Rays 5, Twins 4: Twins Rally Falls Short, End in Ninth-Inning Heartbreaker

Jax looks tired He needs a couple days off

Would have rather seen Duran in the 9th inning of a tie game at home then Jax (or any other reliever for that matter). 

Jax with one of his unhittable sweepers…center cut. Is it just me…or has this been a theme for his 2023 streaks of poor results?

15 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

That's only the half of it. You're missing the obvious:

Not only is Vazquez terrible, there was zero chance Vazquez would even HAVE the platoon advantage, and a 2 year old could see that coming a mile away. Zero chance. 

Rocco got played like a violin.

 

It’s literally as if he’s surprised that there was another right-handed pitcher in their bullpen.

Or…

He thought the lefty had only faced 2 batters.

Either way…mind boggling.

Of Jax 5 homeruns given up...how many have been on fastballs?

Oh, and what a lousy pinch hitting decision...what do you think Julien must be thinking right now?

I can’t wait to see Walker Jenkins with the big club…

…being pinch-hit for in the 5th inning (occasionally earlier) by journeyman righties. Can’t wait.

10 minutes ago, LewFordLives said:

Can we please end the Keuchel experiment? It's been a heartwarming story, and he's had some good moments, but he shouldn't be starting for a team that's trying to make it to the post-season. Ober is the better pitcher.

They end the season with 9 games that should be pointless for both teams. Somebody needs to eat those innings.

Today's loss makes it more likely they clinch at home against the Angels. Get your tickets now

It would be apt for this team if they clinch on Thursday 9/21 on an off day with a Cleveland loss to the Orioles.

This was the third pinch hit at bat for Vasquez this year (all hitless). I actually felt like it was more than that. Can't find data to determine if the opposing team in turn negated the platoon 'advantage'.  

That wasn't a back breaking AB, as there were plenty of miscues, but not even Baldelli truly thought that was a good idea, right??

Rocco doesn't shy away from providing evidence of mismanagement. I do try to look at the positives far more than the negatives and give him the benefit of the doubt, but come onnnnnn please make it easier for me...

If you told me before this home stand started that we would go 3-3 and take 7 (maybe 8) games off our magic #, I would have taken it with no reservations.  However, the 3 losses are disappointing:

1) Jax gives up 2 runs in the 9th after the Twins were 0-7 with RISP (0-3 in the 9th)

2) Correa blows an easy play resulting in an unearned run, but also causing Gray to throw additional pitches that causes him to leave after 4.  Which results in  BP usage resulting in 5 addl runs in a 3 run game

3) Kepler plays a fly like he has never been in Target Field which results in 3 runs.  Jax comes into a tie game in the 9th and gives up a homer.

All three of these could have been wins and some of our wins could have been losses (Castro 2 run Hr).  It is frustrating, but at the same time promising that the Twins can compete with the best.

1 hour ago, rickyriolo said:

Jax looks tired He needs a couple days off

You spelled months wrong.

Overall, a decent outing from the bullpen.  1 run in 5 innings.

But, hard to keep that perspective.  You’re not going to hold many leads right now when Floro, Pagan, and Jax are going 4 innings.  Nobody outside of Duran and Thielbar have any business being anywhere near a high leverage inning in the playoffs.

After Julien's previous at bat I would have had a hard time sending him out there in the 9th. 

4-4 game. No outs. Farmer on first. 3-2 count. Twins send Farmer. Julien can't take a close pitch much less a strike in that situation. He needs to get that runner into scoring position. Julien strikes out looking and Farmer is caught stealing. Second time in the game he was caught looking at strike 3. The first time was after the pitcher is on the ropes having given up home runs to the last two batters. He needs to be more competitive there and fight off a close pitch. Keep the pitcher on the ropes. He looks at far too many called strike threes. 

The options were awful in the 9th inning. Do you send Julien and his OPS of 423 (13 strike outs and 0 walks) against left handed pitching. I was sure a strike out caught looking would happen in that case. Do you send Vazquez and his 595 OPS against right handed pitching? It's a lose-lose situation here.

The choice isn't clear cut to me. In most games I probably hope on Julien but not after his previous at bat. 

Didnt see the end of the game as I had an afternoon tee time.  Can't say the golf experience was satisfying (it seldomly is), but, like others, I would've been cussing out our fearless leader for sending Vazquez up to pinch hit for Julien with 2 outs.

I can understand pinch hitting for Julien as he's been abysmal against LH pitching (9-42/,214 avg with 1 RBI in addition to 13 K's and zero walks.

What I can't understand is pinch hitting Vazquez when Correa was available!!!!

Did Rocco forget Correa was there?  Did his spreadsheet have some hidden nugget telling him Vazquez was the better option?  Was Correa in the clubhouse?  

Vazquez sure battled in that AB...didn't he Rocco?   3 pitches= game over.   Ugh.  Just ugh.  

The only positive from today was seeing the Guardians gag away a 3-run 8th inning lead to lose 6-5 in the 10th!!

Former Twin---------wish we had him back----Lamont Wade, Jr---coming through with a professional AB (sacrifice fly) for the W.

Why do they keep sending Jax out there? We haven't seen this type of futility since the Ron Davis days. When a RELIEVER has double digit losses it's time to try out someone from the minors or even possibly drop a starter to the bullpen. Keuchel or Ober or something - anything!

1 hour ago, IaBeanCounter said:

If you told me before this home stand started that we would go 3-3 and take 7 (maybe 8) games off our magic #, I would have taken it with no reservations.  However, the 3 losses are disappointing:

1) Jax gives up 2 runs in the 9th after the Twins were 0-7 with RISP (0-3 in the 9th)

2) Correa blows an easy play resulting in an unearned run, but also causing Gray to throw additional pitches that causes him to leave after 4.  Which results in  BP usage resulting in 5 addl runs in a 3 run game

3) Kepler plays a fly like he has never been in Target Field which results in 3 runs.  Jax comes into a tie game in the 9th and gives up a homer.

All three of these could have been wins and some of our wins could have been losses (Castro 2 run Hr).  It is frustrating, but at the same time promising that the Twins can compete with the best.

 

Agreed on all points. Twins are going to have to play clean in order to win in October.

11 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

It would appear that you're on the right track as far as the logic of PHing for Julien.  Yikes!

 

 

Julien has the skill to be better than that number.

If in his previous at bat he had even just moved the runner over with a ground out I stick with him. It was those two previous at bats where he needs to get the message that they need him to compete when there are two strikes. He has the skill to fight those close pitches off. I hope we see a better Julien come October. Maybe a message was received today. If it is me and the manager sends out his weakest hitter to pinch hit for me in the 9th it is going to shake me up quite a bit.