CHW 4, MIN 3: Donaldson Ejection Steals the Show, White Sox Take Series

[Andrew Thares]

Byron Buxton hit a pair of bombas, giving him home runs in three straight games, and Josh Donaldson had an ejection for the ages after hitting a home run of his own, but the White Sox beat the Twins 4-3 Thursday afternoon. After failing to reach the postseason the past 11 years, Chicago punched its ticket to the playoffs with this win.Box Score

Maeda: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K

Home Runs: Buxton 2 (12), Donaldson (5)

Bottom 3 WPA: Romo -.371, Wisler -.164, Sanó -.150

 

Byron Buxton has been on a power display since his return from the IL. After his inside the park home run in game one of this series was taken away, Buxton has proceeded to homer in each of the last three games of the series, including two more today. The first was a solo shot in the top of the second, and the second was also a solo shot that came in his next at-bat in the fifth.

 

 

 

The Twins have had quite the issue with the home plate umpiring throughout this four-game series. In the sixth, Josh Donaldson took exception to yet another missed call by the umpire. After some words with home plate umpire Dan Bellino, Rocco Baldelli came out to have a word and help defuse the situation. On the very next pitch, Josh Donaldson took out his frustration on both the baseball and on home plate, leading to his ejection.

 

 

Kenta Maeda had himself another solid outing for the Twins. He did give up a pair of solo home runs to Jose Abreu and Edwin Encarnacion, but other than that he was lights out against this strong White Sox lineup. Maeda’s best innings came in the second, where he struck out Eloy Jimenez, Edwin Encarnacion and Yoan Moncada for an easy 1-2-3 inning. With the way he is pitching, Maeda seems like a shoe in to start in game one of the Twins first Postseason series.

 

Matt Wisler came in to start the sixth inning in relief of Kenta Maeda, and immediately found himself in trouble. After loading the bases with just one out, Rocco Baldelli went to Trevor May to get out of the jam, and May did just that by striking out Yoan Moncada before getting Luis Robert to fly out to end the inning.

 

There was more chaos in the Twins half of the seventh. Buxton leadoff the inning with a single, for his third hit of the ballgame. The with one out, Ryan Jeffers appeared to hit a flyout to centerfielder Luis Robert, however, after lapse in concentration from Robert that caused him to drop the ball the Twins were suddenly in business. Buxton took off running when the ball hit the ground, and as he approached third, he was inexplicably sent home by third base coach Tony Diaz with the ball almost already to the cutoff man. After an easy throw home, Buxton was out by about 45 feet. Had he stayed, the Twins could have had Buxton on third with just one out, to try and add insurance to what was a one run lead at the time.

 

The Twins were not as fortunate on the mound in the seventh as they were in the sixth. After Tyler Clippard began the inning, Rocco Baldelli again made a move to the pen in the middle of the inning to try and get out of a jam, this time calling on Sergio Romo to get out of first and third with two outs. Romo was able to induce a weak groundball from Jose Abreu, however, Jorge Polanco was unable to make the play in-time, deep in the hole, and the game was tied at three. Eloy Jimenez then followed up with a double down the left-field line, giving the White Sox their first lead of the game.

 

In the eighth and ninth innings, the Twins were able to get two-out singles from Nelson Cruz and Marwin Gonzalez respectively, however, they were unable to capitalize on their chances to tie up the game, as the Twins fall by a final score of 4-3.

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Download attachment: Bullpen.png

 

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[USAFChief]

 

"This division race is OH-VAH!"

[T_J]

Time to get everyone right. Get your post-season players ABs and figure out the pitchers. Balance out the line-up as well. Gotta hold the 4th spot because this squad blows on the road. Good news is as bad as they've been on the road, the Yanks may be worse.

[MNT1996]

Need to get some longer starts. BP is getting worked hard

[Melissa]

My insight for the day: Byron Buxton is so fun to watch!! 

[shimrod]

After watching this series I'm more than ready for the electronic balls and strikes. As the AI improves I'd suggest letting the computer do the rest of the officiating as well and fire those bums. 

 

Will never forget the time in Yankees stadium when the ball landed three feet fair and the umpire called it foul. Incompetent AND crooked, what a combination.

[Aggies7]

Thank god donaldson’s ejection fired up the fellas. They managed to fumble through the last few innings with more gusto than usual!

[h2oface]

Diaz sending Buxton home..... stunning ineptitude.

 

Some may brag about this pen, and use some stats to back it up.

But I know what I have seen. Today it was Romo and Clippard. But it has been others and more than once. This is a bullpen that looks to me like it will get decimated in the postseason. Too many games, important games like this, where they have totally lost the lead and the game. Pressure on. But hey, who thought the Nationals would gel and win the World Series? I gues it could still happen. I know I will be watching.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Has there been any explanation for why Astudillo pinch-hit for Jeffers at the end? I mean, I know it likely didn't make a difference at that point, but it seemed so odd. Was Jeffers hurt or something?

[Tom Froemming]

 

Need to get some longer starts. BP is getting worked hard

Yeah, this is 20/20 hindsight but it's easy to wonder why Maeda only threw 86 pitches today. Seems like he should have had another inning in him had Rocco wanted to put him back out there.

[blindeke]

That was a weird game. The Sox barely scratched the tying run across, also. Kepler shoudla had Dyson picked off.

[Channing1964]

not to worry... it'll be aight!

[ashbury]

That was a weird game. The Sox barely scratched the tying run across, also. Kepler shoudla had Dyson picked off.

Yeah, the game summary here really missed an important detail with Kepler's offline throw. Doesn't show up in the box score as anything, but it was the difference between two out nobody on, versus a speedy guy on first base with one out. We had the lead. We didn't exit the inning with it. Game changer right there. Gave away two outs that inning, Buxton's baserunning booboo being the other.

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Yeah, this is 20/20 hindsight but it's easy to wonder why Maeda only threw 86 pitches today. Seems like he should have had another inning in him had Rocco wanted to put him back out there.

Not really hindsight -- 4 innings to protect a 1-run lead looked like a tall task after the pen threw 5.1 innings last night.

 

Edit to add: unless they simply planned to lose the game, so the pen would only have to throw 3 innings.

[Aggies7]

 

Not really hindsight -- 4 innings to protect a 1-run lead looked like a tall task after the pen threw 5.1 innings last night.

And it happens on an almost nightly basis. Absurd that modern day pitchers can not get through 5 without throwing nearly 100 pitches. Ruining the game for me (as a lifelong pitcher)

[insagt1]

only possible reason for the pinch hitter was perhaps Jeffers was probably a strike out candidate....as Twins have been whiffing all week long with reckless abandon. The hope was The Turtle would at least put the ball in play...which he did, but not very well. But overall,it was just a lousy game.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

only possible reason for the pinch hitter was perhaps Jeffers was probably a strike out candidate....as Twins have been whiffing all week long with reckless abandon. The hope was The Turtle would at least put the ball in play...which he did, but not very well. But overall,it was just a lousy game.

But Colome hasn't been generating many strikeouts this year. Jeffers K rate is 33% right now but that doesn't seem too egregious. More than contact, you need to reach base to stay alive at that point, and Jeffers has a .365 OBP -- Astudillo's MLB career is .319. And ideally, you want a double or HR to plate the runner from first, and obviously Jeffers is a better bet for that too.

 

Jeffers even drew a walk from Colome back on August 31st, so I'm not sure what about that matchup would scare Baldelli.

[Aggies7]

Toronto trails the Yankees, the rays are ahead in their game...it’s all coming together folks

[Cap'n Piranha]

I'm disappointed in Donaldson for getting himself kicked out of this one.  You're playing the team you're chasing, in a game you pretty much have to have if you want the division, and it's a nailbiter.  Instead of acting like the 34 year old leader he's supposed to be, Donaldson decides to throw a tantrum because he didn't like the ump's strike zone.  I've got news for you--that's going to happen from time to time.  It's surely happened to Donaldson before, and it will happen again.  Control your emotions, and stay in the game for your team.

[MMMordabito]

They're gonna play the Yankees, and they're gonna lose. Get ready for winter.

[mikelink45]

Isn't it wonderful to keep having Kepler and his 204 average batting first.  Thanks for your consistency or should I say stubbornness Rocco.  

 

I have been told in other posts that Kepler has a better OBP than Buxton.  I am tired of hearing hit.  Byron is so hot - lead off, bat second - get him up and Kepler down.  Move Donaldson down too or are you afraid he will throw a tantrum.

 

On another post I was criticized for saying I would drop Clippard from the post season roster right now.  I know he was great at the beginning, but he has not been great this month.

 

It time for Romo to shut up and step up.

 

I know it is old school, but starters are allowed to go more than 5 innings Rocco.

 

This series has been a disaster except for the third game.

[darwin22]

Although covered by a few others, I have to add my 2 cents on a few items:  #1 Sick and tired of Baldy hooking our SP's when they have more gas in the tank----especially with Maeda.  I'm sure Sox hitters were drooling when he went with Wisler in 6th, which May bailed him out.  #2  Donaldson:  Love the fire, but seriously, in SUCH AN IMPORTANT game to win (tiebreaker advantage to Twins if they win season series), you cannot, blatantly show an umpire up the way he did.  You know HP ump was looking for a reason to toss Donaldson after his HR and JD just, in his mind, had to give him a "middle finger" by raking dirt over the plate when he got home.  If he controls his emotions, maybe he cuts off Abreu's grounder in bottom of 7th that would've preserved a 1-run lead.  If he controls his emotions, he gets another AB in the 8th instead of Adrianza (3 pitch whiff).  #3 Kepler:  Getting really tired of his lack of production with the bat (2 for 19 since coming off IL), but his WEAK and off target throw in 7th that would've easily...and I mean easily doubled off Dyson, was INEXCUSABLE!!  Kepler had maybe a 150 ft throw to double off Dyson, who was stealing on the pitch and at least 70 feet away from 1B when Kepler caught the ball.  An AVERAGE high school OFer would make that play 90% of the time.  Not Kepler.  Just pathetic.  As is his season avg. of. 204 with an abysmal .692 OPS with 31 Ks.  Rocco needs to quit massaging his EGO and drop him down in the order--if he can stay healthy, which with Kepler's mental toughness being comparable to a  flower, is no guarantee.

[Aggies7]

 

They're gonna play the Yankees, and they're gonna lose. Get ready for winter.

Yanks have now put up 42 runs in 20 innings in their series against the team closest to them (Toronto). Maybe they’re peaking too early lol

[jun]

This should be the batting order throughout the playoff.

 

1. Buxton (CF)

2. Polanco (SS)

3. Cruz (DH)

4. Rosario (LF)

5. Sano (1B)

6. Arraez (2B)

7. Donaldson (3B)

8. Kepler (RF)

9. Jeffers ©

 

[Otwins]

 

They're gonna play the Yankees, and they're gonna lose. Get ready for winter.

Finally something feels normal about 2020

[Dantes929]

 

I'm disappointed in Donaldson for getting himself kicked out of this one.  You're playing the team you're chasing, in a game you pretty much have to have if you want the division, and it's a nailbiter.  Instead of acting like the 34 year old leader he's supposed to be, Donaldson decides to throw a tantrum because he didn't like the ump's strike zone.  I've got news for you--that's going to happen from time to time.  It's surely happened to Donaldson before, and it will happen again.  Control your emotions, and stay in the game for your team.

I agree with everything you said but I still laughed and will remember it, and I don't even particularly like Donaldson.   Entertainment..

[howeda7]

 

Time to get everyone right. Get your post-season players ABs and figure out the pitchers. Balance out the line-up as well. Gotta hold the 4th spot because this squad blows on the road. Good news is as bad as they've been on the road, the Yanks may be worse.

It's the Yankees in the play-offs. None of it matters. We don't have the bullpen to hold them down and Cruz, Rosario and Kepler aren't clicking so we're not winning any 11-10 games either, I'm afraid. 

[howeda7]

 

Toronto trails the Yankees, the rays are ahead in their game...it’s all coming together folks

And we're only 1 game ahead of the Yankees. What's the tiebreaker for home field? If we lose out can Cleveland catch us?

[MNT1996]

 

This should be the batting order throughout the playoff.

 

1. Buxton (CF)

2. Polanco (SS)

3. Cruz (DH)

4. Rosario (LF)

5. Sano (1B)

6. Arraez (2B)

7. Donaldson (3B)

8. Kepler (RF)

9. Jeffers ©

 

I think right now Buxton should leadoff, but once Arraez comes back I think he should take over the duty. Buxton has been extremely impressive right now, but the only thing that concerns me for him being in the leadoff role is the inability to take a walk. Arraez does a good job taking pitches and working the count when he's going good. I think you swap Arraez for Buxton in the order. I also think having Buxton batting before Sano and Donaldson would be nice. 

 

I'd go with:

 

1. Arraez (2B)

2. Polanco (SS)

3. Cruz (DH)

4. Rosario (LF)

5. Buxton (CF)

6. Donaldson (3B)

7. Sano (1B)

8. Kepler (RF)

9. Jeffers ©

 

Arraez and Polanco are the table setters with Cruz and Rosario providing some right-handed and left-handed pop, respectively. Buxton can also provide pop and he can also be a guy to get on base before some big swingers. If he gets on base, he can distract the pitcher with his speed, and that could force the pitcher to throw less off-speed stuff to Donaldson and Sano. 

[bighat]

Pretty childish and disgraceful display from Donaldson. That's something you see from the spoiled coaches' son in little league - not a grown man playing the game at the highest level.

 

Getting kicked out on purpose in what was clearly the most important game of the year? Stunningly ignorant. It's just plain awful in terms of leadership. It didn't "fire up" the team, it took the wind out of their sails.

 

Clippard and Romo are just hanging on by a thread, I can't see either of them getting signed by a contender next year. They're washed up 40 year-olds throwing 85 MPH meatballs out there in close games - recipe for disaster. Toss Rich Hill into that group also. Time for the Twins to stop going to the antique store when they are looking for arms.