Game 2: Guardians 8, Twins 0 - Shut Out For The Second Time Today

[Eric Blonigen]

Image courtesy of © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Bailey Ober: 5 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Home Runs: None, by either team
Bottom 3 WPA: Bailey Ober (-.240), Mickey Gasper (-.090), Austin Martin (-.80)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

 

The Pitchers
Bailey Ober took the mound for the Twins. He has been slightly more effective since returning from his IL stint for a hip issue, but he velo is still noticeably down. From a pure results standpoint, he has looked more like a fringy, backend starter than the playoff-caliber guy we have seen over the past few seasons. His last start was good, getting 17 whiffs, and he looked to build on that today. However, if we are being honest with ourselves: like Joe Ryan, he would probably benefit from being shut down to focus on recovery and building for next season. The only explanation I can come up with is that the Twins feel it’s important for them to know whether they can pencil him into the third spot in the rotation (or first or second, depending on offseason trades) or not, so he continues to go every fifth day.

The Guardians sent lefty Logan Allen to the mound. Even by lefty standards, he’s missing a few ticks on his pitches compared to average. On the positive, he also doesn’t strike anyone out, isn’t crafty, and walks too many. Surely the Twins could beat up on a pitcher like that, right. Right?!? Well, no. He’s exactly the sort of soft-tossing lefty that so often gives the Twins fits, and he went eight strong innings. By the way, that’s the deepest Allen has ever gone in his career.

Themes of the Game

Guardians? More Like Piranhas.
Is it possible that Guardians are really just a not-quite-right portmanteau of the Gardy-era piranhas? In the fifth inning, they hit six singles, a double, stole a base, and had a sac bunt before Ober finally escaped the inning. The good news? He allowed just six runs in the inning. Of course, the Guardians hit seven of their nine hits all clustered together to maximize the runs.

The Twins Continue To Not Hit
The Guardians have 21 consecutive scoreless innings against the Twins. through the eighth inning. The Twins had just five baserunners all game, and the first three were erased — two by double play, and the other when Carson McCusker attempted to steal second. Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis were the only other baserunners Allen allowed, and both were stranded, not making it past second. Fans have seen brutal stretches like this before, and it’s frustrating to watch every time it happens.

Mick Abel Flashes, But Can’t Find Consistency
Mick Abel, recalled Saturday to take Pablo Lopez’ spot on the roster, came in in relief of Ober. Many fans have been down on the return for Jhoan Duran based on his first two appearances, but tonight, he turned a corner - for a while. Abel sat 98 on his fastball and hit 99 multiple times. His stuff looked sharp, Guardians couldn’t square up against him, and he was hitting his spots for the most part. In fact, he was perfect through his first two innings. He lost his control with two outs in his third inning of work, walking three straight hitters before giving up a two-run single to Steven Kwan. He settled back down in his fourth inning of work and ended with six strikeouts in four innings. If he can limit the innings where he can’t throw strikes, he can be a legitimate weapon, perhaps even a frontline starter. If not, he’s likely destined for the bullpen.

Game Notes

• Tomorrow is a new day. That’s about the most relevant thing to discuss.

What’s Next?
The Twins play the final game of their four-game series against the Guardians and conclude their season series. They hope to avoid the four-game sweep. Simeon Woods Richardson faces off against yet another lefty — Joey Cantillo. First pitch is at 1:10 PM. 

Postgame Interviews

Stay tuned!

Bullpen Usage

 

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[USAFChief]

10 baserunners over 18 innings. Of those pathetic few, none managed even 3rd base.

 

[thelanges5]

First time they’ve been shut out in a doubleheader since 1961. 

[mnfireman]

Would have been nice if the team could have let us know they were just going to phone it in for the rest of season. Done watching this train wreck (a little later than others), might check scores and stats once in a while...

[Parfigliano]

I would like to think today is the bottom.  I know it is going to get much worse 

[Nshore]

The entire franchise has become impervious to embarrassment.

[terrydactyls]

Chicago has sewn up first place in the race to the bottom.  The sweep of the doubleheader coupled with a Pittsburgh win has the Twins and Pirates tied with 7 games to go.  What an exciting season!!!

P	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	Chicago White Sox	58	97	0.374	-
2	Pittsburgh Pirates	66	89	0.426	8.0
3	Minnesota Twins	66	89	0.426	8.0
4	Los Angeles Angels	70	85	0.452	12.0
5	Atlanta Braves	72	83	0.465	14.0
6	Whatever Athletics	73	82	0.471	15.0
7	Baltimore Orioles	73	82	0.471	15.0

[TheGiantTeapot]

The Pohlad family understands banking. They understand business. They understand profit and loss. They do not understand, nor care about, sports. They are not sports fans. They don't understand sports fans. They apparently did not notice the rabid joy in this state when the Twins beat the Jays in the 2023 playoffs, or they simply didn't understand it. Granted, Carl Pohlad liberated the team from notorious skinflint Calvin Griffith in 1984 and the Twins won the World Series in '87 and '91 under his ownership, but from the accounts I've heard his wife Eloise was the actual baseball fan. Carl also threatened to sell the team to a straw buyer or offer the team for contraction if he didn't get a new stadium. Profit and loss...

The prospect of a new Twins owner does not guarantee anything, but I'm willing to take the chance. I really hope something happens soon.

[Permanent Twins Fan]

On the bright side only 9 Ks this game instead of 10 this morning. Other than that it's pretty much all negative. Mick Abel was decent in long relief. He showed some upside with 6 strikeouts

[mikelink45]

The only thing I can say is that today the team shut me out as well I have nothing to add

[David HK]

1 hour ago, thelanges5 said:

First time they’ve been shut out in a doubleheader since 1961. 

Wow, which is more ignominious?  This one, or the first ever 4-game White Sox sweep?

So many damn 'firsts'  to choose from.  🤔

[tony&rodney]

Mick Abel picked up some valuable learning lessons today. I think he gets a start next week and we will get to see how he applies today's lessons. Mick has talent and that is a start.

Hard to get upset at Falvey's Dream Team. They are undermanned. It turns out that foot speed, catching the ball, throwing the ball, and hitting the ball are important. Oh, and pitching too.

[D.C Twins]

  A short summary for those who missed the 'games' today

[D.C Twins]

2 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Chicago has sewn up first place in the race to the bottom.  The sweep of the doubleheader coupled with a Pittsburgh win has the Twins and Pirates tied with 7 games to go.  What an exciting season!!!

P	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	Chicago White Sox	58	97	0.374	-
2	Pittsburgh Pirates	66	89	0.426	8.0
3	Minnesota Twins	66	89	0.426	8.0
4	Los Angeles Angels	70	85	0.452	12.0
5	Atlanta Braves	72	83	0.465	14.0
6	Whatever Athletics	73	82	0.471	15.0
7	Baltimore Orioles	73	82	0.471	15.0

[knothole61]

Scored runs in only one of 27 innings so far this series...is that right? How is that possible? I take baseball to the bitter end every season...but this is a genuine pain in the rear. 

Invoking the Bard again: "The smallest worm will turn being trodden on, and doves will peck in safeguard of their brood." The '25 Twins. however, do not appear to be capable of even the slightest resistance to their tormentors.

Have some pride fellows--at least a little.

[CRF]

The loooooooooong winter of our discontent, is nearly upon us. 

[Taildragger8791]

8 hours ago, Permanent Twins Fan said:

On the bright side only 9 Ks this game instead of 10 this morning. Other than that it's pretty much all negative. Mick Abel was decent in long relief. He showed some upside with 6 strikeouts

3 walks with a 55% strike throwing rate certainly takes some shine off those 6 Ks. Hard to hit the ball when it’s not in the zone. 

[mnfireman]

34 minutes ago, Taildragger8791 said:

3 walks with a 55% strike throwing rate certainly takes some shine off those 6 Ks. Hard to hit the ball when it’s not in the zone. 

The Twins are working on in-season adjustments to his pitches, it's more about the process than the results, especially at this point in this very long, very lost season.

[Whitey333]

How sick is am of hearing it's the process not the results we care about.  Too bad  that Twins philosophy has reached such dire depths.  What a disaster this team and organization is.

[Jeff K]

How low can you go?  

[mikelink45]

16 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

How low can you go?  

If this was the Limbo, we would be tunneling beneath the ground.

[wavedog]

For some reason I watched most of this double-header.  Don't see how this management survives another listless collapse at the end of the season.   Enjoy watching the way Cleveland is playing baseball - not so much our team.   

[TopGunn#22]

I checked in from time to time.  I was watching college football primarily while I was getting my various chores done so I could be a coach potato and watch NFL football all day today.  Everytime I popped over, nothing good was happening for the Twins.  

[chinmusic]

12 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

First time they’ve been shut out in a doubleheader since 1961.

Not long enough. (but wow, that is amazing)

[chinmusic]

10 hours ago, David HK said:

Wow, which is more ignominious?  This one, or the first ever 4-game White Sox sweep?

It's close, but it's the first double header shutout since 1961 by a nose.(imo) 

With 7 games left, there's ample time for more scary fun facts😀

[Eephus]

To quote an old-timer I worked with long ago famous for his malapropisms, "It can only it get better, if don't it'll get worse."