Tigers 5, Twins 2 Tigers Keep Twins Bats Quiet

[Theo Tollefson]

The Twins finished the last weekend series of the season in Detroit Sunday hoping to walk away with a series victory against the cellar team of the division. They sent out their top pitching prospect Simeon Woods Richardson to make his debut against Tiger lefty and fellow rookie Joey Wentz. Could the Twins get a win for SWR’s debut or hit like they usually have all season?

Image courtesy of Rick Osentoski, USA Today Sports

Box Score
SP: Simeon Woods Richardson 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (91 pitches, 61 strikes (67 strike %))
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Gio Urshela -0.188, Nick Gordon -0.123, Simeon Woods Richardson -0.118

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

 

Better Late Than Never for Woods Richardson's Debut
Sunday brought about the Major League debut for Simeon Woods Richardson, a long-awaited one for Twins fans over the dismal month of September. 

Woods Richardson’s first inning of work in the majors was a mountain to climb as he walked the leadoff hitter who later came into score on a fielding error by Jose Miranda at first. Then a single by Miguel Cabrera advanced the runner to third and he scored on a wild pitch to Jonathan Schoop. Fortunately, that was the end of troubles for Woods Richardson in the first as he retired Schoop on a double play.

From the second inning on, Woods Richardson’s only trouble that followed as a solo home run he gave up to Tigers catcher Eric Haase in the third to put the Tigers up 3-0. He did also have base runners reach in the second and fourth that did not end up getting beyond first.

Woods Richardson’s final inning was his best retiring the minimum in the fifth. Woods Richardson allowed five base runners (three hits, two walks), two earned runs, and three strikeouts for his MLB debut. His top velocity on a pitch for the day was a strike at 92.6 MPH to start off Haase’s second at-bat of the game when he hit a home run.

Correa Hits But That’s it
As common as ever this season the Twins bats didn’t show up beyond one-hitter in the lineup. Today it was Carlos Correa who went 2-for-3 with an RBI walk. 

The Twins' two runs were mounted on walks and a sacrifice fly from Nick Gordon in the fifth but couldn’t mount a bases-loaded opportunity to more runs. 

Luis Arraez did not play on Sunday against a lefty in Joey Wentz in addition to the hamstring issues he has been facing of late. Aaron Judge was 0-for-2 with a walk through six innings on Sunday afternoon. 

Strange Injuries Toward the End
Today the Twins used a reliever who never threw a pitch in the game. Trevor Megill was called in to pitch the seventh but was removed after throwing a warmup pitch that ended up spiking in the dirt and having the seams land into Ryan Jeffers neck.

Jeffers was okay and remained in the game but whatever Rocco Baldelli and the trainer saw from that spiked pitch. It was concerning enough to them to remove Megill from the game. Looked like an oblique or side injury. 

What’s Next? 
Twins go to Chicago’s Southside to end the season with a three-game series against the White Sox. Bailey Ober will be on the mound for the Twins Monday night against Johnny Cueto. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CT. 

Postgame Interview 

Bullpen Usage Sheet

 

 

 

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[Linus]

I see the Twins played their typical brand of sloppy baseball again today. Jeffers throw on the first inning steal attempt was laughable, again. 

[rv78]

Same crap, different day. Good job motivating your team Rocco.

I think it's ironic that the Twins scored there only 2 runs because of a Baddoo error, yes a former Twin.

[Linus]

Poor SWR.  He probably assumed he would have a major league team behind him on his debut. 

[Doctor Gast]

I was impressed w/ SWR because he battled nerves & bad defense in the 1st inning but didn't loose his head & came back & pitched a pretty good game. This had to be a confident builder knowing that this organization had confidence in him to start a MLB game. Now with the 1st game out of the way. He'll come back next year better than ever.

Arraez is a gamer but it made perfect sense for him to sit out this game having a aggrevating hamstring. It'd be a pity if he'd lose the batting title because of it.

[rv78]

42 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Arraez is a gamer but it made perfect sense for him to sit out this game having a aggrevating hamstring. It'd be a pity if he'd lose the batting title because of it.

It would be normal for this team if he loses the batting title because of it. Bad luck follows this team like the black plague. Then again, sometimes you get what you sow. like signing constantly injured players, (Buxton) to long-term contracts and trading for other injured players, but don't blame the FO for injuries becasue that's their excuse for losing. Bad fundamentals, bad coaching and bad managing had nothing to do with it.

[Blyleven2011]

2 hours ago, rv78 said:

It would be normal for this team if he loses the batting title because of it. Bad luck follows this team like the black plague. Then again, sometimes you get what you sow. like signing constantly injured players, (Buxton) to long-term contracts and trading for other injured players, but don't blame the FO for injuries becasue that's their excuse for losing. Bad fundamentals, bad coaching and bad managing had nothing to do with it.

You forgot the plan was bad too ...

I don't think they really had a plan , 

Rocco didn't have them playing like they had a plan ...

[tony&rodney]

That first inning was a special view of the season. Miranda totally misses a soft ground ball, Jeffers throws the ball away when he should have walked it back to the mound and told SWR to turn the page and focus on the batter after SWR forgot to check on Baddoo, and then Jeffers doesn't catch a ball that lands just in front of his glove. Any fair catcher blocks or catches that ball. Jeffers really struggles and pitchers need to throw the ball in the dirt with confidence. Check out Hedges or Maldonado for what a pitcher expects from a catcher. The offense had their own little problems. It's been a tough couple of months for our guys.

Let us hope for three good games in Chicago, just well played baseball.

[mikelink45]

I just do not have any enthusiasm for the end!  My only useless complaint is that you Woods-Richardson had his act together as he proceeded and one more inning was due him after his 5th.  

[insagt1]

Another lousy series loss to a basement team. Team is lifeless (eye test...can't crawl into their heads before people complain about this) Twins couldn't even muster enough juice to beat a bad team again. Judge went hitless yesterday, which almost assures Arraez the title, barring a couple of huge games from Judge in Texas, and Arraez either not playing anymore, or going hitless. Its his title to lose. Based on Twins-2022...I wouldn't be betting he gets it done...but I hope he does. A small victory in a useless season.

So Correa has pretty much taken his stand. He'll stay if the Twins pay him. So, should they?

Prediction: Twins will either get swept by the Sox, or they might possibly win 1 game...and no one will care. I don't know that playing Jeffers is accomplishing anything worthwhile.

[Whitey333]

Not much to say about the game.  Just another game of poor defense, poor hitting, below par pitching,  terrible managing, and listless play.  That has been the theme the past two seasons.  Naturally the rotten season gives Twins the injury excuse and bad luck.  Last year we heard that 2021 was a flukey bad year and it would get better this year.  IMO 2023 will only bring more of the same.  I sincerely hope I'm wrong.  

[TwinsDr2021]

The only thing wrong with SWR was that this was his first game and not his second.

[Jeff D.]

Uggghhhhhhhhhhh! Incredible how many times uninspired play can become even further uninspired.  Yawn.............I can't wait to see Professor Baldelli lead us in 2023 (cough, cough).

Go Twins! Twins Geezer.....out!

[David Maro]

Target Field lockers are empty and homes and apartments are packed. This team checked out weeks ago. The owner and management are the only ones that didn't see it. They have tee times set at their off season homes this coming weekend. This team is a mess and not much to look forward to next year.