Phillies 2, Twins 1: Simeon Woods Richardson Good, Rest of Team Bad in Fitting Game 162

[Hans Birkeland]

Image courtesy of © Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Box Score:
Starting Pitcher: Simeon Woods Richardson: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K (81 Pitches, 58 Strikes, 71.6%)
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Christian Vázquez (-.236), James Outman (-.233), Génesis Cabrera (-.189)
Win Probability Chart (Via FanGraphs):

Well, the nightmare is finally over. Or maybe it's just beginning? Either way, the Twins had a chance to take a series against the Phillies in Philadelphia, against a team that had lost just three home series all year to this point. Of course, with yesterday's loss, the Phillies had absolutely nothing to play for, with Milwaukee clinching the top seed in the National League.

They had their de facto ace, Cristopher Sánchez, pitching in his final tune-up for Game 1 of the NLDS Saturday, and he looked the part, not throwing a single ball until the third inning, 22 pitches in. Sánchez is a dominant pitcher, throws left-handed, and the Twins lineup (absent Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner and Luke Keaschall) was never going to have any answers. The Twins also were battling the Pirates for the second-best odds for the number one pick in next year's draft, one game "better" than Pittsburgh at 70-91.

Simeon Woods Richardson took the ball for the visitors, and looked similar to what he has shown since his return from the IL in August: throwing strikes, sitting 93-95 with his fastball and baffling hitters with his newish split-changeup. He struck out nine while only allowing a cue-shot single from Bryson Stott over six dominant innings. He had more strikeouts against the Yankees in his other recent gem, but that was a New York team with major jet lag. Today may have been his best showing of the year; the Phillies had absolutely no solution for him.

Sanchez left after 5 2/3 innings, having allowed two hits while striking out eight. The second he left, with no runners on in the sixth, Lou Trivino proceeded to walk Austin Martin, who would score on a sharp double off the bat of Ryan Jeffers for the game's first run.

The 1-0 lead would hold until the eighth inning, when Génesis Cabrera served up a game-tying home run to (who else?) old friend Max Kepler.

Extra innings ensued, and the Twins quickly went down 1-2-3 against Philly right-hander Orion Kerkering. Weston Wilson got his bunt down in the Phillies half, and Nick Castellanos hit a fly ball deep enough to win the game off Cody Laweryson.

Other trends I'm tracking:

• Woods Richardson is starting to look like a building block, and will play a big part of any gutted, low-expectations team somehow managing to contend next year. If you heed the recent words of Cory Provus, and the Twins see Pablo López and Byron Buxton traded, then the 2026 rotation would be Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Woods Richardson, Zebby Matthews and Taj Bradley, with Connor Prielipp, Mick Abel and Andrew Morris around for some depth (assuming David Festa isn't able to return next year). That's no 2011 Phillies rotation, but this version of Woods Richardson significantly improves that calculus and perhaps the returns on a hypothetical López and/or Buxton trade supplement it further. I also personally like the idea of having Abel replace Jhoan Duran as the closer—if only to make the trade look like a win within a year, while Eduardo Tait marinates in the minors.
  
  The lineup has high upside guys on the way, as well, but they also have to hit right away, and that has not been a trend for young Twins hitters in recent years.
• Royce Lewis was a little better in the second half this year, but still posted just a .289 OBP in that time. He hit 11 second-half home runs, played good defense and stole 12 bases, but that is a far cry from the Kirby Puckett comparisons he garnered just 24 months ago.
• Trevor Larnach made a pinch-hit appearance, delivered a chopper turned double, and then was lifted for a pinch-runner. I'm probably in the minority on this, but I think Larnach gets better as he becomes an older hitter. He hits too many ground balls, but he doesn't go into many major slumps and can hit a ball 450 feet at a moment's notice. Through the lens of him being a first-round draft pick who was supposed to hit 30 bombs and bat .275, he's a bit of a bust. Through the lens of a guy who has had two straight solid years with the bat and who can improvise and battle against tough pitchers, I do kind of like him as a platoon bat. The defense has been pretty rough, though.
• James Outman and Brock Stewart, what a trade.
• Austin Martin and Woods Richardson: the roller coaster of this trade for José Berríos is maybe at its high point, with Berríos shifting to the bullpen for the Blue Jays' playoff run. We wanted a leadoff hitter and number-three starter out of that trade, and although it took a while, we may just have it.

What’s Next:
The Pohlads trim payroll to 75M. The front office will trade Buxton and López, acquiring three more post-hype prospects with big-league experience. The Pohlads release a statement using the Chat GPT prompt "deliver a message to the fans of our baseball team that conveys that we know more than them, if you had any brains you would cut payroll too, then use a bunch of corporate jargon to describe absolutely nothing while totaling over 250 words. Say something about like community and tradition or something."

Baldelli is retained as manager, and the team makes one free agent signing: reliever Kyle Finnegan for one year and $5 million. Season ticket holder figures are revealed to have been cooked by including deceased fans of the old Washington Senators. Derek Falvey calls it an accounting error, while expressing "optimism about our group."

Matt Wallner is visited by the ghosts of Richie Sexson, Adam Dunn and Dave Kingman, and becomes even more predictable. Due to a baserunning error on a home run, he becomes the first hitter in league history to hit more home runs than he has RBIs. Aaron Gleeman bursts a blood vessel defending him, while insisting it's just a bit and he's totally chill.

Postgame Interviews

 

Coming soon

Bullpen Usage Chart

	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	TOT
Adams	16	0	30	0	9	55
Funderburk	0	14	0	31	0	45
Ohl	0	20	0	22	0	42
Cabrera	11	0	12	0	17	40
Sands	0	12	0	0	11	23
Laweryson	12	0	0	0	6	18
Misiewicz	0	0	0	0	15	15
Tonkin	0	0	11	0	0	11

 

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[IndianaTwin]

With today's outing by SWR, the six starters went 36 innings and gave up just three runs over the last time through the rotation. 

[tony&rodney]

Great pitching by Woods Richardson.

[mikelink45]

Quote

Christian Vázquez (-.236), James Outman (-.233), Génesis Cabrera (-.189)

Let's say goodbye to these three and a few more.  I have no expectations for next year but I do not want to see, watch, listen or read about these kinds of fillers.  Experiment, but with some hope.  

SWR has gone through a lot of criticism.  I am pleased with him and his work.  He has ignored the comments and has just kept improving. 

I am done with Larnach, disappointed in Wallner and hoping for some young new OF talents.

But most of all, hurray, the season is over and we are 0 - 0 again for the next one. 

[Hubie29]

6 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Let's say goodbye to these three and a few more.  I have no expectations for next year but I do not want to see, watch, listen or read about these kinds of fillers.  Experiment, but with some hope.  

SWR has gone through a lot of criticism.  I am pleased with him and his work.  He has ignored the comments and has just kept improving. 

I am done with Larnach, disappointed in Wallner and hoping for some young new OF talents.

But most of all, hurray, the season is over and we are 0 - 0 again for the next one. 

Got my phone with me in case we make that big trade! 

[thelanges5]

Best part of the game: SWR - great finish to the season

Worst part of the game: Outman - 4 ugly Ks and where was that throw going on the walkoff?

[LewFordLives]

11 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

 

Worst part of the game: Outman - 4 ugly Ks and where was that throw going on the walkoff?

Stewart had surgery and will miss the rest of the season, and yet I still think the Twins got the worst of that trade.

[Nashvilletwin]

Which long-standing Twins may not be back next year?  The list of possibles is actually quite long:

Buxton. 
Jeffers.  
Vasquez.  
Larnach.  
Julien.  
Miranda.  
Lopez.  
Ryan.  
Ober.

Ideally, Rocco is the first one out the door. 

(Wallner, Lewis, Lee, and Martin are probably safe). 

All won’t be gone, but we’ve probably have seen many of them for the last time in a Twins uniform. 

 

[Peter]

71-91-SWR pitched great today as did Abel yesterday. It was a rollercoster season with a 13 game winning streak, twins weren’t as bad as their record indicates, lost to many close games. This off season will be interesting in who stays who goes? Will Rocco be around? It’s was great chatting with everyone during season and can’t wait to do this again next season!!! Enjoy the off season everyone and go Twins!!!

[Nshore]

Heavens to Genesis Cabrera!  That summary is as depressing as a Tom Waits song.  Excellent work Mr. Birkeland.  Very appropriate season's epitaph.

Also - seeing that outstanding  performance by Abel against the Phillies, I don't think they'll be looking to put him in the bullpen anytime soon.

 

 

[mrguy]

26 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Which long-standing Twins may not be back next year?  The list of possibles is actually quite long:

Buxton. 
Jeffers.  
Vasquez.  
Larnach.  
Julien.  
Miranda.  
Lopez.  
Ryan.  
Ober.

Ideally, Rocco is the first one out the door. 

(Wallner, Lewis, Lee, and Martin are probably safe). 

All won’t be gone, but we’ve probably have seen many of them for the last time in a Twins uniform. 

 

No matter what doom posters may say, i sincerely doubt Buxton is gone, you know how many great players stayed on teams in terrible situations that never won anything their whole career? A surprisingly high number(the most obvious active example of this isn't even Buxton). The rest outside of maybe Ryan and Lopez, I honestly have no feelings towards whether they stay or go at this point

[TopGunn#22]

Buxton is NOT getting traded.  After that...all bets are off.  

[PDX Twin]

48 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Ideally, Rocco is the first one out the door. 

I'm ready to start the "Rocco watch," opening Twins Daily daily looking for the headline saying he has been "relieved of his duties." (Just as I hope for a headline every day announcing the demise of a certain set of politicians.)

[gman]

I think the percentage of end of year 40 man squad members remaining by the first game of next year might be around 60%. Anybody have a better guess?

[chinmusic]

1 hour ago, mrguy said:

No matter what doom posters may say, i sincerely doubt Buxton is gone, you know how many great players stayed on teams in terrible situations that never won anything their whole career? A surprisingly high number(the most obvious active example of this isn't even Buxton).

For active players, Mike Trout certainly qualifies. 

[HerbieFan]

I'd rather see Bradley moved to the bullpen and Abel continue to develop as a starter.

[RaoulDuke]

Despite 3 rough outings to begin his Twins career Mick Abel is their best pitching prospect, and he showed it yesterday.  He has a long time before moving him to the pen is even considered.  That trade does not need to pay off immediately.

I thought Festa was probably the best option to move into a back end role in the near future but that possibility is now on indefinite hold. 

Preillip has had a similar path as Duran with the injury history as a starter in the minors and dominate stuff, if anyone is going to become a lock down closer I like his odds the best but you have to exhaust every chance for him to be a starter first. 

I think the closer next year will be a cheap old vet, as they will most likely not really need one.

[mikelink45]

2 hours ago, Hubie29 said:

Got my phone with me in case we make that big trade! 

I wouldn't worry about charging it

 

[LastOnePicked]

2025 broke me. The most disgusting season in all my time as a fan. I was blessed with two title runs in my youth, and I'm so sad that today's young people get these Twins instead. Just a nothing organization, run by fools and headed absolutely nowhere. No guts, no heart, no grit, no brains ... nothing.

The Pohlads, Falvey and Rocco have brought shame to this fanbase and this state. 

[Parfigliano]

Pitching good enough to win.  Inability to score runners from 3B.  16 K and 5 H. 

TC baseball this year.

[The Great Hambino]

Fitting bow to put on this #### sundae of a season:  done in by two former players and verified angel of death Nick Castellanos

[knothole61]

Well, the sad day has arrived again. Good team or bad, baseball is the great timekeeper of the best days of the year, and now we face another Minnesota winter, and this time without the prospect of a solid Vikings' season to soften the days.

The coming of the off season seems to twist a little harder as time goes on.

I'd like to thank whomever is responsible for the smooth operation of this site...it's a pleasant place to come for outstanding commentary and analysis and it is run flawlessly and seamlessly by those who keep high standards without being intrusive and who stay behind the scenes and never take a bow.

Well done TD!

As I head off after another season I'm reminded of the words of Rogers Hornsby: 

"People ask me what I do in the winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."

Adios...

[Doctor Wu]

11 hours ago, RaoulDuke said:

Preillip has had a similar path as Duran with the injury history as a starter in the minors and dominate stuff, if anyone is going to become a lock down closer I like his odds the best but you have to exhaust every chance for him to be a starter first. 

Very much agree with this. You can't rule out Prielipp staying as a started, but having him in the bullpen might be a very good thing at some point in the near future. 

[Doctor Wu]

13 hours ago, LewFordLives said:

Stewart had surgery and will miss the rest of the season, and yet I still think the Twins got the worst of that trade.

Yeah, we are lucky we got much of anything for the oft-injured Stewart, even with the good results when he WAS on the field, But Outman? I don't see anything there worth keeping. 

[Doctor Wu]

5 hours ago, knothole61 said:

"People ask me what I do in the winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."

I'll be waiting too. Spring training can't come too soon. But I WILL be following the Timberwolves in the meantime. 

[Old Crow]

14 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Let's say goodbye to these three and a few more.  I have no expectations for next year but I do not want to see, watch, listen or read about these kinds of fillers.  Experiment, but with some hope.  

SWR has gone through a lot of criticism.  I am pleased with him and his work.  He has ignored the comments and has just kept improving. 

I am done with Larnach, disappointed in Wallner and hoping for some young new OF talents.

But most of all, hurray, the season is over and we are 0 - 0 again for the next one. 

Genisis needs to make an exodus.

 

14 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Let's say goodbye to these three and a few more.  I have no expectations for next year but I do not want to see, watch, listen or read about these kinds of fillers.  Experiment, but with some hope.  

SWR has gone through a lot of criticism.  I am pleased with him and his work.  He has ignored the comments and has just kept improving. 

I am done with Larnach, disappointed in Wallner and hoping for some young new OF talents.

But most of all, hurray, the season is over and we are 0 - 0 again for the next one. 

Gen

 

14 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Let's say goodbye to these three and a few more.  I have no expectations for next year but I do not want to see, watch, listen or read about these kinds of fillers.  Experiment, but with some hope.  

SWR has gone through a lot of criticism.  I am pleased with him and his work.  He has ignored the comments and has just kept improving. 

I am done with Larnach, disappointed in Wallner and hoping for some young new OF talents.

But most of all, hurray, the season is over and we are 0 - 0 again for the next one. 

Genesis et. al. need to make an exodus.

[Old Crow]

6 hours ago, knothole61 said:

Well, the sad day has arrived again. Good team or bad, baseball is the great timekeeper of the best days of the year, and now we face another Minnesota winter, and this time without the prospect of a solid Vikings' season to soften the days.

The coming of the off season seems to twist a little harder as time goes on.

I'd like to thank whomever is responsible for the smooth operation of this site...it's a pleasant place to come for outstanding commentary and analysis and it is run flawlessly and seamlessly by those who keep high standards without being intrusive and who stay behind the scenes and never take a bow.

Well done TD!

As I head off after another season I'm reminded of the words of Rogers Hornsby: 

"People ask me what I do in the winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."

Adios...

well spoken I'm with you all the way.

[Old Twins Hat]

I'm already looking forward to next year.  Which of the young starting pitchers will be studs, which will fill in the bullpen. 

Lewis, Lee, Keaschall -- that's a great start on the infield, especially defensively, all moving toward their prime.  Buxton, Martin, Jenkins in the outfield.  Twins will be plenty solid.

Need some RH sticks at 1B, C and at DH -- not that hard to find.

Couple of relievers and they are right there with the rest of the division.

Yeah, it's been a sucky 35 years for sure but, next spring .... -- next spring we start all over and hit the fields in Florida on the way up.

[IndianaTwin]

57 minutes ago, Old Crow said:

Genisis needs to make an exodus.

 

Gen

 

Genesis et. al. need to make an exodus.

So how do you really feel about Cabrera, Old Crow? 😀

[mnfireman]

If the team can PH Larnach for McCusker, and then have Keirsey PR for Larnach, in a "meaningless" game, then Buxton should have been available to either PR for Vazquez or PH for Outman with a chance to go ahead in the 10th, might have even made a competitive throw to HP on the GW SF...