Article: Super Rosario Stars as Twins Sweep Doubleheader

[Tom Froemming]

It was only a matter of time before we saw this offense really take off. The Twins scored six runs in the first game and 16 more in the second leg of the doubleheader in Baltimore tonight. Eddie Rosario hit three home runs on the day, giving him nine on the season already.Game 1: Box Score

Berrios: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 60.6% strikes (63 of 104 pitches)

Home Runs: Rosario 2 (8), Astudillo (2)

Multi-Hit Games: Rosario (3-for-5, 2B, 2 HR), Astudillo (2-for-4, HR)

WPA of +0.1: Rosario .244, Rogers .207, Castro .165, Buxton .107

WPA of -0.1: Berrios -.100,Gonzalez -.110, Polanco -.150

Download attachment: 420WinG1.png

(chart via FanGraphs)

 

Jose Berrios had his worst start of the season, giving up four runs on eight hits, three of which were home runs. Rosario picked him up by slugging a pair of homers himself and taking away another on a great catch in left field.

That gives Rosie back-to-back multi-homer games. He was not done.

 

Taylor Rogers had a rare shaky inning, giving up a run on three hits in the eighth. Still, Rocco Baldelli rolled with Rogers again in the ninth. Rogers rewarded his manager for showing faith in him by striking out the side in order to secure the one-run victory. He struck out five of the nine batters he faced.

 

If this wasn’t a doubleheader, I’d be willing to bet Baldelli would have went with someone else in the ninth, but it made sense to let Rogers go and protect another pitcher for the evening game in this case. But maybe this is actually something that can work on a regular basis.

 

Would you rather have Rogers pitch shorter bursts and be available to appear in more games? Or would you rather him cover multiple innings but be limited to fewer games? I’m not sure what the right answer is, but sometimes I feel like it’s pretty unrealistic to expect three or sometimes four of your relief pitchers to all have it in one night.

 

Sometimes it’s not worth it to plan ahead for the next game, because you never know when ...

 

Game 2: Box Score

Perez: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 69.8% strikes (67 of 96 pitches)

Home Runs: Cruz 2 (3), Schoop 2 (4), Garver 2 (5), Rosario (9), Cron (1)

WPA of +0.1: Cruz .193

WPA of -0.1: None

Download attachment: 420WinG2.png

(chart via FanGraphs)

 

… your lineup is going to do something bananas like score 16 runs. The Twins hit eight home runs in this one, two each from Nelson Cruz, Jonathan Schoop and Mitch Garver. C.J. Cron also homered, and you know Eddie wasn’t gonna let everyone else have all the fun.

 

Rosario homered again in the night game, giving him nine on the season. The earliest Rosie had ever reached that mark previously was May 11.

 

I didn’t list out the multi-hit games above because it was nearly the entire lineup. What a show. Cruz, Garver and Schoop also doubled. Garver, tonight’s leadoff man, had a team-high five RBIs while Schoop drove in four. Byron Buxton added a pair of doubles of his own, giving him 11 on the season already.

All this damage without Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler in the lineup. It was the kind of game we were all dreaming of these bats putting together coming into the season.

 

The Twins put up 10 runs in the first three innings, meaning the main thing they really needed out of starter Martin Perez was innings. He did a good job of throwing strikes, and managed to log six innings, giving up just one walk. He was charged four runs on six hits, two of which were home runs.

 

Fernando Romero, the 26th man for this doubleheader, made his 2019 Twins debut. It didn’t go so great. He gave up three runs over two innings. He didn’t record a strikeout, and only got one swinging strike among his 24 pitches.

 

On a brighter side, Tyler Duffey pitched a scoreless inning in the ninth. These two victories put the Twins up to 11-7 on the season.

 

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen420.png

Next Three Games

Sun at BAL, 12:05 pm CT (Gibson-Bundy)

Mon at HOU, 7:10 pm CT (Odorizzi-Peacock)

Tue at HOU, 7:10 pm CT (Pineda-Miley)

 

Last Game

TOR 7, MIN 4: Rosario Homers Twice as Twins Drop Game, Series

 

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[Danchat]

I was afraid the Twins were going to lose that first game, so thank goodness they got the sweep [of the doubleheader]. They really needed this after losing 3 to the Jays. Now go out there and get a win tomorrow, boys. Keep those bats hot!

[Seth Stohs]

I saw the headline about Rosario and then looked over at the pictures and thought "That's not Rosario." 

 

But Cruz was pretty good too.

 

Berrios clearly didn't have his best stuff on Saturday, but just well enough. 

 

Game 2 was just fun for everyone. 

[Yawn Gardenhose]

Nice to see the offense come out today. And Cleveland blew a seven run lead tonight, including a 7-3 lead in the ninth (five walks in that ninth - that sounds familiar). Bullpen issues not limited to the Twins. 

[Tom Froemming]

 

I saw the headline about Rosario and then looked over at the pictures and thought "That's not Rosario." 

Have to work with what's available.

[jmlease1]

Romero didn't look ready. pretty blegh outing from him, but he got through enough to save us from needing another pitcher, so we're in decent shape in the 'pen for sunday.

 

The bats were certainly booming. The boomstick arrived too, and Rosario continues to crush it. Garver is confirming he's got the stick to play here, regardless of his catching, but hes been good enough behind the plate to be a real asset.

 

I'm impressed with what Cron has done at 1B. He's saved quite a few outs already and I think he'll be a nice hitter all year too.

[highlander]

This fella Rosario, he's HOT!!!!

[carlito_b]

When eddie gets hot he goes into MVP territory .schoop is another guy who has extreme hot streaks. The twins have a lot of players that can carry a lineup for a week or two. A good sano makes a very scary lineup. Especially with the way Garver is hitting, no easy outs

[ScooterDance]

Look at the runs scored and runs against for the tribe and the twins.

 

Tribe have played two more games.

Twins have scored 25 more runs

Twins have given up 12 more runs

 

This is how this season will go. Tribe will win on SP. Twins will win on bats.

 

As carlito_b said - we have a lot of players who can carry a club. Sanó may only add to that.

 

The tribe have some elite SP, a shaky pen, and a paper thin lineup.

 

I like our chances.

[jimbo92107]

I'm impressed that Schoop has the same line drive homer power as CJ Cron. Schoop is actually a pretty big guy. This could be a fun season to watch Twins baseball. 

[FlauerPauer]

Excellent performance from the lineup today. Great to see Buxton continue to play well. Go Twins!

[Channing1964]

get ready...we gonna Shock the World!!

[glunn]

 

 

 

Game 2 was just fun for everyone. 

Except the Orioles, their fans, and I suspect the moderators of their fansite.

[rghrbek]

Every time I want to write Eddie off as not a star (his dropped ball or his many weird adventures on the base paths or outfield), he ends up making me swallow my statement.  Is he a superstar, I dunno.   All I know he drives me crazy, but he's our best player.  He just good.

 

Wish the Toronto stink could get off these two wins, but wow the orioles are bad   Twins did what they should, beat the hell out of a bad team.  Our team can hit boys.

[killertwinfan]

Piling on bad pitching does not equate to our offense "taking off" for me.  At one point in the first game we were 1-7 with RISP and looked as though we were going to give away the first game to a team that is worse than the Blue Jays.  I enjoyed the games, I am happy with the outcome, but I am not satisfied with the FO's effort to secure the opportunity that sits right in front of us. We deserve better. The team is spending below budget after their promise to do otherwise when we built them a stadium.  Not cool!

[mikelink45]

I hardly recognize anyone in the Oriole's lineup, of course that was true of the Blue Jays too.  I liked the way our bats played, but not our pitching.  Romero disappointed and Perez against that lineup did not look good either.  He made innings, but again - look at their lineup.

 

But our bats really made noise and that is so fun.  Sano must be chomping at the bit to get back with the team.

[scottz]

For everyone bringing up theBlue Jays: Small sample size, but since leaving Target Field, the Blue Jays have beaten Oakland on the road by scores of 5-1 and 10-1.

 

I know nobody likes losing to a perceived bad team and especially at home, but the Blue Jays are professionals too, and they took three of four from us. Let it go and enjoy the sweep.

[Riverbrian]

 

 

Would you rather have Rogers pitch shorter bursts and be available to appear in more games? Or would you rather him cover multiple innings but be limited to fewer games? 

 

I've been saying this for quite some time and will continue to say it.

 

Every team should be trying to sign, acquire or create their own Andrew Miller or Josh Hader type. 

 

Taylor Rogers is our candidate for this type of role. 

 

2018: Josh Hader -- 55 Appearances - 81 Innings.

2018: Taylor Rogers -- 72 Appearances - 68.1 innings. 

2018: Jose Berrios -- 32 Appearances - 192.1 Innings. 

 

The Hader and Rogers numbers kind of highlight the difference in how they were deployed last year and it shows how Rogers can throw more than 1 inning per appearance if the organization looks at the Brewers and Josh Hader and considers it. Jose Berrios is listed for the hell of it to show that anything in between is also possible with Taylor Rogers and to simply ask the question back:

 

Would you rather have Berrios pitch in shorter bursts and be available to appear in more games? Or would you rather him cover multiple innings but be limited to fewer games? 

 

Baseball has been Auto-Pilot for way too long. Starters don't have to go 6 innings and relievers don't need to be limited to 1 inning. Everything in between is possible!!! 

 

It doesn't matter what inning... Taylor Rogers should be deployed whenever the game is tight and should remain in the game (there is a limit) until the offense provides separation. 

 

You won't create this type of weapon until the coaching staffs and front offices get over the 1 inning bullpen mentality and get out of the prefabricated boxes of closer, 8th inning guy, 7th inning guy, LOOGY. 

 

If you have a guy who can hang zeroes... let the guy hang more of them. Don't pull him just because you can't fathom anybody on earth throwing an additional inning out of the bullpen or because it was how your grandfather constructed his bullpen. Don't limit him to 55 special innings... increase his innings. The goal of every bullpen is to hang zeroes. Let the guy hanging them... hang more. 

 

Once you create a guy like this... there is nothing stopping you from creating another one so the other can get some rest.

 

This is how you get Bullpen serious. Stretch out everyone. Quit creating these specialists... Quit saving your best guy for the 9th inning only and only when you have a 1 to 3 run lead. 

 

When I see Baldelli get another inning out of Taylor Rogers... I am hopeful that it's an indication of a different bullpen usage mentality. I know it doesn't mean he is in lock step with me because it was just one time but I'm hopeful because it needs to happen. 

 

How do you get Rogers more innings?... Not appearances... Innings? That's the question that needs to be asked. 

 

 

 

[bighat]

Can't wait to see the Twins do more of this to the Tigers, White Sox, and Royals as the season progresses. The Indians are going to feast off those guys too though - which is why winning series like these against non-division opponents is going to be a difference maker.

[Riverbrian]

 

I continue to have no complaints with how the team has been run. Rocco is utilizing his entire roster. 

 

However... I feel a complaint coming on. In my opinion: I think he has been great defensively at 3B but, It's time to start moving Marwin around the diamond. 

 

Sano is coming back eventually, Garver is hitting the ball and earning more AB's and Astudillo has been earning AB's all along. 

 

Let Garver catch more, Let Astudillo play 3B more, Move Marwin around the diamond spread the playing time burden around to everyone. 

 

It's time. 

[ashbury]

We currently have 4 guys listed as starters (Garver at this point qualifies) with an OPS above 1.000 - catcher, shortstop, left field and DH. CF and 2B aren't exactly scuffling either, above .800. Not surprisingly, this adds up to a league-leading OPS.

 

This can only continue as the status quo for the remainder of the season.

[jorgenswest]

Twin pitchers got a huge lead early and then pitched to contact later in counts. One walk.

[USNMCPO]

Did anyone else enjoy the banter between Kaat and Blylevin last night? I'm not a Blylevin fan but the talk between these two old team mates was great. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Platoon]

Can't wait to see the Twins do more of this to the Tigers, White Sox, and Royals as the season progresses. The Indians are going to feast off those guys too though - which is why winning series like these against non-division opponents is going to be a difference maker.

I can easily wait til the Twins play crappy division play day after day...... Nothing is less exciting than watching a 16-3 baseball game against what appears to be a AA team. Yawn!

[Mr. Brooks]

For everyone bringing up theBlue Jays: Small sample size, but since leaving Target Field, the Blue Jays have beaten Oakland on the road by scores of 5-1 and 10-1.

 

I know nobody likes losing to a perceived bad team and especially at home, but the Blue Jays are professionals too, and they took three of four from us. Let it go and enjoy the sweep.

In poker we call that "a fish on a heater". Toronto is terrible.

[Aerodeliria]

Nice wins today! I said to myself after Friday's rainout that we should sweep the Orioles. We have a chance!

 

It would be nice. Houston will be a much tougher assignment.

 

I agree that the Twins have some streaky hitters and that's why I want Cruz in the lineup every day he possibly can lift a bat.

 

He brings that 'same every day' approach each time he steps to the plate.

[Nine of twelve]

 

Did anyone else enjoy the banter between Kaat and Blylevin last night? I'm not a Blylevin fan but the talk between these two old team mates was great. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Jim Kaat is 80 years old so I completely understand why his schedule of appearances is limited, but he clearly is totally with it cognitively and his vast experience and knowledge make him the best analyst we've got. 

[Riverbrian]

I thought of another potential complaint that I’m not ready to complain about yet.

 

Baldelli does seem to have a locked down slotting of players in the batting order which leads to the question.

 

Wouldn’t we all like to see Byron Buxton get an extra AB every game he plays? It doesn’t have to be permanent but isn’t Buxton currently out performing the nine hole that he has been consistently hitting out of?

 

I normally don’t care about batting order but I’d put Buxton in the 1 or 2 hole as long as he’s hitting like he is and let him be a distraction on the bases while the pitcher is trying pitch to Cruz and Rosario.

 

Polanco... Buxton... Cruz... Rosario... Looks like a great 1-4 at the moment start to any batting order.

[ashbury]

I thought of another potential complaint that I’m not ready to complain about yet.

 

Baldelli does seem to have a locked down slotting of players in the batting order which leads to the question.

 

Wouldn’t we all like to see Byron Buxton get an extra AB every game he plays? It doesn’t have to be permanent but isn’t Buxton currently out performing the nine hole that he has been consistently hitting out of?

 

I normally don’t care about batting order but I’d put Buxton in the 1 or 2 hole as long as he’s hitting like he is and let him be a distraction on the bases while the pitcher is trying pitch to Cruz and Rosario.

 

Polanco... Buxton... Cruz... Rosario... Looks like a great 1-4 at the moment start to any batting order.

His OPS is good but when I watch him at bat I still see a fragility to the results that I'm not tempted to mess with success quite yet. A BABIP of .390 suggests that a few fortuitous balls have fallen in for doubles for him. I see a few too many center-cut pitches missed. So, I'd give it another month at least.

[Riverbrian]

 

His OPS is good but when I watch him at bat I still see a fragility to the results that I'm not tempted to mess with success quite yet. A BABIP of .390 suggests that a few fortuitous balls have fallen in for doubles for him. I see a few too many center-cut pitches missed. So, I'd give it another month at least.

 

I also heard someone (Provus I believe) say that Byron ranks 2nd behind Bryce Harper in exit velocity which coupled with his speed leads to a possible logical (not concrete) explanation of the .390 BABIP. I'm not seeing fortuitous doubles. I'm seeing line drives of the base off the LF wall and some singles in the gap that he turned into doubles with pure speed. 

 

Personally... I rarely look at BABIP as a luck stat to be normalized down the road. I feel BABIP is more of an indication of solid contact and other factors like speed. 

 

Some people tend to use BABIP as a way to marginalize or downplay current success. When I look at a high BABIP, I tend to say "Nice Job... Good For You... Keep it Up". 

 

He already has 12 extra base hits in 61 AB's. 

 

I do agree that I'd like to see a big cut down in his whiff percentage. It's better so far this year in a small sample size but I'm salivating over the thought of him getting his strikeout percentage to Astudillo levels.