Article: CHC 14, MIN 9: It’s Not the Heat, it’s ... Actually, It Is the Heat This Time

[Tom Froemming]

The heat was a real issue today at Wrigley Field. Eddie Rosario, Albert Almora, Bobby Wilson and Max Kepler all had to exit this game due to heat-related issues. By the time this one was over, the Twins had an outfield of Logan Morrison in left, Willians Astudillo in center and Robbie Grossman in right. Jake Odorizzi pinch hit for Matt Belisle and recorded the final out of the game.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Adalberto Mejia: 35 Game Score, 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 1 K, 3 BB, 60.8% strikes

Bullpen: 4.0 IP, 10 ER, 4 K, 4 BB

Lineup: 3-for-10 w/RISP, 7 LOB

WPA of .1 or higher: Rosario .266, Mauer .174, Adrianza .130, Astudillo .128, Wilson .101

WPA of -.1 or lower: Hildenberger -.401, Duke -.282, Mejia -.240, Reed -.223

Download attachment: WinEx630.png

The Twins held a 7-4 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, but the bullpen collapsed. It wasn’t like they get bombarded by big hits, the Twins relievers just couldn’t get anybody out.

 

Addison Reed and Trevor Hildenberger combined to give up nine earned runs over a single inning of work. The Cubs had 20 hits and scored 14 runs, but they only had three extra-base hits, all of them doubles.

 

Before he exited the game, Rosario hit a two-out two-run homer, his 18th of the season. Joe Mauer had another nice day at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a bases-clearing double. Ehire Adrianza and Robbie Grossman also had two hits a piece. Rosario was replaced by Astudillo, who got a base hit on the first pitch he ever saw as a major leaguer.

 

Bobby Wilson spent nearly a half hour behind the plate during the bottom of the fifth and then had to leadoff the top of the sixth inning. He had to take a couple breathers during his plate appearance, but wound up drawing a seven-pitch walk.

 

It seemed like at any moment we were going to find out what Wilson ate for lunch, but he advanced to second on a Grossman single, went to third on a sac fly and then scored on another sac fly. He was replaced by Mitch Garver the next half inning. I’ve never seen a more gutsy performance of a guy managing to keep everything inside his guts.

 

OK, but seriously, it was crazy hot. Heat exhaustion is no joke and I hope everybody involved in this game comes out of it feeling alright. Home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt called a three hour and 44 minute game. He had a cold towel around his neck. Not sure if I’ve ever seen that before. Maybe they should have allowed the players to do the same.

 

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen630.png

AL Central Standings

CLE 44-36

MIN 35-44 (-8.5)

DET 36-48 (-10)

CHW 28-53 (-16.5)

KC 25-56 (-19.5)

 

Next Three Games

Sun at CHC, 1:20 pm CT: Lance Lynn vs. Jon Lester

Mon at MIL, 7:10 pm CT: TBD

Tue at MIL, 3:10 pm CT: TBD

 

Last Three Games

CHC 10, MIN 6: Hey, Remember Joe Mauer?

MIN 2, CHW 1: Walking Away With a Win

CHW 6, MIN 1: Gibby Gets Got

 

Click here to view the article

[TheLeviathan]

That jas to be one of the worst defensive outfields ever attempted.

[Riverbrian]

I've never seen anything like that.

 

The umpires looked exhausted. The fans looked exhausted.  

 

It was like watching a debate after all the debaters have used up all of the words they know and are left with blowing raspberries at each other. 

[Platoon]

The most impressive performance was by Wendelstedt. Catchers get to sit half the game, and get their gear off. Plate umpires do not. And Hunter doesn't look like he is a full time member of Anytime Fitness. About ten years ago I did a 7 inning game behind the plate in a closed in park with humidity in the 80% range. I got to the point of feeling cold, and Corey Stringer kept flashing through my mind. It's truly a scary feeling, and I was amazed Wendelstedt made it through a game that was excruciating on a nice day. Wilson should have never been allowed to run after he got to first. It was all he could do to get air. And then Molitor jerks him the next inning anyway. (Maybe Molly had him confused with a RP?)

[Vanimal46]

Morrison in left, Austi-never gonna learn to spell his name in CF, and Grossman in RF? That's not a typo? Wow.

[Jacks02]

Did any Cubs players leave the game, or did the heat only affect the Twins?

[S.]

 

Did any Cubs players leave the game, or did the heat only affect the Twins?

Blanking on the name, but one Cubs player left with cramps, which likely was a result of dehydration from the heat.

[Darius]

This is starting to get comical.

 

Another #1 draft pick will be nice, though.

[jimbo92107]

I would exercise some options to bring half a dozen fresh arms up from AA and AAA. 

[slash129]

Cubs Strength & Conditioning staff > Twins Strength and Conditioning staff

[Number3]

I don't know about the heat but as they say everyone plays the same course. What's amazing is that with no DH the offense gets "hot", Mauer has 8 rbi's in 2 games and with no DH on the other team the pitching goes south. Where are the stat heads now? BTW, Twins will win tomorrow because they always do when embarrassment is on the line. I do have sympathy for the umpires. Just win tomorrow, make it to the break with .500 in range, fire Molitor and go from there.

[BJames]

Living in Florida, this is laughable.  Anyone want to join us for the the race in Daytona on the 7th.

[Rosterman]

Hildenberger threw only 24 pitches to nine batters, eight of whom got on base? At what point, getting only one out, does a manager say enough is enough?

[strumdatjaguar]

It's not the heat, it's the HUMILITY - and the Twins got another dose of humility!

[Riverbrian]

 

Living in Florida, this is laughable.  Anyone want to join us for the the race in Daytona on the 7th.

 

Not after that comment. 

[bighat]

Thanks again Tom for watching these games and giving us the rundown! Gotta be a tough job right about now, respect to ya.

[Vanimal46]

Living in Florida, this is laughable. Anyone want to join us for the the race in Daytona on the 7th.

You see that kind of heat on most days that end in Y in Austin, TX too.

[mikelink45]

Reporting on these games reaches a point where the verbs and nouns are mixed with the adverbs and adjectives and if anything comes out coherent it is a great job.  Great job Tom.

 

Beyond that I am speechless. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Hildenberger threw only 24 pitches to nine batters, eight of whom got on base? At what point, getting only one out, does a manager say enough is enough?

Two of them were intentional walks, which now means zero pitches. So 24 pitches to 7 batters.

 

I didn't see the inning, but I agree -- he let 3 runs score in a tie game, so we're now trailing by 3, and have nobody out with runners on second and third -- how do you order an intentional walk there, for another free baserunner? And leave the same pitcher in? And after a sac fly and another walk (non-intentional), still leave him in? It was like we gave up by leaving him in, but simultaneously tried to over-manage to keep the deficit at 3...

[Tom Froemming]

 

What's amazing is that with no DH the offense gets "hot", Mauer has 8 rbi's in 2 games and with no DH on the other team the pitching goes south. Where are the stat heads now? 

Huh?

 

Thanks again Tom for watching these games and giving us the rundown! Gotta be a tough job right about now, respect to ya.

This game was nuts. It's never fun to watch the Twins give up 14 runs, but there was so much drama going on between all the guys having to exit and Willians Astudillo making his MLB debut. There were some good defensive plays too, I failed to mention that Jake Cave made a coupe web gems, so I enjoyed following this one a lot more than some of the other snoozefests from this season.

 

Reporting on these games reaches a point where the verbs and nouns are mixed with the adverbs and adjectives and if anything comes out coherent it is a great job.  Great job Tom.

 

Beyond that I am speechless. 

Thanks for reading Mike. It was a crazy game in what's already been a crazy series. I can't imagine what's gonna go down tomorrow.

 

Speaking of which, I'm going to be spending the next few days camping with my family, but these game recaps will go on. You'll hear from me again ... well, in tonight's minors report, but then after that not until the 4th. 

[Riverbrian]

 

Two of them were intentional walks, which now means zero pitches. So 24 pitches to 7 batters.

I didn't see the inning, but I agree -- he let 3 runs score in a tie game, so we're now trailing by 3, and have nobody out with runners on second and third -- how do you order an intentional walk there, for another free baserunner? And leave the same pitcher in? And after a sac fly and another walk (non-intentional), still leave him in? It was like we gave up by leaving him in, but simultaneously tried to over-manage to keep the deficit at 3...

 

I watched it. 

 

The leadoff walk on 4 pitches was disappointing and the Happ double in the next AB was laced pretty good.

 

After that... the Cubs lightly found some green. 

 

The Baez double should have been an error. Adrianaza was to heat exhausted (I assume) to move his feet about a foot to his left. I'm giving Adrianaza a break because of the heat... If it was a normal 80 degree day... I'd be shouting for his benching. It should have been an 6-2-3 DP. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Stay stretched out, be in shape, and drink plenty of water the night before, even if it means a couple extra trips to the john during the night. 

 

/mansplaining

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Did Kepler also leave due to heat?

 

Sounds like it was a fun game, but man I wish this team was better. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

I watched it.

 

The leadoff walk on 4 pitches was disappointing and the Happ double in the next AB was laced pretty good.

 

After that... the Cubs lightly found some green.

 

The Baez double should have been an error. Adrianaza was to heat exhausted (I assume) to move his feet about a foot to his left. I'm giving Adrianaza a break because of the heat... If it was a normal 80 degree day... I'd be shouting for his benching. It should have been an 6-2-3 DP.

Still, that doesn't mean you order that second intentional walk and leave Hildenberger out there that long.

[Riverbrian]

 

Still, that doesn't mean you order that second intentional walk and leave Hildenberger out there that long.

 

I have no opinion on that. 

 

It was attrition on steroids. I could barely watch it and I got pretty good stamina. It's possible that Molitor was just saying the hell with it.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

At least the good news is Joe Mauer is now on pace to finish with more than 300 RBI 

[IndianaTwin]

I get it — there’s plenty of reason to be down on the Twins, but I’m too committed to optimism in my life.

 

I was at Wrigley yesterday and it was miserable. I was sitting, not running around. And it was worse today, so in this kind of conditions, I’m not going to get down on anyone too much.

 

By contrast, it was good to see sparks from the offense in the past two days. Scoring 15 runs off the second-best pitching staff in the NL offers some hope, particularly when you consider that the Eds were only 4-14, with two extra-base hits, and only had 3 of the 15 RBIs.

 

A total of 21 hits in two days, when that’s seemed like a week’s worth most of the season. Battling back to tie or take the lead twice today and managing to get a few RISPy hits as well the past two games.

 

Still not where it needs to be, but a few signs of life.

[LeatherAntenna]

Blanking on the name, but one Cubs player left with cramps, which likely was a result of dehydration from the heat.

is that telling that the Cubs didn’t have to replace their outfield? Maybe just another of the many basics missing this year in the Twins organization?

[Jham]

is that telling that the Cubs didn’t have to replace their outfield? Maybe just another of the many basics missing this year in the Twins organization?

I think our outfield was or there longer and did more running, as usual.

[LeatherAntenna]

Cubs Strength & Conditioning staff > Twins Strength and Conditioning staff

This.