USAFChief

I think the 28 man roster influenced pitching decisions a great deal. It's certainly true that stater innings have been going down across baseball for years, but this year is an anomaly.

Yes.

Move him to the pen, hope that he gains a little velo, and focusing on 2 pitches improves command.

Watch the postseason. The Twins do not have a bullpen that can play at that level. I know the Twins only scored 2 runs, but their offense, when healthy, is good enough to win post season series. But their bullpen isn't. Even had they beaten Houston, their bullpen simply isn't good enough to keep up, and win multiple series. They'd get exposed, as they did against Houston, too many times. Watching NY TB makes this glaringly obvious. Blindingly obvious. Offseason priority one HAS to be putting multiple power arms in that pen.

Nice piece of writing. But circumstances point toward Eddie having played his last game as a Twin. And it's likely the correct move.

Watching the postseason only serves to confirm my opinion. The Twins biggest need is an upgrade to the bullpen. At least a half dozen power arms. No more relying on the Sergio Romos or Caleb Thielbars or Mat Wislers of the world to beat playoff offenses for 4 innings per night.

Sadly, yes. Find the next one.

I dont think there's ever been a more uncertain off-season for the Twins. What will payroll look like? I bet even ownership has no clue. How could they? What will attendance be? Zero? 25% 50? Who knows? However, there are some near certainties, IMO. Rosario, Romo, Gonzalez, Hill, and Odorizzi won't be in Twins uniforms in 2021. Unlikely to return: Cruz, May.

Great post. Plan for the long run. Manage for the moment. PARTICULARLY in the post season. I dont think Rocco has a an appreciation for that second part.

ONE strikeout changes that inning, too. But hitters know whats coming, and don't fear getting beat. Romo is well passed his expiration date, and the Twins got what they earned entrusting a tied playoff game to a guy who can't hit 85. He didnt "pitch well enough." He got lucky that the soft one hop liner was hit right at a fielder, and should have been out of the inning, but he didnt pitch well. I hope Romo is gone. Nothing against him, except he's not good. I hope the Twins aim higher in the future.

I dont blame them for not adding to the lineup. But not shoring up a bullpen short of good arms was short sighted at best. Serious teams aren't putting 37 year old junkballers on the mound in the 9th inning of a tied playoff game.

It's impossible to know. It's also undeniable the Twins have been better with Buxton in the lineup over the past year plus. And I dont think there's any argument to be made Donaldson isn't better than Marwin Gonzalez. Doesn't matter, ultimately.

TWO long relief options? In a 3 game series?? Both of which were either ineffective or hurt? If that's the case, that's just incredibly stupid. I had assumed there must be something wrong with Alcala.

I missed it if there was one: was there an explanation for leaving Alcala off the roster?

Some thoughts: 1. I want a bullpen full of guys who throw 95 plus, not 83. I don't want reclamation projects and waiver wire pickups to be "brights spots" for a month or two in the pen. I want weapons. Do you think the Yankees or Dodgers would be trotting out Sergio Romo in the 9th inning of a post season game? Caleb Theilbar? For all the talk about how Falvine have improved the Twins pitching, this part is a failure. Not getting bullpen help at the deadline this year was a brutal mistake, and we see the results. Late runs off the bullpen cost both of these games. This becomes even more important in this day and age of starters not facing lineups a third time. That leaves 3 or 4 innings from your pen every game. Win those 3 or 4 innings consistently, and you will win a lot of games. INCLUDING THE POST SEASON. 2. I want more tough outs in the lineup. 3. The constant shifting isn't working. Used judiciously, great. As a constant, opening holes in the infield, with runners on? No. 4. Conversely, if teams are gonna shift against the Twins, well, we see what happens when teams just hit it where they ain't. But you can't bleed a single through the right side if you're swinging from the heels on every GD pitch. Kepler and Rosario should have 25 bunt singles this season because of how often the entire left side is open. 5. I want the manager to manage with a greater sense of urgency, throughout the season and PARTICULARLY in the post season. Resting guys needlessly in the regular season is stupid, it doesn't mean they'll be healthy later (we of all people should know that) nor does it "save their legs." It's 4 hours of baseball, for 20 somethings for pete sakes. Regulars need to play at least 150 games, unless there's an actual medical reason to sit them. And in the post season, EVERY SINGLE AB matters. Every baserunner. Every pitch. Manage like it.

Jake Cave has to be feeling a bit ... what? Embarrassed? Angry?

Apparently Buxton came in not feeling well.

The problem is the front office thinking Sergio Romo is an acceptable option in a playoff game. Look around today and see how many playoff teams are trotting out similar pitchers in similar situations. Let me know how many 37 yr olds tossing 84 MPH fastballs you see.

Someone tell Rocco this isn't the middle of May, and there's no more long game to play.

PANIC!!1!

For the record, Avila is a better defensive catcher than Garver. But that wouldn't be an issue if Rocco just leaves Jeffers in the game. Why start Jeffers, if not because he's currently the better option?.

Pro tip: don't take delivery of the TV until Thursday.

Extremely disappointed in a front office that put Rocco in the position of using Romo and Thielbar in the 9th inning of a 1-1 playoff game. Pinch hitting Garver...why?? I guess we know why 4 (four!) Catchers. Putting Astudillo on the playoff roster is like leaving crack cocaine on the coffee table of an addict. Rocco wont be able to resist. Is Alcala hurt? Because there is no other reasonable reason he isn't on the roster. The offense is just...offensive. We know Polanco is a poor SS. No range, weak arm. That doesn't excuse the error, of course. But his lack of range showed up twice today. And finally...i think every Twins fan, in their heart of hearts, saw this coming when they let Grienke wiggle out of the 1st.

like I said, plenty of blame to go around. But Polanco's error doesn't happen if Romo doesn't give up back to back hits, and might not have mattered if Romo, who by the way throws among the fewest strikes of any MLB pitcher, doesnt walk Altuve. Thielbar is a nice story, but he hasn't been in MLB for a long time for a reason. He didnt even have a minor league job this year, until the Twins came knocking. As a taxi squad guy...maybe. Pitching the 9th of a playoff game? That's front office malpractice. And it was foreseeable, and preventable. I don't hate Romo or Thielbar. I hate the process that made them options in that game. I want guys throwing 97, not Frisbee sliders that every hitter knows is coming.

nah. Its tough to keep up out there in SoDak, with no TV or internet.