Article: HOU 11, MIN 0: Completely Dominated

[Tom Froemming]

Well, you couldn’t have expected the Astros’ lineup to be held down for long. One night after being shut out, Houston tagged the Twins for 11 runs. Oh, and they got an even better pitching performance, as Gerrit Cole pitched seven one-hit innings while striking out 11 batters.Box Score

Pineda: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 65.3% strikes (64 of 98 pitches)

Home Runs: None

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

WPA of +0.1: None

WPA of -0.1: Cruz -.127, Pineda -.164

Download attachment: Win430.png

(chart via FanGraphs)

 

This game actually got off to a very encouraging start for the Twins. After Michael Pineda pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, Gerrit Cole walked the first two batters he faced and fell behind Nelson Cruz 2-0.

 

That concluded the positive portion of the evening for Minnesota. Cole battled back and induced a double play, though to be fair that pitch was absolutely obliterated. The Twins didn’t get another base runner until the fifth inning and didn’t have a hit until the sixth. By that time, Houston had already busted open a 7-0 lead.

 

In the grand scheme of things, this is just one loss to a good team. But if Pineda can’t be a dependable piece in the rotation, well that would be something to fret about. After giving up just five earned runs on 13 hits over his first 15 innings of the season, Pineda has now surrendered 15 earned runs on 24 hits in 14 innings since. Not good.

 

To be fair, this was a 1-0 game entering the fifth inning, so it’s not like Pineda was completely overmatched from the start. Outside of those rough first couple batters from Cole, however, Twins hitters were most definitely overmatched. Cole was a beast tonight, and is up to 65 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings this year. Just silly.

 

Oh, and the bullpen was bad too. Adalberto Mejia looks completely lost. He walked three of the five batters he faced and threw just 10 of his 27 pitches for strikes. The Twins also played their worst game in the field all season. Just a dreadful all-around performance, really.

 

Positives? Well, Max Kepler got two more hits. Fernando Romero looked pretty nasty in a scoreless ninth. He didn’t seem to have much command, but his stuff was moving all over the place. Let’s see, one more positive … uh … at least there weren’t many people who had to suffer through the whole thing?

 

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen430.png

Next Three Games

Wed vs. HOU, 7:10 pm CT (Perez-McHugh)

Thu vs. HOU, 12:10 pm CT (Berrios-Peacock)

Fri at NYY, 6:05 pm CT (Gibson-TBD)

 

Last Game

MIN 1, HOU 0: Let’s Go Crazy

 

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[mikelink45]

Bring back Baltimore.  I believe the HR rate is dropping, but the real concern is not that a very good pitcher stymied the lineup, but rather the trend of Pineda's starts, Magill looking back in consecutive games and Mejia continuing a season where he looks like he should be in AAA.  Those three are keys for us going forward unless we have more magic we can use to rescue the BP.  I continue to hope Pineda gets this turned around because I know the team is going to give him a long leash.  

 

Is Magill doing something different from last year?

 

Who is next for the call up to the pen?

[rghrbek]

Cole was absolutely electric.  Wow, I do not remember him throwing that hard for Pittsburgh.  Once he got out of the first the game was basically over.

[h2oface]

Yesterday seems like a looooooooooooonnnngggggggg time ago. No Singing from the Fat Guy(s). That was brutal. 3 hits in both games from the offense, and the tonage on the mound today. It didn't go well for the B team pitching. Plus, two errors. When this team doesn't want to stay in the game, they don't mess around.

[Danchat]

 

Bring back Baltimore.  I believe the HR rate is dropping, but the real concern is not that a very good pitcher stymied the lineup, but rather the trend of Pineda's starts, Magill looking back in consecutive games and Mejia continuing a season where he looks like he should be in AAA.  Those three are keys for us going forward unless we have more magic we can use to rescue the BP.  I continue to hope Pineda gets this turned around because I know the team is going to give him a long leash.  

 

Is Magill doing something different from last year?

 

Who is next for the call up to the pen?

Magill was awful in spring training (had an ERA of 9-10, somewhere in that range) and had peripherals in 2018 suggesting he was ripe for regression. I can't say I'm surprised if he doesn't look so good now.

 

Romero and Magill were the AAA reinforcements, and there's really not much left there to call up. Jake Reed is certainly worth a call-up, but the FO seems firmly opposed to giving him a chance. Other than that, they should probably be scouring waivers and looking for a potential trade if you're looking to bolster the pen, because our minors don't have much that's going to help this squad anytime soon.

[TheLeviathan]

Sometimes you hit a buzzsaw.  It happens, get 'em tomorrow.

[Mike Sixel]

AAA is a wasteland for pitching help. That depth doesn't look so good right now. The minutes have really been blech the last couple years. When does this highly rated system supply players?

 

Other than Harper, who is thirty, is there even a rookie on the roster? I hope we see some help soon, but I don't know where it would come from.

[Aerodeliria]

Ugh, ugh, ughly! A memorable game followed by an ugly and forgettable affair. I agree with Mr. Sixel. The trend line on Pineda's performances continues in the wrong direction.

 

How close is Thorpe to being ready?

[Aerodeliria]

... actually Harper pitched well in his short stint as well, but even the fielding was gross.

[h2oface]

 

... actually Harper pitched well in his short stint as well, but even the fielding was gross.

 

Harper inherited 3 more runners in his "pitched well short stint", and let them all score. He is now 8 inherited scored out of 12 for the season. That's not what I consider relief. He entered the game with the bases loaded with one out. A double play grounder and the inning is over. A freaky 40 foot infield single that Schoop could have probably converted into an out but Cron steps in front and bobbles (but the run would have scored on the out anyway, and the runner from second would have advanced to third), a sac fly, and then Polanco can't make an easy throw to first with plenty of time......... goofy circumstances, but 3/3 inherted runners score.

 

Mejia ..... finishes his disaster with 7 pitches that weren't even close to the zone. I don't know what people see in him. I don't see the "stuff". But I do notice the results. Folks kept talking how Pineda would be a vital part of the new rotation. And then were looking forward to Magill's return. Hopefully, Perez keeps the Twins in the game, and the A team relief can pitch to give us a chance to win on ESPN tomorrow.

[David HK]

Well, maybe they played the Orioles too much early on. They played just like 'em tonight.

[David HK]

Oops, double post.

Stupid smart phone...

[Aerodeliria]

You couldn't pin those plays on Harper this time. That was poor fielding.

[theBOMisthebomb]

The attendance was abysmal again last night. MLB.com says 12,181. Ouch. This has to have some Twins execs losing sleep. They have really only had one home game with truly nice weather that I can remember - a night game against the Jays. Otherwise, it's been pretty miserable at Target Field this season weather wise. Would the attendance have been worse if they were 10-17 rather than 17-10? I don't think it would have mattered. People are fatigued by the cold weather after this past winter we endured.

[bighat]

Worst game of the year. Six hits in two games. I guess at this point you just gotta have faith that the offense will pick it up tonight.

 

Maybe next time the Twins have a fire sale they can get some MLB-ready arms in return. Getting a haul of low-A pitchers in trades doesn't do you any good if a window of competition opens up the next year.

[rdehring]

Ouch!!!

 

Just don't feel good when Pineda is on the mound.  Hopefully, he will shake off the rust and get better as the season and temp warm up.  So glad that Gibson appears to be getting back to the Gibson we expect, Odorizzi has been good (except that one clunker), and Perez a pleasant surprise.  Hopefully, they will sit down with Gibson's rep and do a reasonable extension come July.   

 

Who could they summons from Rochester?  Maybe Stewart could be league average?  Otherwise, the only hope I see is Thorpe and doubt he would be ready before mid-summer.  

[Dman]

I didn't watch the whole game but the inning I did watch Cole struck out the side.  He looked really good as he was up, down left right and just outside with most of the pitches I saw.  I think patience would have been more prudent than aggressive at bats.  His fast ball has some nice tail at the end and he kept our guys swinging at balls.  In the three at bats I saw there were only two decent pitches to try and hit.  I turned it off after that inning as I knew this was a loss.

 

I will say this Twins team does not seem to be a good cold weather team.  Both blow outs were in cold bad weather.  I know the other team has to play in those conditions as well they just seem to handle it better than the Twins.  

 

We need to get another win against Houston and I don't like our chances with Perez on the mound.  I see a lot of long balls against us today but will have to wait and see.  Hopefully we can generate some offense but Houston has been good at keeping our bats at bay.

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

The attendance was abysmal again last night. MLB.com says 12,181. Ouch. This has to have some Twins execs losing sleep. They have really only had one home game with truly nice weather that I can remember - a night game against the Jays. Otherwise, it's been pretty miserable at Target Field this season weather wise. Would the attendance have been worse if they were 10-17 rather than 17-10? I don't think it would have mattered. People are fatigued by the cold weather after this past winter we endured.

I wonder if all the "outdoor baseball" enthusiasts were there. I remember when the Twins pushed for a domed stadium because of Minnesota's unpredictable weather. And then they pushed for an outdoor stadium because... well, they needed new luxury boxes. Now that the indoor/outdoor pendulum has swung in both directions don't be surprised when the push starts for a retractable roof, which, considering where we live, was the logical solution in the first place.

 

Until then we may have to go north of the wall and find some wildlings that can play baseball.

[Vanimal46]

Gerrit Cole is a very good pitcher. Still makes me sad the Twins didn't aggressively pursue him at the time.

[ashbury]

Jake Reed is certainly worth a call-up, but the FO seems firmly opposed to giving him a chance.

Reed is not on the 40-man, so almost certainly he will have to wait until the FO makes a decision that some current player simply can not be salvaged. It's May now, so that time may come soon.

[jorgenswest]

Did they fill the open spot?

[ashbury]

Did they fill the open spot?

Oh, that's right!

 

I wonder what their plan is, then.

[Dantes929]

Snowball effect.    Disappointing results in the 1st inning.   Pineda kept them to 1 for a while and then had to basically get 5 outs in the 5th.   Mijares can't find the strike zone.  Cole hot and the Astros offense is good.     Anyone think we would sweep these guys?      I would prefer the Twins just play good baseball and lose 5-0 but it wouldn't bother me to take 3 of 4 from these guys while being outscored by 8.    

[VATwinsFan]

I wonder if there is anyone out there who would give up a decent pitcher or two for Sano?

[jkcarew]

Is it just me? In prior years, I don't remember Pineda looking like....he looks.

[Vanimal46]

Is it just me? In prior years, I don't remember Pineda looking like....he looks.

It's not just you!

 

https://twitter.com/AaronGleeman/status/1123402464303050752?s=19

[jmlease1]

 

It's not just you!

https://twitter.com/AaronGleeman/status/1123402464303050752?s=19

 

His command looks rotten too. way too many pitches that really aren't close. Making it way too easy for a hitter to wait for a 3-ball count and a grooved fastball right now.

 

certainly didn't help it was a night where the D was discombobulated and the hitters were flailing at everything.

 

Write it off as a bad night, hope cruz isn't injured, and run it back tonight.

[howieramone2]

 

I wonder if there is anyone out there who would give up a decent pitcher or two for Sano?

It makes no sense to sell low at this time. Members are still unhappy about David Ortiz 15 years later.

[VATwinsFan]

 

It makes no sense to sell low at this time. Members are still unhappy about David Ortiz 15 years later.

True enough, but the Twins don't have to trade Sano.  It just might be interesting to see what other teams would be willing to give up for him.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Jake Reed is certainly worth a call-up, but the FO seems firmly opposed to giving him a chance.

I don't know about that -- Reed's minor league numbers seem pretty marginal. I suspect he might be in the same class as Bard and Curtiss before him.