Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

Otto von Ballpark

Old-Timey Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    20,669

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    74

 Content Type 

Profiles

Minnesota Twins News, Rumors & Analysis

Minnesota Twins Videos

2026 Minnesota Twins Top Prospect Rankings

2022 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

Minnesota Twins Trade & Free Agent Rumors

Minnesota Twins Fan Guides & Resources

2023 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

The Minnesota Twins Players Project

2024 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

2025 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

2026 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

Forums

Blogs

Events

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by Otto von Ballpark

  1. Otto von Ballpark
    Yes, tickets for unplayed postseason games will be refunded. See here: https://www.mlb.com/twins/tickets/postseason-refund#targetText=MINNESOTA%20TWINS%20NON%2DPLAYED%20POSTSEASON%20TICKET%20REFUND%20POLICY&targetText=Allow%204%2D6%20weeks%20for,for%20any%20unplayed%20postseason%20games. It's a fair question, though -- I've heard of teams only giving refunds in the form of credit on season tickets the following year (NFL?).
  2. Otto von Ballpark
    On the Schoop/Arraez thing, I posted elsewhere, but I don't get that criticism either. Even as a "lefty masher" Schoop had basically the same AVG and a lower OBP vs LHP than Arraez this season, and Schoop's profile (power, strikeouts) was also largely redundant with several other pieces in our lineup. Arraez turned out to be one of our few effective bats this postseason, and perhaps his unique profile was a contributing factor -- the Yankees didn't seem to have an effective approach for him. (Schoop struck out in both of his pinch hit ABs, suggesting the general Yankee approach was working on him too.) Furthermore, it looks like perhaps Schoop is exploitable in the postseason / pressure spots? Career postseason OPS of .346 before 2019. Others have noted he wasn't exactly "clutch" this year either (-1.10 WPA, -0.58 WPA/LI, both worst on the team, with career negative marks too). Last October the Brewers only started him 1 time, and used him as a pinch hitter 3 times, over 10 postseason games. He shouldn't be an automatic start in the postseason vs a LHP, or anyone, really. I'm sure there's a point where Arraez's health may have warranted Schoop starting, but it's not clear to me that we were at that point, despite that looper dropping in the outfield in game 1.
  3. Otto von Ballpark
    By what measure? Berrios pitched the most innings, but "better" implies quality, not quantity. And with a fully rested pen in a tied postseason game in the 5th inning, I think we were looking for quality rather than quantity too. By any objective view, Rogers and Duffey were better *quality* pitchers than Berrios this season. Odorizzi has an argument. If you weigh the last 2 months, May and Littell would enter the conversation too, maybe even Romo.
  4. Otto von Ballpark
    I don't quite understand the Berrios criticism. I guess he set down the bottom of their order in the 4th, but he didn't look particularly good before that, and he was already at 88 pitches with the heart of the Yankee order (Judge-Gardner-Encarnacion-etc.) coming up for a third time. Those 3 batters in particular were already 3-for-5 with a walk in the game (including two doubles from Encarnacion). The regular season move might be to try to milk another inning out of Berrios, but pulling him in favor of your fully rested pen seems like a solid postseason move.
  5. Otto von Ballpark
    I'm pretty sure Rocco checked out before the 9th inning of game 3 (hence how Romo was inexplicably left in for a second inning and a season-high pitch count). So maybe May's appearance beyond that point doesn't count somehow?
  6. Otto von Ballpark
    And the most crushing victory for you was the 2002 ALDS Game 5, specifically the celebration afterward crushing your hand.
  7. Otto von Ballpark
    And of course, 2019 has the snowball effect of past postseasons. There wasn't really talk of a "Yankee curse" or even a playoff curse until 2009 or so. I mean, the Twins didn't even need to win a series this year -- just one single win would have at least broken "the streak" and gotten a monkey off our back. And they didn't even come close to that, with some elementary mistakes. Very frustrating. Although I guess one could also view that as lowered expectations too, so maybe it shouldn't hurt so much.
  8. Otto von Ballpark
    Now there's a dragon that Dave St. Peter can really slay!
  9. Otto von Ballpark
    This 2019 postseason was tough, because we spent a lot of time in anticipation. Compared to 2006, when we were chasing Detroit down to the very end (albeit with the wild card as a fallback). Same with 2009. But 2019, we had a big lead, and a little Cleveland scare but we mostly squashed that with two full weeks to go. And then it was a parade of articles and discussion here, about how all of our late emerging talents were "for real", and how the experience of veterans like Cruz, Marwin, and Romo was going to be valuable. Then they laid this massive egg.
  10. Otto von Ballpark
    The Rays, facing elimination tonight, are going with a bullpen game -- but using an electric reliever like Diego Castillo at the outset really seemed to set the tone. (Jumping on a short rest Verlander in the first inning helped too!) It's perhaps a model the Twins should have followed, instead of saving Rogers for a late inning situation that never really came. Especially since we were mostly committed to a bullpen game in game 2 anyway.
  11. Otto von Ballpark
    This article highlights some of the obvious flaws in Baldelli's decision to turn to Duffey first in game 2: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/disciplined-yankees-dominate-twins-again/
  12. Otto von Ballpark
    Do you take the same view of the 1987 and 1991 postseasons?
  13. Otto von Ballpark
    FWIW, Slowey never made a postseason appearance at all. And Baker never got a start in the postseason. Just a few mop-up innings in relief in 2010, game 3. (Plus game 163 vs Detroit in 2009, of course.) I actually kind of wish Baker had gotten a postseason start those years, maybe in place of Duensing in 2010. I suppose you could also list Blackburn and Bonser in this group, although Blackburn did well in his postseason turn vs the Yankees in 2009 (plus his game 163 vs the White Sox in 2008). Silva? Lohse? If they go the route of the Rays, I suspect we'll see more rando starters in our future, although with quick hooks in bullpen-style games.
  14. Otto von Ballpark
    But in pro sports, the product is emotional. There's also an element of PR to show empathy to obviously frustrated fans. This isn't just General Mills responding to a product recall or something, where you want to take emotion out of it. It doesn't have to involve specific blame or anything, but a little more empathy might be warranted. "Not frustrated at all"?
  15. Otto von Ballpark
    Tuesday, October 8 6:07 pm CST Astros at Rays (ALDS Game 4, Astros lead 2-1) TV: FS1 Pitching matchup is Verlander versus what appears to be a bullpen game from the Rays...
  16. Otto von Ballpark
    Twins-Yankees nightcap aside, it was a pretty exciting day for baseball yesterday. 3 other teams won with their backs against the wall, including one in extra innings. Two of those wins have forced winner-take-all Game 5's.
  17. Otto von Ballpark
    I think he saw a portal out of the "Upside Down" and was trying to dive through before it closed. Sadly, he didn't make it, and he had to continue suffering at the hands of the Demogorgons just like the rest of us.
  18. Otto von Ballpark
    Or maybe he was actually standing?
  19. Otto von Ballpark
  20. Otto von Ballpark
    I hate to burst any bubbles, but this category also included Radke, Liriano, Pavano, Baker, and even Blackburn...
  21. Otto von Ballpark
    Too bad baseball doesn't have a "Quick Lane Bowl"
  22. Otto von Ballpark
    I thought it was interesting choice by the director, meant to evoke memories of the Phil Cuzzi inning in 2009 which had the same result.
  23. Otto von Ballpark
    Recent rookie managers who made the postseason -- only 2 out of 14 failed to win a game: Rocco Baldelli, 2019 - swept in DS Alex Cora, 2018 - won DS, won CS, won WS Aaron Boone, 2018 - won 2 games in DS Torey Lovullo, 2017 - won 1 game in DS Jeff Banister, 2015 - won 2 games in DS Dave Roberts, 2016 - won DS, won 2 games in CS Brad Ausmus, 2014 - swept in DS Matt Williams, 2014 - won 1 game in DS Mike Matheny, 2012 - won WC game, won DS, won 3 games in CS Ron Roenicke, 2011 - won DS, won 2 games in CS Kirk Gibson, 2011 (first full year) - won 2 games in DS Ken Macha, 2003 - won 2 games in DS Ron Gardenhire, 2002 - won DS, won 1 game in CS Bob Brenly, 2001 - won DS, won CS, won WS
  24. Otto von Ballpark
    That might be the optimal arrangement. That way, whether Cave makes an ill-advised dive to his left or to his right, you can have another outfielder there to back him up.
  25. Otto von Ballpark
    Actually, the more runs we give up, the more Chapman cools off!
×
×
  • Create New...