CWS 5, MIN 6 Postgame Notes

[John Bonnes]

Here were the notes from the Twins media department following their 6-5 win over the White Sox today:

 

TWINS NOTES:

· THE TWINS swept the White Sox today, their third sweep of the season…it is their first four-game sweep since June 2-5, 2011 at Kauffman Stadium, their first ever at Target Field and their first-four game sweep at home since July 12-15, 2007 over Oakland…the Twins are now 16-12 against the AL Central this season, and 19-17 at home.

· PHIL HUGHES was the starter and winner, tying a season-high allowing five runs, on eight hits in 5.0 innings, walking one and striking out four…it was the second time he has allowed five runs at Target Field in as many games (June 6 vs. Houston)…the 5.0 innings pitched snapped of string of 11 consecutive starts in which he has pitched at least 6.0 IP, including 10 quality starts, since April 15 vs. Toronto…after walking Tyler Flowers in the third inning, Hughes snapped a 106 plate-appearances without issuing a walk, his previous coming on June 1 against the Yankees Brian McCann in the fourth inning...coming into today, the Twins starters 2.71 ERA was the fifth lowest in the American League since June 9.

· JOE MAUER (2-for-4) had a pair of RBI singles off Danks, in the second and fourth innings…it marked the third time in four games he has driven in a run, and the first time he has driven in multiple RBI in back-to-back games this season…after going 0-for-his last-18 with runners in scoring position, he is now 6 for his last 8…Mauer has now reached base safely in each of his last 22 home games (since September 7, 2011) against the White Sox, posting a .443 on-base percentage in that span…additionally, he has hit safely in 15 straight home games against the Sox, hitting .419 (26-for-62) in those 15…he is now .393 (22-for-56) career against John Danks.

· KURT SUZUKI (3-for-4) had his second three-hit game in the series, batting .533 (8-for-15) this series…with a single off Danks in the second, he extended his hitting streak to nine-games...the streak is the longest since a 10-game hitting streak from May 3-9, 2013…the hit also extended his on-base streak to 14 games, dating back to June 4 against Milwaukee…Suzuki came into today’s game batting .317 at Target Field (32-for-101), the 12^th best home-average in the American League.

· BRIAN DOZIER (1-for-2) reached base three times today (2 walks, 1 hit)…coming into play today, he ranked first in the AL in runs scored (57) and third in walks (45)…he has reached safely in six straight home games and hit safely in five straight, batting .333 (6-for-18), while scoring at least one run in five of those six.

· DANNY SANTANA (1-for-3) led off the game with a walk, and later reached on an infield single and scored…coming into play today, he ranked second among American League rookies in on-base percentage (.359) behind the Red Sox Brock Holt…in 14 home games since being recalled, Santana is batting .308 (16-for-52) with three extra-base hits, seven RBI, nine runs scored and three steals…he was caught stealing for the first time in his career off Jake Petricka and Tyler Flowers in the bottom of the sixth inning…he had previously gone 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts this season.

· SAM FULD (2-for-3) had a pair of doubles in today’s game…it was his first multi-extra base hit game since April 24, when he had two doubles against Tampa Bay in his second game as a Twin.

· JARED BURTON recorded his first save of the season and first since May 30, 2013 vs. Milwaukee…Glen Perkins had pitched each of the last three games.

· RON GARDENHIRE was ejected in the third inning by home-plate umpire D.J. Reyburn for arguing balls and strikes…it marked the second time this season, the 69^th of his career (regular season only)…his previous ejection this season came on May 11 in Detroit.

[stringer bell]

They didn't post the negative note--Arcia is now 0-31 and 2-43. That friends, is a slump. Butch Wynegar holds the team record of 0-39 for a position player. Dean Chance was 0-53 in 1967.

[DJSim22]

They didn't post the negative note--Arcia is now 0-31 and 2-43. That friends, is a slump. Butch Wynegar holds the team record of 0-39 for a position player. Dean Chance was 0-53 in 1967.

 

I thought Nieto was up there in slump territory as well. I wonder how many warning track balls he has in that 0-31? Unlucky and overcompensating. Will the next hit be a flare or a dinger?

[jokin]

They didn't post the negative note--Arcia is now 0-31 and 2-43. That friends, is a slump.

 

Arcia has circled right back to where he was at the end of ST- check that, he's putting up as bad, or worse numbers lately for June (OPS .527), than Hicks put up in April or May of this year (OPS .551 & .526). Only one player in all of baseball has a lower Contact % than Arcia in June (~58%)- and he's only getting 40% of his pitches thrown for strikes- the book is definitely out on him, and he needs to make adjustments for patience in his approach at the plate- STAT. I think it would soon be past time for optioning him to Rochester- if only the Twins had someone to call up in his place.

[jokin]

I thought Nieto was up there in slump territory as well.

 

I wonder how many warning track balls he has in that 0-31?

 

Unlucky and overcompensating. Will the next hit be a flare or a dinger?

 

Not so much, besides the 33.3% K-rate:

 

http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/charts/gen/5424552014060620140621AAAAAspray-chart.png

[DJSim22]

Not so much, besides the 33.3% K-rate:

 

I guess not, I thought there had been more. Very ugly chart to say the least.

[howeda7]

the streak is the longest since a 10-game hitting streak from May 3-9, 2013

 

Wow. Washington really likes their double-headers and Suzuki is a true iron man.

[drock2190]

It seems funny because the hype on Arcia two weeks ago was almost out of control. 30+ homeruns and the big bopper in the lineup...

 

People need to realize that a little hot streak doesnt change much in the long run. And that is that he strikes out a bit too much to be effective. That can change but like Parker noted he needs to fix his mechanical issues and get a better feel for the strike zone.

[ScottyB]

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but it wouldn't surprise me if when Hicks is done rehabbing that they bring him up and send Arcia down instead of optioning Hicks.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but it wouldn't surprise me if when Hicks is done rehabbing that they bring him up and send Arcia down instead of optioning Hicks.

 

I'd prefer more Cowbell--one last time--before putting CC to bed. Colabello is hitting .324 over the last ten games. The big Italian is brutal in the outfield--but Arcia isn't much better. Moreover, Colabello is a streaky hitter. If the Twins can ride an upswing in Colabello's bat between now and the All Star break, it might mean another RBI juggernaut. If he washes out, there's time to bring back Hicks later in July.

[jokin]

I'd prefer more Cowbell--one last time--before putting CC to bed. Colabello is hitting .324 over the last ten games. The big Italian is brutal in the outfield--but Arcia isn't much better. Moreover' date=' Colabello is a streaky hitter. If the Twins can ride an upswing in Colabello's bat between now and the All Star break, it might mean another RBI juggernaut. If he washes out, there's time to bring back Hicks later in July.[/quote']

 

And Cola is a right-hand bat, who unlike the other guy- is for the moment at least- the one guy of the two who is still unafraid of hitting righty against RHP's.

[Beezer07]

I'd prefer more Cowbell--one last time--before putting CC to bed. Colabello is hitting .324 over the last ten games. The big Italian is brutal in the outfield--but Arcia isn't much better. Moreover' date=' Colabello is a streaky hitter. If the Twins can ride an upswing in Colabello's bat between now and the All Star break, it might mean another RBI juggernaut. If he washes out, there's time to bring back Hicks later in July.[/quote']

 

No offense to your guy Colabello, but he has no business playing on the Twins. The Twins caught lightning in a bottle with him once and then sent him back down (only a week or so too late, IMO). He has no future with the Twins, and doesn't provide any value over Arcia, except the 0-31 type Arcia.

[Craig Arko]

Interesting how the topic of these threads morph.

 

Anyway, nice to see Mauer have a decent series. Time to see a few more good ones. And Hughes was due to win a bad game after losing a good one in Boston.

[diehardtwinsfan]

We really need to get a user account for WSI... Got to think that the weeping and gnashing of teeth would be pretty close to epic right now.

[ashbury]

Here were the notes from the Twins media department following their 6-5 win over the White Sox today:

 

Are these available already online somewhere? If not, MOAR PLZ!

 

We really need to get a user account for WSI... Got to think that the weeping and gnashing of teeth would be pretty close to epic right now.

 

I went over to their forum, and was disappointed to find that the conversation, while satisfyingly downhearted, wasn't frothing-at-the-mouth lunatic-in-rage like I expected from denizens of that burg.

 

I actually like Chicagoans, when they are removed to a different locale (I even married one). But in their native habitat, they are tough to take. So I was hoping for more from WSI.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I actually like Chicagoans, when they are removed to a different locale (I even married one). But in their native habitat, they are tough to take. So I was hoping for more from WSI.

 

You must have caught them at a bad time. Normally, that kind of series would send them into a rabid frenzy.

 

It's the Hawk Harrelson of baseball forums. Really, it's insufferable.

[GCTF]

Are these available already online somewhere? If not, MOAR PLZ!

 

 

 

I went over to their forum, and was disappointed to find that the conversation, while satisfyingly downhearted, wasn't frothing-at-the-mouth lunatic-in-rage like I expected from denizens of that burg.

 

I actually like Chicagoans, when they are removed to a different locale (I even married one). But in their native habitat, they are tough to take. So I was hoping for more from WSI.

 

Their game threads are where the hilarity lies and they made them private a couple years ago. i think it was around the time Thome hit that walk off HR against them. We used to have a separate thread at the old message board just for WSI quotes. They sure hated Nick Punto.

[TheLeviathan]

I actually like Chicagoans, when they are removed to a different locale (I even married one). But in their native habitat, they are tough to take. So I was hoping for more from WSI.

 

This is very correct. As someone who also married Chicagoan I have found the more of them around each other causes an exponential increase in insufferability.

[big dog]

And as a Minnesotan in his 25th year of exile in Chicago, I'll just say that proximity and time don't make them any easier to take either.

[D. Hocking]

It's the Hawk Harrelson of baseball forums. Really, it's insufferable.

 

If I remember correctly, that is the seventh ring of hell. Dante was really a visionary in his writing.