Article: KC 4, MIN 2: For Sale

[Tom Froemming]

After ending the first half on such a hot streak, this Twins team sounded motivated to try to convince the front office it was too early for a fire sale. They’ve opened things up after the All-Star break with basically an ideal opponent to clean up against, but instead have dropped the first two games to the lowly Royals.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Lance Lynn: 43 Game Score, 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 K, 6 BB, 55.9% strikes

Bullpen: 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 K, 3 BB

Lineup: 2-for-4 w/RISP, 6 LOB

WPA of 0.1 or higher: Mauer .105

WPA of -0.1 or lower: Cave -.110, Polanco -.144, Dozier -.191

Download attachment: WinChart721.png

First Base

Congratulations are in order! Joe Mauer led off this game with a double, giving him 415 for his career. The significance in that number? Joe is now the Twins’ all-time leader in doubles.

The very first double of Mauer’s career came at the Metrodome on June 9, 2004. He hit it off Steve Trachsel, who was pitching for the Mets that day.

 

Second Base

It’s not like Lance Lynn got pummeled or anything, he gave up three runs on three hits, but he had an ugly start. I mean this one was a complete dog.

 

Lynn had already reached the 100-pitch mark after four innings, it took him 118 pitches just to complete five frames and he walked six batters, though to be fair one was intentional. Yuck.

 

Third Base

Unfortunately, the lineup performed not much better. Mauer had a great game, going 3-for-4, and Eddie Rosario was 2-for-4 with an RBI. The issue was the rest of their teammates combined to go 2-for-24 with three walks and 10 strikeouts.

 

Brian Dozier was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and left four men on base, but that wasn’t even the worst of it. Jake Cave was also 0-for-4, but he struck out in all four of his at-bats. Again, yuck.

 

Home Plate

I’ll leave you with this question: Of the 14 players who appeared for the Twins tonight, how many of them do you expect will be on the team in another few weeks? Half?

 

Both Brian Dozier and Eduardo Escobar’s names are floating around in trade rumors. Zach Duke seems like just the type of guy a contender would target to add depth to the left side of its bullpen. I’m sure Minnesota would love to find a taker for Lynn. If all hope of contention is dashed, it doesn’t make much sense to me why the team would keep guys like Bobby Wilson and Robbie Grossman around. That’s six guys right there. Who could be the seventh … Mauer?

 

And that’s not to mention some of the other guys who didn’t play in this game such as Fernando Rodney, who’s been in the rumor mill, or Matt Belisle, who has no business blocking younger relievers from getting opportunities if this is going to be a lost season anyway.

 

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: Bullpen721.png

AL Central Standings

CLE 54-43

MIN 44-52 (-9.5)

DET 42-58 (-13.5)

CHW 33-63 (-20.5)

KC 29-68 (-25)

 

Next Three Games

Sun at KC, 1:15 pm CT: Jake Odorizzi vs. Brad Keller

Mon at TOR, 6:07 pm CT: Adalberto Mejia vs. Marco Estrada

Tue at TOR, 6:07 pm CT: Jose Berrios vs. Ryan Borucki

 

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[Danchat]

BTW, Astudillo is being optioned to AAA and Morrison is being activated. Hopefully Logan will either hit or be sent packing as I'd really rather see anyone else get PAs. I imagine Motter gets DFA'd next when Santana is activated to be the 5th starter.  Mejia comes to start, actually.

[killertwinfan]

Couldn't be more disappointed. With the exception of a couple of players this team doesn't look like a team bearing down to make the playoffs, they look more like a deer in headlights.  I don't care who they trade, as long as it is for good value.  

[Richie the Rally Goat]

BTW, Astudillo is being optioned to AAA and Morrison is being activated. Hopefully Logan will either hit or be sent packing as I'd really rather see anyone else get PAs. I imagine Motter gets DFA'd next when Santana is activated to be the 5th starter. Mejia comes to start, actually.

Astudillo never caught an inning...

[Riverbrian]

It's alright. 

 

The team is telling the front office what to do next. 

 

Make yer deals. Get ready for 2019. 

 

It's alright. 

[BJames]

and we wasted the pen on a loss.  

[sloopjont]

I disagree; not alright.  To get shutdown on offense against an elite pitcher is understandable; but they're repeatedly getting shutdown by < average pitchers.  Feels like no heart.

[slash129]

IMHO, 7-2 on this road trip is what's necessary to hold off the fire sale. Strange things have happened, but sweeping Boston in Fenway is incredibly unlikely.

 

Lynn should be the first to go. He's the one player that I almost could care less about the return. He's unwatchable and hopefully without a future here.

[rdehring]

What an ugly game to watch.  I said something yesterday which led to much disagreement.  Well, they lost the first two out of the break and it is time to plan to sell...in my opinion. 

 

Fortunately, I expect the FO knows this team better than we do and was planning to sell all along.  Two of their better players to trade were Dozier and Lynn.  Unfortunately, both are cold as a meat freezer out of the break.

 

Doubt we will see six players moved, but hopefully they can figure out a way to make a couple nice pickups.  I will continue to hope, however, that Escobar stays with the Twins. 

[Riverbrian]

 

I disagree; not alright.  To get shutdown on offense against an elite pitcher is understandable; but they're repeatedly getting shutdown by < average pitchers.  Feels like no heart.

 

This isn't a new development. The offense has absolutely killed us this year 

 

By dropping two games in the standings immediately after the All-Star break. It should kill any lingering thoughts that the 9-2 stretch before the all-star break was a smelling salt of some kind. 

 

Make yer deals 

 

[Riverbrian]

 

What an ugly game to watch.  I said something yesterday which led to much disagreement.  Well, they lost the first two out of the break and it is time to plan to sell...in my opinion. 

 

Fortunately, I expect the FO knows this team better than we do and was planning to sell all along.  Two of their better players to trade were Dozier and Lynn.  Unfortunately, both are cold as a meat freezer out of the break.

 

Doubt we will see six players moved, but hopefully they can figure out a way to make a couple nice pickups.  I will continue to hope, however, that Escobar stays with the Twins. 

 

BTW... It wasn't that I disagreed with your overall sentiment yesterday. 

 

Personally... I was just making fun of the way you daisy chained from the Escobar pop-up in the first inning to the end of civilization. 

 

It was all in good fun and I hope you didn't take it in anything other than that spirit. 

[Thebigalguy]

I don't think Mauer can be touched with his no-trade clause.  The only way he goes is if he decides it's what he wants, a chance to play deep into the playoffs, and if the Twins eat up most of his salary for whichever team gets him. I don't expect that to happen. He'll play out the season and the Twins will resign him if he agrees to play for what he's now worth instead of what he got after his MVP year when he was a perennial batting champ and the best catcher in the league.

[TheLeviathan]

For those of us who saw that win streak for what it was (home cooking against historically bad teams) - this is a welcome sobering reality.  This team is a seller and needs to be.

[USAFChief]

For those of us who saw that win streak for what it was (home cooking against historically bad teams) - this is a welcome sobering reality. This team is a seller and needs to be.

Thank goodness those of us hoping for the Twins to win have you to remind us what the goals of our fandom should be.

[jimmer]

 

For those of us who saw that win streak for what it was (home cooking against historically bad teams) - this is a welcome sobering reality.  This team is a seller and needs to be.

yeah, I still can't muster up the ability to root for my team to lose/tank, whether it ends up being for the good of the club or not. One of my many character flaws :-)  

 

Knowing that we're out of it and that losing may help us long term helps lessen the pain of losses though.

Edited July 22, 2018 by jimmer

[TheLeviathan]

 

Thank goodness those of us hoping for the Twins to win have you to remind us what the goals of our fandom should be.

 

 

What you want is like buying a new house because you happened to find an envelope with ten thousand dollars in the gutter.  Twice.  Not exactly a sound basis for planning going forward.

 

Root for them to win all you want, but you're hurting the team long term to clutch on to expiring players out of some delusion the team is in contention.  Go get some controllable assets that can help you win for a long time.

[Riverbrian]

 

Thank goodness those of us hoping for the Twins to win have you to remind us what the goals of our fandom should be.

 

I think I understand what you are saying but I'm not sure "why" you are saying it. 

 

Things are time sensitive these days which will cause a variety of reactions from all of us offering opinion on it. 

 

I know it isn't our decision but we have 10 games to decide how we feel on: 

 

Do we trade Brian Dozier or do we ride his pending hot streak into the playoffs? 

 

I made up my mind on June 23rd but I'm not sure if Paul Molitor and the front office share my opinion.

 

So, I'm OK with the additional clarity that has been provided the past couple of games if it makes the decision easier. 

 

 

 

[TheLeviathan]

0.7% chance. Some lottery tickets have better odds. There is fandom hope and then there is being silly.

 

I would hope these two games pushed a few people out of silly territory.

[Mike Sixel]

Why is Morrison coming back? It's time to move on.

[beckmt]

I am losing faith in the new FO.  I also thought Molly should have been fired weeks ago.  

My biggest fear is that the new FO is into their own guys, that the Twins will have players stolen from them as they seem to be on a mission to rid themselves of all TR ballplayers in the minors.  

Twins have a decision to make,  it almost seems like the new FO does not believe a good team in under the rocks and may move a lot of players (including the current non performing young players) to get better prospects for 2 -4 years from now.  I hope not, but some of their moves the last year are mysteries to me.

And yes some players do not ever live up to their hype.

[USAFChief]

I think I understand what you are saying but I'm not sure "why" you are saying it.

 

Things are time sensitive these days which will cause a variety of reactions from all of us offering opinion on it.

 

I know it isn't our decision but we have 10 games to decide how we feel on:

 

Do we trade Brian Dozier or do we ride his pending hot streak into the playoffs?

 

I made up my mind on June 23rd but I'm not sure if Paul Molitor and the front office share my opinion.

 

So, I'm OK with the additional clarity that has been provided the past couple of games. It makes the decision easier.

it means another season of failure.

 

I hate that. Hate it.

 

So no, I'm not going to celebrate a failed season, no matter what they might acquire by trading players.

 

I want to watch a meaningful game this afternoon. Care about winning or losing. That's why I watch.

 

I wish they had won these two games in KC. Today would be more interesting. Some A ball hope and prayer in Return for Dozier means nothing to me. Zero. Less than zero.

[Riverbrian]

 

it means another season of failure.

I hate that. Hate it.

So no, I'm not going to celebrate a failed season, no matter what they might acquire by trading players.

I want to watch a meaningful game this afternoon. Care about winning or losing. That's why I watch.

I wish they had won these two games in KC. Today would be more interesting. Some A ball hope and prayer in Return for Dozier means nothing to me. Zero. Less than zero.

 

http://gifimage.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/there-there-gif-14.gif

[Roaddog]

I'm willing to give the Front office some leeway. They were absolutely right about Melatokis. I'm even willing to forgive the Morrison signing. Low risk high reward signing, IMO. And I don't think anyone forsaw Lynn struggling like he has. I think we are seeing just how barren our farm system is on the higher levels this year. Romero has shown flashes, Gonslaves as well. But particularly we haven't had position player help other than Cave. Is there help on the horizon, yes. Also no one saw Sano, Buxton and Kepler struggling like they have. Be thankful for Rosario, Berrios, Escobar and even Gibson.

[wsnydes]

it means another season of failure.

 

I hate that. Hate it.

 

So no, I'm not going to celebrate a failed season, no matter what they might acquire by trading players.

 

I want to watch a meaningful game this afternoon. Care about winning or losing. That's why I watch.

 

I wish they had won these two games in KC. Today would be more interesting. Some A ball hope and prayer in Return for Dozier means nothing to me. Zero. Less than zero.

I don't think anyone is celebrating. Accepting the fate of the team doesn't have to mean that people are happy for any of this. I'm happy to have some clarity on the season, but I'm in no way happy that it's another failed season. It doesn't mean that I don't want to watch meaningful baseball. It doesn't mean that I don't care whether they win or lose. But pretending this team is something that it is not doesn't help anything.

[TheLeviathan]

I don't think anyone is celebrating. Accepting the fate of the team doesn't have to mean that people are happy for any of this. I'm happy to have some clarity on the season, but I'm in no way happy that it's another failed season. It doesn't mean that I don't want to watch meaningful baseball. It doesn't mean that I don't care whether they win or lose. But pretending this team is something that it is not doesn't help anything.

Well said. I was really excited for a playoff season. This sucks.

 

But it would suck more if we kept digging the hole deeper.

[Roaddog]

No one is celebrating, it's more accepting fate. And going about getting better for the future.

[ChrisKnutson]

Anyone up for heckling/booing Molitor at a home game?

[yarnivek1972]

I'm willing to give the Front office some leeway. They were absolutely right about Melatokis. I'm even willing to forgive the Morrison signing. Low risk high reward signing, IMO. And I don't think anyone forsaw Lynn struggling like he has. I think we are seeing just how barren our farm system is on the higher levels this year. Romero has shown flashes, Gonslaves as well. But particularly we haven't had position player help other than Cave. Is there help on the horizon, yes. Also no one saw Sano, Buxton and Kepler struggling like they have. Be thankful for Rosario, Berrios, Escobar and even Gibson.

No one knows how barren the farm is because this FO isn’t giving the guys on the farm an opportunity to play.

[twins_89]

Anyone waiting for a sign that the Twins should sell clearly got it today. An inside the park HR by Drew Butera to seal a Royals sweep is the most clear sign I've ever seen.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Ok, sell, but what are people hoping for? Honest question. Another Tyler Watson type? Bonus money we will not spend? (I'm sure Watson is a terrific guy.)

 

I think my position is pretty close to chief's. Though I understand he will probably be traded, I think I would rather watch Dozier the whole year, let him have a curtain call late in September (heck I might even attend such a game in person to applaud him) than have him shipped off suddenly on the 31st.