All Things 2022 Minnesota Twins In-Season Thread

Honestly for giving up 14 hits and 9 walks to only allow 10 runs is pretty good. Big difference in the game is that walk difference with the twins waking once and the Yankees waking 9 times.

Not even upset it’s just exactly as I thought it would go down. Kinda like watching a bowl game or Wisconsin game with Mason coaching, expect the loss and you’re not as unhappy m.
Yanks lead MLB in multiple pitching categories, including ERA and fewest walks allowed
 


Cotton has earned his slot- only one bad outing and if he gets ahead - his change is devastating as Mr. Springer can attest to.

Also I don’t trust McGill
I agree with both points. To me this is the front office issue. All off-season it was to get pitching both starters and bullpen arms. They got starters but failed to address the bullpen and now here we are. They have no reliever that’s can go 3-4 innings so every time a starter only goes 4, which happens a lot you are forced to use players you don’t want to just cause you need arms. Of course injuries have hurt them a lot but that’s part of the game.

Of course they are still 4 games in first place, but man it just feels like smoke and mirrors.
 

Yanks lead MLB in multiple pitching categories, including ERA and fewest walks allowed
Yes that’s why last night was a game to try and win using your best bullpen arms. You got 4 runs and only gave up 5 so the game was very much there. Unfortunately there is no reason to think the next two games will be as close which may make you’re best bullpen arms not needed. I would rather see them lose 4-5 using top bullpen arms then lose 10-4 trying to use not your best arms. But that’s just me and Rocco ain’t gonna do that as his 4 years here have shown us. He see any game they are losing as not a high leverage situation that anyone can pitch in.
 

I agree with both points. To me this is the front office issue. All off-season it was to get pitching both starters and bullpen arms. They got starters but failed to address the bullpen and now here we are. They have no reliever that’s can go 3-4 innings so every time a starter only goes 4, which happens a lot you are forced to use players you don’t want to just cause you need arms. Of course injuries have hurt them a lot but that’s part of the game.

Of course they are still 4 games in first place, but man it just feels like smoke and mirrors.

And at least we’re not the Angels- who have somehow managed to drop 13 in a row with 2 MVPs on their roster, Joe Madden is now a genius in search of a job as well.

We may need another bullpen arm in addition to the starter - guess it depends on how effective Alcala can be when he gets back later this month- throwing 95-97 and if they get the starter then Winder maybe for some middle relief as well or maybe Devin - Winder should be a starter next year.

Ideally I’d like to see the rotation end up being (when healthy) -

Ryan
Gray
Montas - will likely take 2 off the 40 man roster, which I’m okay with, if we have him for more than just a rental this year
Smeltzer
Archer - need 5+good innings from you tonight

I would have liked to see how Smeltzer’s craftiness worked against the Yanks - maybe I’ll get to see it live in August.
 
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And at least we’re not the Angels- who have somehow managed to drop 13 in a row with 2 MVPs on their roster, Joe Madden is no a genius in search of a ho as well.

We may need another bullpen arm in addition to the starter - guess it depends on how effective Alcala can be when he gets back later this month- throwing 95-97 and if they get the starter then Winder maybe for some middle relief as well or maybe Donna - Winder should be a starter next year.

Ideally I’d like to see the rotation end up being (when healthy) -

Ryan
Gray
Montas - will likely take 2 off the 40 man roster, which I’m okay with, if we have him for more than just a rental this year
Smeltzer
Archer - need 5+good innings from you tonight

I would have liked to see how Smeltzer’s craftiness worked against the Yanks - maybe I’ll get to see it live in August.
You had me until “craftiness”. I don’t think you can do crafty against the Yankees as they just stand tHere and take walks ie the 5th inning where we walked in a run with 2 outs and 1 on.

I’m going to the Tampa game Friday hoping I can drop by the front office and let them in on some secrets.
 

I agree with both points. To me this is the front office issue. All off-season it was to get pitching both starters and bullpen arms. They got starters but failed to address the bullpen and now here we are. They have no reliever that’s can go 3-4 innings so every time a starter only goes 4, which happens a lot you are forced to use players you don’t want to just cause you need arms. Of course injuries have hurt them a lot but that’s part of the game.

Of course they are still 4 games in first place, but man it just feels like smoke and mirrors.
I really don't think the bullpen is a huge problem. Yes, they need to add another arm or two. But this is just as much about the staff not thinking being down 1 run is a high leverage situation. Rocco's postgame comments made it seem like they treat being down 1 in the 7th no different than being down 5.
 

This is the problem I have with the twins and their thoughts. Play to win todays game the hell with what happens tomorrow. You save Duran for an inning you have a lead and that may never get here. You could have brought him in to get out of Duffeys mess but you don’t and now the games almost over so you probably won’t need him tonight. The emphasis to win the current game vs a game tomorrow is just mind boggling to me.
Rocco thinks he's playing chess while the rest of the league is playing checkers. He thinks he's playing 2-3 moves ahead. Meanwhile, you're losing what's right in front of you, thereby negating the move you were saving for the future.
 

I really don't think the bullpen is a huge problem. Yes, they need to add another arm or two. But this is just as much about the staff not thinking being down 1 run is a high leverage situation. Rocco's postgame comments made it seem like they treat being down 1 in the 7th no different than being down 5.
Fully agree. The bullpen has been decent. Assuming they're in it near the deadline, relievers are easy to come across at that time. It's the usage of the bullpen that has been infuriating. Add in the fact that they're often called upon in the 4-5th inning because a starting pitcher hit 60 pitches and (God forbid) might have to face the top of the lineup for a third time.

But Duffey is cooked. Send him on the slow train to St. Paul. At a bare minimum, you cannot put him in any medium to high leverage situation until proven otherwise. He's become your innings eater when you're down 8 runs to the Yankees.
 



Fully agree. The bullpen has been decent. Assuming they're in it near the deadline, relievers are easy to come across at that time. It's the usage of the bullpen that has been infuriating. Add in the fact that they're often called upon in the 4-5th inning because a starting pitcher hit 60 pitches and (God forbid) might have to face the top of the lineup for a third time.

But Duffey is cooked. Send him on the slow train to St. Paul. At a bare minimum, you cannot put him in any medium to high leverage situation until proven otherwise. He's become your innings eater when you're down 8 runs to the Yankees.
Yeah I don't know if he'd clear waivers or not. Someone might take a chance on him.
 

Yeah I don't know if he'd clear waivers or not. Someone might take a chance on him.
I honestly don't care. I'd send him through waivers, and if somebody wants him they can have him. If he clears waivers and he objects to being assigned to St. Paul, just cut him.

On a semi-related note, Alcala's 60-day stint on the IL will be up in about 10 days. I don't follow the daily musings of beat writers- is he anywhere near coming back?
 

I honestly don't care. I'd send him through waivers, and if somebody wants him they can have him. If he clears waivers and he objects to being assigned to St. Paul, just cut him.

On a semi-related note, Alcala's 60-day stint on the IL will be up in about 10 days. I don't follow the daily musings of beat writers- is he anywhere near coming back?
Alcala is rehabbing in Ft Myers.
 

You had me until “craftiness”. I don’t think you can do crafty against the Yankees as they just stand tHere and take walks ie the 5th inning where we walked in a run with 2 outs and 1 on.

I’m going to the Tampa game Friday hoping I can drop by the front office and let them in on some secrets.

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What adjective would you use for Mr. Smeltzer then? I borrowed
Mine from Kitty- at least I didn’t call him Devin The Molester!

Please let them know I’m available to help ARraez with his swing - that guy can’t hit a lick
 




Ryan threw a bullpen and says he feels good. Forget the rehab start, Doc Roc. Start him on Thursday, even if he can only give you 3 innings.
 

Ryan threw a bullpen and says he feels good. Forget the rehab start, Doc Roc. Start him on Thursday, even if he can only give you 3 innings.
Is "Doc Roc" your euphemism for the entire Twins brain trust, including Falvey, Levine, Baldelli and the medical staff?

No way Rocco is calling that shot on his own. Just doesn't happen in MLB now in the 2020s.
 

Asked following the game by MLB.com’s Do-Young Park, Rocco Baldelli explained that trailing in the middle innings just simply isn’t a leverage situation by Minnesota’s standards. He said, “We play a lot of close ballgames. It feels like we’re in close ballgames most games in those spots. If we treat games where we’re down as if we’re up, then when we are up we’re not going to have the pitchers that we really want setup to throw in those games. It doesn’t always feel satisfying at times and that’s fine. But we have guys like Duran and Pagan who've thrown late in a lot of games and Joe Smith, those guys have pitched mainly in games where we’re winning and we want them to be available and ready to finish ballgames when the time comes.”

It’s baseball all the games are gonna be close especially with the batting averages being so low.
 

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What adjective would you use for Mr. Smeltzer then? I borrowed
Mine from Kitty- at least I didn’t call him Devin The Molester!

Please let them know I’m available to help ARraez with his swing - that guy can’t hit a lick
No crafty is correct it always seems for years the twins have had the crafty pitchers especially the crafty lefties. Sometimes crafty just turns into crappy.

Unfortunately Arreaz may be out for a while.
 

I really don't think the bullpen is a huge problem. Yes, they need to add another arm or two. But this is just as much about the staff not thinking being down 1 run is a high leverage situation. Rocco's postgame comments made it seem like they treat being down 1 in the 7th no different than being down 5.
They need a middle reliever that can go 3-4 innings once and a while. Smeltzer could be that guy but he’s forced into the rotation with all the injuries. So many of the starters don’t make it through the 5th inning and then you have to burn your bullpen right away. This is especially hard playing as many days in a row as the twins have been. Now yesterday was different as you were coming off a day off a some of the bullpen arms were off for 4 days. As good as the bullpen is I trust Duran and Pagan to a point. Would like to see cotton used more but no on seems to be on the same page.
 

They need a middle reliever that can go 3-4 innings once and a while. Smeltzer could be that guy but he’s forced into the rotation with all the injuries. So many of the starters don’t make it through the 5th inning and then you have to burn your bullpen right away. This is especially hard playing as many days in a row as the twins have been. Now yesterday was different as you were coming off a day off a some of the bullpen arms were off for 4 days. As good as the bullpen is I trust Duran and Pagan to a point. Would like to see cotton used more but no on seems to be on the same page.
If everyone is healthy I don't think that happens as much. Ryan, Gray, Ober and Smeltzer should be able to go at least 5 most games. Then I would maybe try piggybacking Archer and Bundy or Winder in the 5th spot.

Jax, Smith, and even Moran would have been a better option than Duffey last night.
 

Is "Doc Roc" your euphemism for the entire Twins brain trust, including Falvey, Levine, Baldelli and the medical staff?

No way Rocco is calling that shot on his own. Just doesn't happen in MLB now in the 2020s.
Yes.
 



Where did you see that?
1.) left the game yesterday after the dive in the 7th with right shoulder soreness.
2.) not in the line-up today.
3.) they have a history of treating any injury with kid gloves.
4.) Minnesota has shit lick when it comes to sports.
 

1.) left the game yesterday after the dive in the 7th with right shoulder soreness.
2.) not in the line-up today.
3.) they have a history of treating any injury with kid gloves.
4.) Minnesota has shit lick when it comes to sports.

And your point is?
 

1.) left the game yesterday after the dive in the 7th with right shoulder soreness.
2.) not in the line-up today.
3.) they have a history of treating any injury with kid gloves.
4.) Minnesota has shit lick when it comes to sports.
Luck has nothing to do with it. Just because we haven't won a championship since 1991 doesn't mean that we've had no luck. There are so many factors that come into play.

Every team has the bad luck you that you describe... some are just better equipped to handle it.
 

1.) left the game yesterday after the dive in the 7th with right shoulder soreness.
2.) not in the line-up today.
3.) they have a history of treating any injury with kid gloves.
4.) Minnesota has shit lick when it comes to sports.
Yankees starting a LHP today. Arraez is sitting as he did last week. BA is .224 against southpaws anyway, so good day for a rest with Correa back in the lineup.
 


1.) left the game yesterday after the dive in the 7th with right shoulder soreness.
2.) not in the line-up today.
3.) they have a history of treating any injury with kid gloves.
4.) Minnesota has shit lick when it comes to sports.
Rocco said he's "not concerned" and the Yankees are starting a lefty tonight. #4 is undeniable though.
 





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