Article: KC 5, MIN 3: Royals Sweep Twins, Butera Hits Inside-the-Park Homer (Seriously)

[Tom Froemming]

What’s more embarrassing than getting swept by the Royals? Getting swept by the Royals on a Drew Butera three-run inside-the-park home run.

 

I think we’ve hit rock bottom. I mean what could be worse than this? Is Ricky Nolasco going to get signed by the Blue Jays and pitch a perfect game against the Twins next week or something?Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Jake Odorizzi: 72 Game Score, 6.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 8 K, 1 BB, 67.0 % strikes

Bullpen: 2.0 IP, 3 ER, 0 K, 2 BB

Lineup: 1-for-4 w/RISP, 3 LOB

WPA of 0.1 or higher: Dozier .107

WPA of -0.1 or lower: Hildenberger -.349

Download attachment: WinChart722.png

First Base

Before we even get to the game, there is quite a bit of roster news to go over. Logan Morrison was activated from the DL, and as a corresponding move Willians Astudillo was optioned back to Rochester. Morrison started at first base and hit fifth in the Twins order, going 0-for-3 with a run-scoring groundout and a walk.

 

There figure to be plenty more transactions in the coming days, as Adalbero Mejia (who is scheduled to start tomorrow) and Ervin Santana (who’s scheduled to start Wednesday) need to be added to the active roster. Santana will be coming off the 60-day DL, so the Twins will even need to create a spot on the 40-man roster for him.

 

Second Base

The Twins have had a very strange year when it comes to replay, and Sunday they had yet another one that left some people scratching their heads. Jake Cave sent a line drive out to left field and Alex Gordon appeared to make a really nice diving catch. The slow-motion replays seemed to tell another story. Here’s the video:

The ball definitely bounced, however, it’s possible that it still hit the thumb side of Gordon’s glove and simply bounced inside his mitt. It’s hard to say for certain by the replay above, but I’d be willing to bet if there was a better angle it would show that ball hit the grass first. The call stood, but what do you think?

 

Third Base

So, this happened …

… I don’t wanna talk about it.

 

Home Plate

You know what, let’s just not talk about anything having to do with this game. Or this series.

 

Matt Magill was not used at all in Kansas City and hasn’t pitched since July 10. He’s only pitched three times this month. Sure, some of that is due to the All-Star break, but Magill only appeared in five games all of last month.

Alright fine, we’ll talk some about the game. On the plus side, Jake Odorizzi was really good, giving up just two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk while striking out eight batters in six innings of work. Max Kepler hit his 12th home run of the season. Also, um … Alan Busenitz pitched a scoreless eighth inning. That’s all I got.

 

The Twins could only muster three hits and racked up 10 strikeouts. Joe Mauer had a particularly rough afternoon, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

 

UPDATE: After the conclusion of this game it was announced that Busenitz was being sent back down to Rochester to make room for Mejia. Matt Belisle is bulletproof.

 

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen722.png

AL Central Standings

CLE 54-43

MIN 44-53 (-10)

DET 42-58 (-13.5)

CHW 34-63 (-20)

KC 30-68 (-24.5)

 

Next Three Games

Mon at TOR, 6:07 pm CT: Adalberto Mejia vs. TBD

Tue at TOR, 6:07 pm CT: Jose Berrios vs. Ryan Borucki

Wed at TOR, 3:07 pm CT: Ervin Santana vs. TBD

 

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[Kelly Vance]

I never like losing a game but the way we lost was classic. Bute hit a beaut.

[terrydactyls]

Are all the "we can still win the division" people now willing to hang up a For Sale sign? Build for the future. DFA Pressley and Wilson, trade (if possible) Belisle and Grossman. And get what you can for Dozier, Santana, Lynn, Odorizzi, Duke, Reed, and Rodney. If Mauer would like to try for a ring, trade him too. And if someone makes a great offer for Escobar, think about it long and hard. I'm sure I have forgotten other useless pieces, but this would be a good start in building towards 2019/2020.

 

Boy, do I feel better now.....

[HrbekRules]

Sell

[Danchat]

We need to get Matt Magill's picture on some milk cartons or he's never going to be found. The dude has pitched 8 times since the start of June... after pitching 11 times in May.

 

Hopefully some trades will be coming soon just to keep things interesting.

[yarnivek1972]

It’s baffling to me that this team carries 8 or even 9 relievers when, by usage, it is obvious they only need 7.

[jtkoupal]

The Twins went into the All-Star Break hanging on to a sliver of hope. That sliver is gone.

 

What an utter disappointment this team was. Honestly. This team had potential, even with the injuries.

 

I can't exactly put my finger on it without making generalizations. The roster that broke camp in March was better than the roster that played 9 extra innings in New York last October. Injuries have taken their toll, without question, but the subs (Cave, Escobar, Adrianza, etc.) have been acceptable.

 

From the 6 major acquisitions from last offseason, the Twins get a 2.5/6. (1 for Rodney, 1 for Duke, 0.5 for Reed). Morrison, Lynn, & Odorizzi have been major disappointments thus far.

 

Is it September yet? #Skol

[Dantes929]

Deanrd Span has killed us   Wilson Ramos has killed us,  Butera has killed us.   I am pretty sure I am missing a few.    Former Twins are  putting up all star numbers against the Twins this year.   

As far as the replays go I was ok with them because I thought  it was important to get the call right but if they are only going to get half of them right even on the review then what is the point?   In this case the call was wrong, the replay review was wrong and almost certainly the game changing safe call later on was wrong but couldn't be challenged because they got the earlier calls wrong.    Just a lot of wrong there.   How about putting in a challenge to the replay call?

[ChrisKnutson]

(ARI) (RHP) Yoan Lopez <—> Dozier

 

(OAK) (UTL) Elijah White <—> Lynn

 

(BOS) (LHP) Williams Jerez <—> Duke

 

(WAS) © Raudy Read, (LHP) Sammy Solis <—> Odorizzi

 

(STL) (3rd) Evan Mendoza <—> Rodney

 

(MIL) (LHP) Kodi Medeiros, © Mario Feliciano <—> Escobar

 

(NYY) (RHP) Dillion Tate, (RHP) Juan DePaula, (RHP) Deivi Garcia <—> Gibson

 

(COL) (RHP) Yency Almonte <—> Morrison/Magill

 

(SFG) (RHP) Camilo Doval <—> Grossman

 

(LAD) (SS) Ronny Brito <—> Reed *(if healthy)*

[wsnydes]

"I don't want to talk about it..."

 

Perfectly stated.

 

Also, I wonder what sort of mad skills Magill has perfected under the close and watchful mentoring eyes of leader Matt Belisle. I mean, it would be nice to see some of these leadership qualities pay off on the mound, no?

[jun]

Cave wasn't able to make the play and then he completely gave up. That's just the attitude of the team.

I think the FO needs to trade Dozier, Lynn, Santana, Duke, Rodney, Grossman and then release or trade Morrison, Wilson, Belisle and Motter. Call up Buxton, Sano, Gordon, Vargas, Graterol, Moya, J Reed, Duffey, Mejia and Romero.

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

If an ex-Twin had to hit an inside the park HR to beat the Twins, then I'm glad it was Drew Butera.

[gocgo]

Well, if there was a doubt about whether we would be buyers, sellers, or stand pat, I think this series pretty much settled that.  I'm guessing the phone lines lit up like a Christmas tree at the conclusion of this game.  Offers include a couple of cracked bats and a bucket of abc gum.  We got swept by a team that was 40 games under .500!....and we managed to look like we were the weaker team in the process.

 

BTW, Buxton catches that ball to CF and we win 3-2, but that's neither here nor there.  If we truly are in sell mode, I don't see how Belilse remains on the team. What's the point of using a spot on an aging veteran that isn't in our future plans?   Busenitz...I just haven't been impressed.  I know he can throw, but can he pitch?

 

I've grown weary of watching this team.

[Buddy Holly]

Trades are not going to fix the Twins problems. The hitting and pitching coaches need to go. They have no clue how to straighten out players. This team has regressed and I blame the coaches. Every player is swinging for the fences. When they do the shifts, bunt and get them out of it. Yes I said BUNT, its a concept from when they use to play real baseball. Falvine are destroying this team with there Analytics only approach. I watched to 70's Orioles team destroy a great pitching staff with a radar gun. Molitor needs to start managing and tell Falvine to stay away or I'm out of here. I want to watch real baseball not this excuse!

[VATwinsFan]

Sano is 0 for 8 at Rochester with three 3 Ks, so there's that.

[sloopjont]

Maybe, stretching for hope here, these current and upcoming prospects will be like the Hrbek, Gaetti, Laudner, Brunansky group from the early eighties and just need six years to come together and be good.

[ChrisKnutson]

Trades are not going to fix the Twins problems. The hitting and pitching coaches need to go. They have no clue how to straighten out players. This team has regressed and I blame the coaches. Every player is swinging for the fences. When they do the shifts, bunt and get them out of it. Yes I said BUNT, its a concept from when they use to play real baseball. Falvine are destroying this team with there Analytics only approach. I watched to 70's Orioles team destroy a great pitching staff with a radar gun. Molitor needs to start managing and tell Falvine to stay away or I'm out of here. I want to watch real baseball not this excuse!

Molitor managing? That’s funny.

 

All “jokes” aside, Mollie’s the one who’s really making the on-field decisions, not Falvine, sooo don’t blame analytics for the lack of “small ball.”

 

Blame our manager’s incompetence.

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

Sano is 0 for 8 at Rochester with three 3 Ks, so there's that.

I think they'll bring him up for leadership.

[Platoon]

Why do you challenge a two out single? In the third inning? On an iffy play? Is that going to be a game changer? How, on a 25 man roster do two guys like Astudillo and Magill just disappear? Why does Booze Nuts go down, and Belisle stays. I know there are lots of intricacies involved in contracts, options, and other things I don't even have access to, but somethings just seem common sense.

[mikelink45]

I went away for a week.  I went to Isle Royale to guide a trip and I left with the questionable series with KC and Baltimore behind me.  I left with all the high drama and meaningless conversations about the all star exhibitions fluttering in the air.  I thought this season needed a break - at least I did.  While in MI I was able to watch two Detroit games against the Red Sox.  Nice games and two guys named Hicks and Goodrum played some nice baseball.  Too bad we can't find players like this for SS and catcher.

 

Oh well, I got close enough to Duluth to hear about the Butera HR!  And then I hear Molitor talk about how he was glad Cave went for it when the fact is, if he stopped, caught the ball on one hop it is possible no one scored.  

 

By the way did I say - way to go Niko and Hicks?

[D.C Twins]

Wow, just, wow....crappy play, poor effort, AND inexplicable corresponding moves all in the same day?! 

 

Once again, be still my beating heart. 

 

This team needs to at least pair things down to three or less major glaring errors in judgment on their roster before it is even worth the time to comment. 

 

Not sure I see that happening again this year so, uh, peace, love, and happiness to all! (and SKOL Vikings!)

[Old Twins Cap]

Three lousy hits.

 

Playing KC, worst team in baseball.

 

May as well tank, for a draft pick.

 

Pick Benintendi this time.

 

 

* Haiku for this moment.

[Riverbrian]

I'm Ok with Cave diving for the ball.

 

If he makes that catch he ends the inning. It wasn't impossible to catch that ball, he just didn't make the catch.  Yes the consequences were bad when he didn't make it but I'll take the guy trying to hard at this moment, with this team over the guy who doesn't. 

 

Play Ball!  

 

 

 

 

[curt1965]

3 hits!

Embarrassed by the worse team in baseball.

Belisle.............

 

YUK

[USAFChief]

Will someone with access, PLEASE ask why Belisle is still on this team? PLEASE?

 

I mean, geez.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Ervin needs a 40 man spot, and Provus and Gladden said something today to the effect, "we all know who is being released to make room." Of course they didn't drop any hints. So, we'll see.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I'm Ok with Cave diving for the ball.

 

If he makes that catch he ends the inning. It wasn't impossible to catch that ball, he just didn't make the catch.  Yes the consequences were bad when he didn't make it but I'll take the guy trying to hard at this moment, with this team over the guy who doesn't. 

 

Play Ball!

 

Absolutely! Give me the guy trying to make a play--he's made several already.

[Dantes929]

 

Why do you challenge a two out single? In the third inning? On an iffy play? Is that going to be a game changer? How, on a 25 man roster do two guys like Astudillo and Magill just disappear? Why does Booze Nuts go down, and Belisle stays. I know there are lots of intricacies involved in contracts, options, and other things I don't even have access to, but somethings just seem common sense.

Well, with two outs in the 7th for the Royals a guy got on first, the next guy walked and Butera hit a 3 run homer so you really don't know what is going to be a game changer.   If Cave gets on it is way more likely that Mauer walks and Rosario hits a home run than A. Escobar walking and then Butera hitting a home run.   Plus, did you really think it was an iffy play?  I listened to the Royals broadcast and they certainly thought it was a trap and would be over turned.   

[Blake]

 

Absolutely! Give me the guy trying to make a play--he's made several already.

Yep.

[Blake]

 

Will someone with access, PLEASE ask why Belisle is still on this team? PLEASE?

I mean, geez.

Gravitas.