Twins 1, Giants 7: Listless Defense, Untimely Hitting Soils Joe Ryan's Homecoming

[Matt Braun]

You know that kind of terrible movie whose ending you can predict after about 20 minutes?

Image courtesy of © John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
Joe Ryan: 5 ⅓ IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Joe Ryan (-.208), Christian Vázquez (-.118), Manuel Margot (-.071)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

It was June, 2017. Ervin Santana tossed one of his five complete games that year, Kennys Vargas cracked a homer off Jeff Samardzija, and Nik Turley—yes, Nik Turley—started game three of the series. These are the vapid, vague memories of the last time the Twins played in San Francisco, some near decade ago when Byron Buxton and Max Kepler were still youngsters and Brooks Lee was in high school. That series ended in a Minnesota victory; would 2024’s matchup follow a similar path?

The man on the mound was familiar with this turf. Joe Ryan walked this land and breathed this air as a boy: he was born in San Francisco and went to high school some 20 miles north in San Anselmo. He loved the Giants. And the Grateful Dead. 

Familiar or not, Oracle Park proved unfriendly early and often; an otherwise typical 1st inning line drive portended defensive disaster when Matt Wallner collapsed on himself and allowed Jorge Soler to reach third base. The play did not result in an error. Only the finest for sport’s most subjective stat. That runner soon scored, as did two more the following frame when Byron Buxton nearly chased down a ball in the gap before Brett Wisely dumped a dying quail right in front of him to plate a third run. If a ball could mock someone while falling, that one sure did.

Accentuating San Francisco’s offensive flurry was Minnesota’s impotence in the same situation. They put runners on, but moving them around was a hassle; Brooks Lee flew out on a ball gone in 23 ballparks; line drives found gloves; two men on with no one out begat three of the worst at-bats taken all game. The one run they did score felt more like an insult than a celebration; they should have had four of them by now. 

No matter. Josh Staumont entered, finally allowed a few earned runs, and turned the game from an optimist's close match to a true laugher. Minnesota's bats fell even more tepid into the void encompassing them all day, and the end result we all knew to be imminent and true.

Notes:

Joe Ryan's three walks were a season-high.

Ryan's six strikeouts give him 502 in his Twins career, good for 27th-most all-time. He is three strikeouts away from passing Glen Perkins and Dean Chance for 25th place.

Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa now have hitting streaks of eight and 13 games, respectively. 

Buxton earned his fifth multi-hit game of July. He is slashing .452/.500/.742 since the month's turn.

Brooks Lee has reached base in eight of his nine first career games. 

Post-Game Interview:

 

What’s Next?
The Twins and Giants will play the second game of their series on Saturday. Simeon Woods Richardson faces off against Hayden Birdsong. First pitch is at 6:15 PM. 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

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[Mark G]

Just one of those nights you get in a 162 game season.  Move on.  But I sure do hate to see Staumont's streak end.  

One thing does stick in my craw a little, and it is something I have never understood.  What if Jeffers had been hurt in the bottom of the 7th or 8th; who catches from that point on?  I somewhat understand when he puts Jeffers into the DH spot when Vasquez catches, because you have a potential big bat.  But why do we DH a .197 hitter and take an unnecessary risk with Jeffers going down?  Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it isn't a risky move; and an unnecessary one at that.  

But, as always, I can be educated. 😉

[Patzky]

2 hours ago, Mark G said:

Just one of those nights you get in a 162 game season.  Move on.  But I sure do hate to see Staumont's streak end.  

One thing does stick in my craw a little, and it is something I have never understood.  What if Jeffers had been hurt in the bottom of the 7th or 8th; who catches from that point on?  I somewhat understand when he puts Jeffers into the DH spot when Vasquez catches, because you have a potential big bat.  But why do we DH a .197 hitter and take an unnecessary risk with Jeffers going down?  Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it isn't a risky move; and an unnecessary one at that.  

But, as always, I can be educated. 😉

Camargo was active.

[D.C Twins]

Whatever computer algorithm is spitting out Margot as the leadoff hitter this year needs to be discarded... no explanation necessary.

 

 

[CRF]

Pathetic performance overall. 

[William K Johnson]

Felt bad for Correa, he had outs on both sides of him.   Wisely had the game of his life.   He was like 4 for his last 40 coming in and I watched a Giants game earlier where he was just awful at second base.   Agree with earlier comment, over 162 games you will have games where the opponent plays out of their *** and your guys stink it up.    However, I still question Vasquez in the DH role.   Worst hitter on the team and could have given Carmargo some at bats.    Margot should be gone once Martin is healthy.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

And to top it off, we have to watch LaMonte Wade play in a Giants uniform. ☹️

[JD-TWINS]

17 minutes ago, William K Johnson said:

Felt bad for Correa, he had outs on both sides of him.   Wisely had the game of his life.   He was like 4 for his last 40 coming in and I watched a Giants game earlier where he was just awful at second base.   Agree with earlier comment, over 162 games you will have games where the opponent plays out of their *** and your guys stink it up.    However, I still question Vasquez in the DH role.   Worst hitter on the team and could have given Carmargo some at bats.    Margot should be gone once Martin is healthy.

I get the frustration with Vazquez in the line-up with Miranda scratched……Camargo has hit .213 in St Paul since he was up with the Twins the first time though……I don’t understand the call-up choice with the All-Star break looming and the Catchers able to both rest a few days? 

[ChermesZ]

Can other teams hack into baldelli’s spreadsheets and algorithms?

 

”hey, let’s make them bat Margot 1st and DH Vasquez!”

 

1 of Margot, Vasquez, and farmer should start at a time.

2 should be a ‘never’

3 should be a ‘firing into the sun’

[JD-TWINS]

RYAN really got a bad break in the first with Wallner turning a single into a triple, sets a bad tone …….but after the 1st he was his own worst enemy. For a “strike thrower” he managed to continually start guys 2-0. He was hunting the corners and continually 3” off the plate. Last, he didn’t seem to be able or willing to elevate his fastball…….Jeffers set-up high along the top of the zone at least a handful of times with Ryan throwing pitches belt high or just below…..the pitch Soler lined to left was the prototype for “middle-middle”. I guess he just lacked command last night? 

Homecoming have him too amped?

[Doctor Gast]

So often I see the line-up & scratch my head. Tonite with Margot leading off, Vazquez at DH & Miranda sitting?! Analytics is great but when you put garbage in you get garbage out. Let's reevaluate some of our priorities.

[Old Crow]

3 hours ago, Patzky said:

Camargo was active.

And it's a good thing he was otherwise we would have had to have put a more productive hitter into the DH slot.

[tony&rodney]

Hopefully Miranda's back loosens up after a good sleep. Miranda sitting with a stiff back shortens up the bench. 

[Mark G]

4 hours ago, Patzky said:

Camargo was active.

I stand educated.  🤭

(But he does this a lot, Camargo or no Camargo......I have just always wondered why)

[LambchoP]

Why on earth would you DH your backup catcher who is also the worst hitters on the team? Especially on the same night you have Margot hitting leadoff?! Did Rocco even want to win this one? Why call up Camargo just to DH the automatic out Vasquez. His only value is being a good defensive catcher, so naturally Rocco sends him out there as a DH....

[Matt Braun]

3 hours ago, D.C Twins said:

Whatever computer algorithm is spitting out Margot as the leadoff hitter this year needs to be discarded... no explanation necessary.

 

 

Margot is hitting .313/.373/.493 out of the leadoff spot this season. 

[Matt Braun]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

So often I see the line-up & scratch my head. Tonite with Margot leading off, Vazquez at DH & Miranda sitting?! Analytics is great but when you put garbage in you get garbage out. Let's reevaluate some of our priorities.

Miranda had a bad back. 

[thelanges5]

Feels like they’ve been swinging away since that first inning debacle against Fedde. Twins have a good offense they need to remember what got them to be one of the top offenses since the 7-13 start. 

[Patzky]

15 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Feels like they’ve been swinging away since that first inning debacle against Fedde. Twins have a good offense they need to remember what got them to be one of the top offenses since the 7-13 start. 

That inning broke them like the Yankees did. Time for a reboot.. better before this game than have it fester over the break. Closed door meeting.. Carlos may have taken care of this already.

[mrcharlie]

1 hour ago, LambchoP said:

Why on earth would you DH your backup catcher who is also the worst hitters on the team? Especially on the same night you have Margot hitting leadoff?! Did Rocco even want to win this one? Why call up Camargo just to DH the automatic out Vasquez. His only value is being a good defensive catcher, so naturally Rocco sends him out there as a DH....

BINGO!

Also, it pains me to watch Jeffers catch...sets a moving target, poor at blocking pitches and below average throwing out base-runners. 

Harrison has trouble with lefties so where was Kepler...who can play a very good OF?  Wallner is made for DH.

[joefish]

9 hours ago, Mark G said:

Just one of those nights you get in a 162 game season.  Move on.  But I sure do hate to see Staumont's streak end.  

One thing does stick in my craw a little, and it is something I have never understood.  What if Jeffers had been hurt in the bottom of the 7th or 8th; who catches from that point on?  I somewhat understand when he puts Jeffers into the DH spot when Vasquez catches, because you have a potential big bat.  But why do we DH a .197 hitter and take an unnecessary risk with Jeffers going down?  Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it isn't a risky move; and an unnecessary one at that.  

But, as always, I can be educated. 😉

We had a 3rd catcher in the dugout I believe

 Camargo?

[JD-TWINS]

3 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

So often I see the line-up & scratch my head. Tonite with Margot leading off, Vazquez at DH & Miranda sitting?! Analytics is great but when you put garbage in you get garbage out. Let's reevaluate some of our priorities.

Miranda was scratched which pushed Vazquez into duty……didn’t hear but Miranda must have been sick? He was on the bench - in a heavy hoodie. Margot quite often leads-off v. LH pitching over past 2 months - pretty good rate of success over that period.

[JD-TWINS]

25 minutes ago, mrcharlie said:

BINGO!

Also, it pains me to watch Jeffers catch...sets a moving target, poor at blocking pitches and below average throwing out base-runners. 

Harrison has trouble with lefties so where was Kepler...who can play a very good OF?  Wallner is made for DH.

Weird Kepler didn’t start after a day off. I guess, giving Wallner a chance v. Lefty that most here clamor for……he’s not Max in the OF!

Do not disagree with Jeffers - his skills behind the plate seem to be regressing……or just getting worse….,,base skills seem to be lacking.

Miranda got scratched so, with an .810 OPS over the past 18 games, Vazquez DHed. Last 33 games for Camargo he’s hit .213 in St. Paul.

[RpR]

4 hours ago, ChermesZ said:

Can other teams hack into baldelli’s spreadsheets and algorithms?

”hey, let’s make them bat Margot 1st and DH Vasquez!”

1 of Margot, Vasquez, and farmer should start at a time.

2 should be a ‘never’

3 should be a ‘firing into the sun’

Well, Wallner, Buxton and Castro did such a FINE jub in the field last night but cannot blame the real failures.

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

Miranda was scratched which pushed Vazquez into duty……didn’t hear but Miranda must have been sick? He was on the bench - in a heavy hoodie. Margot quite often leads-off v. LH pitching over past 2 months - pretty good rate of success over that period.

Vazquez was the DH before Miranda got scratched. Wallner replaced Miranda in the order, not Vazquez. Miranda getting scratched moved Castro to 2nd, Lee to 3rd, and put Wallner in right.

[Patzky]

5 hours ago, ChermesZ said:

Can other teams hack into baldelli’s spreadsheets and algorithms?

 

”hey, let’s make them bat Margot 1st and DH Vasquez!”

 

1 of Margot, Vasquez, and farmer should start at a time.

2 should be a ‘never’

3 should be a ‘firing into the sun’

But of course if you saw Saturday's lineup you'd throw up your hands..

[USAFChief]

3 hours ago, Matt Braun said:

Margot is hitting .313/.373/.493 out of the leadoff spot this season. 

This is akin to the "Margot is hitting blah blah blah on Thursdays from June 3rd through July 2nd" line of reasoning that gets repeated herein. 

Margot is hitting .223/.297/.324 this year.

Chopping that up into carefully chosen parts to hide the truth isn't what I'd expect from a TD writer.

 

[JD-TWINS]

17 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

This is akin to the "Margot is hitting blah blah blah on Thursdays from June 3rd through July 2nd" line of reasoning that gets repeated herein. 

Margot is hitting .223/.297/.324 this year.

Chopping that up into carefully chosen parts to hide the truth isn't what I'd expect from a TD writer.

 

A guy brought up the question about Margot being in the lead-off spot last night - citing his stats as a lead-off hitter is somehow skewed?

That’s like saying a pitcher who gives up 2 or less runs over his past 5 games but has a 4.00 ERA after 14 games isn't pitching better now because his overall ERA is 4.00. (Ober like)

Recent performance matters whether you think so or not!

Vazquez sucks generally - certainly for the year! However, he’s had an OPS of .810 over last 18 games……got him a shot at DH last night.

Buxton was mired in mediocrity through most of the first 2 plus months of the season……he’s been on fire for 20 games…….recent events matter.

The stat that I throw around relative to Margot is .899 OPS from beginning of June through a week ago. If a guy hits .100 for a month, he can’t get back to .250 in a blink of an eye. I’m not in love with Margot in any way but fair is fair…….he was terrible……he became proficient…..,,we’ll see how long he can contribute and hang on from here.

[Matt Braun]

31 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

This is akin to the "Margot is hitting blah blah blah on Thursdays from June 3rd through July 2nd" line of reasoning that gets repeated herein. 

Margot is hitting .223/.297/.324 this year.

Chopping that up into carefully chosen parts to hide the truth isn't what I'd expect from a TD writer.

 

I don't remember advocating for much in my comment; maybe I'll interrogate it more to find whatever you appeared to have uncovered.

 

Anyways, the point was that---for as much consternation that Margot elicits---he's been a perfectly fine, if not outright good lefty killer. He's going to bat leadoff against southpaws, and he's done quite well in that role. All the fruitless pinch-hitting and terrible play against righties is a different story. 

[JD-TWINS]

Offense could use a couple breaks (4 balls caught at the wall in past couple games) - run scoring has been listless over past half dozen games - prior they lit it up.

Looking at OPS+ earlier………if Farmer & Margot go away at some point in August……..Team has 12 of 13 guys at 99 OPS+ or better now …..League average is 100 OPS+ ……Twins have 7 guys at 125 or above and 5 at 148 or above. (realize Lee - Wallner - Lewis are small samples and skewed a bit)

Offense should come around soon enough!