Game Recap: White Sox 8, Twins 5

[theBOMisthebomb]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

He can't pitch back to back days .... When would you have put him in, and not been able to use him the next day?

I do not see what Rogers can't pitch back to back days. I know he's been less effective historically on the 2nd of back to back days. Maybe Rocco wants to baby him in the name of health and rest. Still, Rogers can pitch two days in a row. If not t, he really isn't worth much. What would they do in a seven game closely fought playoff series? Rocco kicks the can down the road all the time until there is never a tomorrow. You  can get away with that strategy in a year like they had in 2019. Not  in 2021, the Twins should have been in win today desperation mode weeks ago and I see no urgency. Rocco punts on games where the Twins are trailing by two runs in the late innings. They need(ed) wins, not rest.  Hindsight is 20/20 and I watched the Sox series in bunker under attack mode. However, since you asked innings 6 or 7 of game 3 would have been a nice time for for Rogers. 

[jimbo92107]

5 hours ago, KFEY93 said:

Dont. You KNOW he will turn into Big Papi 2.0 there. Its the way of the universe. 

On the other hand, I don't know if Ortiz ever had slumps the way Sano has. Big Dave didn't whiff so damn much. Could be Sano needs to go somewhere else to finish his education as a hitter. Twins coaches don't seem to have the answer. 

Meanwhile, Kirilloff is every bit as good at 1st base, is a supreme hard contact hitter, and when another great batsman Jose Miranda arrives, Sano's lame bat will look even less valuable. 

Fact is, you put your best hitters in the starting nine, and hope they can field decently well. Miguel Sano no longer qualifies as one of the team's best hitters - not if he gets hot only a few days per month. Sadly, I think it's time to move on from Sano. Where he winds up doesn't really matter. 

[Aggies7]

I like Berrios, but to my non-statistic loving eyes, he's maddeningly slightly above average. He's good, yes, the best we have. But his performance over the years has been over valued because of the disaster that is around him on the staff. If we had any chance of competing in the near future, perhaps I'd hold on to him. But you know some team, probably the Yankees, would be willing to way over pay for him if given the chance. I'd rather see another club overpay on him than the twins, who aren't going anywhere until at least the next election

[MABB1959]

Kepler needs to be sat out until he shows he can play.  Anyone with less than a .200 average should be what is it called "riding the pine".  He needs to kick it into gear and show he deserves a place in the line-up.  I don't think he is a fan fave like Sano.  Give the new guys a bit longer but it is time to let them know they need to earn their playing time.  Bring back Austidillo and let him play outfield, what is the harm?  Austidillo is a fan favorite and plays the game hard each and every time and has a .254 average.   Refsnyder and Gordon.  Let them play out 2021 and only use Kepler as sub or fill in to give someone a day off.

[bean5302]

Miguel Sano isn't going anywhere. No team in MLB would want him on the roster and if the Twins did put him on waivers, he'd pass through, and the Twins would be on the hook for his contract because Sano would decline an assignment. Another team would offer Sano a MLB contract at league minimum (maybe) or he'd certainly get a MiLB contract with an opt out. The Twins aren't losing anything by putting Sano into the lineup at this point except the potential Sano can turn things around to the point he could either be serviceable next year or at least be moveable this winter. Aside from that the comparisons to a HoF caliber player like Ortiz has grown pretty long in the tooth, I think.

In regard to Kepler, he's young and under a long contract. He adds defensive value and the Twins are going to continue to send him out to play through at least the end of this year. Kepler played hurt for a good portion of the year and missed 3 weeks recently with a very short rehab assignment.