Article: MIN 7, TEX 4: Pineda, Rogers Lead Twins Over Rangers

[Sabir Aden]

The Twins raging inferno, I mean offense, kept their scalding hot pace, with some essential late-inning insurance runs to stomp any chances of a Ranger recovery. The offense wasn’t nearly as prolific as yesterday’s 13 extra-base performance, but a nearly carbon copy script of the second inning of yesterday’s game, spearheaded a series win.Box Score

Pineda: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 61.5% strikes (59 of 96 pitches)

Bullpen: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

 

Home Runs: Gonzalez (10)

Multi-Hit Games: Castro (2-for-3, 2B), Polanco (2-for-4)

 

Top 3 WPA: Pineda .220, Rogers .182, Buxton .118

 

Starting Strong in the 2nd, Nailing the Coffin in the 8th

It was in the second inning, when the Twins drew first blood against recently converted starting pitcher Jesse Chavez. It began with a stinging double by our Man on Fire Luis Arraez, followed by a stellar plate appearance by Miguel Sano producing a walk, then a short pop-up to the infield by LaMonte Wade and then a Johnathon Schoop walk that loaded the bases for Jason Castro with nobody out. A sac fly that produced an astoundingly impressive overthrow by Joey Gallo set the stage for our Moment of the Day.

 

 

It was that two-run single by Byron Buxton that gave the Twins the lead for good.

 

Shaky Bullpen Lately

In the top of the seventh, there was a notable comment that deeply resonated with me, and perhaps should resonate more with Tyler Duffey himself. On the FSN broadcast, newly minted booth color commentator Tim Laudner mentioned that Tyler Duffey, “took a page out of the book of Jake Odorizzi”, namely how his fastball has become a strength from a weakness.

 

Well, maybe I have some criticism on how the Twins have been unleashing that animal in Tyler Duffey.

 

It was in the seventh inning that provided the first nervous murmur at Target Field with an announced crowd of 36,969, when left-handed hitting Willy Calhoun torched a hanging slider, the fourth of that sequence to momentarily startle the crowd.

 

Throughout the season we’ve been noticing a trend in how the starting pitchers pitch in the best way to conduce success. In other words, putting yourself in the best position to succeed.

 

How often this season have we seen Jose Berrios, Martin Perez and Jake Oddorizzi vary their breaking ball distributions to gravitate to the results they desire.

 

Now bear with me, this might be hard to understand. But below here is a rolling distribution of Jose Berrios and Martin Perez’s rolling breaking ball usage by K%:

 

Download attachment: Berrios.png

 

Download attachment: Perez.png

 

This might be one of the points of practice that pitching coordinator Wes Johnson and company are hammering home. Ride with what you feel is getting the best results (in this case weak contact and Ks), not what should be your best pitch.

 

This is not to say that Taylor Rogers was beyond straight filth today. I mean my goodness, flawless seven outs turned, five strikeouts and topping out at 97 mph! He truly reminded me of peak Andrew Miller

 

Well, Duffey faltered again, it may be interesting to note this and see if Tyler does rely on his newly improved fastball above the zone in high-leverage situations. It seemed abundantly clear that the Texas hitters were ambushing Duffey in anticipation of fastball usage in two-strike situations.

 

Adding to the Injured List

While Micheal Pineda was lights out in arguably his best performance (from a stuff standpoint) at Target Field, he did serve his only cookie of the day when Elvis Andrus belted a shot into the Twins bullpen that barely cleared the wall in right. It was then that LaMonte Wade collided with the wall in right, and dislocated his right thumb, according to this report….

 

 

Postgame With Baldelli

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Click here for a review of the number of pitches thrown by each member of the bullpen over the past five days.

 

Click here to view the article

[MVP Nick Punto]

Michael Pineda (for the win) and Rocco Baldeli (for the bailout) owe Taylor Rogers a steak dinner (or other entree of his choice). I am very glad we kept the damage low enough to get Big Mike the win. He was throwing flames out there.

[USAFChief]

Outstanding performance from Pineda. He's done some really good work over the past month.

 

Get some bullpen help, stat.

[Monticore]

Pineda was terrific and what can you say about Rogers?

[blindeke]

Poor Wade. He still hasn't gotten his first hit...

[MVP Nick Punto]

Pineda was terrific and what can you say about Rogers?

I can say whatever I want about him. This is America~

[ashbury]

Last year that little opposite-field single by Buxton would have been an embarrassing swing to pull it.

[terrydactyls]

Today is Saturday, July 6, it was the 88th game of the year and the Twins hit 1 home run.  The Twins are now 54% of the way through the season.  Out of 59 years, the current team ranks 12th on the all-time list of Twins' home runs in one season and are on a pace to hit 306 home runs this season.  They are now 101 homeruns behind the single season MLB record.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

This might be one of the points of practice that Pitching coordinator Wes Johnson and company are hammering home. Ride with what you feel is inducing the best results (in this case weak contact and K’s), not what should be your best pitch.

 

I agree completely. Despite the lack of big names in the bullpen and frankly some insanely good luck at times, I think there’s a method to the madness. I think many times the team really does know what will get the opponent’s batters out, and is able to successfully translate that information back to the pitching staff and catchers, and they have been executing well! We are a long way from “attacking the zone” and getting that “first pitch strike” though that 0-1 count, if you can get to it, is still important too, obviously.

[wabene]

Well I hope Mr Rogers has a nice relaxing break! Here here! I raise my glass to ya!

[mikelink45]

Harper yesterday and Duffey today did nothing to stop the angst and anger that demands some new BP arms. 

[yarnivek1972]

With Marwin Gonzalez going deep today, the Twins now have 10 players with at least 10 HR. Byron Buxton has 9...

[MNT1996]

Give Rooker a chance for a game. Cave hasn't done much of anything for the Twins when he's been up.

[Riverbrian]

 

I agree completely. Despite the lack of big names in the bullpen and frankly some insanely good luck at times, I think there’s a method to the madness. I think many times the team really does know what will get the opponent’s batters out, and is able to successfully translate that information back to the pitching staff and catchers, and they have been executing well! We are a long way from “attacking the zone” and getting that “first pitch strike” though that 0-1 count, if you can get to it, is still important too, obviously.

 

I have no idea but something agreeable is happening. 

[ashbury]

Give Rooker a chance for a game. Cave hasn't done much of anything for the Twins when he's been up.

Rooker's not on the 40-man roster. You don't make a consequential move like that "for a game".

[Squirrel]

Give Rooker a chance for a game. Cave hasn't done much of anything for the Twins when he's been up.

They would have to add him to the 40-man and for a game or two, there is no reason to do that.

 

Edit: ninja’d by ash.

[Richard Swerdlick]

I would like to see Tyler Duffey trust his fast ball more and just mix in the off speed stuff. When his fastball is clicking and he is using it a lot he can be really tough.

[ashbury]

I would like to see Tyler Duffey trust his fast ball more and just mix in the off speed stuff. When his fastball is clicking and he is using it a lot he can be really tough.

... as long as the opposing batters have to respect the breaking pitches. I've seen too many times where Tyler can't throw anything but the fastball for strikes. When that's the case, fastball fastball fastball, blammo.

[jimbo92107]

Terrible luck for Wade, I hope he heals up quickly.

 

I was a little surprised to see how the Rangers jumped all over Duffey. He does need to improve his fastball command, so hitters can't sit on one pitch. Also, it seemed like his curve ball has become average, which ain't good enough to get the whiffs it used to get. I remember guys missing Duffey's curves by a foot. Now, they're fouling them off. Bring back the big bender, Duffey!

[PDX Twin]

 

With Marwin Gonzalez going deep today, the Twins now have 10 players with at least 10 HR. Byron Buxton has 9...

 

Give Rooker a chance for a game. Cave hasn't done much of anything for the Twins when he's been up.

 

If we give Rooker a game, will he get 10 HR?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

I would like to see Tyler Duffey trust his fast ball more and just mix in the off speed stuff. When his fastball is clicking and he is using it a lot he can be really tough.

In addition to what ashbury said, in contrast to Duffey, what I like about Harper is it looks like he can throw his curve in any count to any location. 

[Darius]

Great win.

 

These injuries just keep piling up.

 

All you hear about is how amazing the Yankees’ story is with injuries. Well, the Twins have come out of nowhere to enter the conversation for the most prolific offense of all time. That has been done without a full lineup contingent healthy for nigh a single game this year (honestly, I think none).

 

...And just think, that includes giving the Yanks Aaron Hicks for absolutely nothing.

[drivlikejehu]

The Twins bullpen is 3rd in MLB in WPA, a hundredth of a win behind the Astros.

 

The reality is that even good bullpens allow some runs. That's the nature of the game. The Twins should look to improve wherever possible before the deadline, but the bullpen harping is just not based in reality. Even if the Twins acquire multiple high-end relievers, they will still allow some runs . . . folks are just going to have to deal with that. 

[MNT1996]

 

Rooker's not on the 40-man roster. You don't make a consequential move like that "for a game".

 

Twins have an open spot on the 40 man and Wade is probably going to be out for a while so it would be smart to add another outfielder on the 40 just in case something happens to Cave and/or another starting outfielder.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Twins have an open spot on the 40 man and Wade is probably going to be out for a while so it would be smart to add another outfielder on the 40 just in case something happens to Cave and/or another starting outfielder.

Teams don’t add players like Rooker to the 40-man roster as a depth piece. Rooker isn’t a great prospect but he’s good enough that the team can and will control how his service clock is managed.

[Aerodeliria]

We won! I hope we score 15 tomorrow so we can use less Rogers and more fill-ins.

[Riverbrian]

 

Great win.

These injuries just keep piling up.

All you hear about is how amazing the Yankees’ story is with injuries. Well, the Twins have come out of nowhere to enter the conversation for the most prolific offense of all time. That has been done without a full lineup contingent healthy for nigh a single game this year (honestly, I think none).

...And just think, that includes giving the Yanks Aaron Hicks for absolutely nothing.

 

If given the choice between:

 

A. Placing talented players on the DL and having talented players to step in.

 

B. Having Dozier and Morrison play terribly and play everyday through injuries.  

 

I choose A.

[stringer bell]

Honestly, I think the Twins have been extraordinarily lucky on the injury front. Among the position players, Sanó missed almost two months. Astudillo has had two disabling injuries and the second one might keep him on the injured list for over a month. Other than that, Garver missed about two weeks. Gonzalez, Adrianza, Buxton, Cron and Rosario all will have IL stints of less than two weeks. On the pitching side, only Pineda's ten-day "rest" has taken a pitcher off the 25-man along with Odorizzi's blister issue.

 

I didn't mention Wade, but it is doubtful that he would have stayed with the club after the All-Star break.

[Nine of twelve]

 

Today is Saturday, July 6, it was the 88th game of the year and the Twins hit 1 home run.  The Twins are now 54% of the way through the season.  Out of 59 years, the current team ranks 12th on the all-time list of Twins' home runs in one season and are on a pace to hit 306 home runs this season.  They are now 101 homeruns behind the single season MLB record.

I appreciate and enjoy your frequent dinger updates. I don't want to take anything away from the Twins' home run prowess, however I strongly believe that the baseballs being used this season are significantly contributing to our team's record-setting pace. I think MLB would benefit from switching to baseballs with more air resistance. We would still be leading the majors in dingers but I think the game would be better with fewer of them.

[Nine of twelve]

 

Twins have an open spot on the 40 man and Wade is probably going to be out for a while so it would be smart to add another outfielder on the 40 just in case something happens to Cave and/or another starting outfielder.

There's no reason to do it now. We can do it if/when the need arises.