Article: MIN 9, CLE 3: Twins Take Series Behind Pineda, Tortuga

[Tom Froemming]

 

Tom, How was Astudillo's pitch framing in this game. You were able to compare Castro and Garver in games 1 and 2. Could you compare all 3 catchers in the first 3 games?

He was great with Pineda, not so great with Perez. Two obvious balls were called strikes, three obvious strikes were called balls and I don't think he did real well along the black (see below). It's not really fair to compare individual performances in my opinion because they caught different guys and a different ump was calling each game. But I'd say Castro was best and Astudillo was worst just based on the charts, but he and Garver were pretty close. 

And just for comparison's sake, here's what Cleveland's chart looked like yesterday:

 

[bird]

 

This is going to be a fun summer of baseball.

Would be most excellent if we could break out just in time for the next wave to come up.

 

 

While it's way too early to get excited about that, we were given reasons to dream on the front side of it in these three games. Although we may not be talking about a next wave as opposed to a next trickle, we'll see. Fun to dream on that too. We need a bunch of the Enlows and Larnachs to be the real deal too.

[Blake]

 

You got to admit that the Indians starting pitching was the A+ team. And the Twins beat them...should have/could have won Saturday.

Yep. 

[Doctor Wu]

 

I know that Astudillo doesn’t have a lot of plate appearances yet but I really feel like the lineup is better with him in it. Also, he makes good, heads up plays. I’d really like to see Baldelli find a way to get him on the field 5 out of 7 days with 2 of those behind the plate. Was it just a coincidence that they had a breakout offensive game the first time he was in the lineup? Maybe, maybe not?

I agree, Heads up plays, good instincts, he doesn't strike out, he hustles. Sure, he doesn't have the "track record" of the more established players, but I hope that Rocco finds ways to get him in the lineup as often as possible. Can't argue with the results so far, plus we all know he's a joy to watch play. More please!

[MN_ExPat]

My question is sincere...

 

Why would Baldelli/Twins allow CLE runners to advance from: 1. Second to Third and 2. First to Second on consecutive uncontested pitches in the top of the 9th with a six run lead and two outs? Why not a catcher throw? Why uncontested? Thanks!!!

 

It’s a fair question, but the biggest reason is simply because the Twins were up 9-3 w/2 outs. There’s no reason to make that throw and chance an error that allows a run (or 2) to score without giving your defense or the pitcher a chance to make a play. Thus the defensive indifference on the runners.

 

The odds are always in the defense’s favor. Even if the batter does everything correct, statistically speaking he will “fail” (or get out) at least 70% of the time. Teams will take those odds more often than not.

[yarnivek1972]

Here are all of Perez's called strikes and balls from today:

I count 6 pitches on or in the box called balls and 2 more that were a hair off. Only one outside the box was called a strike. That’s either horrible umpiring or horrible framing.

 

 

If those 8 extra pitches are called strikes, I suspect Perez’ day goes much better.

[joefish]

Don't be sad 'cause two out of three ain't bad.

Go Twins.

Gobats.

[NapoleonComplex]

 

Trade physiques with A-Rod.

 

A-Rod's engaged now. Odds of him trading physiques with our boy Willians increased exponentially.

[JD Green]

The biggest difference I see between this team and last year is that these guys are having fun. Granted, its only 3 games, but it shows.

 

Attitude is 90% of the game. The other 50% is physical!

[AceWrigley]

Astudillo was 2 for 2, raising his career batting average to .368 in 100 plate appearances. That's the highest average in major league history among players with at least 100 plate appearances, just ahead of Ty Cobb (.366).

 

So there.

[ashbury]

I love Astudillo as much as the next guy

Apparently not, though.

[joefish]

Now dont be sad

'Cause two out of three ain't bad.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Where and how often?

And who loses playing time in return?

I want to see Astudillo on the 25 man roster but we’re three games into the season and he’s an unknown quantity. He should get playing time but not at the expense of more established players.

If he’s worthy of a starting spot, he’ll play his way into it. Don’t force the issue.

 

How does he prove worthy if he doesn't play? 

 

I'm not sure the current 3B is a better hitter. I'm not sure any of the catchers are better, though it is likely Castro is better defensively and Garver offensively, I'm not sure when you combine the two they are better. Note, I'm saying "not sure", as in, I don't know. But, since all he does is hit, I'd like to find out. They should have found out last year, in a lost year. That was bad strategy all around. 

 

I'd go for 3-4 starts a week, and see what happens. It's not like he would be replacing all stars.....

[Brock Beauchamp]

How does he prove worthy if he doesn't play?

 

I'm not sure the current 3B is a better hitter. I'm not sure any of the catchers are better, though it is likely Castro is better defensively and Garver offensively, I'm not sure when you combine the two they are better. Note, I'm saying "not sure", as in, I don't know. But, since all he does is hit, I'd like to find out. They should have found out last year, in a lost year. That was bad strategy all around.

 

I'd go for 3-4 starts a week, and see what happens. It's not like he would be replacing all stars.....

I want to see Astudillo get more playing time but there’s no sense of urgency to the situation. Over time, attrition will get him playing time. In the first weeks of the season, figure out what you have in the starting corps and let them play. These situations resolve themselves quickly enough most of the time.

 

Fit him in where you can, play him a couple of times a week, and keep him fresh when an opening arises.

 

If an opening doesn’t arise, that means the team is pretty good and I’m not going to worry about it much.

[nicksaviking]

 

I wonder what Astudillo would have to do to get regular at bats?

 

I'm hopeful he just did it yesterday.

 

I think Polanco/Astudillo at the top of the lineup would look good right now, hopefully replaced by Buxton/Astudillo in a couple weeks.

[nicksaviking]

 

I want to see Astudillo get more playing time but there’s no sense of urgency to the situation. Over time, attrition will get him playing time. In the first weeks of the season, figure out what you have in the starting corps and let them play. These situations resolve themselves quickly enough most of the time.

Fit him in where you can, play him a couple of times a week, and keep him fresh when an opening arises.

If an opening doesn’t arise, that means the team is pretty good and I’m not going to worry about it much.

 

Forget about his big doubles yesterday, I think his 5th inning sac fly is the reason he should be playing most days and hitting near the top of the lineup. His MLB sample size is small, but I think his unmatched ability to avoid the strikeout was legendary before he was ever called up. Terry Francona was a fool for pitching to him with less than 2 outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd and a base open; every batter's goal is just to put the ball in play to score a run and Astudillo is almost a stone cold lock to do so.

 

I could see an arguement for him to be a clutch situational pinch hitter, but there aren't enough black holes in the lineup that would tempt Baldelli to make that switch regularly. It's not like Castro is always going to be the one at the plate when you just need someone to make contact.

 

Bottom line: if you assume the strikeout and un-intentional walk are not one of the probable outcomes of the at bat, he's often going to force the other team's manager to make decisions he typically would not have to.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

 

He was great with Pineda, not so great with Perez. Two obvious balls were called strikes, three obvious strikes were called balls and I don't think he did real well along the black (see below). It's not really fair to compare individual performances in my opinion because they caught different guys and a different ump was calling each game. But I'd say Castro was best and Astudillo was worst just based on the charts, but he and Garver were pretty close. 

 

And just for comparison's sake, here's what Cleveland's chart looked like yesterday:

 

Thank you. I agree there are numerous variables at play here. Frankly, I feel really good  about the Twins' catching. I appreciate each of the 3 catchers, each of whom has different strengths and weaknesses. I appreciate your posting this for me to see. 

[howeda7]

 

I love Astudillo as much as the next guy but some of you need to reel it in a bit.

The dude has ~100 career PAs. The front office isn’t insane for refusing to write his name into lineups using a pen.

It's not so much how great he is. It's how bad Castro is. And the fact that Bobby Wilson was playing ahead of his is a crime against baseball.

Edited April 2, 2019 by howeda7

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's not so much how great he is. It's how bad Castro is. And the fact that Bobby Wilson was playing ahead of his is a crime against baseball.

There’s a lot more to catching than holding a bat and Castro is pretty good at most of it, very good at some of it.

[Danchat]

 

It's not so much how great he is. It's how bad Castro is. And the fact that Bobby Wilson was playing ahead of his is a crime against baseball.

When did Castro become so bad? Yes, his 74 PAs in 2018 went very poorly, but his previous full season in 2017 (407 PAs) brought us .720 OPS and a .242/.333/.388 slash line that is solid for a catcher. That's not even to mention the catching defense. I don't know if we'll need to worry about a guy like Wilson playing ahead of Astudillo with Molitor gone, but Castro isn't close to that level yet. 

 

If anything, Garver might be in trouble, since he was rated by many defensive stats to be MLB's worst defensive catcher and has options (2 remaining).

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

It should be interesting. I have been hard on Castro in the past but as long as he’s co-authoring complete game shutouts, he can hit whatever he wants. I do expect him to revert back to his mid 600 OPS and to be pinch hit for many times late in games. Which might necessitate carrying all three catchers for long stretches. Not sure; we shall see, this could be a fun ride (at least until the first time a team hangs 16 on us)

[howeda7]

 

There’s a lot more to catching than holding a bat and Castro is pretty good at most of it, very good at some of it.

He's a good defensive catcher who can't hit. Astudillo appears to be an average or slightly below average defensive catcher who can hit. I'll take the later. I'd be happy with a 60/40 split between the two. Garver's future is as a reserve 1B/RF IMO.

[jorgenswest]

I am much more optimistic about Garver. I am a believer in hard work and I think Garver can improve from his poor catching last year and approach average. His bat at catcher will be an asset.

[Brock Beauchamp]

He's a good defensive catcher who can't hit. Astudillo appears to be an average or slightly below average defensive catcher who can hit. I'll take the later. I'd be happy with a 60/40 split between the two. Garver's future is as a reserve 1B/RF IMO.

I’m going to need to see a lot more of Astudillo before I believe he’s average behind the plate.

 

And Castro is somewhere around league average for catchers with the stick. It’s a stretch to say he “can’t hit”.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I am much more optimistic about Garver. I am a believer in hard work and I think Garver can improve from his poor catching last year and approach average. His bat at catcher will be an asset.

You should have tweeted this to Mitch!