Article: HOU 4, MIN 1: Astros Take Advantage of Pivotal Polanco Error

[Tom Froemming]

Bad teams fail to execute, good teams make you pay for mistakes.

 

Jorge Polanco committed an error on what could have been a double-play ball in the second inning and the Astros capitalized, scoring a pair of runs that frame. The Twins, on the other hand, had numerous scoring chances that they failed to follow through on. They actually out-hit Houston 8-4 in this one.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Gibson: 53 Game Score, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 K, 1 BB, 59.2% strikes (58 of 98 pitches)

Home Runs: None

Multi-Hit Games: Mauer (2-for-5)

WPA of 0.1 or higher: None

WPA of -0.1 or lower: Austin -.124, Polanco -.131, Gibson -.174

Download attachment: WinChart93.png

At the point where Houston went up 3-0 in the second inning, I thought “I wonder if Chris Gimenez can pitch back-to-back days?” Gibson settled in, however, and pitched very well from there forward. One thing that hurt Gibby was a horribly-timed error by Jorge Polanco.

 

With no outs in the second and a runner on first, Polanco could not handle a potential double-play ball. The Astros went on to score two runs that inning. It was Polanco’s 10th error in just his 53rd game this season.

 

Unfortunately, the Twins’ lineup could not emulate that bounce back from Gibby. The only run came in the sixth inning, but they had plenty of other scoring chances. They managed to leave the bases loaded in both the first and ninth innings.

 

The Twins combined to go 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position, left 11 men on base and racked up 13 strikeouts. In addition to the costly error, Polanco left six men on base.

 

During the game it was announced that the Twins would be adding John Curtiss, Chase De Jong and Gregorio Petit to their active roster now that Rochester’s season has concluded.

 

I typically don’t get into the broadcasts much in these recaps, mainly because I have audio muted quite a bit of the time, but I just wanted to say that I really enjoy LaTroy Hawkins as Dick Bremer’s analyst. He’s pretty sparse, leaving plenty of room for Dick to call the game, but when he chimes in it’s worth listening to.

 

Like a lot of the former players, Hawk has some great little anecdotes from his playing days and is also good for a one-liner here and there, but at the same time he never has the “well back in my day” tone that some of the other former players have. The thing I appreciate most is LaTroy will comment on a pitcher’s arsenal, how their pitches move and will detail what’s going on in the cat and mouse game between the pitcher and the hitter from time.

 

Bert Blyleven’s simply been at it for a long time, and he and Dick seem to have the dynamic of an old married couple at this point. Justin Moreau is good when they’ve used him as the third man with another analyst, but I don’t think he’s been strong on his own. Roy Smalley is pretty solid, but talks way too much. Torii Hunter is pretty fun, and is a really good storyteller, but I don’t think he’s as good at keeping the focus on the game as Hawkins is. On the other end, Jack Morris is a bit of a grump.

 

If FSN puts Dick in the booth with both Hawkins and Morneau, that would equate to must-listen baseball in my mind. But again, I’ve missed a ton of the broadcasts because I tend to put them on mute, so I’m interested in any opinions from the Twins Daily community.

 

Drumming up conversations about the broadcast … yup, it’s September of a losing season alright

 

FYI: Now that the rosters have expanded and the Twins aren’t playing meaningful games anyway, I won’t be including the bullpen usage chart going forward.

 

Next Three Games

Tue at HOU, 7:10 pm CT: TBD vs. Justin Verlander

Wed at HOU, 7:10 pm CT: Jake Odorizzi vs. Framber Valdez

Thu: Off

Fri vs. KC, 7:10 pm CT: TBD

 

Last Three Games

TEX 18, MIN 4: Speechless

TEX 7, MIN 4: Is Jose OK?

MIN 10, TEX 7: Tex-plosion!

 

Click here to view the article

[jimmer]

I think Morneau has been the best fill in for Bert.

[rv78]

I agree. More Morneau and Hawkins. Less Smalley. I don't mind Morris. Hunter is ok. Smalley thinks he needs to analyze every play, hit, pitch, batter, swing, pitcher, throw, ball hop, twist, move, you name it. He earns the mute button from me when he's in the booth.

 

Do we have a good SS in the minor leagues that can be brought up to play SS so we can move Polanco to 2B?

Edited September 3, 2018 by rv78

[Winston Smith]

Move Polanco to 2B and sign or trade for a good defensive SS this winter.

[curt1965]

I would tune in just to listen to Morneau! His knowledge and respect for the game is second to none, IMHO. He is very close to today’s players, having just retired in the last couple of years. Plus, he isn’t afraid to criticize a player if he thinks someone isn’t playing hard. More Justin, please!

[adjacent]

My memory of Polanco last year is the he was defensively decent. From time to time a weak throw, but he was making the plays he was supposed to make. Lately he has been horrible. Not only him, but there are several that are playing like if the offseason can't come soon enough. The team seems to be mentally out.

[jimmer]

 

I would tune in just to listen to Morneau! His knowledge and respect for the game is second to none, IMHO. He is very close to today’s players, having just retired in the last couple of years. Plus, he isn’t afraid to criticize a player if he thinks someone isn’t playing hard. More Justin, please!

All of this.

[Platoon]

Polanco is not, nor ever was, in anyone's mind but MOY a MLB SS. Yes he can play SS, but only in this context: If your SS is Jorge Polanco, you do not have a good baseball team! I hope if he moves to second base, and has a little more time, and a little less stress on the throwing aspect, he can suffice. I think he will hit well enough. One other troubling aspect, which btw seems to inflict all Twins IF'ers, is the inability or lack of desire to battle a crappy throw to a base. They don't get an error, but they also don't get an out. Lots of matador attempts on that type of play.

[bighat]

Count me in as a Hawkins fan. He's been my favorite guest color-analyst this year. Morneau's good, but he's a bit too bland for my taste. Sorry. Hawkins seems to have the right balance of being both interesting and fun to listen to.

[jimmer]

 

Count me in as a Hawkins fan. He's been my favorite guest color-analyst this year. Morneau's good, but he's a bit too bland for my taste. Sorry. Hawkins seems to have the right balance of being both interesting and fun to listen to.

See, to me, he isn't bland at all.  Every time I've listened to him he's come up with all sorts of interesting stuff along with very detailed analysis.  And he occasionally cracks me up.

 

I like Hawkins too, but he and Morneau, IMO, are the only good ones that have worked with Bremer (and that includes Bert) in a long time.

Edited September 3, 2018 by jimmer

[USAFChief]

I think all of the guest analysts are fine in small doses. I think all of them would quickly get old.

 

I guess Morneau has been the best, but he’s so soft spoken and monotone.

[adorduan]

Hawkins is the best of the bunch and Hunter is just about unbearable to listen to.  I turn the sound off when he's on.

[stringer bell]

I like Hawkins, Cuddyer, Morneau, and Smalley in that order. I heard enough from Hunter in one series.

 

On the other topic, yes make Polanco a second baseman and sign a shortstop. Iglesias now of the Tigers would be a good fit.

[IndianaTwin]

Tom, is the bullpen usage chart a single Excel file? I'd be interested in seeing it in it's entirety for the season, just to get a sense of what things look like in a long-term sort of way. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

More Morneau. 

[Tom Froemming]

 

Tom, is the bullpen usage chart a single Excel file? I'd be interested in seeing it in it's entirety for the season, just to get a sense of what things look like in a long-term sort of way. 

It's not, but that's a really interesting idea. Maybe I'll try and make that happen next season.

[mikelink45]

Polanco is a major disappointment.  Do we have any stats that tell us how much offense is required to overcome a horrible defense?  I loved the old days of players like Mark Belanger at SS who caught everything and help the infield together.  Polanco is a real disappointment.  He needs to be at 2B or out of the middle infield.  His bat is not that good!

 

Of course none of the bats are that good.  Sano 202, Austin 232, Field 194, Kepler 225.  Not championship ball nor is the fact that in the HR era we have one player with more than 20 HRs - Rosario with 22. 

[MikeW]

Got to feel bad for Dick Bremmer during the late stages of this season. It’s hard to pump life into a dying corpse.

 

The season has been disappointing in terms of win-loss. Berrios and Gibson are at best middle of rotation pitchers. Oder is serviceable at the backend. Stewart and Gonslaves are headed back to AAA to start next season knowing what they need to do and not do at the majors.

 

Our middle infielders should be used for trade chips in the off-season. We need upgrades at SS and 2B, along with pitching.

 

The good news is Lewis and Kilrliloff should start at AA next season. Assuming they perform well, they will advance to AAA by mid year and make the September expanded roster by season’s end.

[curt1965]

Polanco is a major disappointment.  Do we have any stats that tell us how much offense is required to overcome a horrible defense?  I loved the old days of players like Mark Belanger at SS who caught everything and help the infield together.  Polanco is a real disappointment.  He needs to be at 2B or out of the middle infield.  His bat is not that good!

 

Of course none of the bats are that good.  Sano 202, Austin 232, Field 194, Kepler 225.  Not championship ball nor is the fact that in the HR era we have one player with more than 20 HRs - Rosario with 22.

 

I disagree about Polanco. I think he can be a consistent .280 type of hitter and ideal number 3 man in the order. As far as his defense goes, he’s been ok until the last 10 days when he checked out like the rest of the team, except for maybe Cave and the injured Rosario. Whoops- forgot to include Molitor who never really checked “in.” The Twins will be in a world of hurt if they bring Molitor and the other coaches back.

[theBOMisthebomb]

If we could get rid of Bremer, I would be a happy man. Part-time color guys in order of likeability are Hawkins, Morneau, and Hunter and I think Hawkins is terrible. They all sound unprofessional a majority of the time. It makes you appreciate a true professional broadcaster and how much talent and time it takes to sound polished in the booth. I will admit that Hawkins, Morneau, and Hunter all have potential and each have likeable aspects to them.

[rdehring]

Yes, Hawkins is good to listen to.  Also really like Morneau.  Like a lot of what Smalley does, but gets a bit too much at times.

 

After struggling thru watching some Twins this weekend, believe that their first two tasks for the winter are signing Gibby and Rosie to extensions.  Then build a team beginning with them.

[jimmer]

Yes, Hawkins is good to listen to. Also really like Morneau. Like a lot of what Smalley does, but gets a bit too much at times.

 

After struggling thru watching some Twins this weekend, believe that their first two tasks for the winter are signing Gibby and Rosie to extensions. Then build a team beginning with them.

sure you want to build around a 31 year old pitcher who has been decent this year after being horrible the previous two years?

[bdodge22]

 

sure you want to build around a 31 year old pitcher who has been decent this year after being horrible the previous two years?

Yes, sign Gibby. If you let him go, you would not be signing an 'Ace' free agent, you would be signing the Odorizzi's and Lynn's of the world to replace him. I much prefer Gibby. And having Gibson around will not be holding up any prospects development, he will be a solid contributor while youngsters develop in the 3-5 spots in the rotation.

[NDTimIrish]

Morneau is by far the best of the aforementioned bunch.

[mikelink45]

 

I disagree about Polanco. I think he can be a consistent .280 type of hitter and ideal number 3 man in the order. As far as his defense goes, he’s been ok until the last 10 days when he checked out like the rest of the team, except for maybe Cave and the injured Rosario. Whoops- forgot to include Molitor who never really checked “in.” The Twins will be in a world of hurt if they bring Molitor and the other coaches back.

No, his defense has been poor since the beginning.  Look at my Shortstop Blog - his stats show he is a second baseman playing shortstop and that is not what a team that wants to succeed should have.  SS is too important. 

[nicksaviking]

 

Yes, sign Gibby. If you let him go, you would not be signing an 'Ace' free agent, you would be signing the Odorizzi's and Lynn's of the world to replace him. I much prefer Gibby. And having Gibson around will not be holding up any prospects development, he will be a solid contributor while youngsters develop in the 3-5 spots in the rotation.

 

But starting pitchers don't tend to be good much past 32.

 

Morneau started off really rough in the booth, but I agree, he's really turned it around lately; I like him too. I might agree with Tom though, I might put Hawk a hair ahead of him. Maybe because he's got the "I've been everywhere, man" feel to him. His anecdotes and experiences aren't almost exclusively Twins related.

[slash129]

 

Morneau is by far the best of the aforementioned bunch.

 

He just needs to project his voice more ... "Here's Rosario for birdie .... a little chip and run ... and he'll come up just short and have to settle for what should be an easy par."

[Vanimal46]

Do analysts need to have a connection to the team previously? I'd like to hear an opinion outside of the Twins country club.

[nicksaviking]

 

Do analysts need to have a connection to the team previously? I'd like to hear an opinion outside of the Twins country club.

 

They don't for the NFL but those guys only have to prep for one game a week.

[Channing1964]

Being