Article: MIN 5, CLE 4: Max Power Against Bauer

[Don Walcott]

It's about time on this site for everyone to start spelling Rogers correctly.

[IndianaTwin]

 

 

And to be clear, according to math, Kepler has room for even more power.  At least I think this is what that means.

 

 

To clarify, that's using the imperial system. In metric, and after reducing the fractions, I came up with...

 

P_Max = CLeVe/LaND

 

 

 

 

[Tom Froemming]

 

Tom, while  I don't spend a ton of time analyzing the charts, I've come to expect them, and always get a kick out of looking at them.  One of several unique "signature" items one just won't find anywhere else.

 

It was really telling the other day, reading one of the loss recaps on MLB.com before yours--it largely focused on the positives from Cleveland's perspective.  It was so nice to come here and get the whole story--the good, bad, and ugly.

I've done a ton of experimenting, but to my knowledge those are the only element that have been in every single game recap here. So I am inclined to keep them, but if people just glance right over each time they're not worth the trouble, Glad to hear you find them valuable.

 

We assume readers have had some sort of interaction with the game prior to reading these. Whether it's watching the entire thing, participating in the threads here, following on social media or reading another recap, people more than likely aren't coming here first. And that's OK, but our aim to have those unique, signature elements is always going to need to be there. We have to do things a little differently from everywhere else.

 

I'm just trying to see if there may be a way to lower the degree of difficulty in putting them together without dumbing them down too much. Maybe I'll look elsewhere.

 

I'm old school, and pay no attention to the win expectancy charts. IMO they don't tell me anything I wouldn't already intuitively sense from watching the game. I'm sure for many, however, these are useful and interesting.

 

Many people probably ignore them, but I love box scores, so please don't discard the link for that.

 

I also love the post game thoughts from Baldelli. I don't have access to that, living out of town.

 

And THANK YOU (and all the game recappers) for these. Really, really appreciated.

Thanks for the feedback. There's an aim to have something for new school and old school in these. It can be tough to try to cast a wide net like that without completely losing one or the other.

 

The bullpen usage charts are sliced bread!

Those aren't going anywhere, I promise.

 

I clicked into this article solely to see Kepler’s WPA last night.

Neither is the WPA info. If anything, I might want to add another line or two in that top section with the stats.

[IndianaTwin]

Thanks, Tom, for bringing the Game Recaps to TD and for the significant work that must go into it. As others have noted, it’s great to be able to get all this stuff in a single place. It’s essential reading, even when I’ve listened to or watched the game. I’m especially impressed with how quickly they get compiled and posted. Amongst the things on TD, the Game Recaps may be the singular best thing here. Of course, that’s kinda like saying that the Scotcheroos are the best thing at the potluck.

 

I love it all, including WPA. Though I don’t know how to calculate it, it’s a nice way to getting a picture of both the big plays and the guys who may not have been featured in the lead. Bullpen usage chart is particularly useful, since that would be the hardest thing to find elsewhere.

 

Only idea I have — in the links at the end of the article, how about including a link to that night’s Game Thread.*

 

*And to continue the analogy, Game Threads are like the potluck’s chocolate fluff. I pretty much dive face-first into both every chance I get.

[GM64]

First: Max Kepler, Ersteblitzen!

 

As to the recaps: I see on average a few innings of about one-third of the games, but read about every game. I like the win expectancy charts. In combination with the box score, it tells me a lot.

Edited June 7, 2019 by GM64

[Aerodeliria]

 

I have May much lower. Parker higher. Parker had one rough game recently and May had one good game recently. Don't let a couple of outings from one night make you forget the rest of the games.And let's not forget that May has been used in low-leverage situations most of the month of May as well. Parker has 5 saves, May doesn't have any. Says something.

 

1. Rogers

2. Harper

3. Morin

4. Parker

5. May

6. Macgill

7. Duffey

I confess that my complaints against Parker are purely subjective and have no foundation in any data--just my strange, uncomfortable, gut feeling I get every single time he comes in. (The meltdown was not was not the sole reason for the lowering; although, I may have dropped him from 5th to 7th.)

[Aerodeliria]

 

I'm considering making some changes to these game recaps and would love some feedback if anybody's interested in helping out with some market research

 

-Do you enjoy the win expectancy charts?

I think they're cool, but for a lot of games they don't add a whole lot of flavor. I get the sense that most readers just gloss right over them the majority of the time, so I'm thinking about ditching them.

 

-Is there any important information we're missing?

I have some ideas for small, simple things to add, but I'm curious if any of you have any ideas. Is there something you're constantly having to look up elsewhere that could easily be included in these?

 

Thanks for reading everybody, and thanks to Andrew and all the new writers for joining in on the fun. 

 

Also, Happy Anniversary! Two years ago today, I did my first game recap here. It was ... different

I read the articles; I check the Fangraphs' game flow; I check the bullpen usage. I ALWAYS check WPA of the players. Please keep it coming! (and many thanks for the efforts)

[Monkeypaws]

The Twins sit at 21 games over .500

 

After last night's loss, Cleveland drops back to 0 games over .500

 

That seems even more comforting than a 10.5 game lead.

[Aerodeliria]

 

1) Rogers 

 

 

 

5) May

6) Parker

7) Ron Davis

7a) Everyday Eddie, 2019 version

8) Harper

9) Duffey

10) Magill

 

12) Morin

Oh, I forgot about Ron Davis. We always sat in the left field bleachers, and my friend and I would say let's put on our batting helmets; Ron Davis is in the game. There was also Juan Berenguer who I would rank above Ron Davis just because of his nickname.

[Alex Schieferdecker]

Trust:

Rogers

 

Mostly Trust:

Harper

 

Sometimes Trust:

Parker

May

 

Hasn't Given A Reason Not To Trust... Yet

Morin

 

Don't Trust But Has Actually Been Pretty Good So Far

Duffers

 

Don't Trust

Magill

[Mike Sixel]

Trust:

Rogers

 

Mostly Trust:

Harper

 

Sometimes Trust:

Parker

May

 

Hasn't Given A Reason Not To Trust... Yet

Morin

 

Don't Trust But Has Actually Been Pretty Good So Far

Duffers

 

Don't Trust

Magill

Love your categories. Not sure I'd rank them identically, but good approach!

[AceWrigley]

The bullpen usage charts are great. A nice snapshot of who has been racking up the pitches and who might or might not be able  to pitch next game. Not that they are done here, but I also like the last week's worth of hitting stats to see who is hot or cold.

Edited June 7, 2019 by AceWrigley

[USAFChief]

 

Trust:

Rogers

 

Mostly Trust:

Harper

 

Sometimes Trust:

Parker

May

 

Hasn't Given A Reason Not To Trust... Yet

Morin

 

Don't Trust But Has Actually Been Pretty Good So Far

Duffers

 

Don't Trust

Magill

Personally, I'd move Duffey down to 

 

Wouldn't trust to hit water if he jumped out of  boat

 

With MaGill and Morin in whatever category comes after that.

[Han Joelo]

 

Trust:

Rogers

 

Mostly Trust:

Harper

 

Sometimes Trust:

Parker

May

 

Hasn't Given A Reason Not To Trust... Yet

Morin

 

Don't Trust But Has Actually Been Pretty Good So Far

Duffers

 

Don't Trust

Magill

 

This sums it up nicely for me.  I think up until the last game, I had May in that same category with Duffman.

[vavo]

FWIW, I often look at the win expectancy chart, particularly if I didn't see much of the game. It quickly gives a sense of the story arc of the game. I really have grown to appreciate these recaps. Thanks for all the hard work Tom, et. al.

[Mike Sixel]

I read the whole thing every time. Love these.

 

I always look at the WPA. I usually watch any highlights. I never watch the manager talk. I like the win expectancy chart. When the bullpen is being used a lot, I look at the chart, but maybe only once a week.

[Tom Froemming]

 

Only idea I have — in the links at the end of the article, how about including a link to that night’s Game Thread.*

That's a good suggestion. I was linking to those in the early goings but stopped and can't remember why.

 

The bullpen usage charts are great. A nice snapshot of who has been racking up the pitches and who might or might not be able  to pitch next game. Not that they are done here, but I also like the last week's worth of hitting stats to see who is hot or cold.

I might run that hot/cold idea by Nick to see if he'd be interested in including that somewhere in his Week in Review. That's a good one.

 

 

Thanks everybody for the feedback. Happy to hear a lot of you are looking at those win expectancy charts. We'll keep including them, glad I asked.

[Squirrel]

Concur with Chief on the Baldelli game recaps. Being an out-of-towner, I don't get to see these. Of course, I could search for them on my own, but this place is my one-stop, all things Twins, place, so ... love that these are included. And I like everything else. I'm not a charts/graph person, so sometimes I do just fly over them, but I do sometimes really look at them. It usually depends on how much of the game I've actually been able to see or not, as well as if we won or not. 

 

These recaps, along with the daily minor league recaps, are two of the most important aspects of the site ... if I were forced to choose just two.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I'm considering making some changes to these game recaps and would love some feedback if anybody's interested in helping out with some market research

 

-Do you enjoy the win expectancy charts?

I think they're cool, but for a lot of games they don't add a whole lot of flavor. I get the sense that most readers just gloss right over them the majority of the time, so I'm thinking about ditching them.

 

-Is there any important information we're missing?

I have some ideas for small, simple things to add, but I'm curious if any of you have any ideas. Is there something you're constantly having to look up elsewhere that could easily be included in these?

 

Thanks for reading everybody, and thanks to Andrew and all the new writers for joining in on the fun. 

 

Also, Happy Anniversary! Two years ago today, I did my first game recap here. It was ... different

 

Having a link to the box scores on a consistent basis would be nice... but honestly, you've done a pretty fantastic job on these... Love the pen usage stuff.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I clicked into this article solely to see Kepler’s WPA last night.

only thing my colleagues said today was something along the lines of ****ing Kepler... and "never a good day when someone is getting compared to Ted Williams"...  

 

2nd time he's absolutely owned Cleveland in a game, though if I remember right, his actions in 2016 also carried over to some of the other games that series..

[prouster]

Gotta say I love seeing an unapologetic misogynist like Bauer get knocked around.

[Don Walcott]

I like the win expectancy charts. They're cool looking.

[MN_ExPat]

I'm considering making some changes to these game recaps and would love some feedback if anybody's interested in helping out with some market research

 

-Do you enjoy the win expectancy charts?

I think they're cool, but for a lot of games they don't add a whole lot of flavor. I get the sense that most readers just gloss right over them the majority of the time, so I'm thinking about ditching them.

 

-Is there any important information we're missing?

I have some ideas for small, simple things to add, but I'm curious if any of you have any ideas. Is there something you're constantly having to look up elsewhere that could easily be included in these?

 

Thanks for reading everybody, and thanks to Andrew and all the new writers for joining in on the fun. 

 

Also, Happy Anniversary! Two years ago today, I did my first game recap here. It was ... different

 

I’m with Chief... love the old old school feel of the box score:).

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I’m with Chief... love the old old school feel of the box score:).

 

Just sayin, but I'm not Chief.

[ashbury]

I like the WPA chart, for games I didn't get to watch. I can get a lot from a box score and a line score, and a 5-run fourth obviously will turn many a game - but sometimes a 0 in the linescore will contain a ton of drama, and WPA can show that. Instead of perusing an entire PbP recording, the chart tells me which part of the game to look at in detail.

 

[MN_ExPat]

 

Just sayin, but I'm not Chief.

Ok, that really clears up a lot of things for me... waaaay confused

 

I actually was citing Chief on that response, but my apologies for not seeing yours and not including you in the citation.

 

I shall now go and do penance by forcing myself to sing "Go Cubs Go" until my wife tells me to zip it and mutters to herself that she actually has three children and not two. 

[ashbury]

she actually has three children and not two. 

I don't think I know you well enough to run with the funny, funny joke I have in mind.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Ok, that really clears up a lot of things for me... waaaay confused

 

I actually was citing Chief on that response, but my apologies for not seeing yours and not including you in the citation.

 

I shall now go and do penance by forcing myself to sing "Go Cubs Go" until my wife tells me to zip it and mutters to herself that she actually has three children and not two. 

oof.. go cubs go?  

 

If I'm doing self penance, I think I'd rather wear a hair shirt.