Article: CLE 2, MIN 1: Odorizzi Strikes Out 11, Wild Parker Surrenders Go-Ahead Run

[Knuckleball9]

H20face is spot on, pitch framing is tricking the Umpire into doing a worse job than he already is doing... Take the human error and EGO out of the calling of Balls/Strikes for the good of the Game. Still gonna be Umpires, nobody gonna starve...

[TheLeviathan]

 

 

This looks bad?

 

 

Nope, .  The tracker I was watching showed pitch 4 was outside and in the dirt.  

 

So I've learned no to take that tracker seriously!

[Jacksson]

This loss is on Baldelli. Time to enroll in manager's school.

Cluster F*** of bad or no decisions in the bottom of both the 7th and 9th by the rookie manager.

Should have had a quicker hook on Parker in the top of the 9th.

My 96 YO father could have done a better job and he's only half there mentally.

[jimbo92107]

 

 

Here's a look back at Garver's first game catching Odorizzi last year. I'd say it's a pretty significant improvement, and it's not like I'm cherry picking his worst game or anything. 

 

That's my biggest concern with Garver. He doesn't need to be some strike-stealing wizard back, he just needs to get the pitches in the zone called strikes.

Second, you can't really expect to get calls on the black. Here's every called ball Odorizzi threw last season. There are so many balls called on the black that you can't even barely see the black anymore. 

 

When I look at the info from today, I see two balls down at the bottom that were in the zone, but I also see three called strikes that were definitely outside the zone. Everything else, to me, looks like it's on the black. Some he got strikes, others he got balls. But this is most definitely all subjective, so certainly take a look and form your own opinion.

 

Tom, those charts are amazing, and revealing. If this trend continues, the Twins might wind up with the whole starting rotation competing for most K's in the season! 

[yarnivek1972]

“Even just beyond the numbers, is Mejia really the guy you want pitching in a tie game with the go-ahead run on base when you have a fresh bullpen?”

 

Absolutely! It’s called showing confidence. Mejia isn’t going anywhere. He’s probably going to have to pitch some important innings. If the manager isn’t going to use him, he shouldn’t be on the team. The LAST thing I am going to do is criticize Baldelli for using a “lesser” reliever against the lower part of the order of a bad offensive team when I CRUCIFIED Molitor for using the same two or three guys all the time the last three years.

[howeda7]

Strange not to PH for Kepler. Also, I know it's not typically done, but since we have 3 catchers, maybe put Castro in for the 9th given that Garver had just batted and Parker throws a splitter?

[Mike Sixel]

Why bring Austin North, if you don't use him? Same with Astudillo? I like Kepler, but that's why those two are on the roster.

 

And, yes, Mejia should be in there. In a month or two, he'll be a starter when Parker is cut.

[blindeke]

 

That is exactly why umpires still calling balls and strikes is bogus. Did you see that curve that Kepler took that was in the middle of the zone and a good 3 to 4 inches up from the bottom of the zone? And Cuzzi called it a ball on Bauer? Poor umpiring is the reason for most bad calls, and yet, people want to make up a fake stat like pitch framing. This can only be fixed one way, and you know how that is. It is not the catcher.... it is the umpire.

 

The whole premise of pitch framing is to cheat the reality of what happened. It is time to get balls and strikes right, without trying to cheat.

 WOOF that was a bad call. Did you know, Phil Cuzzy once called a double "foul" during the playoffs?

[twins_89]

A couple of thoughts on decisions that had a major influence on the outcome. First, I think Parker will be a decent bullpen arm, but there is no way he should be pitching the 9th inning of a tied game. Second, I just don't understand letting Kepler swing away with Buxton on second and no outs. Either Kepler should have been bunting or Astudillo should have replaced him. At that point in the game advancing Buxton was the only thing that mattered and if there is one thing Astudillo can do it is put the ball in play (with Buxton's speed any ball in play has a pretty good chance of letting him advance to third).

[Jacksson]

TIME FOR SOME EDUCATION:

Extra batting practice for all Twin's Batters.

Extra bullpen sessions on control for Parker.

Extra bullpen sessions for Garver on blocking pitches.

Extra course for Baldelli on the use of the sacrifice.

Extra course for Baldelli on the use of the stolen base.

Extra course for Baldelli on when to yank a pitcher.

Extra course for Baldelli on the use of pinch hitters off of the bench.

Extra course for Baldelli on playing small ball for a single run.

Extra course for Derek Shelton on speaking up when the Manager is WRONG.

Extra course on Instructions to hitters for Rowson and Hernandez.

Extra course on the selection and use of relievers for BOTH Baldelli and Bullpen Coach

[blindeke]

Well it's only Game #2, so second-guessing bullpen decisions seems a bit raw to me personally. Let's not let this happen again, though. Baldelli gets one mulligan, and one mulligan only.

[ashbury]

My 96 YO father could have done a better job and he's only half there mentally.

Your dad's 96? My dad's 96! Amazing.

[dbminn]

The season is officially 1.23% complete and the Twins are tied for the division lead. 

[Kelly Vance]

Shoot, its one game. Lighten up Francis. 

[h2oface]

 

 WOOF that was a bad call. Did you know, Phil Cuzzy once called a double "foul" during the playoffs?

 

 

That's what I was refering to when I commented "Cuzzi can't see balls and strikes any better than he can see the foul line!" earlier in the thread. Disgusting umpire.

 

I hope Odorizzi has learned not to throw it right down the middle on a 3-0 count. That pitch was meat to Hanley Rameriz. No need to ever serve up the juice on a 3-0 count. Never ever. Especially with 2 outs and the the bases empty. Of course, he has to know that already, right? This is not to deride the fact that he was stellar, today.

Edited March 31, 2019 by h2oface

[killertwinfan]

 

Baldelli had a chance to use his bench and pinch hit for Kepler in the 9th, who's not seeing the ball well. Rumor has it on the bench is a turtle who never strikes out and a strong contact hitter...

I'm walking away disappointed in Baldelli's decisions today.

 I Can't disagree.  But we do have to remember that Baldelli is not a by the book guy and we'll have to give him room to operate and lose his way as long as he is able to win his way 54-55% of the time.  IF he doesn't, I predict he won't be around long and people will miss Mollie.

[Old Twins Cap]

Only thing I noticed is Baldelli not Pinch Running for Nelson Cruz in the 9th. 

 

He waited for a full count before sending in a runner.

 

What if someone hits the gap? Or there's a slow hopper in the hole at short and they get the force at 2B.

 

Pretty standard move as soon as Cruz gets to 1B

 

 

[akmanak]

This thread is so typical when it comes to Minnesota fan reaponse to a loss. It is only game 2 and people are acting like the Twins are already doomed.

 

We played Cleveland hard and hopefully take the series today. I thought the O man looked decent but was a little erratic. Buxton looks like he is seeing the ball and is no longer chasing as much, and aside from Parker the bullpen looks strong.

[jmlease1]

Wow, loads of overreactions on this board. I guess that's a good sign, people care enough to massively overreact?

 

Yeah, sucked that Blake Parker wild pitched us to a loss but weird things like that happen in freakin' March especially to pitchers when it's 39F out there. It's one outing. Maybe we can hold off on the panic until he''s blown up a few times in a row?

 

I'm a little surprised people are already outraged that the bench hasn't been completely emptied by Game 2. Which came after an off-day. When we have 4 new regulars in the lineup anyway. And frankly, betting on Tyler Austin as a savior is going to result in a lot of disappointment. It may make sense to be more more aggressive in using ol' Willans as a PH in close & late situations because of his ability to get a bat on the ball, but I think Im ok with letting some guys play early in the season.

 

I'm also not going to start getting on Baldelli's choices based off one game, either. I'm going to wait for a pattern to emerge to see if he's making decent choices. Holy cow. Game 2 and people are already crushing him. Bauer buried our lineup, he's a terrific pitcher. That's the story...

[Jim Hahn]

What I noticed is Garver down on one knee (his right knee) during both of Partner's wild pitches. Since he was trained to do this by the catching coach this spring, I am not criticizing Garver. I do wonder if this position makes it more difficult to get to pitches that wild.

 

I wouldn't criticize Baldelli for having Parker out there in the 9th. This is what is going to happen with "flexible" bullpens. Your best relievers get used up earlier in the game for "high leverage " situations. You don't save them for the 9th inning or save situations.

 

Of course right now we have no idea who the best reliever is going to be.

[Tom Froemming]

I figured it out. It's bad tailormetrics. Twins lost because of their new jerseys.

[BJames]

I've always prefered the first week or two be played like extended Spring Training.  It's a long season and the first week or two isn't that important come July and Aug.  I see no reason, especially with the cold weather not to be bunting, and trying to get runners into scoring position, as well as using the bench.  No one is playing that well, use the bench.  I get going with the same line-up and swinging 3-0, no outs, 2 men on, but its not 82 degrees with 100 ab's on the season.   At this point the only managing seems to be with the pitching.  So, why not just make the Pitching Coach the Manager and just go with the starting 9 and swing away.  Why do we need Rocco?  I don't like the N.L. but it's looking much better after watching two Twins games and the lack of Managing.  AAA games start on the 4th, so I would expect some Roster movement shortly after.  No need to keep guys on the bench that could be getting swings in.  

[RGR71]

 

Twins went up against arguably the 2 best starters in the central and split. We put out two pitchers that stood toe to toe with Kluber/Bauer. Tip o' the Cap to Jose and Hodor...

This and Buxton didn't look totally lost at the plate.

[MMMordabito]

For some perspective, here are the records of all the teams that by consensus are expected to finish ahead of the Twins'

 

Red Sox 1-2

Yankees 1-1

Rays 2-1

Indians 1-1

Astros 1-2

Athletics 2-3

 

Looks like the sky is falling over the better part of the country, I better go kick Uncle Bob out of the fallout shelter and get it cleaned up and stocked.

[AlwaysinModeration]

That is exactly why umpires still calling balls and strikes is bogus. Did you see that curve that Kepler took that was in the middle of the zone and a good 3 to 4 inches up from the bottom of the zone? And Cuzzi called it a ball on Bauer? Poor umpiring is the reason for most bad calls, and yet, people want to make up a fake stat like pitch framing. This can only be fixed one way, and you know how that is. It is not the catcher.... it is the umpire.

 

The whole premise of pitch framing is to cheat the reality of what happened. It is time to get balls and strikes right, without trying to cheat.

Actually, I think Garver tried to be too cute with it a couple of times. There was a pitch to the last batter of the second inning that was clearly a strike on the lower left corner. Garber pulled the pitch back in several inches. Cuzzi called it a ball. I think if Garver catches it and holds it where it was, it gets called a strike.

 

Similarly, but less obviously, on the Hanley Ramirez Home run AB, the 2-0 pitch was a strike. Garver pulled it in a bit, and again Cuzzi called it a ball. I think Garver needs to do a better job holding strikes on the edge rather than pulling them in. Or be less obvious about it.

 

Or, use technology to help the umpires actually call balls balls and strikes strikes. Please.

[Mr. Brooks]

Well it's only Game #2, so second-guessing bullpen decisions seems a bit raw to me personally. Let's not let this happen again, though. Baldelli gets one mulligan, and one mulligan only.

A first time manager only gets one mulligan?

Yikes.

There is going to be a learning curve folks, he's going to make plenty of mistakes the first few weeks. Remember last year when Gabe Kepler's own players were calling him out early last season?

Smart people eventually figure it out, and I think Baldelli will, but he's going to need a lot more than one mulligan in the meantime.

[Mr. Brooks]

Honestly that 9th inning double by Buxton was a gift. He should be 1 for 6, and looks a lot like Buxton.

That's not really fair though. Unless you're going to go back at the end of the season and also give him credit as hits the times he hits a rocket right at someone.

Those and the gift hits even out over the season.

The important thing is 1 K in 6 at bats. In what way does he look lost?

[nicksaviking]

I expected and continue to expect better offense, but the team has faced two of the best starters in the game so I’m not going to over react after just two games.

[ashbury]

I expected and continue to expect better offense, but the team has faced two of the best starters in the game so I’m not going to over react after just two games.

Wait, so you're not expecting a team batting average of .107 to be sustained over the entire season?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I don't really see anything to second guess yesterday. We gave them a run in the ninth, and they tried to give it back, but we didn't get it across.