In a disappointing turn of events, the managerial decision of Minnesota Twins' skipper, Rocco Baldelli, to rely on struggling lefty reliever Steven Okert in the eighth inning drew intense backlash from fans and media alike. The Twins suffered a 7-5 loss to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, leaving Baldelli at the center of a heated debate.

Starting pitcher Bailey Ober had put together an impressive performance against the Padres, allowing just three runs on four hits in six innings. Reliever Griffin Jax seamlessly took over in the seventh inning, throwing just 10 pitches to maintain the game's 3-3 tie. With the Twins regaining a 5-3 lead in the top of the eighth, thanks to Christian Vazquez's two-run single, Baldelli's decision to trust Okert did not pay off.

Okert, who had given up a staggering 15 runs in his previous 12.1 innings, immediately struggled on the mound. He surrendered consecutive singles to Donovan Solano and Luis Arraez before serving up a three-run homer to Jurickson Profar, a standout All-Star for the Padres. In a matter of moments, the Twins' lead vanished and they found themselves trailing 6-5.

Despite the sudden collapse, Baldelli chose to leave Okert in the game to face Jake Cronenworth, resulting in yet another single. Finally, with Manny Machado at bat, Okert induced a popout to secure an out. Baldelli then made a pitching change, bringing in Ronny Henriquez from Triple-A St. Paul. However, it was too little, too late as Xander Boegarts hit a scorching 102.5 mph double, extending the Padres' lead to two and further dampening the Twins' hopes.

The question of why Baldelli opted for Okert over more reliable late-inning arms like Jorge Alcala, Cole Sands, Caleb Thielbar, or Jhoan Duran remains on everyone's mind. Surprisingly, all of them, except for Thielbar who pitched the previous night, were reportedly available. Baldelli justified his decision by citing the abundance of left-handed hitters in the Padres' lineup, believing it was an opportunity for his lefty relievers to shine.

The critical backlash towards Baldelli's decision to trust Okert, despite his inconsistent performance this season, has been relentless. Twins fans have expressed their frustration and dissatisfaction with the bullpen's continuous letdown in crucial games. Just the day before, Jorge Alcala's struggles led to a Padres comeback victory. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians secured a 9-5 win in extra innings against the New York Yankees. As a result, the Twins now find themselves tied with the Kansas City Royals, 3.5 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central.

The Twins organization is facing mounting pressure to address and rectify the bullpen issues as they fight for a playoff spot. With only a limited number of games remaining in the regular season, manager Rocco Baldelli must make careful and calculated decisions to ensure the Twins' chances of postseason success.