TOR 7, MIN 4: WHAT IS HAPPENING!?!?!?

"Good luck tonight Gibson.Don't pitch too well or Molitor will probably yank you after 5."

From a post I made yesterday afternoon. No surprise.

I've gotta quit watching, I just can't sleep nights after these games.

I still think the Twins heat up in May. The Indians haven't looked stellar lately either, so there is still hope, guys. However, if we can't get healthy and start performing like we can, then guys are getting traded. There is no way around it.

In short, here is what we are seeing:

1. Bullpen is being asked to pitch too much and it's taxing them. That is the fault of both the starting rotation and the fact that there hasn't been a long reliever out there until now.

2. Guys that shouldn't be starting are getting too much playing time because of injuries (i.e. Grossman, Adrianza, LaMarre). These are guys that play better when used less. You play them this much, you see why they aren't starters.

3. Underperformances by a number of key players. To name a few: Dozier, Castro, Rosario, Morrison, the whole pitching staff. These guys can't be this bad all year.

There is too much talent on this roster for them to suck completely for 162 games. With this American League, it's not going to be easy to grab a playoff spot. However, there is no gain in trying to tank because there are too many teams that do suck completely. Bottom line, there is no roster move that can fix what is happening. The only solution is for the guys already on the roster to step up like they can.

There must be something in the power water in the bullpen. Target Field run-off water is not the key ingredient.

Dear Mr. Froemming: You ask what is happening.

Well, how about some of the worst baseball the Twins have ever played?

I've heard rumors of the Butch Huskey era of baseball and that it wasn't a very good time to be a Twins fan.

However, with the way the Twins are currently playing, Butch Huskey era baseball may actually become a step up.

Our Twins with the same record, but with not all young players             

Pitch the ball......catch the ball.  Where is Tom Kelly when you need him.  Make the plays that need to be made.  I have not been impressed with the effort of our catchers.  Especially in the fielding department.  Garver has botched some key plays...notably the roller down the line the other night, pick up the ball, tag the runner.  He and Castro miss balls with a guy on third that should be caught.  Back to the basics....

That 10th inning was an embarrassment to the entire organization. Decent legion ball teams know how to defend 1st and third. Jr high teams.

Kendrys Morales wandered off first base, and the Twins were too frightened, or confused to throw the ball.

For Pete sake. That is not major league baseball.

Was pretty much gonna post this exact same sentiment.  I don't so much mind losing if my team is competing.  Typically happy to find myself in lock step with The Chief on most things, this is not one of those times, obvs. 

Not sure what was more infuriating-  watching this meltdown play out, or feeling like it was happening in slow motion and still nobody was able to do something, anything, to keep it from going completely off the rails.    

Pitch the ball......catch the ball.  Where is Tom Kelly when you need him.  Make the plays that need to be made.  I have not been impressed with the effort of our catchers.  Especially in the fielding department.  Garver has botched some key plays...notably the roller down the line the other night, pick up the ball, tag the runner.  He and Castro miss balls with a guy on third that should be caught.  Back to the basics....

Agreed...add on to that an ole TK saying 'We will be/are as good as today's starting pitcher and how he performs'...gotta play fundamental baseball.  Make the plays that need to be/should be made!  Get some timely hitting/run the bases well...do those things along with your comments and you should be a good ball club.

Going to be in trouble tonight out of the pen
Essentially have 2 1/4 arms available....
Hildy, Rogers and Duke

Don't we have Hughes in the bullpen now?  That gets us to at least 2 3/8 arms....

Twins starters are exhausted after 5 or 6 innings of 90 pitches. If Moli doesn't want to throw them out there for more, send them to the bullpen to get some more throwing in to condition their arm (and head) that they can go longer.

Other than Mauer, Twins are undisciplined free swingers and it is killing us now as pitchers know they don't have to throw strikes to get us out. We'll get ourselves out--especially with runners on base. Twins only have to straighten out their pitching, hitting, defense, fundamentals, and most importantly their heads. Dr. Phil are you busy?

And for teams who have a bullpen that works well.

I think we need to come up with a version of MST3K for calling the Twins games.

Go T'ins.

 

Teamwork is a funny thing.  I've watched basketball teams swap out one player for another and you would swear the entire team was swapped out.  Teamwork went out the window and the "me first" attitude took over the team.  Are the Twins in a similar situation?  I'd be curious what the clubhouse chemistry is.

My attitude soured on the team just a little bit at the beginning of the year when Dozier gave his 'I'm a free agent' speech.  I wonder if that soured any of the immeasurable mojo.