Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/26): Buxton Homers, Berrios Struggles

[Eric R Pleiss]

The Twins took the day off, but there was a full slate of minor league games on Thursday night. Byron Buxton hit a dinger and Felix Jorge had one of the best outings of his career.

 

Continue reading to find out more detail about Thursday in the Twins farm system:RED WINGS REPORT

Indianapolis Indians @ Rochester

Box Score

 

Despite having Jose Berrios on the bump and a 2-4 day from Byron Buxton that included a triple and a home run, the Wings could not keep up with the Indianapolis Indians. Berrios gave up a pair of runs in the top of the first inning and then another in the third, and one more in the fourth. Berrios struck out just one over 6.0 innings. He gave up seven hits, and walked two. He was lifted for Marcus Walden who pitched 1.2 innings, giving up a run in the top of the eighth, and was lifted for Ryan O'Rourke, who finished the final 1.1 innings of the game.

 

Hitting in the top two spots in the order, Byron Buxton and Eddie Rosario (2-4, double) were pretty much the entire Red Wings offense, each picking up one of the Rochester RBIs on the evening. The Wings were ultimately 0-5 with runners in scoring position, unable to capitalize on the production at the top of the order. Adam Walker, who had hit six home runs in his previous six games, was 0-3 with two strike outs.

 

Final: Indians 5, Red Wings 2

 

LOOKOUTS LOOK-IN

Tennessee Smokies @ Chattanooga

Box Score

 

The Lookouts had thirteen hits and four walks, but could not put enough runs on the board to stay ahead of their in-state rivals, the Tennessee Smokies. Chattanooga was out to an early 1-0 after a Zach Granite home run to leadoff the game, and they were ahead 2-0 after the first thanks to a D.J. Hicks RBI single. Daniel Palk, Mitch Garver and Leonardo Reginatto were all 3-5, together accounting for four Lookouts RBIs. Former top draft pick (and a guy I keep hoping puts together a strong season) Levi Michael was 0-2 with a walk and a strike out and is hitting just .198/.289/.246 on the year.

 

On the bump, Nick Greenwood had a tough outing, giving up 12 hits and five earned runs. He struck out two, walked one, and gave up a home run. Four of the runs given up by Greenwood came in big third inning, in which the Smokies sent eight batters up to the plate, and tallied three extra base hits including a two-run home run, a double, and a two-run triple. Greenwood was replaced by Luke Bard to start the eighth. Bard pitched two innings, gave up a pair of runs, walked one, struck out three, and gave up a home run. Mike Strong finished the game for the Lookouts with a 1-2-3 ninth.

 

Final: Smokies 7, Lookouts 6

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Palm Beach Cardinals @ Fort Myers

Box Score

 

The Miracle received a very strong pitching performance from starter Felix Jorge. Jorge earned his third victory of the season, pitching 7.0 innings of scoreless baseball. Jorge walked two and struck out five. His ERA this year is down to 1.73, the fourth lowest ERA in the league among qualified starters. Yorman Landa pitched 1.1 innings, giving up a pair of runs in the top of the ninth before being lifted for Brandon Peterson who eared his third save of the year, who came into the game and induced a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.

 

The Miracle received RBIs from each of the last five hitters in the order, including 2-4 nights from both Max Murphy and Tanner Witt. Centerfielder Edgar Corcino also had a nice night, he was 2-3 with a double, a walk and a pair of runs scored. Former first round pick Nick Gordon was 1-3 with a double and a pair of walks and is hitting .307/.361/.444.

Final: Cardinals 2, Miracle 6

 

KERNELS KORNER

Cedar Rapids @ Burlington Bees

Box Score

 

The Kernels just pounded the Burlington Bees on Thursday inning, scoring a run in the first, four runs in each of the second and third innings, and two more in the fourth to take an 11-0 lead. They tacked on one more run in the top of the ninth, for good measure. The twelve runs scored were more than enough for starter Fernando Romero who pitched 5.0 innings of two-hit baseball. Romero gave up one run, a pair of walks, and struck out five. Sam Gibbons pitched three innings of relief, giving up just two hits and one run, walking one and he struck out a pair. C.J. Irby finished the game, holding the Bees scoreless bottom of the ninth with a 12-2 lead.

 

Six Kernels players had multi-hit games and with the exception of Brad Hartong (1-6 with a double and 2 strike outs) all the batters reached base safely multiple times, led by LaMonte Wade (1-3 with 3 runs scored, 2 RBI, and 3 walks). Daniel Kihle had a very nice game as well, going 3-5 with three runs scored, a double and an RBI. The Kernels had more extra-base hits (6) than the Bees had hits (5).

 

Final: Kernels 12, Bees 2

 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Hitter of the Day - Byron Buxton - Rochester Red Wings

Pitcher of the Day - Felix Jorge - Fort Myers Miracle

 

FRIDAY'S PROBABLES

 

Charlotte Knights @ Rochester (6:05pm) - TBD vs. Logan Darnell (4-4, 4.47)

 

Tennessee Smokies @ Chattanooga (6:15pm) - Paul Blackburn vs. David Hurlbut (2-3, 4.66)

 

Fort Myers @ Charlotte Stone Crabs (5:35pm) - Kyle Gibson (Rehab Start, 0-0, 0.00) vs. TBD

 

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers @ Cedar Rapids (6:35pm) - David Burkhalter vs. Dereck Rodriguez (1-5, 5.89)

 

Please ask questions and discuss the Thursday games.

 

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[Pitz]

LaMonte Wade has an absurd 12 walks to 4 Ks in his last 10 games.

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

 

LaMonte Wade has an absurd 12 walks to 4 Ks in his last 10 games.

 

#freelamontewade

 

It's time. Florida's beautiful this time of year.

[gunnarthor]

Bummer about Berrios.  

[nytwinsfan]

 

LaMonte Wade has an absurd 12 walks to 4 Ks in his last 10 games.

Have to imagine he'll be in FM soon. He's just destroying low A.

[Vanimal46]

Add Wade to the list of players who appear to be well overdue for a promotion. I'm becoming a big fan of his.

Tough couple of weeks for Berrios. He'll bounce back eventually, but I feel bad for the guy. 

I also really like the slash line for Gordon right now. Doesn't appear that the errors in the field are effecting his hitting.  

[Pitz]

I'm assuming Wade is sticking around Cedar Rapids to try to help them clinch a playoff spot. Unfortunately the first half standings are pretty tight.

Would definitely like to see him back to back in the lineup with Gordon in FtM.

 

(Actually I'd like to see both of them pushed up to AA at some point this season but that seems pretty unlikely.) 

[jokin]

 

LaMonte Wade has an absurd 12 walks to 4 Ks in his last 10 games.

 

Speaking of an absurd SSS... Buxton's updated numbers for the month of May- since he "flipped the switch"-

 

.387/.446/.720/(1.166)

 

In 75 ABs he has 6 HR and 12 XBH.

 

His K% for the month has improved to around 18%, which is right around his historical MiLB norm.

 

His slash for the entire AAA season would make him the hands-down League MVP- without any consideration whatsoever for his CF defensive prowess- Make a quick check at the link at Fangraphs to confirm the IL hitters leaderboard-

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/minorleaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=2&qual=100&type=1&season=2016&team=0&players=0

 

I'm his biggest backer, but I wanted him down at AAA to start the season... and I agree with those that note he isn't going to learn a major league curveball dominating against guys that can't throw one of those. How to get from Point A (AAA) to Point B- so that Point B (the Twins starting lineup) is his final destination, once and for all? Hmmmm.....

 

 

 

 

Edited May 27, 2016 by jokin

[Pitz]

Posted these guys FIP stats about a week ago. Thought I'd provide a few more stats.

 

Jorge         -    K - 21.3%; BB - 4.5%; K/BB - 16.8%; FIP - 2.62

Jay             -   K - 24.3%; BB - 7.2%; K/BB - 17.1%; FIP - 2.68

Gonsalves   -  K - 23.6%; BB - 9.3%; K/BB - 14.3%; FIP - 2.95

Stewart        - K - 21.9%; BB - 10.2%; K/BB - 11.8%; FIP - 3.00

 

Many people have been wanting Gonsalves to be promoted. I'm not arguing he shouldn't be, but I wonder if Jay and Jorge might actually be more deserving.

 

Of course scouting a stat line can be precarious, but I'm impressed that Jay and Jorge lead in K/BB (Jay because of the best K% and second best BB% and Jorge because of his very impressive BB%) and FIP. Jay is the only one of the four whose FIP is better than his ERA. Also impressed by Jorge's consistency - he's pitched the most innings through 8 starts.

 

 

[Pitz]

And this will probably irk some folks:

Chih-Wei Hu   - K - 22.9%; B - 6.2%; K/BB - 16.8%; FIP - 2.67 

 

in 8 starts in AA

 

(He also made a start in AAA that didn't go particularly well.)

[Mike Sixel]

 

And this will probably irk some folks:

Chih-Wei Hu   - K - 22.9%; B - 6.2%; K/BB - 16.8%; FIP - 2.67 

 

in 8 starts in AA

 

(He also made a start in AAA that didn't go particularly well.)

 

Seems like he has not started in some time though.......

[gunnarthor]

 

Posted these guys FIP stats about a week ago. Thought I'd provide a few more stats.

 

Jorge         -    K - 21.3%; BB - 4.5%; K/BB - 16.8%; FIP - 2.62

Jay             -   K - 24.3%; BB - 7.2%; K/BB - 17.1%; FIP - 2.68

Gonsalves   -  K - 23.6%; BB - 9.3%; K/BB - 14.3%; FIP - 2.95

Stewart        - K - 21.9%; BB - 10.2%; K/BB - 11.8%; FIP - 3.00

 

Many people have been wanting Gonsalves to be promoted. I'm not arguing he shouldn't be, but I wonder if Jay and Jorge might actually be more deserving.

 

Of course scouting a stat line can be precarious, but I'm impressed that Jay and Jorge lead in K/BB (Jay because of the best K% and second best BB% and Jorge because of his very impressive BB%) and FIP. Jay is the only one of the four whose FIP is better than his ERA. Also impressed by Jorge's consistency - he's pitched the most innings through 8 starts.

Nice but I'll throw out that Klaw has said that stats like fip for minor leaguers (esp A ball) isn't very useful.  It's still probably more about the scouting then the stat line.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Nice but I'll throw out that Klaw has said that stats like fip for minor leaguers (esp A ball) isn't very useful.  It's still probably more about the scouting then the stat line.

 

True.....but none of us can fly around and scout. So, we are pretty much left trusting the Twins (not me) and scouting the stat lines.

[Pitz]

 

Seems like he has not started in some time though.......

 

?? I think he started yesterday (which was his worst start of the year).

 

From Fangraphs

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

And this will probably irk some folks:

Chih-Wei Hu   - K - 22.9%; B - 6.2%; K/BB - 16.8%; FIP - 2.67 

 

in 8 starts in AA

 

(He also made a start in AAA that didn't go particularly well.)

 

It worked for me.

I find it irksome.

[Mike Sixel]

 

?? I think he started yesterday (which was his worst start of the year).

 

From Fangraphs

 

Ah......my bad. I read things wrong.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

I am quite curious if Berrios has been instructed to essentially 'pitch to contact' or is simply just feeling like there is heat to NOT walk anyone in order to make the Twins happy and get back to the majors. Seems odd that he all of a sudden didn't strike out anyone or walk anyone, and also gave up a bunch of hits. I do think he may feel like there is a certain way to pitch to make the Twins happy, and that its better to fail pitching to contact than to fail putting guys on just first by walking them.