Article: MIL 5, MIN 4: Hader Closes the Door on the Twins Win Streak

[Old Twins Cap]

C'mon guys, Taylor's pitch to Arcia was right down the pipe -- poor location.

 

He can pitch better and likely will.

 

If anything, he is rusty from under-use, not over-use.

 

Against Hader, Cron had the right approach: you hit the ball hard the other way and hope for the best. Sano swung for the world, and so did Rosario.

 

Hitch up the pants and play better next game.

 

 

[mikelink45]

Good game and it is okay to analyze a loss and not be considered a whiner or in panic.  For me the disappointment is the Sano K.  Even if he did not get a hit I want contact and I immediately expected the K when he was the last up.  

[wsnydes]

 

That was a crazy good reaction to that shot by Astudillo. So glad he wasn't hit in the noggin. Was he lying on the ground because he was shook up (I would understand this)? Or was he injured.

Counsell said that he wasn't injured in any way and passed all medical tests. It does look like he may have gotten his foot caught and tweaked a knee as he went down, but that's purely speculation.

 

I have to imagine something like that would shake a guy up. Can't blame him for trying to calm down before walking off.

[Alex Schieferdecker]

A lot of people are saying the Twins need more help in the bullpen. While I don't necessarily disagree with that, I'm noticing a conspicuous lack of names. I'm not seeing suggestions for players the Twins should target (I'm sure someone will mention Kimbrel, but beyond him) and even more strikingly, current relievers they should dump. If you think the bullpen needs help, be up front about who should be sent down and who the Twins should be going after!

 

It seems especially weird to be making this criticism today, honestly, given that the game was lost by the one reliever that everyone wants to keep around. Meanwhile unheralded guys like Ryne Harper and Mike Morin pitched well, and have ERAs of 1.64 and 0.96 respectively and WHIPs under 1.

 

Anytime the Twins lose, and often when they win, there's constant complaining about the bullpen. I get that few of these guys are "proven," and none of them are big names. But they're basically all pitching well so far, and it seems reflexive and not totally accurate to slam the bullpen on the night that the team's most highly regarded reliever made one poor pitch.

[Riverbrian]

Counsell said that he wasn't injured in any way and passed all medical tests. It does look like he may have gotten his foot caught and tweaked a knee as he went down, but that's purely speculation.

 

I have to imagine something like that would shake a guy up. Can't blame him for trying to calm down before walking off.

The big question for me with Jefferies is this.

 

How in the... did he catch that ball?

[lukeduke1980]

 

C'mon guys, Taylor's pitch to Arcia was right down the pipe -- poor location.

 

He can pitch better and likely will.

 

If anything, he is rusty from under-use, not over-use.

I agree - Rogers started out the first two batters with straight fastballs right over the plate.  He started to do better once he mixed in some sliders.  It was like he needed a couple batters to get the feel for things.

[Don Walcott]

Pineda gave up 3 hits and no walks, but gave up three runs. That's not going to happen very often. The Twins probably should have scored a few more runs. Taylor Rogers is human. Even Josh Hader is human -- he's just an incredibly good human pitcher. Tough luck, let's get them back tonight.

[Vanimal46]

*Insert your favorite Gardy-ism here*

 

Tough loss. Really battled their tails off last night.

 

We'll be back tomorrow night. I can promise you that.

[jmlease1]

 

In 2017 Rogers was lights-out until about the All Star break, then couldn’t get anybody out. I’m not concerned about Rogers per se, but that other guys start getting high leverage appearances too (assuming the offense comes back to earth).

 

not really accurate. Rogers had an awful July (.994 OPS against), but was basically back to being the same Taylor Rogers after that in August/Sept. (August was in fact his 2nd best month in 2017) His 2nd half numbers are really skewed by that awful July where he gave up 4 dingers.

 

I don't know what to say about Pineda. He started out looking good, had an inning where he looked terrible, then settled in to have a solid night for a 5th starter. Maybe he's just one of those guys that's always going to have a bad inning? I don't have a ton of confidence in him. He's not getting enough Ks, he's giving up a career high in HR/9...but he still is getting through 5-6 innings while giving the Twins a chance to win? I dunno.

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

not really accurate. Rogers had an awful July (.994 OPS against), but was basically back to being the same Taylor Rogers after that in August/Sept. (August was in fact his 2nd best month in 2017) His 2nd half numbers are really skewed by that awful July where he gave up 4 dingers.

Looks like his awful streak didn’t last as long as I remember it lasting. Thanks for the correction. His whip in Aug-Sept was pretty ordinary but he did prevent runs from scoring.

[jkcarew]

Good game. Best to separate from the Brewers before the 8th inning. After that, they're going to have the advantage in most games and against almost all opponents.

[MNT1996]

Harper has been so damn good. I'm seriously impressed by him this year.

[scottz]

 

Also, Buxton’s throw that hit the runner (Arcia?) for the Brewers third run. Although it would have taken a great tag, I thought Astudillo played the ball poorly. He should have been in front of the runner not behind the runner.

 

it would have taken a fantastic tag, since the ball never got to Astudillo.

I agree with Eris - the ball didn't get to Astudillo because he played it poorly. It obviously looked like he thought the ball was going up the line, which is fine, but instead of going up the line in fair territory, he angled into foul territory and behind the runner. The ball ended up in a good spot (hitting the runner before he crossed home within a stride of the plate). If Astudillo is in fair territory, catch and tag is in play.

 

I like Astudillo a lot, but I thought he had a rough game last night. I recall only one baserunner advancing on a pitch, but a couple of balls popped out of his glove unnecessarily. I can say this because I'm 48 and the last time I caught a game I was 10, so I know what a good game by a catcher looks like.

 

Anyway. Let's get one today. Good luck, Smeltzer!

[Circus Boy]

 

It really a game of inches and even centimeters. Astudillo's line shot goes through and the Twins are sitting on six runs instead of stuck on four.

Yep. I muttered "ball game" on that play. The baseball gods favored the Brew Crew over the Grain Belters this fine Memorial Day.

[Circus Boy]

 

Even Josh Hader is inhuman -- he's just an incredibly good inhuman pitcher. Tough luck, let's get them back tonight.

FTFY

[h2oface]

 

Typical Twins fans ... Lose one game and start looking for someone to beat up on (Rogers, Astudillo, Diaz) ... Still the best team in baseball

 

Nothing typical about the fans here on TD. A diverse group of obsessed and dedicated fans, so many with insightful critical thinking, sardonic humor, and cagey takes. To analyze is not beating someone up. It that is what one gets from most of the discussion, perhaps they might just be a typical Twins fan.

[h2oface]

 

.....If you think the bullpen needs help, be up front about who should be sent down and who the Twins should be going after!......

 

......Anytime the Twins lose, and often when they win, there's constant complaining about the bullpen. I get that few of these guys are "proven," and none of them are big names. But they're basically all pitching well so far, and it seems reflexive and not totally accurate to slam the bullpen on the night that the team's most highly regarded reliever made one poor pitch.

 

The pitch that the previous double resulted from was a pretty lame pitch, too, I would say even more of a miss right down the middle.... so I count 2. And Rodgers knew it. Just didn't have the control to start the inning. Not a biggy. There has to be something wrong with an offense that doesn't score a single run after the second inning, eh? 

 

Just because you have a pen that has held it's own so far, doesn't mean that one shouldn't look to improve, especially eyeing the post season needs. To do so would be irresponsible of the Front Office.

 

As for personel to dump or hire, that is a whole other thread with countless propositions that can't possibly be done, or will never happen, by people who don't get paid to do it. It would be fun, though, and I am sure, not absent of massive participants.

Edited May 28, 2019 by h2oface

[TribeAZ13]

man, cant believe u guys lost..pfftt, twins suck . Tribe is at fenway in a downpour..so if it gets rained out, we cant lose! lol ...u guys better hit 7 homers today

[stringer bell]

 

A lot of people are saying the Twins need more help in the bullpen. While I don't necessarily disagree with that, I'm noticing a conspicuous lack of names. I'm not seeing suggestions for players the Twins should target (I'm sure someone will mention Kimbrel, but beyond him) and even more strikingly, current relievers they should dump. If you think the bullpen needs help, be up front about who should be sent down and who the Twins should be going after!

 

It seems especially weird to be making this criticism today, honestly, given that the game was lost by the one reliever that everyone wants to keep around. Meanwhile unheralded guys like Ryne Harper and Mike Morin pitched well, and have ERAs of 1.64 and 0.96 respectively and WHIPs under 1.

 

Anytime the Twins lose, and often when they win, there's constant complaining about the bullpen. I get that few of these guys are "proven," and none of them are big names. But they're basically all pitching well so far, and it seems reflexive and not totally accurate to slam the bullpen on the night that the team's most highly regarded reliever made one poor pitch.

Will Smith (Giants) and Sean Doolittle (Nats), both of whom are lefties. Having another dominant left hander in the bullpen would make Rogers' role more clear and perhaps reduce the back-to-back usage we've seen so far this year.