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rv78

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Everything posted by rv78

  1. rv78
    Maybe they can trade Sano to the Padres for a pitcher or two. If they have anyone left like Pagan and/or Paddock it might be close to and even trade. Seriously tho, I've been wanting him gone for 2 years now. Let him rehab in AAA and if a trade hasn't been worked out by the end of his rehab, DFA him. No big loss if another team takes him, and if they don't he can stay in AAA and then be available to be brought up in an emergency situation.
  2. rv78
    If Pagan, Cotton and Thornburg pitch an inning each in the same game that's 3 innings total. Archer usually can handle 3 innings by himself.
  3. rv78
    Twins need to make the change immediately moving Archer to the bullpen in a long relief role. He's had too many short starts to warrant him as a consistant starter for them going forward. Gray, Ryan, Bundy, Smeltzer, Winder need to be the starting 5 until Ober comes back and proves he's healthy. Say bye bye to Thornburg or Pagan or Cotton, take your pick, none of the 3 will be missed and give their innings to Archer.
  4. rv78
    Reclamation projects very seldom if ever pay off, yet that is the Twins way. Funny how the FO saw the need to trade away their best reliever in Rogers for 2 pitchers that they didn't really need. Pagan definitely wasn't going to be better than Rogers and why did they think they needed Paddock? They already had Ober, Ryan, Bundy, and Archer with Smeltzer giving them a perfect spring and Winder showing he was ready also. That's 6 starters, no need to trade your best reliever for another one and definitely not for one that had health issues that, yes, they knew about. Should go down as one of the worst trades in Twins history. Thanks, to the ineptness of Falvine we have guys like Cotton, Pagan, and Thornburg, all cut from the same mold as Colome and Shoemaker, trying to get outs when it matters.
  5. rv78
    Time to move Jax and Duran into the high leverage roles of closing out close ball games in the 8th and 9th innings. Everyone else in the bullpen has pretty much proven that they are not capable. How long before Rocco figures this out? I'm guessing September.
  6. rv78
    Part of the reason for the bullpen meltdowns is the poor use of the starters. Once again Rocco pulled Bundy after just 5 innings. Doesn't seem to matter how effective he was or how many pitches he's thrown Rocco didn't do himself or the team or the fans any favors by not trying to get another inning out of Bundy. He was only at 83 pitches and could have gone another inning. Then use Jax and Duran and save your only available lefty, Thielbar for a late inning lefty lefty matchup if needed. When you only have two lefty pitchers available to you, using Moran for 2 innings the day before was a mistake if you aren't going to keep Thielbar for situational relief the next day. Using him in the 6th inning was a huge mistake. Why was Bundy able to go 107 pitches in Arizona but only 60 and 83 pitches in his last 2 starts. Again, poor use of your starter which overtaxes your bullpen. Let's call Pagan Colome 2.0 and let's call Rocco's brain a Number 2 for using Pagan like Colome. Some guys never learn. As far as the FO is concerned when it comes to the bullpen, they have gotten what they asked for or should I say what they have acquired. Crap.
  7. rv78
    Unfortunately not putting this loss on the Manager would be a big mistake. It's not like they were ever out of the game due to the score being lopsided. He had just as much of a chance to win it in the 9th as any other inning but failed to even TRY to manufacture a run. How many times did he try to advance a runner? Zero. How many times did he try a hit and run? Zero. How many times did he try to steal a base? Zero. How many times did he try to get a guy into scoring position in any way, shape or form? Zero. A teams play is a direct reflection of the Manager, win or lose. Why do you suppose managers get fired? Is it because they DON'T have an influence on how their team plays? If that was the case there would never be one that gets fired.
  8. rv78
    "Watching Kepler start to hit the other way" Sorry but this is laughable. How many times did he hit the other way last night when there was only 1 person playing between 2nd and 3rd base? I'm pretty sure it was Zero. Looked to me like everyone was looking to pull the ball into the seats instead of trying to manufacture a run or two. Whos' fault is that Rocco?
  9. rv78
    They aren't really puzzling or frustrating if you look at the whole picture. The FO did nothing to solidify the rotation or the bullpen with capable arms. Instead they went with reclamation projects in guys like Bundy, Paddock, Archer, Smith, Cotton, Chi Chi, unproven rookies in Ryan, Winder, Duran and the usual average performers like Ober, Duffey, Thielbar, Pagan, Coloumbe, Jax, and so on and so on.... Seriously, who on the pitching staff is going to shut down an opposing teams lineup on a regular basis? No one. Not an Ace or a true Closer in the whole bunch of bananas. Then there's the lineup that changes every day either due to injuries or Rocco's inability to figure out who should be playing when or where. He won't have guys bunt, hit and run, steal bases or slap a ball to the opposite side of a shift to where they could jog to first base before the ball even gets touched by a fielder. It's almost embarrasing. He'll change his initial lineup daily to get as many lefty righty matchups as possible yet completely ignore doing it during the game. Twice last night had an opportunity to put in lefty Larnach but went to Buxton on one occasion and left Miranda bat against Bard, meanwhile Larnach watched from the bench. If it is such a great concept that you change your lineup every day to institute it then why is it ignored during the game? Wonder why the bullpen is fried? Because of moves like last night where he pulls Bundy after 60 pitches. So he gave up 1 run in the 6th. Was going to Duffey, who's been atrocious, better than Bundy? No. But that way Rocco can burn through 3 pitchers instead of 2. The only way this team improves is if they get a Manager that knows how to set a consistant lineup and make in game decisions that are worth a hoot. The current one doesn't.
  10. rv78
    Especially when your rotation is a guess at best too. 1.Ober, a 1 year wonder, wonder if he'll be anything like last year. 2.Ryan, a rookie with no proven track record. 3.Gray, a veteran that has not been at the top of his game for years. 4.Bundy, same as Gray but with even less of a top side. 5.Paddock, who had injury issues that we now know the FO knew about and traded for him anyway. 6.Winder, another rookie. Seriously, did Falvey or Levine really think that the bullpen wasn't going to be used heavily? If not they should be fired.
  11. rv78
    Not sure what you are implying other than the same thing I was. So better teams like LAD, SD, and SF can beat the DBacks ............... and since the Twins struggled against them then the Twins aren't as good as LAD, SD and SF. That's kind of my point. It also isn't just the DBacks they have had trouble against. They didn't fare too well against the Tigers and Royals in their last series with them either. Teams they should be beating up on... they aren't. Kind of tells a person how good they really are, which looks like it isn't good enough.
  12. rv78
    Don't look now but Cleveland is on the cusp of taking over first place in the division. Don't look now but Rocco once again sticks with a reliever (Thielbar) too long and the game gets blown open giving them little to no chance to make a comeback. Don't look now but if the Twins are playing a sub .500 team they play like it as well. Not a recipe for success. Team is too inconsistant. Don't get consistant starts from the rotation, don't get consistant performance from the bullpen, don't get consistant run production from the lineup. Maybe they need a manager that can be consistant as well instead of changing lineups and bullpen roles every game.
  13. rv78
    I'm all for trading Kepler. I think we've seen his best season and all that is left is mediocrity. Even if he makes improvement over the last 2 seasons I think it is time for a full fledge youth movement in the outfield with Larnach, Celestino, Gordon and Kirilloff joining Buxton. The Twins like to unload veteran players that start costing too much especially if they aren't top-of-line superstars like Buxton. Kepler is reaching that level. He still has trade value unlike a Sano so the time to move him and replace him with adequate younger players is now.
  14. rv78
    Even though he's still in theTwins organization I am feeling really good that the Twins have moved on from using Jake Cave at the major league level. Regardless of how well Cave is or isn't hitting in the minors, the organization is much better off having Larnach, Celestino, Gordon and hopefully soon, Kirilloff to use in the outfield if needed.
  15. rv78
    Unfortunately the way the Twins players get hurt we probably have not seen the last of Sands. It would be nice to see Ryan, Gray, Archer, Smeltzer and Ober make every start the rest of the season but we all know that won't happen. Arizona and Seattle both have losing records. Twins couldn't capitalize against the Royals and Tigers so it'll be interesting to see how they play out west. Seems they play "up to" or "down to" their competition.
  16. rv78
    I would not trade for another starter unless Ober looks like he cannot make it back onto the team and be a consistant starter the rest of the season. A groin strain can be a reoccuring injury that may take the rest of the season to completely get over. Winder's injury may take longer to recover from than hoped as well. That leaves Gray, Ryan, Archer, Smeltzer, and Bundy as the starters. Not enthused that Bundy is part of the group and if Winder or Ober cannot displace him in the rotation then I'd make a move for a starter or work Jax into the rotation and DFA Bundy. Then go out and get 2 or 3 quality bullpen guys which will be a lot cheaper than the starters you mention.
  17. rv78
    I couldn't have said it better myself. Exactly!
  18. rv78
    Arraez is a lock or at least should be. Buxton can make it if his recovery from his 0-30 slump is over and he keeps hitting up to the all-star game. I think Correa has a good chance as well but will need to continue to hit up to the game also. I don't see any of the pitchers making it. They've either missed too many games or just aren't solid enough as a lights out kind of bullpen guy. Duran is close but I don't think he is quite there yet.
  19. rv78
    I agree with all 3 of your choices. Every pitcher will have a game here and there that they just don't have their best stuff and get roughed up a bit. When that happens Rocco needs to first recognize it and then pull them before too much damage is done. He's been way to slow IMO to get a struggling reliever out of the game. There is no harm in pulling a pitcher 1 batter too soon verses 1 batter too late. Currently Duffey and Smith have not been good. Both should be relagated to mop up roles until they prove they can get guys out again on a consistant basis. Another arm that looks like it has good potential is Cano. Yes he got off to a rough start but a lot of young pitchers do. Keep giving him opportunities and he may surprise you. IMO he's a better option than Duffey right now. Bundy needs to go to a long relief role as soon as Ryan and Gray are back. Smeltzer looks like he has figured things out. Archer may be turning the corner as well. If Ober can come back healthy it should give them a solid 5 going forward. If not it might be time to ramp up Jax to be a starter again. He's been one of the most consistant 2-3 inning guys in the pen and could be an easy fix for the #5 spot in the rotation. Problem is the Twins very seldom/never try a pitcher as a starter again once they move 'em to the pen so now he's probably a reliever for the rest of his Twins life.
  20. rv78
    When you play good teams your weaknesses show. Bundy, Sands, and most of the bullpen look pretty weak. Cortes and Cole looked weak too but I'd guess they won't pitch like that in a rematch and the Twins pitchers will, only because overall we know who is good and who isn't. Evidently Rocco doesn't require guys to call for infield popups but just assume the other guy is going to catch it. In todays game of shifts to the extreme, players need to be hollering "I got it" when there are 2 guys playing the same position on the field. A game that should have been won, loss by mistakes and poor play. Looked like they got tight as the game went on and every mistake cost them. You know what they say, you can't give good teams extra outs.
  21. rv78
    Most games the bullpen is being asked to pitch 4 or 5 innings, not 6 or 7. Big difference. Even so, it is still too many. The starters need to start pitching into the 6th and 7th innings much more frequently so the bullpen only needs to cover 2 or 3.. As for Rocco hurting Duffey's confidence, that's a laugher. First you have to earn the Manager's confidence in you to be used in close games. Right now, Duffey should only be used in a blowout loss and if he doesn't understand why that is, that's his problem.
  22. rv78
    Not sure I completely agree with everyone. I watched the game until Dudfey served up his gopher ball to Rizzo. According to Bremer the Twins had Thielbar warming up before Rocco even went to Dudfey. With all of the analytics that Rocco is so well known for using, why did he not bring in Thielbar who is a lefty to face the lefty Rizzo? Especially when Dudfey was showing he was clearly struggling. Using Thielbar for 1 batter would not have hand-tied him against using him again the next game. Either way Rocco was wrong. Analytically (lefty verses lefty) and in "game management" as he watched Dudfey struggle ..... again. Call it a 50/50 coin flip if you want but there is a reason why Rocco is usually wrong more often that he is right. He's a poor manager.
  23. rv78
    Why isn't Duran the closer? Because Rocco won't use rookies in high leverage situations such as the closer role if he has a veteran that is half as good. Even last year when they were in last place he went back to using Colome as his closer and didn't even try Alcala in that role until the last game of the season. If there ever was a time to start grooming a player for a specific role such as a closer, the time was then. Alcala could have been closing games all of September. Another Rocco mistake that was made last year that he continues to make this year.
  24. rv78
    Good arguments both ways. Everyone has their own opinion including Jim Kaat. Question is, if Rocco wasn't resting guys as much as he is or changing lineups as much as he does, would they be hitting the ball better? We'll never know because Rocco will never try to find out. Here's an idea he should try: Play the same guys at the same positions hitting in the same spot in the lineup for 2 weeks straight regardless of who they are facing as a pitcher, a righty or lefty. At the end of the 2 weeks if they haven't found their hitting stroke by then, I'll admit I'm wrong. Maybe Kitty will too.
  25. rv78
    You are in the minority. So you are saying Kaat doesn't know what he is talking about? Is resting 3 of your main players all on the same day NOT Rocco's fault? If it isn't, who's is it? Why did Rocco use the excuse of a shortened spring training for his hitters not getting off to a good start? Because they didn't get enough at bats on a consistant basis, yet here we are going into June and they still don't get enough at bats on a consistant basis because he doesn't play them on a consistant basis! Is limiting their playing time keeping them from being injured? Right now the Twins have more injuries than any other team in baseball. Is his constant resting of players keeping them healthy? Not even close.
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