Game Score: Tigers 6, Twins 5

[garn from vancouver]

i love the big man (sano) however, when he's up to bat now in clutch situations i just know in my heart he's not going to come through. and, sadly, i am often right.

this season can't end soon enough - though i am still looking to go to target field for a game or two this year. i know the games won't matter but being in the park will feel good after a long time away. and i'll root for the twins no matter what.

[Major League Ready]

  On 7/28/2021 at 2:37 PM, Dodecahedron said:

Some people around here, and I was not one of them, were able to see Robles as a smoke and mirrors guy all season.

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They should have left him on the bench hoping someone would take him off our hands.

[PDX Twin]

  On 7/28/2021 at 5:20 AM, AceWrigley said:

Bullpen moniker: The Hoovers . . . cuz they suck!

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Or maybe the Dysons, recalling a former Twin?

[Mikey D]

  On 7/28/2021 at 11:06 AM, bighat said:

I'm sure the idea was to showcase Robles one last time - maybe a good outing would have netted the Twins a low-A prospect instead of just cash considerations. Like almost all Twins moves this year, it backfired as Robles imploded and got injured. Oh and lost the game for the team while he was it it. So now the Twins get nothing for him.

And Rogers goes on the IL, one more trade piece down the tubes.

This bullpen really is the worst. Sigh.

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[Dodecahedron]

  On 7/28/2021 at 3:08 PM, jorgenswest said:

Robles season long poor peripherals have been hidden much of the season by an ERA that gave the impression that he was a better option among the bullpen.

While ERA does tell the story of what has happened it is a horrible predictor of future performance outside of multiyear samples for relievers. A better predictor is xFIP and Robles xFIP has been the poorest among Rogers, Alcala, Thielbar, Duffey and Colome for much of the season. While his monthly ERAs vary wildly his xFIP monthly has been pretty stable in the 4s and 5s. He has one season in the last five with an xFIP below 4. He has not had a month this season with a xFIP below 4. He is the same pitcher he was in the winter when there was little interest. I would have been surprised if there was much interest at the deadline.

 

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I think the Twins were hoping on him being a lottery ticket.  And to be fair, Robles has not been awful all year.  With all the other things I have seen this year with pitching decisions, I could buy it that Robles was put out there in situations that are less than ideal for his skillset, and perhaps kept out there longer than he needed to be.  It seems like every reliever has been slotted in every role and situation possible this year, with no rhyme or reason to it.  The Dodgers were able to mask his problems, for a while, by using him smartly.

For xFIP, I don't think xFIP alone is a good predictor of future performance.  But if xFIP, FIP, BABIP, and SIERA are telling a story, it's wise to listen.  All of those metrics together paint Robles as a pretty mediocre pitcher and suggest he always has been.  Pitchers like Robles can have a role on a major league team, but it has to be very situational and dependent upon the matchup.  The current Twins manager does not think that way, or at least it does not seem like he does.

[insagt1]

I'm surprised more didn't say this. Even though Sano shouldn't have run, the out would have easily been made at 1st base and we still have a runner on 2nd with 1 out...right? The optics weren't good but the result was the same. Twins couldn't get the ball out of the infield.

Sano's biggest failures are with his bat. Once in awhile he has a big game...followed by 10's of little, useless games. He has yet to learn game situations that do not call for the big windmill, uppercut swing. Of the big whiffers, like Rob Deer, Chris Davis, Mark Reynolds (all hit lots of HR's but struck out far too many times) Sano may be the worst. Davis is a close 2nd in recent years. Twins are wasting a roster spot hoping that one day he'll straighten out.

[chopper0080]

When you are losing because of controllable errors vs lack of talent, that is when coaching changes need to be looked at.

[Mike Sixel]

  On 7/28/2021 at 6:16 PM, chopper0080 said:

When you are losing because of controllable errors vs lack of talent, that is when coaching changes need to be looked at.

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They lost because they gave up a grand slam in the 9th......they lost because the bullpen is terrible.

[darwin22]

  On 7/28/2021 at 5:41 AM, mikedialect said:

My exact quote in the 9th “my god, they are going give up a grand slam”

bang

“Of course.”

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I was thinking the same thing especially after bozo Bremer kept incessantly bringing up the grand slam that Jake Rogers (who?) hit off T. Rogers earlier this month.  Not that this team needs any more bad Karma, but that didn't help.

[darwin22]

  On 7/28/2021 at 5:38 PM, insagt1 said:

I'm surprised more didn't say this. Even though Sano shouldn't have run, the out would have easily been made at 1st base and we still have a runner on 2nd with 1 out...right? The optics weren't good but the result was the same. Twins couldn't get the ball out of the infield.

Sano's biggest failures are with his bat. Once in awhile he has a big game...followed by 10's of little, useless games. He has yet to learn game situations that do not call for the big windmill, uppercut swing. Of the big whiffers, like Rob Deer, Chris Davis, Mark Reynolds (all hit lots of HR's but struck out far too many times) Sano may be the worst. Davis is a close 2nd in recent years. Twins are wasting a roster spot hoping that one day he'll straighten out.

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Agree 100%--------it will be interesting to see if the FO has the cajones to cut bait with Sano and eat the $9.25m he's guaranteed for 2022.  And please.......for those out there yammering that cutting Sano will result in a David Ortiz renaissance that will come back to haunt us--------just stop!  Sano is a waste. Waive him in offseason and move on.

[darwin22]

  On 7/28/2021 at 12:21 PM, Whitey333 said:

Oh and why are we so fundamentally inept?  Why did Sano go from 2 nd to third on a ground ball to short?  That's at least 3 times he's done that this year. No discipline on this team at all.  Come on Rocco put your computer down and manage.

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Excellent point!  Not that it really matters, but what reason did Rocco...even  if he was asked the question, which I doubt by our hometown too friendly media in his postgame comments-----for NOT walking Cabrera with 1B open in the 11th with the go ahead run on 3B with 1 out??  Tigers did exactly that in the 10th when Polanco advanced to 3B with 1 out.  They intentionally walked Donaldson-taking the bat out of his hand and setting up a potential DP.  Cabrera is by no means the hitter he once was, but did Rocco "forget" about his 9th inning double off Robles and his utter lack of any speed.  If you walk him, Hinch possibly/likely pulls him for a pinch runner--which he did AFTER Cabrera's RBI single.  Don't remember who followed Miggy in the order, but you don't let him beat you in that situation. To me, that move---------amongst many others all season----suggests Rocco has NO FEEL how to manage a game.  Oh well, just another horrendous loss in a miserable season.

[bean5302]

  On 7/28/2021 at 11:34 AM, Twinsoholic said:

...He throws 97 mph, but he has had an awful season...
 

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Ah the flashbacks to Jim Hoey.

[bean5302]

I'm really glad Maeda is pitching far better as of late. If there's a guy who should have a chip on his shoulder to prove he's the real deal, it's Maeda. Being paid peanuts long term, traded for a likely high upside reliever and not respected as a starter on his former team. 

He really is quite the underdog and I like those guys succeeding and breaking molds.