Twins Notebook 7/24: Berríos Aims to Continue Dominance Over White Sox

[Tom Froemming]

We finally made it. The Minnesota Twins open their 2020 regular season in Chicago tonight. José Berríos will look to get the Twins off on the right foot with a win over Lucas Giolito and the White Sox.TODAY

Twins at White Sox | Friday, July 24 7:10 pm CT

Betting Lines: MIN -1.5, -114, 8.5 O/U

 

Twins: José Berríos, RHP

Download attachment: BerriosSavant.png

 

Berríos is 11-2 with a 2.40 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 9.6 K/9 in 93 2/3 career innings against the White Sox. Players currently on Chicago’s roster have combined to hit just .237/.262/.429 (.691 OPS) against Berríos, with a bulk of the damage done by James McCann, who has four home runs in 24 plate appearances against José.

 

White Sox: Lucas Giolito, RHP

Download attachment: GiolitoSavant.png

 

Giolito’s best start last season came at Target Field against the Twins. On Aug. 21, Giolito pitched a three-hit complete game shutout while striking out 12 batters without issuing a walk. On the flip side, Nelson Cruz hit three bombas off Giolito in Chicago nearly a year ago today.

 

Before the game, Seth asked the Twins manager about facing a talented starter like Lucas Giolito.

 

 

LINEUP

 

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Who do you think will hit the first Twins bomba of 2020?

 

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS

NYY 4, WAS 1

LAD 8, SFG 1

 

NEWS & NOTES

Byron Buxton did not travel down to Chicago with the team, but Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported that Buck is driving down today to meet the team. He’ll be on the Opening Day roster, so it seems likely we’ll see Buxton at some point over the weekend, if not tonight.

 

 

While the opening game was being played last night, Major League Baseball officially announced that the postseason was going to be expanded to 16 teams. The top two teams in each division will automatically qualify for the playoffs, with the final spots going to the remaining teams who have the best record, and each matchup in the first round will be a best of three series.

 

I really don’t like this. To me, a big thing keeping some validity for this season was they were still going to play the postseason as if they would have under normal circumstances. Sure, some weird teams may have slipped in with the 60-game season, but you still have to perform and beat the best of the best in a five or seven-game series once you get there.

 

This new setup both removes the potential thrill of a shorter, pressure-packed regular season and delegitimizes the playoffs. A single elimination game for the wild card was alright because it put more emphasis on winning the division. Reducing every first round matchup to a three-game series means there’s very little advantage gained by regular season success.

 

Higher seeds get home field advantage, whatever that means in 2020, and there’s been some talk of the division winners being able to pick their opponents, but I don’t see that being reported as official anywhere as of yet.

 

This new playoff format will be in place this season only. For now ...

 

SEE ALSO

Minnesota Twins Opening Day Roster

20 Twins Predictions for the 2020 Season

Swinging Sixty: Minnesota Twins 2020 Season Preview

The 2020 Preseason All-AL Central Team

Who Are the Twins Best 60 Game Sprinters?

Ranking Minnesota’s Top-5 Indispensable Players

 

Click here to view the article

[Matthew Taylor]

I'll answer your question of the day with probably the most obvious answer, Nelson Cruz

[Drew]

 

I'll answer your question of the day with probably the most obvious answer, Nelson Cruz

The problem with this is that Cruz doesn't bat leadoff. He can't hit the first homerun if Kepler hits one first. So my answer is Kepler.

[Tom Froemming]

 

The problem with this is that Cruz doesn't bat leadoff. He can't hit the first homerun if Kepler hits one first. So my answer is Kepler.

I like the way you think, Drew.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

The problem with this is that Cruz doesn't bat leadoff. He can't hit the first homerun if Kepler hits one first. So my answer is Kepler.

This is correct, unless the pitcher reads this post on TD and walks Kepler just to spite us.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Oh yeah.

 

I hope we win.

[diehardtwinsfan]

60-0 here we come.

[jmlease1]

I'm ok with the playoff expansion, in part because they're not making the new round a bunch of 1-off play-in style games. The better teams will still have the best chance to win a three game series. This also adds a little more fairness with the schedules being more imbalanced than we've seen in some time. I don't think I want this all the time, but I can live with it in this context.

 

First Bomba of the year? Sano. (As my friend's small child used to scream at Target Field..."Let's Go Snow!" hee.)

[denarded]

To Pro-Rate Sano's stats from last season, he would probably have hit 40 HR's over a full season (Woulda Coulda Shoulda I know) But what team has put a 40 HR hitter from previous season in 8 hole the next year? And yes, it's part lefty/righty, but still

Go Twins

[stringer bell]

All right! Baseball is back (kind of) and the Twins face Giolito. BTW, Tom, if memory serves, Giolito threw his gem at Target Field, not in the Windy City. I was at the game.

[ClosetFan]

Eddie Rosario will hit the first bomba.

Long time reader and lurker here. First post ever.

[Tom Froemming]

 

All right! Baseball is back (kind of) and the Twins face Giolito. BTW, Tom, if memory serves, Giolito threw his gem at Target Field, not in the Windy City. I was at the game.

That is correct. Also, sorry you had to go through that, lol.

 

 

Eddie Rosario will hit the first bomba.
Long time reader and lurker here. First post ever.

Welcome! I am now rooting for Rosie to hit the bomba. There is no official prize, but I feel like if you correctly call a bomba on your first ever post you instantly reach legend status.

[Seth Stohs]

I added a couple of pre-game Rocco Baldelli quotes from the press conference... 

[Squirrel]

Join us in tonight's game thread ... in-game banter, fun, cheers!!!

 

Click here ... and post away! Go Twins!!!

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/39113-game-thread-twins-vs-white-sox-opening-night-baby/

[Mill1634]

My first homer answer is Jorge Polanco

[Tom Froemming]

 

The problem with this is that Cruz doesn't bat leadoff. He can't hit the first homerun if Kepler hits one first. So my answer is Kepler.

 

DREW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[adorduan]

 

The problem with this is that Cruz doesn't bat leadoff. He can't hit the first homerun if Kepler hits one first. So my answer is Kepler.

Nice call! 

 

[Drew]

DREW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is one of the best days of my life.

[Squirrel]

 

This is one of the best days of my life.

 

Come celebrate with us in the game thread!

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

This is correct, unless the pitcher reads this post on TD and walks Kepler just to spite us.

Evidently they don't read TD...

[Jimv]

 

The problem with this is that Cruz doesn't bat leadoff. He can't hit the first homerun if Kepler hits one first. So my answer is Kepler.

I hope you played the lottery today.