Article: CIN 8, MIN 2: Berrios Bombs as Twins Drop Series to Cincy

[Tom Froemming]

Jose Berrios lasted just three innings and the Twins’ bats were stymied by Reds rookie Tyler Mahle Sunday afternoon. The Cincinnati victory gave them their first series win of the season. Not only did they take two of three from the Twins, but they also outscored them 24-14.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Download attachment: Snapshot429.png Download attachment: WinEx429.png

Ric Flair says “to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man.” By that logic, we can also say “to be the worst, you’ve got to be beaten by the worst.” It’s difficult to even put into words how bad of a stretch this has been for the Twins

 

Since the Puerto Rico Series, the pitching staff has given up 83 runs in 10 games. To put that into some perspective, the defending World Series champion Houston Astros had only given up 77 runs in 28 games played coming into today.

 

The Twins are missing several key pieces, especially with Miguel Sano missing his second-straight game due to hamstring issues, but even the established regulars who are active are struggling.

 

Berrios lasted just three frames, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks without striking out a single batter. He clearly didn’t have it today, but it was still surprising to see Paul Molitor pull him after just 60 pitches. That put a huge tax on the bullpen, which was (once again) shouldered by a pitcher making his Twins debut.

 

Berrios now has three excellent starts and three stinkers. In the good games, he’s thrown 23 scoreless innings. In his other three outings, he’s given up 14 earned runs over 11 2/3 innings.

 

Taylor Rogers was the first man out of the bullpen and struggled every bit as much as Berrios had. He ended up recording just two outs and was charged with three earned runs in the process.

 

Matt Magill, making his first appearance for the Twins, threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, though he allowed both the runners he inherited from Rogers to cross the plate. Tyler Duffey threw three innings of relief to finish out the game. The only run he gave up was on his fourth homer surrendered in just three appearances so far this season.

 

The Reds built a 7-0 lead before the Twins finally got on the board. The Twins tallied eight hits, two of which came from both Eduardo Escobar and Jason Castro. Joe Mauer and Logan Morrison each reached safely twice, recording a hit and a walk.

 

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen429.png

Next Three Games

Mon vs. TOR, 7:10 pm CT

Tue vs. TOR, 7:10 pm CT

Wed vs. TOR, 12:10 pm CT

 

Last Three Games

MIN 3, CIN 1: Losing Streak Snapped as Odorizzi Delivers Quality Start

CIN 15, MIN 9: It Got Even Worse

NYY 4, MIN 3: Rodney Spoils Great Gibby Start, Twins Swept

 

More From Twins Daily

Twins Minor League Report (4/28): Dobnak Delivers, Lookouts Comeback

Twins Minor League Report (4/27): Friday Night Under The Lights

 

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[Squirrel]

All I can say is 'Ugh!' I really can't watch this anymore.

[wsnydes]

What a disheartening series after a disheartening series, which was following a disheartening series. I know that it's still April, but its got to be time to start finding guys that want to play. This team felt disinterested all weekend to me. They got down early and then just checked out. That's what is the most alarming development for me.

Edited April 29, 2018 by wsnydes

[big dog]

Hmmm...good news...hey, Castro pulled his OPS over .500!

 

OK, seriously, I got nuthin'.

 

Wait, I know!  We just went 1-9, but we're only 5 back in the Wild Card race!

 

OK, yeah, nuthin'.

[Mike Sixel]

I really thought Berrios was a number three this year for sure. But you can't have that ratio of good and bad starts. He'll get there, but I thought he was already there.

 

Wade should be on this roster, starting until Buxton returns, probably in a corner.

[gunnarthor]

Uff-da. really was hoping that we had already hit rock bottom.

[Danchat]

[tbhysgb]

Finally got back to ND, was at the saturday game. Good to see a win there, but man. This team is going into a tailspin they need to recover from quick.  Just goes to show you can't just plug in cheap veterans in the offseason and expect to improve. It's still early, but they're not playing like a good team, let alone a team.

[VATwinsFan]

28th in ERA (5.26, just ahead of Reds and ChiSox), next to last in WHIP (1.50, just ahead of ChiSox).

 

Not exactly what we were expecting.

[ashbury]

The defense does not look like a contending team's defense. Just a tick slow, too many times these past many days.

[jun]

Rogers really needs to be sent down with Duffey.

[Mike Sixel]

https://twitter.com/DanHayesMLB/status/990711554764148736

Who's the oldest guy in AAA?

[Mike Sixel]

Where is all this vaunted veteran leadership? This is why, imo, most stories about chemistry and leadership are post hoc explanations for hot streaks. Because they have even more experience than last year, and more leaders were brought in.

[Otto von Ballpark]

https://twitter.com/DanHayesMLB/status/990711554764148736

Pretty much has to be Curtiss, right? 40-man is full, and Moya, Busenitz, and Slegers are still ineligible for recall. Mejia is hurt, Enns has struggled this year, and I'm guessing they wouldn't promote Romero for pen duty yet.

[Winston Smith]

 

All I can say is 'Ugh!' I really can't watch this anymore.

It's ok the game is over.

[h2oface]

Where are the "pace" posters now? I think, without doing the math, it must be over 100 losses now.... But fear not, pace is just a fantasy, a figment of one's imagination. There is no pace.

 

Gotta take a break for a week to go up to Fresno and catch 3 just scheduled Neil Young and Crazy Horse shows at a small theater. Maybe I am the bad luck guy, and they will prosper if I don't watch.

Edited April 29, 2018 by h2oface

[launchingthrees]

Bring on Curtiss. He might walk some guys but at least he won't throw frisbees down the middle of the plate.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Where is all this vaunted veteran leadership? This is why, imo, most stories about chemistry and leadership are post hoc explanations for hot streaks. Because they have even more experience than last year, and more leaders were brought in.

People can laugh, but I'm wondering if some combination of Lynn, Morrison and Rodney has actually thrown off the chemistry. Those guys to varying degrees are not known as the Gimenez and Belisle "awesome dude" types and none of them are getting the job done on the field.

[birddog]

Went to today's game. Wind was cold and Twins were even colder. Twins showed no desire to compete in this game, much less win. At  least 3 fairly easy DP opportunities and not a one completed. Berrios made hitters feel right at home throwing what appeared to be batting practice. If Buxton and Sano are the heart and soul of this team, we could be in for a  tough time since we can't keep them healthy and on the field. 

[jud6312]

 

Pretty much has to be Curtiss, right? 40-man is full, and Moya, Busenitz, and Slegers are still ineligible for recall. Mejia is hurt, Enns has struggled this year, and I'm guessing they wouldn't promote Romero for pen duty yet.

 

That would be my hunch, too. Although, maybe they saw "enough" from Hughes to move him to the pen and they'll call Romero up to take that rotation spot.

 

Unlikely, but one can dream.

[Otto von Ballpark]

That would be my hunch, too. Although, maybe they saw "enough" from Hughes to move him to the pen and they'll call Romero up to take that rotation spot.

 

Unlikely, but one can dream.

I think they've already confirmed/announced Hughes as the starter for Wednesday this week, unfortunately.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

The Twins have been playing without the two starters at the two most important defensive positions: CF and SS. The CF'er won the award as the best defensive player in the American League last year.He is the fastest player in the major leagues. This has been a critical loss. The SS is a major league starting SS who batted 3rd a lot last season.  There was an element of comfort with Polanco. The Twins also have been playing without their best starting pitcher from last year, who last year, appeared to be a positive influence, not only on Berrios, but on the entire team.. I am afraid that I also agree with the previous comment  in this thread that the chemistry of Lynn, Rodney, Morrison may be toxic. None of those three appear to me to be team oriented players. To put it as kindly as I can, they all appear to be unique individuals. Add that to the mix. However all is not lost...yet. The leaders in the clubhouse, whomever they may be, need to step up, and if they feel they have been doing so, then try something different because this ain't working. 

[Mike Sixel]

How would anyone here know a player isn't team oriented?

[Dantes929]

 

Where are the "pace" posters now? I think, without doing the math, it must be over 100 losses now.... But fear not, pace is just a fantasy, a figment of one's imagination. There is no pace.

Gotta take a break for a week to go up to Fresno and catch 3 just scheduled Neil Young and Crazy Horse shows at a small theater. Maybe I am the bad luck guy, and they will prosper if I don't watch.   

I would occasionally post pace of play.   Mostly last year because posters were so certain the Twins would have to win X amount of games to get the 2nd wild card with X meaning the Twins had to win 70% or so of their remaining games when they had the lead and had gotten the lead by winning 53%  of their games.   This year it was because posters seemed to not appreciate a 5-4 record.   This losing streak probably won't change how people feel about .500 record or a little better but maybe it should.      Twins now have to win .55 of their games to get to last years record.   Doable, but they have to right the ship.   Maybe shows how valuable Buxton and especially Santana are to this team.  

[Han Joelo]

With each loss, Buxton is probably getting further and further inside his own head.  The only thing that can make this worse is to have him come back and go on one of his horrid stretches at the plate.

 

With the exception of Max, and Berrios half of the time, the young "core" is not looking the part.  Injuries, inconsistency, flat out suckiness.  

 

Can Molitor survive this swoon?

[Kevin]

Was at Saturday's game and one of the notables was that in the seventh inning Dozier reached on an infielder's error but he did nor run hard to first, essentially trotted there and only reached base because of the error.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

How would anyone here know a player isn't team oriented?

Would be hard to know. But they exist.

[bighat]

 

With each loss, Buxton is probably getting further and further inside his own head.  The only thing that can make this worse is to have him come back and go on one of his horrid stretches at the plate.

 

 

I have been silently worrying about this exact same thing.

 

Bux wasn't exactly on fire when he went to the DL. He's got a terrible history of poor starts, and if you factor in the Twins' early season schedule plus all this missed time...well, the writing's on the wall. Buxton is basically going to be starting over from Day 1 upon his return. The Twins are going to have to stick with him, in order to get him back up to speed.

 

This team can't afford yet another cold bat, but they absolutely have to stick with Buxton no matter what. In short: the only way this Twins team can keep their season alive is if Byron Buxton and his bad toe comes out on fire in the batters box upon his return.

Edited April 30, 2018 by bighat

[mikelink45]

I am trying to separate the good from the bad, but I am failing.  What is good?  I am so disappointed in the team this year.  All I can say is - FO - you are responsible.  You signed the FAs, you DFA'd the rookies, you signed the unknowns, you got us the Rule 5, you decided the roster.  So FO what are your stats telling you know.  What is the explanation?  I am totally beyond comprehension right now and I have followed the Twins since day one.  I know it is April, but what gives us hope for May? 

[gocgo]

Whooo baby!  We've lost 10 of our last 12.  To put it in perspective, how often do the Twins sweep another team?  Not often.  Just to offset this swoon, we would have to win 10 of 12.  In order to do that, we would have to sweep two series (3 games), and win 2 of 3 of two more series.  During the course of a baseball season, we can do that.  We don't have to go on a streak right now.  What we need to do right now, is start playing .500 baseball.  Stabilize the rocking ship, then put it into gear.  All is not lost...yet.