Article: MIN 8, CHW 3: Twins Continue Trend of Finishing Strong

[Tom Froemming]

While he may not have reached a nice, even milestone like Jose Berrios recording his 200th strikeout yesterday, Kyle Gibson came pretty close. With six more innings Saturday, Gibby ended his season with a career-high 196 2/3 innings pitched.

 

The lineup scored eight runs in the first two innings to make for a nice, low-stress evening at the park for Gibby's final start of this, a breakout season.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Gibson: 68 Game Score, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 59.6% strikes (59 of 99 pitches)

Home Runs: None

Multi-Hit Games: Polanco (3-for-5), Mauer (2-for-4, BB), Astudillo (2-for-5, 2B), Field (2-for-4, 2B)

WPA of 0.1 or higher: Cave .173, Polanco .111, Mauer .108

WPA of -0.1 or lower: None

Download attachment: WinChart929.png

Gibson gave up a run in the first, but the Twins weren’t down long, as Jake Cave hit a two-run double in the bottom of the inning. In the second, White Sox starter Carlos Rodon unraveled. Rodon’s final line: 1.0 IP, 6 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 2 K.

 

Ouch.

 

The Twins didn’t pile anything else on from there and Gibby flipped over into cruise control. Jorge Polanco had three more hits, boosting his average to .291 and his OPS to .778.

 

Joe Mauer reached base three times. Buckle up for tomorrow, Target Field is going to be a mess.

 

Perfect magical unicorn Willians Astudillo had two more hits, including an RBI double. Major League Baseball player Johnny Field was 2-for-4 with a double,

 

This will not go down as a memorable season in the annals of Twins history, but the team has won five straight games and 10 of its last 13.

 

Remaining Games

Sun vs. CHW, 2:10pm CT: Zack Littell vs. Dylan Covey

 

Last Three Games

MIN 12, CHW 4: Garver Drives In 6, Mauer Showered With Applause

MIN 2, CHW 1: Berrios Reaches 200 Ks

MIN 9, DET 3: Vive La Tortuga

 

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[Danchat]

Oh, so now the Twins decide to start dominating the terrible competition in the division. 

 

At least Polanco is hitting pretty well and Astudillo should assure that we shouldn't need a Bobby Wilson-type catcher next season. Unless Castro morphs into that, I guess.

[Einheri]

I do hope the Twins manage to retain Astudillo.

[DocBauer]

I absolutely don't understand why the Twins insist on marching Astudillo out to play daily. I mean, all this guy does is play decent defense and hit the ball and hustle while playing with exuberance. Those kinds of guys are a dime a dozen!

 

#Astudillorocks

[mngopherguy]

I was at the game tonight and officially give up the resistance, all hail Astudillo!

[h2oface]

Nice of Belisle to even show some leadership as the season ends and give up a couple runs. Teaching the troops how to throw the ball away yourself and escape earned runs. Now that is a skill!

[jokin]

 

Oh, so now the Twins decide to start dominating the terrible competition in the division. 

 

At least Polanco is hitting pretty well and Astudillo should assure that we shouldn't need a Bobby Wilson-type catcher next season. Unless Castro morphs into that, I guess.

 

Vs Chi- 11-7

Vs Det- 12-7

Vs Cle- 9-10

Vs KC- 9-10

 

That's 41-34 overall, really good against CLE and the only disappointment intra-divisionally is KC.

 

Depending on who's managing next season, Astudillo looks like a good bet to start as 2nd Catcher and end up as 3rd Catcher when/if Castro is fully recovered to play regularly. He's a keeper if the Twins can improve the pen enough to only require a 12-man pitching corps.

 

He's the feel-good story of 2018- and a marketing department's dream player- but truth be told, the odds are long indeed that he can match production numbers anywhere close to this season.

Edited September 30, 2018 by jokin

[theBOMisthebomb]

Depending on who's managing next season, Astudillo looks like a good bet to start as 2nd Catcher and end up as 3rd Catcher when/if Castro is fully recovered to play regularly. He's a keeper if the Twins can improve the pen enough to only require a 12-man pitching corps.

 

He's the feel-good story of 2018- and a marketing department's dream player- b truth be toldut the odds are long indeed that he can match production numbers anywhere close to this season.

His track record is that he puts the ball in play. He may not hit the high water marks from 2018. However, he has earned a chance at regular ABs in 2019 to prove he can keep up the production long term.

[BJames]

Very disappointed in Molly.  It took this long to let Astudillo hit 3rd. He did the same with Garver, refusing to let him catch 2 nights in a row, while we had to suffer with no hit Bobby.  So for 5 month we had to watch Morrison bat 4 or 5 everyday, while Grossman sat.  After Morrison was gone we had to watch Forsythe and Grossman hit 3-4 everyday.  Molly seem to have no feel for who is hot and cold and seem to stick players in talent Boxes in which they can't move out of.  He's way to rigid with his players for me and seem to have little to no emagination managing the game.  I don't think he's a good fit for a young team that is in constant change.  He need a steady team of Vet's with the same lineup everyday.   

[Tom Froemming]

 

Depending on who's managing next season ...

Just my opinion, but I feel very comfortable assuming that's going to be Paul Molitor.

 

He's way to rigid with his players for me and seem to have little to no emagination managing the game.  I don't think he's a good fit for a young team that is in constant change.  He need a steady team of Vet's with the same lineup everyday.   

I think the hope is the Twins won't be a very young team, at least in terms of experience, and that there shouldn't be constant change. The only thing that's likely to create flux in the lineup is injuries, and if that's a problem again it might not matter much who's managing the team.

 

But, I'm not going to disagree with your overall point. If he trusts a guy, it takes a lot to break that trust. If not, it takes a lot for a guy to earn that trust.

[adorduan]

Although Astudillo has been a joy to watch, probably the biggest positive of this season has been the consistent good pitching from Gibson. He seemed to prove that the last 2 months of last season were not a fluke.  He sure looks like someone we need to extend, if possible.

[HrbieFan]

Astudillo and Cave are 2 keepers for next year. Kepler better watch out or Cave will take away a bunch of ABs

[wabene]

I would extend Gibson. I would bet this will be his prime, the next three/ four years. Looked like he had everything at his disposal yesterday after 200 innings. Dialed in!

[Circus Boy]

Astudillo rocks! He's a tough out because his strike zone is microscopic, allowing him to focus like a Jedi master on the balls frustrated pitchers eventually have to throw right down Broadway. Translation: I think he's capable playing top offense and pretty good defense for whole seasons.

[rdehring]

Have thought for some time they need to extend Berrios, Gibson and Rosario.  There is another name that should be added to that, one we never talk about...Rogers.

 

Read something in this morning's Strib.  Could Castro, Astudillo, Garver and Austin share catcher and first base next year?  Interesting, might mean they aren't in the market for anyone at those two positions in the off season.  Add no need to add any outfielders and their winter's work/decisions can be focused on middle infield, third base, #4 spot in the starting rotation and the bullpen.  

[Nine of twelve]

 

Nice of Belisle to even show some leadership as the season ends and give up a couple runs. Teaching the troops how to throw the ball away yourself and escape earned runs. Now that is a skill!

And while doing all that indirectly injure an opposing player to boot.

[Nine of twelve]

 

Astudillo and Cave are 2 keepers for next year. Kepler better watch out or Cave will take away a bunch of ABs

We need four outfielders with five to choose from: Buxton, Cave, Grossman, Kepler, and Rosario. I believe Buxton will be put on the roster and I think he's going to have a breakout year. It's just going to happen. Rosario obviously will be there. That leaves two of Cave, Kepler, and Grossman. Despite Grossman's deficiencies as a fielder it appears he can be relied on to get on base and he switch hits. As of now, I'd certainly keep Cave over Kepler for the last spot.

[Circus Boy]

Speaking of guys the FO should go after, I think they should contact the fan who threw back Stanton's homerun ball and hit him square in the back.

Edited September 30, 2018 by Circus Boy

[Mr. Brooks]

Have thought for some time they need to extend Berrios, Gibson and Rosario. There is another name that should be added to that, one we never talk about...Rogers.

 

Read something in this morning's Strib. Could Castro, Astudillo, Garver and Austin share catcher and first base next year? Interesting, might mean they aren't in the market for anyone at those two positions in the off season. Add no need to add any outfielders and their winter's work/decisions can be focused on middle infield, third base, #4 spot in the starting rotation and the bullpen.

Zero reason to extend a relief pitcher that is still under team control for 4 more seasons.

[h2oface]

Just pay a player what he is worth, already! If he has a 10 million dollar season and he was under contract for 500K... give him a bonus! The system has been rigged now to not pay players when they deserve(d) it, and to over pay by 10 to 50 times when they don't by the long term contract. Things are really screwed up. Everybody wants security, and it really doesn't exist. Each team should have a pool of money to disperse. They should all get a salary based on past performance as a base for the year, and at the end of the year, the rest should be divided up as deserved from the season's performance. Now the young players are exploited.

Edited September 30, 2018 by h2oface