Article: Twins Game Recap (7/24): Twins Drop Series in Another Slugfest With Yankees

[AJ Condon]

The Twins and Yankees picked right back up where they left off last night, as the bats were hot, again, in the rubber match tonight. The Yankees jumped on Odorizzi early and were playing from behind almost the whole game. The Yankees couldn’t figure out Devin Smeltzer, but the Twins’ offense couldn’t complete the comeback, as the Indians continue to gain ground on the Twins as their lead is only two games now.Box Score

Odorizzi: 4 IP, 10 H, 9 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 61.7% strikes (63 of 102 pitches)

Bulllpen (Smeltzer): 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

 

Home Runs: Rosario (22), Cruz (22), Gonzalez (12)

Multi-Hit Games: Cruz (2-for-4, HR), Rosario (2-for-4, HR), Arraez (2-for-3, BB), Schoop (2-for-3)

 

Top 3 WPA: Cruz .100, Smeltzer .105, Rosario .172

Bottom 3 WPA: Garver -.081, Polanco -.136, Odorizzi -.576

 

Yankees Rake Odorizzi

 

The Twins could’ve really used a seven inning performance from their All-Star pitcher tonight in hopes of giving their bullpen a night off before their series against Chicago. The Yankees offense had a different idea as they pounced on Odorizzi for seven extra base hits and a season-high, nine runs in just four innings. In his last seven starts, Odorizzi has given up at least three runs in six of those.

 

Didi Gregorious and Aaron Hicks continued to destroy the Twins’ this series and they both made their presence felt early. After Gregorious demolished the Twins for five hits and seven RBIs last night, he ripped an RBI double and 2-RBI triple in the first half of the game. Hicks, who put the Yankees ahead in the ninth, and ended the game in the 10th, picked up two more RBIs in the first half off a home run and single.

 

Though Odorizzi was able to strike out seven through four innings, his control was the biggest issue tonight. He wasn’t hitting his spots on any of his pitches, as he was only able to get a first pitch strike on 50% of the 24 batters he faced.

 

Smeltzer Deals

 

There have really only been three good pitchers for the Minnesota Twins this series, and coincidentally, they were all on the AAA roster before the series started. Lewis Thorpe gave the Twins a solid 2.2 innings on Monday, Cody Stashak gave them two shutout innings last night, and tonight Devin Smeltzer gave the Twins’ bullpen a much needed rest throwing five innings. He finished the game with five very solid innings and was the only pitcher out of the bullpen.

 

After Odorizzi was only able to go four innings, Smeltzer came in and gave four shutout innings before surrendering a home run in the ninth. He gave up only three hits in those first four innings, and even struck out the side in the seventh.

 

 

Smeltzer was called up today because the Twins were in dire need of some arms. He out-performed what was expected of him tonight, and really gave the Twins a good chance at coming back. He had command with all of his pitches and was able to pick up a first pitch strike on 16 out of the 19 batters he faced!

 

Twins Offense Comes Up Short

 

This whole series, both teams have needed their offense to match what the opponents did before them. Tonight was no different as the Bomba Squad tried to match the Bronx Bombers. It was an action-filled first half of the game, but the bullpens came in and shut down these hot offenses.

 

The Twins got the action going when Rosario hit a 2-run homer in the bottom of the first, but saw their only lead vanish quickly. After Odorizzi gave up nine runs, that was matched by only one from the Twins, Marwin Gonzalez finally got them back on track with another 2-run homer. A Garver sac-fly and a solo shot later, the Twins saw their deficit down to only two.

 

 

After the Twins scored their last run on a Nelson Cruz home run, the Yankee bullpen got the next 15 outs while facing only 18 batters. They had some threats throughout those 15 outs, but hit into two double plays, and stranded two guys on in the seventh.

 

Postgame With Baldelli

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Click here for a review of the number of pitches thrown by each member of the bullpen over the past five days.

 

Click here to view the article

[terrydactyls]

Yesterday was Wednesday, July 24, it was the 101st game of the year and the Twins hit 3 home runs giving them a total of 194 home runs for the season.  The Twins are now 62% of the way through the season.  Out of 59 years, the current team ranks 7th on the all-time list of Twins' home runs in one season and are on a pace to hit 311 home runs this season.  They are now 73 home runs behind the single season MLB record.  The next Twins teams to pass are the 1986 and 1987 teams that hit 196 home runs.

[wabene]

Aye I'll have a belt, "To the Smeltz!!"

[VivaBomboRivera!]

I stand by my report yesterday.

 

;-)

 

 

The team should be buying Smeltzer's drinks tonight.  Nice to see first-pitch strikes.

[wabene]

Odorizzi has had quite a track record of success against the @%#-%_&*#&anks so I'll go with a hiccup as an explanation of this performance. Still a blister problem? One thing I'd like to say is give em a chance to heal and let the Smeltz start a couple but I can't!!!! We need Darin in the pen dagummit!

Ah ok Devin

[wabene]

I would not send Smeltzer down in this case and have to wait 11 days or whatever to use him again

[Tom Froemming]

Smeltzer down ??? up. Only guy who makes even a little sense right now is Sean Poppen.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Smeltzer stays unless he stops going after hitters and throwing first-pitch strikes.  Either make him the long reliever or (more radically) put him in the rotation and shift Gibson/Perez/Pineda to that duty.  The second option would have the added benefit of giving the first two a chance to think real hard about what it means to contribute to a contending team and find their focus, or it could reduce the wear and tear on Pineda 's aging body.

[h2oface]

"It's part of major league baseball and the way you use your staff as a whole. There are days that your starter is gonna go...regardless of how the start goes he's gonna go our there and give you x number of pitches......" Baldelli.

 

So tired. So in the box. Not creative. Not thinking about the importance of the game. Not caring about the fans that paid to see the games. It is throwing the towel in in the 4th inning. This is how a team misses the division crown by one game, or the play offs by one game. It was irresponsible to not modify from the plan. Starters need protected too, and sometimes they don't have it, and it is time to get them out of there. And that decision cost this game. Not impressed. 

 

So no need to mansplain me about the pen. I understand. But be my pest if you must. I also understand that if he had modified from the "plan", that Smeltzer would have given them a chance to win. That is in the books. Time to be bold. One game at a time. Time for out of the box, because the box can be a trap.

[MVP Nick Punto]

Someone asked something along the lines of "are the Yankees going to bring their own umps to the playoffs, too?" in the gamethread and I responded "yes.", so, I thought it was appropriate to drop it here, too:

[Brock Beauchamp]

I’ll be immensely disappointed if anyone is sent down. Most of the bullpen can go tomorrow and I want to see what Thorpe has in him.

 

And eff off if you send down Smeltzer. At the VERY least, the guy deserves a week of MLB pay even if you don’t use him.

[MNT1996]

Our best relievers as of late have been our rookies that started in AAA. That's how you know the front office failed the bullpen. What a pathetic group the Twins have in the FO. Morin, Parker, Mejia, Magil...all gone.

[the_brute_squad]

What's more concerning?

1) A 3-6 homestand (2 losses to the Mets)

2) Our rookie pitchers handled the Yankees better than the veterans

3) The front office hasn't made a move

 

On a positive note. The Twins had a 4-8 regular season record against their eventual ALCS foes in 87 and 91. Getting beat in regular season isn't necessarily an indicator as to what happens in the postseason.

[rdehring]

The Twins lost this series on Tuesday night when they squandered a 6 run lead.  Unfortunately, I suspect their bullpen was worn down in the four game series with teh A's.

 

What a job by Smeltzer.  Can he and Thorpe both be part of the rotation in 2020?  At least one of them?

 

I think we learned early in the game why Buxton needs to be in the Twins outfield.  Did it make a difference in the final score?  The outcome of the game?  Don't know the answer to those two questions, but I do know the Twins miss him.

 

And just another day at the office for Arraez.  Don't see him going anywhere, this week or later in August (minors).  Could Schoop solve someone else's second base problem?  Would that disrupt the chemistry of the team? 

[USAFChief]

I’ll be immensely disappointed if anyone is sent down. Most of the bullpen can go tomorrow and I want to see what Thorpe has in him.

 

And eff off if you send down Smeltzer. At the VERY least, the guy deserves a week of MLB pay even if you don’t use him.

you want to go into Chicago with a six man pen, one of which is Torres??

 

Let's hope the FO is smarter than that.

 

Give him a weeks pay if it makes you feel better, but "great job, Smeltzee, your plane leaves at 11."

[IAMNFan]

 

Smeltzer stays unless he stops going after hitters and throwing first-pitch strikes.  Either make him the long reliever or (more radically) put him in the rotation and shift Gibson/Perez/Pineda to that duty.  The second option would have the added benefit of giving the first two a chance to think real hard about what it means to contribute to a contending team and find their focus, or it could reduce the wear and tear on Pineda 's aging body.

Pineda is the only consistent starter for the last 2 + months and you want him in bullpen?

[Otto von Ballpark]

you want to go into Chicago with a six man pen, one of which is Torres??

 

Isn't it a seven man pen today, including Torres? There are 8 relievers on the roster, and the only one truly unavailable would be Smelter, no? Thorpe could even provide some length again, if needed.

[IAMNFan]

 

"It's part of major league baseball and the way you use your staff as a whole. There are days that your starter is gonna go...regardless of how the start goes he's gonna go our there and give you x number of pitches......" Baldelli.

 

So tired. So in the box. Not creative. Not thinking about the importance of the game. Not caring about the fans that paid to see the games. It is throwing the towel in in the 4th inning. This is how a team misses the division crown by one game, or the play offs by one game. It was irresponsible to not modify from the plan. Starters need protected too, and sometimes they don't have it, and it is time to get them out of there. And that decision cost this game. Not impressed. 

 

So no need to mansplain me about the pen. I understand. But be my pest if you must. I also understand that if he had modified from the "plan", that Smeltzer would have given them a chance to win. That is in the books. Time to be bold. One game at a time. Time for out of the box, because the box can be a trap.

The "box" would have been to pull him after 2 or 3.  Odo had to throw last night.   If nothing else to try and find some sort of rhythm or something for himself.  Short start after short start does not seem to be helping him.

[Tomj14]

 

Pineda is the only consistent starter for the last 2 + months and you want him in bullpen?

and sadly Gibson was the only starting pitcher on both team to go 5 innings in the Yankees series, so moving him to the pen might be a little bit of a stretch as well.

Edited July 25, 2019 by Tomj14

[USAFChief]

 

Isn't it a seven man pen today, including Torres? There are 8 relievers on the roster, and the only one truly unavailable would be Smelter, no? Thorpe could even provide some length again, if needed.

You are correct.

 

I still send Smelzer down, he's probably unavailable until at least Sunday. He basically had a "start" yesterday. 

 

I have no idea who you call up, mind you. 

[IAMNFan]

Starters go 6-7 innings, the pen does ok.   Not overwhelming, but functional.   Starters go less than 6, and all but Pineda have been fairly consistent at that lately, and the pen is hot garbage.   

[Dman]

This game went pretty much as expected except for Smeltzers excellent performance.  Just shows that if we could pitch just a little better this team has a real chance to do\be something special. 

 

Not sure what is wrong with Odo but he hasn't been the same pitcher that started the year on fire.  He seems to have regressed to the Odo of years past.  Well at least we are done with the Yankees until the Playoffs and hopefully we can get some pitching help at the deadline.

[Puckett34]

 

You are correct.

 

I still send Smelzer down, he's probably unavailable until at least Sunday. He basically had a "start" yesterday. 

 

I have no idea who you call up, mind you. 

Got to figure one activation would be Buxton, but Cave down would probably be the corresponding move there.

 

Beyond that, Poppen (meh), Eades (hasn't pitched in a game since 7/11) or Romero (pitched 3 innings last night)? I'd suggest Jake Reed, but his numbers don't look great lately. Maybe they dip into AA, Jax perhaps?

 

Unless there actually is a trade that gets announced within the next few hours. Maybe Colome switches locker rooms. 

[Tom Froemming]

Jake Odorizzi, Jake Cave ... it was just a bad day to be a Jake. Really missing Byron Buxton right now.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

You are correct.

 

I still send Smelzer down, he's probably unavailable until at least Sunday. He basically had a "start" yesterday. 

 

I have no idea who you call up, mind you. 

keep Smeltzer in the rotation - Perez can be in the pen where a 2 pitch mix works better

[nokomismod]

I agree that Buxton being out likely cost the team several runs and possibly a win or two since the all star break. Especially with Rosario hobbled in left field it just creates a lot of area for balls to drop in.

Hats off to Stashak, Thorpe and Smeltzer as they all performed really well.

 

I would rather see the team target a starter (even a rental like Bumgarner) who has a chance of going seven innings down the stretch or in the postseason over bullpen arms. I feel like the rookies above or maybe Perez can improve the pen. What I would like is an arm that could possibly throw 20 quality innings in a 7 game series at this point.

[terrydactyls]

I'm heading up the coast of Maine today and then to St. John New Brunswick on Friday.  I won't have internet access until late Friday afternoon so the home run summary after tonight's game will not appear until around 5:00 CDT Friday.

[KFEY93]

 

"It's part of major league baseball and the way you use your staff as a whole. There are days that your starter is gonna go...regardless of how the start goes he's gonna go our there and give you x number of pitches......" Baldelli.

 

So tired. So in the box. Not creative. Not thinking about the importance of the game. Not caring about the fans that paid to see the games. It is throwing the towel in in the 4th inning. This is how a team misses the division crown by one game, or the play offs by one game. It was irresponsible to not modify from the plan. Starters need protected too, and sometimes they don't have it, and it is time to get them out of there. And that decision cost this game. Not impressed. 

 

So no need to mansplain me about the pen. I understand. But be my pest if you must. I also understand that if he had modified from the "plan", that Smeltzer would have given them a chance to win. That is in the books. Time to be bold. One game at a time. Time for out of the box, because the box can be a trap.

Did you just use the term "mansplain" un-ironically? 

[Tom Froemming]

I think it's pretty easy to second guess any of the pitching staff management today, but it would have been very difficult to predict Smeltzer being that good and efficient against the Yankee lineup.

 

Keep in mind Devin's last Triple-A start only lasted four innings. He walked two batters, gave up a pair of homers did not strike out a batter and surrendered four runs. This was against the Gwinnett Stripers.

 

He was great last night. Unpredictably great.

[Otto von Ballpark]

keep Smeltzer in the rotation - Perez can be in the pen where a 2 pitch mix works better

You'd need another starter Saturday then, and Smeltzer would only be on 2 days rest.