Article: NYM 9, MIN 6: Forever of a 5th Inning

[Tom Froemming]

Sometimes one particular out is especially elusive. For the Twins tonight, that was the 15th out. Jake Odorizzi was cruising early on, looking about as efficient as we’ve seen him with the Twins, but everything fell apart in the fifth inning. The bullpen not only failed to bail him out, they made matters even worse.Box Score

Odorizzi: 4.2 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 57.7% strikes

Home Runs: Garver (3)

Multi-Hit Games: Kepler (2-for-4, 2B), Schoop (3-for-4, 2B)

WPA of +0.1: Odorizzi .168, Kepler .126

WPA of -0.1: Astudillo -.110, Hildenberger -.120, Vasquez -.414

Download attachment: Win410.png

(chart via FanGraphs)

 

That rough fifth inning could have actually been even worse. The Mets gifted their 14th out of the game to the Twins, as Jeff McNeil ran halfway home from third on a passed ball and then just kinda stood there for a moment. He was thrown out trying to get back to third.

 

But the Twins could not get out of their own way.

 

Jake Odorizzi gave up a single and walked the bases loaded prior to that McNeil baserunning gaffe. Instead of taking advantage of the miscue, Odorizzi re-loaded the bases by walking Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard.

 

That was it for Odorizzi, as the recently recalled Andrew Vasquez came in to make his 2019 debut for the Twins. It did not go well. Vasquez hit the first batter he faced to force in a run, then walked in two more runs.

 

Trevor Hildenberger came in … he walked in another run. Then he gave up a two-run single. Finally our good ol’ buddy Jeff McNeil came up to hit again and ended the inning by striking out.

 

The Mets managed to scratch across six runs that inning despite recording only two hits, both of them singles.

 

Martin Perez was the next Twins pitcher up. He gave up three more runs over the next two innings. He’s given up 11 hits and walked nine batters in 8 1/3 innings pitched this season.

 

The lineup heated up as soon as Syndergaard was out of the game. They scored four runs in the eighth and Mitch Garver added a solo homer in the ninth.

 

It was an ugly game, but the Twins head home having completed a winning road trip. Another positive: They don’t have to play another road game in a National League stadium until after the All-Star break.

 

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen410.png

Next Three Games

Fri vs. DET, 7:10 pm CT (Pineda-Norris)

Sat vs. DET, 1:10 pm CT (Berrios-Ross)

Sun vs. DET, 1:10 pm CT (TBD-Zimmermann)

 

Last Game

MIN 14, NYM 8: Beating the Best

 

And One More Thing

 

Click here to view the article

[MMMordabito]

This lineup looks like they can score on anyone, but the pitching staff is on balewire right now. Keep running through the 40-man and then some or make a trade or sign Kimbrel.

[PDX Twin]

I turned off the Twins in disgust and switched over to the Blue Wahoos against the Jumbo Shrimp. (Gotta love those MiLB nicknames!) I thought I was in a time warp. The Shrimp had the bases loaded with no outs and the Wahoos' pitcher proceeded to hit the batter to force in a run, cutting a two-run lead to one. They managed to get out of it but only because the next batter swung and missed at a 3-2 pitch above his eyes. Wow, maybe the Twins just needed worse Mets.

[USAFChief]

I fear Falvine's inactivity regarding the pitching staff this past winter is going to be difficult to overcome.

 

Yeesh. The bullpen is thinner than my wallet.

[D.C Twins]

Yeah, great line up but gonna be a lot of constant pressure if they have to put up 9 runs four of every five nights to win (a smile and a wink to you Berrios)

[Knuckleball9]

Gonna be a rollercoaster...  I do not think this team can overcome OWNERSHIP INDIFFERENCE.  GO  SAINTS.

[carlito_b]

Thank god for our good ol buddy jeff McNeil. Literally laughed out loud reading that. Great writing

[Aerodeliria]

I was not thrilled to see Vasquez walk to the mound in that situation. I just had this very bad feeling that he wasn't going to be able to throw strikes--sadly, I was correct. (Why not May or Hildenberger from the start?)

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Kimbrel never looked so good.

[JustinCB]

I turned off the Twins in disgust and switched over to the Blue Wahoos against the Jumbo Shrimp. (Gotta love those MiLB nicknames!) I thought I was in a time warp. The Shrimp had the bases loaded with no outs and the Wahoos' pitcher proceeded to hit the batter to force in a run, cutting a two-run lead to one. They managed to get out of it but only because the next batter swung and missed at a 3-2 pitch above his eyes. Wow, maybe the Twins just needed worse Mets.

I was at this game! Wahoo home opener! Stadium is just as nice as everyone says and seats are right on top of the field even more so than an average minor league venue. Alcala did not look great after the first couple innings and seemed to be working in the lower 90s despite what I've heard about his velocity, and that gift strikeout you refer to was definitely that, but I will say Brian Schales absolutely smoked the ball every time he was up. He's a nonprospect they got from Miami? as far as I know but certainly outshined the rest of the lineup on that particular evening.

[Rosterman]

So, will Odorizzi be able to pitch more than five innings ever again?

 

Bases loaded, you need one out...bring in the callup! Huh?

 

Willians grounds out...alot today!

 

Perez, Odorizzi, Gibson....I guess the Twins really needed to sign a good starter as well as a solid bullpen arm so we can use Parker as a non-closer.

 

Vasquez makes the shuttle ride back to Rochester?

 

Will the snow be removed for ALL seats for Friday's game?

[mickeymental]

twins 20, mets 17. ten earned runs in 11 innings off two top-shelf starters. a lot to like.

[h2oface]

It seems mental, to me. Odorizzi pitched a no-hitter through 4, and the 4 pitch walk should have been a K, as all 4 pitches showed to be a strike on pitch f/x. Something is not clicking in his head. The 11 strikeout game he pitched was just as real as the first inning the start in Philly and the 5th inning today. 

[h2oface]

Does anyone have a link to a Baldelli interview after todays game? I really want to hear what he said... how he explains himself....

[killertwinfan]

I am not sure what Dilly Dilly was thinking or what metrics drove the decision to put Vasquez in that situation.  On top of that, I thought there were signs that Odorizzi was unraveling in the 4th. The decision to let him pitch to the pitcher was a huge mistake. You needed that out.  What, because it is not the 7th it isn't a high leverage situation?  Bad read, bad metrics or whatever. You gave the game away.  

[rdehring]

Uggh, that was ugly.  Sure is interesting how Baldelli is willing to go with the new guy called up that morning in that situation.  In the past, Vasquez would have sat in the bullpen for several days before getting used.  Unfortunately, he was really bad last night.  Don't know what to think about him, or the decision to use him at that point in the game...kind of a head scratcher for me.

 

Morneau mentioned something I had been thinking about.  It appeared they were going to pinch hit for Odorizzi in the top of the 5th had he come up to bat.  Did that have some mental effect on him when he came back out?  Or did they see something in his last inning to question whether or not he was at the end.  All in all, puzzling both as to pinch hitting for him and how he went from unhittable to unable to throw a strike.

 

Wasn't all that worried having Moya, Reed and McGill on the IL.  Well that has changed.  Does anyone know how soon any of these could be back?

[Old Twins Cap]

Definitely chalk that up as a Bullpen loss, maybe someone should keep track?

 

A bit of overreach by Baldelli starting Astudillo for the 5th straight game, then putting in Vazquez before he could return the rental car from Rochester.

 

As long as Buxton plays like he is, Twins are fine.

 

And Garver, and Schoop, and Polanco, and Kepler.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

One thing Baldelli said was yes he was going to pinch hit for Odorizzi after the fourth, but the pitcher spot didn’t come up. But they could have done a double switch with Schoop and Gonzales leading off the next inning in the pitcher spot.

 

I watched the game. I haven’t been as disappointed in a starting pitcher as last night.

[Linus]

I think we are finding out whether it is Molitor or Baldelli there is no such thing expert management of a crappy bullpen. This is on Falvine and their hubris

[tarheeltwinsfan]

There are times in every game, when the game is on the line. That time last night was when the Mets' pitcher was coming to bat...and again when he was walked, loading the bases. Why not put the best lefty  reliever in the AL in to pitch to a left-handed hitted at that critical point...that game changing point? Rogers was well rested and has no game today. Why not put your best reliever in at the game's critical point?

[Riverbrian]

I don't remember who posted it but I remember research being posted on Odorizzi and the pumpkin he turns into around 70 pitches. 

 

When does the organization declare that Odorizzi will be a 4 inning guy max? 

[Otto von Ballpark]

A bit of overreach by Baldelli starting Astudillo for the 5th straight game

Astudillo hasn't started 5 straight games. He only started one game in Philadelphia over the weekend, and didn't even appear in Sunday's game. He actually only has 5 starts for the season so far.

[Otto von Ballpark]

There are times in every game, when the game is on the line. That time last night was when the Mets' pitcher was coming to bat...and again when he was walked, loading the bases. Why not put the best lefty reliever in the AL in to pitch to a left-handed hitted at that critical point...that game changing point? Rogers was well rested and has no game today. Why not put your best reliever in at the game's critical point?

I'm all for aggressive bullpen ideas, but no way a pitcher's PA, in the 5th inning, requires your best reliever.

 

I could see the argument, though, for getting Rogers or another top reliever warm at that point, ready to come in when the lineup turned over.

Edited April 11, 2019 by spycake

[Blake]

 

I turned off the Twins in disgust and switched over to the Blue Wahoos against the Jumbo Shrimp. (Gotta love those MiLB nicknames!) I thought I was in a time warp. The Shrimp had the bases loaded with no outs and the Wahoos' pitcher proceeded to hit the batter to force in a run, cutting a two-run lead to one. They managed to get out of it but only because the next batter swung and missed at a 3-2 pitch above his eyes. Wow, maybe the Twins just needed worse Mets.

I couldn't watch the Twins either and turned it off. Uggh.

[Vanimal46]

Baldelli put Vazquez in a rough spot for his debut.

 

I also concur with RB. The organization needs to come to the conclusion Odorizzi is not a starting pitcher. He's good for the first 60-70 pitches, and a disaster after that.

[jorgenswest]

He is very good relative to the league in the first inning contrary to his disaster in Philadelphia. He doesn’t need an opener. He does need a quick hook as he gets to the 4th or 5th inning.

 

I think they overthought playing in the NL game. They seemed ready to pinch hit for him in the top of the 5th but it ended with Buxton. Now he is the first batter in the 6th and they were way too invested in him getting through the fifth.

[BJames]

Has anyone blamed Garver yet???   

[blindeke]

Just forget this game ever happened. That's the great thing about baseball.

[jorgenswest]

Has anyone blamed Garver yet???

A catcher can help here both in game calling and making sure strikes get called strikes. Game calling is difficult to evaluate, I don’t know if we missed out on any strikes in the 5th inning. There could have been a different result with a different catcher.

 

The Twins certainly have had a few really long innings the last two games. Catchers have a role here. I think Castro was the catcher in the bad inning last Friday. Garver is not alone.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Just forget this game ever happened. That's the great thing about baseball.

I second that!