Padres 6, Twins 1: The Hits Just Keep Not Coming

[Steven Trefz]

The Twins came into tonight's series opener in first place in the American League Central. They left tonight's game to the sound of boo-birds. What went wrong, and will it get fixed in time to save the series...and the season?

Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

 

Box Score
SP: Louie Varland  6 IP,  5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K (95 pitches, 66 strikes (69% strikes))
Home Runs: None
Top 3 WPA: Louie Varland .204, Jose Miranda .110, Alex Kirilloff .081
Bottom 3 WPA: Griffin Jax -.312, Carlos Correa -.149, Jorge Polanco -.123

Win Probability Chart

Pitchers Hold Serve Through Three
Louie Varland started his first home start of the season by scattering two hits over the first three innings. Three strikeouts and a key double-play in the second inning kept the Padres off of the scoreboard. Michael Wacha countered by only allowing one hit in the first three innings, as the Twins continued to fail to make solid contact.

Padres Strike First
Varland ran into trouble in the top of the fourth inning when Juan Soto laced a one-out double to right. Varland recovered to strike out Xander Bogaerts. But with two outs, the ageless Matt Carpenter played pinball off of Polanco's glove to send Soto home with the first run of the game.

Walk this Way!
In the bottom of the fourth, the Twins got things going by having solid professional at-bats. Byron Buxton led off and worked a six-pitch walk. Alex Kirilloff followed by getting a walk of his own, by laying off of several close pitches. The Twins' epic baserunning about bit them again, as Buxton failed to advance to third on a long fly out to Soto in left field. Luckily, Jose Miranda decided that it was time to break out of a slump, as he drove home Buxton with a double to knot the game at 1-1!

Unfortunately, Joey Gallo and Christian Vasquez did not break out of their slumps, and the Twins stranded two more runners in scoring position to close the fourth.

How Long Can They Go?
The question as the game entered its middle innings, was how long could the starters hold on until the bullpens needed to be called upon. Varland entered the fifth with 67 pitches, while Wacha sat at 63 pitches. With both teams enjoying an off-day on Monday, both teams were prepared and ready.

Wacha proved that throwing pitches at 92 mph over and over can actually work, as long as none of them are in the zone and the team he is facing is trying to hit a homerun every time they swing. Luckily for the Twins, Varland was mixing his pitches and locations equally well until his third time up against the fearsome duo of Manny Machado and Juan Soto.

A single and a walk later, Varland was asked to face Bogaerts one more time with one out and two men on in the top of the sixth. Varland stayed in, and struck out the free agent again. Would he be left in to face Carpenter again? Of course he would! Never a doubt (said no one on Twitter). And once again, Miranda made his case for sticking around on the big league side of the river with an excellent fielding play against the ageless (but not fast) wonder.

Bullpen Time
Griffin Jax got the call to start the seventh inning, and Ha-Seong Kim reached on a throwing error by Kirilloff, and Trent Grisham followed with a walk to start low-grade panic across Twins Territory. Austin Nola tried and failed at bunting twice, but on the second attempt the Twins failed at keeping Kim from stealing third. 

Then, when Nola finally laid down his bunt, Kim scored and put the Padres in the lead 2-1. Slick fielding by Carlos Correa eliminated Grisham's spot at second base, but more errant throws allowed Fernando Tatis Jr. to take third after stealing second. Inexplicably, as Jake Cronenworth was taking his walk to first base, Vasquez tried to sneak attack Tatis Jr. at third base. He drilled Tatis Jr. in the back (for the third throwing error of the inning), and Tatis Jr. came home to score the second run of the inning, without any Padres getting a hit. Sigh.

Emilio Pagan came into the seventh with one on, and two out, and got Machado to pop up to end the threat, but the damage to the game and fans' overall psyche was already done.

Rally Time?
In the bottom of the seventh, the Padres brough in Luis Garcia to keep the lead, and Gallo got things started with a smash single up the middle. Vasquez got pinch-hit for (curious how this plays out on the homestand) by Willi Castro, and Castro got rung up on a bad called strike. Nick Gordon was next up off of the bench, and he delivered by lacing a single to left. Steven Wilson came in to pitch next, and he promptly struck out Max Kepler swinging.

This put Correa in the position of hero again, but it only took three pitches for Wilson to strike him out, and the rally was squashed.

Miracle Time?
Nope. Machado put hopes in that to rest with two on and two outs in the ninth. After a spinning cement-mixer from Jorge Alcala, it was suddenly 6-1 and the Padres will go to bed winners tonight.

Other notes
Michael A. Taylor got his sixth steal of the season, taking second base to set up a scoring opportunity with two outs in the bottom of the third. Gallo broke an 0-for-25 streak tonight. Kirilloff looks locked in early in his return to the line-up, and one can hope that Kyle Farmer's presence in the dugout tonight means that his return is soon to come.

What’s Next? 
The Twins aim to take Game 2 of the series with Padres Wednesday night. Pablo Lopez will go for the Twins against Seth Lugo for the Padres. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40pm.

Postgame Interviews 

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	FRI	SAT	SUN	MON	TUE	TOT
Pagán	0	0	12	0	24	36
Alcala	0	29	0	0	23	52
Pagán	0	0	12	0	24	36
Durán	18	0	0	0	0	18
Jax	0	0	0	0	18	18
Morán	0	12	0	0	0	12
Stewart	0	0	11	0	0	11
Lopez	10	0	0	0	0	10
Rodriguez	0	0	0	0	0	0

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[Aggies7]

This whole thing ain’t working, gang. 
 

That 7th inning can’t happen in the big leagues. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Give Correa credit. He said the booing is acceptable right now. 

[darwin22]

Plethora of reasons for ANOTHER horrible offensive performance tonight.

Normally, I try not to overreact by centering the blame on 1 player, but after tonight I've had enough of the continued pitiful ABs by our "supposed" franchise cornerstone:  Carlos "take the money and chill" Correa.

Correa supporters/apologists bring it on in his defense.  I beg you.

This is not a bad 2 week start.  Nor is this a rough 3-week period.  This is ongoing malaise that is horrible:

0-5 tonight without getting the ball out of the infield.  2 weak pop outs. 2 whiffs and a groundout.  0-4 with RISP.

Where is the accountability?  Is there any?  Nothing changes in the lineup, which I know is filled with multiple others struggling.  

The FACT is Correa is guaranteed over $169m from this season through 2027.

After tonight's miserable performance, Correa is at 124 ABs with the following #'s:

AVG: .185

OBP: .261

SLUG:  .363

K's:  30

K %:  24.1%

WAR:  0.2

Don't expect any changes from Rocco other than Correa getting a "day off" soon to rest.

Pathetic.

 

 

 

 

[Eephus]

9 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Give Correa credit. He said the booing is acceptable right now. 

Seemed like TV turned off the mikes when the booing kicked in. I think they might score as many runs if they didn't swing.

[Aerodeliria]

Again, the errors and the mental errors have cost the Twins another game or at least contributed to the loss. My biggest fear about trading away Arraez was that the Twins really didn't have a proven consistent hitter in the lineup, but these errors are even more deflating. That is the seventh game where errors either cost the Twins the game or contributed to the loss (letting the game get out of hand).

[cHawk]

I am at a loss. How does a major league baseball team **** up THIS of all things?

https://www.mlb.com/app/atbat/video/jake-cronenworth-walks-fernando-tatis-jr-scores-throwing-error-by-catcher?partnerId=mlbapp-ios_video-playback-page_video-share

[Aerodeliria]

The title should be: The hits keep just not coming, but there are errors aplently to make up for it!

[OvertheHill]

16 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Give Correa credit. He said the booing is acceptable right now. 

I’ll give him credit when he starts refunding ticket purchases. Losing well played, hard fought games still passes for entertainment, but this product is both boring and putrid. 

[USAFChief]

Baldelli's post game presser makes me more irritated than the actual pisspoor play.

What a complete pile of corporate-speak nonsense.

"Well, it's tough to defend when a hitter squares."

WHAT?

It's literally your JOB to make sure your players execute the game properly. 

Jeez.

[Nashvilletwin]

1. Boring, bad baseball is not fun to watch. They’d better put a better product out on the field or it’s going to be a relatively sparsely attended summer.

2, Boos very evident tonight - until the broadcast cut them (lol).

3. Re Correa, Minnesotans clamor for the high-priced FAs, but when we finally get one we expect them to perform.  Correa basically has had one good month at the plate with the Twins - when we were out of it late last year and he needed a good month so he could opt out and hit free agency.  Twins fans will turn on him; but, don’t worry Carlos, they will jump back on the bandwagon if you turn it around.

4. Re Arraez comments above, he at least was an absolute fan favorite who essentially played every day.  Fans showed up or tuned in to watch him.  Lopez has been very good, but he shows up every fifth day. Among our position players, who are the fan favorites now whom people are coming to see in person or on the tube?  Buxton, perhaps, but as a DH only?  Not so much. Correa?  Nope, he’s not performing, he’s overpaid, he didn’t really want to be here, and he was a cheater.  Let’s face it, at the moment there really isn’t an exciting “face” of the team and the team itself doesn’t have an identity (Piranhas or Bomba Squad, for example) to really engender much excitement among the more casual (but incredibly important for revenue purposes) fans.  Bottom line - they’d better start winning. 

[tony&rodney]

Correa faces and accepts the criticisms. He is in the lineup and still playing very good defense. No doubt he is in a bad slump right now. We are not seeing much of his opposite field approach.  I'm not sure that mentioning his salary is somehow important though. Correa, Gallo, Kepler, Miranda, Vasquez, ... actually the entire team is struggling to hit.

The team as a whole is not performing at the plate. There were a few good at bats but this was not sustained; frustrating. 

Louie Varland pitched well. I was disappointed that Polanco didn't make some contact with the hard hit single that scored a run. It seemed like a less than full effort from a player I mostly feel plays hard. 

The error by Kirilloff will likely become a hit tomorrow. The throw was not great but Jax had his legs all mixed up and reached awkwardly for the ball and missed the bag as a result. Who knows what got into Vasquez on his terrible throw to second base on a steal and then a pointless attempt to pick off Tatis who was basically next to the bag when the ball glanced off of him. 

When scoring runs is difficult, the team needs to emphasize contact and moving runners. Bunting will not work with Machado playing third base but the players need to alter their swings to a situation.

Finally, lay off the high pitches. Let the umpire call you out but swinging at pitches 4+ inches above the zone is a sure fire recipe for failure. Yogi Berra could hit the high pitch. There is not a single current Twin who can, thus there is zero reason to swing at that pitch.

The sun will come up tomorrow.

[tony&rodney]

2 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Boring, bad baseball is not fun to watch. They’d better put a better product out on the field or it’s going to be a relatively sparsely attended summer.

This was a mantra of mine during this past offseason. The fans will embrace a team that plays with flavor and some personality. The system, if there actually is one, is not in tune with the times. To be fair, there have been a few attempts at moving runners and Michael A. Taylor has a few stolen bases. Correa and some others are in horrible slumps. There isn't any harm in bunting runners over with nobody out. It puts some pressure on the pitcher in a close game to have a runner on third base with one out.

I don't think having Arraez would change anything at all. We need every player in the lineup to be a more difficult out. 

On a positive note, Alex Kirilloff looked decent today. He worked hard: a couple of walks and a line drive.

[Aerodeliria]

12 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

The sun will come up tomorrow.

...it might snow...it's possible...

[Nashvilletwin]

22 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

I don't think having Arraez would change anything at all

Trading away Arraez, for better or worse record wise - TBD (and I’m not here to debate that) was absolutely a blow to the excitement, identity and fan engagement of this team.  He brought a spark, a pizazz, an energy, an identity. He was the best player in the majors at a particular thing (you all can argue about the importance of that particular thing) and Twins fans/Minnesotans (being who we are) valued that a lot.  My comments/observations on this matter, and as it relates to the team’s performance in tonight’s game, are more from a business/commercial standpoint: MLB is entertainment - so you’d better damn sure provide it if you want to succeed. What is currently on display by this team is simply not compelling in this regard.  Let’s hope that changes.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't average fans show up to watch a singles hitter. But I could be wrong. I think they show up for winning....CC really needs to start producing. It's mind boggling how bad he's been. 

[Yawn Gardenhose]

If Correa was playing like this wearing a Mets uniform, no amount of clever broadcast producing would be able to drown out the torrent of boos. Would be getting absolutely roasted by the New York media jackals too. And deservedly so. 

[Nashvilletwin]

37 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I don't average fans show up to watch a singles hitter.

If he’s the best in the majors at doing it, they absolutely will to some degree. Even more so if the hitter has personality and pizzazz and is a huge part of the identity of the club.  Particularly we Minnesotans - who so love to have the ability to claim we are the best at something and be so proud of it.  But yes, you are correct - winning trumps all (as I’ve said) and it certainly would be better if it were homers and not singles. But then again, in the current MLB, we don’t get the Judges and Trouts on our team.

[howeda7]

1 hour ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Trading away Arraez, for better or worse record wise - TBD (and I’m not here to debate that) was absolutely a blow to the excitement, identity and fan engagement of this team.  He brought a spark, a pizazz, an energy, an identity. He was the best player in the majors at a particular thing (you all can argue about the importance of that particular thing) and Twins fans/Minnesotans (being who we are) valued that a lot.  My comments/observations on this matter, and as it relates to the team’s performance in tonight’s game, are more from a business/commercial standpoint: MLB is entertainment - so you’d better damn sure provide it if you want to succeed. What is currently on display by this team is simply not compelling in this regard.  Let’s hope that changes.

This. Lopez is fine and maybe on a trade value chart, it was a good trade. But Lopez isn't any different than Sonny Gray or Joe Ryan. A solid #2 starter. Arreaz is not nearly as easily replaced. And it shows. 

[howeda7]

Fire the hitting coach. Demote Miranda. Get Julien and Farmer up ASAP. Invent an injury for Gallo. Do SOMETHING please.

[bighat]

A lot of us predicted that Michael Wacha - a free agent who didn't find a taker until very late into the offseason - and his 5+ ERA would waltz into Target Field and dominate. 

This is a below-average team, folks and Cleveland is waking up. 

At this point the main goal for the season should be for Royce Lewis to solidify a starting position, make a decision on Kirilloff and Larnach, and maybe get Brooks Lee a cup of coffee. Ship out Polanco, Gallo, and Kepler (if they can get anything for him) at the deadline. 

 

[TwinsDr2021]

32 minutes ago, bighat said:

At this point the main goal for the season should be for Royce Lewis to solidify a starting position, make a decision on Kirilloff and Larnach, and maybe get Brooks Lee a cup of coffee. Ship out Polanco, Gallo, and Kepler (if they can get anything for him) at the deadline. 

 

If that is the goal of the season, this FO and manager need to be fired ASAP.

[mikelink45]

8 hours ago, darwin22 said:

Plethora of reasons for ANOTHER horrible offensive performance tonight.

Normally, I try not to overreact by centering the blame on 1 player, but after tonight I've had enough of the continued pitiful ABs by our "supposed" franchise cornerstone:  Carlos "take the money and chill" Correa.

Correa supporters/apologists bring it on in his defense.  I beg you.

This is not a bad 2 week start.  Nor is this a rough 3-week period.  This is ongoing malaise that is horrible:

0-5 tonight without getting the ball out of the infield.  2 weak pop outs. 2 whiffs and a groundout.  0-4 with RISP.

Where is the accountability?  Is there any?  Nothing changes in the lineup, which I know is filled with multiple others struggling.  

The FACT is Correa is guaranteed over $169m from this season through 2027.

After tonight's miserable performance, Correa is at 124 ABs with the following #'s:

AVG: .185

OBP: .261

SLUG:  .363

K's:  30

K %:  24.1%

WAR:  0.2

Don't expect any changes from Rocco other than Correa getting a "day off" soon to rest.

Pathetic.

 

 

 

 

Joey Gallo is hitting 189 now after a 1 - 26 streak.  I know people will point to his OPS, but that was due to an early season success.  

Our Pinch Hitter WIlli Castro is batting 190.

Max Kepler is batting 213

[LewFordLives]

8 hours ago, darwin22 said:

Plethora of reasons for ANOTHER horrible offensive performance tonight.

Normally, I try not to overreact by centering the blame on 1 player, but after tonight I've had enough of the continued pitiful ABs by our "supposed" franchise cornerstone:  Carlos "take the money and chill" Correa.

 

 

 

This.

[LewFordLives]

When the booing stops is when the Twins should be concerned. It means the fans have checked out and no longer care. Many of us still care, although I don't know how much more of this garbage I can take.

[weitz41]

3 errors in a close game will cost most teams. When's the last time Gallo and Miranda had a hit in the same game? Varland looked pretty good.

I'm not into the whole "if Arraez was still with the team thing"....To me that's like saying if I had just bought that Micrsoft stock when I graduated high school...Whether you want to or not you're going to have to move on. I have.

[Eephus]

Spring's hope is not eternal.

[William K Johnson]

Why can't Buxton play centerfield?    Since both Miranda and Solano can't field, try one of them at DH.   Platoon right-field with Kepler and Taylor for now.   If Gallo continues to struggle, a new left fielder is needed.   Wonder if Eddie Rosario is available?  Perhaps the overall answer is to put Lewis in left field when he returns, try Lee at third and Julen at second.  You would then move Gallo to rightfield where his arm is a plus.   If he continues to struggle offensively, then it is time to cut bait and try someone else like Taylor, Wallner or any other options we have.   But change something soon, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different outcome.

[tony&rodney]

8 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

MLB is entertainment - so you’d better damn sure provide it if you want to succeed. What is currently on display by this team is simply not compelling in this regard.  Let’s hope that changes.

Agree wholeheartedly. 

[umterp23]

Correa, performance #'s speak for themselves including his guaranteed money = very painful that he is sucking so bad at the moment.

Buxton trickle down effect by not being a true everyday player hurts this lineup.  DH is special mindset and by not playing the field he is very one dimensional.  Not an impact player by any stretch. Twins mgmt paying him $15MM is a steal if he is in the field, but as a DH, not so much.

Vasquez, yikes on the overpay for his services.  Calls a good game we keep hearing, but other aspects of his game, not so much. Money paid equals line share of the starts, he needs to step it up

Solano, Castro, Gordon, all nice stories at some point but we are stuck with at least 2 of them on this roster when Farmer comes back.  

Pitching staff, minus Mahle and Maeda have been really good and have put our team in position to win almost every game.  When the offense is the worst and yes dead last in batting avg and bottom 10 in many categories in all of baseball,  requires the staff to not give up more than 2 runs a game.  Not sustainable.  Arraez doesn't help this team (so move on from him).

Kepler, Miranda and Larnach the future of the twins?  Miranda was lightening in the bottle last year and this year, so called sophomore slump syndrome has reared its ugly head.  If we are so enamored with Lee, Julien, Lewis, dangle Miranda at trading deadline and see who bites along with Larnach/Kepler.  Can't hurt to hear the asking price, even if there is one above a Ruth Chris steak dinner.