Article: Twins 4, White Sox 2: The Machine Set To Attack Mode

[Tom Froemming]

Jose Berrios was brilliant, Miguel Sano hammered another mammoth home run and the Twins earned a come-from-behind victory Wednesday night. After getting hit like a pitching machine last season, this year Berrios appears to be earning his nickname, La MaKina.Twins 4, White Sox 2

Box Score

 

Win Expectancy (via Fangraphs)

Download attachment: WE621.png

Machine is typically spelled maquina in Spanish, but it’s pretty easy to see where Berrios gets the K from. Jose was tremendous, striking out eight batters while giving up two runs on just four hits. He was aggressive all night, as he fell behind 1-0 on only eight batters and 2-0 once. He issued just one free pass.

 

In eight starts this season, Berrios has given up more than two runs only twice. The few times he pitched well last season, he still struggled to go deep into games, as he threw six innings just once over 14 starts. This season, he’s averaging 6.75 innings per start.

 

Here was how he attacked hitters on the first pitch tonight:

Download attachment: Berrios1stPitch.png

And how he finished them off for strike three (all of which came on swings):

Download attachment: BerriosStrike3.png

Sano hit an epic opposite field homer in the third inning. After that, the White Sox had seen about enough, and intentionally walked him in his next two at bats. Here’s more on the Sano shot:

Download attachment: SanoHR.png

The Twins left 12 men on base, but luckily it didn’t matter. Ehire Adrianza stole three bases and Brandon Kintzler picked up his 19th save. Max Kepler had two hits .. both of them off a lefty (gasp!).

 

Postgame With Molitor

Postgame With Berrios

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Pen621.png

Thursday

Twins (Nik Turley, 12.46 ERA) vs. White Sox (Jose Quintana, 5.07 ERA), 12:10 pm CT,

 

Quintana is having the worst year of his career. The lefty is averaging 3.5 BB/9, over a walk above his career average. His HR/9 is also at a career-worst 1.3. Turley gets another shot to show he belongs in the rotation. Over his first two starts, he’s given up 12 runs on 17 hits and four walks over 8.2 innings.

 

AL Central Standings

Cleveland 38-32

Twins 36-33 (-1.5)

Kansas City 35-36 (-3.5)

Detroit 32-38 (-6)

Chicago 31-39 (-7)

 

Make sure to also check out today’s Minor League Report, which has updates on the rehabbing Hector Santiago and Phil Hughes.

 

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[gil4]

Maybe it was the camera angle, but that Sano HR didn't look like much coming off the bat, but he's so strong it just carries.  It didn't look anything like the Vargas shot yesterday, but it wasn't that much shorter.  If he ever really get ahold of one...

[Bill Brown69]

we would still be waiting for to to come down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jimbo92107]

 

Maybe it was the camera angle, but that Sano HR didn't look like much coming off the bat, but he's so strong it just carries.  It didn't look anything like the Vargas shot yesterday, but it wasn't that much shorter.  If he ever really get ahold of one...

It's been said before, when Sano hits a nice fly ball, it carries about 20 yards farther than fly balls from most hitters. 

[HitInAPinch]

I think we can safely put Berrios in the "Arrived"  category, no?

 

Buxton's BA is now up to .211, a hit and a walk.  Is this another "time-off" thing, like Sano and Rosario?  I hope so.  I'd really like to see this kid succeed.

Max: 2 hits off a lefty.

If the Twins OF keeps trending like this:  UFDA!   

[Minnesotatwins005]

Berrios was particularly impressive considering one hit barely bounced over Escobar's head when he was playing in, then the next was a infield bunt single when the guy was trying to move the runner. Also, if it wasn't for Castro dropping a pretty decent hop from a throw from Grossman at home he could very easily if gave up no runs last night. Very impressive outing, which made listening to Hawk call the game on Comcast particularly delightful.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Any thought to sending Berrios out for the 9th? Only 97 pitches, after throwing 108 last time. He has averaged 102-103 so far this season. I think starting the 9th would have been reasonable usage. Although Kintzler would have had to warm anyway, and he ultimately got the job done too.

[Loosey]

So, now that it looks like Berrios is becoming what us fans hoped he would be a few years ago and Sano meeting (Exceeding) expectations I think the whole lets wait for the kids to arrive plan might be working.

 

Buxton isn't there, but he is putting the ball in play at a much higher clip than he was previously and is looking like an average hitter at the plate most of the time.  Mix in Kepler and that is 4 highly touted prospects that are becoming what most hoped they would become.  The next stage is wait for the rest of the bullpen youngsters and starters.  

 

I think the process is starting to work, it just took a little while longer than planned.

[drjim]

 

Any thought to sending Berrios out for the 9th? Only 97 pitches, after throwing 108 last time. He has averaged 102-103 so far this season. I think starting the 9th would have been reasonable usage. Although Kintzler would have had to warm anyway, and he ultimately got the job done too.

 

Seems it could have gone either way. I don't mind saving some of his bullets for later in the year and Kintzler has not been used heavily recently. And I would agree that if you are going to warm Kintzler, might as well just use him from the start.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

"The Machine"...I like it. Sincerely, Bulldog

[Tom Froemming]

 

So, now that it looks like Berrios is becoming what us fans hoped he would be a few years ago and Sano meeting (Exceeding) expectations I think the whole lets wait for the kids to arrive plan might be working.

 

Buxton isn't there, but he is putting the ball in play at a much higher clip than he was previously and is looking like an average hitter at the plate most of the time.  Mix in Kepler and that is 4 highly touted prospects that are becoming what most hoped they would become.  The next stage is wait for the rest of the bullpen youngsters and starters.  

 

I think the process is starting to work, it just took a little while longer than planned.

Well said, the hard part now is being patient just a little bit longer. That next stage you referenced, along with maybe a free agent addition or two, will be what pushes this team over the top.

 

Sano is the longest-tenured player in that group you mentioned, and even he isn't going to be a free agent until 2022. Good things ... very good things are coming for this franchise and us fans.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Any thought to sending Berrios out for the 9th? Only 97 pitches, after throwing 108 last time. He has averaged 102-103 so far this season. I think starting the 9th would have been reasonable usage. Although Kintzler would have had to warm anyway, and he ultimately got the job done too.

 

I think because he threw 108 last time it made it more likely that he wouldn't go over 100 last night. I also think that it's always better for a pitcher to start an inning. If Berrios gives up a base runner or two and then they bring in Kintzler, it's much tougher than just having him start the inning.

[PDX Twin]

 

I think because he threw 108 last time it made it more likely that he wouldn't go over 100 last night. I also think that it's always better for a pitcher to start an inning. If Berrios gives up a base runner or two and then they bring in Kintzler, it's much tougher than just having him start the inning.

 

And some have pointed out that Kitzler's strength is keeping guys off the bases, not striking out two guys with inherited runners at second and third. Wise bullpen usage IMHO.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't see any reason to have Berrios come back out. That's exactly how/when Kintzler should be used. Good decision by Molitor.

[wsnydes]

 

Any thought to sending Berrios out for the 9th? Only 97 pitches, after throwing 108 last time. He has averaged 102-103 so far this season. I think starting the 9th would have been reasonable usage. Although Kintzler would have had to warm anyway, and he ultimately got the job done too.

 

 

Seems it could have gone either way. I don't mind saving some of his bullets for later in the year and Kintzler has not been used heavily recently. And I would agree that if you are going to warm Kintzler, might as well just use him from the start.

I think Kintlzer was up before Berrios was even in the dugout.  I'm with drjim, I would have been fine either way but Kintzler hasn't been used a lot recently and if you get him up you should use him at that point.

[Tibs]

I don't want to beat a dead horse, but why is Breslow on this team? #FreeHildenberger 

[Brandon]

If only Gibson was pitching like he did 2 years ago the class of 2009 Dozier, Gibson, Sano, Kepler, and Polanco would make a good group to go against 2012 class with Buxton, Berrios, Duffey, Rogers, Chargois and more to come....

[Brandon]

And yes i am adding international signings to draft choices in above comment.

[Guest]

So, now that it looks like Berrios is becoming what us fans hoped he would be a few years ago and Sano meeting (Exceeding) expectations I think the whole lets wait for the kids to arrive plan might be working.

 

Buxton isn't there, but he is putting the ball in play at a much higher clip than he was previously and is looking like an average hitter at the plate most of the time.  Mix in Kepler and that is 4 highly touted prospects that are becoming what most hoped they would become.  The next stage is wait for the rest of the bullpen youngsters and starters.  

 

I think the process is starting to work, it just took a little while longer than planned.

This is the first year the process has been allowed to work - no Sano to RF, let Berrios pitch, don't sit Kepler on the bench for several weeks, let Buxton play, have Polanco play SS, etc. The process itself is going well; it's letting the process work that has been the trouble.

[Buddy Holly]

 

Well said, the hard part now is being patient just a little bit longer. That next stage you referenced, along with maybe a free agent addition or two, will be what pushes this team over the top.

 

Sano is the longest-tenured player in that group you mentioned, and even he isn't going to be a free agent until 2022. Good things ... very good things are coming for this franchise and us fans.

Just wanted to say thanks for your Post game articles. Good job! 

I do have one comment on the games, since when is it a hit when a outfielder gets his glove on the ball like the double given to Escobar. The official scoring on hits is terrible, if you get your glove on the ball in the infield or outfield its an error unless your kid is playing T-ball. Maybe they should have a stat for bad calls against a pitcher. 

[twinssouth]

Love watching Berrios pitch. That high inside fb he uses to set up the hitter is an absolute beauty.