Article: MIN 7, PIT 3: Rosario Sparks Comeback, Inspires Some Head-Scratching

[Tom Froemming]

This was one of those Eddie Rosario adventure games. You know the ones. Rosie can do it all on the diamond, and he played a big role in the Twins picking up a win tonight. But, he does stuff on a regular basis that leaves you scratching your head, which also happened tonight.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Download attachment: Snapshot44.png

With the Twins trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Rosario made a great throw to gun down Gregory Polanco at the plate. It was a huge momentum-shifting play in this game. Who knows what may have happened if the Pirates both extended their lead and extended that inning.

In the top of the sixth, Rosario hit a high pop up straight into the snowy Pittsburgh sky. Not only did Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli never see the the ball, but his teammates failed to realize it. The ball fell untouched in fair territory.

 

But Rosario was still in the batter’s box.

Rosie drew a walk the next inning, continuing an encouraging trend he started last year. And then this happened:

Dick Bremer was pretty convinced Rosario was out, and it’s hard to disagree. I guess that wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the call. We’ll take it! Eddie broke for second on the next pitch, Miguel Sano sent a single into the outfield and Rosario scored all the way from first base.

 

Never a dull moment.

 

Again, Eddie can do it all. He has power, speed, a cannon for an arm and the plate discipline improvements appear to be real. I only pick on him because I like the guy ... and because he’s an easy target.

 

Speaking of head-scratchers, Sano also nearly made a baserunning gaffe himself, running through a stop sign in the Twins’ big four-run sixth inning. Luckily, it all worked out in the end.

It was a great night for the bats. They combined for nine hits, six of them for extra bases. Brian Dozier hit his fourth home run of the season. He also stole second base in the ninth inning of a 7-3 ballgame.

 

Not sure if that’s permissible according to the Baseball Code, mostly because the players refuse to write down their rules, but if Dozier’s doing it, I think it’s safe to say we’re in the clear.

 

It wasn’t a great night, however, for Twins starter Jake Odorizzi. He gave up a two-out homer to Josh Bell in the first inning and another run in the fourth. He had walked only one batter through 4.1 innings, but then issued free passes to the next two men he faced. Those would also be the last two hitters Odorizzi faced.

 

The bullpen, on the other hand, was excellent. With runners on first and second base, Taylor Rogers took over and got a huge strikeout and then Rosario made that fantastic throw. Trevor Hildenberger pitched two scoreless innings followed by a perfect frame from Addison Reed.

 

With a 7-3 lead and the snow flying, Paul Molitor turned to Fernando Rodney, who gave up a pair of hits but also struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth. I think he's going to like Minnesota:

Tyler Kinley still has not made his major league debut despite the fact that the Twins’ victories have come by the scores of 6-2, 7-0 and 7-3.

 

Postgame With Molitor

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen44.png

Next Three Games

THU vs. SEA, 3:10 pm CT

SAT vs. SEA, 1:10 pm CT

SUN vs. SEA, 1:10 pm CT

 

Last Three Games

PIT 5, MIN 4: Lynn Surrenders Grand Slam in Twins Debut

MIN 7, BAL 0: Berri0s

MIN 6, BAL 2: Good Gibby Rides Again!

 

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Win A Party With New Twin Logan Morrison

 

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[slash129]

Solid team effort ... Bats and bullpen picked up Odorizzi on a night when he had a hard time finding his best stuff ... Rodney was entertaining ... That laser from Sano to end the game was sweet! ... Can't wait to go rock Target Field at the opener tomorrow!

[ThejacKmp]

Eddie Rosario will get roasted for the popup. And he deserves to be because you always run it out.

 

That said.

 

I've seen Brian Dozier dog at least two easy ground balls outs this year. I hope we don't start applying a different set of standards to Mr. Rosario than we do to Mr. Dozier or Mr. Mauer. MLB players play the %s and a ground ball to second and a pop up in front of the plate are outs 99.7% of the time in MLB. They should run it out but we also should cut Rosario the same break we do all pro players.

[Shaitan]

I'll never understand Molitor's bullpen usage. I see the case for Hildenberger since the game was still close and for Rodney since he's barely pitched, but why send out Reed with a 4 run lead?

[PDX Twin]

Rosario has a lot of talent ... but he can be an Eddiot!

[Andrew Thares]

 

I'll never understand Molitor's bullpen usage. I see the case for Hildenberger since the game was still close and for Rodney since he's barely pitched, but why send out Reed with a 4 run lead?

Agreed, I would have saved Reed to potentially be available for an inning or two in the game tomorrow afternoon if needed. 

[Tom Froemming]

 

Eddie Rosario will get roasted for the popup. And he deserves to be because you always run it out.

 

That said.

 

I've seen Brian Dozier dog at least two easy ground balls outs this year. I hope we don't start applying a different set of standards to Mr. Rosario than we do to Mr. Dozier or Mr. Mauer. MLB players play the %s and a ground ball to second and a pop up in front of the plate are outs 99.7% of the time in MLB. They should run it out but we also should cut Rosario the same break we do all pro players.

I don't expect him to hustle to first on that play, but even if he was at the very least "dogging" it, he's probably safe. Any effort toward first base would have been nice, even if it was merely at a Miguel Sano homer trot pace.

[KirbyDome89]

 

Eddie Rosario will get roasted for the popup. And he deserves to be because you always run it out.

 

That said.

 

I've seen Brian Dozier dog at least two easy ground balls outs this year. I hope we don't start applying a different set of standards to Mr. Rosario than we do to Mr. Dozier or Mr. Mauer. MLB players play the %s and a ground ball to second and a pop up in front of the plate are outs 99.7% of the time in MLB. They should run it out but we also should cut Rosario the same break we do all pro players.

I don't think they're necessarily held to a different standard. Rosario is just going to draw more attention for those types of plays because of the frequency with which he commits questionable baseball decisions. It's fun to joke about adventurous Eddie when the Twins have the game in hand, but if they don't have the luxury of a comfortable lead, failing to make it to 1B and later getting picked off can end up costing the team. 

[twinsfanstreif]

Rosario is one of my most frustrating players on this team, he makes some super good plays but too many times he just looks lost. I remember an at bat on Monday where the pitcher was struggling to hit the strike zone, he took one ball but then proceeded to strike out on 3 pitches not even close to the zone, he swung at a pitch in the dirt and was a good 3 feet away from it as if it was chest high. That kind of crap drives me nuts! I like Eddie some times but he's too all over the place for me

[Mike Sixel]

Eddie Rosario will get roasted for the popup. And he deserves to be because you always run it out.

 

That said.

 

I've seen Brian Dozier dog at least two easy ground balls outs this year. I hope we don't start applying a different set of standards to Mr. Rosario than we do to Mr. Dozier or Mr. Mauer. MLB players play the %s and a ground ball to second and a pop up in front of the plate are outs 99.7% of the time in MLB. They should run it out but we also should cut Rosario the same break we do all pro players.

 

Not running out a routine grounder is not the same as not moving at all. Eddie does this over and over. If it was a one time thing, it would get less criticism for sure

[wabene]

 

"Not sure if that’s permissible according to the Baseball Code, mostly because the players refuse to write down their rules, but if Dozier’s doing it, I think it’s safe to say we’re in the clear"

This is hilarious!

[SweetOne69]

 

Agreed, I would have saved Reed to potentially be available for an inning or two in the game tomorrow afternoon if needed. 

 

Reed only pitched 1 inning so he is definitely available for an inning today.  With the day off tomorrow he could even be available for 2 innings today.

[ThejacKmp]

 

Not running out a routine grounder is not the same as not moving at all. Eddie does this over and over. If it was a one time thing, it would get less criticism for sure

 

Nope, it's actually about the same thing. If anything, the routine grounder has a better chance of hopping weird and causing a bobble. That popup is caught just about every time. Four guys could have caught it. And what's the difference between not running at all and jogging? Neither one changes the result if a miscue is made.

 

I can think of several reasons that Eddie gets blamed more than a Brian Dozier. One is the young guy vs. veteran thing (though really, we should blame the vet more since he should know better). More controversially, I think race and ethnicity plays a role. I'm not sure we want to descend down this path too far but there are stereotypes about Latino players that come into play, often subconsciously. 

 

This may be a poor place to take this and I apologize in advance if anyone gets offended but I think it's better to talk about the elephant in the room than ignore it.

[ashbury]

More controversially, I think race and ethnicity plays a role. I'm not sure we want to descend down this path too far but there are stereotypes about Latino players that come into play, often subconsciously. 

 

This may be a poor place to take this and I apologize in advance if anyone gets offended but I think it's better to talk about the elephant in the room than ignore it.

Moderator's note: It's not so much offense, as it's the kind of topic that can derail a thread. Open a thread in the Sports Bar forum if you wish to discuss this tangent.

[ThejacKmp]

 

I don't expect him to hustle to first on that play, but even if he was at the very least "dogging" it, he's probably safe. Any effort toward first base would have been nice, even if it was merely at a Miguel Sano homer trot pace.

 

To play devil's advocate, Eddie Rosario standing there clearly flummoxed the catcher who was unable to get into the play (to the extent that I thought Eddie might be called for interference). The catcher is usually the one who calls out who gets that ball. Eddie standing there may be the reason that the ball fell and Sano was able to get to 3B and score easily on a single he might not have otherwise.

 

Maybe we should look at it as Eddie Rosario cleverly helping a runner score?

[ThejacKmp]

 

I don't think they're necessarily held to a different standard. Rosario is just going to draw more attention for those types of plays because of the frequency with which he commits questionable baseball decisions. It's fun to joke about adventurous Eddie when the Twins have the game in hand, but if they don't have the luxury of a comfortable lead, failing to make it to 1B and later getting picked off can end up costing the team. 

 

Yeah, I think my point would be that we fixate on Eddie and not on mistakes made by other players (Dozier, Kepler etc.)

 

I think there's a reason for that - confirmation bias (kind of like how when a young football player fumbles a few time, now everyone fixates on him fumbling and then defensive players go for the fumble more often because of that rep) and a bit of a racial bias (which I guess we need to take to the Sports Bar, whatever that is).

[ashbury]

the Sports Bar, whatever that is).

Click on Forums at the top of the page. You'll see it.

[terrydactyls]

In the vdeo of Sano scoring from first, the third base coach appears to have his left hand held up indicating for Sano to stop but his right hand is pointing towads home plate. Which hand is the "signal" hand? Perhaps the blame is on the coach and not the player?

[Tom Froemming]

 

Maybe we should look at it as Eddie Rosario cleverly helping a runner score?

That was definitely not intentional.

 

In the vdeo of Sano scoring from first, the third base coach appears to have his left hand held up indicating for Sano to stop but his right hand is pointing towads home plate. Which hand is the "signal" hand? Perhaps the blame is on the coach and not the player?

In a postgame interview on FSN (available on their Twitter, but I don't have the ability to post a link right now), Sano admitted to running through the stop sign. He also said "People say I'm fat, but I'm not. I'm quick." I like that

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

I don't expect him to hustle to first on that play, but even if he was at the very least "dogging" it, he's probably safe. Any effort toward first base would have been nice, even if it was merely at a Miguel Sano homer trot pace.

If I were in the major leagues, on tv, being paid millions, or playing in the minors for money, or playing on my high school team, I guarantee I would run out everything. You never know when one will be bobbled. Plus it is a good habit and good exercise. Give me one reason for not running everything out? But then maybe that's just me.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

 Sano admitted to running through the stop sign. He also said "People say I'm fat, but I'm not. I'm quick." I like that

El Gatto II

[ThejacKmp]

 

Give me one reason for not running everything out? But then maybe that's just me.

 

What are the odds that someone tweaks a hamstring running hard to first? Are those odds higher on a day where it's 30 degrees out? Are those odds higher than the likelihood that an MLB player will miss a popup in front of the plate?

 

I don't know those numbers but it's not a simple matter of "run hard on everything". I don't want Sano busting ass down first base on a routine grounder to second. I want him moving at 3/4 speed and making sure he's available when I need him with two guys on in the 7th. If it's Nick Punto, get your butt down that line.

[ThejacKmp]

 

That was definitely not intentional.

 

In a postgame interview on FSN (available on their Twitter, but I don't have the ability to post a link right now), Sano admitted to running through the stop sign. He also said "People say I'm fat, but I'm not. I'm quick." I like that

 

I like it too. I don't like Sano running through stop signs. It will not usually work out.

[ThejacKmp]

 

That was definitely not intentional.

 

 

I dunno, Eddie seems like the kind of guy who might have thought through "I have a right to stay in this box, I can get in the way." It's actually not a bad baseball move to teach your players - you have a right to that spot and if you can legally make things better for your team, go ahead.

 

It did really look like he was almost trying to get in the way of the catcher.

Edited April 5, 2018 by ThejacKmp

[Squirrel]

 

I don't expect him to hustle to first on that play, but even if he was at the very least "dogging" it, he's probably safe. Any effort toward first base would have been nice, even if it was merely at a Miguel Sano homer trot pace.

He knows he did wrong. You see him in the dugout afterwards hitting himself in the head as if you say, 'You goofed.' Let's hope he doesn't do that again. It was not good. I actually think that's worse than the pick-off.

[ashbury]

That was definitely not intentional.

 

In a postgame interview on FSN (available on their Twitter, but I don't have the ability to post a link right now), Sano admitted to running through the stop sign. He also said "People say I'm fat, but I'm not. I'm quick." I like that

I think it was more complicated than that. Glynn's signalling perhaps was momentarily inconsistent, because Sano inexplicably started pulling up while halfway between second and third. If Glynn was windmilling to indicate a dash for home was still possible, then had to switch to a stop sign a millisecond later than he could have, confusion may have entered in, causing a further hesitation on Sano's part and then a belated decision to go for it. As the final outcome proved, the stop sign never was absolutely necessary in terms of being able to make it (maybe, with only 1 out, caution still was advisable), and Sano going all out once past second base would have scored easily. Not good, and you'd like for all concerned to process the emerging information just a little better, but perhaps not simply a willful ignoring of a stop sign.

 

The video unfortunately doesn't show enough of Glynn, but at the 0:53 mark you see the left hand up for Stop and the right arm pointing Home. I'm trying to make sense of that. Blyleven's saying Glynn is pointing to the cutoff man, but maybe that's too complicated a signal for the situation.

https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2018/04/05/1906794883/1522886995189/asset_1800K.mp4

[Mike Sixel]

Nope, it's actually about the same thing. If anything, the routine grounder has a better chance of hopping weird and causing a bobble. That popup is caught just about every time. Four guys could have caught it. And what's the difference between not running at all and jogging? Neither one changes the result if a miscue is made.

 

I can think of several reasons that Eddie gets blamed more than a Brian Dozier. One is the young guy vs. veteran thing (though really, we should blame the vet more since he should know better). More controversially, I think race and ethnicity plays a role. I'm not sure we want to descend down this path too far but there are stereotypes about Latino players that come into play, often subconsciously.

 

This may be a poor place to take this and I apologize in advance if anyone gets offended but I think it's better to talk about the elephant in the room than ignore it.

So far this year, Eddie has turned a routine fly into a double, slid feet first into first, did not leave the batters box, and tried to get picked off. In less than ten games. This is not about race for me. It's that it happens over and over. How is that even a question?

[Andrew Thares]

 

Reed only pitched 1 inning so he is definitely available for an inning today.  With the day off tomorrow he could even be available for 2 innings today.

But he also threw 29 pitches over an inning and a third on Monday. That's 47 pitches over the past three days. I highly doubt that he is available for 2 innings today.

[ThejacKmp]

 

So far this year, Eddie has turned a routine fly into a double, slid feet first into first, did not leave the batters box, and tried to get picked off. In less than ten games. This is not about race for me. It's that it happens over and over. How is that even a question?

 

• We talking about the Berrios game? That was not a routine fly ball. It was slicing away on a cold and windy day and it hit the wall. Not a gimme. He could make that but better OF than Rosario have missed that ball.
• No one should slide into first, but feet first is probably smarter. And many people think it is charming when Dozier or Punto do the way more stupid headfirst slide.
• He didn't try to get picked off. That's ludicrous. It was a nice move and he got caught leaning. And he was called safe.

This is why I think race/youth plays a role in this. Dozier slides headfirst into first, doesn't run out groundballs, swings at bad pitches and no one bats an eye. Rosario does it and it confirms what we already know about him and we tweak. 

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

 

• We talking about the Berrios game? That was not a routine fly ball. It was slicing away on a cold and windy day and it hit the wall. Not a gimme. He could make that but better OF than Rosario have missed that ball.
• No one should slide into first, but feet first is probably smarter. And many people think it is charming when Dozier or Punto do the way more stupid headfirst slide.
• He didn't try to get picked off. That's ludicrous. It was a nice move and he got caught leaning. And he was called safe.

This is why I think race/youth plays a role in this. Dozier slides headfirst into first, doesn't run out groundballs, swings at bad pitches and no one bats an eye. Rosario does it and it confirms what we already know about him and we tweak. 

 

 

That fly ball had a 90% catch probability.

 

I don't think it's charming at all, I rip every player when they slide into first. Continuing this line is starting to look like you are calling me out specifically. I probably rip players for sliding into first more than anyone else here. It's not charming at all, nor have I ever read a single person say it was. 

 

"swings at bad pitches?" nice straw man.