Twins (Matthews) vs Brewers (Drohan): 08/07/26, 6:40 PM

[Jim French Stepstool]

4 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

It’s problematic. You can’t avoid using a guy like this when you have a 7 man bullpen. Sometimes you have to trust using a guy like Wilson in a situation where you don’t really want to use him and I think Murphy is really bad at that. I don’t know if that’s because of his win at all costs mantra or what but he has seemingly been reluctant to use the last guy in the bullpen basically his entire tenure as our manager.

Bauers was still available.

[yourout]

1 hour ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Totally understand Murphy's explanation. Stallings & Anderson are gone, Patrick had worked 3 out of 4 days. You're not getting DL Hall up for a 3rd day in a row. He wanted Senzatela for an inning, and I'm guessing it's the late-game trio after that assuming you're tied or leading. They weren't, so Wilson. The biggest issue is what was brought up by a couple folks earlier---Senzatela suddenly being in a different role from what he did in Colorado. Depending on how it works out, THAT is something Murphy could be questioned about.

This is also a byproduct of having 7 relievers instead of eight.

A very reasonable post.

[TURBO]

1 hour ago, wiguy94 said:

I don’t know if that’s because of his win at all costs mantra or what...

Someone please explain to me why they think Murphy has this wonderful "win at all costs" attitude.

If he has said this, but continues to have Yelich bat anyplace in the top 6 spots in the line-up, that goes against his win at all costs mantra.

If he continues to play Hamilton over Ortiz, that goes against his win at all costs mantra.

I'm sure there countless examples that go against this "win at all costs" attitude that I keep seeing here.

Did he actually say that?

[Bulldogboy]

1 hour ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Totally understand Murphy's explanation. Stallings & Anderson are gone, Patrick had worked 3 out of 4 days. You're not getting DL Hall up for a 3rd day in a row. He wanted Senzatela for an inning, and I'm guessing it's the late-game trio after that assuming you're tied or leading. They weren't, so Wilson. The biggest issue is what was brought up by a couple folks earlier---Senzatela suddenly being in a different role from what he did in Colorado. Depending on how it works out, THAT is something Murphy could be questioned about.

This is also a byproduct of having 7 relievers instead of eight.

It makes zero sense. Drohan had the lead and was done. Instead of going to Wilson with the lead he let him give it up. Then the Brewers come back and tie so he then goes to the new guy who promptly gives it up. Then all of a sudden he goes to Wilson who happens to shut them down. So two opportunity to pitch Wilson with the lead or tied he bypassed and then ended up pitching him once the game was over. If he has no trust in Wilson who is part of a 7 man pen then cut him otherwise he should have been in the game one way or the other in the 4th inning. If he gets hit so be it. If they have the lead late figure it out.

[Jim French Stepstool]

58 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Someone please explain to me why they think Murphy has this wonderful "win at all costs" attitude.

If he has said this, but continues to have Yelich bat anyplace in the top 6 spots in the line-up, that goes against his win at all costs mantra.

If he continues to play Hamilton over Ortiz, that goes against his win at all costs mantra.

I'm sure there countless examples that go against this "win at all costs" attitude that I keep seeing here.

Did he actually say that?

I don't know if he said that; I don't see all the pressers. But no manager manages that way over the course of a full season even if they say they do, particularly with pitchers. You can't manage a staff over six months the way you would in a playoff scenario, or late-season "must win".

Someone brought up the Ortiz/Hamilton thing to him. They're trying to keep Ortiz away from RHP who feature the 'side to side' motion--sweepers, running FBs, cutters that break to the (pitcher's) glove side. Apparently he cheats to get to it, chases & is then vulnerable on the inner half. Meanwhile Hamilton hasn't been scorching, but he's reached in four of his last five games. It looks like a platoon, but I don't think it stays that way unless Hamilton really gets hot; he has to reach base to utilize his skillset because Ortiz has the better glove. They haven't seen many LH starters so that makes it more noticeable. I'd like to see Ortiz out there; not every day but more than we have. And I think we will.

Got nuthin' regarding Yelich except he's trying to get him going. The tough sell on that is that Vaughn often sits vs RHP but has been better than Yelich vs righties; not great but better. AFA where he hits, if he hits in the bottom third of the order then probably Pratt or Lara moves up somewhere in the top half. I don't know if that plays into it or not but I'm a fan of leaving both of them where they are for now.