Game Score: Twins 9, Cubs 5

[Jamie Cameron]

The Twins won a marathon game 9-5 in Chicago on Tuesday night. In an offensive outburst, Josh Donaldson, Max Kepler, Nick Gordon, and Mitch Garver all had three hits to pace the Twins.

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Jax 3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Homeruns: Gordon (3)
Top 3 WPA: Gordon .217, Donaldson .192, Buxton .175

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

The battle for 2022 draft positions continued on Tuesday night, as Minnesota kicked off a two-game set in Chicago against the Cubs. Here’s how the Twins lined up to face Alec Mills.

The Twins got off to a strong start, with back-to-back singles putting Luis Arraez on third and Byron Buxton on first base. Buxton stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by Wilson Contreras, with Arraez scoring. A Josh Donaldson sacrifice fly made it 2-0 Twins after the top of the first.

The Cubs immediately chipped away at the Twins lead, scoring one in the first, one in the second, and one in the third. The later two runs came from solo home runs from Trayce Thompson and Willson Contreras, giving the Cubs a 3-1 lead after three innings. The familiar home run bug has continued to bite Griffin Jax, who only managed to make it through three innings.

The Twins fought back in the top of the fourth inning. A Josh Donaldson walk, wild pitch, and Max Kepler single cut the deficit to 3-2. A Nick Gordon home run to left center field added two more runs, giving the Twins a 5-3 lead.

The Twins continued to add to their lead in the top of the fifth. A Luis Arraez walk and Byron Buxton single were backed up by further singles from Josh Donaldson and Max Kepler, increasing the Twins lead to 7-3.

The Cubs trimmed the lead in the sixth inning. A Rafael Ortega single was followed up by a Frank Schwindel double. Jorge Alcala replaced Danny Coulombe and struck out Wilson Contreras, but allowed a Patrick Wisdom single, scoring two runs. Alcala, however, has been on a recent run of good form which is encouraging news for a bullpen which needs padding heading into 2022.

The Twins immediately increased the lead. Doubles from Josh Donaldson and Miguel Sano, followed by singles from Nick Gordon and Mitch Garver added two runs, pushing the lead to 9-5 and giving the Twins offense 16 hits on the night.

Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch in the foot in the top of the ninth inning.

Mercifully, Alexander Colome threw a scoreless inning to draw a marathon four-hour game to a close, bringing the Twins record for the season to 66-85.

Bullpen Usage Chart

	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	TUE	TOT
Barraclough	0	0	32	0	35	67
Vincent	0	0	0	40	0	40
Thielbar	0	0	0	22	16	38
Minaya	0	0	0	36	0	36
Moran	0	0	34	0	0	34
Farrell	0	0	0	34	0	34
Duffey	0	16	0	0	11	27
Alcalá	0	13	0	0	10	23
Colomé	0	14	0	0	7	21
Garza Jr.	0	0	17	0	0	17
Coulombe	0	0	0	0	17	17

Next Up
On Wednesday, the Twins will finish their short series in Chicago. Joe Ryan will take the mound against Kyle Hendricks. First pitch is at 6:40 CST.

Postgame Interviews 

 

View full article

[mikelink45]

At the stage of the season which is more important draft position or another victory?  

[big dog]

"Fun" fact from the Cubs broadcasters (including former Twin Jim Deshaies): the only two players on the current roster who have not missed time due to injury this year are Jorge Polanco and Alex Coulombe. If you include the earlier trades, I think Berrios gets added to the list. That can't possibly be a regular injury rate for a major league team, can it?

I've been arguing that we should use these last games to evaluate our younger players, and I still believe that is true. However, I think that the Jax-as-a-starter evaluation is complete and I do not wish to see any more of it. Thank you.

Unfortunately, we currently need starters and I'm not sure we have any options.

 

[big dog]

10 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

At the stage of the season which is more important draft position or another victory?  

I choose "neither", unless the draft position race is between first and, say, tenth.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

21 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

At the stage of the season which is more important draft position or another victory?  

Victory is more important. Twins are currently selecting 7th in the rule 4 draft. They might pick 8th/9th or they might pick 6th… that won’t change the slot value of the pick, or quality of available prospect much, if at all. The odds are very low to get into the top 5, or get out of the top 10.

Winning, on the other hand provides those players opportunities to learn and succeed at the highest levels while providing me a fun experience.

[bighat]

@big dogI also hope the Twins have completed their evaluation of Jax. He wasn't really a high-ranked prospect, and I think in the end we all saw what we expected: a below-average shuttle bus guy who isn't a full time major leaguer. A shame that in this lost season, the Twins couldn't manage to give any of their home-grown highly ranked pitching prospects a big league audition. Guys like Jax and Barnes sure got a lot of time in the bigs, though. Head-scratcher.

But every terrible year has a silver lining, this year's might be Nick Gordon, Bailey Ober, and Joe Ryan. I believe we'll see all 3 of those guys on the team next year. I know there are a lot of Gordon haters in Twins Territory, but am really digging this comeback story. From failed prospect to a guy who could be on the 26 man roster next year. Go Nick.

As bad as the Twins have been this year, I will sure miss them this winter. Looking forward to seeing how the off-season plays out.

[wabene]

@big dog Guys like Jax and Barnes sure got a lot of time in the bigs, though. Head-scratcher.

Perhaps because they were healthy. Duran, injured. Winder, injured. Balazovic, AA not ready. Drew Strotman was ineffective and maybe not ready, but since he is on the 40 man I could see an argument for him. Cano is not on the 40 man and I can't remember why but there was an advantage to waiting till next year for him (it was mentioned on TD, of course). I'm not sure who else could be causing your itchy head. 

We got to see more rookies this year than I ever remember happening. Out of the pitching auditions we can be excited about Ober and Ryan in the rotation and perhaps Jax and Moran in the pen.

[puckstopper1]

Great to see 4 of the regular 8 hitters getting 3 hits each.  That type of offense has been missing most of the season.

Even more interesting is that Polanco was not one of those 4.  He was a brutal 0-6 with 4 Ks.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

17 minutes ago, wabene said:

@big dog Guys like Jax and Barnes sure got a lot of time in the bigs, though. Head-scratcher.

Perhaps because they were healthy. Duran, injured. Winder, injured. Balazovic, AA not ready. Drew Strotman was ineffective and maybe not ready, but since he is on the 40 man I could see an argument for him. Cano is not on the 40 man and I can't remember why but there was an advantage to waiting till next year for him (it was mentioned on TD, of course). I'm not sure who else could be causing your itchy head. 

We got to see more rookies this year than I ever remember happening. Out of the pitching auditions we can be excited about Ober and Ryan in the rotation and perhaps Jax and Moran in the pen.

Personally I'd rather see Jax stay stretched out at AAA than in the big league pen. While 2021 hasn't been a good year for Jax, it's a difficult transition into the bigs, and he can still provide strong depth for the rotation will most assuredly use 9-10 starters throughout the season.

[Whitey333]

May the baseball gods have mercy on Twins fans if the above mentioned pitchers are supposed to be part of our starting staff.

[Squirrel]

16 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

May the baseball gods have mercy on Twins fans if the above mentioned pitchers are supposed to be part of our starting staff.

Jax and Barnes part of the starting staff next season? Doubtful. I'm not sure who's suggesting that. I think they either serve as AAA/AAAA depth or transition to the pen.

[roger]

Am so disappointed that Baldelli wasn't able to find a way to get Maggi into a game.

Also believe that many of you are shortchanging Jax.  Lets remember that he didn't pitch at all last summer and the number of innings prior are minimal.  This young man will continue to develop into a solid starting pitcher.  Granted, he may not become a top of the order starter, but I will be surprised if he doesn't have a long and successful big league career.  Hopefully, it is with the Twins.

[Squirrel]

2 hours ago, big dog said:

the only two players on the current roster who have not missed time due to injury this year are Jorge Polanco and Alex Coulombe

Since you heard a first name, I'm assuming you mean Alex Colomé. It gets confusing when you have another reliever whose name is Danny Coulombe. I keep seeing these names and go 'Wait, what? Who? Which? Oh.'

[Doctor Gast]

7 minutes ago, bighat said:

@big dogI also hope the Twins have completed their evaluation of Jax. He wasn't really a high-ranked prospect, and I think in the end we all saw what we expected: a below-average shuttle bus guy who isn't a full time major leaguer. A shame that in this lost season, the Twins couldn't manage to give any of their home-grown highly ranked pitching prospects a big league audition. Guys like Jax and Barnes sure got a lot of time in the bigs, though. Head-scratcher.

But every terrible year has a silver lining, this year's might be Nick Gordon, Bailey Ober, and Joe Ryan. I believe we'll see all 3 of those guys on the team next year. I know there are a lot of Gordon haters in Twins Territory, but am really digging this comeback story. From failed prospect to a guy who could be on the 26 man roster next year. Go Nick.

As bad as the Twins have been this year, I will sure miss them this winter. Looking forward to seeing how the off-season plays out.

I never hated Nick Gordon (hate is a strong word) I don't hate anyone. Although, I am a realist. I didn't expect him to be anything more than an average MLB player. I did expect Gordon to show some improvement this season but he's past my expectations. He's shown that he has value and that he belongs. Go Gordon!

[jmlease1]

18 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

I never hated Nick Gordon (hate is a strong word) I don't hate anyone. 

You're more of a hate stylist? (tm Tom Hanks)

[MMMordabito]

1 hour ago, roger said:

Am so disappointed that Baldelli wasn't able to find a way to get Maggi into a game.

Also believe that many of you are shortchanging Jax.  Lets remember that he didn't pitch at all last summer and the number of innings prior are minimal.  This young man will continue to develop into a solid starting pitcher.  Granted, he may not become a top of the order starter, but I will be surprised if he doesn't have a long and successful big league career.  Hopefully, it is with the Twins.

I'm trying to stay patient and hope for the same, but the sample is getting larger and larger.  After showing promise when he moved from the bullpen to the rotation, I was hopeful, but the trend has gone the wrong way and the curve of it seems to be dropping at more accelerated rate.  The HR/9 is just ridiculously bad.  His calling cards of command and control have been lost along the way as well.  If anyone will put the work in over the off-season to maximize success in 2022, it's him. Perhaps a move to the pen where he can work at 94/95 and focus only on the slider that has generated a lot of swings and misses at times would be a path forward.

[AceWrigley]

2 hours ago, roger said:

Am so disappointed that Baldelli wasn't able to find a way to get Maggi into a game.

I am more than disappointed. Why call up a career minor leaguer at the end of a dead season and not play him? He doesn't deserve a chance to start in a MLB game? He's injured? So he has to sit at the end of the bench and do what, pine for the fiords? WTF. I'm not really a Rocco fan but I haven't jumped all over him . . . until now. 

[PDX Twin]

Quote

The familiar home run bug has continued to bite Griffin Jax, who only managed to make it through three innings.

It figures that the Air Force guy is into the "big fly."

[AceWrigley]

15 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

It figures that the Air Force guy is into the "big fly."

At the Academy we learned to fly high.  ?

[RpR]

6 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

At the stage of the season which is more important draft position or another victory?  

Another victory

[wabene]

4 hours ago, Sconnie said:

Personally I'd rather see Jax stay stretched out at AAA than in the big league pen. While 2021 hasn't been a good year for Jax, it's a difficult transition into the bigs, and he can still provide strong depth for the rotation will most assuredly use 9-10 starters throughout the season.

Ok I'm going to agree with this. Considering how many starters the squad needs next year let's give Jax another chance as rotation depth.

[mikelink45]

3 hours ago, RpR said:

Another victory

Why. 

[RpR]

People pay to see their team win, not play some business BS.

[TheLeviathan]

Nick Gordon should play every day.  Every day.

[RpR]

16 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Nick Gordon should play every day.  Every day.

Where?

In the out field , even with his speed he is lacking, for the infield?

This game showed why Arraez is a mediocre infielder on his best days, and Polanco should never play SS, but Gordon is no better at either much less every day.

[TheLeviathan]

17 minutes ago, RpR said:

Where?

In the out field , even with his speed he is lacking, for the infield?

This game showed why Arraez is a mediocre infielder on his best days, and Polanco should never play SS, but Gordon is no better at either much less every day.

In place of your lord and savior.  I'm using b-ref to cite that.  Simmons has the highest rate of BOWCN, otherwise known as Being Old While Contributing Nothing.

[RpR]

11 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

In place of your lord and savior.  I'm using b-ref to cite that.  Simmons has the highest rate of BOWCN, otherwise known as Being Old While Contributing Nothing.

What ever floats your boat.