MIL 6, MIN 5: Twins Blow 3-Run Lead in 9th Inning

[rv78]

 

I was a bit disappointed in Luis Arraez.

 

in the top of the 3rd inning, his 2nd AB. He hit a weak grounder to the 2nd basemen, who bobbled it, recovered and threw him out because he dogged it down to 1st base. Justin Morneau correctly pointed out that had he hustled out of the box, he likely would have been safe and it could have been a much bigger inning for us as he was the lead off hitter. I recognize that he is a very talented player, but I would not put up with garbage like that if I was the manager.

 

In the bottom of the 3rd, Avisail Garcia reached on an infield single that Arraez muffed. That was tough play, not an error, but much greater chance that Donaldson would have made that play as I've seen him do countless times. That extended the inning and the Brewers scored on the next AB.

Arraez is a defensive liability. More so at 3B than at 2B. The other option is Astudillo who'd be even worse, or move Sano back to 3B which might be the better option however I don't know if he'd have made that play either.

 

I agree about the hustle running down to 1st base. Tom Kelly would have had a few choice words for him.

[dex8425]

 

On the plus side, Cleveland and the Whities lost, and, for schadenfreude fans, Kyle Gibson lasted all of a third of an inning for Texas against the Royals, giving up 5 runs.

 

And, in a bit of symmetry, the Royals turned around and gave up 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st.

 

Gotta love baseball!

Definitely feel bad for Gibby. Not a good look for his first opening day start ever. 

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

This seems like overthinking. Colome entered with a three run cushion and gave up the lead. It's as simple as that, IMO.

 

For the record, I think Colome is a good pitcher and a good guy to sign. He just blew it yesterday.

 

It's not though.  If the criteria for determining if the best bullpen guys "did their job" is that they have to collectively pitch to a sub-2 ERA, we're setting ourselves up to be disappointed.  We had 3 runs in after 5, meaning we had 4 more innings to tack on; if Baldelli doesn't think our offense is capable of putting up a run every other inning, on average, than we have much bigger problems than the bullpen.  My thought then, is that assuming you needed to run your best guys out there, consecutively, for 4 straight innings just to get to the ninth, is a mistake, and is akin to trying to win a marathon by being in front after the first 100 meters.

[prouster]

It's not though. If the criteria for determining if the best bullpen guys "did their job" is that they have to collectively pitch to a sub-2 ERA, we're setting ourselves up to be disappointed. We had 3 runs in after 5, meaning we had 4 more innings to tack on; if Baldelli doesn't think our offense is capable of putting up a run every other inning, on average, than we have much bigger problems than the bullpen. My thought then, is that assuming you needed to run your best guys out there, consecutively, for 4 straight innings just to get to the ninth, is a mistake, and is akin to trying to win a marathon by being in front after the first 100 meters.

I see what you mean. I just think that they were in a position to close things out pretty easily. That didn’t happen in large part because Colome made some avoidable mistakes.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

I see what you mean. I just think that they were in a position to close things out pretty easily. That didn’t happen in large part because Colome made some avoidable mistakes.

 

This is true.  Colome should be able to go one inning, giving up 2 or less runs.  My frustration comes from the assumption that because the 6th inning is potentially the highest leverage situation in the game, it should be treated as such.  Some times it will be, often times it won't be.  Not an assumption you were making, but other posters were.

[prouster]

This is true. Colome should be able to go one inning, giving up 2 or less runs. My frustration comes from the assumption that because the 6th inning is potentially the highest leverage situation in the game, it should be treated as such. Some times it will be, often times it won't be. Not an assumption you were making, but other posters were.

I think in the long run your point is totally right. The bullpen can’t be expected to pitch to a 2.00-ish ERA all season long.

[h2oface]

 

That's a product of a stupid rule. Dobnak was not the problem. Strikeouts are needed in that situation. Mishandling of the bullpen. There's 161 games to go. If a game like this happened in game 54, no panicking would ensue.

 

Robles looked solid. Kepler had a great game. Buxton too. Maeda had 1 long inning, but other than that wasn't awful. Rogers was solid. Arraez was fine. Lots of positives to take away from the game.

 

Yes, the rule. I agree. But Dobnak threw the pitches. 2 out of 3 were hit and the run is in and the game is over. Once you get the call, you have to perform. If we are saying that this is just what has to be expected of Dobnak when called upon.... well.... yikes. Then why call on him at all? 

 

Yes. A perfect storm of other circumstances. But the pitcher is also accountable. Always.

 

I already said my piece about Colome. Too bad there was even a tenth inning. 

Pitchers and the pitches they throw always have a part of the results.

[prouster]

Yes, the rule. I agree. But Dobnak threw the pitches. 2 out of 3 were hit and the run is in and the game is over. Once you get the call, you have to perform. If we are saying that this is just what has to be expected of Dobnak when called upon.... well.... yikes. Then why call on him at all?

 

Yes. A perfect storm of other circumstances. But the pitcher is also accountable. Always.

 

I already said my piece about Colome. Too bad there was even a tenth inning.

Pitchers and the pitches they throw always have a part of the results.

In Dobnak’s defense, he gave up a pretty routine single and a doinker to second base. I was scratching my head when they didn’t walk the batter to set up the force out at home.

[Linus]

Methinks you’re over-dramatizing this by a lot. One of the worst blown saves in the history of the org? No.

 

And going 0-2 is not a big deal on the grand scheme of things.

 

The game sucked. It was an awful watch almost front to back and the 9th/10th were just cherries on top of that crap sundae.

 

But ultimately, it’s one game of 162, just like the rest. Let’s not overreact just because it’s the first game we’ve seen that counts in six months.

I believe this is satire.

[Linus]

I knew we should have been searching in Column B.

You are the best Chief.

[cHawk]

 

I have to disagree with the whole "if the best pitchers do their job, you wouldn't need extras" argument.  Yesterday, the Twins bullpen before Colome gave up 0 runs in 3.2 IP.  If they give up one run in that stretch instead, and Buxton doesn't hit his homer, it still goes to extras, with the pen x Colome posting an ERA of 2.45 for the day, which would be the best bullpen ERA in the entire league for any of the past 5 years.

The bases were loaded in the 5th because the four-time gold glover couldn’t make the routine-ist of plays. That Duffey run was unearned. Colome was out there in the 9th and needed to nail down a 3 run lead. He’s been one of baseball’s best relievers the past five years. He will have a bad day from time to time - his first (of hopefully not many) happened on OD. Relievers are supposed to execute, and it’s not on management if they don’t. This isn’t like putting clearly washed up Sergio Romo on in the 9th, where in that case it’s on management. Colome is actually a quality reliever. If he becomes like Romo and the Twins continue to use him in the 9th, that is bad management. But for now, we can only blame Colome.

 

Also, this might be a nitpick, but the Buxton homer logic makes no sense. “If he didn’t hit it...” he did though. That’s what matters.

[twinfan]

Gotta love baseball and everyone on this list. There were (and always are) several reasons for the Twins losing the game. You could even say that, if Maeda would have had an easier third, he'd have pitched into the 7th and maybe it would have been easier on everyone. Let's move on and go get-em today and move forward.

GO TWINS.