Article: Twins Keep It Simple, Defeat Red Sox 2-1

[John Bonnes]

Before tonight’s game, Twins manager Paul Molitor was asked how a lineup, that seemingly has no star players, can be this potent. “I certainly don’t want to overthink that,” he replied. And then he watched the Twins beat the Red Sox 2-1 behind another stellar performance by Mike Pelfrey.

 

OK Paul. I’m with you. Let’s not over think this. And even if I wanted to, I don’t think I could. I mean, where would I start?I suppose with this: Last night Mike Pelfrey threw seven innings of one-run ball. That’s the same Mike Pelfrey who had an ERA of 5.56 as a Minnesota Twin entering this season. The same Mike Pelfrey that made only 34 starts between his two years on the staff battling injuries. The same Mike Pelfrey who wasn’t even on the staff before Ervin Santana was suspended.

 

The same Mike Pelfrey who is 4-1 with a 2.76 ERA. I am not going to overthink this.

 

Pelfrey spent most of spring training telling people that this year was different because he felt healthy for the first time as a Minnesota Twin. Considering he was coming off Tommy John surgery in his first year with the team, and was shut down with a sore elbow in his second year, that wasn’t a terribly high bar to clear. But maybe it really is that simple. He’s healthy and back to being the guy that threw 200+ innings with about a 3.70ish ERA in 2008 and 2010.

 

And maybe the rest of the starting staff is similarly not overthinking, too. On Monday, Ricky Nolasco has his best start as a Twin. The day before, Kyle Gibson had probably his best start in the majors. The day before that, Trevor May had his longest and most efficient start in the majors.

 

Pelfrey’s start came on the right day, because the offense struggled to find the clutch hit on which they’ve relied all season. Red Sox pitcher Clay Buckholz gave up two runs in the first inning, but helped limit the damage with a double play. Then he got out of jams in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the game at a one run deficit.

 

The run that was given up by the Twins was either a direct result of the playing conditions or of the musical chairs that has been the Twins lineup, depending on your point of view. David Ortiz “doubled” on a high fly ball that was misplayed by Eduardo Escobar in left field after Escobar fell on the slick wet grass.

 

If one wanted to overthink things, one might wonder why the infielder Escobar is in left field instead of, say an outfielder, like Shane Robinson. (Eddie Rosario was playing right field allowing Torii Hunter to be the designated hitter).

 

But on the other hand, Molitor didn’t overthink the decision to go to his lights out closer Glen Perkins in the eighth inning. After Blaine Boyer got two outs but had two runners on base, Perkins came in for the four-out save. He gave up a base hit to Pablo Sandoval (who made the decision to bat left-handed against Perkins) but it was limited to an infield hit by an excellent play by Brian Dozier. Thus, the tying run was held at third base. .

 

Then Perkins and battery-mate Kurt Suzuki didn’t overthink their pitch selection to Hanley Ramirez. Perkins threw nothing but heat and the fourth pitch ended as a fly ball in Rosario’s glove to get the team out of dicey eighth inning.

 

Three outs later the Twins had their fourth straight win, a record that is nine games over .500 and within one game of the Kansas City Royals for the AL Central division lead. Could it be that the Twins really are contenders, not just for a .500 record, but maybe for a division crown?

 

Let’s just say ‘Yes.” Let’s not overthink this.

 

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[Dantes929]

Not to beat a dead horse but how many times with Gardy at the helm did an infielder playing the outfield misplay a fly ball that cost us a run and our pitcher then shut out the other team the rest of the way for the win.   I am guessing zero times.   For that matter how often did we get 5 quality starts in a row or have Pelfrey go 4-1 with a 2.76 ERA under Gardy.    I like Molitor but still think the credit thus far goes to our pitching coach..   

[jokin]

 

Not to beat a dead horse but how many times with Gardy at the helm did an infielder playing the outfield misplay a fly ball that cost us a run and our pitcher then shut out the other team the rest of the way for the win.   I am guessing zero times.   For that matter how often did we get 5 quality starts in a row or have Pelfrey go 4-1 with a 2.76 ERA under Gardy.    I like Molitor but still think the credit thus far goes to our pitching coach..   

 

Yep, the turnaround on this starting staff is mostly stunning.    In the postgame the announcers noted that the Twins SP ERA over the last 13 games is 2.76- nothing close to that kind of streak under Andy-   It seemed like, for most of the guys, the longer they pitched for him, the worse they got.    All in all, pretty incredible, particularly after what's gone down the last 4 seasons.

[SarasotaBill]

Molitor gets credit for a few of the small things that separates good managers from average managers.

- Base running

- Bringing Perkins into the 8th inning

 

It seems that he encourages the young players.

 

Neil Allen (from Sarasota) may be the pitching coach but obviously the manager has influence on pitch selection and strategy.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It has flown under the radar but Mike Pelfrey's groundball rate now sits at an impressive 56% for the season.

 

That's better than Kyle Gibson.

[Blackjack]

I think some credit also needs to go to Terry Ryan, he realized the starting pitching was a big factor in the Twins swoon and went out and signed Hughes, Nolasco, and Pelfrey.   Unfortunately only Hughes lived up to expectations before this year.   Santana probably wouldn't have been signed if Nolasco and Pelfrey had even been average.

 

Now it will be interesting to see what TR does with his 'excess' pitching.

[HitInAPinch]

 

Not to beat a dead horse but how many times with Gardy at the helm did an infielder playing the outfield misplay a fly ball that cost us a run and our pitcher then shut out the other team the rest of the way for the win.   I am guessing zero times.   For that matter how often did we get 5 quality starts in a row or have Pelfrey go 4-1 with a 2.76 ERA under Gardy.    I like Molitor but still think the credit thus far goes to our pitching coach..   

That horse is D E A D.  Smelly, even   :-)

 

The difference is simply this:  after 4 90+ loss years, Terry Ryan did something that hadn't been seen in, how many decades??  As a player, you can take only so much losing without a big change.  The cleansing of the coaching staff is a big deal to player.  It gives them hope.  They try a little harder, they concentrate a little harder.

 

Let's see how far they get with the current team.  If the Twins are still in the ballpark of .500 by the All Star break, let's see what TR will do to jackup the team for a playoff run!

[hybridbear]

When I fell asleep last night Pelfrey had thrown over 80 pitches in the 5th inning and I said to my wife that there was no way the Twins would hold on to win 2-1. I thought for sure that Boston would score more runs. I was shocked to wake up this morning & see that Pelfrey went on to pitch 2 more innings & that Perkins was brought in during the 8th.

SarasotaBill, on 27 May 2015 - 05:51 AM, said:

Molitor gets credit for a few of the small things that separates good managers from average managers.

- Bringing Perkins into the 8th inning

I was so happy to see this! I hope Molitor continues to show forward thinking like this. Gardy would most definitely have not used Perkins in the 8th & the Twins would probably have given up at least 2 runs in the 8th because of it and thus would have lost.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I was so happy to see this! I hope Molitor continues to show forward thinking like this. Gardy would most definitely have not used Perkins in the 8th & the Twins would probably have given up at least 2 runs in the 8th because of it and thus would have lost.

That's not *entirely* true. Molitor seems more willing to bring Perkins into a game for more than one inning (he's done it twice this season) but the concept wasn't completely foreign to Gardenhire, either. Perkins pitched more than one inning four times during Gardenhire's final two seasons.

 

It's a welcome move to aggressively use your closer in that manner but Gardy wasn't completely averse to doing it, either.

[John Bonnes]

When I fell asleep last night Pelfrey had thrown over 80 pitches in the 5th inning and I said to my wife that there was no way the Twins would hold on to win 2-1. I thought for sure that Boston would score more runs. I was shocked to wake up this morning & see that Pelfrey went on to pitch 2 more innings & that Perkins was brought in during the 8th.

FWIW, Pelfrey commented postgame that he was surprised he was able to go two more innings, too. He knew his pitch count was getting up there early and thought he might be destined for only a five inning start, too.

 

If I was a Red Sox fan, and knew the issues that Molitor has had with the back end of the Twins bullpen, I might be disappointed that the Sox were so aggressive in the 6th and 7th. They may have missed an opportunity there.

[John Bonnes]

That's not *entirely* true. Molitor seems more willing to bring Perkins into a game for more than one inning (he's done it twice this season) but the concept wasn't completely foreign to Gardenhire, either. Perkins pitched more than one inning four times during Gardenhire's final two seasons.

 

It's a welcome move to aggressively use your closer in that manner but Gardy wasn't completely averse to doing it, either.

Yeah, I looked it up. Last year, Gardy used Perk for a four-out save in early May. This year, Molitor used Perk for a four-out save in early May. Then Molitor did so again last night.

 

I expect Molitor will do it again and Gardy never did so again last year. But by June, the Twins had slipped just about out of contention, too, or I expect we would have seen it a few more times.

 

It'll be interesting to see the final tally on this by the end of the year. Personally, I don't expect it to happen all that often - maybe a half dozen times.

 

And it should be pointed out that for the most part, Gardy had better eighth inning setup men (or at least some with more "stuff") than Molitor has had so far this year.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

And it should be pointed out that for the most part, Gardy had better eighth inning setup men (or at least some with more "stuff") than Molitor has had so far this year.

Yep. Going with your closer for a 4+ out save is a lot less necessary when you have nearly the same quality pitcher getting guys out in the eighth inning.

[Vanimal46]

I would have never guessed in a million years that Mike F'in Pelfrey would have put together this kind of streak pitching for the Twins. Since he's been doing so well, does that mean he will remain on the team for the remainder of the season? Or do you think he will still be shopped around in July?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I would have never guessed in a million years that Mike F'in Pelfrey would have put together this kind of streak pitching for the Twins. Since he's been doing so well, does that mean he will remain on the team for the remainder of the season? Or do you think he will still be shopped around in July?

Too early to say. If Pelfrey drifts back to league average, it'll be easier to replace him and ease the rotation logjam that's coming. If he's still pitching lights-out in July and the Twins are still in the hunt, I think there's almost a zero percent chance he'll be traded.

 

Remember that Santana cannot pitch in the playoffs this season. If the Twins look like a playoff contender, that will almost certainly factor into Ryan's decision.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

I was most interested in Molitor's response to the question about the Twins' ability to score early runs. While he said these things are streaky - he does emphasize fast starts and being ready to play from the first pitch - which sounds a bit like coachspeak.  

 

I don't know if there is more to it - but the team seems to have an uncanny ability to jump on starting pitching early.  It is getting to be such a trend that you wonder if there is something in their data analytics framework that is giving them an edge.   

 

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I don't know if there is more to it - but the team seems to have an uncanny ability to jump on starting pitching early.  It is getting to be such a trend that you wonder if there is something in their data analytics framework that is giving them an edge.   

They're actually middle of the pack - 15th in baseball - in scoring first inning runs this season.

 

But they're first in second inning runs and second in third inning runs.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Yep. Going with your closer for a 4+ out save is a lot less necessary when you have nearly the same quality pitcher getting guys out in the eighth inning.

 

It's definitely not an ideal scenario for a team to have to get more than 3 outs from the closer. Obviously the can do it. We often hear about how Torre did it with Mariano, but he only did that in the playoffs (for the most part). Gardy even went 3 innings with his closer once in the playoffs. 

 

I do think the "Different Voice" thing is a big factor. 

 

Gardy was pretty set on a lineup whereas Molitor completely seems to go with his gut from day to day, altering Hunter between 2nd and 5th. Suzuki between 5th and 7th. It's all over the place. 

 

I also do think that Hunter is a big part of it too.

[drivlikejehu]

Though the Twins have continued their timely hitting, it's interesting that over the past 14 days their staff xFIP and ERA are basically the same. There also has been a huge split between starters and relievers - 

 

Rank: ERA, FIP, xFIP

 

Starters: 5th, 2nd, 6th

 

Relievers: 30th, 30th, 26th

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Though the Twins have continued their timely hitting, it's interesting that over the past 14 days their staff xFIP and ERA are basically the same. There also has been a huge split between starters and relievers - 

 

Rank: ERA, FIP, xFIP

 

Starters: 5th, 2nd, 6th

 

Relievers: 30th, 30th, 26th

Interesting. I've been meaning to look that up and never got around to it. The starters seem like they're missing a lot more bats in recent weeks, which is surely making their FIP and xFIP look better.

[Dantes929]

 

I was most interested in Molitor's response to the question about the Twins' ability to score early runs. While he said these things are streaky - he does emphasize fast starts and being ready to play from the first pitch - which sounds a bit like coachspeak.  

 

I don't know if there is more to it - but the team seems to have an uncanny ability to jump on starting pitching early.  It is getting to be such a trend that you wonder if there is something in their data analytics framework that is giving them an edge.   

It has been fun to watch but again, mainly because of the pithing.    If our 3 or 4 runs scored in the first 3 innings ended up with 4-3 losses because we didn't score after that we would be looking at scoring early from the viewpoint that we can't score middle and late.   Still gets back to pitching and timely hitting.    Gardy and Anderson had nothing to do with Pelfrey and Nolasco being hurt but does Allen get any credit for Pelfrey picking up a pitch and most of the pitchers emphasizing the changeup?    Gardy did just fine when his pitchers were throwing quality starts and his offense was hitting .290 with RISP.    He did fine to the tune of 6  division titles in 9 years.   IMO managers are mostly overrated.   I didn't give him a lot of credit when he was winning so it seems just to not blame him much for the losing seasons.   Just seems like the batting and pitching coaches and injuries have much more impact. Like I said Gardy was regularly lambasted for playing infielders in the outfield last year and he didn't have 4 guys that could play there like Molly does.   Pelfrey holds the lead  so the 2nd inning misplay is not what the focus is on.   How often did Pelfrey or any of our pitchers do that last year?   

[Jerr]

Home sick today, so I will listen to the game and be on the game thread.

Best thing is "don't over think and enjoy" as I tend to do when not at work

 

I am enjoying the Twins winning ways and will not over think it or missing work today

Should be fun at Target Field today!

 

Enjoy the run!!!! 9 games ABOVE .500????? REALLY???? Not my fever doing strange things???

[davidc3915]

The pessimist in me keeps looking at the calendar and saying "Its only May."  But then another voice says, "Yeah but it's the end of May.  Santana is suspended.  Hughes hasn't been the Hughes of 2014.  Fair share of injuries.  And they are only a game out of FIRST!  Ahead of the Tigers!"  Well said, John, let's enjoy it and not overthink/overstress about it.

[davidc3915]

BTW as an English teacher, my above post is shamefully written in terms of spacing and punctuation.......

[laloesch]

 

I would have never guessed in a million years that Mike F'in Pelfrey would have put together this kind of streak pitching for the Twins. Since he's been doing so well, does that mean he will remain on the team for the remainder of the season? Or do you think he will still be shopped around in July?

 

I don't see how you don't listen to offers.  Pelfrey is gone at seasons end unless Ryan signs him to another extension, which in that case they might as well trade Alex Meyer and Trevor May with Ervin Santana coming back.  

 

One thing is for certain if Pelfrey's run continues into July he will be the most valuable he's ever been as a Twin.  The same goes for Nolasco who has strung together several good starts now.  If I was the Twins GM i'd be looking to deal both these starters and open up rotation spots for Santana and one other starter (Meyer, Berrios or Rogers).  

[DaveTMpls]

Someone's gotta get traded when Santana returns.  All of the Twins pitchers are doing well right now.  Sell high.

[DaveTMpls]

By the time September rolls around, there will be some fine young pitchers ready to be promoted.  I'm not too worried about Santana being ineligible for playoffs.

[USAFChief]

 

BTW as an English teacher, my above post is shamefully written in terms of spacing and punctuation.......

Oh don't be so hard on yourself.  It was shamefully written in terms of spacing and punctuation for just about anybody.

 

[blairpaul715]

 

Not to beat a dead horse but how many times with Gardy at the helm did an infielder playing the outfield misplay a fly ball that cost us a run and our pitcher then shut out the other team the rest of the way for the win.   I am guessing zero times.   For that matter how often did we get 5 quality starts in a row or have Pelfrey go 4-1 with a 2.76 ERA under Gardy.    I like Molitor but still think the credit thus far goes to our pitching coach..   

Well, you better like Molly, he chose Allan , as much as I like Big Train Willis, i am happy with the Allan choice.

[Dantes929]

 

Well, you better like Molly, he chose Allan , as much as I like Big Train Willis, i am happy with the Allan choice.

I do like Molly.  Always have and I never really cared all that much for Gardy but I don't really think there is that much between the two.     After 25 games I read that someone thought the Twins were 3 or 4 games better with Molly.   Of course there is no way to tell but I am pretty sure that even if a manager made a lot of dumb move and another made a lot of smart moves it wouldn't account for that much.    Some dumb moves work out and some smart moves fail.    If you pinch hit Nick Punto for Derek Jeter in late innings in high leverage situations a 100 times Punto would get a hit 25 times as opposed to Jeter's 31 times and not all of those would mean the difference in the game.     If you teach Pelfrey a new pitch that makes him a 2.7 ERA guy rather than a 4.5 ERA game it will make more impact.   I am simplifying obviously but the concept is why I think the coach has more influence.        I am fine with Molitor even if they do lose another 70 games.