Doubleheader Recap: Twins Swept by Red Sox, Slip Deeper Into Slump

[IAMNFan]

Baseball Manager is the least important coach in sports.  That being said, it is time for a new voice in clubhouse.  This team hasn't hit since Rowson left and for the talent acquisition has under performed.  Move on and see if you can jumpstart the season.

[Rigby]

But, but we have Wes.......

[bighat]

If anyone needs to jump on a flight and head to LA right now, it's the Minnesota Twins. It's pretty clear none of them like being here right now.

 

I'm pretty sure they're going to mail this one in today, but the Red Sox are going to be playing their B Squad so the Twins might just have a chance.

 

This team has not been fun to watch. Those winnable losses against Seattle and Milwaukee are looming very, very, very large right now.

[DMN13]

Tony & Rodney, I like your lineup and agree with it wholeheartedly.  I would not slot Kiriloff that high if he were playing.  Let him get some swings in before anointing him as worthy of that spot in the order.  Hopefully we can get healthy enough to get this lineup in action more often going forward.

 

So far, despite a couple of Colome problems, it has been more about the bats, or lack thereof, than it has the pitching.  Our starters in particular, have kept us in the games.  Need a clutch hit or even a break here or there to get going again.  Seems we hit a lot of balls hard with runners on, that just didn't fall.  

 

Keep the faith Twins fans, we will get rolling, perhaps with the nicer West Coast weather!

[MMMordabito]

The Twins are playing the hottest team in baseball.

 

The Braves, Yankees, Rays and Astros are all right there with the Twins as heavy hitters in the power rankings that are off to slow starts or are experiencing a losing streak.

 

It's just the nature of the game.

 

However, if there is something systemic that ends up keeping this team from reaching potential, there is a silver lining. Perhaps, Baldelli will be fired.

 

If the dark lord came to me and said my team could not make the playoffs this year but after this season (or perhaps part way through) there would be no more Baldelli .... Soul sold.

[rv78]

 

Yes, this streak of poor play is grim. Yes, a team can dig a deep enough hole in the opening months of a season so as to be a major problem. But the Twins are 5-7 not 5-17. A little bit of patience here Twins faithful...

Unfortunately, you can lose your chance to make the playoffs in April just as much as in September. ALL the games count.

[lukeduke1980]

Elsewhere, the ChiSox #5 starter threw a no hitter.

[AceWrigley]

 

Elsewhere, the ChiSox #5 starter threw a no hitter.

And, Carlos Rodon was available as a free agent after the White Sox non-tendered him. Congratulations to him after a series of arm woes.

[Old Twins Cap]

What's with the blackout on Buxton news? 

 

Why didn't he play?

 

No news anywhere on that.

 

WTF happened to him?

[KFEY93]

 

The offense is obviously a problem.  3 runs in 2 games?  5 in 3 games?  Granted, the Red Sox have been playing better, but still - that's bad.

 

But . . . . 

 

Berrios is supposed to be a #1, and yet, when presented with the situation where a true #1 slams the door, he spit the bit; the game unraveled because he lit the fuse.

 

There's no indication this team has the heart to "win something meaningful."   

 

I'd love to be surprised, and I'll gladly - eagerly, even - eat crow if they prove me wrong.

Berrios will NEVER been a number 1. Ever. Even on our team. If he was going to be he would have had his Cy Yung type run already. Not getting any younger. 

[KFEY93]

 

The Twins are playing the hottest team in baseball.

The Braves, Yankees, Rays and Astros are all right there with the Twins as heavy hitters in the power rankings that are off to slow starts or are experiencing a losing streak.

It's just the nature of the game.

However, if there is something systemic that ends up keeping this team from reaching potential, there is a silver lining. Perhaps, Baldelli will be fired.

If the dark lord came to me and said my team could not make the playoffs this year but after this season (or perhaps part way through) there would be no more Baldelli .... Soul sold.

Power Rankings...lol

[insagt1]

Having watched baseball for more than half a century, lets take a walk back to the 60's or 70's when we weren't burdened down by all the statistics that tend to suck the life and enjoyment out of watching the game....and just look at what we see.

What I have seen is that when players like Sano, who tend to strike out a lot, get into deep slumps, they all tend to watch perfect down the middle strikes to fall behind in the count. Then when its 0-2 or 1-2, they flail away at the pitchers 'out pitch'.

 

I'm sure there can be a spirited discussion as to the pros and cons of swinging at 1st pitches. But when a hitter is going bad...a hitter that has trouble making contact...watching very hittable pitches greatly reduces his chances of ever putting the ball in play. I'm seeing this with Sano a lot.

 

This is different than what Astudillo does. He is a contact hitter and probably should never swing at the first pitch...because pitchers know this about him and they don't give him anything good to hit on the first pitch. but when your confidence is in the toilet, like Sano...perhaps a change in approach would be wise. (yes, he still gets his walks but Twins need him to hit)

 

Watching Sano is an exercise in total frustration.

[denarded]

 

Being someone who has been critical of Sano, I have made a decision about how I think about him.

I find myself falling in to this "I told you so" funk. To the point where I almost enjoy his failures. I've been almost wanting him to fail so I can be right in the eyes of my Twins Daily peers.

I'm not going to do that any more. It's no fun to not pull for a member of our team.

He has not been good lately. That is an understatement. The sample size in not tiny.

However, he is on this team. I think it would be better to protect him around quality hitters in the meat of the order as opposed to requiring him to somehow kick start while surrounded by hitters who are sort of less established.

I've also been a proponent of a more consistent lineup because as a coach I believe in continuity, rhythm and flow.

So, here is my every day lineup.

Buxton
Arrias
Cruz
Sano
Donaldson
Kiriloff
Kepler
Garver
Simmons

Thoughts?

He's a rally killer wherever you bat him. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

What's with the blackout on Buxton news? 

 

Why didn't he play?

 

No news anywhere on that.

 

WTF happened to him?

Tight hamstring. The info came out in the media between games of the doubleheader.

 

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Having watched baseball for more than half a century, lets take a walk back to the 60's or 70's when we weren't burdened down by all the statistics that tend to suck the life and enjoyment out of watching the game....and just look at what we see.

What I have seen is that when players like Sano, who tend to strike out a lot, get into deep slumps, they all tend to watch perfect down the middle strikes to fall behind in the count. Then when its 0-2 or 1-2, they flail away at the pitchers 'out pitch'.

 

I'm sure there can be a spirited discussion as to the pros and cons of swinging at 1st pitches. But when a hitter is going bad...a hitter that has trouble making contact...watching very hittable pitches greatly reduces his chances of ever putting the ball in play. I'm seeing this with Sano a lot.

 

This is different than what Astudillo does. He is a contact hitter and probably should never swing at the first pitch...because pitchers know this about him and they don't give him anything good to hit on the first pitch. but when your confidence is in the toilet, like Sano...perhaps a change in approach would be wise. (yes, he still gets his walks but Twins need him to hit)

 

Watching Sano is an exercise in total frustration.

 

Miguel Sano first pitch strike percentage:

 

2019--56.5%

2020--59.5%

2021--68.8%

Career--58.1%

 

Willians Astudillo first pitch strike percentage:

 

2019--64.7%

2020--75.0%

2021--85.7%

Career--68.3%

 

Think that's because of Astudillo swinging at all the first pitches, turning balls into stikes?

 

Miguel Sano percent of pitches in the zone

 

2019--39.1%

2020--38.1%

2021--35.3%

Career--41.2%

 

Willians Astudillo percent of pitches in the zone

 

2019--40.3%

2020--36.6%

2021--50.9%

Career--40.6%

 

So no, Astudillo is not getting way more balls to start his at bats.

[ashbury]

Tight hamstring. The info came out in the media between games of the doubleheader.

 

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

 

Digging deep on that meme, Ashbury.

[ashbury]

Digging deep on that meme, Ashbury.

 

[twinfan]

Things are not going well so far and the losses are against teams that we should be beating (though the Red Sox are hot right now). As far as a batting order, I'd bat Arraez leadoff followed by Polanco, Buxton, Cruz in the cleanup spot with Donaldson fifth. After that it becomes a crapshoot since Sano is not hitting anything. However, I guess you have to bat Kepler sixth, Sano seventh followed by the catcher and Simmonds Against lefties, maybe hit Garlick for Kepler if the lefty is a tough one. Let's hope this funk doesn't continue much longer cause tougher teams are coming.

[twinfan]

great to see Rodon get that no-no. He pitched at NC State so I got to see him a few times. He's had health issues but can be very good if he stays healthy. 

[Marv Gustafson]

Donaldson ran all the way around the bases?! I'm astonished by what athletes can accomplish these days!!

[jun]

 

Things are not going well so far and the losses are against teams that we should be beating (though the Red Sox are hot right now). As far as a batting order, I'd bat Arraez leadoff followed by Polanco, Buxton, Cruz in the cleanup spot with Donaldson fifth. After that it becomes a crapshoot since Sano is not hitting anything. However, I guess you have to bat Kepler sixth, Sano seventh followed by the catcher and Simmonds Against lefties, maybe hit Garlick for Kepler if the lefty is a tough one. Let's hope this funk doesn't continue much longer cause tougher teams are coming.

Polanco should bat last, not 2nd.