I will NEVER understand this brand of "bullpen management".

 

It's the eighth ****ing inning. Guys are on base. There are less than two outs.

 

Why are your best relievers not on the mound? So they can pitch a clean ninth inning when there's a good chance the team will be losing by that point?

 

Stupid. Just stupid.

Agreed. What is his story?

The soft underbelly of the twins pen.

Agreed. What is his story?

It's the chubby cheeks. Must be distracting during his windup with all that jiggling going on.

Good thing Burton or Perkins weren't on the mound!

 

Now one of them can't get the save!

Revere does three sommersaults and catches it standing up.

Revere does three sommersaults and catches it standing up.

Yep, and Span should have been playing shorter there. A double doesn't matter much.

 

He should have gone flat-out for that ball and he pulled up.

Good thing Burton or Perkins weren't on the mound!

 

Now one of them can't get the save!

At least Perkins will be rested for tomorrow's save possibility.

The soft underbelly of the twins pen.

Sickening, just sickening.

Agreed. You bring in your closer(s) with 2 out in the 8th and then let them finish in the ninth. These are your f ing high leverage guys....wait for it.... to pitch in high leverage situations. Swarzak is a 7th inning guy at best.

I try not to bash Gardenhire too much for in-game management but I have to admit that my blood is approaching the boiling point. There isn't a single *good* reason why the Twins weren't using their best relievers in that situation.

This series is why I'd like to judge teams on the distribution of runs scored, rather than total scored.....like 1 great, 1 very good, 2 sucky games for the offense. But the total runs scored will look ridiculously good....I've lost interest in discussing how the 'pen is used....I've actually lost a lot of interest in discussing the current team, frankly. I wonder if there is anyone that still thinks they should not be sellers.....

Master game manager Ron Gardenhire strikes again.

At least we now know that Roberston is nothing special.

I try not to bash Gardenhire too much for in-game management but I have to admit that my blood is approaching the boiling point. There isn't a single *good* reason why the Twins weren't using their best relievers in that situation.

See what happens when Cappsie isn't around, just f*cks everything up.

See what happens when Cappsie isn't around, just f*cks everything up.

Has someone explained to Gardenhire that he's allowed to use both Perkins and Burton in the same game?

At least we now know that Roberston is nothing special.

7 MLB innings and Robertson is nothing special...20 spring training innings and give Liriano a 3 year deal.

 

But still holds out faith in Nick Blackburn.

"wathcing on my phone.....", so I might be a minute or two behind. but if the hammer gets on, and Morneau hits a HR, Swarzak would get the win....does anyone really think pitcher win has any meaning? really?

Has someone explained to Gardenhire that he's allowed to use both Perkins and Burton in the same game?

WHOA WHOA WHOA...using your two best relivers in the same game before the 9th inning?

 

Me not understand.

Nice AB by Willingham.

 

And now Morneau gets the lefty. Sigh.

WHOA WHOA WHOA...using your two best relivers in the same game before the 9th inning?

 

Me not understand.

No, no. You're totally misunderstanding me. I'm not asking for something crazy like that, only that it's possible for Gardenhire to use one in the eighth and the other in the ninth.

I try not to bash Gardenhire too much for in-game management but I have to admit that my blood is approaching the boiling point. There isn't a single *good* reason why the Twins weren't using their best relievers in that situation.

I can hardly wait till they "get in some work" in a one sided game tomorrow.

 

/speculation

 

Anywho...this one isn't quite over yet.

"There isn't a single *good* reason why the Twins weren't using their best relievers in that situation."

 

You guys do realize pitchers need to warm up before they go in the game, right?

Come on Morneau, get on base so Plouffe/Doumit can get Perkins that almighty save.

Good thing Burton or Perkins weren't on the mound!

 

Now one of them can't get the save!

I don't think Perkins is available.

 

As for the rest of your rant, unless burton is going two innings, Burnett walking two to start the inning is no better in the 9th than the 8th.

 

The lesson here isn't "which pitcher(s) should be pitching which inning.". The lesson should be that every member of your pen is going to be required to pitch high leverage innings over the course of a season. Thinking "bullpen arms are the easiest thing to find" or "you only need a couple good arms at the back of your pen" as is often stated, is false.

"There isn't a single *good* reason why the Twins weren't using their best relievers in that situation."

 

You guys do realize pitchers need to warm up before they go in the game, right?

Swarzak was warming up. It was a "game on the line" situation. Why wasn't Burton the one warming up?

No, no. You're totally misunderstanding me. I'm not asking for something crazy like that, only that it's possible for Gardenhire to use one in the eighth and the other in the ninth.

What odd game are you speaking of where a closer can pitch before the 9th inning?

Perkins is unavailable today according to StarTribune (and pitched two straight and three of last four days).

Was that a legit hit off a lefty for Morneau or a little flair into right?

I don't think Perkins is available.

 

As for the rest of your rant, unless burton is going two innings, Burnett walking two to start the inning is no better in the 9th than the 8th.

 

The lesson here isn't "which pitcher(s) should be pitching which inning.". The lesson should be that every member of your pen is going to be required to pitch high leverage innings over the course of a season. Thinking "bullpen arms are the easiest thing to find" or "you only need a couple good arms at the back of your pen" as is often stated, is false.

Why can't Burton pitch four outs again? It's not as if he's asked to do it a lot.

 

And I didn't say to lead off the eighth with your best reliever. That makes even less sense than leading off the ninth with your best reliever.

 

But in a one run game with two guys on base, why isn't the best reliever out there? It's the "swing moment" of the game and there are only four outs left to get.

BTW if Ploufee can't get this bunt down I can't wait for the post-game where Gardy throws him under the bus for the loss.