Game Recap: Rangers 3, Twins 1

Yep. I hope the “it’s early, things will turn around” narrative is ending soon. It’s time to win a lot of games. Otherwise, Falvey would be doing a disservice not selling at the deadline.

When things are going good Falvey is doing interviews constantly and in the news. Where is he now? 

His salary is immaterial. Is a pitcher making the major league minimum is allowed to pitch badly?

I don't think it is inmaterial. He is being paid to be a core of the bullpen. Right now he is not, and is tying resources that could be used in other players. I agree that he had to be removed from the closer role. But it is not true that removing him from important roles solves all problems. If a guy making the minimum ptches badly, you just remove him and go to the next guy, no big deal. His case is different

His salary is immaterial. Is a pitcher making the major league minimum is allowed to pitch badly?

Non sequitur. The higher the cheque, the higher the expectations. At $5 million per year, an amount awarded based on past performance, everyone (likely including himself) is looking for superior results. Conversely, the Twins granted Romo free agency last year on the expectations that they could no longer expect $5 million worth of results.  It is a fair guess that the Twins will not exercise their option for next season if Colomé continues to pitch as he has thus far.

The story of yesterday's game was advancing baserunners. The Twins failed to cash in on a bases-loaded none-out scenario in the fourth and failed to plate runners with leadoff hits, including a leadoff double. Texas scored their three runs on a fielder's choice grounder, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly. 

And that's a tactical decision by the widely revered (on this site) front office and manager: No bunts. No stolen bases. Swing for the fences with a high launch angle. Don't even try to punch the ball to beat the shift (unless you're Arraez). Zillions of strikeouts are an acceptable side effect of the above.

After 60 years, it's too late to find a new team, but not too late to alter the priority of the sports I follow, and baseball is slipping.

First game I attended since spring training 2020. It was a thoroughly boring game with all the strikeouts by Twins hitters, and uninspiring play. Thorpe was effective enough to win the game and so was the bullpen. That loss is on the offense-the rangers pitching is awful. 

Call it schadenfreude but I'm actually staying tuned in to see how many ways this team can implode. Sort of Lovable Mets fixation. Rocco pulls a starting pitcher by accident; I chuckle. Rocco pulls a starting pitcher that's doing okay because he's approaching a mythical barrier and replaces him from a depleted bullpen that promptly blows the lead; I laugh. We drop six games in the 10th inning and I'm holding my sides from laughter.

We load the bases up and the next three guys strike out on 11 pitches; I roar with laughter. A player we sign for defensive prowess commits a handful of errors; I howl with laughter. Someone airmails a throw to first base into the grandstand and I'm rolling on the floor with mirth

Hell, you can't pay for this kind of entertainment! It's pulled me right out of the pandemic doldrums. Makes me want to stay isolated at home just to watch/listen to the Twins. Can't wait to see how they're going to lose next. I hope they surprise me.

On a more positive note, Kirill Kaprisov got two more goals last night.

Watched Wichita last night, then turned on the Twins on radio before falling asleep. Mistake! Couldn't tell from the box score, but did Thorpe do a decent job as the starter? 

After everything we have been thru the last 18 months, was looking forward to an exciting summer of baseball. Then HULU/Sinclair decides to dump on those of us who no longer can stand our cable company. Sure as heck glad I didn't spend lots of extra dollars and jump thru the hoops to be able to watch this team. They really aren't very good and that is surprising as the off season moves seemed reasonable at the time.

Regression of core players is discouraging and I don't think the front office would cut bait.

The problem is that the regression has been over multiple seasons. Sano, Kepler, Polanco, Cave?, Garver?. Major changes will have to be made to turn this boat around.

All these years later, and Phil Cuzzi still can't get the "Fair" / "Foul" call right...

Okay, for the record, Rocco has not done a good job thus far. But fire him in early May? Geez.

Why not fire him now?

All Rocco does is follow charts and graphs......he doesn't use anything he learned as an MLB player. An MIT Statistician with a PhD in Mathematics could do his job. Fire him and then hire a spokesperson to do the after game press conferences. Rocco sounds like a politician running for office or the spokesperson for that politician....boring and tiresome...........no diff.