Article: MIN 6, CLE 3: Anything is Possible

[Tom Froemming]

The Twins offense has been sputtering. Corey Kluber has been dominant. Was there some kind of a Freaky Friday situation that played out in this game or something?

 

The Twins, who just dropped a series to Detroit, rolled into Cleveland and beat one of the best pitchers in baseball behind a great start from Kyle Gibson. Eddie Rosario had another great game and Brian Dozier slid down in the order and provided a big fly.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Kyle Gibson: 68 Game Score, 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 K, 4 BB, 61.2% strikes

Bullpen: 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 K, 0 BB

Lineup: 0-for-4 w/RISP, 1 LOB

Top three per WPA: Gibson .281, Rosario .146, Dozier .135

Download attachment: WinEx615.png

The Twins made a lot of moves, some of them big (Miguel Sano being demoted, Joe Mauer being activated from the DL) and some small (Dozier sliding down the fifth in the order, Taylor Motter being promoted to help fill out the bench). It was enough to give the team a bit of a new look, new feel and so far so good.

 

Coming into tonight, Kluber hadn’t walked a batter in more than 40 innings, had gone 26 starts without giving up four runs and pitched at least six innings in all of his starts this season. None of those streaks survived this Freaky Friday.

 

Rosario hit a first-inning home run, giving Gibson a lead before he even took the mound. Rosie also led off what turned out to be a three-run fourth inning with a double. Dozier clubbed a two-run homer to cap that inning, just his sixth since the start of May.

Gibson held Cleveland scoreless for the first five innings in this game, but they finally managed to scratch across a run when Gibby walked a pair of batters in the sixth. His night ended on a high note, throwing an eight-pitch seventh inning.

 

Trevor Hildenberger pitched a scoreless eighth. That makes 11 consecutive clean outings from Hildy. Taylor Rogers ran into trouble in the ninth, giving up a couple of runs, and had to be bailed out of trouble. Fernando Rodney struck out Francisco Lindor to end the game, picking up save No. 15 on the season.

 

Cleveland also just looked like a bad team tonight. Two of the runs they gave up were on errors and another was on a balk. The Twins have won each of their last four games against Cleveland, yet between the end of their last series and today, Minnesota went just 4-6.

 

Mauer was 0-for-4 out of the leadoff spot.

 

Postgame With Gibson

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullen615.png

AL Central Standings

CLE 36-32

DET 33-37 (-4)

MIN 30-36 (-5)

CHW 24-43 (-11.5)

KC 22-46 (-14)

 

Next Three Games

Sat at CLE, 3:10 pm CT - Romero vs. Carrasco

Sun at CLE, 12:10 pm CT - Odorizzi vs. Plukto

Mon OFF

Tue at BOS, 7:10 pm CT - TBD

 

Last Three Games

DET 3, MIN 1: Lynn Overexposed, Offense Overmatched

DET 5, MIN 2: Bulldog Berrios and the Addison Reed Experience

MIN 6, DET 4: More Grand Slams, Please

 

More From Twins Daily

Miguel Sano's Struggles

Trying to Get a Reed on Addison

Twins Daily Roundtable: Romero's Innings

 

Click here to view the article

[Brandon Brooks]

Heck of an opportunity, beating Kluber to open the series. Maybe we can do some damage this weekend after all?

 

My only question is where Magill was. Up by five with six outs to get? When else is he going to get work?

[ScooterDance]

Let’s not get the offensive drums beating just yet. 5 or 6 hits. A walk. A balk.

 

Very timely hitting today. The building blocks of offense were still atrocious. Just bunched a few together tonight.

[Kelly Vance]

For some: Mauer went 0-4?  Bench the bum, cut him, sent him to Peoria....make him retire.

 

For the rest of us:   "WELCOME BACK JOE"

 

You ain't done, and your story is not yet written.....

 

[rghrbek]

Were not both their errors by Lindor?  I am sure he will survive.

[h2oface]

Gibson haters are sure eating a lot of crow this year. I can hear him, still saying..... bite me!

[h2oface]

Heck of an opportunity, beating Kluber to open the series. Maybe we can do some damage this weekend after all?

 

My only question is where Magill was. Up by five with six outs to get? When else is he going to get work?

His 1.31 ERA and .92 WHIP is just too low for Molitor. No trust. 20.2 innings in 13 games, and he has already given up 16 hits and 3 walks. Better to over use who he trusts, regardless of the 5 run lead. Besides Rodgers needed the work.... obviously.

 

Oh, and I was a big advocate of playing LaMarre when he was hot. That doesn't mean to keep playing him when he comes back to earth. But then, why use your farm, eh?

[mikelink45]

Good for Gibson, nice to see him get a win!  The biggest question I have is who is Motter?  I just went on baseball reference and see a career -0.6 WAR player. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/motteta01.shtml

 

Is this another instance where the FO has to go to the scrap heap rather than going with a minor league player?  We have a utility man - Adrianza - why not try out someone like Gordon?  Or why did we not keep up Petit? 

 

Any notes on Polanco - is he working out with someone so that he can be ready to play?

 

I am filled with questions.  What has happened to Taylor Rogers?  He was such a different pitcher most of last year. The BP really is a mystery. 

[h2oface]

 

 

Any notes on Polanco - is he working out with someone so that he can be ready to play?

 

 

I read somewhere that Polanco recently smashed his hand in a door, and is going to lose some rehab time.... but supposedly that will not affect when he is going to be able to come come back, just how ready he will be.....  

[Doctor Wu]

Man, where would the Twins be without Rosario this year? He and Escobar seem like the only guys who can consistently hit the ball.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Heck of an opportunity, beating Kluber to open the series. Maybe we can do some damage this weekend after all?

 

My only question is where Magill was. Up by five with six outs to get? When else is he going to get work?

i hope Magill starts getting into some higher leverage situations and a little more regular in his implementation. He’s been so good, but so sporadic

[Doctor Wu]

 

I read somewhere that Polanco recently smashed his hand in a door, and is going to lose some rehab time.... but supposedly that will not affect when he is going to be able to come come back, just how ready he will be.....  

Well, that qualifies as an "ouch" in more ways than one. Hopefully, that won't delay his return to the team even further. Even though, it's different type of "return" what's the latest on Pineda? Will he start a rehab stint anytime soon?

[adorduan]

Gibson has been pretty darn good this year.

[ashbury]

Thrilling footage of a 179-plate-appearance streak being snapped:

https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2018/06/16/2157983183/1529108067745/asset_1800K.mp4

[ashbury]

Gibson has been pretty darn good this year.

Yeah, I'm going to jinx him now by saying that, at last, I am a believer that his changes in tactics/mechanics are not just a fluke.

[jmlease1]

 

Gibson haters are sure eating a lot of crow this year. I can hear him, still saying..... bite me!

 

A little crow, but still not quite ready to declare him finally the pitcher we'd hoped. He's had nice runs before.

 

The walks are still an issue; he dodged out of trouble last night, but walks nearly ended his night early. I get nervous that the wheels are going to fall off the wagon when he's walking 3.9 per 9. But his approach is overall much better, he's keeping the ball in the park, and trusting his stuff to get more Ks. It's finally a workable formula and he pitched well last night.

 

Offense still needs serious work, but it's good to see Dozier rip a dinger last night. Maybe that will help him kickoff a second half run a little earlier this year?

[Darius]

Gibson has been pretty darn good this year.

Not only this year. This is going back to June/July last year.

 

He's on to something, here. He's got the stuff. It looks sustainable. Now, there is always another shoe that hasn't dropped.

[DocBauer]

His 1.31 ERA and .92 WHIP is just too low for Molitor. No trust. 20.2 innings in 13 games, and he has already given up 16 hits and 3 walks. Better to over use who he trusts, regardless of the 5 run lead. Besides Rodgers needed the work.... obviously.

 

Oh, and I was a big advocate of playing LaMarre when he was hot. That doesn't mean to keep playing him when he comes back to earth. But then, why use your farm, eh?

 

Must be saving Magill for later in the series for a higher pressure situation. (Yes, that is sarcasm).

 

Trust the guy or get someone else.

 

I like Rogers. His stuff is pretty good. But he's just so damn inconsistent!

 

Other than being another LH bat, I think they should have kept Cave up. Bigger bat and some actual potential. Maybe they just like LaMarre's defense better?

 

Great for Gibson! Has to feel like the monkey is off his back.

[Darius]

Gibson has a 3.27 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and is striking out a batter an inning (8.8 K/9) this year in 82 IP..... and he just picked up his second win. As if we needed more stats telling us how bad this offense is.

[TheLeviathan]

Gibson is a stark example of why you need to be super careful about ever giving up on a talented pitcher.  I never expected this, but I also never thought cutting him when we still had team control made any sense either.

[rdehring]

Now that was an enjoyable game to watch.

 

Add Gibson to the list of players who will need an extension this winter, along with Rosario and Berrios.  Gibson, Romero and Berrios can form the nucleus of a playoff caliber rotation.  Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see them extend Lynn as the veteran part of that group. 

 

The other player that needs to be extended, this summer, is the Mighty Mouse.  All the other young guys can wait another year...or longer.

[Puckett34]

Since the start of the 2nd half of 2017, Gibby has a ERA of 3.50 in 159.2 IP in 27 starts.    Walks are a bit too high.    But he may be finally "getting it".   

 

As others have said in the game thread last night.   He has been spectacularly above average.   And has been for some time.

[Shaitan]

 

My only question is where Magill was. Up by five with six outs to get? When else is he going to get work?

 

Because Molitor believes a team needs an 8 man bullpen but should only use the same 4 pitchers every single game.

 

It would also be the perfect scenario to get Reed out there (if he hadn't thrown 30 pitches the day before). 

[USAFChief]

A little crow, but still not quite ready to declare him finally the pitcher we'd hoped. He's had nice runs before.

 

The walks are still an issue; he dodged out of trouble last night, but walks nearly ended his night early. I get nervous that the wheels are going to fall off the wagon when he's walking 3.9 per 9. But his approach is overall much better, he's keeping the ball in the park, and trusting his stuff to get more Ks. It's finally a workable formula and he pitched well last night.

 

Offense still needs serious work, but it's good to see Dozier rip a dinger last night. Maybe that will help him kickoff a second half run a little earlier this year?

My opinion: the walks aren’t exactly intentional, but not exactly unintentional either. They’re a byproduct of his changed approach. Instead of the previous regime’s “pitch to contact and avoid walks AT ALL COSTS” approach, he’s not throwing a cookie every time he falls behind 1-0 or 2-1. He’s still trying to throw a pitch on the edge of the zone. Sometimes he misses and walks guys...sometimes he hits a corner and gets back in the count. Either way, there’s fewer “sinkers” in the whomp-em zone.

 

Walks are less damaging than hits. Giving up 2 walks more per game, but 2 fewer hits works in a pitchers favor every time. He’s also K’ing more hitters, which helps.

 

Give me this approach every time over that pitch to contact mantra we’ve lived with for years.

[Danchat]

 

Good for Gibson, nice to see him get a win!  The biggest question I have is who is Motter?  I just went on baseball reference and see a career -0.6 WAR player. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/motteta01.shtml

 

Is this another instance where the FO has to go to the scrap heap rather than going with a minor league player?  We have a utility man - Adrianza - why not try out someone like Gordon?  Or why did we not keep up Petit? 

 

Any notes on Polanco - is he working out with someone so that he can be ready to play?

 

I am filled with questions.  What has happened to Taylor Rogers?  He was such a different pitcher most of last year. The BP really is a mystery. 

Yeah, it seems like Motter is just a placeholder until Polanco gets here. He has a little upside and it doesn't seem like the team is willing to give any of the younger guys an opportunity, so it's back to the scrap heap.

 

The Twins position players just can't stay healthy... and now Polanco's cutting his hand on a car door... bleh.

 

Rogers just hasn't been the same since facing the Dodgers in July of last year. Here's his stats:

 

2016: 3.96 ERA, 2.3 BB/9, 9.4 K/9

2017 before Dodgers series: 2.15 ERA, 2.4 BB/9, 6.45 K/9

2017 after Dodgers series: 5.00 ERA, 5.5 BB/9, 11 K/9

2018: 5.13 ERA, 2.1 BB/9, 8.5 K/9

[Dantes929]

 

My opinion: the walks aren’t exactly intentional, but not exactly unintentional either. They’re a byproduct of his changed approach. Instead of the previous regime’s “pitch to contact and avoid walks AT ALL COSTS” approach, he’s not throwing a cookie every time he falls behind 1-0 or 2-1. He’s still trying to throw a pitch on the edge of the zone. Sometimes he misses and walks guys...sometimes he hits a corner and gets back in the count. Either way, there’s fewer “sinkers” in the whomp-em zone.

Walks are less damaging than hits. Giving up 2 walks more per game, but 2 fewer hits works in a pitchers favor every time. He’s also K’ing more hitters, which helps.

Give me this approach every time over that pitch to contact mantra we’ve lived with for years.

Well some of that is true.   The knock on Gibson (as I remember) was never that he was pitch to contact but that he was a guy that tried to peck at the corners rather than trust his stuff.   Fell behind in counts and then had to groove one.   My own knock on him was that he seemed to throw the same pitch over and over again when he appeared to have a really nice curveball that he rarely used.   The pitch to contact failed because we didn't have guys who were good at it.   Gibson's stuff now would have played well any year.    Or do you think his stuff now is the same as it was in the past?  I think he went whole games without throwing a ball that bends as much as he threw to nearly every guy last night.  If the mantra of the past was truly throw the same pitch at the same speed every time so you don't walk anyone then I am with you.   

[USAFChief]

Well some of that is true. The knock on Gibson (as I remember) was never that he was pitch to contact but that he was a guy that tried to peck at the corners rather than trust his stuff. Fell behind in counts and then had to groove one. My own knock on him was that he seemed to throw the same pitch over and over again when he appeared to have a really nice curveball that he rarely used. The pitch to contact failed because we didn't have guys who were good at it. Gibson's stuff now would have played well any year. Or do you think his stuff now is the same as it was in the past? I think he went whole games without throwing a ball that bends as much as he threw to nearly every guy last night. If the mantra of the past was truly throw the same pitch at the same speed every time so you don't walk anyone then I am with you.

 

No, I think it’s more than that. He still falls behind hitters, except now he doesn’t feel he “has to groove one.”

 

More 4 seamers, fewer 2 seamers. More breaking balls.

 

End result, walks are up, hits down. Hard contact down. K’s up. WHIP down. ERA down.

 

He’s not pitching the same, IMO.

[adorduan]

 

Well some of that is true.   The knock on Gibson (as I remember) was never that he was pitch to contact but that he was a guy that tried to peck at the corners rather than trust his stuff.   Fell behind in counts and then had to groove one.   My own knock on him was that he seemed to throw the same pitch over and over again when he appeared to have a really nice curveball that he rarely used.   The pitch to contact failed because we didn't have guys who were good at it.   Gibson's stuff now would have played well any year.    Or do you think his stuff now is the same as it was in the past?  I think he went whole games without throwing a ball that bends as much as he threw to nearly every guy last night.  If the mantra of the past was truly throw the same pitch at the same speed every time so you don't walk anyone then I am with you.   

Is it just me or is his curve ball a lot better than in years past? I just don't remember seeing it break as much as it has this year....

[Halsey Hall]

As Dozier goes, so go the Twins.

[Mike Sixel]

Great win!