White Sox 9, Twins 8: In a Wild Game, Chicago Walks Off the Twins in 10

[USAFChief]

For those hoping for bullpen answers in St Paul, We've been through the arms in St Paul. Most of them more than once.

That's the Falvine game plan: assemble a conga line of waiver wire pickups, minor league free agents, and retreads and churn through them as the season goes. 

And I won't name names, but lots of posters cheered that approach last winter. "Relievers are fungible," "relievers are the easiest thing to find" "they had a good FIP last July," "just rotate these guys in until something sticks, it'll work itself out."

I hope Falvine can fix the pen this year. I don't think answers are coming internally. They'll need external help. And It won't be cheap IF they can. I hope we all understand that. They're in a tough spot, needing at minimum 2 guys better than Jax. Where are they coming from?

But most of all, I hope they take a better approach to building a bullpen in the future. The current model is just a recipe to get what we're getting.

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

I liked what I saw of Megill's stuff.  He has a dynamite FB and a curve with a lot of break.  I think hitters just sit on one of those and wait for it to come.  It would be nice if he could mix in a change-up or slider once in awhile.  I think he has BP potential, but needs some refinement.

[farmerguychris]

Same story different day.  When is the F.O. going to give Rocco some help in the pen?  Do they think it is going improve on its own?

[Danchat]

7 hours ago, Aichiman said:

What about Hamilton?  He's got a 1.something era in St. Paul's bullpen.  Why isn't he in the conversation?

He pitched really well last year in AAA too, but still never got a shot over the likes of Barraclough/Gibaut/other waiver wire fodder. Feels like a Jake Reed situation, where the numbers are good but the coaches don't think he has what it takes to get MLB hitters out. Usually they are right, but it'd be nice to give him a shot (more than one inning vs Toronto). 

[bighat]

1 hour ago, twinssporto said:

Totally agree! I've been saying this for months now. There has to be an arm or two we could bring up and see what happens. Can't be any worse....

Absolutely. That Ian Hamilton seemed pretty good.

[Blyleven2011]

1 hour ago, farmerguychris said:

Same story different day.  When is the F.O. going to give Rocco some help in the pen?  Do they think it is going improve on its own?

Until Rocco stops telling FO that he can fix it ,,,, it will continue 

[SanoMustGo]

15 hours ago, wabene said:

You also have twice said they were going to lose in the 6th inning of games they actually won. What if they win the division? Just go silent? 

I guess we'll find out.  Unless they fix the bullpen, they'll continue to play under .500 baseball the remainder of the season. 20-22 the last 42 games.

[Blyleven2011]

1 hour ago, bighat said:

Absolutely. That Ian Hamilton seemed pretty good.

Last year Hamilton walked to many  ,,, I haven't followed him at all this year but walks have been his downfall  in the past 

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, Danchat said:

He pitched really well last year in AAA too, but still never got a shot over the likes of Barraclough/Gibaut/other waiver wire fodder. Feels like a Jake Reed situation, where the numbers are good but the coaches don't think he has what it takes to get MLB hitters out. Usually they are right, but it'd be nice to give him a shot (more than one inning vs Toronto). 

He pitched "really well" last year?

He had a great K rate, but walked almost 6 per nine, had an ERA over 4, and a 1.44 WHIP.

That doesn't sound appealing to me. 

 

[jorgenswest]

There might be an argument that Hamilton will be more effective than someone currently in the pen. That bar isn’t very high.

The bar for the relievers they need is much higher. They need to add to the top of the pen.

[wabene]

3 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Until Rocco stops telling FO that he can fix it ,,,, it will continue  with his spread sheets 

If this were true it means Rocco doesn't want more talent on the roster to make his job easier. There is no way that is the case.

[ashbury]

13 minutes ago, wabene said:

If this were true it means Rocco doesn't want more talent on the roster to make his job easier. There is no way that is the case.

Wait, you are applying logic, to a supposition for which there is no evidence anyway?

[Brazilian Twins Fan]

22 hours ago, Nine of twelve said:

OK, name his replacement.

Williams Astudillo

[Brazilian Twins Fan]

Actually, any homeless guy wandering at the streets would be better than him.

[h2oface]

Looks like a very "Gray" day tomorrow in Texas.

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/twins-vs-rangers/2022/07/08/661843#game_state=preview,lock_state=preview,game_tab=,game=661843

[ashbury]

3 minutes ago, h2oface said:

Looks like a very "Gray" day tomorrow in Texas.

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/twins-vs-rangers/2022/07/08/661843#game_state=preview,lock_state=preview,game_tab=,game=661843

Yeah, except our guy is almost Sunny.

[Danchat]

6 hours ago, USAFChief said:

He pitched "really well" last year?

He had a great K rate, but walked almost 6 per nine, had an ERA over 4, and a 1.44 WHIP.

That doesn't sound appealing to me. 

 

On second inspection, that does look quite bad. Maybe it’s my memory or perhaps he had a very bad August/end of the year. But his numbers this year have been stellar.

[h2oface]

14 hours ago, ashbury said:

Yeah, except our guy is almost Sunny.

Thoughts on a Grey Gray Day. Just Beautiful. So Beautiful.

 

 

[farmerguychris]

19 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Until Rocco stops telling FO that he can fix it ,,,, it will continue 

What evidence do you have that Rocco has done this?  Don't you think he wants better options also?

[mikelink45]

So Pagan read Nick's essay and went to the mound knowing he can save the day - oops.  We cannot undo the Rogers trade - I hated it, so we are stuck and have to figure out how this pen can work.  It is so hard to see the team unwind from a good series and a good offensive game.

I still would have left Ryan in.  In the good old days (my days) they let starters figure it out and sometimes they were better at the end than the beginning.  We do not have the luxury of using 5 good arms out of the pen.  Maybe Duran can learn to pitch with both arms so we can keep him in for two innings - one right, one left.

Days off with a days off and it is too much to ask a really good hitter to PH in the 10th????????  Come on now.  The 10th inning is when BA really counts and Jeffers is batting 192.   And yes, Rocco, it is okay to advance the runner to third!   Ryan has to figure out how to hit again, but this is not where he should get batting practice.

I have been without internet for a few days here in Alaska so I am catching up and it is fascinating to see so many repeat issues - days off, RP, short starts.  I will be off and on for the next couple weeks - will anything change?  I hope so.