DET 12, MIN 11: Twins Lose Crazy Game On Walk-Off HR

Both Hildenberger and Belisle did not have anything. Gee might have done better.

The Twins need ya today, Erv.

Sano takes more blame than Belisle, IMHO.  He is not laying off the low outside sliders, strking out half the time.  Should have turned the DP in the 8th.

Twins will only go as far as Miggy Jr takes them.

Yep. This one is on sano. He has been pathetic at the plate lately. Looks like the prior version of Eddie Rosario. Think sano might need a mental break. I'd rest him today and then he has an off day tomorrow. He swings through everything below his knees.

Tough loss. The last time Belisle gave up a run was June 27, so I'm not going to put this one on him.

The bullpen has definitely been overexposed. A good start from Erv today would go a long way!

Yeah Sano has cooled off considerably since May, but lets remember he is just barely 24 years old yet.

I truly believe that someday, soon, we are going to see the slumps become fewer and shorter.

Also, what did Jason Castro say to Berrios on that trip to the mound in the first inning? The next pitch was the grand slam!

"Just throw it over the plate, kid. What's the worst that can happen?"

It seemed odd, but I had a bad feeling around the 7th inning that the Tigers were getting ready to rally. They actually do have a very dangerous batting lineup, and that 4-run lead did not look safe. 

The problem with not having a legitimate closer is that really good hitters like Justin Upton can do their heroics much easier on low-90's stuff than on high-90's stuff. Kintzler survived because he had developed a cutter/2-seamer combo that he could spot reliably on the corners from 92 to 94 mph. Belisle doesn't have any special pitch, just a down-plane fastball going about 90 that he throws low in the zone. His curve also tends low, but it's not a hard break.

Going forward, the team must find somebody other than Belisle to close. I nominate Busenitz, or get somebody up from AAA or AA. 

I've been impressed with how he's taken the bit between his teeth-  but come on, admit it, you had to wonder when Bad Belisle would show up again.

It's second guessing but too bad Molitor didn't pinch run for Sano at some point last night for the purpose of getting his bat out of the lineup. I don't see anything wrong with that double play; Sano looked home but threw to first in the same motion. There was a millisecond delay but maybe Sano was just getting a good grip. The guy on the radio made it sound like Sano was frozen undecided about where to throw while runners circled the bases behind him. Wasted opportunity in the 9th, no doubt. Game felt over after that strikeout.

 

Interesting call by Molitor Sunday to judge that Mauer needs a day off today more than Sano does.

 

Also, what did Jason Castro say to Berrios on that trip to the mound in the first inning? The next pitch was the grand slam!

Didn't Sano just return from a bunch of days off?

Not every slump can be solved by a day off. Sometimes the remedy is to play through it.

I think Pressly should get the chance to close games, he's been dynamite as of late. I'd love to see Busenitz get save opportunities, but I don't think Molitor is close to letting him try those. He hasn't earned high leverage outings yet, though that's not really his fault as he's barely been used the past few weeks.

I see your point, though both men might serve better as middle relievers, if the Twins can just find somebody else to close. I'm not saying bring Perkins back, either. Until Perk is throwing in the mid-90's, I don't see him being much better than Belisle. Chargois would have been my first pick, but he's gone for the year. Maybe John Curtiss or Randy Rosario. Point is, it's got to be somebody that can bring serious heat. Or a knuckleball. 

Cooler heads are prevailing in this thread. I like it. I'm was incredibly irked by this performance and I still am, but everyone's temperance here has rubbed off on me.  

Perkins is going to be back soon even though he's barely going to throw 90. I'd rather keep all 8 guys we have in the bullpen than have Perkins back. 

 

On a similar note, Santiago's going to be back soon and he admitted in an interview over the radio today that he can't even throw 90! He'd probably be better than Enns but yikes, I don't think he need him on this team anymore.

The Twins have several young pitchers in AAA and AA that should now get their cup of coffee rather than bringing up more guys (veteran or not) that can't break the 90 mph barrier without max effort. 

The team has rebounded from its late July / early August swoon. Let's keep in mind what caused that swoon in the first place: playing the best teams in the league, Astros and Dodgers, then getting pounded by Detroit because the pitching staff can barely hold them at bay for more than a few innings. This tells us that the Twins are definitely NOT ready to make a serious run at a ring. Knowing that, the team needs to keep that coffee urn full, and a stack of little plastic cups ready. Moar callups, moar tryouts!

I was expecting the Tigers to play the Twins hard, that's how they have played the Twins all year. 

For whatever reason, the Tigers players do not want to lose to the Twins and this year have been putting in extra effort when they play each other. The Twins were a little flat-footed and complacent in the lost game, but shut things down in the series finale (as best they could).