MLB: Seattle 5, Twins 3 – Nick Blackburn pitched wonderfully, tossing seven shutout innings and leaving the game with a two-run lead, despite the offense’s inability to get runners on base around to score.
Then the Twins bullpen got involved.
An illustration:
Jose Mijares, who’s blown leads in two consecutive appearances now, undid all of Blackburn’s hard work by giving up a two-run homer. Jesse Crain assured himself of getting his name in the box score by giving up the game-winners, including wild-pitching home the go-ahead run. (This is frustrating even when it happens in seventh-grade baseball. Not for nothing has Crain earned the nickname “Crainwreck.”)
The Twins are off today, which should enable the team to finally get to turn a number on their
_ Days Without a Workplace Blown Lead” board.
3 Comments
This bullpen has been a freakin disaster since last summer so why would anyone think things would change this season. They are the same guys. Normally when a reliever sucks, he is going to suck forever. This is why I did not have the Twins win the division.
I am so done with Jesse Crain. Get rid of him for a live body.
As for Mijaries, his 15 minutes of fame is over.
Considering how bad Bill Smith has done at his job so far, why would anyone think he would find guys that are reliable?
Has Bill Smith made a move that’s worked out yet? I can’t remember one…
I have been supporting Bill Smith for a while, but now it’s time to start questioning him a little bit, Jon.
The Johan Santana trade is starting to become a disaster. Humber was traded, Guerra has stunk, and Carlos Gomez may have reached his peak. The only good thing about this trade is Johan is not pitching in Boston or for the Yankees. With that said when you trade Johan Santana, you better get several franchise players in return. Boston had a good deal in place until Bill Smith got greedy. Smith clearly screwed up.
It’s easy to go rip Smith now with Delmon Young, but at the same time, we all raved about the deal. Looking back, Smith and his staff should have done their homework on Delmon. Matt Garza has become a star and Jason Bartlett has evolved into a good player while Delmon Young continues to get worse.
Smith did nothing to improve the bullpen this offseason, and he basically did nothing to improve the club this year. He got Crede, but Crede came because no one wanted to sign him. He should have found a way to get Juan Cruz.
I just wonder if Smith is over his head right now. Remember when he was an assistant GM, he was negotiating contracts and nothing more so the Twins go out and promote him to run the baseball operations. I know Tom Kelly and Terry Ryan has helped him, but at some point, Smith needs to get it or it’s time to move on.
From what I keep reading, Gardy has zero faith on Smith as a GM. Who can blame him?