Padres 7, Twins 5: Bullpen and Baserunning Blunders Abound

That's the way the world goes round.

I'm a Rocco Baldelli fan. But I need at least a week to process him making bullpen decisions that surpass 41-Doughnut twice in 54 hours.

Too many weak links in the pen...it's really painful to watch. 

From the beginning this seemed like a trap series to me. Coming off what should have been a four-game sweep of the reigning world champions (and on the road at that!) I sensed a good bit of confidence afoot that the Twins might take 2 of 3 in San Diego. But I knew that the Padres are a good team and, judging from my experiences in Petco Park, the young, well-lubricated, and vocal fan base (truly Wrigley-esque) can create an intense, playoff like, environment even on a pleasant Tuesday evening in August.

Baseball is very streaky and it’s too soon to give up, even on a Division pennant, but this  "54 hours" of bullpen implosions has been hard to take.   

Does Okert realistically provide any value to the bullpen at this point? His negative WPA and WAR has put a huge damper on the otherwise solid bullpen. I still cannot think about him without remembering the grand slam he gave up against Seattle to lose a game earlier in the year. Just dump him and try someone else at AAA or claim someone off of waivers. It doesn’t really matter that he’s a lefty if his isn’t any good at getting lefties out. He’s the 8th guy in the pen and if he had an option left his ass would have been in St. Paul two months ago.
 

What is the point of Okert?

what an *******. 
 

**** the pohlads in particular tonight 

With all his analytics tools Rocco still runs Okert out there? We all knew that was going to end badly as it always does when Okert pitches. Since they traded Nick Gordon (since released) for him, they’re going to keep Okert on the roster no matter what he does! It’s the Twins way. 

38 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

We need a MLB manager.

 

 

 

Awful selection bringing okert in with a lead ...

Okert's melt down  brings back acala's melt down  way to soon ...

We need a major league manager  and a few major league  arms for the bullpen ... 

5 hours ago, USAFChief said:

We need a MLB manager.

 

 

 

83 pitches and six innings is enough for the one to remain nameless. I can't call him what I'd like to because the powers that be like to suspend people for that. But I agree, this loss is on the mgr.

Two out of the last three games, are all on the manager. Nice job by Okert. He should be DFA'd today. 

This this can’t happen rest of season!!! First Sunday with Texas and now last night-Crushing loss!!! How do the twins bounce back from this? 😤🤬😥😭

Another loss on the manager.  One of many this year.  Twins will likely make the playoffs as a wild card but certainly no guarantees even there. Buxton and Correa are needed in the lineup soon.  Maybe it's more comfortable for them to be on the injured list than to be helping their teammates during this stretch drive.

Well, that was an ugly loss. But this line you wrote:

This one ... made on-base machine Jurickson Profar look like a blindfolded Chris Parmelee.

Man, that's almost poetic. Good stuff!

In the article you noted that Jeffers joined "an exclusive club of 20-homer Twins catchers" which included Garver, Mauer, and Earl Battey. And my first thought was: what about Tim Laudner? But then I checked the records and the most he hit for the Twins was 16 in 1987. I used to watch him when he played for the Orlando Twins in AA ball, and recall that he DID hit 42 homers back in 1981, thus my recollection of him being a big power hitter. Just not quite big enough!

20 minutes ago, Patzky said:

Sounds like you want Jay Jackson back

Don't want Jackson, don't want Okert...and they can take the manager right along with them. 

Quote

While the pitching in the 8th was poor, the baserunning in the game was also poor and costly. Why Jax couldn't have gone one more inning is a head-scratcher. Play to win, not play by a book.

I would like to point out Jax has went more than one inning ONCE this year and that was May 8th against Seattle, I was watching the game and I told my son I would leave Ober in, three innings is asking a lot tonight from this pen. On the SD broadcast they said Ober has been the best pitcher in the MLB for his last ten starts maybe give him a chance to prove it.

1 hour ago, Peter said:

This this can’t happen rest of season!!! First Sunday with Texas and now last night-Crushing loss!!! How do the twins bounce back from this? 😤🤬😥😭

You forgot 🤮

these base running blunders are happening way too often..guys getting thrown out at 2nd trying to stretch a single.....getting picked off....running on contact from 3rd and thrown out by a mile.... potential big innings are being wasted by little league mistakes

29 minutes ago, Patzky said:

Maybe you want a six man bullpen hm . Gotta have a better solution than send people away without suitable replacements. You're fired doesn't work.

Simple addition by subtraction. 

Back to back tough losses in very winnable games.  Rocco is Rocco, so won't pile on but 3 things that shoulda, coulda, woulda not grasped defeat from the jaws of victory.

1. Martin thinking he was going to score on bad/no one covering 3rd base frantic moment

2. Miranda with bases loaded had one job to do get ball out of the infield even if it meant sac fly. Some will argue the very bad 1st pitch called strike changes the type of at bat needed, but I will argue it was one pitch and only the first pitch.

3. Why oh why would Jax who threw only 10 pitches (9 strikes) not come out to start the next inning?  Tight ball game and you need to lock down the 2 run lead at least for momentum sakes.  

Other than that the guys battled, came back and then implosion by some guy(s) in the pen which is unfortunate.

Salvage the road trip today and then go on a much needed home stand run to put pressure on the Indians, pains me to say Guardians

Go Twins