Article: Twins 4, San Francisco 0: Superman Santana

[Tom Froemming]

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s … Ervin Santana? Santana put together a superhuman effort, pitching a Maddux (shutout with less than 100 pitches) and had a bases-clearing double in the Twins tidy 4-0 win over the Giants.Twins 4, Giants 0

Box Score

 

Win Expectancy (via Fangraphs)

Download attachment: WinEx69.png

You don’t make it through a complete game on just 91 pitches by dilly-dallying around. As one would expect, Santana was very aggressive on the first pitch.

Download attachment: Erv1stPitch.png

Image above via Brooks Baseball

 

The pitching performance was great to see, but it was a shocker to see Erv also contribute the biggest hit of the evening. Here’s a link to the highlight at MLB.com.

Download attachment: ErvHit.png

Image above via Yahoo Sports

 

I guess Erv decided he'd be aggressive on the first pitch at the plate, too. Robbie Grossman was 3-for-4 with a double. Brian Dozier went 2-for-4 with a walk and drove in a run.

 

Recent rumors have the Twins taking Brendan McKay with the No. 1 overall pick in Monday’s draft. He’s been a great two-way player at Louisville … maybe the Twins are onto something here. Santana can be the new SP/DH and Chris Gimenez can be the catcher/closer. McKay would fit right in. Plus, you don’t have to worry about how many pitchers you have in the bullpen if everybody plays both ways. Just sayin'.

 

Some big news broke at the conclusion of this one. Nik Turley, a former indy ball pitcher who has been a strikeout machine this season, will be called up to make his major league debut Sunday. The 27-year-old lefty is coming off a performance in which he struck out 15 batters, 14 on swinging strikes, in six innings.

 

Postgame With Santana

 

Postgame With Molitor

 

Today

Twins (Jose Berrios, 2.76 ERA) at San Francisco (Jeff Samardzija, 4.29 ERA), 3:05 pm CT

 

Getting the third out was seemingly impossible for Berrios at points last season, as opposing hitters had a 1.132 OPS off him with two down. This season? Totally different story. He has limited opponents to a .121/.216/.182 (.398 OPS) line. In just nine plate appearances, Eddie Rosario has homered off The Shark twice.

 

AL Central Standings

• Twins 31-26
• Cleveland 30-28 (-1.5)
• Detroit 29-31 (-2.5)
• Kansas City 26-34 (-6.5)
• Chicago 25-34 (-6.0)

Check out the minor league report from Friday night’s action.

 

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[T_J]

Are we almost finished with the Gimeniz era? Cool, he can mop up an inning. With no actual stats that I looked at, it just seems like when Castro is catching, the team pitchers are better.

[Tommygun921]

Turley up to start huh? Let's hope he can keep it going. Isn't he a 2 pitch pitcher? Seems he'd do quite well out of the bullpen considering his strikeout numbers.

[HitInAPinch]

Thanks, Tom!  I don't get to watch many games anymore.  Really appreciate your write-ups.

 

P.S.  still miss Nunez....

 

[jorgenswest]

Turley up to start huh? Let's hope he can keep it going. Isn't he a 2 pitch pitcher? Seems he'd do quite well out of the bullpen considering his strikeout numbers.

The "can't be a starter if they have two pitches" thing is a myth. Plenty of starting pitchers have been successful using two pitches 90% of the time. It is far more important to have command of both rather than have an adequate third pitch.

Edited June 10, 2017 by jorgenswest

[Tom Froemming]

 

With no actual stats that I looked at, it just seems like when Castro is catching, the team pitchers are better.

You are correct.

When Castro is catching: 3.69 ERA, .708 OPS against

When Gimenez is catching: 6.76 ERA, .886 OPS against

 

Turley up to start huh? Let's hope he can keep it going. Isn't he a 2 pitch pitcher? Seems he'd do quite well out of the bullpen considering his strikeout numbers.

He throws four pitches, but ...

 

The "can't be a starter if they have two pitches" thing is a myth. Plenty of starting pitchers have been successful using two pitches 90% of the time. It is far more important to have command of both rather than have an adequate third pitch.

... this is also true. According to Baseball Savant, Ervin threw just two changeups last night. Everything else was fastball or slider.

[jorgenswest]

From 2008-2013 Ervin lived on fastball and slider throwing that combo more than 90% of the time. Command is far more important than a third pitch and last night Ervin had tremendous command.

[Teflon]

Coming off a rare credible hitting performance by an American League pitcher is probably not the ideal time to state this, but I hate HATE inter-league rules. The American League should not be penalized in National League parks. Period. Exclamation Mark. Ampersand.

[drjim]

From 2008-2013 Ervin lived on fastball and slider throwing that combo more than 90% of the time. Command is far more important than a third pitch and last night Ervin had tremendous command.

This is true, but Erv strikes me more as the exception rather than a trend.

 

And isn't command the biggest issue with Turley?

[jimbo92107]

Zentana definitely had the same calm demeanor as he did in his shutout of Baltimore. He even seemed to bring his zen to the plate with the bases loaded. I was wondering about that as he stepped up with the bags loaded. Would the same kind of calm... Bingo!

[Jerr]

You not only give a GREAT game wrap up, but also a good  overall view!!!

I am very impressed by your wrap ups!!!! Can't tell ya how much I look forward to them! 

[Jerr]

 

Coming off a rare credible hitting performance by an American League pitcher is probably not the ideal time to state this, but I hate HATE inter-league rules. The American League should not be penalized in National League parks. Period. Exclamation Mark. Ampersand.

In National parks, American rules and in American parks National rules...if MLB has different rules in the two leagues expose those fans that never see it....OR make it all the SAME!!!!!!!

[jorgenswest]

This is true, but Erv strikes me more as the exception rather than a trend.

 

And isn't command the biggest issue with Turley?

Absolutely. It has been lack of command and not lack of third pitch that has held him back.

[Tom Froemming]

 

You not only give a GREAT game wrap up, but also a good  overall view!!!

I am very impressed by your wrap ups!!!! Can't tell ya how much I look forward to them! 

Thanks Jerr. I'll keep writing 'em if you keep reading 'em, deal?

[D.C Twins]

Nice addition to TD....Like that you keep looking for ways to make the site better!

[Blake]

 

Coming off a rare credible hitting performance by an American League pitcher is probably not the ideal time to state this, but I hate HATE inter-league rules. The American League should not be penalized in National League parks. Period. Exclamation Mark. Ampersand.

Disagree. All ballparks have their own set of ground rules. I don't see any difference between the NL having their own ground rules (no DH) and the AL having their own ground rules.

 

And I especially like it when the AL beat the NL at their own game.

[h2oface]

Span never would dive for the ball. That damn butt slide for the Santana ball..... it should have been caught. Span never had the right stuff. I am so glad we have outfielders now that will dive and slide on their belly for a catch! I don't miss Span at all....... but Aaron Hicks is another subject.

[Jerr]

 

Thanks Jerr. I'll keep writing 'em if you keep reading 'em, deal?

Done deal!!!!!!

[jimmer]

I loved Span.  Very under-rated defender for us.  Got good reads, had good speed, took good routes.  A plus defender for us and a very good leadoff guy.

 

But he certainly isn't/wasn't flashy.

Edited June 11, 2017 by jimmer