Tigers 3, Twins 2: Nick Gordon Show isn't Enough

Regarding Duran, he's pitched 16 innings in the past 2 years due to the 2020 lost MiLB season and being shut down almost all of last year with a UCL sprain treated with rest and rehab. He was probably destined for the bullpen this year regardless of whether or not he was going to be pitching at the MLB level.

On top of that, Duran wasn't successful as a starter in 2019 at AA (4.86 ERA) or 2021 at AAA (5.06 ERA). 

I can't explain Baldelli's thoughts on where he pulls or places pitchers.

13 hours ago, Five minute major said:

This team is not going anywhere.   The schedule makers did Rocco a tremendous favor because this team is below average at best.  We just lost four of five to the Tigers and scored two runs total in 3 games.  Unforgivable.  What is it going to take for Rocco to be let go.   We will never go anwhere with him at the helm unless you are the typical Minnesota fan who is satisfied with moral victories and first round playoff exits.  

Should we let Buxton and Polanco go too.   They have been horrible lately.  Correa has not been on the field.  Let him go too.  Even Arraez did not hit during this series.  Blaming Rocco because the team is not hitting is just comical.

8 hours ago, rv78 said:

Why isn't Duran the closer? Because Rocco won't use rookies in high leverage situations such as the closer role if he has a veteran that is half as good. Even last year when they were in last place he went back to using Colome as his closer and didn't even try Alcala in that role until the last game of the season. If there ever was a time to start grooming a player for a specific role such as a closer, the time was then. Alcala could have been closing games all of September. Another Rocco mistake that was made last year that he continues to make this year. 

He has closed games.  That was not the most important situation yesterday.  He was put in yesterday because the top of Detroit's line-up has been doing damage and 1-3 were due up yesterday when he came in.  

*** Sorry, didn't see the other posts before I made this one and repeated what was already said..

7 hours ago, bean5302 said:

I'm in agreement with some other comments. Archer was pitching well. Throwing strikes and moving through the batters very efficiently with only 57 pitches. He's gone to 80 pitches with regularity this season so yanking him after 5 innings doesn't seem reasonable, especially when the last 2 innings went 1-2-3 (base running error in the 4th). 

Third time through the lineup; nothing more, nothing less.  It usually takes more than 57 pitches for him to get through the first 2 times so it appears strange that he would be pulled after so few, but pitch count has nothing to do with it.  The computer says 3 times through is a no no.  Always remember, the plan is 3-6 pitchers a game 162 games a year.  And that is never going to change regardless how the starter is doing.  At the end of the day, the plan is more important than individual games, so we will always have games like today.  A lot of the folks on TD agree with that.  Some of us don't.  But that pretty much sums up how the team is managed and always will be with this 3 some.  Starters have their limits, again, regardless of how they are throwing that day, and no reliever is designated in a role, be that 7th, 8th, 9th, middle innings, or long relief.  Entirely mix and match.  None of this is my opinion; I have given my opinion on this subject multiple times, and keep getting told the new and better way of playing the game is here and you will like it.    What I am saying today is the accumulation of comments made over the years by our big 3 and what their overall plan/outlook is.  So if you like analytics, pitch counts, innings limits, no fixed roles, and a season long shuttle bus between here and St. Paul shuffling pitchers, you will defend this management.  On the other hand..............either way, no one is going to change their minds.  It is what it is and you will like it!

8 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Regarding Duran, he's pitched 16 innings in the past 2 years due to the 2020 lost MiLB season and being shut down almost all of last year with a UCL sprain treated with rest and rehab. He was probably destined for the bullpen this year regardless of whether or not he was going to be pitching at the MLB level.

On top of that, Duran wasn't successful as a starter in 2019 at AA (4.86 ERA) or 2021 at AAA (5.06 ERA). 

I can't explain Baldelli's thoughts on where he pulls or places pitchers.

In addition to the potential lack of durability, the fact that he doesn't have a true changeup is probably a big part of the reason that his stats as a starter last year weren't nearly as good as they are as a reliever this year.  His unique splinker is the result of them trying to develop a changeup (splitter). It doesn't have a big velo difference from his fastball, and at its worst he's probably basically just getting sinker action, and not enough vertical drop that you see from a good splitter.

The splinker has basically been his only weakness, and he's mostly gone away from the pitch after the Orioles hit back to back home runs off of it. I think it could still be a good pitch when mixed in more sparingly as a reliever, and hopefully he can still refine the movement/velocity. I think he is probably one of those guys that is just much more effective as a reliever.

2 minutes ago, Karbo said:

He used both Duran and Pagan up so who's going to pitch if by chance we get a lead to protect tonight? 

Probably Duffey knowing how Rocco manages.