Baldelli Forced to Pull Berrios Early Due to Coaching Brain Fart; Twins Lose Again

By Eric Strack |

Updated: Apr 26, 2021

The Minnesota Twins have now lost 12 of 14 games, following tonight’s latest failure in Cleveland. Once again, they got ahead early and led most of the game but, once again, they lost control somewhere between a tiring Jose Berrios and a bullpen that loves to give up runs in-between outs.

Hammy?#OurCLE | #WWindians pic.twitter.com/5VrEYfi0MS
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) April 27, 2021

Rocco Riding the Struggle Bus

Obviously, the Twins “A” topic is losing games. These losses aren’t on the head coach, Rocco Baldelli. Managers don’t mean that much over the course of a baseball game. But, when the Minnesota Twins skipper has thrust himself into the spotlight, the results have been unflattering to say the least.

That continued today, after Jose Berrios let the game go from 2-0 to 2-2 in the 6th inning. Rocco made a mound visit but his purpose was only to check on his starting pitcher, before letting him continue. The problem, however, was that Wes Johnson had already made a mound visit earlier in the inning. That meant Baldelli didn’t have a choice, Berrios had to come out. He had thrown 83 pitches.

Here it is. Rocco Baldelli is forced to pull Jose Berrios in the 6th because he forgot that Wes Johnson had already made a mound visit earlier that inning. Yikes. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/RYOe9A7Eym
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) April 27, 2021

Rocco Baldelli intended to leave José Berríos in, walked off the mound. But because Wes Johnson had already visit earlier in the inning, #MNTwins have to make the change. Hansel Robles takes over, 2 out, man on 2nd, tied at 2, B6.
— danhayesmlb (@DanHayesMLB) April 26, 2021

For all of the things Rocco has taken heat for recently, this one has to be the worst. You can’t make mistakes like this, especially when your team is in the middle of a cliff fall that they need to hit the bottom of. Baldelli admitted his mistake after the game, when talking with media.

The Minnesota Twins are now 7-14. They’ll try again tomorrow for game 2/3 in Cleveland. Kenta Maeda will take the hill.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan