Article: MIN 5, TOR 0: All-Star, Indeed

[Tom Froemming]

Jose Berrios is out to prove his first half was no fluke. Well, this was a good start. Berrios set the tone with seven excellent innings, leading the charge in what was a shutout victory for the Twins. Eduardo Escobar hit yet another double and even added a three-run blast to cap things off.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Jose Berrios: 81 Game Score, 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 9 K, 1 BB, 63.7% strikes

Bullpen: 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB

Lineup: 3-for-9 w/RISP, 5 LOB

WPA of 0.1 or higher: Berrios .451

WPA of -0.1 or lower: Wilson -.176

Download attachment: WinChart724.png

Let’s go around the horn …

 

First Base

There were a couple things that just gave you the vibe this was going to be the Twins’ day. First, they actually won a replay challenge. In the fifth inning, it appeared Taylor Motter had been picked off. He broke from first, the pitcher threw over there and Motter was called out on the throw over to second. Instead, the call was overturned, as the tag missed.

 

The Twins couldn’t score that inning, but the sixth led off with Joe Mauer sending a pretty routine fly ball out to left field. Teoscar Hernandez just flat out dropped it, Mauer hustled into second and would later score the first run of the ballgame. Nice to see some things break the Twins’ way for a change.

 

Second Base

Jose Berrios had a great night. Take a look at this awesome overlay of his changeup and curveball:

How!?!? How do hitters ever even make contact off him? That’s disgusting. La MaKina pitched seven shutout innings, gave up just four hits, walked one and racked up nine strikeouts. Trevor Hildenberger and Ryan Pressly followed suit with scoreless innings to complete the shutout.

 

Third Base

Eduardo Escobar had been on a bit of a cold streak heading into this game. Over his previous 28 contests, Esky was hitting just .200/.289/.320, but here’s hoping tonight is a sign of things to come.

 

Escobar was 2-for-4 with a double and a three-run homer that served as the finishing blow in the top of the eighth.

 

Home Plate

In addition to this game going very well, there was a lot of positive Twins-related news today. Addison Reed threw a bullpen and Phil Miller of the Star Trib reported that “it sounds like he’ll be off the disabled list in the next day or two.” Byron Buxton took batting practice with Rochester today, the first time he’s been able to participate since suffering his hand injury. Ervin Santana will make his 2018 debut with the Twins tomorrow.

 

The cherry on top of all that positive injury news was that Miguel Sano had a very nice game with the Red Wings, going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and an RBI. He even added a couple of nice plays at third base.

 

***UPDATE: It was reported after the game that in order to make room for Santana on both the 25-man and 40-man rosters Taylor Motter was designated for assignment.

 

Postgame With Escobar

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen724.png

AL Central Standings

CLE 54-46

MIN 46-53 (-7.5)

DET 43-60 (-12.5)

CHW 36-64 (-18)

KC 31-69 (-23)

 

Next Three Games

Wed at TOR, 3:07 pm CT: Ervin Santana vs. Sam Gaviglio

Thu at BOS, 6:10 pm CT: TBD

Fri at BOS, 6:10 pm CT: TBD

 

Last Three Games

MIN 8, TOR 3: Twins Cruise Over Toronto

KC 5, MIN 3: Royals Sweep Twins, Butera Hits Inside-the-Park Homer (Seriously)

KC 4, MIN 2: For Sale

 

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[Han Joelo]

Crazy GIF!  This team is fun when they don't suck.  I guess that's what is so frustrating...

[AlwaysinModeration]

There is a great article on The Athletic about the Pitching Ninja, Rob Friedman. He’s just a random guy who started cataloging all of these nasty pitches and doing these overlays. Now a bunch of major leaguers follow him and send him suggestions. Also tracks pitching grips.

 

Cool to see Berrios featured on that. He was in total control tonight.

[Aerodeliria]

This team is so vexing and Cleveland doesn't help. Cleveland always seems to play just barely bad enough to allow the faithful to have a glimmer of hope. *SIGH*

[Twodogs]

Is it just me, or does Berrios look like he has a little bit of a cross-fire?

[h2oface]

Berrios should be 13-4 if he had a bullpen that didn't blow games and some run support in at least 3 of the games he took the loss in. Good thing the hitters decided to support him, tonight.

[Otto von Ballpark]

We lost 2 games on Cleveland over the weekend during the KC sweep -- but now we've gained 2 over the next two games. So we're back where we were at the all-star break (7.5 back), just with 5 fewer games left...

Edited July 25, 2018 by spycake

[TNTwinsFan]

Something else I noticed is that Berrios worked quickly. He never seemed like he labored and just went about his business as if he knew exactly what he was doing. I hope that kid continues progress. He was pretty fithly last night and it would be wonderful for him to take yet another step forward by season's end! He and Gibson make a really good 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation next year.

 

Berrios

Gibson

Pineda

Romero

Gonsalves

 

Mejia

Littell

Thorpe

Slegers

Graterol

Stewart

Ober

 

May need to add another solid FA SP to that group for next year in order to contend though. Anyone know who might be available?

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

This team is infuriating. If they just take care of business against one of the worst teams in baseball in Kansas City, they're back in this thing against Cleveland.

 

Argh. I don't think I've ever been as mad at a baseball team as I am the 2018 Twins. At least in seasons like 2016, you just knew they'd be bad and could find whatever enjoyment there was to be found in the occasional win.

[mikelink45]

This is where wins count.  Berrios wins because he pitches long enough to control the game.  For me a quality start has to go 7 innings or more.  That is how a starting pitcher gets wins or losses, but it is back to the old days when starters were in charge.   I love it.

[Number3]

This afternoon is possibly the biggest start of any of those starting pitchers for the 2018 campaign. If Santana can equal his early 2017 form, the Twins do have a chance to at least hang around and keep things interesting.

 

Edited July 25, 2018 by Number3

[AceWrigley]

Lets see, we lost our #1 starter, shortstop, catcher, centerfielder and thirdbaseman, and yet were still knocking on the door of playing .500 ball. I think that's pretty amazing. It's been a real challenge to our depth, and unfortunately guys like Vargas and Granite haven't been able to help. I don't know what the trade deadline fallout will look like, but the last months of the season should be fun to watch. To Byron Buxton, please please please get your hit groove on, we need ya.

[blindeke]

I will not miss Motter.

[Doctor Wu]

 

I will not miss Motter.

Those of us who blinked probably DID miss him during his very brief tenure with the team.

[yarnivek1972]

I will not miss Motter.

Opposing pitching staffs will.

[Han Joelo]

 

Lets see, we lost our #1 starter, shortstop, catcher, centerfielder and thirdbaseman, and yet were still knocking on the door of playing .500 ball. I think that's pretty amazing. It's been a real challenge to our depth, and unfortunately guys like Vargas and Granite haven't been able to help. I don't know what the trade deadline fallout will look like, but the last months of the season should be fun to watch. To Byron Buxton, please please please get your hit groove on, we need ya.

After Granite's alright debut last year, and coming on the heels of being regularly listed as one of Fangraph's "Fringe Five" prospects, he stands out as a big disappointment.  He wasn't just handcuffed to Buxton for fantasy purposes, apparently.  In my expectation of the season, he played a significant role backing up Buxton, pinch-running, and subbing in on defense.  I am a wannabe GM fail--I wouldn't have "blocked" him with a higher profile free agent 4th outfielder either.  Kudos to those who anticipated this coming.

 

Vargas.  All I can say is...Vargas!

 

 

[VandyTwinsFan]

I'd like to see a gif of one of Hildy's strikeouts last night. Got a guy to swing at change up while also trying to move his feet so he didn't get hit by the pitch. I literally laughed out loud at that swing. Anyone else catch that?

[gil4]

 

Opposing pitching staffs will.

We seem to have plenty of other options they will find acceptable.

[Doomtints]

The thing about Berrios is ... he still hasn't peaked. This year is probably his floor for the next 4-5 years.

[Doomtints]

 

 

Crazy GIF!  This team is fun when they don't suck.  I guess that's what is so frustrating...

 

If he can keep that curveball going, and continue setting it up properly, the pitch will be very good to him.

[Tom Froemming]

 

I'd like to see a gif of one of Hildy's strikeouts last night. Got a guy to swing at change up while also trying to move his feet so he didn't get hit by the pitch. I literally laughed out loud at that swing. Anyone else catch that?

Parker posted one on Twitter last night.

[VandyTwinsFan]

https://twitter.com/ParkerHageman/status/1021943107879936002

 

The link. So beautiful.