Royals 4, Twins 2: Rocco Baldelli's Ejection Doesn’t Inject Life Into Twins. What Can?

[Tom Froemming]

After falling 4-2 at Kansas City Monday night, the Twins are now 3-7 to start 2025. I should have a more witty way to get this recap started, but sometimes the facts say all you need to say.

Image courtesy of © William Purnell-Imagn Images

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Simeon Woods Richardson 5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 1 HER, 107 pitches, 63 strikes (58.9% strikes)
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Woods Richardson -.155, Carlos Correa -.132, Christian Vázquez -.099
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs):

Rocco Tossed
Rocco Baldelli often presents himself as more corporate than coach, but he’ll stand up for his guys and chew out an ump when the situation calls for it.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, home plate umpire Nic Lentz called a pitch clock violation on Simeon Woods Richardson. It was on a 3-2 count, so the call resulted in a walk. Prior to the pitch, it looked like there may have been some issues with the PitchCom device between Woods Richardson and catcher Christian Vázquez. Woods Richardson stepped off the rubber, but was not granted a disengagement by the umpire, for whatever reason. That delay cost them some time on the clock, but it seemed clear that the righty still started his delivery with two seconds to spare.

Like most situations, whether he was right or wrong, the ump stuck to his original call. I’m sure Baldelli knew he had no chance of changing the call, but he couldn’t just let that slide. It was Baldelli’s 17th career ejection but first since 2023. 

Just Put It In Play (No, Not Like That!)
Monday continued an odd trend for the Twins lineup, where they put the ball in play but have nothing to show for it. It’s an encouraging shift in organizational approach, but it’s difficult to get too excited about it when the results aren’t there. 

Twins hitters posted the highest strikeout rate in the league back in 2023 at 26.6%. They managed to slash that all the way down to 21.3% last year, which was one of the lowest 10 K rates across baseball. The Twins entered tonight at 23.2 K% so far in 2025, slightly above league average.

While contact has not been a major issue this season, production is a different story. The Twins entered tonight ranked 29th in on-base percentage and 27th in slugging. They only struck out five times tonight but that only translated to seven hits and two runs. 

There were eight balls the Twins hit in excess of a 95 mph exit velocity tonight that resulted in outs. They had five batted balls with an expected batting average over .500 that were outs. These things are bound to happen, but when you’re struggling it’s just more salt in the wound. The league, as a whole, is running a .285 BABIP so far this season, a rough number that could indicate the ball is slightly deader than in the past few campaigns. It's too early to be sure either way on that front, but not too soon to wonder about the efficacy of the Twins' approach.

Woods Richardson Eclipses 100 Pitches
The Twins needed some length from their starter tonight. In the early going, it didn’t appear that was going to happen, as Woods Richardson threw 66 pitches over the first three innings.

To his credit, the junior member of the Twins rotation grinded through 5 2/3 innings. It wasn’t a great start, but he did throw a career-high 107 pitches. Not exactly heroic stuff, but it beats most of what his rotation mates have delivered so far this season. He only eclipsed 100 pitches once in his 28 starts last season.

It’s early April, not mid-August. Bullpen fatigue shouldn’t be such a topic of focus this early, but here we are. This was only the second time in 10 games that a Twins starting pitcher recorded an out in the sixth inning.

Ode to the Mop-Up Man
Pablo López technically leads the Twins in innings pitched with 12, but that’s just because the mop-up role has been a revolving door. If we treat that spot on the pitching staff as one player instead of three, the mop-up man has accounted for 13 innings.

Randy Dobnak opened the year in the role and provided 5 1/3 innings in his one outing. His reward was being DFA’d. Darren McCaughan took over the role and provided another 5 1/3 innings over three games pitched. He was DFA’d this morning to make room for a fresh arm, Scott Blewett. 

Blewett finished off tonight’s game for Woods Richardson, covering the final 2 1/3 innings. He, much like Dobnak and McCaughan, pitched great. That trio of mop-up men have combined to throw 13 innings and have only surrendered two earned runs on eight hits and three walks.

We salute you, mop-up men. Thank you for your service … but don’t get too comfortable.

Spring Training Vibes
To my eye, the level of energy the Twins are bringing into these games feels similar to what you’d typically see in spring training. This feels like a group of guys trying to get work in, going through the motions and trying to remove a winter’s worth of rust. It’s not as if their opponents have been playing with an October intensity, but they’ve consistently flet more awake and alive than the Twins. 

While it’s true that the baseball season is a marathon, you don’t see many marathon runners walk the first mile and a half.

It’s not as if the Twins have prioritized rest, either. Sure, Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton have been taken out of a few games early, but both have also started all 10 games for the Twins so far this season. That’s typically a recipe for success, but instead it’s an example where even a piece of good news can be viewed negatively when you’re in a slump. Had Correa and/or Buxton missed time during this poor season-opening stretch, at least we’d have an excuse to point toward.

Correa and Buxton have stunk so far. They’re going to play better than this, but the question is for how much of the season are they both going to be in the lineup together? Sure, the Twins are missing some other guys, but it feels like they need to maximize the periods in which both Correa and Buxton are on the field together. That’s not happening.

Postgame Interview

Bullpen Usage Chart

	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	MON	TOT
Varland	20	0	16	15	0	51
Blewett	0	15	0	0	31	46
Alcalá	11	0	23	0	0	34
Topa	0	0	17	10	0	27
Durán	0	0	8	13	0	21
Sands	0	0	11	10	0	21
Jax	0	0	0	17	0	17
Coulombe	0	0	0	8	0	8

 

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[JD-TWINS]

I realize Buxton’s attempt on the fly ball to the track was a difficult play…………I realize that it was windy & it was affecting fly balls, that said, either Buxton has to make that play or Bader has to catch the fly ball down the LF line. If either play is made, no run in first inning.

2 runs beats no one.

To me, Kiersey is not really a viable option to contribute from what’s transpired so far in first 10 games. Gasper is a nice switch hitting, flexible defender on paper, but he’s done nearly nothing.

Unless they don’t hit at all this week, Martin & Keaschall need to infuse some actual depth that helps Team (potentially) score some runs by a week from today.

Woods Richardson wasn’t perfect but he and Blewett gave Team a chance. No offense………don’t care about exit velocity that results in outs……..weak way to rationalize no runs.

[LastOnePicked]

Odd coincidence. There's a loud sucking sound running through the postgame press conference video.

[Vanimal46]

There’s a legitimate effort issue that’s permeated through the locker room. Julien half assed it to 1B on the final out. Maybe the throw beats him out anyway, but at least look like you’re hustling my dude.

I’ve seen the same half ass effort from Correa, Miranda, and others in the lineup. 

[FlyingFinn]

I can't believe Correa and Buxton have started all 10 games. That's even more amazing than, with them, the Twins are a lifeless 3-7. 

[Parfigliano]

Peter got his wish it wasn't a blowout or choke job loss.  

[USAFChief]

The KC manager has a 7th inning guy, an 8th inning guy, and a 9th inning guy.

With a lead, he used them that way. 

How 'bout that? 

 

[howeda7]

Fire Rocco. It probably won't help but it sure won't hurt.

We are finally playing Buxton when healthy, but we're going to run Swingin' Christian Vazquez out there for 4 games out of 7 this weeks because it's his "turn" and sit Jeffers on the bench. Tonight it meant him coming up twice with runners in scoring position and of course doing nothing.

Any other manager would have Jeffers catching 5 of 7 this week. But not Rocco. He has a system. And that system says a completely helpless offensive catcher gets 80 starts and 400 AB's no matter what. 

[USAFChief]

36 minutes ago, howeda7 said:

Fire Rocco. It probably won't help but it sure won't hurt.

We are finally playing Buxton when healthy, but we're going to run Swingin' Christian Vazquez out there for 4 games out of 7 this weeks because it's his "turn" and sit Jeffers on the bench. Tonight it meant him coming up twice with runners in scoring position and of course doing nothing.

Any other manager would have Jeffers catching 5 of 7 this week. But not Rocco. He has a system. And that system says a completely helpless offensive catcher gets 80 starts and 400 AB's no matter what. 

By way of comparison, Sal Perez caught his 7th of 10 Royals game tonight.  

Plus another 2 at 1st.

Perez is a month shy of his 35th birthday. 

 

[Patzky]

5 hours ago, USAFChief said:

The KC manager has a 7th inning guy, an 8th inning guy, and a 9th inning guy.

With a lead, he used them that way. 

How 'bout that? 

 

A lead, you say! Pray tell..

[Fezig]

If a team is burning through it's relievers after 10 games, I can't imagine what it's going to look like after 100 games. 

 

[CRF]

Another frustrating loss. I believe there will be a lot of them this season. 

[Karbo]

This team seems to be looking for creative ways to lose.

[mikelink45]

When I look at the lineup, the amazing thing is bader and walner are the only two with batting averages over 230. I do think batting averages are worth looking at and this is pretty pathetic. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

45 minutes ago, Fezig said:

If a team is burning through it's relievers after 10 games, I can't imagine what it's going to look like after 100 games. 

 

The way this team is playing, piggy back all 5 rotation spots with mop up men, there won’t be any leads to hold anyways.

[TwinsDr2021]

30 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

When I look at the lineup, the amazing thing is bader and walner are the only two with batting averages over 230. I do think batting averages are worth looking at and this is pretty pathetic. 

Isn't this how things started last year?

[thelanges5]

They need to wake up soon or they’ll be buried by the end of this 12 game stretch. Who’s going to be the spark plug? Not much energy being shown on the field or in the dug out. Bader, Castro? Should be Correa but he hasn’t shown up. 

[TwinsDr2021]

Does leaving in SWR for 100 pitches mean he is going to get demoted?

[Nashvilletwin]

Nice try Rocco.  It was a good effort to stir up some emotion, but, to this layman watching thousands of miles away, it looked contrived.  Wonder how the team felt? Probably were expecting something like this. Inauthenticity can be detected quite easily and, consequently, ineffective.

Let’s face it. Rocco should’ve been fired no later than five minutes after the last out last season ending the Twins’ epic choke job. But the owners knew they’d be selling and so stuck to their story that this team under Rocco was really a true contender. “Strong, proven management” is a desired typical inclusion in any selling memorandum. Their bankers certainly couldn’t write “Senior operational management in flux and will need to be replaced”. Doing that replacing was just too much work and too risky to do before the sale. The illusion was maintained.

Now it’s come back to bite the Pohlads in the ass.  Sure, the new owners get the opportunity to start over with new management.  However, that is way riskier than having solid leadership already in place when the deal closes. Now add in a 70 win season and a gate of 1.5MM - hardly a recipe for getting top dollar.

Sorry fellow DNers. The Pohlads lost their Rocco bet. Now, in the midst of the sales process, they don’t have the time nor the inclination to make the correct operational decision.  Rocco stays. 

[Riverbrian]

It's 10 games. Small sample size.

Those 10 games tho... Not good.

League average OPS is .705 so far this year. It was .711 in 2024. The Twins have only 3 players above that MLB average thus far: 

Bader .988, Wallner .895 and Castro .774

Our 4th highest OPS over these 10 games belongs to Larnach at .564. The quick math on that. The Twins have 10 players who are at least 141 points behind league average. 257 out of 363 plate appearances handled by players who are at least .141 point behind league average.

Don't look at the bottom of the OPS rankings. 47 Million dollar sitting at the bottom. 

On the pitching side. 4.08 is the league average ERA so far this year. Our team ERA is 4.92 which ranks 25th out of 30 teams. 

Again... small sample size. Too soon to panic. The numbers can't stay this bad forever... at sometime there will be improvement to move those numbers up.

The team has to turn it around. They will have to get started on this turnaround against Cole Ragans. Ragans is the 2nd left handed starter we have faced this year. Martin Perez was the first.

The Twins are still looking for their first hit against a left handed starter.

We paid for veteran talent. I'm ready for that veteran talent to lead us out of this. 

 

[thelanges5]

From a Gleeman Skeet:

Twins are now 15-34 since last August 18 for MLB's second-worst record during that time, ahead of only the White Sox at 13-34.

 

[wavedog]

I'll throw a little gas on the fire - we haven't exactly played against teams playing well yet either.  Our competition records so far excluding their games against the Twins

St. Louis 1-6,  Chicago WSox 1-5 , Houston 2-5, Kansas City 4-5   adds up to a combined 8-21 .  

 

[Doctor Gast]

9 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

I realize Buxton’s attempt on the fly ball to the track was a difficult play…………I realize that it was windy & it was affecting fly balls, that said, either Buxton has to make that play or Bader has to catch the fly ball down the LF line. If either play is made, no run in first inning.

2 runs beats no one.

To me, Kiersey is not really a viable option to contribute from what’s transpired so far in first 10 games. Gasper is a nice switch hitting, flexible defender on paper, but he’s done nearly nothing.

Unless they don’t hit at all this week, Martin & Keaschall need to infuse some actual depth that helps Team (potentially) score some runs by a week from today.

Woods Richardson wasn’t perfect but he and Blewett gave Team a chance. No offense………don’t care about exit velocity that results in outs……..weak way to rationalize no runs.

Even with Baldelli getting ejected, that wasn't enough to get the Twins going because they have no fire & chemistry. As I've said before, our OF is very deep, with our CFers Buck & Bader (RH) have been productive & healthy as well our cOFers (LH). Keirsey (LH) is our bench player, who is our safety net in case any of these get hurt or are unproductive. Even so, he's still valuable as a LH CFer to spell Buck against RHPs, a pinch runner or a defensive sub. He was used as a PR, he stole 2B, provided a spark, scored a run, became a defensive OFer & then was forgotten. Baldelli preaches about getting a running game going but refuses to put in players that make a difference. Still, Keirsey is a young player & needs playing time at the MLB level, which he won't get while Baldelli is around. 

On the other hand, Julien is a liability offensively, defensively, provides no spark on the basepath & needs to be sent down to AAA to finally adjust his swing & learn how to play 1B. We need more than Buxton to spark this dead team. We need Keirsey, Martin & Keaschall to inject new life into this dead team as much as possible. But running is against Baldelli, Tingler & Watkins's way of thinking so they have no idea & don't remember to do so.

[mikelink45]

1 hour ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Isn't this how things started last year?

Yes, except the batter with the best average - Wallner - was sent to St Paul where he caught fire.  This year we were smart enough to keep him.

[rv78]

The Leaders of this team are leading ................ in lack of production.

[Nashvilletwin]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

It's 10 games. Small sample size.

Those 10 games tho... Not good.

League average OPS is .705 so far this year. It was .711 in 2024. The Twins have only 3 players above that MLB average thus far: 

Bader .988, Wallner .895 and Castro .774

Our 4th highest OPS over these 10 games belongs to Larnach at .564. The quick math on that. The Twins have 10 players who are at least 141 points behind league average. 257 out of 363 plate appearances handled by players who are at least .141 point behind league average.

Don't look at the bottom of the OPS rankings. 47 Million dollar sitting at the bottom. 

On the pitching side. 4.08 is the league average ERA so far this year. Our team ERA is 4.92 which ranks 25th out of 30 teams. 

Again... small sample size. Too soon to panic. The numbers can't stay this bad forever... at sometime there will be improvement to move those numbers up.

The team has to turn it around. They will have to get started on this turnaround against Cole Ragans. Ragans is the 2nd left handed starter we have faced this year. Martin Perez was the first.

The Twins are still looking for their first hit against a left handed starter.

We paid for veteran talent. I'm ready for that veteran talent to lead us out of this. 

 

Actually, it’s not a small sample size.  Please see the two posts directly below yours.  

[Fire Dan Gladden]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

It's 10 games. Small sample size.

Those 10 games tho... Not good.

League average OPS is .705 so far this year. It was .711 in 2024. The Twins have only 3 players above that MLB average thus far: 

Bader .988, Wallner .895 and Castro .774

Our 4th highest OPS over these 10 games belongs to Larnach at .564. The quick math on that. The Twins have 10 players who are at least 141 points behind league average. 257 out of 363 plate appearances handled by players who are at least .141 point behind league average.

Don't look at the bottom of the OPS rankings. 47 Million dollar sitting at the bottom. 

On the pitching side. 4.08 is the league average ERA so far this year. Our team ERA is 4.92 which ranks 25th out of 30 teams. 

Again... small sample size. Too soon to panic. The numbers can't stay this bad forever... at sometime there will be improvement to move those numbers up.

The team has to turn it around. They will have to get started on this turnaround against Cole Ragans. Ragans is the 2nd left handed starter we have faced this year. Martin Perez was the first.

The Twins are still looking for their first hit against a left handed starter.

We paid for veteran talent. I'm ready for that veteran talent to lead us out of this. 

 

100% this.

[Whitey333]

I'm assuming that since Blewett did a decent job of saving the bullpen that he will be DFA as well.  May as well get rid of the pitchers that actually perform.  Also that France, like Correa and others doesn't run out ground balls in the infield.  I've counted six times at least where France is loafing while "running " to first. Correa, Buxton, and Larnach, the number 2 3, and 4 hitters yesterday went a combined 0 for 12.  It's sad that other than Baders 2 great catches that the only highlight was Rocco getting tossed by a joke of a home plate umpire that has no business masquerading as a major league umpire

 

[DJL44]

Quote

It’s an encouraging shift in organizational approach, but it’s difficult to get too excited about it when the results aren’t there. 

I'm not sure giving up home runs and walks for contact is all that encouraging. The batting average will come up but a team ISO OBP of .070 is not great and an ISO SLG of .115 is just as bad. An offense that can't get on base or hit for power is going to be bad. Assuming they get to league average for batting average they'll hit .240/.310/.355 as a team which would put them in the bottom 10 teams. That's an OPS+ of around 90-95.

It's 2025 - someone needs to hit dingers.

[DJL44]

How does a home plate umpire not grant a "disengagement"? If a pitcher steps off the rubber and throws to first, can the umpire ignore that, say it wasn't a disengagement and call a ball on the pitcher?