Twins 5, Orioles 2: Twins Complete Sweep of Orioles Thanks to Brooks Lee’s Late-Inning Heroics

[Patzky]

6 hours ago, AlLagoon said:

He's kind of a 21st-century Dan Gladden, blond locks and all.

Give him the mic while playing!

[Doctor Wu]

13 hours ago, jkcarew said:

Does this series mean the Twins won the Jorge Lopez trade??

Umm ... not likely at this point, or ever! Speaking of which, where is Lopez these days?

[Doctor Wu]

1 hour ago, Linus said:

Didn’t see the game but I bet it was fun watching Buck score from first on that double. 

Buxton seems to have found the fountain of youth this season, playing with energy and enthusiasm, and producing some very positive results.  Stay healthy, Buck!

[Doctor Wu]

8 hours ago, mnfireman said:

Ober has 1.98 ERA since his disaster against the Cardinals...

Back in the running for that Cy Young award!

[IndianaTwin]

10 hours ago, mnfireman said:

Tell me that WPA means nothing without telling me WPA means nothing: Top 3 WPA: Brooks Lee .279, Ty France .144, Griffin Jax .105

Lee had a horrible day going until he hit that double, in fact the Orioles were ahead 2-1 until the 6th because of Lee....(and, believe it or not I am a big fan of Lee's...these advance metric stats not so much).

It's basically a way of identifying who had some of the big plays. It also doesn't include defense (I think). In Lee's case, two of his three stikeouts came with no one on and the other was in the first inning, so they didn't create much of a negative to counteract his double lifting the Twins from a 58.9 percent chance of winning to 93.9 percent. France got his by having two RBIs that moved the needle somewhat and Jax by being the lockdown guy in the 8th with the game tied. The reason he got more than Duran was that he pitched when it was tied. He got more than Topa because Topa pitched the seventh. 

I wouldn't say it means "nothing," but I consider it just an enjoyable little tidbit that quickly identifies who came through (or didn't) in some clutch situations. 

[karcherd]

Fun game to watch and glad they won.  Now let's take it to the Giants this weekend.  They need to be competitive against the better teams to avoid a repeat of last year.  Lee looked rough at 2B yesterday.  Rocco quit moving him around, keep him at 2B.  If Lewis needs to DH, play Castro or Bride at 3B.  Not everybody can move around, let Lee get comfortable and settled in at one position.

[JD-TWINS]

4 hours ago, UK Twin said:

No hits for Buxton but still had a big influence on the result. BB, SB and R in the first, throws out the runner at the plate in the 6th and drew another big walk in the 8th, a crucial part of the 3 run inning. Very pleased to see him draw 2 walks and not strikeout at all, it's part of the game he needs to work on.

Can definitely see a firing or two in Baltimore soon, how they've become such a mess so quickly is shocking given the talent on that team. Giants will prove much tougher opposition so I'm quite pleased that we'll be sending out both Ryan and Lopez against them.

I say the same things about players managed by Baldelli…….they gotta get it done and Baltimore’s STARS like Henderson & Holiday are not. Lots of hype over a kid in Holiday the past 18 months…….he’s still a kid. They let Santander go so that’s a pretty big “potential bat” out of the previous ‘23-‘24 line-up. They let their best starting pitcher (Burnes) leave and coupled with an injury, their rotation is brutal. Coulombe pitched in 33 games and had a 2.12ERA - he’s with the Twins now. One can’t “manage” around those circumstances ………..new ownership in Baltimore, with all the potential $$, needs to look in the mirror and at FO.

Completely agree on Buxton’s contributions on Thursday - nice all around game & taking walks occasionally could be his last big step at the plate this year…….few less K’s would be nice.

Baldelli’s personal version of media - FO - general eye test…… “hype” for Royce Lewis puts the Manager in MN in the same position as the guy in Baltimore. Lewis has done nothing over 20% through the season and the Manager is clueless because of Lewis lack of contribution………Wallner - same. Tough to manage when 2 of 4 of your best potential bats don’t play and one (Correa) has been in an extreme funk for nearly all of the first 20% of the season.  Baldelli doesn’t have a magic wand.

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, Doctor Wu said:

Umm ... not likely at this point, or ever! Speaking of which, where is Lopez these days?

I was curious on Jorge so I checked - he’s 5-0 for the Nationals in ‘25………hang on…….with a 7.41 ERA. How one achieves that record with little ability to get outs is perplexing. I guess he comes in & gets behind and the offense then puts the Nats ahead & somebody else gets a save??

[JD-TWINS]

10 hours ago, mnfireman said:

Shelton is a victim of cheap ownership while Baldelli is..... never mind!!

Baldelli………his players being hurt or underperforming in the batter’s box ……blended with FO cutting budget in ‘24 and status quo in ‘25.

[IndianaTwin]

44 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

I was curious on Jorge so I checked - he’s 5-0 for the Nationals in ‘25………hang on…….with a 7.41 ERA. How one achieves that record with little ability to get outs is perplexing. I guess he comes in & gets behind and the offense then puts the Nats ahead & somebody else gets a save??

Here's the wins: 

1. April 23: Entered in the top of the seventh with bases loaded and one out, ahead 2. Sac fly scores 1. Allows triple and sac fly in the eighth to tie the score. Nats score in bottom of the eighth. 
2. April 25: Entered in top of the ninth, down 1. Goes 1-2-3 and Nats score twice in the bottom of the ninth.
3. April 29: Entered in top of ninth, two outs, runners on second and third, down one. Gets the out. Nats score twice in bottom of the ninth.
4. May 4: Enters in bottom of the sixth, tied. Gets all six batters in two innings, Nats score three in top of the seventh.
5.  May 6: Enters in top of the seventh, ahead 1, one out and runners on first and second. Single, single, groundout, single with runner thrown out at home. Nats now down 8-6, but score four in the bottom of the seventh to go up two. He does go 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth.  

So the 1st and 5th were when he blew the lead and then vultured a win. In the other three, he did his job and vultured.

Looks like it's been feast or famine. In the "bad outings can ruin a reliever's ERA" department, he's given up 10 of his 14 earned runs in three games, including Wednesday, when he got the dreaded "Pitched to three batters in sixth" line in the box score. 

In his other 14 appearances, he's thrown 15.1 innings, with 9 hits, 3 walks (0.786 WHIP) and 4 earned runs. (2.35 ERA). 

[Melissa]

2 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

It's basically a way of identifying who had some of the big plays. 

I wouldn't say it means "nothing," but I consider it just an enjoyable little tidbit that quickly identifies who came through (or didn't) in some clutch situations. 

Very helpful explanation! As you say, WPA basically measures performance in the clutch. Bader and Lee for sure in Thursday's game.

I think we see a lot of interest in WPA because it's one of the "newer" stats we see mentioned. Gleeman talks about it a lot.

On the other hand, the guy behind me at Target Field yesterday asked his companion "What is OPS??"

[Melissa]

1 hour ago, karcherd said:

Lee looked rough at 2B yesterday.  Rocco quit moving him around, keep him at 2B.  If Lewis needs to DH, play Castro or Bride at 3B.  Not everybody can move around, let Lee get comfortable and settled in at one position.

I agree that Lee fits best at 2B, given the overall lineup, while he's also our best option to spell Correa at SS when needed.

[JD-TWINS]

OF is the envy of baseball if one drops Wallner back into RF. Wallner is a decent OF with a plus/plus arm (needs to be smarter with it) - Bader shines in LF almost every time he’s out there - Buxton (with his current health) could anchor any group in the game  on the grass.

All with .265 or higher BA and OPS+ in the 130’s……….Lee - Lewis - Correa show up, their formidable. Jeffers & France are both playing/hitting well.

Starters have ERA of 3.50 (Ober after game one with ERA in 40’s) - 2.93 (Ryan) - 2.18 (Lopez) - 4.01 (SWR) - 1.38 (Festa) - 5.57 (Paddack) ………. Paddack has been competitive in 6 of 7 starts. He IS on the edge too often!

Overall, other than Jax & Alcala’s early blow ups, the PEN is very good. Alcala & Stewart have walked/hit guys to get in trouble lately but the group has real ability!

May 9th ………still think they are playing at a more even level and a few over .500 by June 10.

[DJL44]

Nice to see a Topa sighting. He's pitched really well for someone who seems to be completely buried on the depth chart.

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

...Starters have ERA of 3.50 (Ober after game one with ERA in 40’s) - 2.93 (Ryan) - 2.18 (Lopez) - 4.01 (SWR) - 1.38 (Festa) - 5.57 (Paddack) ………. Paddack has been competitive in 6 of 7 starts. He IS on the edge too often!

Plus, if you take out Paddack's clunker like you did Ober's, his ERA is down to 3.41.

[Patzky]

3 hours ago, karcherd said:

 Not everybody can move around, let Lee get comfortable and settled in at one position.

No Devers in the bunch.

[Mrs. Baseball]

15 hours ago, GNess said:

I enjoy Bader's competitive mindset. He brings it.

Guessing I'm not the only one who looks at Bader and is reminded of the Wrench.

[karcherd]

9 minutes ago, Patzky said:

No Devers in the bunch.

This is no where similar to the Devers situation.  Lee has not complained that I have heard. But the Twins and Rocco have this philosophy that players are like chess pieces and can just be moved around.  There is something to be said for letting players getting comfortable and not have them guessing where they will playing from day to day.  I think it would be beneficial for Lee to get comfortable at one position and see how he progresses.

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, IndianaTwin said:

Plus, if you take out Paddack's clunker like you did Ober's, his ERA is down to 3.41.

Everyone wants to pile on Paddack. He's been more than competent. 

[USAFChief]

Twins are undefeated when I'm in attendance.

If youse guys wanna take up a crowd source thing to send me to more games, lemme know. 

100 level seats, naturally. 

[Doctor Gast]

Joe Ryan was sick, they should bring up Zebby or Festa. Twins swept BAL as I predicted.

Twins have a good team, but as I wrote in a blog, https://twinsdaily.com/blogs/entry/23959-will-clark-rant/ , SF has changed from weird analytics to a Buster Posey baseball smart type of system. That move has revolutionized the team. On paper, Twins may have a much better team, but I'd be happy if the Twins can come out with 1 win.

 

[JD-TWINS]

23 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Joe Ryan was sick, they should bring up Zebby or Festa. Twins swept BAL as I predicted.

Twins have a good team, but as I wrote in a blog, https://twinsdaily.com/blogs/entry/23959-will-clark-rant/ , SF has changed from weird analytics to a Buster Posey baseball smart type of system. That move has revolutionized the team. On paper, Twins may have a much better team, but I'd be happy if the Twins can come out with 1 win.

 

Robbie Ray is back - Corbin Burnes was signed - SS, Adames was signed as FA as well………..good players win games not attitudes from the front office. Organization’s ideals - fundamentals “help” on the culture side BUT 3 significant player additions to the Giants are really driving the success. Buster signed the two FA’s, so kudos to him and FO there but the guys throwing and hitting the ball are the real stars in S.F. ………..Twins playing at home, one has to expect a higher bar for the series…….at least 2 of 3 - right?

[Doctor Gast]

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Robbie Ray is back - Corbin Burnes was signed - SS, Adames was signed as FA as well………..good players win games not attitudes from the front office. Organization’s ideals - fundamentals “help” on the culture side BUT 3 significant player additions to the Giants are really driving the success. Buster signed the two FA’s, so kudos to him and FO there but the guys throwing and hitting the ball are the real stars in S.F. ………..Twins playing at home, one has to expect a higher bar for the series…….at least 2 of 3 - right?

Corbin Burns was signed by AZ, not SF,

SF finished with a losing record & 4th place in the NL West. They lost Snell & some smaller players, & they signed Adames & some smaller players. So it's a wash. The only real difference is the organizational philosophy from weird analytics to smart baseball. & now they are competing with LAD for the NL West championship.

SEA also didn't make the playoffs in '24, because although they had a great rotation & lineup, the lineup could not produce. In '25, they brought in (non-analytical) Edgar Martinez & SEA's offense has turned around. Texas was predicted to be one of the major players in the AL but has been floundering until now when they fired their hitting coach & brought in (non-analytical) Bret Boone, with no coaching experience. And TX is turning it around.

I'm not against analytics but teams like MN have gone way overboard in how they totally depend on analytics in instructing hitting, managing, player evaluations, everything & they have abandoned what makes baseball, baseball, that is baseball experience & everything that goes with it. Although they look good on paper (have the players), they never accomplish all they are capable of doing. So yes, IMO, the organization has a lot to do with how the team performs.

Analytics Oversaturation is BAD for Hitters

 

Here they talk about hitting. But I also think that it's a problem in areas I stated before. Anything is possible, although I'd be happy with 1 win, if everything goes our way, we could pull off 2. But I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[JD-TWINS]

4 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Corbin Burns was signed by AZ, not SF,

SF finished with a losing record & 4th place in the NL West. They lost Snell & some smaller players, & they signed Adames & some smaller players. So it's a wash. The only real difference is the organizational philosophy from weird analytics to smart baseball. & now they are competing with LAD for the NL West championship.

SEA also didn't make the playoffs in '24, because although they had a great rotation & lineup, the lineup could not produce. In '25, they brought in (non-analytical) Edgar Martinez & SEA's offense has turned around. Texas was predicted to be one of the major players in the AL but has been floundering until now when they fired their hitting coach & brought in (non-analytical) Bret Boone, with no coaching experience. And TX is turning it around.

I'm not against analytics but teams like MN have gone way overboard in how they totally depend on analytics in instructing hitting, managing, player evaluations, everything & they have abandoned what makes baseball, baseball, that is baseball experience & everything that goes with it. Although they look good on paper (have the players), they never accomplish all they are capable of doing. So yes, IMO, the organization has a lot to do with how the team performs.

Analytics Oversaturation is BAD for Hitters

 

Here they talk about hitting. But I also think that it's a problem in areas I stated before. Anything is possible, although I'd be happy with 1 win, if everything goes our way, we could pull off 2. But I wouldn't bet on it.

 

I get you don’t want to bet the house on the Twins winning a series! Seems if they are 12-6 at home and on a 5 game winning streak, they should have the expectation of winning two with Ryan & Lopez going over the weekend. If not, we should curl up into the fetal position.

My bad on the “Burnes going to SF” …….thought that seemed like a lot of $$ to spend. Thanks for straightening me out.

Players have to be on the field to play the game and contribute. Correa missed big chunks of ‘23 & ‘24…….Buxton missed a bunch of ‘23 and played maybe 110 games last year……Lewis (our #1 overall pick) hasn’t been in the field a bunch of the last 3 seasons……..Lewis out in ‘25 - Wallner out in ‘25. Miranda & Julien forgot how to hit. Can’t “manage” Ty France & a supporting cast of Gasper & Clemens & Kiersey & on & on to Division Titles…..need players!

[Doctor Gast]

12 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

I get you don’t want to bet the house on the Twins winning a series! Seems if they are 12-6 at home and on a 5 game winning streak, they should have the expectation of winning two with Ryan & Lopez going over the weekend. If not, we should curl up into the fetal position.

My bad on the “Burnes going to SF” …….thought that seemed like a lot of $$ to spend. Thanks for straightening me out.

Players have to be on the field to play the game and contribute. Correa missed big chunks of ‘23 & ‘24…….Buxton missed a bunch of ‘23 and played maybe 110 games last year……Lewis (our #1 overall pick) hasn’t been in the field a bunch of the last 3 seasons……..Lewis out in ‘25 - Wallner out in ‘25. Miranda & Julien forgot how to hit. Can’t “manage” Ty France & a supporting cast of Gasper & Clemens & Kiersey & on & on to Division Titles…..need players!

I'll start by saying I'm not ever for firing Baldelli during the season. I don't blame him for the injuries, He's not the main problem.  Like I said before, I believe we have a very good core, The team has good chemistry going into the series. I liked how Baldelli managed the last game. I expect good games from Pablo & Ryan (if he's well) pitching. Yet SF will be their toughest challenge so far. It's the little things I don't like that are often debatable among different groups of thought, which are mainly analytically driven. IMO, the main problem is from the top, analytically & otherwise. We have to correctly evaluate, develop, & trade for quality players, to supplement the core & in some cases that isn't happening.  

[Doctor Gast]

10 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

I get you don’t want to bet the house on the Twins winning a series! Seems if they are 12-6 at home and on a 5 game winning streak, they should have the expectation of winning two with Ryan & Lopez going over the weekend. If not, we should curl up into the fetal position.

My bad on the “Burnes going to SF” …….thought that seemed like a lot of $$ to spend. Thanks for straightening me out.

Players have to be on the field to play the game and contribute. Correa missed big chunks of ‘23 & ‘24…….Buxton missed a bunch of ‘23 and played maybe 110 games last year……Lewis (our #1 overall pick) hasn’t been in the field a bunch of the last 3 seasons……..Lewis out in ‘25 - Wallner out in ‘25. Miranda & Julien forgot how to hit. Can’t “manage” Ty France & a supporting cast of Gasper & Clemens & Kiersey & on & on to Division Titles…..need players!

I'm gladly eating crow. Twins had their toughest challenge with Paddack on the mound. He had his best start maybe ever. Taking care of SF very efficiently. Go Twins!

[JD-TWINS]

15 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I'm gladly eating crow. Twins had their toughest challenge with Paddack on the mound. He had his best start maybe ever. Taking care of SF very efficiently. Go Twins!

20-20 😉