M for the guys on the field. I realize other Teams have injured guys as well but I really can’t imagine anyone else is fielding a Team of 26 guys for under $73M.

There was no “plan” to become a frugal (Guardians - Pirates - Tampa - Cincinnati) spending Club. Without a plan do this or operate this way, the FO looks like they are clueless in some situations. An organization can’t change their approach, successfully, in 4 months nor 18 months …….. it’s a long-term philosophy.

The problem with the Club, IMO, is a deficiency on some reasonable spending to be able to have a Pen with an ERA of 4.00 or less (v. 4.50) and a position player roster w/o Outman - Clemens. It’s only $25M range in sum.

Expectations, as you accurately state, can’t be that “these guys need to or will, fix themselves” but rather, this is what is there to work with - particularly with Lopez not pitching an inning. Gotta get used to things not going well.

GOOD baseball teams lose or have disappointments 45% of the time so it’s inherent to the sport in many ways.

[miller761]

Walks and hit batters have to be unacceptable for this current teams. Catching the balls you are supposed to is a close second. Make teams hit to beat you don't give them extra outs and baserunners. This Twins team can be an 80 win team but the 2 things I mentioned above must be executed. We have 2 other shortstops on current roster and Royce is coming back. Sit Lee or send him down and give the other 2 a good look, Send down or sit Wallner if there are players producing at AAA. If a player has no track record of success why do the Twins stick with said player. Tom Kelly expected a player to make the plays expected of them...not the great plays they are a bonus. I had hoped Shelton would be different than Rocco in this area. We are 20 games in to the season with an off day tomorrow before the road trip. Time for Shelton to make some changes with shortstop, right field and in the bullpen. 

[JBK]

No more bullpen!  All starters must go nine!!  

This is terrible.  You don't take castoffs and journeymen with 5.00+ ERA and expect them to succeed.  We can't protect a lead.  Awful BP.  Just awful.