Here is the official roster for the Twins in the AL Wild Card game tonight...

 

 

 

 

And here's the Yankees roster for your enjoyment...

 

 

No Sano?! 

 

That surprises me a lot, even with where he's at with the injury comeback. I wanted his arrow in the quiver at least for a pinch-hit opportunity...

 

Then again, if he's feeling some pain it's not much of a question.

Edited October 3, 20179 yr by Steve Lein

I'm okay with Sano not being on the roster.  Would be nice to have his bat as a threat, obvs, but it's okay.  

 

Had he been on the roster, Molitor would have had to consider pinch-running for him every time he got on base, throwing the rest of the game's lineup in flux.  Now the guys can just settle in and play.   

Must be in some link blocked at work.....but no Sano is sort of a surprise. However, if his timing is off, and can't run at all.....not totally.

11 pitchers is beyond dumb IMO.

 

Notice the Yankees have only 10.

 

Paul Molitor. Outmanaged, 10 hours before the first pitch.

Edited October 3, 20179 yr by yarnivek1972

11 pitchers seems like overkill. I would have had Sano on the bench just in case. I'd rather have him as a PH then Vargas, Garver etc

 

11 pitchers is beyond dumb IMO.

Notice the Yankees have only 10.

Paul Molitor. Outmanaged, 10 hours before the first pitch.

As Craig Arko pointed out to me on a different thread, 11 pitchers would come in handy if the game goes extra innings.    I'd probably go easy on the 'Molitor out-managed' takes, at least until the game starts. 

The FO should have more input on this roster than Molitor.

Sano has not been hitting the ball hard. He can't run.

I think having him on the roster would have screamed desperation.

This roster can get it done.

Go Twins!

As Craig Arko pointed out to me on a different thread, 11 pitchers would come in handy if the game goes extra innings. I'd probably go easy on the 'Molitor out-managed' takes, at least until the game starts.

If the game is close enough to go extras, it probably means the Twins got 5 plus out of Erv. For even a 12 inning game (which would be 3 extra innings), that’s still barely 2 outs per guy with 9 relievers. The Twins just set a team record by using 10 pitchers in a 9 inning game.

 

An extra bat would likely be far more useful. Obviously, Sano being healthier would help. Your top pinch hitters are now Vargas and Adrianza. And you really have no one to hit for Kepler vs lhp late in a critical spot.

 

If the Twins use 11 pitchers it means they are getting blown out of the water.

Sano has not been hitting the ball hard. He can't run.

I think having him on the roster would have screamed desperation.

This roster can get it done.

Go Twins!

Then Matt Hague should have been activated and given a trial.

One more loogy would have been nice, though it's said some Yankees don't have strong platoon splits. I don't see Mejia as a loogy or being used at all, but I hope to be surprised!

Can Sano pitch?  Pitching is the key tonight and every night. I hope tonight the Twins only use 1 pitcher and the other 10 sit the whole game. Go Big Erv. Throw that slider 75% of the time.

 

Then Matt Hague should have been activated and given a trial.

After the year he had that makes sense.

Out of the box thinking.

I like it.

Interesting and completely off topic but in looking at the roster layout  Jason Castro was born in Castro Valley California - although I guess it makes sense since the town was named for Don Castro.   Probably been mentioned before but I missed it.     Nice to have playoff baseball back!! 

After the year he had that makes sense.

Out of the box thinking.

I like it.

Really not that far out of the box. He hits right handed. Plays a functional 3b, 1b and lf. Has some MLB experience. Had he been up all September, he might have been ahead of Garver as far as who to roster.

One interesting thing. Well, to me anyway. I always thought Ehire was pronounced “Ay hare”. The pronounciation guide says “ay ray”.

Yeah, it's not the end of the world that Sano is not in there, nor is it scandalous that we are using 11 pitchers.  However, it's just not the right way to manage a one game playoff IMO.

 

If we are 5 or 6 pitchers into this game and it's not extras yet?  Then we are in big, big trouble.

 

Yeah, it's not the end of the world that Sano is not in there, nor is it scandalous that we are using 11 pitchers.  However, it's just not the right way to manage a one game playoff IMO.

 

If we are 5 or 6 pitchers into this game and it's not extras yet?  Then we are in big, big trouble.

 

why? Why not use even more pitchers, and manage matchups more than you would in the regular season? Really, ESan should go thru the order twice, and come out.

 

why? Why not use even more pitchers, and manage matchups more than you would in the regular season? Really, ESan should go thru the order twice, and come out.

If we had the Yankees pitching staff then yes, great, fine.  There are 3 to 4 pitchers I want the Twins to be using in this game (if they have to).  Erv and Berrios are two of them.  I don't want Gibby or anyone else not Hildy (and one of Rogers/Belisle) in that game.  Again, if the Twins cannot stick to their winning formula, well I don't see much chance of success.  Once we are down runs against that starter and their bullpen, well it's gonna be super hard.

 

I would rather have the bench players for pinch running and pinch hitting, especially Sano off the bench,  just on potential (if we need that blast).

 

However, I will say again, none of this is scandelous or outrageous.  Just how I would manage this.

Edited October 3, 20179 yr by rghrbek

 

why? Why not use even more pitchers, and manage matchups more than you would in the regular season? Really, ESan should go thru the order twice, and come out.

If Santana is shutting the Yankees down after seeing each batter twice, I could not disagree more with the underlined part of the above statement.

 

The Twins best chance of winning this game would be for Santana to go 7, 8, or 9 innings.  I'm not really sure how this could be disputed.

Edited October 3, 20179 yr by Doubles

Moya or Curtis over Mejia? Understandably, Colon is on the sidelines.

 

 

If we had the Yankees pitching staff then yes, great, fine.  There are 3 to 4 pitchers I want the Twins to be using in this game (if they have to).  Erv and Berrios are two of them.  I don't want Gibby or anyone else not Hildy (and one of Rogers/Belisle) in that game.  Again, if the Twins cannot stick to their winning formula, well I don't see much chance of success.  Once we are down runs against that starter and their bullpen, well it's gonna be super hard.

 

I would rather have the bench players for pinch running and pinch hitting, especially Sano off the bench,  just on potential (if we need that blast).

 

However, I will say again, none of this is scandelous or outrageous.  Just how I would manage this.

 

good points all around. I wasn't thinking of Berrios when I typed that up.....

 

The formula in the short season is different than the full season, but the Twins don't have the bullpen to take advantage of that.

Pretty sure Mejia is on the roster just in case Santana gets hurt or melts down early. Need a guy who can go 3+ innings if need be (other than Berrios)

 

If Santana is shutting the Yankees down after seeing each batter twice, I could not disagree more with the underlined part of the above statement.

 

The Twins best chance of winning this game would be for Santana to go 7, 8, or 9 innings.  I'm not really sure how this could be disputed.

 

Except that the data is clear, there is no evidence that "mowing them down" two times thru the order reduces the odds of the third time thru the order penalty. It's easily disputed by looking at the odds of ESan doing that, vs using Berrios and Hildy and Belisle in relief, and not suffering the penalties for third and fourth time thru the order.

Pretty sure Mejia is on the roster just in case Santana gets hurt or melts down early. Need a guy who can go 3+ innings if need be (other than Berrios)

IMO, that’s Gee.

Give me Moya over Boshers. I don't want to see him get in at all.

 

I understand why Sano isn't on the roster, but man, if this team ends up needing a RH bat to hit a HR off of Chapman in the 9th to keep the season alive, there's going to be a lot of second guessing this offseason if it ends up being Vargas or Giminez getting the AB instead.

 

IMO, that’s Gee.

 

seems odd to have Gee and Mejia on the roster, unless he's really going all in on matchup usage? No idea....

What other hitter would you want on there anyway?