Front Page: Twins Game Recap (9/20): Randy Dobnak Continues to Dominate in 4-3 Win

[Cooper Carlson]

The Twins used a group of rookie pitchers including Randy Dobnak and Cody Stashak to beat the Royals by a score of 4-3. Everything was working late as Marwin Gonzalez came through and Miguel Sano showed off his elite speed.Box Score

Dobnak: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 61% strikes (45 of 74 pitches)

Bullpen: 2.9 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

 

Home Runs: None

Multi-Hit Games: None

 

Top 3 WPA: Randy Dobnak (0.25), Trevor May (0.17), Marwin Gonzalez (0.13)

Bottom 3 WPA: Eddie Rosario (-0.11), Devin Smeltzerr (-0.07), Jonathan Schoop (-0.05)

 

The legend of Randy Dobnak continues.

 

Randy Dobnak has the greatest mustache of all time and also is the greatest Twins pitcher of all time. That was a slight exaggeration, but you get the picture. He continued his great rookie campaign with 5 1/3 great innings allowing only three hits and one run. Even he would have never predicted to be in the majors this season as two years ago he scheduled his wedding for the upcoming Sept. 28. Would it be weird to get married in the clubhouse or on the mound?

 

The only run given up was actually off a pitch from Cody Stashak so I’m sure Randy is eternally angry with him. Besides that hit, Stashak was dominant once again, striking out the next two batters he faced. That makes 21 strikeouts and just one walk so far in his young career. When he first came up, he said he was just here to throw strikes and he seems to be doing that.

 

Twins offense scores early, waits five innings and scores again

 

The bats got off to a quick start tonight with a Mitch Garver walk and a Polanco double. Nelson Cruz followed with a sacrifice fly that Dick Bremer probably convinced you was a home run. Then the most unlikely event possible occurred when Miguel Sano hit an RBI triple to the right center gap. Yes, I said triple.

 

After nothing really got going from innings two through five, the Twins got it going again in the sixth with a Polanco walk, a Sano walk, and then a Marwin Gonzalez RBI double that let Miguel Sano once again show off his insane speed. Who needs Buxton when Sano is running like this?

 

 

Royals put up a fight but ultimately they achieve their 99th loss.

 

Devin Smeltzer had a nice and clean seventh inning but he and Brusdar Graterol ran into some bad luck in the eighth with batters reaching on balls with an expected batting average of .170, .140, .400 and .200 so the Royals scrappy approach finally found some luck. Brusdar and his bazooka would leave the eighth inning with a 4-3 lead.

 

Trevor May came in for the save and struck the first batter out on three pitches. Then he struck out Whit Merrifield looking. He capped off the save with....another strikeout! All three of the strikeouts came on fastballs and hitters have just a .158 BA against his fastball to go with a 32% whiff rate. It’s his best pitch and he throws it 62% of the time. Trevor May also has a 1.62 ERA since the start of August. Elite.

 

Twins magic number drops to five and lead in the central stays at four.

 

With today’s win the Twins have dropped their magic number to five games. Fangraphs has the Twins at a 99% chance to win the division. I know a lot of you are taking that 1% but just so we are all clear, the Twins will win the AL Central. As Trevor May would say, go Twins.

 

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

[IndianaTwin]

Hope Dobnak’s registered for candlesticks. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diX4myfR6vU

[TNTwinsFan]

Glad to see Trevor May dominating tonight. With Rogers not effective going back to back, I think it will prove CRITICAL to have another shut-down guy to come in and lock an opponent down in the late innings.

 

As I watched Graterol pitch, I made the comment (to myself) that he seemed hittable. Inspite of 3 hits that beat the shifts, I was expecting Trevor May-like results from a dude that throws 100+. However, he's young and I would love to see what would happen to him if he could work with Wes Johnson for a couple years. Graterol has pitched well since his call up; one or two more appearances should tell us if he can truly help in the Post Season this year.

[Cooper Carlson]

Glad to see Trevor May dominating tonight. With Rogers not effective going back to back, I think it will prove CRITICAL to have another shut-down guy to come in and lock an opponent down in the late innings.

As I watched Graterol pitch, I made the comment (to myself) that he seemed hittable. Inspite of 3 hits that beat the shifts, I was expecting Trevor May-like results from a dude that throws 100+. However, he's young and I would love to see what would happen to him if he could work with Wes Johnson for a couple years. Graterol has pitched well since his call up; one or two more appearances should tell us if he can truly help in the Post Season this year.

I think the expectations for Graterol were way too high. He’s pitching effectively and will likely make the postseason roster but I don’t think he will reach that elite level this season. In a couple years absolutely but he’s only 21 still.

[D.C Twins]

Yes...May has been a very pleasant surprise over the last month or so .....since I made a snarky comment to one of Nick's articles where he suggested that he was on the cusp.

 

 

Why can't I quit you snarky comments.....and more importantly...why don't I even want to....

[twinsnorth49]

Favourite part tonight, by far, was the Game Thread implosion when May came in to close, and then struck out the side.

 

Good stuff.

[USAFChief]

Favourite part tonight, by far, was the Game Thread implosion when May came in to close, and then struck out the side.

 

Good stuff.

my favorite part was May striking out the side.

[Monticore]

When is Cleveland going to lose?

[etwink]

Nice efficient win against an awful team. Would have loved to see The Dobber pitch a bit more, given how dominant he was and the fact that he only threw 74 pitches....but Rocco has been running the pitching staff like this all year, so it’s pointless to complain at this point. Having said that, I love the fact that I can relax a bit and enjoy the later innings with our transformed bullpen. Who would’ve thought that we’d see Dyson go down and not even bat an eye because of the utter filth that May has thrown the past few months. I love watching a pitcher confidently winging it in there essentially saying “do your best because I know I’ve great stuff”. Lovely!

[etwink]

When is Cleveland going to lose?

 

I was thinking the same. We may look back on the last Cleveland series as THE factor that got us to the playoffs. Even if they win out, we just need to go 5-3 against awful teams. If we can’t do that, we’ve no business going to the playoffs!!

[Platoon]

Favourite part tonight, by far, was the Game Thread implosion when May came in to close, and then struck out the side.

Good stuff.

My favorite part of the evening is your "favourite". :). I love the extra "u" youu guuys throw into wourds! :).

[Doctor Wu]

Down the stretch and relying on names like Randy Dobnak and Devin Smeltzer and Cody Stashak to fortify the pitching staff  .. how unlikely but totally fun is that?!

[jmlease1]

My only question is whether the Twins will reach 100 wins for only the second time in team history? 5-3 in the last 8 seems very doable and cracks the century mark for their second-best record overall, behind only 1965. It's been a pretty amazing season, and a very enjoyable one for a fan.

 

A nice win against a KC team that is not very good, but plays the Twins hard. Time to get the win on Sunday!

[Tom Froemming]

Twins Pitch: 

 

[AlwaysinModeration]

When is Cleveland going to lose?

Who cares? Twins need to go 5-3 against the Royals and Tigers to get 100 wins and lock down the division.

[terrydactyls]

Yesterday was Friday, September 20.  It was the 154th game of the year putting the Twins 95% of the way through the season.  The Twins hit 0 home runs for a season total of 293 home runs.  The Twins are now 1 home run behind the Yankees for the new MLB single-season home run record.

[Old Twins Cap]

So, is Dyson out for the season?

 

Not hearing a lot about him or his injury.

[DocBauer]

Down the stretch and relying on names like Randy Dobnak and Devin Smeltzer and Cody Stashak to fortify the pitching staff  .. how unlikely but totally fun is that?!

 

Was thinking the same thing last night. Never saw so many contributions from young pitchers happening this year, and certainly not those guys. And let's not forget some nice work by Thorpe and even Poppen before he got hurt.

[wabene]

He is scheduled to see the same doctor that worked on Buxton this coming week. Probably letting some swelling calm down before they evaluate him. If he does have surgery he most likely won't pitch for the Twins again.

[Vanimal46]

So, is Dyson out for the season?

 

Not hearing a lot about him or his injury.

Yes. Expected to get surgery.

 

https://twitter.com/DWolfsonKSTP/status/1175189856827432960?s=19

[MABB1959]

 

Who cares? Twins need to go 5-3 against the Royals and Tigers to get 100 wins and lock down the division.

What if the Twins have a 3 game losing streak and Cleveland keeps winning.  Cleveland is not going down easy.  I am sure they will be fine but it really is not over yet for Cleveland and anything is still possible.

[Mr. Brooks]

What if the Twins have a 3 game losing streak and Cleveland keeps winning. Cleveland is not going down easy. I am sure they will be fine but it really is not over yet for Cleveland and anything is still possible.

If they have a 3 game losing streak against KC and Detroit, with the division on the line, then they don't belong in the postseason.

[Blake]

 

my favorite part was May striking out the side.

My view last night:

 

 

[Rosterman]

I so want Rocco to pull a pitcher when they get into trouble, as can't afford to let a game get away. But Dobnak proved himself worthy and got out of a Big mess. Unfortunately, Rocco also wants to push his starters as far as he can and get that extra inning.

 

So, Randy will be married next Saturday. He could start Wednesday or Thursday before going on marriage tenure. The bigger question is who will be the third Twins starter in the playoffs. Is Dobnak a viable candidate? Do we stick with Gibson or Perez? 

 

Trevor May ahs the stuff to be THE CLOSER for the Twins, or to share duties with Rogers come 2020. The guy, when he trusts his stuff, is dynamite. Like all closers, we worry about that long ball when he throws hard. But that is the name of the game.

 

What has happened to the Twins offense. Can they NOT hit well at home? No homers against a weak KC starter, and nothing much against a weak bullpen. Few hits. Miss Arraez, who should be batting ledoff!

[Blake]

Great seats, everyone was into the game, just overall had a great experience.

 

Okay, okay, maybe the win and a pennant race had something to do with it.

 

[Alex Schieferdecker]

Can the Twins win by a lot for once? 

[MMMordabito]

Too bad I recently adopted a dog. If I was still looking, I'd be looking for a bulldog mix and naming it Dobnak. I understand it was the Royals, but he just keeps coming out and performing. I'd say he's the current favorite for the 2020 5th spot. I also wouldn't be surprised if he earns the 4th spot. Hope he's a Twin for a long time.

[Mr. Brooks]

Can the Twins win by a lot for once?

The 42 times they've won by 4 or more runs this season don't count?

[mikelink45]

We really need young arms like Dobnak to come through this year and next.  Odo and Berrios are the only locks for the playoffs - but would the team dare trust a rookie arm in that pressure? 

 

I like it when the team can win the close, old fashioned style of ball game.  Give Sano credit for putting in the effort and the speed!  That is the highlight of the week.

[Blake]

By the way, one thing that  isn't apparent on TV, Sano is a big man. Not fat at all. He's just big!