MIL 6, MIN 5: Twins Blow 3-Run Lead in 9th Inning

On the plus side, Cleveland and the Whities lost, and, for schadenfreude fans, Kyle Gibson lasted all of a third of an inning for Texas against the Royals, giving up 5 runs.

 

And, in a bit of symmetry, the Royals turned around and gave up 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st.

 

Gotta love baseball!

Definitely feel bad for Gibby. Not a good look for his first opening day start ever. 

This seems like overthinking. Colome entered with a three run cushion and gave up the lead. It's as simple as that, IMO.

 

For the record, I think Colome is a good pitcher and a good guy to sign. He just blew it yesterday.

It's not though.  If the criteria for determining if the best bullpen guys "did their job" is that they have to collectively pitch to a sub-2 ERA, we're setting ourselves up to be disappointed.  We had 3 runs in after 5, meaning we had 4 more innings to tack on; if Baldelli doesn't think our offense is capable of putting up a run every other inning, on average, than we have much bigger problems than the bullpen.  My thought then, is that assuming you needed to run your best guys out there, consecutively, for 4 straight innings just to get to the ninth, is a mistake, and is akin to trying to win a marathon by being in front after the first 100 meters.

It's not though. If the criteria for determining if the best bullpen guys "did their job" is that they have to collectively pitch to a sub-2 ERA, we're setting ourselves up to be disappointed. We had 3 runs in after 5, meaning we had 4 more innings to tack on; if Baldelli doesn't think our offense is capable of putting up a run every other inning, on average, than we have much bigger problems than the bullpen. My thought then, is that assuming you needed to run your best guys out there, consecutively, for 4 straight innings just to get to the ninth, is a mistake, and is akin to trying to win a marathon by being in front after the first 100 meters.

I see what you mean. I just think that they were in a position to close things out pretty easily. That didn’t happen in large part because Colome made some avoidable mistakes.

I see what you mean. I just think that they were in a position to close things out pretty easily. That didn’t happen in large part because Colome made some avoidable mistakes.

This is true.  Colome should be able to go one inning, giving up 2 or less runs.  My frustration comes from the assumption that because the 6th inning is potentially the highest leverage situation in the game, it should be treated as such.  Some times it will be, often times it won't be.  Not an assumption you were making, but other posters were.

This is true. Colome should be able to go one inning, giving up 2 or less runs. My frustration comes from the assumption that because the 6th inning is potentially the highest leverage situation in the game, it should be treated as such. Some times it will be, often times it won't be. Not an assumption you were making, but other posters were.

I think in the long run your point is totally right. The bullpen can’t be expected to pitch to a 2.00-ish ERA all season long.

That's a product of a stupid rule. Dobnak was not the problem. Strikeouts are needed in that situation. Mishandling of the bullpen. There's 161 games to go. If a game like this happened in game 54, no panicking would ensue.

 

Robles looked solid. Kepler had a great game. Buxton too. Maeda had 1 long inning, but other than that wasn't awful. Rogers was solid. Arraez was fine. Lots of positives to take away from the game.

Yes, the rule. I agree. But Dobnak threw the pitches. 2 out of 3 were hit and the run is in and the game is over. Once you get the call, you have to perform. If we are saying that this is just what has to be expected of Dobnak when called upon.... well.... yikes. Then why call on him at all? 

Yes. A perfect storm of other circumstances. But the pitcher is also accountable. Always.

I already said my piece about Colome. Too bad there was even a tenth inning. 

Pitchers and the pitches they throw always have a part of the results.

Yes, the rule. I agree. But Dobnak threw the pitches. 2 out of 3 were hit and the run is in and the game is over. Once you get the call, you have to perform. If we are saying that this is just what has to be expected of Dobnak when called upon.... well.... yikes. Then why call on him at all?

 

Yes. A perfect storm of other circumstances. But the pitcher is also accountable. Always.

 

I already said my piece about Colome. Too bad there was even a tenth inning.

Pitchers and the pitches they throw always have a part of the results.

In Dobnak’s defense, he gave up a pretty routine single and a doinker to second base. I was scratching my head when they didn’t walk the batter to set up the force out at home.

Methinks you’re over-dramatizing this by a lot. One of the worst blown saves in the history of the org? No.

 

And going 0-2 is not a big deal on the grand scheme of things.

 

The game sucked. It was an awful watch almost front to back and the 9th/10th were just cherries on top of that crap sundae.

 

But ultimately, it’s one game of 162, just like the rest. Let’s not overreact just because it’s the first game we’ve seen that counts in six months.

I believe this is satire.

I knew we should have been searching in Column B.

You are the best Chief.

Gotta love baseball and everyone on this list. There were (and always are) several reasons for the Twins losing the game. You could even say that, if Maeda would have had an easier third, he'd have pitched into the 7th and maybe it would have been easier on everyone. Let's move on and go get-em today and move forward.

GO TWINS.