I didn't watch the game via my free MLB.tv trial subscription, the first one I've missed.  I did turn it on to watch Willians pitch a little bit.  I agree--he was just a little too good, but still not good enough.  I'm not sure what the purpose of saving Magill was, nor do I understand the presence of an injured Slegers on the roster.  

 

In the end, this was on Berrios.  I look forward, hopefully, to the day when he does lock down his "ace" status and figure out how to dominate a game like this.  Playing for Molitor should teach him not to leave anything to chance.

Talked Bonnie into coming home from shopping so I could watch Berrios vs. Archer.  Really enjoyed the first three innings.  After that, I really don't know what happened, other than it was ugly, really ugly!

 

From what I read this morning, Slegers didn't tell the staff about his sore shoulder until Friday.  Gotta wonder if it was bothering him during his last start?  He isn't the answer to what they need to get back in the playoffs, but is a good starter to have at AAA for spot starts...at least until he becomes a free agent and signs elsewhere.

I like that Astudillo has now pitched, played center, and played second more than he's caught.

Yeah, so Duke has had FOUR (not 1, not 2, not 3, count them FOUR - 4) 20 plus pitch outings THIS WEEK.

 

But he is the MOY.

And just let him slog through a 5 run inning.

I’ll never understand why we signed Belisle. I mean what’s the point of having pitching depth when you don’t use it.

 

 

This “veteran presence” dependency & the shuttling of major league ready relievers back and forth from Rochester has to stop. Our player development already sucks, and this isn’t making it any better.

Personally I hope they START shuttling MLB ready relievers back and forth from Rochester.

 

Agree on Belisle though.

 

The Belisle thing is turning into one of the greatest mysteries in American history.

Who really killed JFK, and why? Did we really land on the moon? What really happened in Roswell, New Mexico? Why did the Twins sign and repeatedly use Matt Belisle in the summer of 2018?

Science and logic still cannot conclusively answer any of these questions.

I'm not saying it's aliens, but... it's aliens!

Personally I hope they START shuttling MLB ready relievers back and forth from Rochester.

Agree on Belisle though.

I don’t think flying back and forth from Rochester, across the country, can be good for a player’s development, or performance. We made that mistake with Vargas, and we’re doing the same thing to Moya and Busenitz.

 

I’m fine with using our depth, but we gotta stop wasting options that don’t need to be wasted when we got other pitchers available like Jake Reed, Luke Bard, and Nick Anderson

As Scarlet said: "Tomorrow's another day";

Agreed with having a position player pitch in the 9th. (Assuming you have a plan for the arm or two you saved.) I could not care less about 14-6 vs 19-6.

 

Having said that, why should a game against an offensively challenged club like the Rays have to get to that spot in the first place? In-game bullpen moves and bullpen management have been poor during Molitor’s entire tenure. Not a strength at all. And the FO has to take at least some of the blame for the bullpen roster management (and Belisle).

 

I wouldn't have brought back Belisle, however the guy is getting way to much crap for this season.  Look at his outings, he's either pitching a zero run inning or he's had three outings that ruined his numbers.  #thenewpunto #scapegoat  #getoverit 

He does give up some bb's that are caught and some rips being fouled straight back. Plain and simple, he has not been good and when he has been, it's more luck than that of a solid performance.

I’m fine with using our depth, but we gotta stop wasting options that don’t need to be wasted

Which options do you believe are wasted? An option, once exercised, is good for the whole season. Within certain other rules, you can send a guy up and down indefinitely.

Which options do you believe are wasted? An option, once exercised, is good for the whole season. Within certain other rules, you can send a guy up and down indefinitely.

Concur.

 

Other teams are, in effect, using a 9 or 10 man bullpen, simply by swapping out the bottom 2 or 3 guys for fresh arms as needed. And then swap back, rinse lather repeat.

 

I don't understand why our supposedly savvy and forward thinking front office aren't doing more of that.

 

Why would Molitor have left an overused reliever (who should be mostly a LOOGY anyway) on to give up 5 runs yesterday? In a winnable game?

Are you ****ing kidding me? Why are we using Rodney in the 5th inning down 4-1? 

Are you ****ing kidding me? Why are we using Rodney in the 5th inning down 4-1?

Getting him some work before the all star break?

 

Trying to impress Kevin Cash and the Rays somehow?

 

Getting him some work before the all star break?

Why not save him for the 9th in the hope that we might have the lead? And if we don't then he can still pitch the 9th.

Why not save him for the 9th in the hope that we might have the lead? And if we don't then he can still pitch the 9th.

Astudillo owns the 9th now.

Are you ****ing kidding me? Why are we using Rodney in the 5th inning down 4-1?

because they really needed a K in that spot?

 

Why not? Worry about the save if one presents itself.

 

There's 4 off days coming up. Everyone but Berrios shud b available.

Hey, what a surprise, Ryan Pressly is warming up in the pen.

Rodney might be the best to get out of the jam and he did. I think it's a good move.

Also, game thread --------> that way

 

because they really needed a K in that spot?

Why not? Worry about the save if one presents itself.

Yeah, but he was up warming up well before they needed the K in that spot. I mean, i understand there is no one else in our pen to trust really but it seems weird to have him warming up in the 5th to me regardless. Low on my list of issues with this team though, I'd say.

 

Also, game thread --------> that way

I'll be damned. My fault, definitely thought I was in the game thread. Feel free to move these posts, Chief.

I'll be damned. My fault, definitely thought I was in the game thread. Feel free to move these posts, Chief.

ha...I made the same mistake. No worries.

FOUND:

 

Photograph of Astudillo pitching for Rochester Red Wings:

 

https://www.pickinsplinters.com/2018/06/27/astudillo-named-to-international-league-all-star-team/

 

Given the results of his pitching, that looks like reasonable attire. Belisle might want to consider that as well