Article: CWS 4, MIN 3: Twins Bullpen Blows Lead

[Tom Froemming]

The Twins held a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday, but Taylor Rogers and Trevor Hildenberger each gave up a run as the White Sox walked off the Twins. Jason Castro was forced to leave this game and underwent concussion tests.Win Expectancy (via Fangraphs)

Download attachment: WinEx823.png

Top 3 Twins per WPA: Santana .220 | Polanco .202 | Mauer .089

 

Despite the Twins hectic schedule with all the double headers, Rogers actually entered the night rested. Er, maybe make that rusty. Rogers had only pitched twice in the previous 11 days and did not look his best Wednesday. The White Sox hit two pitches that got way too much of the plate for back-to-back doubles, tying the game at 3-3. Rogers managed to complete the inning thanks to a double play.

 

Hildenberger came out for the ninth in hopes of extending the game into extra innings. He gave up a leadoff single, was given an out via a sacrifice bunt and intentionally walked the next batter to set up a double play. Instead, Tim Anderson delivered a walk-off single. Eddie Rosario appeared to have a good chance to throw out the runner at home, but he misfired. That seems like a moment Rosie lives for, so I’m sure he’s kicking himself for not being able to put that throw on target.

It was a shame too, because Ervin Santana turned in a great start. He held the White Sox to two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk over while striking out eight over 7.0 innings. Ervin gets a lot of love for those five complete games he’s pitched this year, but he’s also turned in another six starts in which he’s gone at least 7.0 innings.

 

The Twins offense really struggled against James Shields, who entered the game with a 5.72 ERA. They managed just three hits, two of them coming from Jorge Polanco, who homered for the fourth-straight game. Prior to this crazy hot streak, Polanco had just seven career home runs in 172 career games.

Max Kepler returned to the lineup after missing a couple games with an illness. He was 0-for-3 but drew a walk and stole his fourth base of the season. While the Twins got one back, they unfortunately may have lost another, as Castro was forced to leave this game with concussion-like symptoms.

 

Postgame With Molitor

Twins W-L Record

Overall: 65-61

Last 10: 6-4

Last 20: 14-6

Last 40: 20-20

Last 80: 39-41

 

AL Central Standings

Cleveland 69-56

Minnesota 65-61 (-4.5)

Kansas City 63-61 (-5.5)*

 

AL Wild Card Standings

WC1: Yankees 68-57 (+3.5)

WC2: Minnesota 65-61, Angels 65-61

Kansas City 63-61 (-1.0)*

Seattle 65-63 (-1.0)

*Wednesday 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:

Download attachment: Bullpen823.png

Looking Ahead

THU: Twins (Jose Berrios) at White Sox (Derek Holland), 7:10 pm CT

FRI: Twins (Bartolo Colon) at Toronto (J.A. Happ), 6:10 pm CT

SAT: Twins (Gee) at Toronto (TBD), 12:07 pm CT

 

Question of the Day

Which member of the Twins bullpen to you trust the most at the moment?

 

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[AlwaysinModeration]

Ah, too bad they couldn't win that one. Berrios going today, get the series win. If the Twins can win 60% of their games down the stretch (winning 3 of 5 from the White Sox on the road, for example), they will finish at 86 or 87 wins, which should be enough or close to enough for to nab the wild card.

Edited August 24, 2017 by AlwaysinModeration

[AlwaysinModeration]

No matter which way you look at it, the relief pitching was a Bummer.

[USAFChief]

"Which member of the Twins bullpen do you trust the most at the moment?"

No.

[dogsday]

Sure, the bullpen wasn't what we needed last night. But, don't overlook 3 hits and an unearned run when parceling out responsibility.

[bighat]

Rogers hasn't been too good lately. Bummer they couldn't win this one. Go get 'em J.O.

[Han Joelo]

Answer: A shark, riding an elephant, trampling and eating everything. That's who I'd trust. At least with Rogers and Holdmyburger I can say stuff happens, though. They saved me the angst of watching Belisle with a one run lead.

[DJSim22]

Belisle

[SF Twins Fan]

I had the game on but wasn't following closely.  Does anyone else know why Santana was pulled after 7 Innings when he was only at 91 pitches?

[ThejacKmp]

 

I had the game on but wasn't following closely.  Does anyone else know why Santana was pulled after 7 Innings when he was only at 91 pitches?

 

Yeah, they should ridden Santana one more inning. Especially with an offday Monday - he has an extra day of rest this next cycle.

[Shaitan]

I'm surprised Kepler only has 4 SB. I think of him as a 15 per year kind of guy, speed-wise.

 

I guess that's the game in this era.

[Cap'n Piranha]

His 7th inning was a bit shaky, Molitor may have thought he was running out of gas.

 

In the bullpen, right now, I trust no one. However, I distrust some a lot more, but am much more optimistic about potentially one day trusting some others.

[gocgo]

I think that's 5 blown saves since we traded away our all-star closer.  I know that he didn't and still doesn't have the stuff that blows people away, but he had the attitude of a closer and made them hit his pitch.  I hated that trade because I thought the August schedule was weak.  Every save that we blow, I hate the trade even more.

 

4-5 more wins would sure look good right now.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I think that's 5 blown saves since we traded away our all-star closer. I know that he didn't and still doesn't have the stuff that blows people away, but he had the attitude of a closer and made them hit his pitch. I hated that trade because I thought the August schedule was weak. Every save that we blow, I hate the trade even more.

 

4-5 more wins would sure look good right now.

Actually, I think it is only the second bullpen loss since the trade.

[Doomtints]

This loss isn't on the bullpen. You are not going to win many games with only 3 hits. Considering the pitching they were up against (who they should have been able to score on), the position players were probably a bit out of gas.

Edited August 24, 2017 by Doomtints

[alarp33]

 

I think that's 5 blown saves since we traded away our all-star closer.  I know that he didn't and still doesn't have the stuff that blows people away, but he had the attitude of a closer and made them hit his pitch.  I hated that trade because I thought the August schedule was weak.  Every save that we blow, I hate the trade even more.

 

4-5 more wins would sure look good right now.

 

Huh??? The Twins have only lost 8 games in August. 

 

3-0  Berrios

4-1  Mejia

4-1 Gibson

12-11 *blown save

8-1  Colon

9-3 Gibson

7-6 Melville

4-3  *blown in 8th - Kintzler would not have pitched in 8th, likely would not have pitched 9th either as Molitor would've held him for Save Opp

 

Losing pitcher listed next to each game.  You'll notice the Starting Pitcher lost 6 of the 8. 

Edited August 24, 2017 by alarp33

[Puckett34]

The unfortunate thing is that the Indians and Angels both lost last night.  I don't blame the bullpen as much as I do the lack of hitting and the unearned run.  3 hits and a unforced error is not going to get it done. 

 

 

Tip your cap to Big Game James and go get 'em tonight.  Let's go J.O.

[Puckett34]

 

This loss isn't on the bullpen. You are not going to win many games with only 3 hits. Considering the pitching they were up against (who they should have been able to score on), the position players were probably a bit out of gas.

Kepler especially didn't look quite right last night.   Must still be feeling that stomach virus or whatever he had.   Had too much deep dish pizza or something.

[Don Walcott]

I trust that guy they put into the game with a lead of 8 or more runs in the 8th inning or later . . .  except against the Astros.

[AlwaysinModeration]

"Which member of the Twins bullpen do you trust the most at the moment?"

Curtiss hasn't screwed up once!

[Doomtints]

 

Kepler especially didn't look quite right last night.   Must still be feeling that stomach virus or whatever he had.   Had too much deep dish pizza or something.

 

Hasn't it happened more than once in the past 10 years where some Twins players got food poisoning when playing the White Sox in Chicago?

 

The Twins need a food taster when playing this particular rival.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

Hasn't it happened more than once in the past 10 years where some Twins players got food poisoning when playing the White Sox in Chicago?

 

The Twins need a food taster when playing this particular rival.

Piranhas are not known as picky eaters.

[Doomtints]

 

Piranhas are not known as picky eaters.

 

Chicago has incredibly good food, the best of any city I have lived in or visited. Hopefully the Twins are stepping out and experiencing that and not eating the food catered for them. I think when this happened in the past it was blamed on the catered food.

Edited August 24, 2017 by Doomtints

[Mr. Brooks]

I think that's 5 blown saves since we traded away our all-star closer. I know that he didn't and still doesn't have the stuff that blows people away, but he had the attitude of a closer and made them hit his pitch. I hated that trade because I thought the August schedule was weak. Every save that we blow, I hate the trade even more.

 

4-5 more wins would sure look good right now.

There was no blown save in last nights game.

[MN_ExPat]

 

The unfortunate thing is that the Indians and Angels both lost last night.  I don't blame the bullpen as much as I do the lack of hitting and the unearned run.  3 hits and a unforced error is not going to get it done. 

 

 

Tip your cap to Big Game James and go get 'em tonight.  Let's go J.O.

Very true.   Yes, the bullpen failed to hold the lead, but then again this is baseball.  Even the Dodgers might have failed to hold a lead this season.   The bats really didn't help out a whole lot on the evening... tough to win with only 3 hits and 3 runs.

[howeda7]

I don't fully trust anyone but:

 

1. Hildenberger

2. Belisle

3. Duffey

4. Busenitz

5. Rodgers

6. Pressly

7. Curtiss (hopefully rising fast)

8. Perkins.

[howeda7]

 

Huh??? The Twins have only lost 8 games in August. 

 

3-0  Berrios

4-1  Mejia

4-1 Gibson

12-11 *blown save

8-1  Colon

9-3 Gibson

7-6 Melville

4-3  *blown in 8th - Kintzler would not have pitched in 8th, likely would not have pitched 9th either as Molitor would've held him for Save Opp

 

Losing pitcher listed next to each game.  You'll notice the Starting Pitcher lost 6 of the 8. 

It's true that Kintzler would not have pitched the 8th, but you can argue Belisle might have. In any event they shouldn't have lost a game they scored 11 in, Kintzler or no, and they shouldn't have been 3 hit by James Shields and a Bummer.

Edited August 24, 2017 by howeda7

[drjim]

There was no blown save in last nights game.

Rogers

[USAFChief]

 

Rogers

Concur.

 

Rogers (BS, 4)

 

Here's the box score:  

 

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/twins-vs-white-sox/2017/08/23/491988#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=491988

[ND-Fan]

We will never know how Kintzler would have faired but safe to say this is second time we have lost a game since the trade by failure of closing game out. So we go just by low percentage of success say 1/3 if we have one more failure we could have lost a game which I think its going to come down too a game or two. Also we had to run another minor starting pitcher out there in double header where he only made it a few innings taxing the bull pen again. If we had Garcia a veteran presence In playoff run how much would that helped.  This is sure looks like major league the movie where the FO has done little to help them win its on these players and manager and coaching staff just going out there with attitude they are going to win no matter what happens. Like I have said every so often things line up where average team can win playoff spot and get hot win it all. This may be one of those years and media, fans, and experts are left dumb founded something like that can happen.