Twins 10, Mariners 1: Twins Weather the Storm, Blow Out Seattle to Escape With a Split

[NYCTK]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

The Marlins are quite happy they grabbed Ronny Henriquez off waivers.

He became an absolute stuff monster after leaving. Regardless of how the rest of his career goes, just seeing the massive jump in his stuff after leaving the Twins is a pretty big indictment of the Twins coaching staff. 

[DJL44]

59 minutes ago, Sjoski said:

So why is Henriquez doing so well in Miami but struggled in the Twins organization? 

Young players are more likely to improve than old players.

Quote

Henriquez was a victim of these Twins FA pickups 

Harrison Bader (OF) – signed Feb 7 to a one‑year deal

Danny Coulombe (LHP) – signed the same day to another one‑year contract  

Yes and no. There were other players who could have been cut instead of Henriquez. Players who have since been cut from the roster were kept instead.

This stuff happens. Relievers are hard to predict. Hoffman and Pagan are closers now.

[NYCTK]

58 minutes ago, Sjoski said:

Cano is another example.  Twins trade him in August of 2022. In 2023 he's an All-Star. 

Another Stuff incident. For whatever reason, his Stuff+ with the Twins was a pitiful 87, and immediately jumped above average once he went to the Orioles. 

Twins pitching coaches likely to blame. 

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

SWR pitched well. Threw strikes, missed some bats, and got through his innings.

Yes, good game from him. 5 and fly is fine right now. Build on success.

[TwinsDr2021]

20 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

He became an absolute stuff monster after leaving. Regardless of how the rest of his career goes, just seeing the massive jump in his stuff after leaving the Twins is a pretty big indictment of the Twins coaching staff. 

Has he really been that much better on the Marlins? Or has he actually been given a chance (on a team that is not supposed to be as good as the Twins the last few year?)

Maybe I am wrong but his 19 innings last year don't look at that much different than is 37 this year? (Whip is a bit lower and his K's are way up, maybe that is why has been given more chances?)

It seems like the Twins just don't trust younger players as much as the trust older vet type players. 

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I'd like to comment some more, but I must go because have some "mechanic" work to do. I've got to put a rear end in a recliner. 

[Doctor Gast]

Very impressive that Sims had to wait 4 1/2 hrs. to start to pitch & came out focused & pitched a gem. If a SP can pitch 5 quality innings nowadays with all the stress of velo & spin, that's a big win. Times have changed & Twins needs to embrace that change & incorporate long relief to keep the pressure off the BP.

Blow outs are still only 1 win or loss. Larnach's HR was hugh, Twins winning close games will be the true test.

[NYCTK]

27 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Has he really been that much better on the Marlins?

In terms of stuff, yes absolutely. Stuff doesn't always translate to better pitching, but he's throwing a lot better quality fastballs and sliders with the Marlins than he did with the Twins. 

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

I don't exactly understand why people come to a game thread, after a Twins win to make note of various former Twins that are doing ok in other places. Just have to find every opportunity to take a poke at the front office? Got to rain on the parade of anyone who enjoyed the win?

It was a very good win, and making Seattle give up on the game is great to see. Finally managed to have some runners on base when the big flies went out too.

SWR pitched well. Threw strikes, missed some bats, and got through his innings. I'm definitely a little concerned about Sands at this point; he has really regressed this season. The K's are way down and he's yielding way too many baserunners. You can tell that he's gone from being trusted to handle high leverage situations to no leverage situations, and you have to wonder what's going on with him. Mechanical? Fighting an undisclosed injury? Or is he like a lot of relievers: not consistently good year over year?

Well, b*tching about Baldelli is harder in a 10-1 win so that cuts out like 87% of those that comment.

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

I don't exactly understand why people come to a game thread, after a Twins win to make note of various former Twins that are doing ok in other places. Just have to find every opportunity to take a poke at the front office? Got to rain on the parade of anyone who enjoyed the win?

It was a very good win, and making Seattle give up on the game is great to see. Finally managed to have some runners on base when the big flies went out too.

SWR pitched well. Threw strikes, missed some bats, and got through his innings. I'm definitely a little concerned about Sands at this point; he has really regressed this season. The K's are way down and he's yielding way too many baserunners. You can tell that he's gone from being trusted to handle high leverage situations to no leverage situations, and you have to wonder what's going on with him. Mechanical? Fighting an undisclosed injury? Or is he like a lot of relievers: not consistently good year over year?

Agreed. 

[thelanges5]

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

Another Stuff incident. For whatever reason, his Stuff+ with the Twins was a pitiful 87, and immediately jumped above average once he went to the Orioles. 

Twins pitching coaches likely to blame. 

Cano has had a bad 2025 and was optioned recently by the O’s. Relievers are definitely volatile.  

[Schmoeman5]

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

In terms of stuff, yes absolutely. Stuff doesn't always translate to better pitching, but he's throwing a lot better quality fastballs and sliders with the Marlins than he did with the Twins. 

How can better stuff not translate to better pitching? That's makes 0 sense.  Unless they're getting too much movement and it turns into a command issue. So no one can hit his stuff but he can't get his stuff over the plate cuz it's too good.  So what good is it?

[NYCTK]

1 hour ago, Schmoeman5 said:

How can better stuff not translate to better pitching? That's makes 0 sense.  Unless they're getting too much movement and it turns into a command issue. So no one can hit his stuff but he can't get his stuff over the plate cuz it's too good.  So what good is it?

There is potentially a trade off in stuff versus control. And while a pitcher being able to throw a slider harder or with more spin is in theory better, there is always the chance that, for whatever reason, that a pitch becomes less effective, maybe the changes result in tipping, or the hitter being able to identify the pitch easier. Or maybe there's just a mystery of physics, that leaves a pitch flatter regardless of increasing spin rate. 

Idk man. Just saying Stuff doesn't necessarily mean a pitcher is better. Just like increasing exit velocity for a batter is great in theory, but doesn't necessarily make the hitter better. 

 

[stringer bell]

I kind of don't want to go down this rabbit hole, but kinda do. Ronnie Henriquez seems to have very similar stats for both the Twins and Fish in a similar sample size. He had 31 IP with the Twins and has 37.2 with the Marlins. His ERA is 2.87 with the Marlins and was 2.90 with the Twins. His FIP with Miami is 3.95 and was 4.02 with the Twins. His WHIP is 1.274 this year and was 1.161 in his two years in Minnesota. His ERA+ is 153 with Miami vs. 144 with Minnesota. All in all, pretty good numbers for both teams. Henriquez is a victim of too many option years used too quickly and never established himself as a late-inning guy too crucial to be optioned and then was a loser in the numbers game. I don't think it is bad coaching at all, but may well be poor use of of roster tools and underestimating his talent. I've liked Henriquez since the Twins picked him up and thought he was the wrong guy to both option and DFA in his past years with the Twins. So far, he is showing the front office that he is more valuable than other guys they kept at his expense.

 

[S Bart]

14 hours ago, Sjoski said:

Speaking of Wentz and winning trades.

Still a small sample size, but Alcala has yet to surrender a run with Boston, including inherited runners. 

It wasn't working here in Minnesota, so hard to blame the Twins for trading him. But yes, his replacement is worse. 

Just for clarity.  Alcala was traded for Andy Lugo....Wentz was claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh. 

Now, Alcalá obviously isn’t Big Papi, but the fear is real — a guy with elite stuff (upper 90s fastball, nasty slider) who never quite put it together in Minnesota, only to blossom somewhere else!?!?

If that happens, you have to ask why?

 

 

 

 

Look up how Mahle and Pagan are doing this year. When pitchers leave the Twins over the last few years, many start performing.

[Sjoski]

1 hour ago, S Bart said:

Look up how Mahle and Pagan are doing this year. When pitchers leave the Twins over the last few years, many start performing.

Two good examples that are hard to argue with. Mahle's era has never been lower...though he just hit the 15 day DL.

Pagan is Cincys closer. Something he never was trusted with as a Twin.

[stringer bell]

57 minutes ago, Sjoski said:

 

Pagan is Cincys closer. Something he never was trusted with as a Twin.

I remember Pagán saving three consecutive games for the Twins. He didn’t hold the closer role because he failed too many times.