MIN 9, HOU 5: Bats Thrive, Pitching Survives

At the point where Cruz isn't the next hitter in the lineup, with Rosario to follow.

You used logic... That's not fair. Just kidding.

Am I crazy or does Trevor May just not really look right out there? His command and control look out of whack, and I'm wondering if it's a confidence issue. Kinda feels like he needed another 2 weeks of spring training, just throwing at guys. Hope he pulls out of it, because he has the ability to be a terrific reliever.

That's May. Very good sometimes, can't find the strike zone or even the catcher other times.

Barring injury this team only gets better as the season progresses.  We should actually have two more wins than we do solely based on poor managing (which is expected early on in Rocco's tenure). 

 

Get ready for a run people.  After what we've been through the last 8 years or so, this is going to be fun.

Maybe. More likely there is some coming back down to earth that will happen, but the same can be said for all of the teams who had strong starts.

I think this will be a repeat of 2017 where the Twins and the Indians are neck and neck for most of the year, but the Indians won't go on an insanely long winnings streak to close out the year.

Note this doesn't mean this team is as good as the 2017 Twins were. They are probably better. 2017 was a down year in the AL.

We're back to the same question: Can this team win a playoff game? I don't know yet.

/rant

I'm sorry but when you are watching a game, predicting exactly what will happen, only to then have to watch it happen, you have *every right* to call it out afterward.

I count two, maybe three losses on Baldelli's pitching management. That's hardly "every time" -- yet it is still signficant.

Baldelli got away with one here. He won't have the same luxury in September, nor will he have this type of good luck against some AL East teams. These are the types of lapses in judgment that get the Twins bounced out of the playoffs or embarrassed when facing some teams in the regular season.

I'm sorry but when you are watching a game, predicting exactly what will happen, only to then have to watch it happen, you have *every right* to call it out afterward.

 

I count two, maybe three losses on Baldelli's pitching management. That's hardly "every time" -- yet it is still signficant.

 

Baldelli got away with one here. He won't have the same luxury in September, nor will he have this type of good luck against some AL East teams. These are the types of lapses in judgment that get the Twins bounced out of the playoffs or embarrassed when facing some teams in the regular season.

But isn't that exactly the point?  He has to "get away with one here" fairly frequently so that he doesn't overwork Rogers, Hildy (and hopefully at least two other relievers that are added or promoted or that step up) so that in September and hopefully beyond those guys aren't toast.  We rightfully critiqued Moliter last year for overworking the top guys in the bullpen by bringing them in to every slightly high leverage situation.  You can't do that and expect those guys' arms to hold up late in the season.  So he has to gamble with the weaker back end of the pen from time to time.  I'd argue being up 7-2, even against Houston, when Rogers and Hildy were used heavily the prior two days, is exactly that kind of situation.

Really nice win, but that bullpen...yeesh.

 

I don't see any way the current bullpen holds up through a long season.

I think Belisle is available...

But isn't that exactly the point?  He has to "get away with one here" fairly frequently so that he doesn't overwork Rogers, Hildy (and hopefully at least two other relievers that are added or promoted or that step up) so that in September and hopefully beyond those guys aren't toast.  We rightfully critiqued Moliter last year for overworking the top guys in the bullpen by bringing them in to every slightly high leverage situation.  You can't do that and expect those guys' arms to hold up late in the season.  So he has to gamble with the weaker back end of the pen from time to time.  I'd argue being up 7-2, even against Houston, when Rogers and Hildy were used heavily the prior two days, is exactly that kind of situation.

You are forgetting option #1: Leave Odorizzi in there a bit longer. He was pulled with 2 outs and 1 person on base and a five run lead.

I kind of feel like option #1 is the absolute best way to preserve the bullpen, hands down. Don't you?

Yes Harper has been underworked compared to the rest of the bullpen and he needed to eat up an inning at some point. Baldelli chose the wrong moment. Ordorizzi could have finished the inning he was in and started the next.

I’d be ok with leaving Odorizzi in if his pitch count was lower. If I remember correctly, he was pulled at exactly 100 pitches for May. At that point it’s a question of having Odorizzi pitch more than Baldelli is likely comfortable with or going to the pen. Having our starting pitchers pitch 120 pitches as a means to lessen the bullpen load likely isn’t sustainable either.

Bottom line is the team needs bullpen reinforcement or guys to step up, or we’re going to have these let’s hope the bullpen survives games on a fairly frequent basis.

You are forgetting option #1: Leave Odorizzi in there a bit longer. He was pulled with 2 outs and 1 person on base and a five run lead.

 

I kind of feel like option #1 is the absolute best way to preserve the bullpen, hands down. Don't you?

 

Yes Harper has been underworked compared to the rest of the bullpen and he needed to eat up an inning at some point. Baldelli chose the wrong moment. Ordorizzi could have finished the inning he was in and started the next

 

 

I’d be ok with leaving Odorizzi in if his pitch count was lower. If I remember correctly, he was pulled at exactly 100 pitches for May. At that point it’s a question of having Odorizzi pitch more than Baldelli is likely comfortable with or going to the pen. Having our starting pitchers pitch 120 pitches as a means to lessen the bullpen load likely isn’t sustainable either.

Bottom line is the team needs bullpen reinforcement or guys to step up, or we’re going to have these let’s hope the bullpen survives games on a fairly frequent basis.

25 guys who can play and a manager who trusts all 25 is what I’ve been asking for since Logan Morrison. I would have no problem with this continuing all season long.

Next step... cull the struggling herd. If members of the bullpen don’t improve... replace them and try someone else.

When the reinforcements start arriving Harper will be sent down. How long do you wait before you consider DFA May and/or Mejia?

Assuming Odorizzi wasn't gassed, sure. But we don't know that, Baldelli does. He was at 100 pitches when he came out. No sense in prolonging an inning at that point and possibly allowing the Astros to put up a crooked number. 

 

With Odorizzi's tendency to struggle through a lineup a third time, I don't have an issue with him getting pulled there. In that ballpark, runs can be scored in a hurry and Houston has a pretty potent offense. No sense allowing Odorizzi to put another guy on or give up a HR. Limit the damage, put out the fire before it gets too hot.

He wasn't gassed. He was pulled at exactly 100 pitches. That's why he was pulled, no other reason.

You know who was gassed? Harper, who was forced to pitch through his ineffectiveness.

Who allowed more runs in this game, Odorizzi or Harper?

Barring injury this team only gets better as the season progresses. We should actually have two more wins than we do solely based on poor managing (which is expected early on in Rocco's tenure).

 

Get ready for a run people. After what we've been through the last 8 years or so, this is going to be fun.

This will be a good lineup. Maybe even great.

But they won't be the best lineup in the history of baseball, which is where they are currently on pace to be.

Where are they going to make up that inevitable regression?

Regression is possible, but this is a much deeper lineup than the Twins have had for years. Losing streaks will happen, just hopefully not too many or too long. This Offense can put up big numbers on a regular basis, so should be interesting. I believe if the Twins are playing well in midseason they will add some pitching help.

If that's your opinion, that's great, but that's going on an extremely narrow limb.

Edit: I agree they should be a competitive team.

I was responding to a poster saying they'll only get better as the season goes on. To which I'm curious where he sees enough improvement to not only makeup for the inevitable regression from the offense, but to actually get better overall.