Article: CLE 8, MIN 1: Salazar Dominates, Cleveland Hits 5 HRs

[Tom Froemming]

The Twins got manhandled Tuesday night in an impressive display of power, both on the mound and at the plate, by Cleveland. Danny Salazar was electric on the mound and Carlos Santana hit two of the team’s five home runs. On the bright side, Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano made a couple of the greatest defensive plays of their careers.Win Expectancy (via Fangraphs)

Download attachment: WWWinEx815.png

Bartolo Colon limited Cleveland to three runs over 5.0 innings, but was incredibly lucky to do so. All three runs were scored on solo homers, but Colon also walked four batters and gave up seven hits. In the first inning, Cleveland got a man on second with no outs and could not score. In the second, they loaded the bases with nobody out and could not score. They had runners at the corners and one out in the third, but Bartolo induced an inning-ending double play.

 

Their luck turned in the seventh inning. Alan Busenitz retired the first two batters of the inning, completing 1.2 frames of scoreless work, as Buddy Boshers was brought in to face lefty Jay Bruce. Buddy got up 0-2, ever so close to closing out the inning, but ended up walking Bruce. Carlos Santana hit a swinging bunt single before Austin Jackson blasted a home run to put Cleveland up 6-1.

 

Since returning from the DL in last July, Salazar has been one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball. He struck out 10 Twins over 7.0 innings, allowing just three hits and he didn’t walk anybody. Not much anyone could’ve done to overcome that kind of a pitching performance.

 

Eddie Rosario and Max Kepler each had a double and Buxton had an RBI single. Those were the Twins only hits of the game. They drew no walks. Not much offense.

 

There were, however, a couple of the best defensive plays the Twins have made all season Tuesday night. Buxton made the first Torii Hunter-esque theft of his career, robbing Edwin Encarnacion of a homer.

And Miguel Sano made probably the finest play of his career, featuring a loooong throw across the diamond.

Postgame With Molitor

Twins W-L Record

Overall: 59-58 (.504)

Last 10: 7-3 (.700)

Last 20: 10-10 (.500)

Last 40: 19-21 (.475)

Last 80: 39-41 (.488)

 

AL Central Standings

Cleveland 65-52

Kansas City 60-58 (-5.5)*

Minnesota 59-58 (-6.0)

 

AL Wild Card Standings

WC1: Yankees 63-55

WC2: Kansas City 60-58*, Angels 61-59

Minnesota 59-58 (-0.5)

Tampa Bay 60-61 (-1.5)

Baltimore 59-60 (-1.5)*

Seattle 59-61 (-2)*

*Tuesday game still in progress

 

Bullpen Usage

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

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Looking Ahead

WED: Twins (Kyle Gibson) vs. Cleveland (Carlos Carrasco), 7:10 pm CT

THU: Twins (Jose Berrios) vs. Cleveland (Mike Clevinger), 12:10 pm CT

FRI: Twins (TBD) vs. Arizona (TBD), 7:10 pm CT

 

Question of the Day

Glen Perkins has joined the Twins, and it appears he’ll be activated off the DL sometime soon. Who would you remove from the bullpen to make room for Perkins?

 

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[Oldgoat_MN]

I would think we would send Enns to AAA.

Really cannot imagine why not.

[Rosterman]

Gee or Enns. Whichever isn't up for the starter job, although I would bring upSlegers or Melville in the meantime. 

 

Boshers could be gone. Pressly is on thin ice, but I still think he has potential.

 

Thank goodness Santiago is not coming back soon, although I was hoping he would pitch a game or two, be put on waivers, and grabbed.

 

[bighat]

Boshers blew the game last night, maybe Perkins' farewell parade can come at his expense.

 

This game was an eye opener. Reminds one of when the Twins played Houston and the LA Dodgers - the Twins are not in the Indians' class and unfortunately it looked like both teams knew it last night.

 

Amazing play by Sano!  That was seriously Machado-esque, I cannot say enough about this kid's play at 3b this year. Buxton's gem and early RBI, I think we can expect a torrid September from him once again.

[mikelink45]

The preseason analysts who pointed out the amount of mediocre teams that a lucky or improved team can beat up on was right, the discrepancy is really apparent We are 5 - 19 versus the Red Sox, Indians, and Astros.  http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings/grid and 5 - 22 when we add in the dodgers which means we are 54 - 36 versus the rest.  Maybe that makes us a wild card team, but no matter, it is definitely a not ready for prime time team - just a fun one. 

[wsnydes]

 

The preseason analysts who pointed out the amount of mediocre teams that a lucky or improved team can beat up on was right, the discrepancy is really apparent We are 5 - 19 versus the Red Sox, Indians, and Astros.  http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings/grid and 5 - 22 when we add in the dodgers which means we are 54 - 36 versus the rest.  Maybe that makes us a wild card team, but no matter, it is definitely a not ready for prime time team - just a fun one. 

This is why I really don't like the second wild card spot.  I think it brings mediocrity into the playoff discussion and I don't like that.  I get why they added it, but I just don't like it at all.  I really liked how tough it was to get into the playoffs in relation to the other major sports where half the league gets in.  I realize that it's just one more spot, but it still waters the playoffs down in my opinion.

[Craig Arko]

I have a hard time saying Boshers blew the game. Not to say he did his job, but getting only 3 hits blew this game.

[Darius]

I just want to stick a fork in this team. I'm tired of the whole, "we're within shouting distance so we have a chance" bit.

 

Every time it starts to look like they may actually have a chance, and play a rap contender, they lay a big embarrassing egg, and get slammed back into obscurity with extreme prejudice.

 

If they can salvage a series win, you never know. But, I just don't see that happening. They'll be lucky to not get swept off the earth by 5+ runs a game against the Indians. They're just in another galaxy.

[USAFChief]

This is why I really don't like the second wild card spot.  I think it brings mediocrity into the playoff discussion and I don't like that.  I get why they added it, but I just don't like it at all.  I really liked how tough it was to get into the playoffs in relation to the other major sports where half the league gets in.  I realize that it's just one more spot, but it still waters the playoffs down in my opinion.

The second WC really changes nothing, except making it harder for WC teams. The two WCs now have to play an elimination game just to get to where the one WC used to get automatically. And now that team might not have its best starter.

[wsnydes]

 

The second WC really changes nothing, except making it harder for WC teams. The two WCs now have to play an elimination game just to get to where the one WC used to get automatically. And now that team might not have its best starter.

I get what you're saying, but I don't agree that it doesn't change anything.  There are other ways to make it harder for a WC team to succeed without adding another team to the mix with silly elimination games.  I don't mean to hijack this thread, so I'm going to leave it at that.

Edited August 16, 2017 by wsnydes

[yarnivek1972]

I have a hard time saying Boshers blew the game. Not to say he did his job, but getting only 3 hits blew this game.

The runs he allowed, more accurately the runs Molitor allowed him to allow, certainly made a comeback far less likely. But, I agree, you aren't going to win many games scoring one run.

[terrydactyls]

The runs he allowed, more accurately the runs Molitor allowed him to allow, certainly made a comeback far less likely. But, I agree, you aren't going to win many games scoring one run.

 

Did Molitor actually give Boshers permission to give up hits and runs? I guess I missed that. I understand that you might not like Molitor as a manager but you can't say "Molitor allowed him to allow". Just the grammar alone is enough to make me cringe.

[Tom Froemming]

 

I would think we would send Enns to AAA.

Really cannot imagine why not.

Enns is scheduled to start for the Twins on Saturday. Plans may change between then and now, but even if that is the move, there would need to be a second transaction to get a fifth starter up (unless Gee gets plugged into that spot). 

 

It'll be interesting to see what happens if tonight's game gets rained out. Since Cleveland doesn't come back here, you'd think they'd try to play a doubleheader tomorrow, but there's more rain in the forecast. Also, the Twins play a doubleheader at Chicago Monday, so that would mean they'd play seven games in five days.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Did Molitor actually give Boshers permission to give up hits and runs? I guess I missed that. I understand that you might not like Molitor as a manager but you can't say "Molitor allowed him to allow". Just the grammar alone is enough to make me cringe.

He left Boshers in to face a good RHB, in a close game, after he failed to retire either of 2 LHB and we had an entire rested pen at our disposal after an off day.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Enns is scheduled to start for the Twins on Saturday.

That's just extrapolating based on the current roster, right?  Doesn't look like the Twins have announced a starter for Saturday yet.

[Vanimal46]

Cleveland is 8-0 at Target Field this season.... Is it possible to move tonight's game to a neutral site, like Manitoba? 

[Tom Froemming]

 

That's just extrapolating based on the current roster, right?  Doesn't look like the Twins have announced a starter for Saturday yet.

There is nothing officially listed, correct, but I heard them mention Enns starting Saturday on the radio last night, and I believe Molitor reiterated it in his postgame press conference. But obviously a lot can happen between now and Saturday.

[wsnydes]

 

Cleveland is 8-0 at Target Field this season.... Is it possible to move tonight's game to a neutral site, like Manitoba? 

I think I'd rather move it to next season...

[Mr. Brooks]

Did Molitor actually give Boshers permission to give up hits and runs? I guess I missed that. I understand that you might not like Molitor as a manager but you can't say "Molitor allowed him to allow". Just the grammar alone is enough to make me cringe.

Boshers has a career OPS against, 200 points higher vs RHH than LHH... and a HR rate 6x higher.

Leaving him in against a RHH there, with a rested pen, was a bad call, IMO.

[bluechipper]

 

I just want to stick a fork in this team. I'm tired of the whole, "we're within shouting distance so we have a chance" bit.

Every time it starts to look like they may actually have a chance, and play a rap contender, they lay a big embarrassing egg, and get slammed back into obscurity with extreme prejudice.

If they can salvage a series win, you never know. But, I just don't see that happening. They'll be lucky to not get swept off the earth by 5+ runs a game against the Indians. They're just in another galaxy.

The Twins are right there with all of the other mediocre teams in the AL. I'll take competing and being frustrated by these awful losses over previous years not caring about the outcome, and just caring if guys with potential played well.

[Doomtints]

 

Boshers has a career OPS against, 200 points higher vs RHH than LHH... and a HR rate 6x higher.
Leaving him in against a RHH there, with a rested pen, was a bad call, IMO.

 

That's Molitor. He doesn't memorize matchups as he is supposed to, and this is one of the easiest ones to memorize.

[USAFChief]

 

The Twins are right there with all of the other mediocre teams in the AL. I'll take competing and being frustrated by these awful losses over previous years not caring about the outcome, and just caring if guys with potential played well.

concur.

 

concurconcurconcurconcurconcurconcurconcur.

 

 

[Vanimal46]

 

The Twins are right there with all of the other mediocre teams in the AL. I'll take competing and being frustrated by these awful losses over previous years not caring about the outcome, and just caring if guys with potential played well.

 

No doubt. How quickly we forget how terrible last year was when games literally did not matter by early May.

[Dantes929]

 

The preseason analysts who pointed out the amount of mediocre teams that a lucky or improved team can beat up on was right, the discrepancy is really apparent We are 5 - 19 versus the Red Sox, Indians, and Astros.  http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings/grid and 5 - 22 when we add in the dodgers which means we are 54 - 36 versus the rest.  Maybe that makes us a wild card team, but no matter, it is definitely a not ready for prime time team - just a fun one. 

2-5 against the Red Sox,  5-9 against Cleveland, 1-5 against the Astros makes a total of 8-19 against those teams.    I don't like the odds of playing them in a playoff series but I like the odds a lot better than not making the playoffs.   A good game by Berrios and a good game by Santana or Mejia is all it takes to have a chance.   If we happen to face Cleveland they would have home field advantage where we are 5-1.

[Dantes929]

 

The preseason analysts who pointed out the amount of mediocre teams that a lucky or improved team can beat up on was right, the discrepancy is really apparent We are 5 - 19 versus the Red Sox, Indians, and Astros.  http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings/grid and 5 - 22 when we add in the dodgers which means we are 54 - 36 versus the rest.  Maybe that makes us a wild card team, but no matter, it is definitely a not ready for prime time team - just a fun one. 

87 Twins had 85 wins vs Tigers 98 wins and Blue Jays 96 wins and were   7-17 against them during the season.    Didn't seem to bother them much.   Of course there is anecdotal evidence the other way as well and the better team usually wins but the underdog winning is more fun.    In other words, worse odds but better payoff.

[djvang]

I was at the game and called Jackson's HR. Boshers should have been yanked after he walked the lefty he was brought in to face.

[rghrbek]

 

87 Twins had 85 wins vs Tigers 98 wins and Blue Jays 96 wins and were   7-17 against them during the season.    Didn't seem to bother them much.   Of course there is anecdotal evidence the other way as well and the better team usually wins but the underdog winning is more fun.    In other words, worse odds but better payoff.

 

You are comparing the 1987 Twins and their one playoff series win (to get to the World Series), to what MLB teams have to do 30 years later?  A WC team has to win 3 series just to get to the World Series.  Just not the same and the odds of a team, barely .500 or better beating teams like that goes down every series they play.

 

IMO

[Doomtints]

 

You are comparing the 1987 Twins and their one playoff series win (to get to the World Series), to what MLB teams have to do 30 years later?  A WC team has to win 3 series just to get to the World Series.  Just not the same and the odds of a team, barely .500 or better beating teams like that goes down every series they play.

 

IMO

 

There have already been several bottom seeded teams who have won the WS. MLB has not been like the NFL where it took years for the wild card teams to be relevant in the playoffs.

[rghrbek]

 

There have already been several bottom seeded teams who have won the WS. MLB has not been like the NFL where it took years for the wild card teams to be relevant in the playoffs.

Being a bottom seed is since the 2nd wild card format?  With 85 wins or less?  I'd love to know who?

 

 

[drjim]

 

Being a bottom seed is since the 2nd wild card format?  With 85 wins or less?  I'd love to know who?

 The Giants in 2014 were a second wild card team that won the Series (they did win 88 regular season games). 

 

The second wild card team has won 7 of 10 games, with 3 of 7 winning next series, 1 of 3 winning LCS, 1 of 1 winning World Series.

 

Almost exactly what you'd expect from random chance.