cHawk

Sadly, the Vikings are an ~.500 team too (with where the roster is now, it could of course change)

To be fair, Burnes' pitches were perfectly executed and on the money almost every time.

No

Why do you say this? Because of the lack of offense? 96 mph cutters will shut down any offense.

Why on earth would Rocco yank Berrios? Let the man get his first career no-hitter! In any case, glad to see the pitching and defense holding strong today. Am a little worried about Colome, he looked shaky. On the flip side, what's with the offense? Yes, Burnes absolutely balled out today but not getting a single hit thru 6? In all seriousness, I don't like what I'm seeing from Sano. If he doesn't clean up his act he should be sent down. Also, are both of our catchers going to be offensive liabilities this year?

Well that sucks.

The defense is bad because it looked rough on opening day? Oh please. Also, “the bullpen” didn’t blow the lead. Colome did. More of it had to do with his decision making than his pitching. If he makes that simple throw to first, and if Kepler makes that catch (the one where the ball was literally in his glove), we win 5-2. Also, Dobnak wasn’t the problem in the 10th. It was the horrendous extra-innings rule. We weren’t in a position to realistically win the game after the 9th in a National League Park. Point being: We mustn’t jump to conclusions after one game.

By personnel, do you mean players or management?

The bases were loaded in the 5th because the four-time gold glover couldn’t make the routine-ist of plays. That Duffey run was unearned. Colome was out there in the 9th and needed to nail down a 3 run lead. He’s been one of baseball’s best relievers the past five years. He will have a bad day from time to time - his first (of hopefully not many) happened on OD. Relievers are supposed to execute, and it’s not on management if they don’t. This isn’t like putting clearly washed up Sergio Romo on in the 9th, where in that case it’s on management. Colome is actually a quality reliever. If he becomes like Romo and the Twins continue to use him in the 9th, that is bad management. But for now, we can only blame Colome. Also, this might be a nitpick, but the Buxton homer logic makes no sense. “If he didn’t hit it...” he did though. That’s what matters.

I corrected myself if you scroll up in the thread. The offense was far worse than the management. However, I feel like the lack of offense had to do with Rocco, in a “lack-of-fire” emotion type of thing. Sorry I wasn’t clear.

“They can win 103 games, which would be meaningless. All that matters is October.“ That’s what I was thinking. Why should we care if we enter the playoffs as a division winner or a wild card, as long as we make it in? Records become 0-0 in the playoffs. Wild Card teams have won the World Series. Back in 2016, a wild card team SWEPT the top seed. We’d be underdogs in our first series even as a top seed so why do we care about what seed we get?

Don't forget about Robles

Win a playoff series. Anything short of that is a complete faliure and should call for change.

Dobnak wasn't a problem of the construction of the 'pen rather awful management. Rocco had other options but he went with Dobnak. Why? IDK.

It's one game Colome gave up all the runs. Should've known he would implode, though, I guess. Even though, especially considering he's been really good reliever the last three years. Surely he will continue to be this awful. Shame on the FO for signing him. If this keeps happening it is a problem - but this is one game. Also - Clayton Kershaw gave up 5 runs today. Does this mean that he will suck? Of course not. I don't blame you for not trusting the FO - I don't either - but we cannot jump to conclusions after one game. Concluding that our pen is and will be weak after this one bad showing (and it was pretty much all on one reliever) is somewhat premature.

What's Column B?

Yeah the offense is more to blame. I didn't state myself correctly. But management WAS a problem.

All in all I hope management isn't what kills the Twins this year. It killed us in our last two playoff appearances, it was very bad throughout 2020. Both decision making and a lack of fire from our manager.

The reason we didn't pay Rosario is because we would've had to pay him 10 million. He's not worth 10 million. Also, I don't see why putting Garlick in LF over Kirilloff or Rooker is just to "hold the fort." Garlick looks intriguing, given the spring he's had. IDK if it will work out, but why not try it? He definitely could help the Twins, at least it seems. He's been better than Kirilloff and Rooker, as well. Bottom line - Rosario isn't worth $10 million.

Bauer signed a 3-year deal. He won't be a FA until 2023

What? Rosario alone would cost $10M.

Cave and Astudillo but not Rooker or Kirilloff or Broxton. Smh

Hopefully the FO adds some top end talent (of any kind, not necessarily a pitcher) in July. That could set us up for getting over the hump and winning a SERIES (I won’t settle for just a single game). It won’t matter though if we straight up forget how to play baseball when it counts, like we have postseason after postseason.

Well they just signed him to an extension.

Well I might’ve been too hard on Astudillo. I mean if he proves this season he can hit then I wouldn’t mind having him on the roster. But if he can’t then he shouldn’t be on the playoff roster. I can’t complain too much with AK being optioned to the alternate site. Broxton, Garlick, and Rooker all look like better options at this point in time. Although, could they’ve found a spot for him? I’d rather see him on the roster than...IDK...Smeltzer.