TOR 5, MIN 3: About That Bullpen ...

No one notices relievers until they mess up.   I remember Crain going 20 some games scoreless but then would blow one and the calls to run Crainwreck out of town were rampant.     We now have 4 relievers with at least 5 appearances that have sub 2.00 ERA and one with a 2.84 ERA.    The bullpen has helped hold onto games this season also.

The season is 162 games.

  On 4/16/2019 at 1:18 PM, Riverbrian said:

I thought Shoemaker was damn good. That sinker was really good.

I couldn’t help thinking that the Angels could sure use someone like Shoemaker right about now.

I was thinking that Toronto may end up moving him near the trade deadline ... Might be worth a look .... However, he doesn't have a strong history of lasting long ... History shows he has a max of about 23 starts left this season ... Not sure how much I would give up on that gamble

  On 4/16/2019 at 10:46 AM, Penthang said:

I understand everyone’s frustration with the bullpen, but I’d remind you all that Mejia is a starter that they moved to the bullpen because the rotation was full and he was out of options. His is a pitcher that the organization values and does not want to loose. As such he is a guy who should be able to get out both leftie and rightie batters. Also, Baldelli saving arms is not something people should be complaining about, killing the reliable bullpen arms is part of what got Molitor fired. I do have to agree with those wondering why they didn’t let Harper come back in the 8th. I am wondering about Vasquez vs. Reed or Eades though.

Great post.  Big picture perspective is often lost every time there is a loss.  92 wins is about what I've seen from the most positive of fans (I predicted 84 myself), so even in that scenario, this is going to happen 65 more times.  The Twins will quickly run out of players to DFA and demote or coaches and managers to fire and demean, if the pitchforks come out every single time.

To be fair, looking at the line up we put out and who we had starting on the mound. If I would have seen the box score and not the game, I would have assumed Perez gave up 5 runs and we lost a fairly boring game. I'm not too upset about it, if there was any game we would lose in this series, it was this one. Still mildly disappointing how it happened. 

Kimbrel gets better lookin' with each passing day...

This loss stunk, plain and simple. Very disappointing to blow a SP performance and lead like that. Too much I like to copy and paste so going to hit a few topics.

1] Mejia was, may yet be, a SP. He's used to facing batters from both sides of the plate. The LH arguement doesn't really work in this case. [Resting arms and using what is available].

2] What I don't understand is a fresh Harper pitching well and not going out for the next inning.

3] The pen is short. Period. But Molitor would use his top arms down by 3 runs in hope of a comeback. In the great scheme that is a 162 game season, Rocco appears to be willing to take chances or give up a game here and there for the bigger picture. It stinks, but you simply can't win them all.

4] I am not sold on Perez even a bit at this point, good ST or not. But that was a NICE game he pitched! I like this rotation a whole lot better with another arm equal to Gibson or Pineda with Odorizzi or Perez as the 5th guy, but that was nice.

5] Not speaking to anyone/post in particular, but we can't "generally" praise Garver for defensive growth and helping Berrios work through a game where he didn't have his best stuff, and then blame Garver for Mejia not having his best stuff. Sometimes guys just have bad games and your team loses.

Shocking. When you do nothing to address the weakest part of your team all off season and then they prove to be the weakest link of the team already this early in the season. This is what pisses me off about this FO/Owner. Spend the damn money to put together a real team and we could be running away with this thing already.

First blown save of the season for any Twins reliever.  Just the 2nd loss credited to the pen.

Fortunately it has been the bullpen reserves that are struggling and not the "go to" relievers.  Continue to give Mejia and Vasquez chances, they will come around.

The problem with the Twins bullpen is that too many guys are being asked to fill a role that is probably a step higher than they are capable of at this point. Parker would be fine as a 7th or 8th inning guy, but there is no way he should be pitching the 9th of close games. Mejia and Harper should be pitching in the 5th or 6th inning when the starter gets knocked out early, not the 7th or 8th of a close game. Adding a capable 9th inning guy would help to shift guys to roles where they would be better suited.

  On 4/16/2019 at 6:46 PM, pbrezeasap said:

Any time she questions me again for the rest of the season, I'm gonna have that one in my back pocket to use on her.

I can't advise against this course of action strongly enough. Just enjoy your victory. (looks over shoulders for own wife's peering eyes). quietly.

Hildenberger has pitched 5.1 innings in 8 outings. Three of those outings lasted one batter. Five of those outings he pitched 8 pitches or less. I don't consider that "overworked." 

If last night was the bullpens turn for the B squad, I guess today is the offense's turn to rest.  No Cruz, Cron, Schoop, or Garver.

Astudillo and Marwin Gonzalez batting 4 and 5.....gross.

  On 4/16/2019 at 6:02 AM, Azviking101 said:

The top thing I was worried about was Rocco’s injury history as a player and it seems to be playing out exactly as I feared.
He is deathly afraid of overworking anyone because his career was derailed by injuries so he is babying everyone, giving them days off when it’s not needed when they’ve all had plenty of days off already.

I'm sorry but this is a completely ludicrous statement. I'm hoping I'm just misinterpreting what you're saying but if I'm not your assertion is that since Rocco's career was hampered due to injury, he's less likely to push guys since he doesn't want them injured... This makes no logical sense

  On 4/16/2019 at 3:18 AM, bighat said:

Missed the game as I was watching the Game of Thrones episode recorded last night....but reading the summary, it appers the walkers from beyond the north wall got to the Twins bullpen?

 

Twins haven't had too many games where everything is working. In both wins and losses there have been some poor performances (starters, bullpen, or offense).

 

The good news: if it all comes together, this team can be really good.

 

Is the shine coming off Astudillo a bit? 0 for his last 10 or something? His last hit was against de Grom if I recall correctly.

Well, no ones comparing him to Ty Cobb anymore.

  On 4/16/2019 at 4:22 AM, The Mask of Zoilo said:

Mejia not having options is going to mean that they keep throwing him out there. Hes got another 3 or 4 weeks of this before he shows he can be effective out of the bullpen or test waivers. Meanwhile, Nick Anderson and Nick Burdi are killing it for other teams. How about trying Eades and Reed before you lose them for nothing.

Burdi is hanging in there that's all. 50/50 we get him back. 

  On 4/16/2019 at 11:06 AM, killertwinfan said:

37 games in 38 days.  This bullpen will get exposed and there is nothing anyone can do about it.  The frustration level of this group will accelerate over the coming days.  We can afford Kimbrel easily for two years.   He has to be interested based on this team's start.  If he wants 4 or 5 years? That's a tough call because you will probably hate him the last two or three years of that contract.  But, I say do it if you can get him for 4 or less.  

I say don't sign anyone who didn't make it to ST. 7 or 8 teams have no intention of contending, get a pen arm from one of them. Dangle Larnach, Mejia, and/or Trevor May.

  On 4/16/2019 at 1:13 PM, RatherBeGolfing said:

Remember when Blake Parker was our lone FA bullpen addition this offseason and our leadership decided that was enough? 

We spent our money in other places, and didn't go dumpster diving. We still have money, players, and prospects to trade. The night is still young.

Ask King Theo wants happens when you spend all your money, you still have glaring holes to fill, and ownership has taken the checkbook away.

  On 4/16/2019 at 3:17 PM, spycake said:

lowered-expectations-madtv-350.jpg

The board wanted Kershaw, and we had to settle for a #5. Where is our mythical ace?