Giants 4, Twins 3: As Bad As It Gets?

[Steven Trefz]

The Twins came into Tuesday's matchup with the Giants looking for some home field redemption. They hit the showers unredeemed. Here's how it all went down at Target Field.

Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

 

Box Score
SP: Sonny Gray: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K (105 pitches, 69 strikes (66%)
Home Runs: Byron Buxton (10), Michael A. Taylor (6)
Top 3 WPA: Buxton (.119), Javoni Moran (.085), Griffin Jax (.048)
Bottom 3 WPA: Jorge Lopez (-.356), Donovan Solano (-.063), Willi Castro (-.070)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) 

Monday night's loss left a sour taste across Twins Territory, and left both the team and the fans eager to get redemption for a night of poor plate appearances and questionable decisions. Carlos Correa took the night off with a sore heel on Tuesday, and Trevor Larnach hit the IL with a lingering illness. Would the remaining Twins be able to stand their ground against a streaky Giants squad?

Live by the Long Ball
Things got off to a bang for the Twins offense, when Donavan Solano drilled an opposite field single to right with one out. After an Alex Kirilloff strike out, Byron Buxton went first-pitch hunting and did not miss, jolting a home run to deep left center to put the Twins up 2-0 early.

Die by the Small Ball
In the bottom of the second inning, the Twins got a lucky break on a Kyle Farmer grounder to LaMonte Wade Jr. that bounced away and led to an errant throw. Willi Castro followed with an attempted sacrifice bunt, but Alex Cobb was able to get Farmer at second base. A quick Christian Vázquez double play ball later, and the rally was snuffed out on two pitches.

Live by the Long Ball - Part 2
The Twins failed to manufacture runs throughout the middle innings, until Michael A. Taylor came up with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. On a 1-2 count, Taylor called for time, gathered his bearings, and then left the yard for the sixth time this year to put the Twins up 3-0.

Sonny Skies Turn Gray in the Sixth
Gray hadn't been dominant through the first five innings, scattering five hits across the scoreless frames. J.D. Davis worked a lead-off walk in the sixth, and Michael Conforto powered a double to the left field gap. Gray stayed in to face Mitch Haniger to eclipse the 100 pitch mark, and ended up walking him as well to load the bases.

The mess was left to Jovani Moran to clean up, and he started out well by inducing a fly out by Casey Schmitt to short center, and then by striking out Wilmer Flores. The third out wouldn't come as easily, as control issues returned to Moran's outing, and he walked Patrick Bailey on four pitches to bring in the first Giants run.

When Bryce Johnson entered as a pinch hitter, Rocco Baldelli went to the bullpen again. This time it was Brock Stewart's turn to face loaded bases and a pivotal moment in the game. He responded by walking Johnson on five pitches. You can't make this stuff up.

LaMonte Wade Jr. came up next, and Stewart responded by missing badly with his first two pitches. Wade Jr. had the third best walk rate in the Majors, and things looked bleak. Pitching coach Pete Make made his way to the mound, and luckily whatever he said worked. Three strikes later, Stewart was out of the jam, and the Twins held on to their 3-2 advantage.

Die by the Long Ball
The threats just kept on coming for the Giants, as Thairo Estrada led off the top of the seventh with a scorching double off of Jorge Lopez. Kyle Farmer robbed J.D. Davis of another extra base hit, but Conforto struck again, and he would not be robbed as he lofted a two run homer about two inches beyond the left field wall to put the Giants ahead 4-3.

Live and Let Die
It's not just a catchy 007 lyric, its what Twins Territory was asking about the rest of the summer heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. Therapy sessions were being offered on Twitter, fishing rods were being readied for months of baseball-free evenings, and Twins players were beginning to plan their October vacations. Stop me if you heard this one, but another medium-level left-handed reliever dominated Kyle Garlick, Solano, and Kirilloff. 

Buxton, Edouard Julien, and newly called-up Matt Wallner (who had already played a game today) tried to keep hope alive in the ninth. Two strikeouts later, and it was up to Wallner. Matt took one for the team on the right ankle, bringing Castro up as the winning run with two outs.

Fade to black. Castro strikes out swinging, and the Twins find themselves just one game above the .500 mark.

What’s Next? 
In the third and final game of the series the Twins will send Joe Ryan and his 6-1 record, and 0.89 WHIP to the mound. The Giants will counter with Anthony DeSclafani and his 3-3 record, and 0.99 WHIP. This in when the ace rises to the top of the deck, so can Twins fans count on a win Wednesday?

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	FRI	SAT	SUN	MON	TUE	TOT
Jax	33	0	0	17	18	68
J. López	0	19	12	0	18	49
Sands	0	0	0	44	0	44
Pagán	0	0	0	23	9	32
De León	0	0	31	0	0	31
Stewart	11	5	0	0	10	26
Durán	0	20	0	0	0	20
Morán	0	9	0	0	10	19

View full article

[BD57]

Walks, walks, walks.  Pitching staff self-destructed again.  Ugh.

[mikelink45]

Well it looks like Ryan will have Duran to back him up. Not sure why he didn't pitch today. But Lopez is starting to worry me just like he did the second half of last year. With all the young prospects no one the major league roster with the exception of Lewis. I'm really curious how the lineup will look tomorrow. But something's got to change. Last year. We at least made it to the All-Star game before fading

[Yawn Gardenhose]

I'm not a doctor, but isn't one's heel close to one's ankle? 

[VivaBomboRivera!]

6 minutes ago, BD57 said:

Walks, walks, walks.  Pitching staff self-destructed again. Bats failed to deliver.  Double ugh.

Fixed yer post. ☹️

[2wins87]

This thread is going to be a cesspool of negativity but I want to point out that while a bunch of different relievers have had their hand in blowing leads lately, Duran has pitched just 5 times in the month of May (without giving up any runs other than a Manfred Man).

This is a case where Rocco's managing is actually way too traditional and he can't seem to imagine anything other than a traditional closer role.

Duran obviously isn't going to save any game all by himself, but when the team is scuffling it seems like one solution would be to try to get one of the best relievers in baseball involved earlier in the game before you have a chance to blow it and maybe have a chance to tack on.

Anyway, enough of the negativity for me, I'm going to try to do something more fun.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

41 minutes ago, Steven Trefz said:

Conforto struck again

[VivaBomboRivera!]

13 minutes ago, 2wins87 said:

This thread is going to be a cesspool of negativity

[Danchat]

19 minutes ago, 2wins87 said:

This thread is going to be a cesspool of negativity but I want to point out that while a bunch of different relievers have had their hand in blowing leads lately, Duran has pitched just 5 times in the month of May (without giving up any runs other than a Manfred Man).

This is a case where Rocco's managing is actually way too traditional and he can't seem to imagine anything other than a traditional closer role.

Duran obviously isn't going to save any game all by himself, but when the team is scuffling it seems like one solution would be to try to get one of the best relievers in baseball involved earlier in the game before you have a chance to blow it and maybe have a chance to tack on.

Anyway, enough of the negativity for me, I'm going to try to do something more fun.

I agree, though I find it funny that many here were mad at Rocco for not using him in the 9th inning (which wasn't totally unreasonable because Pagan and Lopez were blowing saves) last year and instead utilized him as a firefighter in the 7th/8th innings. Now he's saved for the 9th, and it turns out the bullpen isn't good enough to get to the 9th. Yup, I agree with using him earlier in a jam. Better to use your closer to get you to the 9th rather than failing to get to the 9th with the lead blown.

[Aggies7]

24 minutes ago, Danchat said:

I agree, though I find it funny that many here were mad at Rocco for not using him in the 9th inning (which wasn't totally unreasonable because Pagan and Lopez were blowing saves) last year and instead utilized him as a firefighter in the 7th/8th innings. Now he's saved for the 9th, and it turns out the bullpen isn't good enough to get to the 9th. Yup, I agree with using him earlier in a jam. Better to use your closer to get you to the 9th rather than failing to get to the 9th with the lead blown.

12 outs needed to be made. Say duran gets the 6th and maybe 7th. Lopez and (?) are going to have to get the last 6 outs. Lopez and jax have been bad for a month. Stewart has been good but playing high above his career average. Moran is hit/miss. The weaker guys (aka everyone except duran) are going to have to pitch. You don’t trust them in the 6/7 but you trust them in 8/9? Moran was brought in to face 6-7-8 batters. If they’re going to blow the lead, I’d heck of a lot rather blow it before the 8th inning. That way you could maybe run your strategy a bit differently than if you fall behind in the 9th. Plus, I believe it’s a mental letdown to blow a 9th inning lead. Rarely do I see the home team score in the bottom after blowing a 9th inning lead. Plus I like duran for a possible 10th inning with the manfred rule, being a high strikeout guy.

We’re just arguing about chair placement on the titanic at the end of the day. You can’t have one trustworthy guy in the bullpen. It’s just never going to work. It looked good early on with thielbar and lopez, but it’s reverted to form. Can’t have a bullpen with one solid reliever.

[Aggies7]

To answer the headline question….it can get much worse. 4 months left of this. Things really didn’t fall apart until well into June/July last year.

[darwin22]

For some idiotic reason I thought literally distancing myself from the Twins by driving to Springfield, Mo (from KC area) to see the Wind Surge open their series against the Cards AA team, might be the tonic for some good fortune.

Well, not only did the Twins gag away ANOTHER game courtesy of Lopez and the offense's continued futility, but I see our collection of misfit hitters whiffed 11 more times tonight while drawing 1 walk.  For those keeping track, our #1 rank in whiffs is holding strong.  Now 485 in 49 games.  Just brutal. 

My plan to distant myself from the big league club in hope of seeing the Wind Surge play well (ie score runs with timely hitting) by putting the ball in play turned out as well as believing the Twins would get multiple KEY hits with the bases loaded.

Not only did that fail to happen as the Surge were hammered 8-3, but Brooks Lee took an 0-4 --failing to get the ball out of the infield.  Surge hitters channeled the "bad jujo" of the parent club by whiffing 13 times with every hitter in the lineup taking a hard left turn exit back to the dugout.

Can't wait for ANOTHER exciting day of Twins/Surge baseball tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[darwin22]

4 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

To answer the headline question….it can get much worse. 4 months left of this. Things really didn’t fall apart until well into June/July last year.

Agree 100%---------It can absolutely get worse.  Imagine how quickly this team will plummet if two of Gray, Lopez, Ryan or Ober have a lengthy DL stint.  

[LastOnePicked]

Positivity, eh? Okay. Maybe Las Vegas would be interested in having the Twins instead?

[jkcarew]

22 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

12 outs needed to be made. Say duran gets the 6th and maybe 7th. Lopez and (?) are going to have to get the last 6 outs. Lopez and jax have been bad for a month. Stewart has been good but playing high above his career average. Moran is hit/miss. The weaker guys (aka everyone except duran) are going to have to pitch. You don’t trust them in the 6/7 but you trust them in 8/9? If they’re going to blow the lead, I’d heck of a lot rather blow it before the 8th inning. That way you could maybe run your strategy a bit differently than if you fall behind in the 9th. Plus, I believe it’s a mental letdown to blow a 9th inning lead. Rarely do I see the home team score in the bottom after blowing a 9th inning lead. Plus I like duran for a possible 10th inning with the manfred rule, being a high strikeout guy.

We’re just arguing about chair placement on the titanic at the end of the day. You can’t have one trustworthy guy in the bullpen. It’s just never going to work. It looked good early on with thielbar and lopez, but it’s reverted to form. Can’t have a bullpen with one solid reliever.

The problem with the unwillingness to move him up is that you open yourself to a couple of risks…

1) you end up without a save opportunity and pitch him in low leverage…or…

2) you end up without a save situation and don’t pitch him at all

And that’s what’s been happening…Duran has fewer innings and fewer batters faced than (more than) half the bullpen. Rocco has pitched his best pitcher less than his other pitchers…all while the club has been stacking up losses. He wants to stick with his plans/wishes/hopes regardless of how events actually unfold. It’s a pattern.

Having said all that, the offense is the main problem.

[Aggies7]

4 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

The problem with the unwillingness to move him up is that you open yourself to a couple of risks…

1) you end up without a save opportunity and pitch him in low leverage…or…

2) you end up without a save situation and don’t pitch him at all

And that’s what been happening…Duran has fewer innings and fewer batters faced than (more than) half the bullpen. Rocco has pitched his best pitcher less than his other pitchers…all while the club has been stacking up losses. He wants to stick with his plans/wishes/hopes regardless of how events are unfolding.

Having said all that, the offense is the main problem.

You make a good point, I just think you can’t hide the bad guys. They have to pitch eventually. Yes, it’s possible that duran does the job and we add on several runs and make it a non issue. But a 3 run lead in the 6th (yes with bases loaded) facing 6-7-8. That’s a tough call to bring in your stud

[Aggies7]

8 minutes ago, darwin22 said:

Agree 100%---------It can absolutely get worse.  Imagine how quickly this team will plummet if two of Gray, Lopez, Ryan or Ober have a lengthy DL stint.  

Or even if they just drop off a bit. Fall closer to average. Ryan is exciting but he sort of tailed off last season. Ober, good recovery last night but 3 months from now? 

[jkcarew]

2 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

I just think you can’t hide the bad guys.

Agreed. But if I were to TRY…I wouldn’t do it by hiding my good guy 😉

[Blyleven2011]

These players are getting paid professional  money  but aren't delivering a professional product except for the starting pitching ...

Maybe pitching is where you want to spend your dollars ( bullpen )  ...

Now if we only had a consistent hitting team that can have patience and possibly walk , single  , double or get on base any way you can ...

HIT THEM WHERE THEY AINT ...

 

Yes hitting homeruns is where they ain't  , Someone please tell these players and coaches there is plenty of grass for the ball to fall for hits too ... 

Something needs to change , this just isn't good baseball  ...

We fired the trainer after 2022 , but retained all of our coaches , and now extended  our manager WHAT A CROCK  ...

Our window of opportunity is closing  on us pretty quickly  ...

[David HK]

3 hours ago, Aggies7 said:

To answer the headline question….it can get much worse. 4 months left of this. Things really didn’t fall apart until well into June/July last year.

Aye.  And I might add, aye yai yai....

Well, it seems the Twinks have established a similar pattern to the Vikings 1-2-3-kick:  starter pitches his guts out, guys fail to hit and back him up, bullpen comes in and blows it.  The end.  We still might stagger to the Central title by default, for the usual one-and-done playoff experience. (Again, Viking-like.)

It's the bad team mantra, of choosing one guy to suck each night, and which hitter or hitters are going to make a mockery of their $$$ contracts.  (*cough* Correa* cough*)

Over here on this side of the globe,  I'm thankful that it's exam time at school and lots to do, and I don't have to worry about following any Twins games that come on around 7 or 8 AM.  I can just check the bad news later. 

[HokieRif]

[rwilfong86]

Even as bad as this has been, they still have a 2.5 game lead in the central right now. 

[Jeff D.]

If Professor Baldelli wasn't so bad, he would be funny. His holding the other teams down stuff is nuts. The Twins cannot hit the ball at this moment. Plate discipline is poor. Fielding has been fair. Risk taking is minimal. However, a different line-up every day shows a creative side of the leader.... he does not take the field but if he were he would be shuffled around the batting order or sitting when he is on a hot streak. Difficult enough to overcome as a player. His job is to orchestrate and motivate. I do not believe the guy could motivate a snail to be slow. Love the team. Go Twins!

[the_brute_squad]

This team has no leaders. Not necessarily in the terms of players on the field but in front office, management, and coaching. Tony Robbins would be dog- faced if he spent a day in the dugout with Baldelli. Get rid of him, and this team would go on a win steak not seen since 91. 

[David HK]

FFS, is Rocco wearing his pyjamas in the top photo?  No wonder they lost, he must have been asleep.

Jeepers, guy, you're in a Major League dugout.  Maybe dress the part instead of looking like a slob who just got off his couch.

[jimbo92107]

8 hours ago, BD57 said:

Walks, walks, walks.  Pitching staff self-destructed again.  Ugh.

Totally agree. It's one thing if the hitters earn their way on base, but if your pitchers can't or won't throw strikes, that's like some kind of emotional hangup. I say that because if you remove the game pressure, pretty much all these guys can throw strike after strike. 

[bighat]

8 hours ago, BD57 said:

Walks, walks, walks.  Pitching staff self-destructed again.  Ugh.

Blaming this on the pitching staff? The pitching staff? 

That's like blaming global warming on someone who lights a candle. The problem with this team is that they cannot hit. This is a bad hitting team. The pitching has been fine. 

[Craig Arko]

I think we can safely say it was a team effort.

[CRF]

This is a .500...or possibly below that...team. They can't hit consistently, and they have a very shaky pen. The starting pitchers have been great, but that might be hard to continue thru an entire season. You're just not going to win games on a consistent basis, when you score 1, 2, or 3 runs a game. It's not going to happen. I'm not smart enough to come up with a solution, but this team isn't going anywhere as it's constructed right now. 

[MMMordabito]

It's amusing that one of these AL Central teams is going to get home field advantage in a playoff series.