Opening Day didn't end the way Twins fans may have wanted but there were some bright spots to go along with some not so bright spots and hear are my thoughts from the game yesterday.
Vance Worley is going to be a solid pitcher for the Twins. I was a little concerned that coming over from the National League he may struggle having to deal with the tougher lineups in the American League, but after even just one start I'm sold that he will at least be like Scott Diamond from last year and give us a chance to win just about every start he makes. And that's all you can really ask for from your starting pitcher. Bert Blyleven referred to him as a bulldog numerous times during the telecast and he matches that description perfectly. After a rough first 2 innings he settled down and pitched great. I'm not worried about those two innings because this is only his third season in the majors and his first time ever being an Opening Day starter for a team, so you expect there to be nerves and even after those first two innings the Twins had numerous opportunities to still win the game.
Casey Fien seems like he is going to be a mainstay in this bullpen for a long time. He came up in the second half of the season last year and pitched very well and he seems to have picked up right where he left off by coming in and striking out the side in 7th. He could end up being our setup man or closer in the next few years.
If the Twins are going to score a lot of runs Trevor Plouffe and Chris Parmelee need to have better at bats with runners in scoring position then what they had in the 7th when the Twins had the bases loaded and were threatening to tie the game or even take the lead.
Plouffe came up with only 1 out in the inning so he just needed a fly ball to tie the game, not even a hit just a fly ball. He quickly fell behind in the count 1-2 against Al Alburquerque who has a downright disgusting slider that is almost unhittable if you fall behind in the count. Of course Plouffe was waiting for the slider and Alburquerque blew a fastball right by him to strike him out.
Parmelee's at bat was even worse. Alburquerque threw him 7 pitches and only 2 were strikes and he ended up striking Parmelee out. Parmelee had the count at 2-0 and sat dead red fastball and Alburquerque gave him a slider that he shouldn't have swung at, but he did anyways allowing Alburquerque to get back into the count. Instead of 3-0 count now it's 2-1 and the next pitch was a strike on the outside corner and now Parmelee must protect instead of being in control like he should have been. He works the count to 3-2 and should have known that he hasn't been able to lay off the slider the whole at bat and that Alburquerque was going to go back at it. After drawing two walks earlier in the game by being patient you would think he would do the same in this situation and draw the walk to tie the game, instead he swings at yet another slider in the dirt and that really ended the Twins chances in the game.
Parmelee is truly in a very unusual situation that may have been the reason he was pressing in that at bat. Right now the right field job is his, but for how long? The Twins have a fantastic hitting prospect who also plays right field in Triple-A who more than likely will be up in the majors at some point this season. So if Arcia, the prospect I just mentioned, kills the ball at Rochester and forces the Twins to bring him up where does that leave Parmelee if he is not playing well?
Maybe first base? But if Morneau is playing well like he has been this Spring and so far in this 1 game season he wouldn't get any playing time at first base. Left Field? Even if Willingham struggles he'll stay in the lineup because he is our one big right handed bat. DH? Unless Doumit is struggling horribly and or hurt he won't end up in that spot either. So does he get sent back to the minors? Why would they do that when he has dominated every level of the minors? The only thing that leaves us with is either trading him or making him a permanent bench player at the age of 25. How much trade value could he really have at age 25 and nothing proven in the majors as of yet? If this does happen it will definitively be something interesting to follow.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987
Vance Worley is going to be a solid pitcher for the Twins. I was a little concerned that coming over from the National League he may struggle having to deal with the tougher lineups in the American League, but after even just one start I'm sold that he will at least be like Scott Diamond from last year and give us a chance to win just about every start he makes. And that's all you can really ask for from your starting pitcher. Bert Blyleven referred to him as a bulldog numerous times during the telecast and he matches that description perfectly. After a rough first 2 innings he settled down and pitched great. I'm not worried about those two innings because this is only his third season in the majors and his first time ever being an Opening Day starter for a team, so you expect there to be nerves and even after those first two innings the Twins had numerous opportunities to still win the game.
Casey Fien seems like he is going to be a mainstay in this bullpen for a long time. He came up in the second half of the season last year and pitched very well and he seems to have picked up right where he left off by coming in and striking out the side in 7th. He could end up being our setup man or closer in the next few years.
If the Twins are going to score a lot of runs Trevor Plouffe and Chris Parmelee need to have better at bats with runners in scoring position then what they had in the 7th when the Twins had the bases loaded and were threatening to tie the game or even take the lead.
Plouffe came up with only 1 out in the inning so he just needed a fly ball to tie the game, not even a hit just a fly ball. He quickly fell behind in the count 1-2 against Al Alburquerque who has a downright disgusting slider that is almost unhittable if you fall behind in the count. Of course Plouffe was waiting for the slider and Alburquerque blew a fastball right by him to strike him out.
Parmelee's at bat was even worse. Alburquerque threw him 7 pitches and only 2 were strikes and he ended up striking Parmelee out. Parmelee had the count at 2-0 and sat dead red fastball and Alburquerque gave him a slider that he shouldn't have swung at, but he did anyways allowing Alburquerque to get back into the count. Instead of 3-0 count now it's 2-1 and the next pitch was a strike on the outside corner and now Parmelee must protect instead of being in control like he should have been. He works the count to 3-2 and should have known that he hasn't been able to lay off the slider the whole at bat and that Alburquerque was going to go back at it. After drawing two walks earlier in the game by being patient you would think he would do the same in this situation and draw the walk to tie the game, instead he swings at yet another slider in the dirt and that really ended the Twins chances in the game.
Parmelee is truly in a very unusual situation that may have been the reason he was pressing in that at bat. Right now the right field job is his, but for how long? The Twins have a fantastic hitting prospect who also plays right field in Triple-A who more than likely will be up in the majors at some point this season. So if Arcia, the prospect I just mentioned, kills the ball at Rochester and forces the Twins to bring him up where does that leave Parmelee if he is not playing well?
Maybe first base? But if Morneau is playing well like he has been this Spring and so far in this 1 game season he wouldn't get any playing time at first base. Left Field? Even if Willingham struggles he'll stay in the lineup because he is our one big right handed bat. DH? Unless Doumit is struggling horribly and or hurt he won't end up in that spot either. So does he get sent back to the minors? Why would they do that when he has dominated every level of the minors? The only thing that leaves us with is either trading him or making him a permanent bench player at the age of 25. How much trade value could he really have at age 25 and nothing proven in the majors as of yet? If this does happen it will definitively be something interesting to follow.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987