Article: Twins Minor League Report (4/30): Nearly A Pair Of No-Nos

[Cody Christie]

Jose Berrios is making it known that he doesn't want to be in Rochester for much longer. He entered play on Sunday with a 1.44 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. Opponents were hitting .180 against him with a 28 to 6 strikeout to walk ratio. It's hard to believe but those numbers would improve on Sunday.

 

Minnesota doesn't need a fifth starter until later this week. One has to wonder if Berrios will be getting the call. His MLB time has been disappointing but it's hard to imagine him putting up better numbers at Triple-A. It might be time to throw him into the fire at the big league level.RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 4, Louisville 1

Box Score

Jose Berrios was outstanding over eight shutout innings. He allow one runner to reach scoring position and that happened in the second inning. Overall, he allowed two hits, both singles, while striking out seven and walking two. His season ERA dropped to 1.09 following his outstanding pitching performance.

 

Berrios found himself in a pitchers duel with Rochester failing to get on the board until the seventh frame. Matt Hauge started the frame with his third home run of the season. Following a Daniel Palka walk, Niko Goodrum cracked a two-run shot. With two outs in the frame, John Ryan Murphy would collected his first home run to push the lead to 4-0.

 

In the bottom of the eighth, the Wings loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a hit by pitch. Eventually, Niko Goodrum drew a bases-loaded walk to add an insurance run. Drew Rucinski came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth. The first batter collected a double and eventually came around to score. He coaxed a double play to end the game.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 9, Jackson 3

Box Score

Top pitching prospect Fernando Romero made his fifth Double-A appearance on Sunday. For the third consecutive start, he pitched into the sixth inning and allowed one earned run or less. In this outing, he scattered seven hits over six innings while striking out six. Following this strong start, his ERA dropped to under 3.00 for the first time this season.

 

Chattanooga scored a first inning run after Nick Gordon tripled to start the game. The scoring picked up again in the fourth. Jonathan Rodriguez singled before scoring on a LaMonte Wade double. Wade was driven in by a Dan Gamache triple. Ryan Walker drove in Gamache with a sacrifice fly and the Lookouts were up 4-0.

 

Gamache came up with another big hit in the fifth inning. His two-out double plated two runs. In the sixth, the first three batters collected hits as the Lookouts extended their lead to 8-1. Gamache wasn't done as he doubled to start the seventh and set up another scoring opportunity. Of the last three games, he's had multiple hits in two of them.

 

Ryan Eades ran into a little trouble out of the bullpen. He allowed three runs in the bottom of the seventh as Jackson tried to claw closer. John Curtiss struck out the side to close out the ninth.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 8, Dunedin 6

Box Score

Before starting on the comeback trail against Dunedin things were looking bleak for Fort Myers as they were looking at a five run deficit, 6-1, after the top half of the second inning. Max Murphy punched his first two home runs of the season to help the comeback. He started the scoring in the first with a solo shot and added another solo shot in the third.

 

The big inning for Fort Myers came in the bottom of the eighth when the team plated three runs to take the lead. Zack Granite came up with the biggest hit, a run-scoring double. The Miracle also scored a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly and a throwing error by the center fielder.

 

Chris Anderson was making his organizational debut on the mound and it didn't go well. He allowed six earned runs on five hits. Anthony McIver and Sam Clay both pitched three shutout innings. McIver struck out three and walked two while Clay had two strikeouts and two walks. Jonny Drozd earned his second save with a perfect ninth frame.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 1, Peoria 0 (6 Innings)

Box Score

Weather got in the way again for the Kernels. They were scheduled to play a double-header on Sunday but rain forced an early completion to their first game. The second game was postponed.

 

Clark Beeker was the story of this game. He tossed five shutout innings, allowing one hit. He struck out three and walked none. Beeker, a 2016 33rd round pick is now 3-1 on the season with a tidy 1.69 ERA. This is his first start all season where he's failed to pitch seven innings and only the rain put an end to that streak.

 

Offensively, Cedar Rapids could string together only three hits. In the fourth frame, Lewin Diaz started the inning by being hit by a pitch. Jaylin Davis, the next batter, singled to move Diaz into scoring position. Caleb Hamilton came up with the big hit, a one-out RBI double. This would be the lone run of the game.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day – Jose Berrios, Rochester Red Wings

Hitter of the Day – Max Murphy, Fort Myers Miracle

 

MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester- Scheduled Off Day

Chattanooga @ Jackson (11:05 CST) - RHP Felix Jorge

Fort Myers vs. Dayton (5:35 CST) - RHP Dereck Rodriguez (0-2, 3.24 ERA)

Cedar Rapids- Scheduled Off Day

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.

 

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[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The rainy weekend provided a nice opportunity for Beeker and the other Kernels pitchers to get a little extra rest on their arms. 

[Deduno Abides]

Berrios is going to be on the Twins for sure next year. Whether or not Neil Allen is also with the Twins next year may depend in part on how Berrios pitches for the Twins this year.

 

Great to see Romero turn it around.

 

And more great pitching!

Edited May 1, 2017 by Deduno Abides

[AlwaysinModeration]

I don't know about the rest of you, but Berrio has shown me enough. Looking forward to seeing him pitch in Minnesota on Saturday.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Berrios is going to be on the Twins for sure next year. Whether or not Neil Allen is also with the Twins next year may depend in part on how Berrios pitches for the Twins this year.

Great to see Romero turn it around.

And more great pitching! IMG_0365.JPG

I doubt he's ever heard this one. You should sent this to him.

[Deduno Abides]

I doubt he's ever heard this one. You should sent this to him.

They should sell t-shirts in Cedar Rapids.

[nytwinsfan]

Call Berrios up and send Gibson down.  Berrios has nothing left to prove in AAA. He's got to figure it out in the majors now just like Buxton has to.  And it isn't like he can be that much worse than Gibson has been the last month. 

[Darius]

It's time to turn Berrios loose in the majors again.

 

The outlook on the Twins maintaining the promising start improves drastically if a guy like Berrios can give them a legit #2 arm.

 

Great to see multiple high-end SP prospects pitching well in AA/AAA. Haven't been able to say that much in recent memory.

[Darius]

Call Berrios up and send Gibson down. Berrios has nothing left to prove in AAA. He's got to figure it out in the majors now just like Buxton has to. And it isn't like he can be that much worse than Gibson has been the last month.

I know this won't happen, but I'd still rather have Gibson in the rotation than Hughes. Gibson is capable of putting it together, and going on a sustained stretch of decent starts from the back end of the rotation (he's got the stuff, anyway).

 

Hughes is a ticking time bomb. He just doesn't have anything left in that broken down body.

 

Gibson gets himself in trouble with iffy control/command. Hughes is just getting absolutely pounded, but is getting extremely lucky. It's like watching a slow pitch softball game when he's on the mound. That's due to flip.

[FormerMinnasotan]

FIrst off, Berrios better be called up when a #5 is needed. He is pitching head and shoulders better than he did in the minors last year early in the season. His walks are down and he looks more in control. I am not interested in seeing him in Minnesota by Memorial Day or later. He's earned his shot.

 

Secondly it looks like Fernando Romero is now showing signs of adjusting to AA ball. Let's hope he starts really dominating soon (with less hits allowed, more k's, and better strike/ball ratio).

[jimbo92107]

Niko Goodrum belting home runs and drawing walks...

 

Please continue, young man.

[TNTwinsFan]

Over his last 3 starts, Romero has for 18.1 innings with 18K, 2 ER, 17 H, and 3 Walks....he seems to be settling in. If he keeps that up, he's in AAA after the All-star break. Perhaps earns a September cup of coffee. A Santana, Berrios, Romero rotation looks decent...perhaps call it La Flama Blanca?! (Latin flame throwers from the wintery north...get it?)

[puckstopper1]

Gordon's hot start continues as well.  AWESOME to see!

[DocBauer]

Berries up, and that's pretty obvious. But keep Romero at AS for half the season, I say. First taste of AA, young, plenty of time to promote him. Let him really get cranked up and going at AA for now.

[gunnarthor]

Really encouraging start by Romero.  Great to see that. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Niko Goodrum belting home runs and drawing walks...

 

Please continue, young man.

 

I'd caution you though.  His defense isn't any better than Santana...  Offense at least is looking to have some upside, but he may be a bat first utility player.

[John Kelsey]

I had Romero as the Twins top prospect before the season started and he hasn't done much to change that, but Gordon certainly is making a strong case for himself. 

[rghrbek]

Beat writer saying last night that Tepesch is the most likely to get the start when 5th spot opens.

 

Which makes 0 sense.  Called him up and he hasn't pitched in 12 days....

[FormerMinnasotan]

Beat writer saying last night that Tepesch is the most likely to get the start when 5th spot opens.

 

Which makes 0 sense. Called him up and he hasn't pitched in 12 days....

Not only that, but Berrios' numbers in Rochester is FAR greater than Tepesch's. If you promote anyone to take a spot in the Twins rotation it should be based on merit, and this year Berrios has EARNED that spot back, period. In my opinion Tepesch has earned no right to make the Twins rotation ahead of Berrios, none.

[John Kelsey]

 

Beat writer saying last night that Tepesch is the most likely to get the start when 5th spot opens.

 

Which makes 0 sense.  Called him up and he hasn't pitched in 12 days....

 

Meet the old boss, same as the old boss. If true, this is embarrassing. 

Edited May 1, 2017 by Jaykay

[gunnarthor]

Nico Goodrum is 25 years old and hitting .235/.284/.426.  I'm not sure he's the UI of the future.

[TNTwinsFan]

....so no one liked the Eastbound and Down reference? La Flama Blanca?....no? Ok...

[mlhouse]

A few more years of AAA and JJ Berrios will be ready.