Article: Twins Game Recap (7/23): Twins Fall Short to Yankees in Game of the Year

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

But Rogers’ usage so far has been managed pretty well.

Yes but that is changing. Baldelli said as much in a recent postgame. “I’m going to use Rogers any time it’s close,” or words to that effect.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

This may have been the game of the year to some, but it was not mine. I hate the Yankees. We lost. I am moving on. 

[wabene]

Too bad Gibson didn't throw strikes last night.

[Hoofbeats]

If last nights game doesn’t send a message to the Twins front office of the positives and negatives (needs) of this team, I’m not sure what will. Unlike some who criticize Baldelli for his choice in pitchers last night, I believe he had to use arms that were available and his options were limited. For me, this team needs at least two, if not three pitchers, one to start and two RELIABLE relievers to not only get into but go far in the playoffs.

 

So much promise with this club. Front office, please do all you can to add some additional pitching assets.

[Dman]

Hate to be a sour grapes guy but this is typically the way it always ends when we play the Yankee's.  Even if we play well and hang with them they mount a comeback even against our best reliever and win the game.  It is a tired but true trend.  If we need a call from an ump they fail us.  It pretty much always works that way.

 

My guess is that we will implode today and they will take the series laughing all the way back NY.  The Twins are always good medicine for the Yankees.  

 

Trying to stay positive I will say this. It is nice to see the bats, and good at bats back. At least we took one game against them and at least Cleveland found a way to lose so that as our schedule eases we will still be two games up.  

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Too bad Gibson didn't throw strikes last night.

Too bad Baldelli didn't have a competent bullpen because you just know he wanted to pull Kyle after putting two men on with two outs in the fifth. We've seen Baldelli yank the starter in that situation several times this year. The pitcher win doesn't matter and therefore, neither does the 0.1 IP.

 

Get out of that inning with no damage and it's highly likely the Twins cruise to an easy victory.

 

Again, all of this is on the front office. Gibson didn't look good but made it through 4.2 IP with an acceptable line. Had the bullpen been even half stocked, he doesn't pitch against Gregorius and the rest is history.

[Vanimal46]

This loss is on the front office. That Baldelli had to put Blake Parker on the mound in the eighth inning of a game against the Yankees on July 23rd is inexcusable.

 

And then he had to use Harper. And Stewart.

 

Unacceptable.

Pathetic, really... Couldn't agree more. Fix the pitching, now.

[MMMordabito]

Tailspin time ... Parker should join Morin and Magill ... Duffey got hosed ... Offense can play with anyone when they are on, but not having the horses to protect a six run lead after four and then a four run lead after seven is pathetic

[Brock Beauchamp]

Pathetic, really... Couldn't agree more. Fix the pitching, now.

I don’t expect them to pick up a stellar reliever in the middle of June.

 

But do you know what they could have found? A LOOGY.

 

Boy, sure would have been nice to have one of those with, oh I don’t know, two outs in the fifth.

[Bamboo Bat]

 

See, now this kind of talk really amounts to sour grapes.

We were up 8-2 after 4 at home so the umpire should have no bearing on the outcome if our bullpen could pitch to under a 12.00 ERA the rest of the way

"Should have" 

 

The fact is the umpire did have a direct bearing on the Twins losing this game. Laying aside that the bullpen laid an egg (as did the Yankees bullpen), that should never happen. Sour grapes? No. A fact, & a bitter one, especially since it came against NY.

[Darius]

Hicks:

2016 - 123 games played (

2017 - 88 games played

2018 - 137 games played

2019 - 52 games played

 

400 games:

60 homers, 194 RBI, 2017 and 2018 he had seasons with above .800 OPS

 

Buxton:

2016 - 92 games played

2017 - 140 games played

2018 - 28 games played

2019 - 75 games played

 

335 games:

35 homers, 135 RBI, Never had a season with above .800 OPS. Best was .728 in 2017.

 

Not only has Hicks been historically more reliable, but he's been arguably more productive. In my opinion Buxton needs to step it up and become more reliable and more consistently productive or else it seems like the Yankees win the CF battle.

Youre not really painting an accurate picture here.

 

Buxton is a 9.5 WAR player in 381 games. Hicks 11.7 in 646.

 

Buxton is nearly doubling up Hicks in that regard. Hicks is also going to be 30, Buxton 26, on their next birthday.

 

The Yankees fleeced the Twins in one of the worst trades I’ve ever seen since I’ve been alive. But, the Twins aren’t losing the CF battle. I’d bet there isn’t a single person in Major League Baseball that would consider taking Hicks over Buxton if given the choice.

 

The question really is, would you rather have Hicks in a corner OF spot or Rosario/Kepler?

[Tomj14]

 

Hicks:

2016 - 123 games played (

2017 - 88 games played

2018 - 137 games played

2019 - 52 games played

 

400 games:

60 homers, 194 RBI, 2017 and 2018 he had seasons with above .800 OPS

 

Buxton:

2016 - 92 games played

2017 - 140 games played

2018 - 28 games played

2019 - 75 games played

 

335 games:

35 homers, 135 RBI, Never had a season with above .800 OPS. Best was .728 in 2017.

 

Not only has Hicks been historically more reliable, but he's been arguably more productive. In my opinion Buxton needs to step it up and become more reliable and more consistently productive or else it seems like the Yankees win the CF battle.

Buxton is 25 and Hicks in 29, does that play into this at all?

lets not forget Hicks posted a negative WAR the first year with the Yanks and 88 games the second (which was a darn good 88 games) , the Twins fans would have been howling to get rid of him before, during and after 2016.

Edited July 24, 2019 by Tomj14

[Tomj14]

 

I don’t expect them to pick up a stellar reliever in the middle of June.

But do you know what they could have found? A LOOGY.

Boy, sure would have been nice to have one of those with, oh I don’t know, two outs in the fifth.

that is what I was trying to say yesterday (you did a much better job) and people were basically calling me crazy for saying they should have done something a month ago.

[terrydactyls]

The "non-strike" call against Duffy was brutal. But to be fair, the Yankee pitchers had two pitches at the knees called balls after Duffy's. Incredible game! And if Max's drive was a foot higher, it would have ended the game in our favor. Go get them today, boys.

[jud6312]

Those of you calling this game "entertaining" must have been watching something different than I was.

 

Wins are entertaining. P!$$ing away large leads and losing - despite battling their tails off - is not.

 

I'm tired of the plucky little team that won't go away trope. Win the effin games you're supposed to win. Win the games you're one strike away from winning. If you can't do that, then people upstairs need to get you guys to help accomplish that.

 

And, yes, I get that nobody has made trades yet, and everyone's waiting for the first domino to go. BUT they had an entire offseason to get pieces to get the job done and they didn't do it.

 

I'm tired of waiting, and I'm tired of the Yankees and their obnoxious fan base.

[LanceJS]

This takes me back to May 2002 at Yankee Stadium for the vibe of the game. The season is beginning to feel like 2001. I hope I'm wrong but it developing that kind of trajectory

Go glass half full if you want, but the reality is this bullpen is becoming more and more exposed. At no time did I feel we were safe--even after we went up 8-2. We just don't have the arms right now. Don't know if one or two good arms can make up for the lack of depth. Rocco can keep reshuffling the deck but it is still the same card game.

 

Glad to see I am not the only one who is having flashbacks of 2001. Yes, completely different teams but so similar

[Tom Froemming]

This game was like one giant five-hour highlight reel, so here's a focus on Cody Stashak's Major League debut.

 

Pretty crazy to say this, but he outpitched Taylor Rogers, Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino and Aroldis Chapman last night. In a game where runs were being put up on the scoreboard left and right, he managed to pitch two scoreless innings, a feat no Yankee pitcher accomplished last night.

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

This game was like one giant five-hour highlight reel, so here's a focus on Cody Stashak's Major League debut.

 

Pretty crazy to say this, but he outpitched Taylor Rogers, Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino and Aroldis Chapman last night. In a game where runs where being put up on the scoreboard left and right, he managed to pitch two scoreless innings, a feat no Yankee pitcher accomplished last night.

 

 

we've been clamoring for him for a while.. I'm sure there's a reason he wasn't called up... and I'm really hoping he proves the FO wrong about that. We need relief help. 

[Darius]

See, now this kind of talk really amounts to sour grapes.

 

We were up 8-2 after 4 at home so the umpire should have no bearing on the outcome if our bullpen could pitch to under a 12.00 ERA the rest of the way

This does not amount to only grapes. It’s a fact a legitimate gripe.

 

I sat and eat the Yankees relievers get calls that the Twins didn’t in huge situations last night over and over again.

 

Two come to mind as particularly egregious. Look at strike 1 to Rosario vs Chapman. I don’t recall who was up against Ottavino. But, he was given multiple gifts when he couldn’t find the strikezone, one up and away that was clearly not a strike (Roy Smalley even commented, “not a strike, that’s up and away.”

 

Did the Twins bullpen suck? Sure, they’re a disaster. That doesn’t change the fact that the Twins win that game if balls/strikes were called evenly on both sides. These two things aren’t mutually exclusive.

[LanceJS]

Just for laughs, picture this. Latest rumors have the Rangers as sellers and one of the pitchers available is...Lance Lynn. Think he’d want to come to all of his wonderful 2018 memories at Target Field?

[Darius]

The "non-strike" call against Duffy was brutal. But to be fair, the Yankee pitchers had two pitches at the knees called balls after Duffy's. Incredible game! And if Max's drive was a foot higher, it would have ended the game in our favor. Go get them today, boys.

You must have missed Chapman and Ottavino getting inches off the edge despite not being able to locate in any way. Meanwhile, Kohl’s Stewart got the zone pinched (I can think of two of his pitches that were strikes on the bottom half that were uncalled).

 

Roy Smalley even commented on a few of these calls.

 

I know the pen blew it, but it’s the story of the game for me. There is a reason why the entire bench was nearly ejected. We’re at home and getting and ump treatment like that? Might as well roll up the tent now, because that can swing an entire playoff series.

Edited July 24, 2019 by Darius

[terrydactyls]

You must have missed Chapman and Ottavino getting inches off the edge despite not being to locate in any way. Meanwhile, Kohl’s Stewart got the zone pinched (I can think of two of his pitches that were strikes on the bottom half that were uncalled).

Roy Smalley even commented on a few of these calls.

I know the pen blew it, but it’s the story of the game for me. There is a reason why the entire bench was nearly ejected. We’re at home and getting and ump treatment like that? Might as well roll up the tent now, because that can swing an entire playoff series.

Are you actually suggesting that the home team should get preferential treatment? Yikes.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

You must have missed Chapman and Ottavino getting inches off the edge despite not being able to locate in any way.

Brooks Baseball has Chapman's zone as pretty much perfect:

 

 

(They don't seem to have Ottavino's available yet, and Gameday isn't working for me at the moment either.)

[In My La Z boy]

 

You must have missed Chapman and Ottavino getting inches off the edge despite not being to locate in any way. Meanwhile, Kohl’s Stewart got the zone pinched (I can think of two of his pitches that were strikes on the bottom half that were uncalled).

Roy Smalley even commented on a few of these calls.

I know the pen blew it, but it’s the story of the game for me. There is a reason why the entire bench was nearly ejected. We’re at home and getting and ump treatment like that? Might as well roll up the tent now, because that can swing an entire playoff series.

I do applaud terrydactyls1947's optimism but Darius's take is totally correct. In a sane world you just have to make that strike 3 call for Duffy. No different than Tom Brady and the Patriots - NY will get the calls - and stud reputation guys like Chapman will get the calls, and nobody's like Kohl Stewart will not get the calls. Last night is what we should expect come playoff time. Pitching is the difference maker, and umpires will give the benefit of the doubt to Big Names and Big Teams. Not fair - but it is the nature of human nature I guess? We need to be better and control what we can control. I did like to see Baldelli go off. We needed that. Was starting to wonder. I feel better about him than ever right now.

[mikelink45]

Sorry, but hearing about umpires does nothing for me - Gibson pitching a poor game (I am being generous) and then our BP throwing batting practice was the problem.  It was not even just the BP because Gibson has not stepped up when we have needed him all season.  He lost what he had last year and it is really hurting the team in multiple ways.  

[adjacent]

 

You must have missed Chapman and Ottavino getting inches off the edge despite not being able to locate in any way. Meanwhile, Kohl’s Stewart got the zone pinched (I can think of two of his pitches that were strikes on the bottom half that were uncalled).

Roy Smalley even commented on a few of these calls.

I know the pen blew it, but it’s the story of the game for me. There is a reason why the entire bench was nearly ejected. We’re at home and getting and ump treatment like that? Might as well roll up the tent now, because that can swing an entire playoff series.

I could say is the story of the games against the Yankees since I remember. Besides, the Phil Cuzzi foul call, I remember many games in which their pitchers got a strike zone much wider that ours, I remember specially a game in which the pitcher was Mike Mussina. He was getting a strike zone that was ridiculous. A comment by Bert at that time was that sometimes you get calls on reputation.

[VATwinsFan]

So I go upstairs to bed when it is 9 to 5 heading into the 8th.  It seems like two minutes later it is 9 to 8 with a runner on 2d and one out. 

 

I decide I am not going to watch this because I know what is going to happen so I try to go to sleep -- I figure the Yankees will get the lead and win something like 13 to 10 in 9 innings (Chapman, right?).

 

All through the night I keep waking up but manage to keep from looking at my phone to see what happened.

 

Finally when I get up this morning I take a look and go, "Huh, what???!!!"

 

Not surprised that the Twins loss and certainly disappointed, but not nearly as much as the after the 5-4 loss to the A's on Saturday, I mean it's the Yankees right?  At least the Twins were able to come back when in previous years they would've curled up in the fetal position.

 

It looks like the bombas are back (yay Sano!!).

 

Win today and no letdown against the ChiSox, Marlins, and Royals, OK?

 

Bullpen help please.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Just looking at the pitcher zones on Brooks Baseball, I see the missed call against Duffey, and one against Stewart. But I also see one in Rogers' favor, plus another one that may have been in Parker's favor.

 

For the game (with the caveat that the Ottavino/Green data seems to be missing right now), I see 3 calls against Twins pitchers and 3 in their favor. I see 2 against Yankee pitchers, and zero in their favor*:

 

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/zoneTrack.php?&game=gid_2019_07_23_nyamlb_minmlb_1/&innings=yyyyyyyyy&month=07&day=23&year=2019

 

* They do show one really wild one that appears to be in the Yankees favor, but I traced it to the first pitch of the Britton-Cruz AB in the 8th and it was actually a swing and foul tip, so it must have been coded incorrectly.

[TerwilligerBuntsOne]

Incredible game. Meaningful games in late July vs the Yanks are a lot of fun. A few thoughts:

 

1. The Twins had a great 1st half of the season while getting almost nothing from Sano. Whatever the hitting coaches are doing with his swing is working. He has gone from looking completely lost to being a potential threat every time he steps into the box. Time to jump on his back for a while! Buxton will be back soon, so they will finally getting the whole band back together.

 

2. Late in the game, i was trying to think of who was still available in the bullpen. I thought of Thorpe. Completely forgot about May. Am guessing that Rocco did as well. I wondered if Rocco was trying to have May's next outing be on the road instead of a home game in front of an increasingly vocal fanbase that has grown very frustrated with him.

 

3. IF the Cody Allen experiment is ever going to work, it would seem that now would be the time. The Rochester Express is working overtime without him. So far.

[PDX Twin]

 

Not only has Hicks been historically more reliable, but he's been arguably more productive. In my opinion Buxton needs to step it up and become more reliable and more consistently productive or else it seems like the Yankees win the CF battle.

 

So we'll have to trade Buxton to the Yankees for a back-up catcher, right?