Game Score: Red Sox 8, Twins, 1

Ober was pitching what I call a unicorn game, less than 12 pitches per inning and the Twins still wouldn't let him go out in the 7th. If he takes 12-18 pitches in the 7th that still leaves him at 82-88 for the game, is that too many pitches for somebody that has given up 4 base runs in 6 innings? Doesn't this seem like the perfect type of game to see how he does in the 7th? But instead they turn to the game over to inferior pitchers and get blown out, now I get the Twins offense was horrible and with that had no chance of winning, but isn't there a time and place to see if you starting pitcher has the ability to pitch in the 7th? There is a decent enough chance they will let him go 80 pitches in less innings in his next start.

This game is a bit different than Ryan on Friday, because Ryan was already at 82 pitches, and if he is brought back he is likely to end up very close to 100 and the expectation is Duran might be an upgrade on him at this point.

9 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

The problem for Twins fans is that we saw last year what a terrible start can do to an entire season.

And (not sure if this is true or not) Rocco seems to pick the wrong relievers to bring him.

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

The problem for Twins fans is that we saw last year what a terrible start can do to an entire season.

The bigger problem is that this team actually started 5-2 last season before it collapsed.

1 hour ago, Whitey333 said:

But the twins are not winning and Sano is hitting around .080.  so there!  Twins hitting like .182 as a team.  As a Twins fan what's discouraging is that they are playing very listless, uninspiring baseball.  If any of you can listen to Rocco saying things like we are just trying to stay in games, more power to you!  This is the major leagues.  Winning is the most important team goal when you are here.  If the manager is here only to pamper his players and try to stay close in the game it confirms my belief that Baldelli isn't concerned about winning.  You can see it in the players. Today I expect Twins to win as they are facing Rich Hill.  I then am expecting them to sweep Royals or at least take two of three before coming home to face the White Sox.  We simply cannot fall to far behind the race like last year.  Yes it's early, only 9 games in.  But I believe those 9 games count.  Didn't they?

I'm sure the Twins marketing team is fired up after Rocco's inspiring message yesterday.  Can't wait for the next FSN commercial or T-shirt giveaway---------"Catch Twins Fever---We are just trying to stay in games"

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

I think we would.

Agree to disagree. IMO it was a misplay, no worse than any fielding error made on any given day by any given player. There were 20 errors in MLB yesterday, Sano's wasn't the only one and it was nothing special.

It wasn't worse than this, this, or this.

I think Sano's fielding has been pretty solid so far this year, frankly. He's always an easy target, and when things aren't going well for this team he's always the first guy Twins fans want to tar and feather.

27 minutes ago, bighat said:

Agree to disagree. IMO it was a misplay, no worse than any fielding error made on any given day by any given player. There were 20 errors in MLB yesterday, Sano's wasn't the only one and it was nothing special.

It wasn't worse than this, this, or this.

I think Sano's fielding has been pretty solid so far this year, frankly. He's always an easy target, and when things aren't going well for this team he's always the first guy Twins fans want to tar and feather.

 

I rewatched the play on Nick's post - it is a sloppy error.

13 hours ago, rv78 said:

The Twins play like their Manager acts.... complacent, uninspired, unsure, asleep, excuseful. This teams needs someone to light a fire under 'em and unfortunately Rocco isn't the man for the job. Why is it the team they are playing doesn't use the excuse that it is cold for their pathetic offensive production? The last time I looked they were playing in the same stadium as the Twins when they play each other. Could it be most of these players just can't hit? Or maybe it's time to fired the two hitting coaches, Rudy Hernandez and Dave Popken. They surely don't appear to be helping anyone.

 

I was always hoping for Ozzie. There's lighting a fire.  Can you imagine how he'd love to stick it to the White Sox?

Looking at the bullpen usage chart, I see how they're rotating guys through with rest days pretty carefully - but I'm wondering why Smith couldn't have come in instead of Thielbar yesterday, when the top of the Boston lineup was up and 3 out of their top 4 guys hit right-handed.