Front Page: Twins Game Recap (9/25): Dobnak the Wedding Ringer Deals in Detroit

[Ted Schwerzler]

158 games into the 2019 Major League Baseball season the Minnesota Twins found themselves in a position to clinch the AL Central Division for the first time since 2010. They’ll need a Cleveland Indians loss tonight before popping the champagne, but serve was held with Randy Dobnak twirling a gem prior to winding up a married man. A lead was secured late, and Rocco Baldelli was given the most important win of the season on his birthday.Box Score

Dobnak: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

Home Runs: Luis Arraez (4), Rosario (32)

Multi-Hit Games: Polanco (2-4, R, 3B), Cruz (2-4, R, RBI), Arraez (2-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB)

WPA of +0.1: Arraez .289, Dobnak .180, Duffey .109

WPA of -0.1: Garver -.113

 

Early on in this one the story was infield defense. Minnesota has slipped behind their early season defensive efforts for months now. After playing at a career-best clip to start the year, Jorge Polanco has looked like the guy who won’t be a long-term answer at short. His error allowed the cement-footed Miguel Cabrera to score all the way from first base (it looked as if he was running in slow motion) to give Detroit a lead. Dobnak saw Miguel Sano boot a grounder later in the action that ended up proving harmless.

 

Early in the season Eddie Rosario introduced us to the term “bombas” and it was off the bat of the diminutive Luis Arraez that the lead was captured. A 402 foot no- doubter put Minnesota in the lead. It was his fourth of the year and longest career blast to date. Dobnak bowed out with a lead and Tyler Duffey locked down his 23rd straight inning of scoreless relief work.

 

Insurance runs didn’t take long as Minnesota was ready to put up another crooked number in the eighth inning. Polanco grabbed his seventh triple of the season with some solid baserunning after the first out. Nelson Cruz then drove him home through a pulled-in infield. Mr. Bombas himself, Rosario, then went jack job on a laser to right field for his 32nd dinger of the season. Up 5-1 needing just six outs, this one was all but decided.

 

Don’t worry, Rosie wasn’t done with the fun after his homer either. Sliding to make a play in the field for Trevor May, there was some added flair on the out as well. There’s no denying a hot Rosario is a great development going into the postseason, and there’s also no denying this man is feeling himself right now.

 

 

Cleveland currently trails the Chicago White Sox by a 4-1 tally in the third inning. A loss would allow the Twins to pop the bubbly for the first time since 2010. This team is two wins shy of 100, and the century mark is something they haven’t accomplished since 1965. Tomorrow will likely be a hangover-induced lineup, but the Royals should expect to get the business this weekend in Kansas City.

 

A date with the New York Yankees looks imminent in the American League Division Series and this club is looking to erase demons Twins Territorians are haunted by.

 

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days

 

Next Three Games

Thu @ DET, 12:10 PM CT (TBD vs Zimmermann)

Fri @ KC, 7:15 PM CT (TBD vs Skoglund)

Sat @ KC, 6:15 PM CT (TBD vs Sparkman)

 

Last Game

Twins Game Recap (9/24): Odorizzi's Gem Cuts the Twins Magic Number to 2

 

Click here to view the article

[yarnivek1972]

The Twins are going to wear this TBD guy out...

[Post-Concussive Blues]

Way to finish the season strong, overcoming injuries. I’m excited Rosario is getting hot again.

[mikelink45]

Bring on the Yankees, or anyone else.  Does it matter.  Somehow the Yankees and Astros both have to go down, so lets go in with attitude.  No complacency and no fear.  The other team will score off our starter, we know that.  So lets just bombas away.  

[Mauerpower]

Damn good writing Ted!

[Dantes929]

Hate to nitpick (not really) but you used territorian  incorrectly.   Territorian according to Merriam Webster (she sounds hot) is an inhabitant of the Northern Territory of Australia.    I guess on 2nd thought Twins Territorians could be Twins fans that live in the Norther Territory of Australia that have been haunted by the Yankees.   Anyone?  Anyone?

[pierre75275]

Is Randy Dobnak this years' Les Streaker?

Where did Dobnak come from? ( I mean I know but still) is he for real or is this a scott diamond year?

[Dantes929]

 

Is Randy Dobnak this years' Les Streaker?
Where did Dobnak come from? ( I mean I know but still) is he for real or is this a scott diamond year?

Are you kidding.   2-1 1.59 ERA  That's pre injury Liriano numbers.     Scott Diamond was awesome that year.   His curveball was Blylevenesque that year.   Too bad he got arm trouble but just goes to show you how awesome Blyleven was to have that Diamond Season 20 some times.    A full season in the minors and now 28 innings in the majors is feeling less and less like a fluke.   If it is at least the Yankees haven't seen him yet.    At the very least we will have definitive beyond all reason proof of the effect of being married if he gets shelled his next appearance..   Just kidding.  What a month he is having!

[DocBauer]

1] Rosario frustrates at times but damn is he fun, entertaining and GOOD! A "feeling good" and hot Rosario, Cruz, Sano, etc, and a nursed and ready Kepler is so important.

 

2] Dobnak is NOT Les Straker because Straker had a full, mediocre but solid season. Dobnak doesn't have that. And while maybe I'm just drinking the right flavor of Kool Aid...or something else...i actually think Dobnak is better. He is not just a fun story at this point. I think we could say the same things about Smeltzer, but this kid just knows how to pitch, seems to have pretty decent stuff, fine control, and just doesn't show fear. Now, is he ready for prime time playoff action??? IDK. TBD. But at this point, while I think I feel more confident in him next season, I wouldn't bet against him at least being solid in the playoffs, even if he's part of a bullpen game.

 

BUT, his story is just crazy fun and good, right?

 

3] Cleveland down by 2 as I write this. We could clinch tonight. What I want is everyone to play, stay sharp, audition where needed, rest where needed etc, but selfishly, I want 2 more wins in the final 4 games for 100!

 

4] Selfish yet again, long ball anomaly season or not, I want the Bomba record!

[terrydactyls]

Yesterday was Wednesday, September 25.  It was the 158th game of the year putting the Twins 98% of the way through the season.  The Twins hit 2 home runs for a season total of 299 home runs.  Twins are now tied for the new MLB single-season home run record with the Yankees.  The Twins have four games left and the Yankees have three games remaining.  The Twins magic number is now 1 (and the Indians are losing in the seventh at the time of this posting).

[laloesch]

Really starting to get hyped about Dobnak. I hope he's in the starting rotation in 2020. This kid can pitch!

[Monticore]

Another good win to nail it shut. Infield defense is still shoddy Dobnak is stellar.

[D.C Twins]

Dear Rocco,

 

Go immediately to the chalkboard and write

 

"Arraez will bat leadoff in all playoff games"    100 times.

 

Love,

Your chances of winning

[ashbury]

 

Dear Rocco,

 

Go immediately to the chalkboard and write

 

"Arraez will bat leadoff in all playoff games"    100 times.

 

Love,

Your chances of winning

What, you want Sano batting ninth so Arraez can drive him in with homers?

[SwainZag]

Man, as much as I/we like to dog on Eddie, he is so damn charismatic.  So much energy, so much fun when things are going his way.  Teams need guys like him when he has a cast like the Twins do.

 

Also.  Dobnak.  I love this kid.

 

2019 Division Champs.  First goal.  Let's go.

[rdehring]

The more I watch Dobnak pitch, the more I am reminded of someone I used to watch who was very good.  You know, like a bulldog.

 

Problem is I just cannot recall who it was.  Heck, it may have been someone with the Braves back in the 60's.  My point is that I see a starter who has come out of nowhere, a starter who just might end up being special.  

 

With Dobnak, Schmeltzer, Thorpe, Graterol, and others, maybe the Twins only need to fill 3 spots in the rotation over the winter.

[jmlease1]

Randy Dobnak. Who knew? It's a heck of a rise in one season, but the results have been good. A formula of keeping the ball in the park, not issuing a lot of walks, and missing enough bats that hitters can't just wait on a pitch is still workable in MLB...especially keeping the ball in the park. In this homer-happy environment, could that be an underrated skill? I'm a little concerned that as teams get more tape on him that someone is going to find an exploitable flaw (and he has been a little lucky to date) but right now sure seems to be the time to ride that horse and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

 

Another terrific performance from arraez. We're starting to get outside of SSS territory; maybe he's just going to be one of those high-average hitters! Man, that would be awesome.

[Vanimal46]

Do you think the Tigers also popped champagne for securing the #1 overall pick last night?

[USAFChief]

 

Do you think the Tigers also popped champagne for securing the #1 overall pick last night?

management, maybe.

[Riverbrian]

 

Randy Dobnak. Who knew? It's a heck of a rise in one season, but the results have been good. A formula of keeping the ball in the park, not issuing a lot of walks, and missing enough bats that hitters can't just wait on a pitch is still workable in MLB...especially keeping the ball in the park. In this homer-happy environment, could that be an underrated skill? I'm a little concerned that as teams get more tape on him that someone is going to find an exploitable flaw (and he has been a little lucky to date) but right now sure seems to be the time to ride that horse and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

 

Another terrific performance from arraez. We're starting to get outside of SSS territory; maybe he's just going to be one of those high-average hitters! Man, that would be awesome.

 

 

Include the front office in that.

 

Based on his usage... they didn't know.  

 

Congrats on a great year. I've enjoyed this season immensely and it isn't over yet.