Front Page: Twins Game Recap (8/25): Pérez Impresses, Twins Beat Detroit for Series Win

[Nash Walker]

The Twins recovered after a poor performance on Friday to take the series from Detroit and finish the homestand with a 3-3 record. The 7-4 win increases their lead in the AL Central to 3 1/2 games, as Cleveland fell to Kansas City 9-8.Box Score

Pérez: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 68% strikes (68 of 100 pitches)

Bullpen: 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

 

Home Runs: C.J. Cron (21), J.Schoop (18)

Multi-Hit Games: None

 

Top 3 WPA: Pérez .214, Garver .154, Schoop .101

 

Martín Pérez returned to Target Field after a very successful road trip in which he allowed just two runs in 11 innings. The bullpen and bats restricted Pérez to no decisions in both starts.

 

The Twins allowed 8-of-9 leadoff batters to reach base in last night’s victory. On Sunday, Pérez surrendered just one. C.J. Cron assisted Pérez to his first win since before the All-Star break with a three-run blast in the fourth inning. Pérez twirled six strong innings, allowing two runs and striking out five. Pérez has walked 3.8 batters-per-nine this year, but gave a free pass to just one hitter on Sunday. His cutter was extremely effective to right-handed batters, which is an important development after the pitch was dominant during the first half of the season, but not so during the middle part of the schedule.

 

Left-hander Matthew Boyd started for Detroit and allowed seven runs in six innings. Jonathan Schoop had one of the four Twins’ hits, as he laced a two-run homer down the left field line in the sixth. The Twins lead the league in OPS against left-handed pitching (.885). Catcher Mitch Garver doubled off the wall in the third to improve his torrid numbers against lefties. Boyd walked five and struck Max Kepler with a pitch in the fourth. The Twins figure to see Boyd at least once more, as they have seven more head-to-head matchups with Detroit. They have scored 10 runs off him in two starts.

 

Cody Stashak continued to be a reliable low-leverage arm out of the bullpen, pitching two innings of one-hit ball with a strikeout. He was helped out by an outstanding catch in left field by Jake Cave.

 

 

Lewis Thorpe entered in the ninth with less luck, surrendering three hits and two runs. Thorpe escaped the jam and finished the job. Stashak and Thorpe saved the arms of Rogers, Dyson and Romo. All of which will receive two days of much-needed rest.

 

The Twins will enjoy an off-day tomorrow before facing Chicago for a three-game series against Lucas Giolito and the White Sox.

 

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

[puckstopper1]

Very nice win. The Twins ave a 3.5 game lead and a very rested bullpen heading into Chicago.

[puckstopper1]

The 2019 Twins have now hit 253 home runs this season. That moves them into a tie with the 2006 Orioles for 6th all-time. Next on the list are the 1996 Orioles and the 2010 Blue Jays both of whom hit 257.

 

They are also 15 ahead of the Yankees for the most in MLB this season.

 

Here is hoping that the Bomba Squad adds several more in Chicago this week.

[terrydactyls]

Today is Sunday, August 25.  It was the 130th game of the year putting the Twins 80% of the way through the season.  The Twins hit 2 home runs upping their record-breaking season total to 253 home runs.  They are now only 15 home runs short of setting a new single-season MLB record.

[USAFChief]

Nice outing for Martin Perez. 

 

I hope Schoop and Cron continue to face any LH pitching the Twins see.

[twinssporto]

The push to the end has begun. I like our chances!

 

Bring it Yankees!  I'm betting on Minnesota!

[Monticore]

Nice to see Perez step up. Thought for sure KC would lose after Cleveland tied it. Stashak helped a lot.

[Bandit34]

 

Nice to see Perez step up. Thought for sure KC would lose after Cleveland tied it. Stashak helped a lot.

I've seen more than a few games where a team will make a furious comeback and then the other team gets mad, scores a run, and the team that had done such a great job to come back is out of gas and loses the game anyways. I have seen that more than a few times in all of my days watching baseball. Glad to see KC take one of those games from Cleveland! The series with Detroit turned out to be a decent series when it was all said and done. The Twins played their best game of the series today against Detroit's best pitcher too!

[jmlease1]

It's baseball, so I'm never going to complain about a series win. I know everyone wants a sweep, but if the Twins keep winning series like this, they're going to be just fine and will raise that flag for a division title.

 

Nice to see CJ rip a dinger like that; he's been scuffling in the second half and it sure has felt like he's never gotten fully healthy. But he's an important asset so getting him right by the end of the year is important.

 

[ashbury]

KC was just toying with Cleveland, forcing them to go deeper in their bullpen. Thanks Royals!

[Danchat]

Taking 2 out of 3 against Detroit is acceptable... now go beat the White Sox this time. Being on the road should help. 

 

The Indians will also be on the road against Detroit and Tampa Bay this week... that Tampa series will be big for them, as the Rays are just a half game back from them. Also worth mentioning is that the A's are just a single game behind Cleveland too.

[singlesoverwalks]

The Twins' 9th-best home run hitter (Marwin Gonzalez) has as many home runs (14) as the Tigers' best home run hitter (Brandon Dixon). They could field a lineup in which every player save one had more homers than anyone on the Tigers.

[Tom Froemming]

Great to see Perez pitch a quality start and for the Twins to take this series. Here's more on the pitching:

[adorduan]

Cave contributing with the glove to go with a hot bat..  Nice.  His detractors have seemed to disappear...

[Alex Schieferdecker]

I like Thorpe and have high hopes for him overall, but he didn't have a great outing today. Meanwhile, Stashak had a pretty solid outing, but he's been shakier overall. It's evened out a bit for those two, as in their limited innings of work each has posted similar (not that good) numbers. 

 

I imagine we'll see Littell up again relatively soon, as he has come the closest to cementing a spot in the bullpen of all the AAA guys. Although for now, it looks like the Twins will go with seven in the bullpen and Buxton back up for this Chicago series. But there's a clear opening for a guy like Hildenberger to make his return, or a guy like Graterol to make a triumphant debut.

[Darius]

It feels like it’s been years since seeing Cron and Schoop mentioned positively in the same post-game. If Schoop and Cron could get hot down the stretch and into the playoffs....lookout.

 

Think about taking the team from May and adding 1.000 OPS Miguel Sano and Arraez to that. The team could carry a tee to serve as the whole pitching staff and still have a shot at the World Series.

Edited August 26, 2019 by Darius

[Monkeypaws]

 

Cave contributing with the glove to go with a hot bat..  Nice.  His detractors have seemed to disappear...

Yes - he has really help absorb the loss of Buxton lately. Too bad for him Buck will return soon.

[Darius]

The Twins' 9th-best home run hitter (Marwin Gonzalez) has as many home runs (14) as the Tigers' best home run hitter (Brandon Dixon). They could field a lineup in which every player save one had more homers than anyone on the Tigers.

It reminds me of the Twins in the late 90s. Nearly everyone was juiced out of their minds. Sosa and Big Mac were hitting 2 HRs a night.

 

Meanwhile, Matt Lawton, Ron Coomer, and Terry Steinbach led the Twins with 21, 15, and 14, respectively. David Ortiz hit 9. Clearly, the Twins we’re behind the times (aka, had subpar pharmacists). It was reflected in the standings. Fans lamented the lack of power-hitters. Similarly, the Tigers seem to be one of the last to embrace some of the analytic-based things.

Edited August 26, 2019 by Darius

[JW24]

 

Yes - he has really help absorb the loss of Buxton lately. Too bad for him Buck will return soon.

His bat is going to make it tough to take him out of the lineup even when Buxton returns. If Eddie isn't 100%, Cave should (IMO) continue to see regular playing time in LF. Nice luxury to have!

[Doctor Wu]

I hope the strong game by Perez is the start of MORE quality starts by the Twins. That starting rotation has been looking ugly lately, so it was refreshing to see a strong start again. And nice games by the forgotten guys, Schoop and Cron too. Now we just have to forget this win came against a weak Tigers team.

[In My La Z boy]

 

I like Thorpe and have high hopes for him overall, but he didn't have a great outing today. Meanwhile, Stashak had a pretty solid outing, but he's been shakier overall. It's evened out a bit for those two, as in their limited innings of work each has posted similar (not that good) numbers. 

 

I imagine we'll see Littell up again relatively soon, as he has come the closest to cementing a spot in the bullpen of all the AAA guys. Although for now, it looks like the Twins will go with seven in the bullpen and Buxton back up for this Chicago series. But there's a clear opening for a guy like Hildenberger to make his return, or a guy like Graterol to make a triumphant debut.

Bullpen woes may be in the rear view mirror. Aggressive call ups to AAA, Graterol, Alcala, Colina - Hildy & O'rourke getting ready - we seem to have a solid 5 right now in Rogers, Romo, Dyson, Duffy and May. Stashak and Littell look good. I like our chances right now to finish off games. Starters....Yikes. We've got to solve this one. 

[ashbury]

Cave contributing with the glove to go with a hot bat..  Nice.  His detractors have seemed to disappear...

I'm one, and I'm still here.

 

My complaints about Cave generally are about his decision making, both on defense and on the basepaths. Yesterday's excellent catch late in the game was more athleticism than decision making, i.e. "can he reach the ball" rather than "should he try", and it was fun to watch. If the homers continue to come, he might work his way out of my doghouse. But I still don't trust him on sinking line drives, or which base to throw to, or trying to nab an extra base himself.

[Squirrel]

Bullpen woes may be in the rear view mirror. Aggressive call ups to AAA, Graterol, Alcala, Colina - Hildy & O'rourke getting ready - we seem to have a solid 5 right now in Rogers, Romo, Dyson, Duffy and May. Stashak and Littell look good. I like our chances right now to finish off games. Starters....Yikes. We've got to solve this one.

None of Graterol, Alcala, Colina, O’Rourke are on the 40-man. One will be added prior to Sept. 1, but who? As for the others, someone would have to be removed for them to be added and I’m not sure I see that happening. So when rosters expand not sure if we will see any of these but one.

[In My La Z boy]

 

None of Graterol, Alcala, Colina, O’Rourke are on the 40-man. One will be added prior to Sept. 1, but who? As for the others, someone would have to be removed for them to be added and I’m not sure I see that happening. So when rosters expand not sure if we will see any of these but one.

I'd look for Harper to be removed opening up a 2nd 40 man spot. Then we'll see who they deem as a potential relief arm for a playoff run. Interesting to see if O'Rourke gets one as a loogy specialist. I think you'll also see Graterol or Alcala or both. Could also see Stewart removed. I think we're convinced he can't help us and might as well remove him now - we'll remove him in December no doubt.

[Squirrel]

 

I'd look for Harper to be removed opening up a 2nd 40 man spot. Then we'll see who they deem as a potential relief arm for a playoff run. Interesting to see if O'Rourke gets one as a loogy specialist. I think you'll also see Graterol or Alcala or both. Could also see Stewart removed. I think we're convinced he can't help us and might as well remove him now - we'll remove him in December no doubt.

Yeah ... I don't know who would be the right candidate for removal. I'm not sure I'd remove Stewart to be replaced by O'Rourke, though. But seeing as our 40-man roster is currently at 39, someone will be added prior to Sept. 1, so they would be eligible for the playoffs. I'm guessing Graterol ... but ... I really have no idea who it will be. And if we add anyone else ... i.e. O'Rourke or Alcala ... I'm have no idea who would be removed in their place.

[Mr. Brooks]

Stewart and Diplan are two easy 40 man spots to open up.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Yes - he has really help absorb the loss of Buxton lately. Too bad for him Buck will return soon.

well.. .800 OPS in 100+ games now. I'd say the bat is for real. From what I understand his glove is a bit below average for a CF... that makes for a pretty darn good 4th OF though or perhaps a piece to trade for pitching help this offseason. 

 

If Cave keeps doing what he's doing, he'll be collecting a major league check somewhere. 

[prouster]

Cave contributing with the glove to go with a hot bat.. Nice. His detractors have seemed to disappear...

I’m a Cave detractor. He’s been hot lately, but my goodness he isn’t an everyday player. He might seriously be the worst defensive outfielder they’ve had since the Arica/Willingham days.

[ashbury]

well.. .800 OPS in 100+ games now. I'd say the bat is for real.

I'd pump the brakes on that. He is currently a King of BABip. Batting Average on Balls In Play normally stabilizes around .300. Jake built his fine 2018 on a BABip of .363, and his major league numbers in 2019 are built on an even more outlandish BABip of .400.

 

Now, I (as a player) would not achieve .300 - BABip is meaningful only for a decent level of skill. One could speculate that a high BABip represents skill itself. Let me dig into that.

 

Jake has a career MLB BABip of .374 across 457 plate appearances. Do you know who has had a BABIp that high across an entire career (3000+ PA)? Just Ty Cobb. Not Babe Ruth, not Ted Williams, not... nobody.

 

Reduce the threshold to just the 457 PA that Jake has. Who now makes the cut? Just 2 more, besides Jake and Ty. Luminaries named Jorge Alfaro and Austin Slater, both of whom are 26 and currently playing, along with Cave. Alfaro's carving out a decent career as a young catcher (Philly, now Miami after a big trade). Slater's trying to reach "decent" with the Giants.

 

Seems a good bet that the BABip of these three contemporary players, early in their careers, will descend below .374 just like every other major league player not named Tyrus Raymond. These guys are extreme outliers. A high BABip of .374 doesn't look like a skill.

 

Which is the long way of saying, no, I'm far from convinced the bat is for real. With normal luck of balls falling in, he's Jason Tyner.

[bird]

 

I’m a Cave detractor. He’s been hot lately, but my goodness he isn’t an everyday player. He might seriously be the worst defensive outfielder they’ve had since the Arica/Willingham days.

 

 

Oakland fans might be saying something similar about THEIR starting left fielder Robbie Grossman.