Dodgers 4, Twins 3: Checking Out

17 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

Just so we're clear, I think everyone who loves the Twins prefers winning. I think many of us realize that winning it all just isn't possible with this current group.

I'm not sure that's actually true; there are some people around here that hate the front office and/or manager so much they want this team to lose to get these people fired.

But the "winning it all" aspect is part of the issue too: there are definitely people who think that if you're not one of the absolute best teams in the league you should blow it all up and try to re-assemble a new roster from top prospects until you get there rather than compete in as many seasons as possible. I would argue that winning it all is possible with any team that can reach the playoffs in baseball more than any other team sport (hockey is arguably there too because you can ride a hot goalie to a title even if the rest of the squad is middle of the road. and to be clear, I'm not saying you WILL, I'm saying you CAN)

In baseball, I'd rather get more chances in the playoffs than try the tear down & rebuild cycle more often because if you miss on some of these prospects (or they simply get hurt), we're not a franchise that can buy our way out of it and never will be.

2 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

was Just being sarcastic.  Loosen up.

So was I, obviously.

6 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

More chances in the playoffs?

They've been in the playoffs once since 2020.

In the weak ALC, They've finished 5th, 3rd, 1st, 4th, and are currently 4th. One time above 3rd place.  One. Overall theyre below .500.since 2020.

I'll ask again...more chances in the playoffs?

2019 is a long time ago, and a strong argument can be made this management team had little to do wirh that roster. 

Nobody "wants the Twins to lose." 

Quite the opposite. Some of us would like to see them start winning. 

2022 the Twins were in first place in the division at the deadline. Should they have blown it up then? They were tied for the division lead in Sept before injuries wiped them out down the stretch. Should they have blown up the team in the offseason and started over then?

2023 they won the division, won a playoff series for the first time in a billion years. Should they have blown up the team at the deadline there? Should they have blown up the team after ownership cut the payroll in the offseason and quit on the season?

2024 they were a wild card team all the way into September before falling completely apart and missing the playoffs (but still finishing with a winning record). Should they have blown up the team at the deadline that year? Guess they should have blown up the team in the offseason?

This is the first season since 2021 where they haven't been in it at the deadline, so they've had chances at the playoffs. I'd prefer they go for those opportunities rather than throw my hands up at the deadline and go "well, they're not the Dodgers or the Yankees, let's blow it up". 

(I'm also bored with the "the AL Central is weak" arguments; it might be weaker than the AL East, but it hasn't been weaker than the AL West, even with CWS no longer trying.)

They should sell now because there's little to suggest they're capable of making a big run to get back in this: too many underperformers plus some injuries on a roster that should have been good enough to contend but was never great without some players really stepping up. But the ownership quagmire keeps them stuck in the mud.

Maybe some of our free agents to be looked good enough this series to up there value a bit before the deadline. I really think between Bader, Castro and Coloumbe we should be able to acquire some decent upper minors talent. 

15 hours ago, h2oface said:

The clip of Baldelli's presser I caught may have been abbreviated, but no one asked him about pulling Paddack with a low 78 pitches (when a recently returned from the IL - April 28 to July 9 with right shoulder inflammation - Glasnow, with just 2 previous starts in July goes 106) and pitching the best he has all year.  He could have easily started the 7th, instead of the tired pen. Baldelli didn't offer anything, either. Any link to a more complete presser would be appreciated. 

I already said my piece in the game thread. Rage is dissipating, but I can still feel Jax choking.

How to get on here so you can talk? I understand the third time through the lineup thing but when Paddock is pitching the best game of the year he had two of them you don't take him out after 78 pictures and just six innings he's way ahead at that point. Then looks what happens after you take him out. The better clearly swung at the pitch and the Umpire called it a no swing. At that point the game would have been over. No fault against Bader he made his dive and his glove could only reach the top of the ball. One of the two guys that closes it's going to have to pitch 3 days in a row because Paddock was taken out of the game and their guy just off of injury throws 106 pictures. Let's play ball that's not playing ball pulling the guy in that situation. I have followed the twins since 1965 I've never seen this this way before. Let the guy throw if he gives up a hit in the 7th inning then take him out give him a chance to give up a hit first that's no different than the manager putting the player on base with somebody already on base.

15 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I watched the end of the game and turned away. 

I was so disgusted when I saw an UGLY obvious strike 3 call from the umps on Betts I left. The video shows him a good foot or foot and a half beyond the plate. I mean, it's so obvious anyone with decent eyesight and integrity would have called it a strike. 

Just ridiculous!

Trevor Plouff did also say that is a strike. We can complain all we want about this and that about that game but we won that game. The umpires lost that game. Soon as he made that swing Way Beyond home plate the game was over but the Dodgers do not acknowledge that. They don't say anything about it after the game. Be humble people you make gazillions of money humble myself.

14 minutes ago, Killer Rod Tony said:

How to get on here so you can talk? I understand the third time through the lineup thing but when Paddock is pitching the best game of the year he had two of them you don't take him out after 78 pictures and just six innings he's way ahead at that point. Then looks what happens after you take him out. The better clearly swung at the pitch and the Umpire called it a no swing. At that point the game would have been over. No fault against Bader he made his dive and his glove could only reach the top of the ball. One of the two guys that closes it's going to have to pitch 3 days in a row because Paddock was taken out of the game and their guy just off of injury throws 106 pictures. Let's play ball that's not playing ball pulling the guy in that situation. I have followed the twins since 1965 I've never seen this this way before. Let the guy throw if he gives up a hit in the 7th inning then take him out give him a chance to give up a hit first that's no different than the manager putting the player on base with somebody already on base.

There he was after 78 pitches and six innings coming to take him out. You don't get Paddock pitching like that very often but it's a sight to see when you do oh well he's doing really good right now I guess I'll go see them on the bench! I don't mean to be like that but what kind of Reason could you have had Mr manager? Roberts didn't mind leaving his just back from injury picture in the game. When you're pitching that well you don't worry about the third time through.

Short and sweet can't walk Ruiz,make him swing the bat!!

15 hours ago, Dman said:

Does this mean I have to take back all my mean comments about Paddack?  He pitched great today against a really good lineup.  I thought he was going to get shelled, but other than the Ohtani mistake ball he was fantastic.  Where has this guy been the last 3 or 4 times out?  The Twins certainly had them on the ropes.  If Jax simply executes and throw's strikes to the guy that can't hit they probably win this one.

A tough loss, but It was a fun series as we were in it every game.  Washington at home with our Ace on tap so they should win that series.

Having said that - Your reaction to the move to replace Paddack with Coulombe? Both he and Jax seemed passive today...Don't know if it was related to the pitches called or fatigue. Maybe one more inning of Paddack, or at least a batter or two, wouldn't have been such a bad thing. 

Additionally - The missed third strike call on Betts was atrocious. It was obvious in my living room and the replay exemplified umpire negligence. Don't really understand how neither a player nor member to the  coaching staff was not thrown out on that one. More passivity I guess...

2 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Nobody "wants the Twins to lose." 

I disagree. If you think the current FO/Manager/Roster will not improve and Ownership/FO will not change things up unless forced it's sensible to wish for enough losses to prompt corrective action.

Short term pain for long term gain. 

If anyone wants the Twins to lose always and forever I don't know why they would be here.

2 hours ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

I'd like to comment on the many of you  who are criticizing Rocco about putting Duran out there a second inning in the previous game.

Let's play devils advocate... say he goes with Sands to save Duran for this latest game.  Let's say Sands blows the game and we are down in the series 2-0 AND then we get blown out in this game.  Why save Duran assuming that we would need him in this game when that may not occur.

I guess what I am saying is that when a game is there for the taking (especially in their current situation) you absolutely have to take it.

Sands pitched two innings the night before, so that was very unlikely to happen. I posted the other day there really was only two options, Duran or Topa. Personally I don't think Duran pitching two innings was the issue, it was all the moves prior to that led him to have to pitch him two innings. 

Pathetic.  Just pathetic.  This is the mark of a bad team, when nothing matches up day to day.

Finally get things we've been missing- a good start from Paddack.  A Lewis HR.  Guys who've been letting us down picking us up. Dodger pitchers walking the ballpark, daring us to score.  And then...  it's Jax's turn to sh*t the bed, and waste those efforts.

Just pathetic.

*Edit:*  Oops, I almost forgot- Rocky's ongoing bullpen mismangement contributed heavily to this shite-show as well.  

12 hours ago, David Maro said:

Short and sweet can't walk Ruiz,make him swing the bat!!

It's that old saying: "It's hard to throw good pitches with your two hands around your throat." Jax has some great pitches in his arsenal and when he's on the sweeper and changeup are magnificent, but he often (not always) chokes under serious pressure. He should have eaten Ruiz for lunch...instead he played it "safe" by mincing around the edges and it cost us dearly. All that Jax really lacks is confidence in the clutch...but that's no small thing.  

20 hours ago, Killer Rod Tony said:

Trevor Plouff did also say that is a strike. We can complain all we want about this and that about that game but we won that game. The umpires lost that game. Soon as he made that swing Way Beyond home plate the game was over but the Dodgers do not acknowledge that. They don't say anything about it after the game. Be humble people you make gazillions of money humble myself.

Things like bad calls happen, I am sure you and Twins aren't giving the win back from earlier this year when the ump missed an obvious strike 3 on the Twins hitter and led to a big inning to win the game. After the call on Betts, the Twins had two chances (maybe more if Bader plays the freeman hit better)to still win the game, but Jax walked the guy and Bader dropped/misplayed the single to left, 

So yes let blame the ump, the Dodgers lack of humility and let Jax, Bader, Rocco and the rest of the guys that played off the hook. 

They lost that one in the most Twins way possible.

For most of those guys, never again in their baseball lives will they ever have a moment like that back- the chance to take a series from the Dodgers in THEIR HOUSE.  And they choked it off.