Article: Twins Game Recap (7/21): Max Kepler Delivers Dramatic Walk-Off Win

[Tom Froemming]

Here are some highlights from this one:

 

[Shaitan]

 

I already shared this take in the game thread, but I think Rocco leaving May out there to rot may have served basically as a not so politely-worded text to the front office. Think about it, how out of character was that for him, Mr. Rest? May threw 49 pitches, and it's not because he was effective.

 

If that wasn't some kind of a message being sent, it's just incredibly weird.

A few recent outings remind me of Molitor last year, who I think did the same thing.

 

So...it didn't work them. Fingers crossed it works now.

[yarnivek1972]

A few recent outings remind me of Molitor last year, who I think did the same thing.

 

So...it didn't work them. Fingers crossed it works now.

The 2018 Twins last day above .500 was April 20.

 

Molitor may have been asking for help, but “good” help was never going to happen. Trading assets to supplement a bad team for the short term makes zero sense.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Can they put May on DL and call it arm tendinitis? Something is clearly off. I like how May strikes people out, he has had late inning stuff but there is clearly something going on.

Sure. If they literally had another warm body that Baldelli has even an ounce of confidence in their ability to get outs, go ahead and put May on the IL.

[David HK]

I'm thinkin' Trevor better be making a reservation at Murray's, to treat Ehire and Max to the biggest butter-knife steaks on the menu.

Maybe he can split the check with Castro.

[jokin]

 

I hope the text to the front office isn't terribly polite. I think Rocco is a pretty mellow dude but this is the time to step up and be firm that help is needed and it was needed a month ago.

 

That doesn't mean he needs to be an ass about it, but he should be pretty adamant about what he needs and when he needs it (yesterday).

 

I think intentionally leaving a floundering Trevor May in there for fans to endure nearly 50 of his pitches was about as "adamantly" polite a message as Rocco could possibly send.

[jokin]

 

I already shared this take in the game thread, but I think Rocco leaving May out there to rot may have served basically as a not so politely-worded text to the front office. Think about it, how out of character was that for him, Mr. Rest? May threw 49 pitches, and it's not because he was effective.

 

If that wasn't some kind of a message being sent, it's just incredibly weird.

 

I am gratified that I finally have come to your post and I am now certain that it wasn't just me watching the constant shots of Rocco glowering in the dugout in the 7th and 8th innings. It certainly appeared that that's exactly what he was doing.

 

As elsewhere stated, pretty sure with better than even odds that May is IL'd or traded in the next 10 days.

[David HK]

 

I am gratified that I finally have come to your post and I am now certain that it wasn't just me watching the constant shots of Rocco glowering in the dugout in the 7th and 8th innings. It certainly appeared that that's exactly what he was doing.

 

As elsewhere stated, pretty sure with better than even odds that May is IL'd or traded in the next 10 days.

Or sold for scrap, like the rest of the M-boys in the bullpen so far.

[Riverbrian]

I think intentionally leaving a floundering Trevor May in there for fans to endure nearly 50 of his pitches was about as "adamantly" polite a message as Rocco could possibly send.

I think it’s more of a “C’mon May we need you” message to May.

 

The message that he sends to the front office is “I don’t want to use Stewart” and he was all I had left.

 

The dangerous part of this... who do they send down for another arm and will that arm be trusted and who would that be?

 

If Arraez gets sent down because he is the guy with options to provide an emergency arm that Baldelli also don’t trust. You’ve weakened the offense and gained very little.

 

A trade for pitching couldn’t happen soon enough but if you pull the trigger now. There will probably be an overpay involved because everyone is working every room at the moment waiting for a team to get desperate.

 

We are going to have to ride it out.

[Alex Schieferdecker]

May is so frustrating. He has the stuff, he just cannot throw it for strikes. They've been working hard on him all year, I have some hope he can put it together, because on the rare occasions that he does throw strikes, he's very very hard to hit.

 

I've been impressed by Stewart in his two (I think just two?) bullpen outings this year. I don't have much faith in him or Thorpe as starters, and want the Twins to cut to the chase, as they did with Littell, and get them both coming out of the bullpen. In the meantime, Stashak is intriguing, with his great K/BB. 

 

The bullpen depth chart at this point, imo:

 

Great

Rogers

 

Good

Harper

Parker

Duffey

May

Littell

Stewart

 

Maybe Promising

Stashak

Eades

Poppen

 

Twins need at least one more arm to join Rogers in the "Great" category. I think they've been hoping that May would make the jump, but at this point, it doesn't look likely that any of the guys they are developing will get there by the end of this year.

 

[USAFChief]

 

I think it’s more of a “C’mon May we need you” message to May.

The message that he sends to the front office is “I don’t want to use Stewart” and he was all I had left.

The dangerous part of this... who do they send down for another arm and will that arm be trusted and who would that be?

If Arraez gets sent down because he is the guy with options to provide an emergency arm that Baldelli also don’t trust. You’ve weakened the offense and gained very little.

A trade for pitching couldn’t happen soon enough but if you pull the trigger now. There will probably be an overpay involved because everyone is working every room at the moment waiting for a team to get desperate.

We are going to have to ride it out.

Stashak up, Littel down.

 

And I don't see the prices getting cheaper as the deadline approaches, that just adds another level of concern to the situation. On Aug 1st, there is no longer an avenue of help available except your own minor leagues.

[Darius]

Some awesome numbers by Sano lately (before last nights game, I think):

 

Over the last 16 games he’s got more XBH (10) and walks (11) than strikeouts (17). He’s slashing something like .350/.450/.750. (Credit to Do Houng Park).

 

He’s an incredible talent.

[jorgenswest]

Stashak up, Littel down.

 

And I don't see the prices getting cheaper as the deadline approaches, that just adds another level of concern to the situation. On Aug 1st, there is no longer an avenue of help available except your own minor leagues.

Prices aren’t clear to me.

 

I don’t see any completed moves for top relievers yet. I think there are some third tier pitchers that teams will move now knowing that they may not go at the end. The first on the handful of top tier relievers hasn’t moved yet. No urgency for the seller. They know they can move them on the 31st.

 

I am ready to significantly overpay and lose the deal to get a reliever. I think that is what it will take today.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Prices aren’t clear to me.

I don’t see any completed moves for top relievers yet. I think there are some third tier pitchers that teams will move now knowing that they may not go at the end. The first on the handful of top tier relievers hasn’t moved yet. No urgency for the seller. They know they can move them on the 31st.

I am ready to significantly overpay and lose the deal to get a reliever. I think that is what it will take today.

 

I want two relievers... I think overpaying for one right now would be beneficial. Cleveland is 3 games out... 3... This team needs a shot in the arm. Doing that might help. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Come August 1st, I think at least one of Kirilloff, Larnach, or Rooker is in another organization.

 

It’s possible all three are best suited to left field, and they all can’t play there at the same time. I personally think the FO should make a bet on one, and trade the other two.

[Riverbrian]

Stashak up, Littel down.

 

And I don't see the prices getting cheaper as the deadline approaches, that just adds another level of concern to the situation. On Aug 1st, there is no longer an avenue of help available except your own minor leagues.

Interesting with Stashek. My guess was they would be reluctant to promote to the 40 man to keep room for trade additions. But the need is critical now.

 

As for the market prices... no idea just guesses on my behalf but I always assume there is a reason it gets busy on the final couple of days.

 

I always imagine that this is the time the Twins call the Jays about Stroman. The Jays say Royce Lewis. So the Twins call the Tigers about Boyd and the Tigers say Royce Lewis while the Jays field a call from the Astros and they say Tucker and then the Astro’s call the Tigers and they say Tucker. Neither team wants to pay that price so they all take phone calls make phone calls and wait for the prices to get reasonable and that probably happens once the clock gets close to killing the game.

 

So I think we will have to wait unless we are willing to meet an exorbitant ask.

 

But... I have no idea... I’ve never been in the room.

[Mr. Brooks]

Stashak up, Littel down.

 

And I don't see the prices getting cheaper as the deadline approaches, that just adds another level of concern to the situation. On Aug 1st, there is no longer an avenue of help available except your own minor leagues.

True, but there is also no longer an avenue for the seller to get something for an expiring contract.

I can't speak for your experiences at the grocery store, but in mine, when products approach their expiration date, the price is dropped, not raised.

[twins1095]

 

Come August 1st, I think at least one of Kirilloff, Larnach, or Rooker is in another organization.

It’s possible all three are best suited to left field, and they all can’t play there at the same time. I personally think the FO should make a bet on one, and trade the other two.

 

I think there's something to having legit above average hitters on your bench--especially with how Baldelli likes to rest guys.  

 

If all 3 are above average that's the difference between stretches of Jake Cave/Tyler Austin/etc. type players when injuries hit and during off days and legit above average MLB players.  That would be huge value.

[USAFChief]

 

True, but there is also no longer an avenue for the seller to get something for an expiring contract.
I can't speak for your experiences at the grocery store, but in mine, when products approach their expiration date, the price is dropped, not raised.

Maybe true, difficult to say. 

 

But the grocery store analogy isn't as clearcut as that, IMO. At the grocery store, the milk can't be sold after the expiry date, true, but there are endless other milk options, and no real need for anyone to buy that milk from that store. If you don't get that particular milk jug, you can always get one somewhere else, tomorrow.  Or today. Or drink water.

 

The milk itself is also worth less, the closer it gets to the expiry date. Who wants to buy milk that shouldn't be drunk after today?

 

When it comes to MLB help, there are a limited number of milk jugs available, multiple buyers with perceived need for the milk that can't be satisfied by drinking water, and a set date upon which, there is no longer milk available, of any kind at any price. In some cases (Boyd, for example), the milk doesn't even go bad after the expiry date, it's able to be used for the next two plus years by the seller. And even if it will go bad later (after the season is over), it doesn't lose it's usefulness on the expiration date. 

[Vanimal46]

Maybe true, difficult to say.

 

But the grocery store analogy isn't as clearcut as that, IMO. At the grocery store, the milk can't be sold after the expiry date, true, but there are endless other milk options, and no real need for anyone to buy that milk from that store. If you don't get that particular milk jug, you can always get one somewhere else, tomorrow. Or today. Or drink water.

 

When it comes to MLB help, there are a limited number of milk jugs available, multiple buyers with perceived need for the milk that can't be satisfied by drinking water, and a set date upon which, there is no longer milk available, of any kind at any price. In some cases (Boyd, for example), the milk doesn't even go bad after the expiry date, it's able to be used for the next two plus years by the seller.

Joe Mauer is aroused reading this post.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I think there's something to having legit above average hitters on your bench--especially with how Baldelli likes to rest guys.  

 

If all 3 are above average that's the difference between stretches of Jake Cave/Tyler Austin/etc. type players when injuries hit and during off days and legit above average MLB players.  That would be huge value.

I think I agree with you and I think I was overstating my case. Maybe I should say make a bet on two of them for the future, and trade one of them here at the deadline.

[ashbury]

I said the same thing about Rogers 7 out save against Texas. Basically Baldelli's silent cry for help.

There was also his stage whisper comment through gritted teeth during the press conference announcing his hiring. "Guys. I need some bullpen help."

 

 

 

[ashbury]

I think I agree with you and I think I was overstating my case.

John Bonnes needs to add an award of some kind, in his periodic State of the Website summaries, for sentences like this.

[theBOMisthebomb]

Whenever I find myself wanting to be mad at Trevor May or any player for that matter. 

 

I first consider what I'd think if I was a fan of the opposite team at that moment. I imagine I wouldn't be thinking "HA HA May... what a whatever". 

 

When Arraez and Adrianza and Kepler came through in the 9th... I'm thinking way to go, coming through in clutch, like that. If I was an A's Fan... Hendriks you *#&)@. 

 

Both teams are competing... it produces a roller coaster when it's done right and that's why I love baseball.

Right. The other guys practice and get paychecks, too. If this was a 5 or 7 game playoff series against the A's and the Twins had home field advantage, the Twins would be in the captain's chair.

[Mr. Brooks]

Maybe true, difficult to say.

 

But the grocery store analogy isn't as clearcut as that, IMO. At the grocery store, the milk can't be sold after the expiry date, true, but there are endless other milk options, and no real need for anyone to buy that milk from that store. If you don't get that particular milk jug, you can always get one somewhere else, tomorrow. Or today. Or drink water.

 

The milk itself is also worth less, the closer it gets to the expiry date. Who wants to buy milk that shouldn't be drunk after today?

 

When it comes to MLB help, there are a limited number of milk jugs available, multiple buyers with perceived need for the milk that can't be satisfied by drinking water, and a set date upon which, there is no longer milk available, of any kind at any price. In some cases (Boyd, for example), the milk doesn't even go bad after the expiry date, it's able to be used for the next two plus years by the seller. And even if it will go bad later (after the season is over), it doesn't lose it's usefulness on the expiration date.

We can also look at the fact that trades well in advance of the deadline are quite rare.

This alone tells me that teams are generally asking way too much in advance of the deadline.

And that makes sense. You don't know what your team will like in 6 weeks or 3 weeks. You could go on a tear and get back into the playoff hunt, like the Giants have.

If you (as a seller), are going to forfeit that opportunity by trading your good players, you have to demand a premium for that.