Twins Notebook 8/2: Tyler Clippard to Open Bullpen Game

beckmt · August 2, 2020

hoping it is anyone but Smeltzer, Maybe Thorpe or Alcala.

AlwaysinModeration · August 2, 2020

Interesting. They are really taking it slow with the starting rotation. Depth in bullpen certainly helps. Have to assume Smeltzer and Thorpe will each get multiple innings.

“Old friend” Jhoulys...funny.

Also, Bremer and Smalley commented on how Stashak never walked anyone about 10 seconds before he issued his walk yesterday. There’s no one in the stands—guys, he can hear you, so knock off the jinxes!

70charger · August 2, 2020

I don’t have a good feeling about a bullpen game. Homer Bailey seemed great last time out. What’s going on?

mikelink45 · August 2, 2020

NO - I hate openers. We just had a posting about our depth of rotation and suddenly we do not trust Homer to pitch against the Indians. Start Thorpe or Smeltzer. One of them has to eat some innings so start with the first. This is the shiny new tricycle on the block - openers - and I predict it will be put back in the garage to rust in a few years.

BP games are simply ways to wear out your BP. With all these games in such a short season the BP will have plenty of time to get innings.

Tom Froemming · August 2, 2020

On Bailey: Pitchers are dropping like flies across the league right now. I'm guessing Rocco wants to use his depth while he has instead of when he has to. I don't think it's a coincidence this move was announced after the Twins won last night. Had they lost, I imagine Bailey would've started. Rocco is a very rest/longevity-focused manager.

On Openers: Just think of this as a Smeltzer/Thorpe start, but you're trying to avoid having them pitch to Lindor/Ramirez/etc more than twice. In that sense, I like the strategy.

But, I do think openers for day games puts a reliever in a particularly weird situation. These guys typically pitch at 9-10 pm, so asking them to be comfortable starting a 1 pm game might throw off their routine. I'm sure that wouldn't bother some guys at all, but I have to believe some would be thrown off by it (though I doubt they'd admit it).

Nine of twelve · August 2, 2020

But, I do think openers for day games puts a reliever in a particularly weird situation. These guys typically pitch at 9-10 pm, so asking them to be comfortable starting a 1 pm game might throw off their routine. I'm sure that wouldn't bother some guys at all, but I have to believe some would be thrown off by it (though I doubt they'd admit it).

I would guess that the two pitchers on this staff who would be least fazed by an abrupt change from their routines would be Clippard and Romo. Between the two of them I'd choose Clippard to open.

pierre75275 · August 2, 2020

Does anyone have any idea why Bailey didn't start? Does he have some sorr of issue?

Doctor Gast · August 2, 2020

I don’t have a good feeling about a bullpen game. Homer Bailey seemed great last time out. What’s going on?

I like the idea of an opener but as a BP game, I`m not so crazy about either. Clippard has pitched a lot of pitches lately, I don`t know if this a good time to use him as an opener. If they want use an opener why not use Bailey as a tandem & scale back his innings. Pushing back Bailey will push Berrios back, Berrios usually pitches better w/ normal days of rest, unless Hill also needs to be pushed back

blindeke · August 2, 2020

Who the heck is going to be on the Marlins roster when they actually play? I cannot imagine.

AlwaysinModeration · August 2, 2020

Who the heck is going to be on the Marlins roster when they actually play? I cannot imagine.

Mike Morin!

sampleSizeOfOne · August 2, 2020

Do i get to refer folk here to the gamethread?

Or will someone else do that as it gets pinned?

This seems like pretty good discussion as is...

I like openers. But there is something to be said for simplicity and i'm just as happy having only one pitcher pitch.

bird · August 2, 2020

Mike Morin!

With Brandon Kintzler as his opener and Lewin Diaz batting cleanup?

Tom Froemming · August 2, 2020

Does anyone have any idea why Bailey didn't start? Does he have some sorr of issue?

We do now, Bailey has been placed on the IL with right biceps tendinitis and will be replaced on the roster by Sean Poppen.

Tom Froemming · August 2, 2020

Do i get to refer folk here to the gamethread?

Or will someone else do that as it gets pinned?

This seems like pretty good discussion as is...

I like openers. But there is something to be said for simplicity and i'm just as happy having only one pitcher pitch.

Yes, the Game Thread is here: http://twinsdaily.com/topic/39435-gamethread-twins-vs-tribe-110pm-cdt-822020ad/

That's where anybody who wants to discuss today's game live will want to go. You can essentially consider the comments of this article closed (but I'll leave it open in case anyone wants to reply to previous comments).

Doctor Gast · August 2, 2020

Bailey on 10 day IL

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Twins Notebook 8/2: Tyler Clippard to Open Bullpen Game

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