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    Rockies 5, Twins 4: Varland Strong in Return, but Four-Run Sixth Frame Costs Thielbar, Twins

    Ted Schwerzler

    By Ted Schwerzler

    Making a spot start to allow the Minnesota Twins starting pitchers some breathing room, Louie Varland was lifted early by Rocco Baldelli and the Colorado Rockies punished a handful of relievers.

    Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

    Twins Video

    Box Score
    SP: Louie Varland 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (63 pitches, 42 strikes, 8 whiffs)
    Home Runs: Byron Buxton (4)
    Bottom 3 WPA: Caleb Thielbar (-0.399), Alex Kirilloff (-0.135), Ryan Jeffers (-0.101) 

    Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

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    Louie Lifted Too Soon?
    The Twins promoted Louie Varland to give the starting rotation a rest. With Chris Paddack looking like he could need a blow, and Simeon Woods Richardson still being raw, the initial fifth starter came into play. Blanking a bad Colorado Rockies lineup for five innings on just 63 pitches, Rocco Baldelli decided the imminent threat was worth pulling him.

    Putting Caleb Thielbar in to take over in the sixth inning, it couldn't be more apparent that the aging lefty was cooked. Charlie Blackmon immediately singled before Thielbar issued a walk to Brenton Doyle. Ezequiel Tovar then took him deep for his 11th home run of the year to make it a 3-0 game. Ryan McMahon followed with a double and Cole Sands came on to limit the damage. Michael Toglia scored McMahon on a sacrifice fly, and while Sands shut it down, Thielbar once again looked like he was in over his head.

    Buxton Blasts Off
    There have been very few Twins hitters that have struggled like Byron Buxton has this season, and coming back from his stint on the injured list, he’s failed to do anything offensively. With Willi Castro on first base, he blasted a 3-2 pitch to center and halved the Rockies lead. Carlos Santana singled to keep the threat going, but Jose Miranda’s line out to Jake Cave in left field had the veteran looking clueless on the base paths and getting doubled up.

    With Sands still in during the eighth inning McMahon teed off for a solo shot, his 11th of the season, to make it a 5-2 game. Correa singled in the bottom half to lead things off against Jalen Beeks, but Minnesota couldn’t make it count, and they entered the final frame trailing by three runs.

    Josh Staumont stayed on for the final inning, and despite Cave kicking it off with a single, he was nailed trying to steal second base. Getting Greg Jones and Adael Amador on strikes, Staumont did his job wonderfully.

    With just three outs left Castro kicked things off with his 13th double of the season. After a Buxton line out and Kirilloff strikeout, Santana stepped in a blasted his tenth home run of the year. Bringing Minnesota within one, it felt like they had life despite being on life support. Unfortunately Miranda punched out to end the game and Minnesota lost by a run.

    Notes
    With Diego Castillo optioned to make room for Varland, the Twins will need a roster move for the bullpen on Wednesday. 40 man options include Ronny Henriquez, Kody Funderburk, or Josh Winder.

    Brock Stewart hasn’t made any notable progressions in his throwing program. Shut down last season as well, Stewart is looking to return for a Twins team that could use the late-inning production he provided earlier this season.

    Twins 2023 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Cory Lewis has rejoined the Wichita Wind Surge after being activated from his minor league rehab assignment. St. Paul Saints catcher, and potential Christian Vazquez replacement, Jair Camargo has rejoined the Triple-A squad.

    What’s Next? 
    Having been given a break with Varland starting to push everyone back a day, Pablo Lopez will throw on Wednesday afternoon with a Pablo Day taking place. His special jerseys should pair nicely with the recently released Twins City Connect offering.

    Postgame Interviews

     

    Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

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    A blogger for over a decade, passion for baseball and the Minnesota Twins runs deep. Whether at the ballpark or on the couch, I'm probably tweeting.
    Follow Ted Schwerzler on Twitter: tlschwerz

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    Featured Comments

    h2oface

    h2oface 8,909

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    9 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

    Rocco pulled SWR with less than 5 innings, without the chance he could win the game in his 1st outing. The idea was to have SWR leave on a high note & not to jeopardize that. IMO it's the same idea with Varland on his 1st outing back with the chance that he could get the win if we scored & the BP held. That didn't happen, if it had everybody would be happy. No one knows if Varland pitched the 6th & blew up. Now that'd be a disaster. At least we have a good outing from Varland & him flying high.

    I'd DFA Thielbar, nobody'd pick him up & he can work on his stuff in AAA. If he corrects what's wrong, great bring him back up. We can't afford him doing it up here 

    How is that working for the hitters? Do they get confidence from getting 2 or three hits and then the manager's reward is to sit them the very next game? Or a couple hits early in the game, seeing the ball well, and then get pulled for a guy that is hitting .110, and never getting the chance to hit oppo pitchers? Do they say to themselves "great, at least I didn't have to take another at bat and maybe strikeout. I'm so condident, now."? Would Varland have more confidence, and be way better for it, if he had, this time, while he was pitching well, been rewarded with the opportunity to add the 6th, and maybe the 7th, and DID take the order down the 3rd time? Pulled for Thielbar, and his horrible year, is like Larnach getting pulled for Margot in the 6th, after Larnach had 2 hits early in the game. Really building confidence for Larnach. 

    No one knows if Varland pitched the 6th & shut them down. Now that'd be a flying high moment for Varland. 

    If you baby players, like if you baby children and don't give them the opportunity to fail, they will always be babies, and not grow up. Now Varland is confident the manager has no confidence in him. How is that a good thing for confidence building? This was a time that a player deserves the opportunity to grow, and break on through to the other side. A good manager would see that and take that chance, rather than banking on this year's Thielbar in a tight game, the game he had only given up one hit and one walk on 63 pitches through 5.

    How did it all work for Thiebar's confidence? What if he brings Thielbar in and he fails miserably again? Right. Who cares, eh?

    tony&rodney

    tony&rodney 16,949

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    7 hours ago, Ricky Vaughn said:

    I don't disagree with you at all. However part of the fun of baseball is its the one sport where if you understand the game at all you can second guess the team management every game. We like to pretend were experts even if we know were not.

    Nothing wrong with the disagreements. I'm rarely watch any sport other than baseball but I coached basketball for near thirty years. I wondered why the Timberwolves didn't just let Doncic get his points and take away his passing options. No double. I also wondered why the Wolves seemed to avoid driving on Doncic to make him play both ends of the floor. Yes, I disagree with Baldelli too sometimes. Certainly the game has changed in my seven decades.

    It does seem though that some folks belittle Baldelli as if they ever knew  a sliver of baseball knowledge by comparison. Pretend is a wonderful thing but comments should also keep a foot in reality which you clearly do from your reply.

    bean5302

    bean5302 9,281

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    5 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

    Nothing wrong with the disagreements. I'm rarely watch any sport other than baseball but I coached basketball for near thirty years. I wondered why the Timberwolves didn't just let Doncic get his points and take away his passing options. No double. I also wondered why the Wolves seemed to avoid driving on Doncic to make him play both ends of the floor. Yes, I disagree with Baldelli too sometimes. Certainly the game has changed in my seven decades.

    It does seem though that some folks belittle Baldelli as if they ever knew  a sliver of baseball knowledge by comparison. Pretend is a wonderful thing but comments should also keep a foot in reality which you clearly do from your reply.

    I don't have nearly the experience or behind the scenes baseball knowledge anybody playing or coaching/managing in MLB has. 

    I can tell you definitively Joe Mauer was better than Drew Butera or Mike Trout was better than Ben Revere because I can evaluate the players compared to other players. I don't need to be a position player or catcher to do that. I also don't need to be an MLB manager to second guess decision making which appears bizarre or that other teams openly criticize (like the Yankees broadcasters recently).

    Btw, baseball coaches, managers and players were not the ones who developed the best stats used to evaluate game performance. Writers and stat heads and geeks were. The very same stats that Baldelli and this front office live and die by, and the stats which have totally changed how baseball is played.

    Your comment is nothing more than a smoothed over, pompous attempt at gatekeeping who gets to speak or have an opinion, and how much of an opinion, based on the criteria you have chosen.

    Major League Ready

    Major League Ready 10,427

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    12 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

    Nothing wrong with the disagreements. I'm rarely watch any sport other than baseball but I coached basketball for near thirty years. I wondered why the Timberwolves didn't just let Doncic get his points and take away his passing options. No double. I also wondered why the Wolves seemed to avoid driving on Doncic to make him play both ends of the floor. Yes, I disagree with Baldelli too sometimes. Certainly the game has changed in my seven decades.

    It does seem though that some folks belittle Baldelli as if they ever knew  a sliver of baseball knowledge by comparison. Pretend is a wonderful thing but comments should also keep a foot in reality which you clearly do from your reply.

    I would have let Varland go until he allowed a base runner.  However, I never played Milb or MLB.  I have not had countless discussions with MLB pitchers and pitching coaches and I have not experienced the game from inside the dugout or the clubhouse and I don't know Louie Varland.   Understanding stats is not all that difficult.  The experience and critical thinking skills, and leadership ability to use them in the broader context of managing a team not so simple.  Your post is appreciated by some of us even if those who think they are better equipped to manage a MLB team lash out at you.

    tony&rodney

    tony&rodney 16,949

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    7 hours ago, bean5302 said:

    Your comment is nothing more than a smoothed over, pompous attempt at gatekeeping who gets to speak or have an opinion, and how much of an opinion, based on the criteria you have chosen.

    My comment was a mild attempt to remind those who assess MLB employees that it is possible to be reflective and treat entertainment less harshly and enjoy aspects of games, even when your team is unsuccessful.

    All opinions are welcome. I have no criteria. 

    Your responses are angry and while it is a wonderful thing that you may be an avid follower of baseball, perhaps allow a little happiness into the experience. Try to enjoy baseball.

    I'm sorry and apologize for triggering you with my relatively meaningless comments. Peace.

    bean5302

    bean5302 9,281

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    4 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

    My comment was a mild attempt to remind those who assess MLB employees that it is possible to be reflective and treat entertainment less harshly and enjoy aspects of games, even when your team is unsuccessful.

    All opinions are welcome. I have no criteria. 

    Your responses are angry and while it is a wonderful thing that you may be an avid follower of baseball, perhaps allow a little happiness into the experience. Try to enjoy baseball.

    I'm sorry and apologize for triggering you with my relatively meaningless comments. Peace.

    You're not sorry so why say it unless it's obvious sarcasm? Also, why apologize to me? I might not even be one of the people you initially insulted.

    The backhanded "I'm so smart nobody can tell I'm throwing insults at them" posture you've taken is a bigger insult than the thinly veiled intent of your comments in the first place.

    Side note, I'm not at all mad, and my comment has nothing to do with baseball at all. It's a pet peeve of mine when people debate the validity of the person making the argument rather than the subject of the debate, and that's what you've done in the comments I take issue with. I can be hypocritical doing the same thing from time to time, but I try hard to avoid it.



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