Article: MIN 6, TB 2: Marwin Carries May Success Into June, Helps Lead Twins Over Rays

[Tom Froemming]

Marwin Gonzalez did not make a good first impression upon Twins Territory. He got his tenure with the Twins off to a very rough start, hitting just .167/.244/.256 (.501 OPS) through April. He really turned it up in May, however, and made a nice first impression in June, helping to lead the Twins to a victory in Tampa Bay Saturday afternoon.Box Score

Gibson: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 67.0% strikes (59 of 88 pitches)

Home Runs: Gonzalez (6), Buxton (6)

Multi-Hit Games: Castro (3-for-4, 2B), Gonzalez (2-for-5, 2B, HR), Buxton (2-for-3, HR, BB), Rosario (2-for-4, BB)

WPA of +0.1: Gonzalez .168, Gibson .151, Polanco .125, Castro .107

WPA of -0.1: None

Download attachment: Win61.png

(chart via FanGraphs)

 

Gonzalez, who hit .299/.370/.443 (.814 OPS) in May, had a go-ahead RBI double and a solo home run today. He also had a flyout that had an exit velocity of 99 mph and traveled 379 feet. Marwin accounted for three of the five longest balls hit in today’s game, those three balls traveling a combined 1,201 feet.

 

 

Gonzalez has played a different position each game of this series so far. He’s moved across the diamond, going from third base Thursday to shortstop last night to first base this afternoon. He contributed there, as well, making a few nice scoops and stretches.

 

The Twins’ bullpen, subject of constant nitpickery, was also solid today. That unit combined to cover the final four innings of this game, and the only run they surrendered was on a 67.4 mph Ryne Harper curveball below the zone that Christian Arroyo somehow muscled out for his first homer of the year.

 

Tampa Bay starter Yonny Chirinos was nasty early on, but the Twins seemed to figure him out as the game progressed. They were having a tough time with Chirinos’ slider in particular, but he left one up on an 0-2 count to Byron Buxton in the fourth inning that resulted in an RBI single. Buxton also hit a solo homer with two strikes off reliever Hunter Wood in the sixth inning.

 

Chirinos ended up with seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings and got 19 swinging strikes on his 91 pitches. Even with that nastiness, the Twins lineup was able to get nine hits off him.

 

Kyle Gibson had basically the opposite experience. He wasn’t overpowering Tampa Bay, but he managed to make pitches when he really needed to.

 

After the Twins took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning, it was starting to feel like Gibson might unravel in the bottom of that frame. He labored through, requiring 28 pitches to get through it, but he managed to hold the Rays off the board and stranded the bases loaded.

 

Gibson followed that grind of an inning up with a quick 1-2-3 fourth inning that required just 10 pitches. He ran into some more trouble in the fifth, but pitched around a leadoff single. In his five innings, the Rays were 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position against Gibson and stranded seven runners on base. The only run he gave up was unearned.

 

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Pen61.png

Next Game

Sun at TB, 12:10 pm CT (Odorizzi-TBD)

 

Last Game

MIN 5, TB 3: Twins Rally, Top Rays Late

 

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[Dman]

Nice to see the offense have a good day today. Just short on a few fly balls that turned into doubles. Everyone got a hit except the leadoff man Kepler.

 

Can I Just say that I don't have much faith in our pitching and yet they continue to do well. Going into this series I wasn't sure we could play with the big boys but with the win today we have held our own against the good teams we have faced so That bodes well.

[denarded]

Good win. Marwin is team MVP.  So many positions, so much extra rest for the core. I don't know how you quantify it, but i'm sure there's a metric somewhere that will be in our vernacular soon. Hate to bag on Gibson, but go strong when you have a 2 strike count. Too much off speed and corner pitches. Trust the defense...That's why it's there (and aligned and checking their back pockets for cheat sheets and looking at the third base coach to get positioned and knowing what side of the plate the ball is going to be delivered to and...I made myself throw up in my mouth. Sorry) GO TWINS!

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Tampa who?

[h2oface]

 

.......(and aligned and checking their back pockets for cheat sheets and looking at the third base coach to get positioned and knowing what side of the plate the ball is going to be delivered to and...I made myself throw up in my mouth. Sorry) GO TWINS!

 

?? Are they looking at Tampa's third base coach that is on the field, or Diaz in the dugout?

[Brock Beauchamp]

At worst, the Twins will finish the Brewers/Rays series with a 3-3 record.

 

It's becoming almost impossible to question this team's legitimacy. Sure, they're maybe not a 100 win team but they're a very good team that can easily get better with a couple of key acquisitions.

[h2oface]

I keep thinking Diaz is going to cost us a game or two. Holding Kepler at third base? Seems like he holds the guys with speed, and sends Cron and Astudillo. It hasn't really cost us yet, but I really don't care for his judgement. Way too conservative with the speedsters.

 

Really impressive game is so many ways. Gibson bent, but didn't break. Key hits. Time to take the series 3-1 tomorrow.

 

Castro is having a hell of a year so far.

Edited June 1, 2019 by h2oface

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Twins have a losing record against just two teams this season: Yankees and Philadelphia. They have a 1-2 record against each of them so it's not as if they're getting killed by anyone.

[jorgenswest]

Left handed batters were 9 for 80 against Chirinos going into the game.

 

I wondered about the Twins line up with 6 left handed hitters. Those left handed hitters had 7 hits against Chirnos.  I am glad to see that the Twins aren't swayed by a sample of 80 at bats and I should have known better than to question a line up based on a 9 for 80.

[h2oface]

 

The Twins have a losing record against just two teams this season: Yankees and Philadelphia. They have a 1-2 record against each of them so it's not as if they're getting killed by anyone.

 

The only one they can't redeem is the Phillies (and that was on the road, and the only 3 games against them for the season), as we get 3 at home against the Yankees to finally shake the monkey off.

[MNT1996]

 

At worst, the Twins will finish the Brewers/Rays series with a 3-3 record.

 

It's becoming almost impossible to question this team's legitimacy. Sure, they're maybe not a 100 win team but they're a very good team that can easily get better with a couple of key acquisitions.

 

They are definitely a 100 win team.

[Thegrin]

For the first time this year, I didn't get nervous when they handed the ball over to the bullpen.  I took a break, got some coffee, chatted with my wife and when I got back, things were OK.  It was then that I realized that I wasn't worried. 

Good game.  Good Bullpen.

[Circus Boy]

We kept scoring and clogging the basepaths, so Rays bats had added pressure every inning. Me likey.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

They are definitely a 100 win team.

No, they're not definitely a 100 win team. No team is definitely a 100 win team on June 1st.

[D.C Twins]

And Anotha One....

[MNT1996]

 

No, they're not definitely a 100 win team. No team is definitely a 100 win team on June 1st.

 

I think a third of a season is a pretty good sample size. Twins have beat up bad opponents and played about .500 baseball against playoff contenders. They absolutely are a 100 win caliber team. Sure maybe that might change over the course of the season, but as of right now...yes, yes they are playing like a 100 win caliber team.

 

And if your response is a snarky "oh well obviously they can't win 100 games in 56 games played" then I'd be disappointed, but I'm strictly talking about them playing at the same level as 100 win teams of past seasons.

Edited June 1, 2019 by MNT1996

[D.C Twins]

And Anotha One....

 

The Twins have a losing record against just two teams this season: Yankees and Philadelphia. They have a 1-2 record against each of them so it's not as if they're getting killed by anyone.

 

Those Damned Yankees....Wouldn't be grand if this was the team to shed that monkey in a high profile playoff series.....#leverageourprospectstogetanotherelitestarterandreliever

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I think a third of a season is a pretty good sample size. Twins have beat up bad opponents and played about .500 baseball against playoff contenders. They absolutely are a 100 win caliber team. Sure maybe that might change over the course of the season, but as of right now...yes, yes they are playing like a 100 win caliber team.

That's pretty much my point. They're playing like a 100 win team right now but there are still over 100 games left in the season.

 

The Twins are almost guaranteed to be a pretty good team, more likely a very good team. Whether they're a 100 win team is still very much in question.

[D.C Twins]

#oropenPohladscheckbookforfreeagentsaftertradedeadlinewouldworktoo

[MVP Nick Punto]

Someone tell the Twins to wrap their knuckles on their day off, too. We're going up against four punching bags in a row after tomorrow. I know that's an easy trap to fall into, but as of this writing, the teams we play after TB have a combined 95-136 record for a W% of .411 and none are over .500, with a day off before the first game against said EVERLAST™ products, with a short flight from CLE to DET, then a day off before 6 in a row (9 total, but I was only counting the speed/heavy bags) in that place across from Target Center. And the MinniePauls should be motivated to take out any frustration they have in that stretch on those teams full of poor, pitiful mortals as, starting on the 11th, they play 13 days in a row with a trip from Bloomington to Missouri at the end.

 

Hmm, maybe I should've broken up this paragraph? Nah, who am I, Hemingway? Pfft!

Edited June 2, 2019 by MVP Nick Punto

[Nine of twelve]

 

At worst, the Twins will finish the Brewers/Rays series with a 3-3 record.

 

It's becoming almost impossible to question this team's legitimacy. Sure, they're maybe not a 100 win team but they're a very good team that can easily get better with a couple of key acquisitions.

Being in one of the two weakest divisions in MLB and being paired with the other one in interleague play means to me that a 100-win season is a very realistic possibility.

[james2334]

 

That's pretty much my point. They're playing like a 100 win team right now but there are still over 100 games left in the season.

 

The Twins are almost guaranteed to be a pretty good team, more likely a very good team. Whether they're a 100 win team is still very much in question.

I think the path to 100 wins or close is definitely possible, Especially when you consider that we have 46 more game with KC, Detroit, and Chicago. If they win 2 of every 3 of those games and go 30-16 or something close. They would just have to play a little above .500 against everyone else to get to 100. Also, Cleveland seems to be coming apart at the seems and all 4 of the teams in the division might sell at the trade deadline and could get worse then they currently are at present.

 

You never know because of injuries, slumps, etc. but if I was betting I would bet on us reaching 100 by years end. On the other hand if they have a 20 game lead in September they may take their foot off the pedal so who knows.

[twinssporto]

 

The Twins have a losing record against just two teams this season: Yankees and Philadelphia. They have a 1-2 record against each of them so it's not as if they're getting killed by anyone.

That last Yankee game in the pouring rain wasn't a real good indicator either.  I think they can pound the Yankees when the time comes. They should have won that one against the Phillies too.  It was a strange game all the way around.

[Brock Beauchamp]

That last Yankee game in the pouring rain wasn't a real good indicator either. I think they can pound the Yankees when the time comes. They should have won that one against the Phillies too. It was a strange game all the way around.

Yeah, my point is that the Twins have hung with everybody and beat most of them.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Being in one of the two weakest divisions in MLB and being paired with the other one in interleague play means to me that a 100-win season is a very realistic possibility.

Without a doubt. The home field advantage will be nice but we shouldn’t be fooled by records at the end of the season. A 102 win Twins team is likely inferior to a 97 win Yankees or Astros team.

[ScooterDance]

That's pretty much my point. They're playing like a 100 win team right now but there are still over 100 games left in the season.

 

The Twins are almost guaranteed to be a pretty good team, more likely a very good team. Whether they're a 100 win team is still very much in question.

 

Actually they’re playing like a 111 win team right now. They’d be 4 games up on a team that’s playing at a 100 win pace. 538 has them pegged for 100 wins right now. They know a little more about modeling and statistics than I do, so I’ll go on record as saying they’re a 100 win team.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Actually they’re playing like a 111 win team right now. They’d be 4 games up on a team that’s playing at a 100 win pace. 538 has them pegged for 100 wins right now. They know a little more about modeling and statistics than I do, so I’ll go on record as saying they’re a 100 win team.

They were modeled to be an ~85 win team eight weeks ago.

 

There's still a hell of a lot of baseball left to be played, folks.

[gbg]

Raise your hand if you thought this winter we'd be arguing over whether or not the 2019 Twins would reach 100 wins.

 

Anyone?

[ScooterDance]

Brock your pragmatism is getting in the way of my optimism.

[terrydactyls]

Yesterday was Saturday, June 1 and it was the 57th game of the year.  The Twins are now 35%  of the way through the season.  Out of 59 years, the current team ranks 48th on the all-time list of Twins' home runs in one season and are on a pace to hit 307 home runs this season.