Article: MIN 5, ARI 0: Berri-0s

[Tom Froemming]

Jose Berrios was due for another phenomenal performance. He pitched seven shutout innings as the Twins beat the Diamondbacks 5-0 on the night No. 5, Michael Cuddyer, was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame. Miguel Sano left this game with soreness in his left shin.Win Expectancy (via Fangraphs)

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Top 3 Twins per WPA: Berrios .281 | Dozier .148 | Castro .084

 

We’ve seen several Twins break out of slumps around the same time these last couple weeks, I guess it was Berrios’ turn tonight. Jose entered the evening with a 6.18 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over six second-half starts. It’s a baseball cliche to say a player mired in a slump is due, but it certainly felt like Berrios was going to get back on track eventually.

 

And oh boy did he ever get back on track. Berrios gave up just two hits and walked one batter. Here are his seven strikeouts:

Last night it was all about the home runs, tonight the Twins singled the D-Backs to death. They scored all five of their runs in the fourth inning despite not recording a single extra-base hit in that frame. They strung together five singles and had an error and a walk mixed in.

Sano, who was the DH tonight, exited the game after he was slow to get down the first base line on a double play that ended that huge fourth inning. Mitch Garver replaced Sano and struckout in his major league debut.

 

Alan Busenitz was perfect over the final two innings, lowering his ERA to 1.93 in his 18.2 innings pitched on the big club this season.

 

Postgame With Molitor

Twins W-L Record

Overall: 62-59 (.512)

Last 10: 7-3 (.700)

Last 20: 12-8 (.600)

Last 40: 21-19 (.525)

Last 80: 39-41 (.488)

 

AL Central Standings

Cleveland 68-53

Minnesota 62-59 (-6.0)

Kansas City 61-61 (-7.5)

 

AL Wild Card Standings

WC1: Yankees 66-56

WC2: Minnesota 62-59

Angels 63-60 (-0.002 winning percentage)

Seattle 63-61 (-0.5)

 

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days:

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Looking Ahead

SUN: Twins (Bartolo Colon) vs. Arizona (TBD), 1:10 pm CT

MON: Twins (TBD) at White Sox (TBD), 4:10 pm CT

MON: Twins (TBD) at White Sox (TBD), Game 2

TUE: Twins (TBD) at White Sox (TBD), 7:10 pm CT

*It's not official, but it's sounding like the Twins will roll with Dillon Gee, Tim Melville and Kyle Gibson as the starters in those games at Chicago.

 

Question of the Day

Who is the player you’d most like to see enshrined next in the Twins Hall of Fame?

 

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[DJSim22]

Your articles are quickly becoming one of the top reasons I come to the site.  Thank you!

[DocBauer]

I've never been worried about Berrios. His stuff is excellent, and despite being a fierce competitor...which sometimes got in his way...he seems to have learned to relax and gain confidence. Everyone goes through slumps here and there, pitchers and position players alike. He was due. I have to wonder if the extra day off didn't help a bit as well. It is, after all, a very long season.

 

Despite some deserved questions about Monitor's bullpen usage, I feel he's done pretty well in handing his starters, including in an extra day of rest here and there throughout the season. I also think his handling of the entire staff has been better as of late.

 

A quick look at Busentiz after tonight. Although the SSS argument can be made.

 

2017 with the Twins:

 

13 G/ 18.2 IP/ 1.93 ERA/ .215 AVG/ 1.02 WHIP/ 14 H/ 5 BB/ 11 SO

 

That is a pretty impressive start for the rookie. Despite the unfortunate injuries and delays to Burdi, Chargois, Jay, and even Jones and Melotakis, he and Heldenberger are looking like solid potential additions/attrition survivors. With Rogers and the mostly positive season from Duffey and the arm and recent re-surgance of Pressly, (Despite one horrible appearance), there is some hope for the future of the pen. At least a couple of the injured should rebound in time. Add in Reed, Curtiss, Bard and maybe, hopefully a Turley and/or Moya, and you can see the makings of a nice pen. Especially if we acquire one really nice proven arm at some point.

 

I love the fight and resilience of this team and really wish I hadn't missed this game.

[Seth Stohs]

Cesar Tovar

[Tommygun921]

I think Busenitz and Hildenberger should have now pushed Pressly and probably Duffey down the totum pole.

 

I would probably put Morneau into the Twins HOF.

[Old Twins Cap]

Seeing Sano limp down the line at age 24 reinforces the notion that if you don't have to stress him on defense, by playing 3B, why would you?

 

Sure, we are all pleased he can make some tough plays, but by stashing him at 1B and keeping his bat in the lineup regularly, Twins come out ahead.

[big dog]

I've been impressed with Busenitz and hope he plays a bigger and bigger role.

[wabene]

When the young man is on he has two out pitches. Got em with the fastball (low or high) got em with the curve. Super fun to watch. As Doc said above the future of the pen is bright and I also agree we should sign one proven arm. The one thing i may not agree with is Pressley. He's got the stuff but maybe not the make up, we'll see

[Linus]

My prediction (worth nothing) is that Busenicz becomes the most valuable piece in the Nolasco trade for either team.

[Tom Froemming]

Cesar Tovar

 

That's a good one, hard to see why he's not already in the team Hall of Fame, given some of the guys who are already in there (no offense to them). I imagine they'll be doing some things to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1970 AL West champs in 2020. If Tovar's still not in by then, that could be a fun tie in to celebrate that team.

[Halsey Hall]

Tovar and Morneau could be put in there. 

[Cap'n Piranha]

Super important for Big Sexy to be on today. With the DH tomorrow, having a fully rested bullpen would be huge.

[Minnesotatwins005]

Morneau will be in for sure, I just don't think he's technically "retired" yet.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Tovar and Gladden were apparently runner ups to Cuddyer this year.

 

And Jerry Bell was runner up to MacPhail...

[Dantes929]

I prefer to go with quality on the HOF.  Shane Mack in his 5 years with the Twins had a better OPS by 20 points than Puckett and 10 more than Hrbek.   Most underrated Twin ever.   Sadly, he was having a monster season in 94 that the strike ruined and decided to go to Japan to play.   IMO he was a much better player than Tovar and Gladden and simple longevity shouldn't put them above him in the pecking order.   Gotta believe Gardy will be in there sooner rather than later.

[Buddy Holly]

Was Cuddyer really a Hall of Fame Twin? He really didn't find a position until the last couple years. Bruno had six 20 plus Homer seasons and left in a bad trade. He was more deserving than Cuddyer. 

[Dantes929]

 

Seeing Sano limp down the line at age 24 reinforces the notion that if you don't have to stress him on defense, by playing 3B, why would you?

 

Sure, we are all pleased he can make some tough plays, but by stashing him at 1B and keeping his bat in the lineup regularly, Twins come out ahead.

 

There is a flip side to that.    Motion is lotion and having him be active throughout the game is more likely to keep him healthy.    Sprinting to first every 40 minutes without being active in between is not a great recipe to avoid injury.  

[blindeke]

 

Was Cuddyer really a Hall of Fame Twin? He really didn't find a position until the last couple years. Bruno had six 20 plus Homer seasons and left in a bad trade. He was more deserving than Cuddyer. 

 

Cuddyer was a hall-of-fame-worthy giver of press quotes. 

[DJSim22]

 

Shane Mack in his 5 years with the Twins had a better OPS by 20 points than Puckett and 10 more than Hrbek.   Most underrated Twin ever.  

 

I could not agree more. 

[Squirrel]

Cesar Tovar

Yes!