Imagine any time there’s trouble late in a close game — instead of bringing in Guerrier or Crain to blow it, we bring in Neshek to put out the fire and get us to Nathan. Helps.

Then imagine that since that’s the case, Guerrier and Crain are starting innings instead of being kept as firemen. That means they’re in their proper roles in the 6th and 7th innings, and we see a lot LOT less Bass and Boof. Which means fewer fires to put out. Helps.

I tend to agree that if Neshek hadn’t gotten hurt we’d be in a much better spot, and probably in first place.

Wild Bill “seemed” to overplay his hand, but we can’t be sure that the offers from the Yankees and Red Sox were solid, and even if they were, they weren’t good. Ellsbury, as I pointed out last winter, is Jason Tyner, and isn’t even a starter any more. Hughes, Kennedy, ouch. Melky Cabrera … worse than Gomez and Ellsbury, and everyone else in the majors. The thing that confuses me is why there weren’t any good offers, when the Indians managed to get more for half a season of Sabathia than we got for a full season of Santana. Is CC really more than twice as good as Johan? Or do people just not want to deal with the Twins? Is that Bill Smith’s fault?

Obviously, as soon as Guerrier came in last night the game was over. He just can’t get anyone out, and hasn’t been able to for some time. What confuses me is that Mijares was lifted from the game. He got two ground balls and a strike out. It’s not his fault that the first ground ball was an infield single, the second was a failed double play, and during the strike out Mauer bounced the pickoff throw to second off the wall in right center. Mijares looked good. You knew Guerrier was going to look bad. So … what was the reason for that decision?

This is a very disappointing part of the season. It’s tough for me to even get into the blame game right now. It’s not like Gardy could be managing the bullpen that much better. After all, everyone in it sucks.