5 Realistic Overreactions from Opening Day

[Dodecahedron]

 

You just described the conflict between the Twins having a "top" bullpen in 2020 versus having actual multiple shutdown bullpen pieces to use. I accept that the stats tell us the bullpen isn't trash, but I have a hard time thinking of them as being better than average, which means they will get exposed by top opponents when the games are close - i.e. the post-season is different than the regular season. I think there must be stats that bear this admittedly subjective view out.
 

 

Two things...

 

1. Dobnak will not usually be a part of the bullpen. The #5 starter typically gets skipped the first few rounds in the season and it seems the Twins wanted to give him some reps, maybe to save them from having to use someone else. I think all of us are in agreement that if we were playing manager yesterday, we would not have used Dobnak in that situation. The 10th inning is a miscalculation by the manager more than anything else. I like Dobnak, but I would never put him in a game to start a 10th inning.

 

2. The rest of the bullpen was good enough, apart from Colome. Unless Colome is injured and we don't know about it yet, he won't be this bad very often. I have not looked to check, but I have to believe this was one of the worst innings of his career. I would not read into this being an indication of him being cooked -- it's either a bad game or he is injured.

Also, don't discount the person who did quite a bit of damage in this game: Christian Yelich. He has been doing this to opponents for years. The Twins gotta be ready when he is at the plate! If anyone has Yelich on their fantasy rosters, feel comfortable about borrowing against your future winnings.

[Twins33]

 

While it was a pretty embarrassing play for Kepler, no beer league player makes that catch because they're ten feet from the ball when it drops.

 

You're really underrating Kepler's speed and how quickly he was moving to get that ball. It was not an easy play to make because many right fielders don't get there in time. Kepler got there but he dropped the ball and that's on him. He's such a smooth player that while it really hurt to watch the ball drop, it's not something I expect to see often from him.

This is my take as well. I was watching on mute because I was in public so I have no idea how Dick and Justin called it. Ball off the bat, I thought it was a HR so I said “crap!” Then I saw Kepler actually there and got a little excited that it was going to be caught. Then of course ended up saying crap again.

 

Mike Petriello said it had a 15% catch probability (this is first tweet but there is a thread)

 

 

For me, the loss is 90% (at least) on Colome. The throw to second, this hard line drive. I think he’ll be fine but this was not a good first impression 

[rv78]

Maybe Colome is still playing for the WhiteSox in disguise.

Maybe Donaldson knew he was at the end of his career but thought... Hey if the Twins want to give me $92 million I'll take it even though I know I'm not going to play much.

Maybe Baldelli isn't as good of a Manager as first believed. His bullpen usage has always been questionable. He doesn't even try to manufacture runs by bunting or using the hit and run, and it doesn't appear he is very good at holding players accountable for lack of hustle. Kirby Puckett must be turning over in his grave for every time a Twins hitter doesn't bust his arse running down to 1st base or watching the guys in the outfield making 1 handed catches on lazy fly balls. 

Will Sano ever be considered to play 3rd base ever again even in an emergency? It's like years ago when they would move a Starting Pitcher to the bullpen. Once he was moved he was never considered to be Starter worthy ever again. 

 

 

[Danchat]

Maybe Colome is still playing for the WhiteSox in disguise.

Maybe Donaldson knew he was at the end of his career but thought... Hey if the Twins want to give me $92 million I'll take it even though I know I'm not going to play much.

Maybe Baldelli isn't as good of a Manager as first believed. His bullpen usage has always been questionable. He doesn't even try to manufacture runs by bunting or using the hit and run, and it doesn't appear he is very good at holding players accountable for lack of hustle. Kirby Puckett must be turning over in his grave for every time a Twins hitter doesn't bust his arse running down to 1st base or watching the guys in the outfield making 1 handed catches on lazy fly balls.

Will Sano ever be considered to play 3rd base ever again even in an emergency? It's like years ago when they would move a Starting Pitcher to the bullpen. Once he was moved he was never considered to be Starter worthy ever again.

Donaldson played in 155 games in 2019. Why would he think he’d break down quickly in 2020? He probably expected to play another 150+ games on 2020 before it was shortened.

[cHawk]

 

Polanco was the terrible 2020 version, not the career year 2019 version.
Simmons impressed at the plate, yet made a costly Little League error that led to a run scoring.
The Twins defense and bullpen were exposed and they are not really a World Series contender.

 

The defense is bad because it looked rough on opening day? Oh please. Also, “the bullpen” didn’t blow the lead. Colome did. More of it had to do with his decision making than his pitching. If he makes that simple throw to first, and if Kepler makes that catch (the one where the ball was literally in his glove), we win 5-2. Also, Dobnak wasn’t the problem in the 10th. It was the horrendous extra-innings rule. We weren’t in a position to realistically win the game after the 9th in a National League Park.

 

Point being: We mustn’t jump to conclusions after one game.

[ashbury]

Maybe Colome is still playing for the WhiteSox in disguise.

Years ago I told my children not to trust Brett Favre in a Vikings uniform. He might raise your hopes for a while, I warned, but he was sent here by the Packers to find the optimal time to

Break.

Your.

Heart.

 

I may have been incorrect, but I was not Wrong.

 

This new guy blew his own cover way too early.

 

[rv78]

Sarcasm boys, sarcasm!

[ashbury]

Sarcasm boys, sarcasm!

Yeah, right.

[USAFChief]

Also, Dobnak wasn’t the problem in the 10th. It was the horrendous extra-innings rule. We weren’t in a position to realistically win the game after the 9th in a National League Park.

 

 

Yeah, it's simply not fair that they get to start the inning with a runner on 2nd, and we don't.

[ashbury]

Yeah, it's simply not fair that they get to start the inning with a runner on 2nd, and we don't.

What feels unfair is getting to start the inning with Hader.

 

^{_{/ But that's on our FO}}

 

[cHawk]

 

Yeah, it's simply not fair that they get to start the inning with a runner on 2nd, and we don't.

 

Blame the offense then. Or Rocco. Or the Defense for giving up FOUR unearned runs. Or Colome (an experienced Major Leaguer who has been one of the league’s best closers the past five years) for being a moron. If Colome isn’t a moron, or if the defense doesn’t repeatedly self-destruct throughout the game we don’t play that 10th Inning.