Western SD Fan

The counter argument would be that for the current pitchers (within the last 10 years) that have pitched over 100 pitches, especially 105+, seem to have arm fatigue issues going into the next couple of starts. As much as I really want pitchers to throw more pitches or pitch longer into games, it seems like you have to figure out the tradeoff between blowing out an arm and blowing out a bullpen. Since bullpen arms are cheaper and easier to get, you can see where the tradeoff is going. It's more on the starter being more efficient with the pitches he has than throwing more pitches. Rocco also seems to have an aversion of having his relievers coming in the middle of an inning, which limits the starter even getting one more out and thus limiting his pitch count.

When you look how much of a struggle it was just to get those 2 runs in the 4th, I can't see it will get any easier in the 8th or 9th.

Varland pitched the 7th. We can go Jax/Duran for the rest of the game.

Tomorrow's Ump Scorecard will be interesting to see.

After a rough first inning, Paddack has again given us a quality start. Now for the batters to get to work on a win for him.

I was hoping they could have worked Gausman another batter or two so we wouldn't have seen him in the 6th.

Not enough as I'd rather see that commercial than the MLB Green commercial during every break.

That's the Royce I like to see. Do not have to be a hero, just keep the line moving.

If you believe in stats, France is actually terrible with the bases loaded in his career.

Paddack is 2-2 in the last five starts. 33IP, 5 ER. Run support while he has been in the game: 3, 4, 1, 0, and 0. This is likely the best chance for him getting any run support this game.

Gausman has a no-no going through 3......

10 pitches for Paddack this inning. Keep it up and he might make it to the 6th.

I'm hoping this is not a sign of the return of double-play Correa.

Here's hoping the lineup can get to Gausman early. The Jays went through 6 of their 9 relievers yesterday with only one throwing under 20 pitches so they may be a little thin in the bullpen.

We trashed on Larnach because he couldn't play the outfield in Tampa. We are trashing on Wallner because he can't play the outfield. If you want both of their bats in the lineup, one of them HAS to play in the outfield. I believe Wallner still grades out as the better defender, but I don't have the numbers to back it up. I'll be the Wallner apologist for now. Regarding his defense, I think we have been blessed to have Kepler out in RF all those years. I hear on the telecast all the time on how tricky that RF wall can be with the limestone, the seats jutting out above the wall, and the odd angles. This is the first year for Wallner in RF vs Kepler who played his entire Twins career mainly manning RF. I have to accept a mistake or two if I want his bat in the lineup. I also find it interesting that in one thread, some of us were advocating for Lewis to get sent down to AAA aka the "Wallner method" to improve and come back and smash, but on this thread, trashing that Wallner spent too much time in AAA in 2024. Finally, we have seen this Nickelodeon Melodrama before. I keenly remember we had a similar argument between Rooker and Larnach with Wallner in the wings a few years back. Neither Rooker or Larnach could be trusted in the outfield, and you couldn't keep them both in the lineup. Twins ended up trading Rooker and we know the rest of the story. If you've reached the point that you can't trust Wallner in the outfield, pick one to trade and move on. I think we just have to be a little more patient on Wallner's defense as he comes back from the IL as hard as it may look at times.

Buxton needs to get to second so France can pay attention to his AB. His AB's are better with RISP.

I believe his name was Dick Trickle and he did race. Trickle was that shallow hit that just scored two for the Jays.

Ober is susceptible to the long ball. Just need to have clean bases when he inevitably gives one up.

No Correa seems to make the lineup thin very fast. Also surprised to not see Castro in the lineup tonight as well.

I would assume that Adams will be initially used as a mop-up guy or in a long-term pitching situation (2+ innings). If he doesn't implode, he will get better opportunities in the bullpen. Similar to what we have seen prior with Sands and Varland. I would love to see Adams in the situation of maybe being up or down a run or two but needing to effectively pitch multiple innings. A question will be what his recovery time after each outing. A dream would be to break up Zebby and Festa so they are not pitching on back-to-back days.

Missed an opportunity to suggest an underground bunker for the family to escape, without you in it, as a possible safety precaution.

This game was just set up to be a bad one before the first pitch was thrown. Festa seemed rushed out west to pitch on a getaway day game of a ten-game road trip. As Rocco confirmed in his postgame interview, Festa was also on a pitch count since he is still coming back from arm fatigue that he suffered while in St. Paul. Correa was out again, and I was even surprised that Buxton played today, although he was taken out early. Now we get to see how the Twins will line up the bullpen. Coulombe is expected to start a rehab assignment tomorrow. It doesn't seem like they would just have two pitchers down for multiple days in the pen. I believe Patsky said in another thread that our old friend Blewett was just DFA'd by the Braves. Funderburk has looked better, but I assume he will be replaced by Coulombe when he's ready. This may be the ending of the Alcala project in Minnesota. I had hoped he would turn a corner and there's definitely room to blame on the way he's been used in the bullpen for his troubles. In the end though, you have to have people that are capable of getting outs in a game and it doesn't look like he is it at the moment.

Our old friend may become our new friend. Blewett was typically good in situations like this. Multiple inning mop-up work that limited the damage. I have a feeling we are going to need someone like him in the future.

Disappointing for Alcala as I thought he may have turned a corner with his earlier outing in the series. He may end up being the casualty when Coulombe comes back as it would be nice to have two lefties in the bullpen.

Now the real question sets in on the Twins needing to find another reliever for the weekend. I can't imagine they would go two relievers short for multiple days. Fundy would be the likely option since he has options. Per MLB, I see that Coulombe will start a rehab appearance in St. Paul tomorrow. It will be curious if they go short-handed tomorrow with the chance to bring back Coulombe over the weekend.