MIN 14, CHW 2: Lineup Flexes Early to Aid Maeda in Victorious Twins Debut

[Nate Palmer]

The Twins lineup gave Kenta Maeda a wonderful welcoming present. Jake Cave hit a grand slam in the first inning before the Twins added five more runs in the second frame, making for a low-stress Twins debut for Maeda.Box Score

Maeda: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

Home Runs: Cave (1), Cruz 2 (3), Gonzalez (1)

Top 3 WPA: Cave .283, Cruz .102, Maeda .055

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs):

Download attachment: WinChart.png

 

The Minnesota Twins took Sunday’s rubber match as an opportunity to declare that they are still the reigning AL Central Champs and don't plan on letting that change easily. That statement was fueled by a good debut by Kenta Maeda paired with an offensive explosion. The headliner being Nelson Cruz and his two home runs, two doubles, and seven RBIs were added to his already excellent numbers against the White Sox.

 

The 1st inning looked to be headed to a non-exciting end as Josh Donaldson jogged out a bobbled ground ball to Tim Anderson which resulted in the second out of the inning. The Twins were not content with that and went on a 2-out rally to set up a Jake Cave Grand Slam to put the team up 4-0 early.

 

After Maeda led the game by recording his first strike out as a Twin and going 1-2-3 in the first. The Twins loaded the bases again in the 2nd inning. This time it was Nelson Cruz with a bases clearing double that seemed to fully exercise any batting with the bases loaded demons that may have existed.

 

Maeda was able to find a good groove after being spotted a four run lead before even toeing the rubber. Before giving way to Lewis Thorpe in the 6th inning, Maeda pitched to the tune of 5.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts. Really besides Luis Robert’s first career home run, Maeda kept the White Sox quiet throughout Sunday afternoon’s game.

 

The story of the game feels like it begins and ends with Nelson Cruz’s performance. It is simply amazing and a joy to watch how good Cruz continues to be even after turning 40 as he now sits at three home runs on the young season.

 

 

It also seems fitting to celebrate how big Jake Cave has been to begin the season. He has once again performed well in important at-bats and has driven in 6 runs as he fills in for Byron Buxton.

 

While there is a lot to celebrate there are few developments that cause a level of concern. The Twins have to be hoping that with an off day on Monday that Josh Donaldson will be able to find his bat. It is too early to call this an absolutely bad start to his Twins career, but it would feel good to see that first big hit fly off of his bat.

 

It was very hard to see Lewis Thorpe leave today’s game with an injury after pitching well and turning in a line of 2.2 IP, 1 hit, 2 walks, and no runs allowed. Hope to see him back out on the mound soon as he continues to be one of the bright young arms that could take a positive step forward in 2020.

 

The first place Twins will have the day off tomorrow as they prepare to play their first game at home as they open up a series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. The matchup for that first game is currently scheduled to be Carlos Martinez for the Cardinals and Homer Bailey for the Twins.

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Download attachment: BullpenChart.png

 

Highlights

 

Click here to view the article

[twinsfanstreif]

Nelson Cruz is really good and I don't want him to ever leave! That is all.....

[Danchat]

Things I've learned from this weekend:

 

Pitchers are having a hard time staying healthy (Verlander, Kluber, Kershaw, Odorizzi, two pitchers in today's game, a whole bunch of other pitchers on the IL) early on. Perhaps from ramping things up too quickly?

 

The White Sox have a legitimately good lineup

 

The White Sox defense is quite awful

 

Cruz does not look like he's 40 and I think it's safe to say his regression due to age isn't happening this year

 

Arraez is going to hit above .300 again this year, I'd seriously consider hitting him leadoff

[T_J]

I don't see an issue with Donaldson yet. He taking solid ABs and has hit the ball fairly hard. I would have preferred to see Sano in the lineup too for some reps. Also, the substitutes at the end of the game were weird. Why not make them so Wade and/or Whitefield get an at bat? Overall a fantastic game and a good series win. The hometown nine showed that the filthy sox have a ways to go to overtake the top spot.

[Brandon]

All the offense from Detroit's game today came from a HR by CJ Cron, and a 2 run HR by Goodrum. Both are former Twins.

[BeatTheRich]

I absolutely love that Win Probability Chart and hope to see many more like it in the weeks to come. Great write-up, Nate.

 

I must say that "low-stress debut" does not map to that top photo. Are you sure that's not Scotty in Star Trek giving it everything he's got? Aye, the haggis is in the fire now for sure.

[stringer bell]

Any word on Thorpe’s injury? Lots of injuries to pitchers already this season.

[jimbo92107]

40 years old should not be considered over the hill anymore, not in baseball, anyway.

 

Remember, on July 4th 1966, ageless wonder Jack LaLane pulled the Moon out of its orbit with his teeth. He put it back later, of course. 

 

Point is, with careful exercise and good nutrition, Cruz should be able to hit baseballs over 400 feet for the next seventy years. 

 

I plan to be there to catch them with my cybernetic implants.

[dougd]

 

Any word on Thorpe’s injury? Lots of injuries to pitchers already this season.

According to Betsy Helfand, the hope is that he will be available after a couple days of rest. bruised leg

[VivaBomboRivera!]

 

All the offense from Detroit's game today came from a HR by CJ Cron, and a 2 run HR by Goodrum. Both are former Twins.

Cron had a nice unassisted double play at first yesterday, as well.  Nice to see him flourishing.

 

Orioles and Detroit at top of their divisions - whoda thunk it?

[Aerodeliria]

I get to watch highlights on TV today thanks to Maeda ;-)

[rghrbek]

I agree with Danchat.  Wow how tight is the baseball this year?  Rosario barely tapped a ball to left center and we all thought might be a fly ball to left center.  It carried to the wall for a double.  That was the weakest double in the gap I might have ever seen.  I know the left  fielder was struggling, and then gut pulled, but man that ball carried.  I fear for the pitchers.  I think MLB wants offense....

 

 

[bighat]

Agree that Donaldson's off to a slow start. It doesn't look like good contact to me. No zip on those ground balls to 3rd base and SS, at least not the ones I've seen. And he didn't run out that ball to start the game yesterday but was bailed out by Polanco and eventually Cave. I am sure he felt bad about it. Not hitting the panic button yet. I did see a great clip of Donaldson looking at Nelson Cruz after his 2nd home run like "this is CRAZY!" - it's taken him one series to confirm he made the right decision.

 

This team had 2 games of 10 and 14 runs, and Donaldson didn't get a hit in either of them. How's that for a stat? Nice to know this team isn't desperate for him to get going.

 

Maeda looks like he's just what the Twins need. Nice job taking 2 this weekend, now a big home series!

[puckstopper1]

 

This team had 2 games of 10 and 14 runs, and Donaldson didn't get a hit in either of them. How's that for a stat? Nice to know this team isn't desperate for him to get going.

 

In those games they got no hits from not only Donaldson, but also none from Sano, Garver and Buxton! Great depth in this lineup. Buxton can stay on the bench as long as Cave continues to come up with clutch hits.

 

FWIW - there were NO sweeps in the first weekend of baseball. Every team has at least one win and at least one loss. The longer this parity continues, the more interesting the season is going to be.

[jmlease1]

Maeda looked very good, I thought. I think Morneau nailed it when he said he was getting a little fatigued in the 5th, leading to the runs. He lost a little of the early sharpness and wasn't finishing guys off well. Right move to pull him after 5. But it was really fun to watch his approach to the game with what and how he threw. I think he's going to be a nice addition.

 

 

[mikelink45]

Only three games, but worth 7 by the shortened season metrics.  I am with Danchat - lead off Arraez.  Yes game one Kepler with two bombs was fun - but Arraez is batting 444 and Kepler is 143.  I am still interested in OBP for lead off.  

 

Thanks to Maeda for a good game.  He and Dobnak both gave us good innings and we need that with Odorizzi injured.  Let's hope to get some more good starts out of our rotation.   Still no Taylor Rogers - I would have given him an inning since we are off today.   And Berrios, Smeltzer, and Littell will need to get their 4 digit eras down in the next week just for their own morale.  

[terrydactyls]

Only three games, but worth 7 by the shortened season metrics.  I am with Danchat - lead off Arraez.  Yes game one Kepler with two bombs was fun - but Arraez is batting 444 and Kepler is 143.  I am still interested in OBP for lead off.  

 

 

I totally agree. It's a pleasure to watch him work the pitcher until he gets a pitch he likes. During one at bat yesterday, the camera did a closeup of Arraez and you could see him take a look at both the first and third base sides of the field looking for the best spot to hit the ball. That was impressive.

[bighat]

 

Maeda looked very good, I thought. I think Morneau nailed it when he said he was getting a little fatigued in the 5th, leading to the runs.

Nicky Delmonico's 12-pitch AB is what knocked him out. Delmonico also knocked out Dobnak with a 13-pitch AB in the 2nd game of the series.

[theBOMisthebomb]

Looking at Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet, I noticed neither Romo or Rogers pitched against the White Sox? I guess it is true that I don't recall seeing either one pitch this weekend. Still, it seems strange.

[Danchat]

Looking at Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet, I noticed neither Romo or Rogers pitched against the White Sox? I guess it is true that I don't recall seeing either one pitch this weekend. Still, it seems strange.

All three games were mostly over by the 7th inning. They likely would have pitched on Saturday if Littell didn’t implode.

[DocBauer]

Maeda looked very good, I thought. I think Morneau nailed it when he said he was getting a little fatigued in the 5th, leading to the runs. He lost a little of the early sharpness and wasn't finishing guys off well. Right move to pull him after 5. But it was really fun to watch his approach to the game with what and how he threw. I think he's going to be a nice addition.

 

Two words came to mind watching him: "smart" and "professional". While a different pitcher, he reminded me a little bit of Radke. Not overwhelming velocity, but he mixed pitches, changed speeds and hit spots. Always seemed in control of himself.

 

I was fascinated at one point where be threw something like 5 or 6 straight FBs and Morneau commented how he was changing up the Dirty Sox game plan on him by doing so.

 

Really looking forward to watching him this season. I really like his control and ability to adjust. I think this is going to be a very smart acquisition.