Rays 7, Twins 2: Of Course They Lost at George M. Steinbrenner Field

[Tom Froemming]

Image courtesy of Chris Paddack © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Chris Paddack: 5 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 90 pitches, 64 strikes (71.1%)
Home Runs: Carlos Correa (4)
Bottom 3 WPA: Brock Stewart -.204, Ryan Jeffers -.173, Kody Funderburk -.131
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

You could see this loss coming from a mile away. The Minnesota Twins playing a game at George M. Steinbrenner Field? I mean, c’mon. Even if the Yankees were nowhere in sight, this was a predictable outcome.

Tonight’s game was a pitcher’s duel until it very decisively was not. It was a scoreless tie with starters Chris Paddack and former Twin Zack Littell cruising into the bottom of the sixth inning. Paddack ran into some trouble there, surrendering a one-out single followed by a double. Brock Stewart took over for the Twins and served up a middle-middle sweeper to Jonathan Aranda, who hit it out for a three-run homer. 

Rocco Baldelli’s old buddy Kevin Cash said “hey, we could do that!”

After Littell hit Ty France with a pitch, putting him on with one out, Cash decided he’d also had enough of the zeros. He brought Garrett Cleavinger in from the bullpen to … also give up a home run to the first batter he faced. Carlos Correa took him deep for a beautifully violent two-run homer blasted at 108.8 mph that traveled 417 feet.

 The teams traded zeros once again in the bottom of the seventh inning and top of the eighth before things really went sideways for the Twins. Justin Topa, who pitched a clean seventh inning, retired the only batter he faced in the eighth before Kody Funderburk took over. There wasn’t much fun about his outing this evening.

Funderburk surrendered consecutive singles before recording the second out. He then got two strikes on José Caballero but couldn’t finish the deal. In Funderburk’s defense, it looked like Trevor Larnach should have been able to make a play on the ball Caballero hit to left field that ended up being a two-run double. Larnach made a leaping attempt at the warning track and appeared to have gotten some leather on it. Upon review, he probably didn’t need to leave his feet at all.

It’s unlikely any spring training games Larnach has played at George M. Steinbrenner Field have been in the evenings with the lights on. There’s also no lights from a third deck in a minor league/spring training stadium like this, which is something Major Leaguers can become accustomed to (hat tip to the astute Seth Stohs on that observation). No matter the reason, Larnach didn’t look comfortable on this catch attempt.

Danny Jansen, the next batter, ended a six-pitch at-bat by blasting a two-run homer to completely blow the game open. Larnach had an outside chance to redeem himself and make what would have been a spectacular rob job, but he missed by no more than a foot.

Since the Twins only managed to score two runs, everything that unfolded in that ugly eighth inning didn’t actually have any impact on the final outcome. This was the fourth time in the past seven games the Twins failed to score three runs or more. 

What’s Next?
It’s another one at George M. Steinbrenner Field Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 pm CT. Joe Ryan looks to finish off a strong May in which he has pitched to a 1.96 ERA while striking out 28 batters in 23 innings pitched. He’ll be facing his former organization for the third time in his career. The Rays counter with 24-year-old right-hander Taj Bradley, who has pitched much better at home (3.72 ERA) than on the road (6.20 ERA) so far this season. 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	MON	TOT
Topa	0	0	34	0	17	51
Durán	0	0	23	18	0	41
Funderburk	0	0	0	0	31	31
Sands	0	14	0	12	0	26
Alcalá	0	0	26	0	0	26
Jax	0	11	12	0	0	23
Varland	0	9	0	12	0	21
Stewart	0	3	7	0	11	21

 

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[FlyingFinn]

Lewis currently seems to have warning track power. Have to wonder if that's because his legs just aren't really in shape yet. Seems like we rushed him to return. And at third base, he isn't making many of the tough plays. Hope he turns it around soon.

[thelanges5]

“This was the fourth time in the past seven games the Twins failed to score three runs or more.”
 

Tough to watch the team when the offense is cold like this. Pitchers walking a tight rope with every pitch. 

[Seth Stohs]

"Astute" = "excuse making"....

There were at least two balls that Larnach maybe should have caught in LF... And yes, the lighting isn't even comparable to MLB lighting, and the fact that the lights are lower in minor league parks is also true because you loose it when it gets above that level. 

That said... The Tampa Tarpons outfielders have the same conditions and the minor leaguers who play there, so it's not a great excuse. But it was clear that he was not seeing the ball well at all from the replays.

[D.C Twins]

We were...... FUNDERSTRUCK!

[Fred]

2 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

"Astute" = "excuse making"....

There were at least two balls that Larnach maybe should have caught in LF... And yes, the lighting isn't even comparable to MLB lighting, and the fact that the lights are lower in minor league parks is also true because you loose it when it gets above that level. 

That said... The Tampa Tarpons outfielders have the same conditions and the minor leaguers who play there, so it's not a great excuse. But it was clear that he was not seeing the ball well at all from the replays.

It's not like Larnach is being paid for his stellar defense. You kinda have to take what you get in that arena.

[Fred]

I wonder how long it will be until they give up on Funderburk. I know he's a left hander, but they might be better off looking for a right hander with decent splits. Just like Jake Cave (yes, I know he is not a pitcher) showing some short term samples of belonging, Funderburk seems, to me, to be a AAAA ballplayer.

[tony&rodney]

The ball that Caminero hit for a double was playable. Lewis was  near the line and barely had to move but he missed. The ball was well struck though. It would have been a good play. 

That play and the 3 balls in a row to Larnach highlighted a shortcoming of the Twins team. Defense is necessary when you don't have a top offense. The Twins have wonderful pitching but they do not get much help from the guys in the field. Hopefully the Twins learn to hit again because a slow, defensively challenged team that doesn't hit will cause a fair amount of heartbreak, especially to the pitching staff. 

[h2oface]

There goes the all important "run differential" and "power ranking".

But seriously, this is also a product of the righty/lefty religion. It starts at the plate, and then it results in the moving around of the defense. They want "flexible" defensive players, because they substitute hot batters for the righty/lefty sacred strategy, and the defense suffers.  Sure, they can play there, but the ones they move around are less than MLB average almost everywhere they play because of it, Did I check that? No. But it sure seems that way.

That was a depressing game, and now 3-4 in last 7 games. Can't even hit Littell........ currently Lewis is a huge liability. 

[tony&rodney]

24 minutes ago, Fred said:

I wonder how long it will be until they give up on Funderburk. I know he's a left hander, but they might be better off looking for a right hander with decent splits. Just like Jake Cave (yes, I know he is not a pitcher) showing some short term samples of belonging, Funderburk seems, to me, to be a AAAA ballplayer.

Something to consider is that Funderburk is out of the inning without giving up a run if the fly ball is caught. In any event, this game is totally on the offense first and if one needs to wonder what else, look at the defense.

Tomorrow is another game and it is a long season. I was commenting that the Twins would get to .500 ball just 3 weeks ago and was told July was possible but not by June. I would like to see a couple of changes from tonight's lineup. Try Jeffers-C, France-1B, Clemens-2B, Lee-3B, Correa-SS, Bader-LF, Keirsey Jr.-CF, McCusker-RF, & Larnach-DH. Castro and Lewis need a day off. Vazquez caught Monday. Bride-? 

[h2oface]

15 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Something to consider is that Funderburk is out of the inning without giving up a run if the fly ball is caught. 

He is also out of the inning if he helped himself and fielded his position for the double play instead of Mead's batted ball going through the infield and putting a runner on second and first. Would it have been a great play? Probably. Funderburk had time to squat out of the way. Maybe he thought Correa would be right behind second, and forgot it was a right handed batter...... Routine for Maddux or Kaat or Drysdale - because they actually fielded their position. All that righty/lefty crap that took Topa out of the game (needed 2 outs from lefty/righty/lefty), and before the 3 fly balls to forever embarrass Larnach, three righthanded batters in a row and now Baldelli Ball is trapped with the lefty on the mound and didn't want to burn another pitcher being behind by one run? Even the first lefty got a hit off Funderburk, though. Watching the bottom of the 8th over again..... I hope Larnach just couldn't see well, because that was some amazingly poor defense. That was an awful turn of events. I bet Larnach wakes up with nightmares and hot sweats all night.

[CRF]

They lost because they STILL can't hit their way out of a paper bag. Paddack pitched fine...the pen blew it. 

[thelanges5]

[NYCTK]

7 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Something to consider is that Funderburk is out of the inning without giving up a run if the fly ball is caught. In any event, this game is totally on the offense first and if one needs to wonder what else, look at the defense.

Tomorrow is another game and it is a long season. I was commenting that the Twins would get to .500 ball just 3 weeks ago and was told July was possible but not by June. I would like to see a couple of changes from tonight's lineup. Try Jeffers-C, France-1B, Clemens-2B, Lee-3B, Correa-SS, Bader-LF, Keirsey Jr.-CF, McCusker-RF, & Larnach-DH. Castro and Lewis need a day off. Vazquez caught Monday. Bride-? 

Another reminder that ERA, especially for relievers, is deeply flawed. The Larnach error being ruled a double added over 0.65 to Funderburk's career ERA. 

He's at that cusp of being a major leaguer, someone that will bounce up and down while he has options and then bounce around the league a bit when he doesn't. But last night he did his job, and Larnach owes his dinner or something. 

[thelanges5]

Can we get Larnach a first baseman’s mitt already? Time to learn a new position. 

[Tom Froemming]

8 hours ago, D.C Twins said:

We were...... FUNDERSTRUCK!

Ow aw ow aw wa wa ouch ow FUNDER!

[SarasotaBill]

I was at the game last night. Knowing the team is short handed (injuries & tired bullen) I kept looking at the small details that eventually catch up with you:

1. Castro assumes he's out at first and stops running

2. Castro forgets there's two outs and throws to 2nd instead of first.

3. 2nd & 3rd and the batter is extremely late to a fastball making the count 0-2 or 1-2. Who calls a sweeper to a LHB from Stewart? The execution was poor but the pitch call was absolutely dreadful. Short RF. Late to the fastball. Sweeper to a LHB. Sweeper (top spin) will travel further.

Again eventually a small detail matters and burns you.

[tony&rodney]

6 hours ago, h2oface said:

He is also out of the inning if he helped himself and fielded his position

Good point. I thought the same exact thing when the ball was hit. I did not go back and replay that batted ball but it sure did look like Funderburk expected someone right behind him. A pitcher needs to field their position too and we have seen a pile of fielding mistakes by Twins pitchers this season already. 

[Doctor Gast]

Paddack pitched an efficient game until the 6th. We need to bring up Simmy & figure out a long RP role. Baldelli's analytical micromanaging made up his mind when he scratched Bader, that he was going PH Keirsey later in the game. Keirsey had, I believe, his 1st early hit (1 of only 3 until Correa's in the 7th). Keirsey needed to build off that, but instead Baldelli PH him. LHH Keirsey was removed against a RHP, What sense does that make? They could have pinch-hit RHH Lewis for Lee. Twins had an elite OF with CFers Buxton, Bader & Keirsey. With Buxton & Bader not able to play that left only Keirsey. The removal of Keirsey, severely compromised our OF & made what was a winnable game, out of reach.

[Doctor Gast]

Tom did you just jinxed the Twins for the rest of the series with that stadium remark?

[mikelink45]

Everything that needs to be said is in the comments but I would like to add the paddock continues to look good. Makes me curious what will happen when he becomes a free agent or if we will trade him mid-season because he will become a free agent. 

[tony&rodney]

30 minutes ago, SarasotaBill said:

I was at the game last night. Knowing the team is short handed (injuries & tired bullen) I kept looking at the small details that eventually catch up with you:

1. Castro assumes he's out at first and stops running

2. Castro forgets there's two outs and throws to 2nd instead of first.

3. 2nd & 3rd and the batter is extremely late to a fastball making the count 0-2 or 1-2. Who calls a sweeper to a LHB from Stewart? The execution was poor but the pitch call was absolutely dreadful. Short RF. Late to the fastball. Sweeper to a LHB. Sweeper (top spin) will travel further.

Again eventually a small detail matters and burns you.

Does anyone else think Castro is playing injured. He looks slow in the field and at the plate compared to his usual self.

The pitcher needs to make the final decision on which pitch to throw. Sometimes I wonder about the sequencing but the pitching staff has been pretty good this year. Stewart put that pitch on the tee.

[Tom Froemming]

13 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Tom did you just jinxed the Twins for the rest of the series with that stadium remark?

This goes way above me, Doctor. The divine Baseball Gods have jinxed the Twins. They could be playing against the New Ulm Yankees and lose. If there's any kind of Yankees tie in, we're hosed.

[David Maro]

Rocco got Kevin Cashed again!!

[tarheeltwinsfan]

9 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Something to consider is that Funderburk is out of the inning without giving up a run if the fly ball is caught. In any event, this game is totally on the offense first and if one needs to wonder what else, look at the defense.

Tomorrow is another game and it is a long season. I was commenting that the Twins would get to .500 ball just 3 weeks ago and was told July was possible but not by June. I would like to see a couple of changes from tonight's lineup. Try Jeffers-C, France-1B, Clemens-2B, Lee-3B, Correa-SS, Bader-LF, Keirsey Jr.-CF, McCusker-RF, & Larnach-DH. Castro and Lewis need a day off. Vazquez caught Monday. Bride-? 

McCusker is a real liability in the OF. He needs to DH or learn to play 1B, and stop striking out so much.

[thelanges5]

38 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Does anyone else think Castro is playing injured. He looks slow in the field and at the plate compared to his usual self.

The pitcher needs to make the final decision on which pitch to throw. Sometimes I wonder about the sequencing but the pitching staff has been pretty good this year. Stewart put that pitch on the tee.

Willi had that awful slide against Bal last week and has taken a few foul balls off his legs. He could probably use a couple days off. Weds game and Thursday travel day would be nice. 

[mickster]

5 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

McCusker is a real liability in the OF. He needs to DH or learn to play 1B, and stop striking out so much.

He will be back in ST. Paul before the weekend

[NYCTK]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

LHH Keirsey was removed against a RHP, What sense does that make?

The man has an xwOBA of 0.176 and the team needed baserunners. It makes all the sense in the world. You're concerned a lot less about defense when you're playing from behind. A player like Keirsey is only valuable as a PR and defensive replacement. I know you really want to see your guy succeed, but he's just not very good. 

It sucks that Larnach put the game out of reach, but their win percentage was already under 13% at that point. 

[Western SD Fan]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

Does anyone else think Castro is playing injured. He looks slow in the field and at the plate compared to his usual self.

The pitcher needs to make the final decision on which pitch to throw. Sometimes I wonder about the sequencing but the pitching staff has been pretty good this year. Stewart put that pitch on the tee.

I would even suggest that Castro has a couple of days off where he is at least not starting and maybe come in as a PH or a defensive replacement.  I would also like to see Lewis get a day off on Wednesday as a day to clear his head since there seems to be something off with this timing or his legs.

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, SarasotaBill said:

I was at the game last night. Knowing the team is short handed (injuries & tired bullen) I kept looking at the small details that eventually catch up with you:

1. Castro assumes he's out at first and stops running

2. Castro forgets there's two outs and throws to 2nd instead of first.

3. 2nd & 3rd and the batter is extremely late to a fastball making the count 0-2 or 1-2. Who calls a sweeper to a LHB from Stewart? The execution was poor but the pitch call was absolutely dreadful. Short RF. Late to the fastball. Sweeper to a LHB. Sweeper (top spin) will travel further.

Again eventually a small detail matters and burns you.

I missed #1 ………#2 is embarrassing for the Team as well as Castro …….#3 was just nuts! The Tampa Announcing crew I was listening to on their broadcast BELABORED the fact that Stewart should have “just kept throwing high fastballs, he had him……..” the opposing broadcasting crew were amazed with how poorly the game was being called OR at least, what pitch Stewart went with on that 1-2 count after blowing the ball past the guy twice. Hard to figure out. …………….meaningless without runs again last night!