Tim Wakefield (old at 41) only lasted 2 2/3 innings. Julian Tavarez (the schizophrenic) who's supposed to be the middle reliever that can go for 2 or 3 or even 4 innings only lasted an appalling 1 1/3. And while Mike Timlin (another old pitcher at 42) lasted 1 2/3 innings, he gave up the winning run to the first batter he faced.
All the commentators say that Wakefield's knuckler should be unhittable in domes. But if you look at his last two games in covered stadiums they tell a very different story. When he faced the Rays at the Trop at the end of April, he may have pitched 6 innings, but he gave up four runs on 6 hits and five walks. Then last night he only lasted 2 2/3 innings giving up 7 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. I don't know, but it seems to me if Wake is scheduled to pitch in a dome, Francona should move some stuff around so he doesn't have to.
Then there's Julian Tavaraz. All I have to say about him - clearly the doctor was out. Instead we had the party-man, Mr. Hyde. Thank God Francona only let him pitch for the third and fourth innings.
And finally there's Timlin. I am not a fan. If he's in the bullpen warming up, and we're losing, I know the game is over and we've lost. Last night, just as expected, the same thing happened. The first batter he faced, designated hitter Craig Monroe, took Timlin's 2-2 pitch and deposited it in the left field seats for the 9th and final Twins run. Sure, he proceeded to get the next five batters he faced out, but the damage was done. He may not have been the losing pitcher of record, but in my book he was because he was the one who gave up the final run to the Twins. The one they needed to hold onto the win.
Theo and Tito need to take a long, hard look at Tavarez and Timlin and decide if it's worth the damage they cause to keep them on the roster. I, for one, don't believe it is.
