Article: Game Thread: Twins v Astros, 5/29 @ 1:10pm CT

[Halsey Hall]

After an eleven spot I went to play golf.  Figured I couldn't be that bad, and wasn't. Didn't hear the final score and not sure I want to.

[wsnydes]

The last 2 losses are tough. Blame Molly all you want for both of them, but there have been a lot of lot of opportunities for players to step up and be the hero and no one has stepped up to answer the call.

That's true and I agree, but the players aren't the ones mismanaging the bullpen. Tomorrow, this team will be short in pen options again because their manager did them no favors by allowing them to get some rest. The players aren't responsible for Molitor blowing through his bullpen game in and game out. It does eventually cost the team games and also injuries to players which also costs the team games. I'm only blaming Molitor for his in game management. Today was embarrassing. Hopefully Berrios can bail his manager out tomorrow.

 

Players not stepping up to the call happens. That's baseball. There are plenty of times where the situation is reversed and the players succeed despite Molitor's managing. That's also baseball. However, the managers job is to put his players in the best spot to succeed and he's done a poor job of that lately.

Edited May 29, 2017 by wsnydes

[jun]

Theoretically they might have won this game if Molitor trusts Rucinski and lets him pitch the 8th instead of mopping in the ninth. After all he is one of the two who did not pitch yesterday. The other one is Wheeler.

[wsnydes]

Theoretically they might have won this game if Molitor trusts Rucinski and lets him pitch the 8th instead of mopping in the ninth. After all he is one of the two who did not pitch yesterday. The other one is Wheeler.

Maybe, maybe not. I think today's goal was preserve the bullpen first, win the game second once the bullpen was needed. Limit the long-term damage even if it costs the team today's game.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Our ballclub is going to have so much character...

 

Someday, i hope i have 1/25 the character of this team!

[Twinsoholic]

If the goal was to preserve the pen, then Wheeler should have pitched the 8th inning.

 

Curtiss in AA ball is a closer, and he has a terrific strikeouts per innings pitched rate. He would have been a better player to add than promoting Rucinski. Heck, they could have added Curtiss and Wheeler to the 40 person roster. They could have outrighted Presley or Belilse or Boshers or Breslin and that would have been ok, really

 

It is time for the Twins to use Rosario, Curtiss, and Melotakis. These guys aren't super young, but the are dealing in the minors. I have more faith in their shutdown ability than I do with usual suspects on the pitching staff of the 25 person roster.

Edited May 29, 2017 by Twinsoholic

[Blake]

 

The last 2 losses are tough.  Blame Molly all you want for both of them, but there have been a lot of lot of opportunities for players to step up and be the hero and no one has stepped up to answer the call. 

Santana and the bats answered the call. Molitor decided, with a 6 run lead, to use the same people rather than going with the arms that were brought up.

 

The extra inning loss, it is what it is. I find the decisions made by Molitor today to be inexcusable, especially considering how many games the Twins are playing over the next few weeks. 

 

Edit: I hope I'm not coming across as overly harsh, because it's not intended that way. 

Edited May 29, 2017 by Blake

[Blake]

 

There should be a new manager in the dugout tomorrow. There needs to be accountability at all levels.

Sheer stupidity, and you could see it coming from a mile away.

Maybe Molitor was too close the action?

[bighat]

I haven't been a Molitor fan since his hiring (I was rooting for Douggie Mkvxz to get the job).  The guy doesn't have the chops.  That said, he didn't give up 13 runs in the 8th tonight, that was all on the pitchers.  It would be one thing if the game was 4-2 or something, and the Twins lost 5-4.  But this complete implosion isn't really something Molitor could control.  This was an utter disaster, coming a day after Kintzler gutted this team with his garbage on the mound. 

 

Has the free fall we've all been dreading arrived?

[wsnydes]

I haven't been a Molitor fan since his hiring (I was rooting for Douggie Mkvxz to get the job). The guy doesn't have the chops. That said, he didn't give up 13 runs in the 8th tonight, that was all on the pitchers. It would be one thing if the game was 4-2 or something, and the Twins lost 5-4. But this complete implosion isn't really something Molitor could control. This was an utter disaster, coming a day after Kintzler gutted this team with his garbage on the mound.

 

Has the free fall we've all been dreading arrived?

Molitor can't control anything in your scenario either, but it's still a loss. I think most people being negative towards Molitor are looking at how he managed the pen. That is firmly within his control. He used three of his tired relievers before bringing in one of the fresher call up arms. By that point not only was the game lost, but he taxed the bullpen more too. That's what people are looking at. Even if it worked for him, I'd be complaining about it because he's still in the same situation tomorrow. That's on the manager. The individual execution of pitches is obviously not on a manager. Edited May 30, 2017 by wsnydes

[bighat]

 

Molitor can't control anything in your scenario either, but it's still a loss. I think most people being negative towards Molitor are looking at how he managed the pen. That is firmly within his control. He used three of his tired relievers before bringing in one of the fresher call up arms. By that point not only was the game lost, but he taxed the bullpen more too. That's what people are looking at. Even if it worked for him, I'd be complaining about it because he's still in the same situation tomorrow. That's on the manager. The individual execution of pitches is obviously not on a manager.

 

You are right.  And I didn't watch the game today (was traveling) and by the time I got home the Astros were in the midst of a record-setting inning.  I didn't mean to stick up for Molitor.  I just meant to also lay some blame on the bullpen.  I wish Molitor had been fired prior to the season, ownership really handcuffed the new brass with their ultimatum regarding the hometown guy keeping his job.  Molitor's set this team back in regards to development and I hope he gets fired.  Alas, the Twins will have to tank into last place before we see that happen, I'm afraid.

[wsnydes]

You are right. And I didn't watch the game today (was traveling) and by the time I got home the Astros were in the midst of a record-setting inning. I didn't mean to stick up for Molitor. I just meant to also lay some blame on the bullpen. I wish Molitor had been fired prior to the season, ownership really handcuffed the new brass with their ultimatum regarding the hometown guy keeping his job. Molitor's set this team back in regards to development and I hope he gets fired. Alas, the Twins will have to tank into last place before we see that happen, I'm afraid.

Like you, I'm no fan of Molitor as manager and have never liked the hiring. There's no doubt that the FO did him no favors with the bullpen they gave him, but his mismanagement makes it even worse. I fear these two games will be looked at as the turning point of the season because of the bullpen mismanagement. What could have been mostly resolved after one day will now be extended at least into tomorrow. I fear it'll be longer though.

[DrNeau]

Up 8-2 in the 8th and we lose 16-8. WOW! That was freaking mind-blowing. 

[Danchat]

 

Theoretically they might have won this game if Molitor trusts Rucinski and lets him pitch the 8th instead of mopping in the ninth. After all he is one of the two who did not pitch yesterday. The other one is Wheeler.

Yeah but Rucinski gave up 3 runs in the 9th... it would have made more sense to go with the fresh arm but for Molitor it was pick your poison. There just aren't any good options given to him, so it's no wonder he went with Pressly. (He just should have pulled him earlier)

[yarnivek1972]

Yeah but Rucinski gave up 3 runs in the 9th... it would have made more sense to go with the fresh arm but for Molitor it was pick your poison. There just aren't any good options given to him, so it's no wonder he went with Pressly. (He just should have pulled him earlier)

First of all, I don't think you can draw a straight line and say that because Rucinski gave up 3 in the 9th he would have been just as bad or worse in the 8th. In the 8th inning, the Astros were a beaten down team. Pressly walked the first guy and then almost killed Altuve. So, 2 on no one out and the Astros haven't even made contact yet. Point being maybe Rucinski doesn't walk Reddick or hit Altuve. Maybe one of them makes an out. Then who knows what might have happened.

 

Second, it doesn't matter. Sure, you always want to win. But, IMO winning today's game was a secondary goal to resting the bullpen arms that needed it - which was basically everyone but Wheeler and Rucinski. The manager needs to understand that and manage the game accordingly.