I did not understand the organization’s thinking when they picked up Matt Belisle from the Indian’s trash heap. Honestly, I was even more astounded that there wasn’t significant outrage on TD. To his credit,I believe Seth actually did question this decision in his uniquely polite manner. For me, when there were several younger options available in Triple A relievers who had earned this promotion, the decision was highly questionable. Moreover, the pickup required roster manipulations that left them without a backup infielder. Thank God they found this stud Motter to solve that problem!

I was at the games yesterday and today, and today observed an appearance by Mr. Belisle.

Here are the results of the top of the 8th inning:

Leon- solid single

Bradley-K

Betts-ROCKET to left that Grossman makes a super play to prevent at least a double

Benintendi-crushed HR

Martinez- another ROCKET to dead center for a double

Moreland-cruise missile for another double

Bogaerts-pop out (I think to Mauer, but my view was blocked)

 

I know this was just one inning, but why are we picking up players that have been released by reliever-starving clubs?

Yeah, it didn't make sense to me but what do I know.  At this point, though, I hope they decide they've seen enough.  Let the kids play!

I have no doubt that Molitor will keep going to his guys come hell or high water. He has proven that consistently. 

 

I believe that Belisle is one of his guys. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If signing Matt Belisle was the answer to something in 2018, I don't even want to hear the question.

I posted in one of the earlier Belisle threads: Belisle has been a free agent 5 times in the last 3 years (3 offseasons, and twice this year in-season). The Twins are the only team to sign him to a major league contract during that span -- and we've done it twice.

I can't imagine him being on the roster much longer.  I was at the game yesterday and he was not good.  The sounds the bats made when hitting the ball where not favorable to a pitcher. . . 

I posted in one of the earlier Belisle threads: Belisle has been a free agent 5 times in the last 3 years (3 offseasons, and twice this year in-season). The Twins are the only team to sign him to a major league contract during that span -- and we've done it twice.

The Fun With Numbers thread is over yonder.

 

I have no doubt that Molitor will keep going to his guys come hell or high water. He has proven that consistently. 

 

I believe that Belisle is one of his guys. 

 

Yeah, Molitor did the same with Breslow last year until the front office took him away from Molitor.

 

I'd like to see Belisle taken away from Molitor as well. Send Rogers down and DL Pressly to give him some rest. I don't know what they can do with Reed.

 

Molitor was forced to go to Hildenberger, Busenitz and Rogers last year and they thrived. Do it again, force his hand.

 

Also, Rodney has quietly become one of the more reliable relievers, why is he only 6th on the team in relief appearances? Good lord, what year is it? He doesn't only have to come in when the team is leading in the 9th.

I see zero reason that soon to be 28 year old Alan Busenitz with 29.6 K%, 25.0 K-BB%, 0.88 WHIP, and 1.27 ERA/ 2.15 FIP in Rochester should be there while Matt Belisle is taking a major league roster spot.

Indefensible that they signed him. They love veterans, love them.

 

The Fun With Numbers thread is over yonder.

I assumed this was going to become the "Not-So-Fun With Numbers" thread.

 

Here's another one: Matt Belisle as a Twin vs. the Red Sox has allowed 12 runs in only 4.1 innings. That's 12 runs vs 13 outs, for a 24.94 RA9. (3 runs were scored as unearned so his ERA is only 18.71, although it was a 2 out error followed by a 3 run HR situation, make of that what you will.)

Embarrassing when he was signed, and ever more so now. 

 

Yeah, Molitor did the same with Breslow last year until the front office took him away from Molitor.

 

I'd like to see Belisle taken away from Molitor as well. Send Rogers down and DL Pressly to give him some rest. I don't know what they can do with Reed.

 

Molitor was forced to go to Hildenberger, Busenitz and Rogers last year and they thrived. Do it again, force his hand.

 

Also, Rodney has quietly become one of the more reliable relievers, why is he only 6th on the team in relief appearances? Good lord, what year is it? He doesn't only have to come in when the team is leading in the 9th.

 

I'd love to see baseball get away from the closer mentality as well. Your closer can come in the 7th inning when needed if the situation dictates it. 

 

Besides, If I were to hand pick a closer... I'd be looking for a lower WHIP then Rodney typically produces because Closers usually start bases empty. Rodney is more suited for getting out of jams because he is practiced at the art of getting out of them by producing jams. 

 

However... As long as Closers are paid more money then the other bullpen guys. Players are going to insist on that role and as long as managers continue to use them for 9th inning duty... sadly, it won't change for awhile. 

 

Bullpens are very important these days and I continue to insist on them being stuffed to the rafters with 7 guys who can get major league hitters out. However, it's becoming apparent that even this isn't enough. You also need 7 guys that a manager will trust and use. 

 

I can't imagine him being on the roster much longer.  I was at the game yesterday and he was not good.  The sounds the bats made when hitting the ball where not favorable to a pitcher. . . 

 

I can imagine it... Although, my imagination can get a little dark at times. 

 

I assumed this was going to become the "Not-So-Fun With Numbers" thread.

 

Here's another one: Matt Belisle as a Twin vs. the Red Sox has allowed 12 runs in only 4.1 innings. That's 12 runs vs 13 outs, for a 24.94 RA9. (3 runs were scored as unearned so his ERA is only 18.71, although it was a 2 out error followed by a 3 run HR situation, make of that what you will.)

 

Meh... Small Sample Size. If you gave him another 30 innings against the Red Sox he could get the ERA down to 15.00. 

Don’t get me wrong- I love the Twins! But it beyond frustrating to see decisions like this. To me, roster spots are sacred. Every player, whether it’s Joe Mauer or the 25th man, whoever that may be (Belisle?), has a chance to affect the outcome of a game. A win in April, May, or June counts the same as one in September.

Don’t believe this? Matt Magill came into a undecided game last week and pitched 3 no hit innings as the Twins went on to win.

The point I wanted to make in this post is this: it’s not a big deal that Belisle sucked in a game that was most likely lost when he came in. More importantly, what are you telling your young players when they bust their butts and do what the organization says to “give us no choice but to call you up,” (paraphrasing, obviously).

Thrylos’ on the mark comment concerning Alan Busenitz is spot on. What more is he expected to do?

Finally, what is the organization telling its fans? While most fans are unaware or don’t understand situations like this,many of us wonder if the Twins are really trying to give the team the best chance to win by rostering the best players. Right now, they can’t convince me they are!

I'd love to see baseball get away from the closer mentality as well. Your closer can come in the 7th inning when needed if the situation dictates it.

 

Besides, If I were to hand pick a closer... I'd be looking for a lower WHIP then Rodney typically produces because Closers usually start bases empty. Rodney is more suited for getting out of jams because he is practiced at the art of getting out of them by producing jams.

 

However... As long as Closers are paid more money then the other bullpen guys. Players are going to insist on that role and as long as managers continue to use them for 9th inning duty... sadly, it won't change for awhile.

 

Bullpens are very important these days and I continue to insist on them being stuffed to the rafters with 7 guys who can get major league hitters out. However, it's becoming apparent that even this isn't enough. You also need 7 guys that a manager will trust and use.

 

Isn’t that reverse logic? Bring a guy into a game with runners on that allows a lot of baserunners?

 

IMO Rodney needs to be left alone to do whatever it is he does in the 9th. Asking him to do more, at his age, is asking for trouble.

 

Isn’t that reverse logic? Bring a guy into a game with runners on that allows a lot of baserunners?

IMO Rodney needs to be left alone to do whatever it is he does in the 9th. Asking him to do more, at his age, is asking for trouble.

 

I call it pretzel logic but reverse works.

 

Rodney still can generate the K, one of our top K options and you need K's when your back is against the wall and he seems to pitch a little bit better in higher leverage situations. His Career WHIP is 1.45 with the bases empty. 

 

Although, I'm not a big Rodney fan and my point probably got lost by bringing him up. My main point, I'd like the 9th to be pitched by a guy with a low WHIP (Hildenberger?) and I think the closer role is a little over rated. Not that I want anybody coughing up leads in the 9th. 

 

 

 

Without Belisle, who could the Twins give the coveted and highly important role of #13 pitcher to? Jeremy Bondermans don't grow on trees.

As noted by nineoftwelve in today's game thread, tonight had to be Matt Belisle's last major league appearance, no?

I understand Mr. Belisle is a great guy. I don’t like to see anyone hit like he has the last 2 nights.

But was the game over after 8 innings? Looked to me like there was only a 3 run deficit going to the top of the 9th. Belisle must have been the only reliever available to pitch..............

Did I hear Jack Morris say they only had 1,2,3,4, 5-guys ready. Whoops! 5 available relievers to pitch the

9th inning in a game that was already over........

I’d really like to hear Molitor’s reason for this. I do really feel bad for Belisle in this case!

Well, Belisle is definitely a mop-up guy for a moment. The Twins will have to make a roster move when Buxton returns, and when Polanco returns. Belisle and Motter are the odd guys out.

 

And how long a leash on Bobby Wilson, not that Cameron Rupp is boiling over in Rochester.

 

Who still loves the idea of Grossman getting more at bats than necessary. Of course, is he better today than Morrison or Kepler (or tomorrow, Buxton).

 

But Belisle maybe has sunk himself. Not sure if the Twins bring up a temporary pitcher for another week, or maybe promote Zach (I got my first RBI) Granite and jsut see if he can spark centerfield until Buxton returns, in another week. Speaking of Buxton, nothing says greatness like having a bobble-head giveaway and the player promoted is in the minors, albeit on a rehab.

 

 

 

I have no idea how Belisle has a roster spot when the Twins have Busenitz, Curtiss, Duffy, Bard, Anderson, and Moya at AAA.

Bye Bye Belisle!

I have no doubt that Molitor will keep going to his guys come hell or high water. He has proven that consistently.

 

I believe that Belisle is one of his guys.

 

This is on the front office not Moliter. He plays the players given to him. Everybody should read yesterday’s

article in the USA Today by Bob Nightingale on the state of today’s game. It’s not good. In short summary:

Too slow, attendance down, too many strikeouts, not enough base runners....which causes fans to lose interest, maybe too much analytics, too many players trying for homeruns which leads to more strikeouts and less base runners. He also thought maybe baseball should look into the shift.

Maybe baseball is becoming too boring for the young generation. Remember the writer is baseball lifer.

Edited June 23, 20188 yr by peterb18

I have no words.

 

This is on the front office not Moliter. He plays the players given to him. Everybody should read yesterday’s
article in the USA Today by Bob Nightingale on the state of today’s game. It’s not good. In short summary:
Too slow, attendance down, too many strikeouts, not enough base runners....which causes fans to lose interest, maybe too much analytics, too many players trying for homeruns which leads to more strikeouts and less base runners. He also thought maybe baseball should look into the shift.
Maybe baseball is becoming too boring for the young generation. Remember the writer is baseball lifer.

 

Maybe.

 

I imagine dialogue, advocacy and compromise between the front office and the manager on 25 man decisions.

 

Molitor doesn't always play the players given to him... which should cause diologue, advocacy and compromise on 25 man decisions if there wasn't any before. 

 

 

 

 

The most loveable veteran in baseball...

 

Is he still on the roster? If so, I'm no longer a fan of this front office.

Well now that we know some of Belisle's  fellow pitchers adore him it's clear the Twins have no choice but to keep him.....