tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post339472245172223522..comments2023-12-19T20:25:36.069-06:00Comments on Nick's Twins Blog: The Closer ControversyNick N.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-70356265849767353292011-07-09T12:03:37.119-05:002011-07-09T12:03:37.119-05:00Twins need to give James a real shot. 5 IP and 1 ...Twins need to give James a real shot. 5 IP and 1 hit and he has looked awesome. Give the kid the ball for Baker's next start.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-25762725838415964772011-07-08T20:01:52.437-05:002011-07-08T20:01:52.437-05:00Gutsy, it is not to pull a guy when he gives up a ...Gutsy, it is not to pull a guy when he gives up a homer, single and then walks a guy (with two outs sandwiched between the walk and single). You suffer from the same disease that Gardy does - pointing out the obvious and likely thinking you are providing thoughtful insight... as if I and others are oblivious to the notion that egos matter and Gardy's decisions get criticized by those above him and peripheral. Gardy had to stop the bleeding - as he said he "went to the hot hand" (Perkins) - who of course could've blown it. You suggestion I would 'focus' on a possible switch between Valencia and Mauer is clap trap. Capps had three crappy outings in a row and goven the circumstances when he got yanked - calling it 'gutsy' shows you think weakly and then provide me with pointless comparisons to defend you viewpoint.Edward Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01925360185316880815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-54706888153834482622011-07-07T14:48:49.061-05:002011-07-07T14:48:49.061-05:00Sorry, but it does in fact take guts to go out and...Sorry, but it does in fact take guts to go out and pull your closer (especially two times in a row). For any number of reasons:<br /><br />1) The manager is admitting the guy he named to be "That Guy" in the ninth is not doing the job he thought he could do. Gardy sets himself up for criticism from both ends as his initial decision (Capps) has failed and his potential replacement (Perkins) could just as easily give up the game.<br /><br />2) He's dealing with egos. Like it or not "The Closer" is a defined role in baseball. And yes "he's the manager" and thus could tell Capps to go out there and play first if he was so inclined, but that doesn't mean Capps is gonna like it. Remember when the Nats manager broke into tears talking about how he had to go out in the middle of an inning and replace Matt LeCroy at catcher because the opposing team was running on him like crazy?<br /><br />3) There's potential to be pressure from fans, the media, the FO, and other players anytime you have to start shaking up the norm. Imagine if tonight Gardy came out with a lineup that swapped Valencia and Mauer in the batting order. You'd question his decision and likely focus on that single thing as the driving force behind the eventual result (regardless of what happened).<br /><br />It was just like the decision Gardy was faced with when he left Liriano out there to go for the no-hitter when Liriano wasn't really "on" comparred to most pitchers. If he pulls Liriano, it's a repeat of when he pulled Slowey during his No-hit bid last year. If he leaves him in and he blows the game in the ninth (which was a very distinct posibility given the number of walks) he made the wrong choice there as well.<br /><br />Gutsy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-61896431897544525312011-07-06T21:53:00.272-05:002011-07-06T21:53:00.272-05:00"Give credit to Gardy" for what.... doin..."Give credit to Gardy" for what.... doing the obvious? Saying it 'takes guts' to yank him is nonsense. As if Cappy's feelings matter more than winning games! Pros don't deserve to be coddled. Acting angry is perfunctory and saying "I'd boo myself" is par for the course. I'll give Gardy credit if Capps is no longer the closer. No movement on his ball tantamounts to a less than mediocre pitcher. At least Rauch had a half decent strikeout curve.Edward Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01925360185316880815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-32479772288994369562011-07-06T18:06:10.210-05:002011-07-06T18:06:10.210-05:00"He's gonna get beat with his best stuff&..."He's gonna get beat with his best stuff" It's the best summation the company line folks can ever come up with. Reality is that he goes out there and the Twins hope like all hell hitters will ground his low 90's sinker in the ground. Hitters have very little to fear because his slider isn't good and it's not like he's constantly busting guys in. BTW, what more could it possibly take before Burnett is sent back to the minors? If it wasn't for Burnett and Capps this team would be .500. They are complete and absolute liabilities for a team trying to make the playoffs. I'd rather see Dave Stevens come out of the pen thursday then either of these two clowns.Gerry Cooneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-43183850467481684612011-07-06T11:40:56.661-05:002011-07-06T11:40:56.661-05:00Not every blown save by Capps resulted in a Twins ...Not every blown save by Capps resulted in a Twins loss. There's been 1 or 2 times this season where Capps has blown a save and the Twins still won the game.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-16835055508172589292011-07-06T10:25:39.053-05:002011-07-06T10:25:39.053-05:00ITA with SadPanda & Matt: Perkins is our best ...ITA with SadPanda & Matt: Perkins is our best reliever right now and it would be a shame for him to move out of the role he's got right now, which is more flexible. Gardy will revert to form as quickly as he can and we know how he traditionally uses closers. He gets a lot of credit for his willing ness to yank the struggling and eminently hittable Capps recently, but I actually think we're better off sticking with Capps in the overrated "closer" role than moving Nathan or Perkins into the job.<br /><br />Capps will likely find himself again and start converting "saves" at an 80% or better rate this season, and if he does the bullpen could become a strength again with Perkins & Nathan setting things up with Mijares as another power lefty. Capps isn't a great pitcher and he's getting rocked right now, but if he's healthy there's no reason not to try and roll with him longer as "closer".<br /><br />Maybe this stretch of closer incompetence will push Gardy to use his bullpen different, and base it more on matchups and using pitchers in the old "fireman" role where your best relievers would face the other team's top hitters or come in to kill a rally...rather than acting like coming in to pitch 1 inning in the 9th was so much more special.Joshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-42238717506507479232011-07-06T09:21:46.440-05:002011-07-06T09:21:46.440-05:00That being said the value of a closer is very over...<i>That being said the value of a closer is very overrated and I am fine with using our best reliever, Perkins, in key situations when we need him most instead of relegating him to the every day closer spot.</i><br />Totally agree. Teams often have their best reliever sitting on the pine while the 3-4-5 hitters of the other team take a lead in the 7th or 8th. But since saves make money, that's where the elite relievers end up.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10984504525577892812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-11345525529577032672011-07-06T08:41:38.045-05:002011-07-06T08:41:38.045-05:00Perkins has had an amazing season and he really sh...Perkins has had an amazing season and he really should be commended for it. That being said the value of a closer is very overrated and I am fine with using our best reliever, Perkins, in key situations when we need him most instead of relegating him to the every day closer spot.SadPandanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-33699945191700582002011-07-06T08:14:36.148-05:002011-07-06T08:14:36.148-05:00All this talk about Capps. No one is talking abou...All this talk about Capps. No one is talking about Perkins. He came in two nights in a row and closed out a game with runners on base. I’m voting for Perkins in the closer role until Nathan is ready. Try out Capps in the setup role now to see how he performs with less pressure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-36405842888070310352011-07-06T08:04:07.584-05:002011-07-06T08:04:07.584-05:00you don't need to have faith in Capps in the 8...you don't need to have faith in Capps in the 8th if Nathan retakes the 9th. Use PerkinsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-66853849003182266352011-07-06T06:56:30.434-05:002011-07-06T06:56:30.434-05:00I agree that Nathan looks ready to assume his role...I agree that Nathan looks ready to assume his role as closer, but the problem is that I don't know how much faith you can have in Capps in the 8th either. I mean, if you blow a lead in the 7th or 8th inning, it's still a blown lead. This team still needs another quality righty in the BP. Capps clearly won't be back next year. I guess he's making one decision easier for Bill Smith.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-85260033358302211162011-07-06T02:15:24.642-05:002011-07-06T02:15:24.642-05:00If Capps was an average closer this year, (3BS, Su...If Capps was an average closer this year, (3BS, Sub 3.50 ERA) the Twins would be 4 games out instead of 7. Joe Nathan has looked great since his second return to the club. This has always been Joe's role, Capps was just keeping his seat warm.J.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13607145736975736677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-70274521560332639772011-07-06T01:21:24.176-05:002011-07-06T01:21:24.176-05:00So not sure if they 1st posting really knows his T...So not sure if they 1st posting really knows his Twins baseball. He leads the league in BLOWN SAVES!! Rausch has blown only 2. So to compare the twins are only 2 games closer in the standing is he blows 1/3 of the saves he has blown. This is the point of not being great! In Nathans last full healthy season I believe he blew 4 saves all of last season!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-71672338031583520792011-07-06T01:18:12.611-05:002011-07-06T01:18:12.611-05:00I think Capp's main problem is that his cleats...I think Capp's main problem is that his cleats are usually untied. If only he could see his feet...Jay Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17957340687850409412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-1047593015896358622011-07-06T00:57:47.698-05:002011-07-06T00:57:47.698-05:00Oops, you're right. Fixed. Thanks for the kind...Oops, you're right. Fixed. Thanks for the kind words!Nick N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-70745725731853041112011-07-06T00:35:26.913-05:002011-07-06T00:35:26.913-05:00Love your blog - read every entry. I think a corr...Love your blog - read every entry. I think a correction needs to be made. Capps came in with a 3 run lead Saturday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-31922650896943588022011-07-06T00:31:39.949-05:002011-07-06T00:31:39.949-05:00hey chill out reporter guy. hes fillin in for nath...hey chill out reporter guy. hes fillin in for nathan and doin a perdy good job. hes a goot set up pitcher and has been a great closer for us beside the last three games. calm down. plenty of season left and Twins have the best starting rotation in th AL Central and when they get healthy they will have the best 1-9 batting line-up in the AL Central as wellAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com