Article: SEA 11, MIN 4: That Escalated Quickly

[Tom Froemming]

The Twins pitching staff entered today with the lowest batting average on balls in play in all of baseball at .200. They were not as fortunate this afternoon, as the Mariners scored 11 runs on 12 hits. After falling behind 5-0 early, the Twins managed to pull within two runs of Seattle, but a huge five-run eighth by the M’s ended any hope of a comeback.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Download attachment: Snap47Fix.png Download attachment: WinEx47.png

Woah, Berrios gave up five runs in 4.2 innings today? Terrible start, huh? Not exactly.

 

Through the first three innings, it was actually looking like Berrios was on his way to another tremendous outing. With one out in the fourth, Jean Segura singled on what was basically a swinging bunt and advanced to second on a throwing error by Miguel Sano. Robinson Cano drove in Segura on a single.

 

Berrios got the next batter to pop out, but fell behind Kyle Seager. Jose made his only big mistake of the game, letting a 93 mph fastball get a bit too much of the plate, and Seager did not miss. He blasted a homer to put the Mariners up 3-0.

 

The next inning, Ichiro got a solid single and catcher Mike Marjama doubled. They both came in to score on a ball Dee Gordon hit 62.5 mph that trickled passed a drawn in infield. The hit probability was just 11 percent, but it put the M’s up 5-0.

 

At the end of the day, Berrios had seven strikeouts and zero walks. Things are typically going to work out very well when that happens. Oh, and he made this gorgeous play on an Ichiro bunt:

It was the coldest game in Target Field history, and both Berrios and Gabriel Moya wore short sleeves. I think that means they’re “one of us” now, at least in an honorary sense.

 

Let’s talk about Logan Morrison.

 

In the first inning, he came up with runners on second and third and flew out to end the threat. Up with a runner on first in the fourth inning, LoMo got a 2-0 sinker right over the heart of the plate and turned it into a harmless pop out.

 

In the sixth inning, the Twins finally got some offense going. Back-to-back doubles form Joe Mauer and Sano were followed by an Eddie Rosario single to bring the score to 5-2. Then Morrison struck out on three pitches. It was against a lefty, but still.

 

In the seventh inning, the Twins loaded the bases with one out. Rosario struck out, then Morrison had an eight-pitch battle that ended in a pop out in foul territory. That’s seven men left on base by LoMo on the afternoon. Ugh. He’s 1-for-19 to start the season.

 

The bullpen started out great, with Moya and Ryan Pressly combining for 2.1 scoreless innings. Zach Duke loaded the bases before recording the first out of the eighth inning. He was lifted for Trevor Hildenberger, who promptly gave up a bases-clearing double and a two-run homer.

 

With the score at 10-3, it was (finally) the perfect opportunity for Tyler Kinley to make his major league debut. He struck out two batters and topped out at 96.9 mph. He also gave up a run, walked a guy, threw a wild pitch and failed to cover on a ground ball to first base, though Mauer was able to bail him out.

 

Sano had an RBI double and three walks. Mauer and Rosario had two hits each and Ryan LaMarre got a pinch-hit single to start the year 4-for-6.

 

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: Bullpen47.png

Next Three Games

Sun vs. SEA 1:10 pm CT

Mon vs. HOU 7:10 pm CT

Tue vs. HOU 7:10 pm CT

 

Last Three Games

MIN 4, SEA 2: Bombs and Bullpen

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

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

 

More From Twins Daily

Twins vs Mariners Series Preview

Jason Castro and a Cup of Coffee

Blackmon's Deal With Rockies Sets Precedent For Dozier

 

Click here to view the article

[blindeke]

Oof da.

[Rosterman]

Mistakes happen when it is cold. But you ultimately want to be in the warm dugout more than on the field. Put heat lamps in those Stadium Lights! See you in the cold, again, on Sunday...and don't play the B-squad, Paul...although we all hope Castro is okay!

[Thrylos]

I really would not mind if Duke is relegated to mop-up duty and Hildenberger goes to Rochester when Hughes returns.  Neither has been pretty effective this season.

 

Couple more games left with Seattle.  Hope that they Twins got giving up runs out of their system.

[theBOMisthebomb]

Lomo stranded a small village on the basepaths today. Frustrating.

[prouster]

I was scratching my head at the decision to bring in Hildenberger (then he started pitching, and, well . . .). He was shaky all spring, and that has carried into the season. In a high leverage situation, the day after an off day, there's no reason not to bring in your best reliever. Where was Addison Reed?

[Pardon My Dinger]

Lomo stranded a small village on the basepaths today. Frustrating.

Yeah, that was a decent at bat, though. Wouldn’t have minded an ironic bunt down the open third base line, however. Dozier was, after all, like three steps from home plate.

Edited April 8, 2018 by Pardon My Dinger

[Mr. Brooks]

How do Twins fans learn to count?

LoMo for 1, LoMo for 2, LoMo for 3, etc.

(Copyright Common Man Dan Cole.)

[h2oface]

Great to have Morrison around, eh? Especially in the middle of the order. He is taking the attention away from Buxton, though, who seems to be looking for the proverbial corner, again. I like Morrison's take on it. Just a drag to start the season with a new team that way. It's a long season, with plenty of opportunities to get hot.

 

Watching Duke totally suck, and Chargois pitch well for the Dodgers, is sure frustrating for me. A bit of a side note here.... either Shag-wah has changed the pronunciation of his name, or whoever it was that gave us the pronunciation got it wrong, or all the announcers for the Dodgers are botching it. They are all calling him Char-gwah! (like in Charlotte, with the r prominent). But then, Charlie Steiner called Brian Duensing, Dens-zene,(as in Dennis) all last year in the playoffs. If they are wrong, it is time to get it right.

[h2oface]

As hot with the bat as Ryan LaMarre has been in ST and since the start of the season, I don't understand why he isn't DHing in place of Morrison at least half the time. Managers need to ride the hot bat, instead of missing it. 

[Riverbrian]

 

As hot with the bat as Ryan LaMarre has been in ST and since the start of the season, I don't understand why he isn't DHing in place of Morrison at least half the time. Managers need to ride the hot bat, instead of missing it. 

 

Slumps don't last forever but it doesn't mean we have to endure the full brunt of them either. 

 

I join you in your request for LaMarre playing time while he has the hot hand. 

[Riverbrian]

Dear Logan Morrison,

 

I know you can hit a home run. You have proven it with 38 home runs last year. However... there were 563 PA's where you didn't hit a home run last year. 

 

It looks like they are shifting pretty hard on you. Please learn to push a bunt past the pitcher to the open third base position. Learn to take the free base they are giving you instead of just banging your head against the wall over and over again and doing that on purpose. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Riverbrian

[bighat]

 

Slumps don't last forever but it doesn't mean we have to endure the full brunt of them either. 

 

I join you in your request for LaMarre playing time while he has the hot hand. 

 

Add me to the list of fans clamoring for LaMarre. Logan Morrison could use a few days off, nothing wrong with sitting a guy who's struggling.

 

Buxton went 0-4 yesterday but importantly did not strike out. He's ahead of where he was last year at this time...really hoping he starts making meaningful contributions offensively soon.

[slash129]

April nomination for WTF Game of the Year

[Old Twins Cap]

Hard to win every game.

 

But, Berrios was cruising before the swinging bunt, which, being at the game, Sano had 00% chance of getting him but threw it anyway -- down the right field line.

 

A bloop and a blast has always been the best way in baseball.

 

But to hit two foul poles in one game?  That's something.

 

It's early, but I like our chances.

[terrydactyls]

Correct me if I'm mistaken but wasn't one preseason concern about Berrios his strikeout to walk ratio of 3:1 last year? It appears that he may have solved that problem with a 13:1 strikeout to walk ratio so far this year.

[Shaitan]

I wasn't a fan of the LoMo signing in the first place. Mostly because of his personality, but also he's had a very inconsistent career.

 

Hopefully he proves me wrong as the season progresses.

[Seth Stohs]

I like Ryan LaMarre. Had a couple of nice chats with him in Ft. Myers. Love the story and seeing him do well...

 

But yeah, there is zero chance that I would pinch hit Ryan LaMarre for Logan Morrison against a right-handed pitcher. And I'm not at all a fan of Morrison. 

[h2oface]

 

I like Ryan LaMarre. Had a couple of nice chats with him in Ft. Myers. Love the story and seeing him do well...

 

But yeah, there is zero chance that I would pinch hit Ryan LaMarre for Logan Morrison against a right-handed pitcher. And I'm not at all a fan of Morrison. 

 

LaMarre won't always be doing well, that is for sure. And Morrison won't always go 1 for forever. I don't think the conversation was about just pinch hitting for Morrison, especially to the wrong sided pitcher. It is a play the hot hand while hot. 

 

Any clarity for us on the Chargois pronunciation?

Edited April 8, 2018 by h2oface

[Seth Stohs]

 

Any clarity for us on the Chargois pronunciation?

 

Shag-waa

 

I recall asking him at a Twins Fest after an interview. I think he was impressed when I guessed right. 

[David HK]

 

Lomo stranded a small village on the basepaths today. Frustrating.

I vote LaMarre gets the next DH turn against a lefty...

[bighat]

 

Hard to win every game.

 

But, Berrios was cruising before the swinging bunt, which, being at the game, Sano had 00% chance of getting him but threw it anyway -- down the right field line.

 

A bloop and a blast has always been the best way in baseball.

 

But to hit two foul poles in one game?  That's something.

 

It's early, but I like our chances.

 

Berrios had a no-hitter going, I think that's the only reason Sano threw that ball. Ended up being a bad decision, but I understand why he didn't put the ball in his pocket and instead took a chance.

Edited April 9, 2018 by bighat

[Tomj14]

 

Shag-waa

 

I recall asking him at a Twins Fest after an interview. I think he was impressed when I guessed right. 

Seth you are correct, my father in-law is really good friends with his dad and that is how he pronounces it. Of you course you have to throw in a little Louisianan/cajun slang into it.