Twins: Why Rocco Baldelli is squarely to blame for extra-innings loss to Athletics

Minnesota Twins fans are furious with skipper Rocco Baldelli after a questionable decision really cost the team in Wednesday’s loss. 

What was Rocco Baldelli thinking here? Minnesota Twins fans across the country are asking themselves that question out loud right there after the club dropped a heartbreaker on Wednesday to the Oakland Athletics.

In the 10th inning, Baldelli made the move to pinch run for veteran third baseman Josh Donaldson. Baldelli had a win on his mind in extra innings, but the decision to take out Donaldson from the game proved to blow up in his face.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli made an awful decision against the Athletics

We get it, Baldelli was trying to put his team in a position to win things in the top of the 10th against Oakland. Donaldson isn’t known for his speed, so on one side of things, sure, put someone faster on the base paths.

However, Donaldson is one of your better infielders. He’s quite reliable in the field. Luis Arraez filled in at third for Donaldson and his costly error proved to be the difference in Oakland walking things off. With the loss, the Twins are now 6-11 on the year, while the A’s are 12-7.

Baldelli is going to have countless fans to answer to. A quick look on Twitter has the Minnesota supporters bashing him left and right. With things tight and his club battling, Baldelli simply has to be smarter when leading this team.