Brewers 3, Twins 2: Close Calls Sink Twins in Border Battle

[Matt Braun]

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Box Score
Joe Ryan: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Andrew Morris (-.500), Josh Bell (-.340), Luke Keaschall (-.100)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

The border battle. The Midwestern rivalry. The matchup of two teams in two separate leagues, whose effect on each other is minimal beyond the outcomes of the few games they play every year. Whatever description you favor. We here at Twins Daily don’t judge.

Joe Ryan started for the Twins. The eccentric righty shook off his elbow problems from two starts ago to put forth a Joe Ryan-y outing in Cleveland, working around the typically plucky Guardians for one earned run spread across six innings. Friday should be more of the same. A pitcher named Coleman Crow started for the Brewers. Though his name is more in line with a 90’s singer-songwriter, the righty possesses some spunk; he allowed just two earned runs over 5 ⅓ innings in his previous start. 

The game started inconspicuously for Minnesota, with Jackson Chourio jumping on a first-pitch fastball—how rude of him—for a double to center. He soon scored on an infield single deflected into the outfield by a diving Brooks Lee.

The 25-year-old Crow proved an impressive force for the Twins’ batters. His finesse was overwhelming; soft contact and easy outs abounded, as batter after batter failed to reach base. Minnesota didn’t earn their first base hit until the fifth inning—and even he was quickly erased in an attempt to steal second.

But runs did appear, even if the early efforts were meager. James Outman and Austin Martin singled off Crow to start the sixth; the lead-running Outman reached third. That was enough to call Pat Murphy from the dugout to change pitchers. The new hurler, Aaron Ashby, coaxed Brooks Lee into a run-scoring double play to tie the game, a bittersweet outcome for the Twins.

Minnesota then took the lead outright in the seventh on an RBI single by Royce Lewis, possibly aided by Kody Clemens distracting the infield into cutting off the throw to home. 

Then, the drama. No, not the recent Robert Pattinson movie; rather, this drama was confusing and unresolved. With runners on second and third, William Contreras grounded a ball to short. Lee fielded and threw to Royce Lewis, as the runner had hesitated a step, allowing for a possible out. So it was. Lee nabbed the runner. Until the umpires conspired and sent the runner home on an obstruction call, believing that Lewis had blocked the bag with his foot in an unfair manner. Derek Shelton lasted about 10 seconds before being ejected. Was the call correct? That’s your call.

Milwaukee added on with an RBI double by Jake Bauers to take the lead. 

The sudden change of fate proved deflating for the Twins, who succumbed to Abner Uribe in the eighth before coming up empty against Trevor Megill in the ninth to lose the game. 

Notes:

Joe Ryan's seven strikeouts give him 771 in his Twins career, good for the 13th-most in team history. He's eight behind José Berríos.

Taylor Rogers appeared in his 337th game as a Twin, the ninth-most in team history. He's 10 behind Caleb Thielbar. 

Every batter reached base at least once except for Josh Bell, who's slashing .171/.211/.205 in his last 30 games. 

Post-Game Interview:

 

What’s Next?
The Twins and Brewers play again on Saturday at 6:10 PM, with Logan Henderson set to pitch against Connor Prielipp. 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	TOT
Rojas	0	0	0	0	41	41
Topa	0	0	35	0	0	35
Adams	0	0	29	0	0	29
Morris	0	0	0	0	24	24
Rogers	0	0	0	0	23	23
Garcia	0	0	18	0	0	18
Banda	0	0	0	0	8	8
Gómez	0	0	0	0	7	7
Orze	0	0	0	0	0	0

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[Parfigliano]

Best thing about tonight's game is Ryan increased his trade value.

[CharlieDee]

That obstruction call was total b.s.  It took away a really good defensive play. I think the Twins got robbed tonight.

[tony&rodney]

Weak obstruction call. The speed of the play and the fact the runner was clearly tagged before he could arrive at. the bag and finally that the runner still had half the base to slide into made for a stupid umpire decision no matter how the rule is written. 

If a call on the field cannot be reviewed, why can the umpires get together and review it? 

The play was important and the ruling clearly violated the intended reason for the rule, which is to punish fielders dropping a leg so that the runner cannot reach the base, which actually takes time that was not possible on that play.

Indefensible call. The runner was out before contact.

[Blyleven2011]

You really can't blame the pitching , the hitting was subpar for twins hitters but that too wasn't the real outcome of the game ...

Blame it on the officiating of 4 umpires that want to show that they are still in charge of the game  ...

Obstruction blocking third base , I guess you watch the games long enough your going to see things you never saw before ...

Ryan did his magic  , It was a good twins game until it wasn't  ...

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

That obstruction call was bs. But the offense couldn't get it done anyways. All singles. 

Ryan looked good. 

 

[knothole61]

This loss is hard to take, especially since I'm stuck here in Milwaukee, but I can't dispute the obstruction call. It probably decided the game and the runner was out before he hit Lewis's foot--but man, what a terrible spot for a professional ballplayer, at any level, to place his foot. Lewis was just asking to have that call made! That and Clemens's boneheaded base running truly hurt the team tonight...in addition to the bullpen, of course.  It's a shame to waste another solid start...

 

 

 

[DJL44]

“Until the umpires conspired and sent the runner home on an obstruction call, believing that Lewis had blocked the bag with his foot in an unfair manner”

Fairness doesn’t enter into obstruction and neither does intent. If you block the base without the ball, you are obstructing. What I don’t like about the rule is awarding an extra base. I think the runner should be safe at the base they were attempting, not given an additional base

[howeda7]

If only the $14 million being paid to Josh Bell and Carantini had been spent on the bullpen instead...

[Sjoski]

3 hours ago, howeda7 said:

If only the $14 million being paid to Josh Bell and Carantini had been spent on the bullpen instead...

That and keeping Varland...Twins could very well be in first place in AL central. 

[rv78]

The 25-year-old Crow proved an impressive force for the Twins’ batters. 

If the Twins had a lineup that was an "impressive force" the opposing pitcher wouldn't be that impressive of a force. Bell, Keaschall, Clemens, Lewis, Kreidler and Outman, When the majority of the lineup doesn't strike fear into any opposing pitcher being an impressive force is easy.

[twinfan]

If you watched the call from home plate, you can easily see that it was a bad call. Lewis' knee came into play after he tagged the runner out and his knee never altered the runner's path to the base. His foot was not in a great position but seemed at the back of the base and the play was a bang-bang play and he never had a chance to change his position. The commentators even spoke to plays where a catcher takes a throw and does not have time to change his feet position. Baseball, as well as other sports, has a terrible rule as to what is reviewable or not. Had the play been reviewable, the runner would have been out.

[jmlease1]

Offense never really got going; 2 runs simply isn't enough against a team like MKE. Ryan did a nice job after starting out a bit flat, and while Morris' outing was a bit disappointing you do wonder if things would have gone differently without that obstruction call.

MKE fans outnumbered Twins fans in the stand by what, 6 to 1? More? Oof.

[Hunter4848]

9 minutes ago, twinfan said:

If you watched the call from home plate, you can easily see that it was a bad call. Lewis' knee came into play after he tagged the runner out and his knee never altered the runner's path to the base. His foot was not in a great position but seemed at the back of the base and the play was a bang-bang play and he never had a chance to change his position. The commentators even spoke to plays where a catcher takes a throw and does not have time to change his feet position. Baseball, as well as other sports, has a terrible rule as to what is reviewable or not. Had the play been reviewable, the runner would have been out.

If you watched the play on TV a half dozen times you would see its the correct call. A good player doesn't put himself in that situation 

[Linus]

I think the rule is poorly written. As the TV crew explained the rule the umpires applied it correctly which is their job. They don’t have the liberty to change the rule on the fly, even if it flawed. It happened so fast that I don’t know if Royce tried to put his foot there or it ended up there because he was tracking the incoming ball. The really crazy part of the rule is no provision for which base the runner is trying to obtain but again the umps can’t change that. 
One point of clarification on Clemons baserunning. There is a set play where a runner rounding second will hang himself out to dry in order to get the cutoff man to cut the ball and let the runner score. Essentially you are trading an out for a run. The mistake was that you only use that play when the runner is likely to be out at the plate. It appeared that Keaschall was going to score so it was not the correct time to do it. Kody correctly got himself in a rundown so Royce could gain second base. Or he could have screwed up by overrunning the base but it appeared that he did it on purpose - I guess only Kody knows. Teams don’t seem to use this play as much anymore. 

[D.C Twins]

6 hours ago, howeda7 said:

If only the $14 million being paid to Josh Bell and Carantini had been spent on the bullpen instead...

I'll give them a little more grace on Carantini.... they do need two passable catches after Jeffers gets traded at the deadline (Jacksson being the other)

[LambchoP]

Ryan looks good and healthy. What do you think we can get for him at the deadline? Hopefully some AAA/ close to MLB talent.

[JD-TWINS]

9 hours ago, DJL44 said:

“Until the umpires conspired and sent the runner home on an obstruction call, believing that Lewis had blocked the bag with his foot in an unfair manner”

Fairness doesn’t enter into obstruction and neither does intent. If you block the base without the ball, you are obstructing. What I don’t like about the rule is awarding an extra base. I think the runner should be safe at the base they were attempting, not given an additional base

The umpire on top of the play called the runner out - right call as tag was applied when runner’s foot was 10-12” from Lewis foot. THEN the umpire noticed Lewis got spiked & it then occurred to him that Lewis foot must have been in the base path. The 3rd base umpire drove the decision & plead his case for reversing his own call t……. the flaw is that it can’t be reviewed. If a Team that this call goes against can challenge, it’s a tolerable rule, IMO. Can’t review every umpire call but can Challenge for a review when needed. Out of challenges, you are then SOL.

[JD-TWINS]

26 minutes ago, D.C Twins said:

I'll give them a little more grace on Carantini.... they do need two passable catches after Jeffers gets traded at the deadline (Jacksson being the other)

How about $$ on Luis Arraez with Jackson as 2nd Catcher?

Best bullpen in baseball can’t win or save games when offense scores 1, 2, & 3 runs!

There are options to strengthen the PEN with SWR making a move - Prielipp or Matthews landing there - Klein - Sands coming back. Combination of these 5 guys displaces at least 3-4 of the current PEN.

[Mike Sixel]

Josh Bell needs to go. I don't care who comes up instead, but he's bad and old. Serves zero purpose. 

[karcherd]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Josh Bell needs to go. I don't care who comes up instead, but he's bad and old. Serves zero purpose. 

And don't worry about eating the salary, that is the biggest barrier to removing Bell in the Twins view.

[Over The Hill Again]

18 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Josh Bell needs to go. I don't care who comes up instead, but he's bad and old. Serves zero purpose. 

Classic zero-upside, DH only “veteran” signing. Just another flawed approach to roster building for this organization. Only hope was that he started the season hot and would appeal in trade to some competitive team at the deadline. But as recently as last season, “starting out hot”doesn’t appear to apply to Bell. So I ask, why make that signing? 

[Jacksson]

Bell is not only bad and old, he is unable to play the position (1B) he was signed to play, relegating him to DH and pushing Larnach off of DH and into LF, depriving an OF opportunity to a better defensive outfielder.  Bell is also overweight and S-L-O-W.

[Twindy]

20 minutes ago, karcherd said:

And don't worry about eating the salary, that is the biggest barrier to removing Bell in the Twins view.

Twins management/ownership, believe that eating a salary is the only way to be judged as having made a bad signing.

[JD-TWINS]

53 minutes ago, karcherd said:

And don't worry about eating the salary, that is the biggest barrier to removing Bell in the Twins view.

Salary, yes…….it’s May 15th though ……..and on April 15th he could have been in the MVP conversation. I’m not very pleased with his last month! His bat path to the ball often looks like a golfer. His track record shows that it’s highly probable that he rights himself sometime in the next 30 days.

3 weeks ago Clemens was nearly unplayable ………things change.

Lewis & Wallner got lots of leash and they have Options. Bell isn’t going anywhere until the “change of scenery trade” somewhere prior to deadline.

Caratini is the new Vazquez ……. he’s here at least until July of ‘27.

[howeda7]

4 hours ago, twinfan said:

If you watched the call from home plate, you can easily see that it was a bad call. Lewis' knee came into play after he tagged the runner out and his knee never altered the runner's path to the base. His foot was not in a great position but seemed at the back of the base and the play was a bang-bang play and he never had a chance to change his position. The commentators even spoke to plays where a catcher takes a throw and does not have time to change his feet position. Baseball, as well as other sports, has a terrible rule as to what is reviewable or not. Had the play been reviewable, the runner would have been out.

There's no good reason any play shouldn't be reviewable now that we're challenging balls and strikes. 

[howeda7]

1 hour ago, karcherd said:

And don't worry about eating the salary, that is the biggest barrier to removing Bell in the Twins view.

You don't have to release him. Just bench him. He should be a platoon DH against lefties only. And when he plays he should hit 7th or 8th, not 4th. You can still probably get a lottery ticket for him in July.

[karcherd]

1 minute ago, JD-TWINS said:

Salary, yes…….it’s May 15th though ……..and on April 15th he could have been in the MVP conversation. I’m not very pleased with his last month! His bat path to the ball often looks like a golfer. His track record shows that it’s highly probable that he rights himself sometime in the next 30 days.

3 weeks ago Clemens was nearly unplayable ………things change.

Lewis & Wallner got lots of leash and they have Options. Bell isn’t going anywhere until the “change of scenery trade” somewhere prior to deadline.

Caratini is the new Vazquez ……. he’s here at least until July of ‘27.

Bell's track record is not one that shows he will right himself.  Last year at the deadline the Nationals found no takers  for him, so I wouldn't count on a trade this year.  Clemens is still barely playable, he will have a stretch here and there where he shows he is competent just like last year.  We just have no other options.

Lewis and Wallner have more potential upside so they should get more leash to see if they can be a part of the core going forward.  Wallner probably isn't at this point and he definitely needs a change of scenery.  Lewis, I would give another month before making any move unless it is for Culpepper.  But Bell definitely does not have a future and they should cut bait with him now.  Teams do this all the time with underperforming veterans with millions still owed including Milwaukee.  This organization will never admit fault, I thought it was only Falvey but it apparently is the culture he built.

 

[karcherd]

2 minutes ago, howeda7 said:

You don't have to release him. Just bench him. He should be a platoon DH against lefties only. And when he plays he should hit 7th or 8th, not 4th. You can still probably get a lottery ticket for him in July.

The Nationals could get no one to take him from them last year, he is now a year older, what makes you think there is more interest this year than last year.  And with only 4 bench players, you need players who can play.  Especially with Outman already sitting there and not playing.

[howeda7]

31 minutes ago, karcherd said:

The Nationals could get no one to take him from them last year, he is now a year older, what makes you think there is more interest this year than last year.  And with only 4 bench players, you need players who can play.  Especially with Outman already sitting there and not playing.

Hopefully Outman is eventually replaced by Gonzalez/Rodriguez. You might have to release him eventually. But in the meantime you don't have to play him every day.