Article: Cleveland 5, Twins 2: Encarnaci-Owned

[Tom Froemming]

Kyle Gibson delivered a quality start, but it was the bats that let the Twins down this time. Cleveland completed the four-game weekend sweep in convincing fashion, outscoring the Twins 28-8. Through the entire series, the Twins held a lead for just one half inning.Cleveland 5, Twins 2

Box Score

 

Win Expectancy (via Fangraphs)

Download attachment: WE618.png

You can’t help but wonder if this game may have ended differently if the Twins just pitched around Edwin Encarnacion. They mostly avoided challenging him this series, but apparently Gibson getting him swinging on strikes in the first inning eased their concerns.

 

Here’s what Edwin did in his second at bat:

Download attachment: EdwinHR1.png

And here’s what he did in his third:

Download attachment: EdwinHR2.png

Images via Yahoo Sports

 

Encarnacion kept inflicting damage from there, adding an RBI single in his fourth PA then an insurance run on a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

 

Outside of the two homers he gave up to Encarnacion, Gibson actually pitched pretty well. He even got himself out of trouble on a couple of occasions, surrendering just the three runs over six innings.

 

The offense was held in check until they broke through for a pair of runs in the seventh inning. Cleveland tallied double-digit hits in each game of the series, while the Twins failed to hit that mark in any of the four games. In all, Cleveland outhit the Twins 46-21 on the weekend.

 

By the end of this one it seemed the umpiring crew was ready to just call it a weekend. Eduardo Escobar was called out on a very questionable strike three for the second out of the ninth inning (see below). The final out of the game was challenged by the Twins, and it appeared Eddie Rosario beat Andrew Miller to first base, but the call was not overturned.

Download attachment: Escobar.png

The called third strike is that orange dot you see over there way, way outside the strike zone.

 

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days:

Download attachment: Pen618.png

Monday

The Twins have an off day Monday, which couldn’t have come at a better time for the bullpen. Tuesday night they’ll open a three-game series with the White Sox at Target Field.

 

AL Central Standings

Cleveland 36-31

Twins 34-33 (-2)

Kansas City 32-35 (-4)

Detroit 32-36 (-4.5)

Chicago 31-37 (-5.5)

 

Make sure to check out Jeremy’s 2017 Draft Notes and Rumors article, which has been updated to include information on all the confirmed signings.

 

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[yarnivek1972]

If the Sox sweep the Twins, the Twins would likely be 1/2 game ahead of last in the division. Sure, Santana and Berrios give them a chance. But this team couldn't hit their way out of a paper bag right now.

[theBOMisthebomb]

At this rate, our Twins might be in last place by the end of the week. It is hard to imagine a victory right now unless Berrios or Santana pitch lights out. Cleveland looks playoff ready again.

[akmanak]

One of the main reasons I was not optimistic about this team is their inability to play any team that was decent. The other shoe has finally dropped and by the end of this week they will have fallen to 4th place.

[Kwak]

What was it? 4 days ago?  You know that thread that claimed the Twins were only a #3 Sp and 2 "reasonable Rps" from a WS contender.  Sentiment changes fast at TD.

[Old Twins Cap]

Hey, the goal is to play .500 baseball.  They are still in the running.

 

But seriously folks, the Twins don't have any pitching, and their offense is dependent on young hitters showing up.  They play good defense, that's why they are better than last year.

 

The young guys need to experience failure in order to learn and grow.  The got a taste last year, but going from first to worst over the course of two weeks this season will be the kind of humbling that can truly motivate and inform.

 

Hard to take as a fan but this kind of medicine is necessary and effective.

[Broker]

I thought we would win at least one if not 2.

[Riverbrian]

Plenty of season left. Unfortunate weekend but plenty of season left.

 

I will say this tho. I've never been in favor of an automated strike zone until today. If an ump can miss a strike as badly as the one that was called on Escobar in the 9th.

 

Automate it!!!

[Winston Smith]

Plenty of season left for the pitchers to learn how to get batters out and the hitters to learn how to hit good pitching.... And for the umpires to not always be so mean to the Twins, just not fair, stomping my feet.

May take another year or two for the front office to find some decent pitching. The last GM had a real hard time with that.

It was a nice weekend any way, happy fathers day to all.

[mikelink45]

I'm not in much to take away from this four game series. I'm not worried about the hitting but the pitching gives me no hope Gibson can claim a moral victory but we need pictures who Step Up in the big games

[jimmer]

 

What was it? 4 days ago?  You know that thread that claimed the Twins were only a #3 Sp and 2 "reasonable Rps" from a WS contender.  Sentiment changes fast at TD.

not sure how many people bought into that theory.

[Mike Sixel]

Plenty of season left for the pitchers to learn how to get batters out and the hitters to learn how to hit good pitching.... And for the umpires to not always be so mean to the Twins, just not fair, stomping my feet.

May take another year or two for the front office to find some decent pitching. The last GM had a real hard time with that.

It was a nice weekend any way, happy fathers day to all.

What pitchers? Bad pickups from the DFA pile? Good luck.

 

This FO seems even more conservative. The number one pick, in the lowest level possible. A 22 year old, almost 23, going below A ball. Virtually no promotions of prospects. What pitchers are going too learn to pitch?

Edited June 19, 2017 by Mike Sixel

[Dantes929]

 

What was it? 4 days ago?  You know that thread that claimed the Twins were only a #3 Sp and 2 "reasonable Rps" from a WS contender.  Sentiment changes fast at TD.

Yeah,   Twins are only a 3 game sweep of the White Sox and  a couple losses by Cleveland before people say it again, if they actually did in the first place. .   Gibson has been pitching better and if Santana and Berrios continue pitching well we are a long way from out of it.  I don't recall anyone ever saying we were a WS contender but we are currently contending for the playoffs which is essentially the same thing I guess.    When I saw the pitching match ups I was hoping for 2 wins, expecting one and not real surprised to get none.   Our two best pitchers didn't pitch and our current 3rd best pitched fairly well.   Indians have a good team and good pitching so this isn't a shock but these Twins have been fairly resilient and I am hoping they remain so.   Look back on every team that has ever won a division title and I bet there aren't more than 10% that didn't get swept several times during the season and often by teams that were much worse.    I am not saying the Twins will win the division but this weekend isn't proof that they cannot.  Would be nice if another starter stepped up and the offense got going again.    Win tomorrow and things might turn around again.

[Dantes929]

 

What pitchers? Bad pickups from the DFA pile? Good luck.

This FO seems even more conservative. The number one pick, in the lowest level possible. A 22 year old, almost 23, going below A ball. Virtually no promotions of prospects. What pitchers are going too learn to pitch?

Gonsalves, Jorge, Burdi, Romero.    I'm with you.    Lets see what they have.