Article: MIN 2, TEX 0: La MaKKKKKKKKKKKKina

[Tom Froemming]

Jose Berrios struck out a career-high 12 batters and pitched seven shutout innings to set the tone for the Twins. The offense managed to scratch across two runs, both coming with two outs, and the bullpen combo of Trevor Hildenberger and Fernando Rodney protected the lead.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Joe Berrios: 84 Game Score, 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 12 K, 2 BB, 65.4% strikes

Bullpen: 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 K, 0 BB

Lineup: 2-for-9 w/RISP, 6 LOB

Top three per WPA: Berrios .449, Grossman .161, Wilson .097

Download attachment: WinEx624.png

Berrios gave up a double on his very first pitch of the game, but would only surrender two more hits, one of which could have easily been scored an error. This was a red hot Texas Rangers team, but Jose stopped them dead in their tracks.

 

Berrios busted out his curveball over and over again, throwing 44 curves on his 107 pitches (according to Baseball Savant). The Rangers managed to put just one of those curveballs in play. Jose got nine swinging strikes, six called strikes and nine foul balls on that pitch.

 

Over his last eight starts, Berrios has surrendered just 13 earned runs over 57 innings pitched, a 2.05 ERA.

 

This was a scoreless game until the bottom of the fifth. Robbie Grossman hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on an Ehire Adrianza fly out to center and then scored on a Bobby Wilson two-out single.

 

The next inning, Eddie Rosario hit a leadoff single and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Eduardo Escobar was walked, but Texas managed to retire the next two batters, Brian Dozier and Logan Morrison. Grossman came up and hit a ground ball through the infield to score Rosario.

 

Hildy pitched a 1-2-3 eighth before Rodney struck out the side to earn his 17th save of the season. Bartolo Colon had a great start in his return to Target Field, pitching seven innings, but today was La MaKina's day.

 

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen624.png

AL Central Standings

CLE 43-44

DET 36-42 (-8)

MIN 34-40 (-8)

CHW 25-51 (-18)

KC 23-53 (-20)

 

Next Three Games

Mon OFF

Tue at CHW, 7:10 pm CT: Lance Lynn vs. Reynaldo Lopez

Wed at CHW, 7:10 pm CT: Kyle Gibson vs. James Shields

Thu at CHW, 1:10 pm CT: TBD vs. Lucas Giolito

 

Last Three Games

TEX 9, MIN 6: Odorizzi Lays an Egg

TEX 8, MIN 1: Circling the Drain

BOS 9, MIN 2: There Go Those Shiny Pitching Stats

 

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[h2oface]

Good thing we have a pitcher! It seems that is the only way this team will win these days. Pitchers just can't give up any runs to win. Just ask Gibson. We need to clone Berrios. Thankfully, they did get 2 runs and the pen didn't blow it. It is nice to win a close game.

 

Colon had an ERA just under 10.00 (9.87)for the month of June, coming into this game. And this team could only score 2 runs! He has been pitching like this.... 3.1 innings and 8 runs....

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-dodgers/2018/06/12/530408#game_state=final,game_tab=box,game=530408

and this.....3.0 innings and 6 runs....

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-angels/2018/06/01/530267#game_state=final,game_tab=box,game=530267

but the Twins make him look good.

 

[jun]

I saw Colon clapping when Wilson hit a single off him to get an RBI. That shows how much respect he has for the game. I like the guy.

[ScooterDance]

Pair this staff with last years offense and we’d be a good team.

[h2oface]

 

I saw Colon clapping when Wilson hit a single off him to get an RBI. That shows how much respect he has for the game. I like the guy.

 

Any time Wilson gets a hit, it is a monumental event. If there is an RBI included, one may feel the earth rumble. 

[bluechipper]

Did anyone find it weird that Dick asked if Colon is a Hall of Famer? It must just be him being fat and having a cool nickname that makes people forget about the PEDs.

 

I understand forgiveness and still rooting for a guy that did that in the past, but that should be automatic disqualification from the HOF.

[mikelink45]

 

Did anyone find it weird that Dick asked if Colon is a Hall of Famer? It must just be him being fat and having a cool nickname that makes people forget about the PEDs.

 

I understand forgiveness and still rooting for a guy that did that in the past, but that should be automatic disqualification from the HOF.

I enjoy seeing an old guy out there - of course he is still 30 years younger than me, but we have had other old guy pitchers and they have not made it to the HOF on an age dispensation unless they were knuckleballers.  Remember that Jamie Moyer and Julio Franco made it to 49!  Fun, but not HOF.  

[mikelink45]

One of my favorite parts of the game today was when Mauer made the error on what was an amazing play by Berrios and the scorer gave the batter a hit.  Between innings he confronted our terrific scorer and was joined by both Morneau, and Jack Morris to say that was an error.  Stu corrected it.  Nicely done.  Cheap hits and forgiving fielding errors is not acceptable.

 

For the game - Berrios gets all the credit.  I think he could have gone nine.  But the offense is so offensive.  There has to be something that can be done to change this.  

[70charger]

84 game score. Is that the best game a Twins pitcher has pitched this year?

[h2oface]

 

One of my favorite parts of the game today was when Mauer made the error on what was an amazing play by Berrios and the scorer gave the batter a hit.  Between innings he confronted our terrific scorer and was joined by both Morneau, and Jack Morris to say that was an error.  Stu corrected it.  Nicely done.  Cheap hits and forgiving fielding errors is not acceptable.

 

For the game - Berrios gets all the credit.  I think he could have gone nine.  But the offense is so offensive.  There has to be something that can be done to change this.  

 

?? Here is no error in the official box.... am I missing something?

[VATwinsFan]

As hard as it is to believe, the Twins are two games over .500 for June.

 

 

[yarnivek1972]

?? Here is no error in the official box.... am I missing something?

I believe they have 48 hours to change it. I would stay tuned.

[Tom Froemming]

 

84 game score. Is that the best game a Twins pitcher has pitched this year?

Nope, Jose's first start (CG at BAL) as an 86. Berrios now has three starts with a game score of 80 or higher. No other Twins starter has eclipsed 77, which is Gibson's high.

[Aerodeliria]

These vexing Twins! Gotta love 'em.

[rv78]

If they can get all the pitchers to throw shutouts this stinky lineup of hitters has a chance to look good. 2 runs off of Colon is pathetic.

[mikelink45]

 

?? Here is no error in the official box.... am I missing something?

The announcers made it sound like the play was changed. But I just checked the line score and you are right - it did not change, but it should have.  I guess they want Mauer to win that gold glove. 

[TheMatt]

I was listening to the pregame on the radio and the Dazzleman predicted a career high in strikeouts for Berrios.

[VATwinsFan]

Taylor Motter approaching, if not exceeding, Bret Boone's 2005 numbers.

 

Bring back Petit.

[Danchat]

Ryan LaMarre has been optioned to AAA, I wonder if they'll call Buxton up? If not, it'd almost have to be Cave.

 

[ashbury]

Ryan LaMarre has been optioned to AAA, I wonder if they'll call Buxton up? If not, it'd almost have to be Cave.

 

I want this headline: "LaMarre-Out, Cave-In".

[jokin]

 

 

 

I understand forgiveness and still rooting for a guy that did that in the past, but that should be automatic disqualification from the HOF.

 

It is.

He won't.

[David HK]

 

Any time Wilson gets a hit, it is a monumental event. If there is an RBI included, one may feel the earth rumble. 

No, that's just Bobby rumbling down to first.

Edited June 25, 2018 by David HK

[David HK]

That was a great and gritty performance from Berrios.  He was just as advertised- what an arm, and now getting to understand how to "pitch," as well.  He's an ace for a long time to come.

 

Trouble is, every starter now has to live up to those kind of stats if they want a chance to come away with a win.  Pitchers will amp up the pressure on themselves not to give anything up, because they know this offence has no chance against anyone of even mediocre quality.

[mikelink45]

 

Taylor Motter approaching, if not exceeding, Bret Boone's 2005 numbers.

 

Bring back Petit.

I am so confused - why did we bring him in?  What is he supposed to do that Petit did not do?  This is the team that cut Niko Goodrum and refuses to call up Gordon.  It makes no sense. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I am so confused - why did we bring him in?  What is he supposed to do that Petit did not do?  This is the team that cut Niko Goodrum and refuses to call up Gordon.  It makes no sense. 

Niko Goodrum chose to leave. We could have kept him with a 40-man roster spot, but it's worth noting that no one else guaranteed him a 40-man roster spot either, even Detroit.

 

We brought in Petit because he was willing to come here without a 40-man spot. Then, once we needed him, we added Motter when he was available on waivers because he gave us a potential infield replacement for Petit if we needed to cut him (I believe Petit is out of options, contrary to Roster Resource), and also Motter has outfield experience too -- less need for Grossman/LaMarre?

 

And while Motter has options, I have to imagine we will likely cut him once Polanco is back, assuming Buxton is back too.

 

And while it's true that Gordon could have taken one of their roster spots, the way he's hitting at AAA (81 wRC+) suggests you'd need to burn an option on him as soon as Polanco comes back. I'd rather not burn an option on him at age 22 chasing a very unlikely performance, and instead keep his potential options available age 23-25. If Polanco and/or Dozier fail to perform in July, Gordon can still be called up for experience around the trade deadline with no need to burn an option this season.

 

The only move in this sequence that doesn't make sense is the guy we added when we cut Petit (Belisle), but for reasons that have nothing to do with Petit.

Edited June 25, 2018 by spycake

[Number3]

3-3 home stand in the opposite way that it should have happened. They better enjoy the off day today because, if I read the schedule right, they have 20 straight games without a day off starting tomorrow. 8-12 anyone?

[jmlease1]

Berrios is looking like the ace we've all been hoping for. He's having a great run right now and it's not based on smoke & mirrors. He's 5th in WHIP, 8th in pitching bWAR, 10th in FIP in the AL. The innings are good, great to see him get at least 6 innings in the last 8 starts. In those starts he's only given up more than  runs once. He's had at least 10 Ks three times. Game score over 70 4 times. That's a guy that can lead your staff.

 

Plus, he's FUN to watch. when that curve is bending and he's hitting his spots...watching guys flail away at it is just a blast.