Article: MIN 4, MIL 0: Big Sexy With 7 Scoreless Lifts Twins Back to .500

[Tom Froemming]

I don’t know where Bartolo Colon found the cheat code that’s allowing him to do the things he’s doing at 44-years-old, but this sure is fun. Big Sexy followed up a complete game by throwing seven shutout innings against the Brewers Wednesday night, boosting the Twins to their fourth straight win.Win Expectancy (via Fangraphs)

Download attachment: WinEx89.png

There are very few things I feel I know for certain about baseball, and one of them is that the game is very difficult. That being the case, how in the world is it possible that Bartolo Colon can make it look this easy?

 

Big Sexy cruised through 7.0 innings of work, holding the Brewers scoreless on five hits and a walk. He even struck out five batters. Milwaukee only managed to get two runners as far as second base against Colon, one of who was after the Twins had already built a 4-0 lead.

 

You know what? Jorge Polanco and Brian Dozier have also been making baseball look really easy so far this month. Polanco got the scoring started with an RBI double in the second inning. He had a single later on in the game, and is now 12-for-24 so far in August. The second run came on yet another Dozier home run in the third inning, which was his fifth homer of the month.

The Twins tacked on two more runs in the seventh, one on a Joe Mauer reached-on- error and the other on a Miguel Sano double. Taylor Rogers pitched a perfect eighth and Matt Belisle struck out the side in the ninth. It was Belisle’s third outing in the past four games and it was not a save situation. Here’s hoping Paul Molitor doesn’t regret running him out there somewhere down the road.

 

The victory gives Minnesota four straight wins, which is their longest winning streak since May 21-24. This streak has also put the Twins back to .500.

 

Postgame With Polanco

Twins W-L Record

Overall: 56-56 (.500)

Last 10: 6-4 (.600)

Last 20: 9-11 (.450)

Last 40: 18-22 (.450)

Last 80: 38-42 (.475)

 

Defensive Lineups

Here’s a look at the starting lineups from the past seven games:

Download attachment: Lineups89.png

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen89.png

Looking Ahead

Thursday: Twins (Dietrich Enns) at Milwaukee (Zach Davies), 7:10 pm CT

The Twins acquired Enns in the trade that sent Jaime Garcia to the Yankees. He’ll be making his major league debut. The 26-year-old lefty has made just eight starts in Triple-A this season, posting a 2.38 ERA and 1.08 WHIP while averaging 8.1 K/9.

 

To make room on the 25-man roster, poor Kennys Vargas is being optioned back to Rochester yet again.

Friday: Twins (Kyle Gibson) at Detroit (Anibal Sanchez), 6:10 pm CT

Saturday: Twins (TBD) at Detroit (Jordan Zimmermann), 5:10 pm CT

 

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[Richie the Rally Goat]

Great stuff as always Tom.

 

Exciting to see Enns coming up.

[goulik]

I guess Vargas' pinch hit appearance cost him his 25 man roster spot...

 

What the heck...

[Dantes929]

    KC appeared unbeatable for a while and now has gone 3-7 .   Anyone else remember when the Twins went 21-2 and only gained 2.5 games back in 2016.  Twins have gone 6-4 in their last 10 games which isn't even that great and they gained 3 games.    You just never know.

[Suicide Skweez]

I know it's the life of a baseball player and a fringe major leaguer, but it's absolute **** what they are making Vargas go through. That's a tough life to live, and he's not able to settle down anywhere for a year and have some stability not to mention a few weeks. Guess that's what you sign up for though when you're a pro. I do get it, it just doesn't seem fair to Kennys.

 

Anyway, on a more positive note Bartolo has just been hummin along recently and I absolutely love it. It's one thing to clog up a spot, its another thing to be streaking together several quality outings in a row for a team that like it or not is in contention in mid-august (although I highly doubt they make the playoffs). Falvine took a gamble and honestly, I kinda like it. I like Big Sexy. I'll ride with the wave for now, but obviously at Colon's age there's not much room for consistent sub-par play otherwise it makes since to just have a younger guy get some development in instead. We'll see what happens going forward.

[Rhino and Compass]

Bartolo looks very much like he actually cares now. His body language (and there is a lot of source material) just made him seem very indifferent. Winning and self confidence will do that, I guess. 

[SwainZag]

I'm excited to see Enns up here.  I want him to succeed that much more being a former Yankee.  I feel sorry for Kennys, but at least he got to come say "Hey" to all his buddies for the day.

[mickeymental]

because kennys would rather just stay at aaa?

[jimbo92107]

I'm calling it now: Jorge Polanco's slump is so over. The guy is raking and having fun again. Looks like the ballplayer we thought he was this spring. Good to see.

[yarnivek1972]

Twins still don't need 8 relievers. Not sure I see the logic of pushing everyone else back a day either. Why not just have Enns start Sunday? Instead of messing with the rhythm of one pitcher, the choice is to mess with 3?

[Tommygun921]

4 run lead going into the 8th and Molitor uses Rogers and then Belisle instead of using Busenitz that hasn't pitched in ages. I don't get it. Molitor should know by now that Belisle isn't as successful on back to back days. Why is him when he isn't needed?

[wabene]

I am sure Belisle is enjoying this run. Busenitz on the other hand!? He even got teased with a little warm up last night. Molitor has used Hildy more which is good but this was a perfectly set up opportunity to burn some pitches and get another look at what you got with Busenitz. Maybe the FO feels the same and this could be a little nail in Molly's coffin. Excited to see what we have in Enns

[ThejacKmp]

 

Twins still don't need 8 relievers. Not sure I see the logic of pushing everyone else back a day either. Why not just have Enns start Sunday? Instead of messing with the rhythm of one pitcher, the choice is to mess with 3?

It's late in the season, getting everyone an extra day of rest is not a bad idea. I hope they do it more often.

[carlito_b]

Watching giminez hit really makes me wish Garver called up.. It's beyond ridiculous at this point..

[ashbury]

Polanco got the scoring started with an RBI double in the second inning. He had a single later on in the game, and is now 12-for-24 so far in August.

Small Sample Size. I predict he doesn't maintain this pace the rest of the way. (The .545 BABIP also looks unsustainable.)

 

[Dantes929]

 

Small Sample Size. I predict he doesn't maintain this pace the rest of the way. (The .545 BABIP also looks unsustainable.)

 

I predict he will improve on this pace also.   Is that what you meant?

[mikelink45]

I do not like the way we handle young players and I have seen so many of our best stumble along the way and wonder who is there to guide them.  At the same time Vargas is the sacrificial lamb to a bullpen full of pitchers we do not use.  Vargas could have stayed up and Enns could have come up for a turn this weekend.  BP pitchers that we are not using are eating up bench spots we could use.  Vargas has to have his confidence shaken by frustration.  Granite did well and then went down and had a little funk - who would not feel bad with a demotion.  Our minor league pitchers keep watching a revolving door of pitchers since opening day and yet the only ones we tried were Jorge and Turley.   I hope Enns does well but I have no attachment to him like I do the names that Seth writes about each day. 

[hugelycat]

Poor Vargas.

 

[Blackjack]

 

Poor Vargas.

 

Thats what happens when you're the 25th player on the roster.  Do a little better the next time you're up so that you're the 24th or 23rd man. Not feeling sorry for him.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Poor Vargas.

 

 

My favorite part of that is Buesnitz sitting there watching....

[DocBauer]

A fun game and great do win. I really enjoy watching Colon and all the fun he has out there. I've become a fan. And I'm sure Molitor really wanted to secure the win, but Belisle for the 9th with a 4 run lead and an 8 man bullpen that is rested just doesn't make sense to me.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

A fun game and great do win. I really enjoy watching Colon and all the fun he has out there. I've become a fan. And I'm sure Molitor really wanted to secure the win, but Belisle for the 9th with a 4 run lead and an 8 man bullpen that is rested just doesn't make sense to me.

I suspect Molitor wants to ease Belisle into the closer's role as much as possible.

[jmlease1]

 

I suspect Molitor wants to ease Belisle into the closer's role as much as possible.

 

I think they are auditioning Belisle for a possible Aug 31 waiver deal. a crap team isn't going to make a claim on him, so they might be able to sneak one more deal of a fungible reliever through...assuming that we don't keep winning! I mean, if Big Sexy keeps chucking it like this, the rotation starts working consistently into the 6th-7th innings, and the offense doesn't vanish into another collective funk...

[Vanimal46]

 

Poor Vargas.

 

 

At least the operations team is VERY familiar booking flights for Vargas! They don't even have to ask for his driver's license number anymore. 

[Blake]

 

At least the operations team is VERY familiar booking flights for Vargas! They don't even have to ask for his driver's license number anymore. 

If Vargas was getting the job done, Grossman would have been gone a while ago.

 

I still believe the FO was waiting for someone to step up and show they were ready. Hasn't happened, so we still have Mr. Grossman.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I criticized the Vargas call up but now it looks like the FO was smarter than I am (no surprise there) and did a good thing. He can't come back for 10 days and I'm glad they didn't burn Garver for one day on the bench. Hopefully Garver can be the next man up.

 

Let's be honest. Vargas is the shuttle guy because the FO doesn't see a long term future for him with the team. He's got enough MLB experience to do the shuttle and he isn't a Twin next year unless he wants to come back on a split contract of some kind and spend most of the year in AAA. You hate to see  anybody jerked back and forth but he's the right guy for this job.  

 

Or, they could have decreased the RP list by 1, and still called up Garver and Vargas......what they did was not the only option.

[lukeduke1980]

So is it time to extend Bartolo?

[Dave The Dastardly]

Anybody know what the elderly Colon is drinking? Find out so I can buy a case.

[IndyTwinsFan]

 

Twins still don't need 8 relievers. Not sure I see the logic of pushing everyone else back a day either. Why not just have Enns start Sunday? Instead of messing with the rhythm of one pitcher, the choice is to mess with 3?

I heard that today was Enns' scheduled start date for Rochester.   I suspect that was a big factor in the decision.

[jimbo92107]

 

Small Sample Size. I predict he doesn't maintain this pace the rest of the way. (The .545 BABIP also looks unsustainable.)

 

Polanco has been choosing better pitches and driving the ball. His process at the plate looks good, and he's keeping the bat head cocked longer, so he's got good outward snap. Doesn't mean he'll go on an incredible tear for a month, but he's got his confidence back. The slump is over.