Twins Game Recap (9/19): Nelson Cruz Crushes 2 Homers in 8-5 Win

Gibson is FUBAR. Nice power display and some good defense. I don't see how they scored Sano's hit to CF that was not a difficult play, hit the CF'r squarely in the glove and drops it . . . for a double. What? It must have made a klank sound hitting the glove and they thought it was off the wall. Nice job by Thorpe for the win. Rogers lights out in the ninth, again. The Indians win tonite to finish off their games vs the Tigers, going 18-1. Sheez, thanks Gardy.

May and Romo scare the hell out of me. Duffy and Rogers are calming.

What a game, one that I thought the Twins had little to no chance once they fell behind 3-0.  No faith, eh?

I will second DocBauer's comments about Thorpe.  Yes, he gave up a couple runs.  But I see a young man who is going thru his first year jitters while learning how to be a major league pitcher.  He has an amazing ability to fill the zone with strikes, perhaps too many at some part of the game.  There have been a lot of very good pitchers who struggled their first year on the mound.  I believe there is a real chance Thorpe could be one of them. 

As for Gibby, I see him getting one start late next week after the Twins have clinched.  I have to believe that the toll his physical problems have taken on his body make it almost certain he cannot get the job done once we get to the playoffs.  When nothing matters, take one last look and if it is more of the same shut him down for the rest of the year.  As for next year, would not be opposed to signing him to some type of one year contract.  He is a quality person who has done much for the organization over the past whatever years, both on and off the field.  But he would have to come back healthy and earn his spot in the rotation.

I think Thorpe is starting material long term.  In some ways its a blessing in disguise that guys like Smeltzer, Thorpe, Dobnak, and even Graterol are getting experience down the stretch here.

I agree Romo has been there done that and I count on him and his three rings coming through.

This was the first time I detected a slight critique from Baldelli. He seemed to question whether Gibby was even trying to throw strikes and said unequivocally that you have to throw strikes to have a chance.

I have to admit that it sure would be sweet if we finished the season with 1 more homer than the Yankees.

I have to admit that it sure would be sweet if we finished the season with 1 more homer than the Yankees.

What is a homer?

They're Bombas around here, pal.

Maybe it would be best for both Gibson and the Twins if he didn't pitch again this year. It's clear he's not at his best as he battles his illness.

At this point, the Twins might want to just bring two starting pitchers to the playoffs, and instead bring a whole crop of guys who will be expected to go three to four innings, nothing more than two trips around the order. Perez, Smeltzer, Thorpe, and Dobnak. 

Something like...

Game One: Berrios

Game Two: Bullpen (Dobnak/Thrope)

Game Three: Odorizzi

Game Four: Bullpen (Smeltzer/Perez)

Hard to believe that one MLB team can beat another 17 straight times during a season\, but that is what Cleveland has done to Detroit.

Maybe Gardy had his boys tanking against the Tribe in order to "get back" at the team that fired him...

Here's Twins Pitch for last night's game:

 

Really enjoyed this video, especially highlighting Thorpe's usage of his curveball. Thorpe feels like a Rich Hill disciple with how he has that big sweeping curveball and then a sneaky fast heater to back it up with. I really like the way Thorpe has pitched this season.

I've been an off/on fan of Kyle Gibson for a while. At his best, he is a dominant starter with good command of his heater and his 1 to 7 curve, which is a legitimate whiff pitch. Unfortunately, Gibson has had just one season where he was healthy and his mechanics were in good shape. Today Gibson is battling a chronic illness that has literally left him emaciated and weak. I would much prefer that this man stop pitching until his illness is gone and his full physical strength is back. The world will get by without Kyle Gibson's pitching. He needs to get well before he gets back on the mound. 

Otherwise, Bomba city, y'all! Thorpedo again showed why he intrigues the team. Thorpe's command issues really come down to old Bert's mantra: Stay back, stay tall, and work out front. Mainly Thorpe is blowing the Stay Back part, releasing his drive foot too soon.

The other thing he needs to refine is his balance point. As I've said before, a pitcher's balance is like an imaginary broom stick planted on the front of the rubber, running  up through the pitcher's center of mass. For a pitcher to have good command, that stick must fall in a direct line towards home plate. If it falls to the left, the pitch will go left, and vice versa. Hitters watch for body lean during a pitcher's delivery to predict which side of the plate to cover. 

Anyway, Thorpe is one of a few Twins pitchers whose  stick doesn't fall towards home plate consistently enough. May has that problem when he's missing. Perez has that problem. Duffey used to have that problem, but I think Wes Johnson fixed it. Romero has it a little, but mainly he needs to stay back and stay tall. 

Good news is, most Twins pitchers work from a very good foundation. Dobnak and Littell look really solid. Smeltzer has great balance. Stashak is almost perfect. Odorizzi is perfect. Perhaps coolest of all, Graterol looks almost perfectly on balance. This bodes well for their k/b ratios.

Maybe it would be best for both Gibson and the Twins if he didn't pitch again this year. It's clear he's not at his best as he battles his illness.

 

At this point, the Twins might want to just bring two starting pitchers to the playoffs, and instead bring a whole crop of guys who will be expected to go three to four innings, nothing more than two trips around the order. Perez, Smeltzer, Thorpe, and Dobnak. 

 

Something like...

 

Game One: Berrios

Game Two: Bullpen (Dobnak/Thrope)

Game Three: Odorizzi

Game Four: Bullpen (Smeltzer/Perez)

I like most of this, but for game 4, back to Berrios. 

What is a homer?

 

They're Bombas around here, pal.

I stand corrected Sir. Bombas they are, and Bombas they will be. May it rain Twin's Bombas all over the faithful Target Field outfield patrons. I wonder, if it just clears the fence is it a Bombacita? And an inside the park job, is it a Bomba en la casa or does it not even acquire Bomba status?

I like most of this, but for game 4, back to Berrios. 

Pretty clear by now that he performs far better with extra rest.

Pretty clear by now that he performs far better with extra rest.

He actually has better career numbers on normal rest than he does with an extra day of rest.

He does have better numbers with 2 or more extra days of rest, so I'm not sure anything is "clear" yet.