HOU 4, MIN 1: Defensive Lapses, Lack of Offense Lead to Another Twins Loss

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Reusse argued that May should have gone another inning, given five innings seems to be the absolute upper limit a starting pitcher can be expected to pitch. (Ok I added some of that.)

 

Reusse also argues that the Twins need to improve in three areas before the second game: hitting, fielding, and pitching

[Vanimal46]

This stat is taken from Aaron Gleeman’s article in the Athletic:

 

https://theathletic.com/2103111/2020/09/29/twins-astros-game-1-bats-hitting-cant-wait-any-longer/

 

Last year, the Twins scored more than three runs in 75 percent of their games, consistently providing the pitching and the defense with at least a reasonable margin for error. This year, the Twins scored more than three runs 57 percent of the time. Game 1 adds to that total, and to that frustration.

 

You should win home playoff games when you allow one run in nine innings, but Polanco kept that from happening and things unraveled from there. But flip that same stat around: MLB teams scoring one run in playoff games since 2000 are 14-156, winning just 8.2 percent of the time.

 

- - -

 

Hard to win when you can’t score runs. The offense has been a concern all year, and we’re seeing it again in the playoffs.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

- Baldelli pinch hit for the last batter of the game almost as if he wanted to lose (Adrianza for Arraez on Sunday, Astudillo yesterday)

Quoting myself...

 

I know that last point seemed a little harsh -- I am sure Baldelli wasn't trying to lose the game yesterday.

 

But while the Astudillo move was compounded by earlier Baldelli mistakes, it was still pretty questionable on its own -- heck, with one out, I'd rather send up Avila in that situation and just tell him not to swing. Avila has a good eye and the zone had been tight, so maybe he works a walk. Worst case, he strikes out looking for the 2nd out and Marwin gets a chance, representing the tying run, with Arraez and Buxton to follow if he reaches base.

[TouchEmAllGuy]

How can you walk a guy in a tie game, with the bases loaded, and two outs.. MAKE HIM BEAT YOU!! So frustrating and I can't stand Romo. The guy is clearly washed, even if he's sneakily done okay. You can't trust him even for a second.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Reusse argued that May should have gone another inning, given five innings seems to be the absolute upper limit a starting pitcher can be expected to pitch. (Ok I added some of that.)

Reusse also argues that the Twins need to improve in three areas before the second game: hitting, fielding, and pitching

From your first sentence, it sounds like there is also a 4th area needing improvement today -- managing!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

From your first sentence, it sounds like there is also a 4th area needing improvement today -- managing!

Why stop there? we could do better with better front officing, ownershipping, fanning, vendoring, groundskeepering,...

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Speaking of groundskeeping...

 

Here is the link to Reusse:

 

https://m.startribune.com/reusse-twins-game-1-bullpen-usage-leaves-much-to-be-desired/572581712/

 

This passage also jumped out:

 

The Twins had a total of two hits at that point. Franmal Valdez, a lefty and considered by some to be the Astros’ second-best starter, had entered for Greinke in the fifth. Valdez started with a pair of walks, asked for the mound to be repaired in his landing area, and then blew through Byron Buxton, Max Kepler and Cruz.

 

 

Someone from the Twins org fixed the mound for the opponent? What th—? This morning was the first I heard of this. The first thing that came to mind was the New England snowplow game, but wasn’t that to help the home team?

[bighat]

 

Romo pitched well enough to get out of that inning, but was let down by an atrocious defensive play.

Maybe I missed something, but I thought Romo gave up two hits in the 9th, then also walked home the go-ahead run with the bases loaded? Yes there was an error that inning, but Romo did not pitch well. At all.

 

[mikelink45]

 

I just think the bullpen's performance is way, way down the list of factors that were most to blame for the loss. They gave up one earned run in four innings! Even if Polanco makes that play or Romo strikes out Altuve there instead of walking him, what are we left with? A 1-1 game in the 9th inning where the offense hadn't even sniffed a scoring opportunity in multiple innings. It doesn't matter how good the bullpen is if the bats are incapable of coming through when they're needed.

I can agree with some of your sentiments, but when a BP late innings RP comes in and loads the bases it is not acceptable.  Put it right there with the error.

[twinbythebay]

 

Maybe I missed something, but I thought Romo gave up two hits in the 9th, then also walked home the go-ahead run with the bases loaded? Yes there was an error that inning, but Romo did not pitch well. At all.

I didn't say he pitched well, but he induced a weak ground ball directly to Polanco with two outs. That should've ended the inning, and he shouldn't have had to pitch to Altuve. Also, the two hits he allowed were both bloopers that were hit less than 80mph. He certainly didn't give himself any margin for error, and he certainly shouldn't have walked Altuve. But the fact remains that he pitched well enough to get out of the inning, and his defense let him down.

[USAFChief]

I didn't say he pitched well, but he induced a weak ground ball directly to Polanco with two outs. That should've ended the inning, and he shouldn't have had to pitch to Altuve. Also, the two hits he allowed were both bloopers that were hit less than 80mph. He certainly didn't give himself any margin for error, and he certainly shouldn't have walked Altuve. But the fact remains that he pitched well enough to get out of the inning, and his defense let him down.

The problem is the front office thinking Sergio Romo is an acceptable option in a playoff game.

 

Look around today and see how many playoff teams are trotting out similar pitchers in similar situations. Let me know how many 37 yr olds tossing 84 MPH fastballs you see.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I just think the bullpen's performance is way, way down the list of factors that were most to blame for the loss. They gave up one earned run in four innings! Even if Polanco makes that play or Romo strikes out Altuve there instead of walking him, what are we left with? A 1-1 game in the 9th inning where the offense hadn't even sniffed a scoring opportunity in multiple innings. It doesn't matter how good the bullpen is if the bats are incapable of coming through when they're needed.

Bats are obviously #1 in terms of blame, but I don't think the pen would be proud of their showing here either. Duffey had 2 outs, nobody on in the 7th, then gave up 3 straight singles to tie the game -- that's not just one mistake, that's a consistent failure to miss bats and put guys away. (And was perhaps bailed out of further damage by a baserunning blunder.)

 

Same in the 9th with Romo -- 0-2 leadoff single, followed by another single. Yes, Polanco's error hurt, but in a quality relief appearance, there is more margin for error. The box score called them all "unearned" that inning, but Polanco's error alone shouldn't lead to 3 runs.

[ashbury]

Look around today and see how many playoff teams are trotting out similar pitchers in similar situations. Let me know how many 37 yr olds tossing 84 MPH fastballs you see.

Braves have Darren O'Day, who they trotted out in a tie game as their fourth reliever today, followed by 3 others who apparently they thought less of. Granted extra innings may be a slightly different situation, but they went to him when it mattered and had other options.

 

Can't really find another, though - so, point well taken.