The last player in franchise history to have double-digit strikeouts without allowing a run on Opening Day?— Wasserman (@Wasserman) March 28, 2019
Walter Johnson In 1917 🤷♂️ #TeamWass https://t.co/BCKZmmn0iO
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Justin Morneau handled the commentary for the FSN broadcast, and before the game started said, appropos of the 11-man pitching staff and deeper-than-usual bench, that Rocco Baldelli had plenty of in-game moves available.
He made exactly one. The nine men in the batting order were in for the entire game, and he used just one relief pitcher.
That is pretty much what I expect, at least with the position players. Just because Jake Cave, Ehire Adrianza and Tyler Austin are on the bench right now doesn't mean they have genuine in-game roles. This roster is built for nine guys to play and everybody else sit and watch. Which nine plays, that will change on a daily basis.
As for the pitching staff, giving Taylor Rogers a four-out save opportunity is an interesting data point. We don't really know how Baldelli is going to handle the bullpen. I'm confident that Ron Gardenhire, had he used Rogers to finish the eighth, would have used given somebody else the ninth. But as Dick Bremer said on the telecast, the ninth was a really good set of matchups for Rogers.
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After watching Jake Bauers slip on Byron Buxton's double and watching Marwin Gonzalez's game-winning hit get past Leonys Martin, I offered this observation on Twitter:
As a Twins fan, I'm loving this new look Cleveland outfield.— Edward Thoma (@bboutsider) March 28, 2019
Cleveland's outfielders went 1-for-10 against Berrios and Rogers. But Saturday is another game, and Jake Odorizzi is no Berrios.
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