Article: MIN 4, BAL 3: Gibby Good, Hildy Holds, Rogers Saves the Sweep

[Tom Froemming]

Kyle Gibson delivered his first quality start of the year, Trevor Hildenberger stranded two more inherited runners and Taylor Rogers worked around an error to pick up his third save of the season as the Twins finished off a sweep at Baltimore. The O's nearly scored the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth, but Eddie Rosario made an excellent play to cut down a ball and relay it into the infield.Box Score

Gibson: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 61.8% strikes (55 of 89 pitches)

Home Runs: None

Multi-Hit Games: Cron (2-for-3, BB), Adrianza (2-for-4)

WPA of +0.1: Hildenberger .340, Gibson .168, Cron .112

WPA of -0.1: Rosario -.108, May -.165

Download attachment: Win421.png

(chart via FanGraphs)

 

Kyle Gibson had by far his best start of the season this afternoon, completing six innings for the first time in 2019. It took him only 89 pitches to do so. He got 14 swinging strikes, five alone on the 19 sliders he threw.

 

Gibson completed at least five innings in 29 of his 32 starts last season, going at least six innings in 21 of those outings. In three starts so far this season, Gibby had topped out at 5 1/3 innings and only completed five frames once.

 

Things got a bit hairy in the third inning, but Kyle worked his way through it and got back on track. The Orioles scored a pair of two-out runs in the third, but would only get one more baserunner over Gibson’s final three innings.

 

It seemed like the Twins used up all their power yesterday. Maybe should have saved one or two of those homers for this afternoon. They did all their scoring in the first four innings. Willians Astudillo and C.J. Cron had run-scoring hits in the first inning and Jake Cave had an RBI single in the third. Byron Buxton led off that fourth inning with yet another double. He advanced to third on a sacrifice fly and came around to score on another sacrifice.

 

We saw Taylor Rogers cover two innings in his outing during the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader and today Trevor May, the first man out of the bullpen, came back out for the eighth after pitching a scoreless seventh inning.

 

May gave up back-to-back singles and Trevor Hildenberger was summoned from the bullpen. Hildy came into today having inherited 17 runners already this season, three more than any other reliever in baseball.

 

Hildenberger got a huge strikeout, then induced a weak groundout to first base. He had a good battle with Renato Nunez, but ended up walking him to load the bases. That’s when you knew Hildy had them right where he wanted them. He had already faced seven batters with the bases loaded this season. Sure enough, he got a weak swinging bunt to end the threat.

 

It’s pretty remarkable how good Hildenberger has been so far this season after looking so lost in the second half of last season. The bullpen could still use some help, but Hildenberger’s continued resurgence would be a massive boost.

 

Speaking of Rogers, he came in to handle the ninth. It wasn’t his usual automatic inning. He hit a batter, gave up a pair of hits and an error was committed behind him. The Orioles scored a run, and might have had another if it wasn’t for an excellent play in the field.

 

Eddie Rosario did it all in this series. He hit three home runs and robbed the O’s of another one in the field during yesterday’s doubleheader. He was 0-for-5 at the plate today, but he prevented the game-tying run from scoring by cutting off a ball before it reached the fence and getting it back to the infield in time to keep a runner at third base.

 

With this sweep, the Twins are now 12-7. That’s a 102-win pace. Sure, there are some clouds lingering around the future sustainability of this success, as there are with any team this early in the season, but an impressive showing against the Astros would go a long way toward blowing those clouds away.

 

The Twins head to Houston with a 7-3 record on the road and a 4-4 record against teams with winning records.

 

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen421.png

Next Three Games

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

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

Wed at HOU, 7:10 pm CT (TBD-Verlander)

 

Last Game

Super Rosario Stars as Twins Sweep Doubleheader

 

Click here to view the article

[The Mask of Zoilo]

Is something up with Blake Parker? He hasn't pitched since last Wednesday and I was expecting him to close out the 9th inning. On another note, Hildenberger has been something to behold so far this season.

[DocBauer]

Is something up with Blake Parker? He hasn't pitched since last Wednesday and I was expecting him to close out the 9th inning. On another note, Hildenberger has been something to behold so far this season.

 

Heard a quote late in the game he was feeling better but maybe not ready yet. Don't know if it's injury related or if he has the same bug plaguing Kepler. Perhaps someone can shed more light?

[Danchat]

 

Heard a quote late in the game he was feeling better but maybe not ready yet. Don't know if it's injury related or if he has the same bug plaguing Kepler. Perhaps someone can shed more light?

It was said in the game thread yesterday that both Kepler and Parker were sick.

[yarnivek1972]

The Twins need to decide how much they like Adalberto Mejia. He didn’t pitch today. He didn’t pitch in either game yesterday. Meanwhile, Hildenberger and Rogers threw at least 18 pitches both days.

 

That’s how guys get overused. By not using guys that are there.

 

The Twins need to keep sending him out there until Falvine decides to take him off the roster. Not using him is simply not an option.

[DocBauer]

I really wanted to make some comments after the double header sweep but just didn't have opportunity. But after winning today, and sweeping the series, my points seem just as prevalent today.

 

Winning, and being 12-7 at this point is the most important thing. (Just stinks it feels like we gave up 2-4 wins we should have had, but you can't win them all). Despite a few questions and concerns, this has the loom of a pretty good and competitive team. Don't want to speak for anyone else, but I'm having a lot of fun right now!

 

A few thoughts/opinions:

 

1] Next to the Twins actually winning all 3 games, the biggest highlight was listening to Blyleven and Kaat in the booth for the weekend. Not only reminiscing and telling old stories, but their Basball knowledge and opinions about today's game, especially the changes in how pitchers are used prepared and developed was priceless.

 

2] This offense is just warming up and already looking dangerous.

 

3] As a team, the defense is much, much improved.

 

4] Can't we just admit Garver has improved behind the plate, may be one of the best offensive catchers around, and just admit he's the #1 guy back there at this point?

 

5] Can we also admit that the Cron signing was good? Yes, we can debate a power hitting 1B/DH type may be a dime a dozen. Guy is a decent hitter with power coming off his best season after a few adjustments and finally getting 500AB. He's starting to heat up now and is playing an excellent 1B. Without bringing in a certified All Star, could they really have done any better?

 

6] Don't worry about Gibson. His illness was as serious as it was unfortunate and untimely. He's been a little behind, has flashed his old self, has been building himself up still, and looked a lot more like his old self today. We have seen enough from Pineda, Perez and Odorizzi to at least be optimistic. We need to see more. But Gibson will not be a problem.

 

7] The pen has issues and is scary. But it's also been better than we feared. May settling in, Mejia adapting to his new role and settling in would go a long way to helping things. With luck, at least 1 of Magill and Reed will be back soon and improve things. FA, trade or successful promotion, we need at least one more good arm. But the pen has been better, thus far, than I think any of us expected.

[yarnivek1972]

The Twins need at least two more “good” bullpen arms. Maybe three. Whether that is May or Mejia improving, Reed and/or Magill helping or someone else. A team can’t contend with 3 reliable relievers in today’s game.

[Tom Froemming]

Audra Martin reported late in the game on FSN that Blake Parker had told her he was good to go today.

[Dantes929]

 

I really wanted to make some comments after the double header sweep but just didn't have opportunity. But after winning today, and sweeping the series, my points seem just as prevalent today.

Winning, and being 12-7 at this point is the most important thing. (Just stinks it feels like we gave up 2-4 wins we should have had, but you can't win them all). Despite a few questions and concerns, this has the loom of a pretty good and competitive team. Don't want to speak for anyone else, but I'm having a lot of fun right now!

A few thoughts/opinions:

 

2] This offense is just warming up and already looking dangerous.
 

 
 .  

Umm,  Top team OPS last year was Boston with .792.   Twins are sitting at .860.   I would love if this offense was just warming up but it is more likely that it is peaking.    3 years ago it was just absurd how badly the 9 guys projected as starters performed the first month of the season.  Not a single one played up to expectations or to his history and the buy brought in as a reserve (Nunez) was the only one hitting worth a darn.   Now we have everyone meeting or exceeding expectations except the guy brought in as a reserve (Gonzalez).    I would love if it is sustainable but that .860 OPS is really likely to come down rather than go up.    How much of a decline is what will define the season.   The 2-4 losses you think we should have won is probably equaled by 2-4 wins other team fan bases thought they should have won but lost.

 

[jorgenswest]

I think they will need Mejia and Harper for length in the Astros series. Both are ready to go.

[mattk]

I find it interesting that I've heard a lot on the broadcast about the difference between "pitchers" and "throwers." I would like someone to share that with our pitching staff. I grow weary of watching these guys throwing the same pitch 3 or 4 consecutive times in the same quadrant of the strike zone, or just staying in the lower (or upper) part of the zone. My feeling is that they are not capable of making the hitter guess wrong very often, and it is only the effectiveness of the pitch itself that works. I would be curious to know how many of our pitchers actually had an in-game conversation with Colon or Rodney about how they would pitch a hitter or just get some pointers on what they need to be working on. 

Today it appeared that by the third inning Bundy had nothing, yet our guys looked totally out of sorts when he was pitching from the 4th to the 6th. Sure, we got a couple of hits, but it wasn't really impressive to me to watch them.

[wsnydes]

I know this is beating a dead horse, but when the bullpen's best assets still end up making a game interesting against a team like Baltimore, it doesn't give me any warm fuzzies inside...

[wabene]

Fun to play the Orioles! Lets see if that team from the crappy park in the crappy town down south is still any good. A good test. MESS WITH TEXAS! Texas is responsible for the all caps.

[ashbury]

 

Fun to play the Orioles! Lets see if that team from the crappy park in the crappy town down south is still any good. A good test. MESS WITH TEXAS! Texas is responsible for the all caps.

Quoted For Truth.

[Dantes929]

 

I know this is beating a dead horse, but when the bullpen's best assets still end up making a game interesting against a team like Baltimore, it doesn't give me any warm fuzzies inside...

 

You have higher standards than I do.    Baltimore has scored more runs per game than Boston, Houston, Cleveland and 10 other teams this year.    When  the best reliever in Twins history has given up just under 3 runs per 9 and when the best reliever in MLB history gave up over 2 runs per 9 I'm not going to complain about the guy that just had two saves in two days and has a 2.31 ERA.    Did you ever watch Nathan pitch?   Did he ever give you the warm fuzzies?    Perkins had a strong tendency to make things interesting as well.   Every reliever gives up runs to every team eventually.    

[mikelink45]

My concern is the bullpen overuse.  Yes Rogers and Hildenberg look really good, but the season is young and already we are seeing them accumulate more than their fair share of innings and appearances.  It is what Molitor was condemned for, but I understand - when you have only a couple you really trust there is a real tendency to keep going to them.  But there is a bench coach and a pitching coach that need to help put the brakes on.  We need them at the end of the season with live arms.  

[wabene]

Hildy may just prove the second half last year was the outlier and he is quite ready.

[Lasorda_This_Out]

Twins Daily Brothers and Sisters:

 

Go check out ESPN.com MLB page and CBS Sports.com MLB page and 

see if you can find ANY story on the Twins sweep of the Orioles or 11 home runs in Saturday's double header? Answer: Nope

 

If Yankees, Red Sox, Nationals, Phillies, Astros and/or the Dodgers, it would be a greater story than Babe Ruth and hot dogs at stadium concessions?

Minnesota will be perpetually dismissed until the Twins win 3 consecutive World Series and then teeth-gnashing grudgingly by National Media...

We're off the radar guys....lets do a NORAD surprise attack in 2019?

[yarnivek1972]

Twins Daily Brothers and Sisters:

 

Go check out ESPN.com MLB page and CBS Sports.com MLB page and

see if you can find ANY story on the Twins sweep of the Orioles or 11 home runs in Saturday's double header? Answer: Nope

 

If Yankees, Red Sox, Nationals, Phillies, Astros and/or the Dodgers, it would be a greater story than Babe Ruth and hot dogs at stadium concessions?

Minnesota will be perpetually dismissed until the Twins win 3 consecutive World Series and then teeth-gnashing grudgingly by National Media...

We're off the radar guys....lets do a NORAD surprise attack in 2019?

Two teams that lost 90 games last year played each other. Can’t imagine why no one cares nationally.

[wsnydes]

 

You have higher standards than I do.    Baltimore has scored more runs per game than Boston, Houston, Cleveland and 10 other teams this year.    When  the best reliever in Twins history has given up just under 3 runs per 9 and when the best reliever in MLB history gave up over 2 runs per 9 I'm not going to complain about the guy that just had two saves in two days and has a 2.31 ERA.    Did you ever watch Nathan pitch?   Did he ever give you the warm fuzzies?    Perkins had a strong tendency to make things interesting as well.   Every reliever gives up runs to every team eventually.    

Fair enough. Let's not pretend that even the best pieces of the bullpen have locked things down otherwise this season though. I'm not expecting perfection, but they have a tendency to make games far more interesting than one would hope. You're correct, relievers will allow base runners and runs at some point. My point is that these guys seem to do it nearly every outing. 

 

I find it amusing that you mentioned Nathan and Perkins, but no Every Day Eddie? That guy made those two look like The Sandman. It seemed like he was always pitching with the bases loaded.

Edited April 22, 2019 by wsnydes

[bighat]

Woah woah woah - who whizzed in your Easter Ham, guys?

 

Twins are 12-7. First place.

 

Buxton's hitting. Polanco's hitting. Garver's hitting. Cruz is launching moonshots. Scoop is looking like the 2017 All-Star again. Rosario is absolutely on fire. Astudillo's hitting....did I mention BUXTON is hitting!?!?!

 

Just imagine when Sano gets back. Where do you bat him? 5th behind Cruz? That's borderline scary. And think about when Gonzalez starts hitting. No more snow-outs, no more 30-degree games.

 

The talent is here folks. Down year in the division. Twins could take the Central and avoid the dreaded wildcard. This team could be very, very good. Will the Twins realize that talent? That's the question. But this is the most dangerous Twins team I've seen in a long time.

 

They just have to execute.

[Dantes929]

 

Fair enough. Let's not pretend that even the best pieces of the bullpen have locked things down otherwise this season though. I'm not expecting perfection, but they have a tendency to make games far more interesting than one would hope. You're correct, relievers will allow base runners and runs at some point. My point is that these guys seem to do it nearly every outing. 

 

I find it amusing that you mentioned Nathan and Perkins, but no Every Day Eddie? That guy made those two look like The Sandman. It seemed like he was always pitching with the bases loaded.

 

Fair enough. Let's not pretend that even the best pieces of the bullpen have locked things down otherwise this season though. I'm not expecting perfection, but they have a tendency to make games far more interesting than one would hope. You're correct, relievers will allow base runners and runs at some point. My point is that these guys seem to do it nearly every outing. 

 

I find it amusing that you mentioned Nathan and Perkins, but no Every Day Eddie? That guy made those two look like The Sandman. It seemed like he was always pitching with the bases loaded.

I don't know the audience so I didn't know how far back to go.    I lived through the Ron Davis era so everyone seems like Mariano Rivera to me.

[ashbury]

I lived through the Ron Davis era

It killed me.

[wsnydes]

 

I don't know the audience so I didn't know how far back to go.    I lived through the Ron Davis era so everyone seems like Mariano Rivera to me.

Ha!  I'm old enough to have been around during the Ron Davis era, but young enough to not have any first hand recollection. From everything I've read and been told, that's a blessing!

[terrydactyls]

I have recollections from the Ray Moore and Bill Plies era. You kids go look that up.

[Craig Arko]

On the other hand, Stan Williams, Ron Perranoski, and Bill Campbell were among the very best.

[Doctor Wu]

 

My concern is the bullpen overuse.  Yes Rogers and Hildenberg look really good, but the season is young and already we are seeing them accumulate more than their fair share of innings and appearances.  It is what Molitor was condemned for, but I understand - when you have only a couple you really trust there is a real tendency to keep going to them.  But there is a bench coach and a pitching coach that need to help put the brakes on.  We need them at the end of the season with live arms.  

Yes, the bullpen overuse can become a big problem quickly. But don't forget Harper and Parker and are also looking good, plus we should a couple of guys back from the IL soon too. And Meija is bound to improve, right? I wouldn't have said this in spring training, but at this point I have faith in this bullpen.

[gil4]

 

5] Can we also admit that the Cron signing was good? Yes, we can debate a power hitting 1B/DH type may be a dime a dozen. Guy is a decent hitter with power coming off his best season after a few adjustments and finally getting 500AB. He's starting to heat up now and is playing an excellent 1B. Without bringing in a certified All Star, could they really have done any better?

I'm not quite ready. I don't hate it, but we had a similar player in Austin who is 27 instead of 29 and is being paid at the dime a dozen rate, rather than costing us a quarter.

[wabene]

I'm not quite ready. I don't hate it, but we had a similar player in Austin who is 27 instead of 29 and is being paid at the dime a dozen rate, rather than costing us a quarter.

From what I've seen i'd rather have Cron all day long. His glove looks good enough to have nobody mentioning how we miss Joe's and he seems to me to be a more well rounded hitter than two outcomes Austin.

Edited April 22, 2019 by Original Whizzinator

[mikelink45]

 

Twins Daily Brothers and Sisters:

 

Go check out ESPN.com MLB page and CBS Sports.com MLB page and 

see if you can find ANY story on the Twins sweep of the Orioles or 11 home runs in Saturday's double header? Answer: Nope

 

If Yankees, Red Sox, Nationals, Phillies, Astros and/or the Dodgers, it would be a greater story than Babe Ruth and hot dogs at stadium concessions?

Minnesota will be perpetually dismissed until the Twins win 3 consecutive World Series and then teeth-gnashing grudgingly by National Media...

We're off the radar guys....lets do a NORAD surprise attack in 2019?

I am not sure how we can complain after the last 5 - 6 years. I agree with Yarnivek1972.  It is up to us to prove relevancy.  We just got done playing the Orioles and the Blue Jays who have a combined record of  19 - 27 and we have also played the Royals and Tigers who are 17 - 25.  We have played 19 games and 12 of them have come against these juggernauts.

 

I love the enthusiasm, but after Berrios who do you believe in?  After Hildy and Rogers who do you trust?  Those four teams have a run differential of (- 72) so we are not the only ones to hit the ball against them. Lets wait until June and if we are still pushing first the National Press will start to notice.