Closing Games

by Twins Territory on Jul 2, 2011 11:18 PM EDT

Leading 7-0 through four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers and then 7-3 entering the eighth inning on Saturday night, it looked promising that, through 81 games and the season's midway point, the Minnesota Twins would find themselves 8 games back in the American League Central and 9 games below the .500 mark.

Not so said closer Matt Capps.

Five ninth inning hits and four ninth inning runs helped push the Brewers to an 8-7 lead and an eventual series-splitting victory. It also helped hand Capps his sixth blown save of 2011, and the Twins' bullpen their 13th of the season.

Yes, that's right, 13 blown saves. To the season's midway point, the Twins have now gone 17-for-30 in save opportunities—good for a conversion percentage of 57%.

Here's a breakdown of those missed opportunities:

Matt Capps:

July 2 (L, 8-7)

June 8 (W, 3-2)

May 23 (L, 8-7)

May 21 (L, 9-6)

May 11 (L, 9-7)

April 14 (L, 4-3)

Joe Nathan:

April 16 (L, 4-3)

April 14 (L, 4-3)

Jose Mijares:

June 24 (L, 4-3)

May 31 (L, 8-7)

Glen Perkins:

June 19 (W, 5-4)

Alex Burnett:

April 29 (L, 4-3)

Jim Hoey:

May 27 (L, 6-5)

In the 12 games (you'll see why it's 12 games in just a moment) in which a reliever has blown a save for the Twins in 2011, they have now gone 2-10 (one of the games, April 14, saw both Capps and Nathan blow a save opportunity). Through the midway point in the season, the Twins find themselves looking at the second half of the season with a 35-46 record and a lot of work left to do to make it seven playoff appearances for the team in 10 seasons under manager Ron Gardenhire.

What doesn't take a lot of work is seeing where the Twins could be with just a handful of those blown saves and 10 eventual losses on the other side of the win-loss column.

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It's all my fault

I was going out with the better half, and I need a haircut. So I put on my unlucky Twins cap, thinking it’d hide my hair and the Twins were up 7-0. The Twins lost, and the better half told me, “before we have sex again, you HAVE to cut that hair.”

Incidentally, I’m also personally responsible for the Vikings’ NFC championship losses and the TrailBlazers’ epic fail to the Lakers in 2000. All due to unlucky hat-wearing.

Steve Goodman lives.

by twinsbrewer on Jul 3, 2011 12:09 AM EDT reply actions

God...dammit.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"God grab your neck but never choke" -Ozzie Guillen

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jul 3, 2011 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions

My fault too

Was attending to my Mom’s dog tonight.

Seriously, if we haven’t blown those 10 games, we would be looking at a 20 game swing in the win-loss column. That would put us at 45-36 and first place in the AL Central. I understand that not everyone is perfect and that even Joe Nathan blew games for us, but Matt Capps has struggled time and again with putting away games for us, and the five losses plus Joe Nathan’s are not good at all. At the very least the Twins should be 41-40. Watch Bill Smith solve the bullpen issue by trading Chris Parmlee to San Diego for Heath Bell.

I'm a proud fan of the Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys!
"Life is precious and time is a key element. Let’s make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own." – Harmon Killebrew

by Jessy S on Jul 3, 2011 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions

You selfish basterd

Steve Goodman lives.

by twinsbrewer on Jul 3, 2011 2:19 AM EDT up reply actions

The last 3 NFC championships?

Or all of them combined?

Follow me, mmk?

by John_Locke on Jul 3, 2011 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions

1998, 2000, and 2009 Seasons, all heartbreakers. At least the one in 2000 was over before it began.

by Jessy S on Jul 3, 2011 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Just 2001 and the Favre meltdown of late

Before 2001, I was busy screwing over the hopes of fans in other cities. It’s a thankless job but somebody has to wear the unlucky hat and do it.

Steve Goodman lives.

by twinsbrewer on Jul 3, 2011 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Ok

At least it wasn’t 98. That one hurt my 8 year old soul pretty bad.

Follow me, mmk?

by John_Locke on Jul 3, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

we need an anti-jinx doctor on the team medical staff

between you and fischean and the occasional lone jinxers who cause one time curses

"Nobody wants to hear me rap." - Joe Mauer
"METEOR" - JIM THOME

by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Jul 3, 2011 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm flagging this entire fanpost.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"God grab your neck but never choke" -Ozzie Guillen

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jul 3, 2011 2:40 AM EDT up reply actions

And Fischean was no where to be found on Saturday.

At Least here at Twinkie Town.

by Jessy S on Jul 3, 2011 3:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Time to give Nathan another chance at closing?

he has thrown well in his very limited time back

or time to try Perk at closer with the way hes been throwing all year (my hope)

or stick with Capps and hope he doesnt blow to many more

Free Carlos Guiterrez! Free Chuck James!, Free Anthony Slama!

by holymackerel on Jul 3, 2011 2:25 AM EDT reply actions

A.B.C.

Anybody But Capps

Steve Goodman lives.

by twinsbrewer on Jul 3, 2011 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Always Be Closing.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"God grab your neck but never choke" -Ozzie Guillen

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jul 3, 2011 2:36 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

That is awesome

1. I love obscure references, and that’s as obscure as you can get.
2. Capps is mediocre and didn’t have good movement on his pitches last night, so leaving him in was Gardy-rific.
3. I’m exhausted and going to bed.

Steve Goodman lives.

by twinsbrewer on Jul 3, 2011 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions

rec'd

by Luke in MN on Jul 4, 2011 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Always Been Crap?

Defiantly an over reaction but it fits the acronym lol. Capps could be a good setup man for a contending team but he is only a closer on the Pirates or Nats, constant fastballs always in the strikezone is a pretty questionable arsenal for a closer. Closer is an extremely over rated role but Capps does not appear to be real well suited for the role when its consistent success is needed.

Free Carlos Guiterrez! Free Chuck James!, Free Anthony Slama!

by holymackerel on Jul 3, 2011 5:48 AM EDT up reply actions

And Gardy was less than reassuring in last night's press conference

He basically gave Matt the benefit of doubt even with the solid evidence of blown saves. Yes the closer will have an off night, but it is happening too much in Matt Capps’ case for my taste.

by Jessy S on Jul 3, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Quake for Minnesota

"Nobody wants to hear me rap." - Joe Mauer
"METEOR" - JIM THOME

by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Jul 3, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Always Rec This

Always

"...and we'll see ya tomorrow night!" - Jack Buck, Game 6, 1991 World Series

by WindyCityTwinsFan on Jul 3, 2011 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions

If only we had one more run

Perkins would have stayed in

If only Kennedy hadn’t been shot

If only things weren’t the way they are.

It was frustrating, but it happened. Nothing we can do about it. I just want them to win today.

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 3, 2011 4:11 AM EDT reply actions

This is a managerial failure

If only we had one more run
Perkins would have stayed in

For all the complaints about statheads, it’s amazing how often supposedly old-school managers will make their decisions entirely on the basis of a made-up statistic.

"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

by BeefMaster on Jul 5, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

with almost everybody looking for a quality young catcher, can you imagine what we could have gotten for wilson ramos if our GM wasn’t billy smith.

by fortmyer on Jul 3, 2011 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

Rafael Soriano?

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 3, 2011 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I think "committee" is the best option right now

Nobody should have a lock on closing games for the Twins right now. Go by matchup and situation.

by DJL44 on Jul 4, 2011 11:02 AM EDT reply actions

I see no reason why Perkins

doesn’t deserve a shot.
Unfortunately they will stick with Capps for far longer than they should, I have a feeling. They invested too much in him.

bobpuller lives.

by bobpuller on Jul 5, 2011 9:23 AM EDT reply actions

Gardy has already used Perkins as the closer

I think this is the way they’ll roll for a while. Maybe ‘till the end of the year. They need to develop a closer for next year because I don’t see Capps or Nathan coming back.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jul 5, 2011 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

I think he does deserve a shot

But I’d be fine with moving Nathan back into the role and using Perkins in our high leverage late game situations. He’s been so excellent that I’d hate to see him sitting on a shelf waiting for a “save” opportunity. Capps is a mess right now, though. I have zero confidence in him and don’t want him anywhere near a high leverage situation. If Nathan bombs again, give it to Perk.

by dctwin on Jul 5, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Perk 8th Nathan 9th

Sounds good to me. They both look better than the Mad Capper as of late.

bobpuller lives.

by bobpuller on Jul 5, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd be happy if Capps drove off a bridge or something.

I just find it ridiculous how Gardy can continue to put Capps in after repeatedly proving he CAN NOT DO IT!!! I get that he doesn’t want to ruin his confidence or whatever but the team winning is more important than any one player, especially a horrible reliever that is hurting the Twins’ chances of winning every time he gets into the games. Change for the sake of change isn’t always a good thing, but change for the sake of helping the team win and putting Perk or Nathan at closer seems necessary right about now!

by Gooseke on Jul 6, 2011 9:57 AM EDT reply actions

Ramos

It amazes me how often people talk about Ramos. Granted, he is having a good year with the Nationals but that trade is in the past and it doesn’t mean he will continue to have many good years after this one. Can we please move on?

by Emma2011 on Jul 10, 2011 9:45 AM EDT reply actions

Ramos will have many good years after this one. He is a rookie, and he's young for a catcher

All the scouting reports said he was a star in the making before he was traded, including our own Tom Kelly’s. I know the Twins bullpen was in crisis at this time last year, but the front office panicked, and we are experiencing the consequences. They could have waited and acquired Fuentes.

And it’s not just about Ramos, who was the best hitter the team had developed in years at a position of need. It’s about Capps. His salary forced us to let Crain and Rauch go after the season. His suckiness has only accentuated their loss. He has already blown more saves in a season than any Twins closer since Ron Davis, if you count the two games in which he blew two saves in a game. And we have nearly half a season left.

This was clearly the worst trade since the Delmon trade, which is the worst trade in franchise history. It was bad when they did it; it only gets worse as Mauer’s knee forced us to use AA catchers in starting roles.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jul 10, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

The 8th

Perk in the 8th and Nathan in the 8th, hmmm, didn’t quite work out.

by Emma2011 on Jul 10, 2011 9:47 AM EDT reply actions

Ramos

Well I guess we still have not moved on. So whom are you blaming here? Capps did not need to be re-signed, could have been let go and then kept Crane and Rauch and perhaps Fuentes. But remember Nathan started the year as closer and has blown 4 saves and he makes 11 million. I am not disagreeing that Capps has not performed well, he hasn’t, but he need to look at the future and not look as far back as possible (Ron Davis?)

by Emma2011 on Jul 10, 2011 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Who is to blame?

The FRONT OFFICE!

...formerly known as 33MorneauMVP

by BCTwins on Jul 10, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Nathan has a pass

as he was recovering from TJ surgery. Capps doesn’t have that excuse.

by Caleb A on Jul 10, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

You don't give up a top prospect for a two-month rental

When they made the deal, Smith said he would not have made it if Capps were a free agent at the end of the year. The fact that he was under team control made the deal palatable. That was a red flag, because the save stat pushes salaries way up and tendering him a contract was going to be very expensive, so expensive that it meant decimating the bullpen.

I was not a fan of the length of Nathan’s contract when he signed because he was getting up there in age. His injury is a bigger deal for this franchise than the Capps trade. Actually, had he not gotten injured, I doubt we would be having this conversation. It’s clear he’s not back to his old self, and I doubt he ever will be. The older a guy is, the harder it is for his body to rebound from injuries. We were able to afford Capps last year because Nathan’s contract was insured. This year, having $19 million tied up with two middling relievers is just killing us.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jul 10, 2011 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I couldn't agree more

Nathan’s injury and salary has caused huge bullpen problems, both now and at the start of the season. He cannot pitch two days in a row, therefore, placing a burden on everyone. At the start of the season starting pitching couldn’t get past the third inning but now that it isn’t the case the twins are winning, since June they have one of the best records in baseball. Remember that Capps was often called upon to pitch the 8th and the 9th, 8 times I believe. That is not a excuse for his early July failures but the bullpen was over worked early in the season.

by Emma2011 on Jul 10, 2011 6:15 PM EDT reply actions