Article: TEX 9, MIN 6: Odorizzi Lays an Egg

[Tom Froemming]

Jake Odorizzi didn’t survive the second inning, as the Rangers got to him for six runs, and the Twins couldn’t recover. They did manage to make things interesting in the end, but couldn’t complete what would’ve been an epic comeback as Logan Morrison struck out with the bases loaded.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Jake Odorizzi: 21 Game Score, 1.2 IP, 6 ER, 3 K, 1 BB, 65.0% strikes

Bullpen: 7.1 IP, 3 ER, 9 K, 1 BB

Lineup: 2-for-9 w/RISP, 8 LOB

Top three per WPA: Rosario .204, Garver .057, Dozier .054

Download attachment: WinEx623.png

The Twins jumped out to an early lead thanks to an Eddie Rosario two-run homer in the first, but Texas scored nine unanswered runs. Morrison blasted a two-run homer of his own in the sixth inning, and the Twins actually had the game-tying run on base in the ninth.

 

You don’t give up six runs before you can record six outs all because of bad luck, but the way Texas got to Odorizzi does seem a little fluky. Three of their six hits came on balls that had a hit probability of less than 50 percent, per Baseball Savant. That includes their only extra-base hit, a double.

 

It’s not like Odorizzi pitched himself into trouble, as he had a very strong strike percentage of 65, but the Rangers were racking up hits on pitches outside of the zone.

Matt Magill surrendered three runs in his 3 1/3 innings of work, but the rest of the bullpen managed to stop the bleeding. Ryan Pressly, Addison Reed, Zach Duke and Trevor Hildenberger all pitched a scoreless inning.

 

Mitch Garver, Ryan LaMarre and Joe Mauer strung together consecutive one-out singles in the ninth inning and Rosario drove in a pair of runs on a double. Eduardo Escobar struck out on five pitches before Brian Dozier drew a walk to load the bases.

 

Morrison, representing the winning run, went down swinging to end it, but let’s hope that positive offensive finish carries over to tomorrow. Garver had three hits and Mauer, Rosario and LaMarre all had two hits each.

 

Jurickson Profar was hit by a pitch in three of his plate appearances today, causing Texas manager Jeff Bannister to shout across the field over to the Twins dugout. The Rangers did not retaliate, but there’s always tomorrow.

 

UPDATE

After the game, it was announced the Twins were sending a pitcher down. No, not Matt Belisle, who's been terrible, or Matt Magill, who threw 60 pitches today. It's Fernando Romero. No corresponding move has been announced at the moment.

Postgame with Molitor

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen623.png

AL Central Standings

CLE 41-33

DET 36-40 (-6)

MIN 33-40 (-7.5)

CHW 25-51 (-17)

KC 23-52 (-18.5)

 

Next Three Games

Sun vs. TEX, 1:10 pm CT: Jose Berrios vs Bartolo Colon

Mon OFF

Tue at CHW, 7:10 pm CT: TBD

Wed at CHW, 7:10 pm CT: TBD

 

Last Three Games

TEX 8, MIN 1: Circling the Drain

BOS 9, MIN 2: There Go Those Shiny Pitching Stats

MIN 4, BOS 1: For Grossman and Kepler, The Price Was Right

 

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[Vanimal46]

The Romero news sucks.

[Danchat]

Yikes... Texas is clearly hot right now (7 straight wins), but something's wrong with Odorizzi.

 

First 11 starts: 3.34 ERA

Last 5 starts: 9.90 ERA

 

Maybe a trip to the DL would help? 

 

As a professional armchair GM, here's the moves I would make:

DFA Belisle, Wilson, Grossman. DL Odorizzi if something is wrong with him.

Call up Busenitz, Rupp (added to 40 man), Cave, and Duffey (if Odor on DL). When Odorizzi's spot in the rotation comes around again, option Duffey back for Mejia/Slegers (whoever's rested at that point).

 

Other: Morrison is nearing the point where I would give up on him. He's getting DFA'd / traded for cash in a couple weeks if he isn't hitting better. Motter will be DFA'd when Polanco arrives. 

[wsnydes]

 

The Romero news sucks.

It sucks even more when you realize that Belisle still has a job.  

[Mr. Brooks]

Yikes... Texas is clearly hot right now (7 straight wins), but something's wrong with Odorizzi.

 

First 11 starts: 3.34 ERA

Last 5 starts: 9.90 ERA

 

Maybe a trip to the DL would help?

 

As a professional armchair GM, here's the moves I would make:

 

DFA Belisle, Wilson, Grossman. DL Odorizzi if something is wrong with him.

Call up Busenitz, Rupp (added to 40 man), Cave, and Duffey (if Odor on DL). When Odorizzi's spot in the rotation comes around again, option Duffey back for Mejia/Slegers (whoever's rested at that point).

 

Other: Morrison is nearing the point where I would give up on him. He's getting DFA'd / traded for cash in a couple weeks if he isn't hitting better. Motter will be DFA'd when Polanco arrives.

Odorizzi is the same pitcher, his luck through the first 11 starts was never going to last. Some attempted to point that out weeks ago.

He's still got a couple more rough ones before his ERA and FIP balance out.

He's a fringe #5, that's why he was available for Jermaine Palacios.

[mikelink45]

It makes sense to send down a starter, however, when a RP is as bad as Belisle it makes more sense to more him out and get someone else in the BP.  This is just one more of a series of very questionable moves by this FO

 

[yarnivek1972]

Does Magill have an option? It makes zero sense to keep him active when he may not be available until Wednesday.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Does Magill have an option? It makes zero sense to keep him active when he may not be available until Wednesday.

No, Magill is out of options.

[wsnydes]

It makes sense to send down a starter, however, when a RP is as bad as Belisle it makes more sense to more him out and get someone else in the BP. This is just one more of a series of very questionable moves by this FO

They were basically forced into the move because they built a bullpen without a spot or two that they could rotate a few guys between the minors and the big league club. It makes for odd moves like this, especially since they apparently have no desire to part with Belisle. So they have a 40 man roster full of pitchers, but no flexibility to move them in and out of the active roster to take advantage of it. Genius. Edited June 24, 2018 by wsnydes

[yarnivek1972]

They were basically forced into the move because they built a bullpen without a spot or two that they could rotate a few guys between the minors and the big league club. It makes for odd moves like this, especially since they apparently have no desire to part with Belisle. So they have a 40 man roster full of pitchers, but no flexibility to move them in and out of the active roster to take advantage of it. Genius.

Rogers and Hildenberger should both have options. But, of course Hildenberger might be Molitor’s # 1 option right now. Probably don’t want to lose him for 10 days. Probably don’t want Duke as the only loogy for 10 days either.

[wsnydes]

Rogers and Hildenberger should both have options. But, of course Hildenberger might be Molitor’s # 1 option right now. Probably don’t want to lose him for 10 days. Probably don’t want Duke as the only loogy for 10 days either.

I didn't think Rogers had an option left, but I could be wrong. Hildy won't be sent down, like you said. Leaving one spot to use to rotate arms, and that spot is currently occupied by someone that's actually reliable and effective. Signing Belisle only made the bullpen more rigid.

[jun]

Escobar hasn't been the same since he was hit by Porcello.

[DocBauer]

Except for Seattle and N.Y., could we just play .500 teams and above for the rest of the season?

 

Why on earth, with all the injuries and disappointing performances this season, does this team seem to play better, and even win, against quality teams and just stink against losing teams?

 

1] Just not our year.

 

2] This is funny game.

[curt1965]

It’s a funny game with unbelievable roster blunders........

[curt1965]

Back in the old days of strat-o-matic baseball, we used to have a “waste” pitcher- a guy you could bring in to just get you to the end of the game. Instead of using up most of your good pitchers like the Twins did today. So your bullpen wasn’t a mess tomorrow.

Duffy or Slegers would really help this team in that situation.

Instead we get Belisle.

[mikelink45]

I have wondered if the FO reads these posts.  They are so information oriented it would seem that they might have someone monitoring them.  If so I think they might notice that their honeymoon is over and the criticisms of their roster decisions certainly seem to be much harsher (and deserved).

[Darius]

Odiorizzi is really killing any possible trade value.

 

I don't disagree with with the Romero move. The season is over. What's the point in pushing the envelope with him? Just let him further refine things, keep his workload relatively light, and bring him back up after you deal Odiorizzi/Lynn at the deadline.

 

At this point, it would be reasonable to just leave him down until the start of next year.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Except for Seattle and N.Y., could we just play .500 teams and above for the rest of the season?

 

Why on earth, with all the injuries and disappointing performances this season, does this team seem to play better, and even win, against quality teams and just stink against losing teams?

 

1] Just not our year.

 

2] This is funny game.

I don't think it is that noteworthy. In addition to the exceptions of NYY and SEA, we also lost 2 of 3 to MIL. And as far as bad teams, we are 6-3 vs CHW and 2-1 vs BAL. Our records vs DET and LAA reflect their (and our) overall season records. Seems like a pretty normal distribution for a team with our overall record. Yeah, we are 6-3 vs CLE, but 3-1 vs STL and 2-1 vs BOS and HOU is not unusual for the tiny sample sizes and normal variation.

[D.C Twins]

Romero down is simply ridiculous. 

[gil4]

 

Motter will be DFA'd when Polanco arrives. 

At first glance I read that as Molitor will be DFA'd, and my thought was I like the idea, I don't think that's how it works, and what does Polanco have to do with it? The second glance made more sense but was a lot less interesting.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

At first glance I read that as Molitor will be DFA'd, and my thought was I like the idea

I don't know -- Molitor might be our best option at DH right now...

[gil4]

 

I don't know -- Molitor might be our best option at DH right now...

Yeah, but I'm not sure he's a good clubhouse influence. Is Hanley Ramirez still available?

 

[by jiminy]

I am okay with sending Romero down.  He wasn't winning us a pennant and his secondary pitches need work. He was holding his own which is great but I do not believe what we were seeing was his ceiling. Extending his service time is a bonus but not the real benefit here. I think he should be focusing on his weaknesses now not his strengths. You can't do that in the big leagues because you have to focus on getting guys out. I think a little more work in the minors is more likely to improve his performance next year and beyond than struggling to hold his own for the rest of this year instead of polishing his secondary pitches.