BOS 9, MIN 4: The Red Sox Bats Were Poppen Tonight

*La Tortuga is the soul of this team. And, it was good to see Cruz greet him at the top of the steps after his HR. Arreaz continues to impress

There were some nice individual Twins moments tonight. Now we just need to balance the lineup with small-ball guys who manufacture hits with men on. Top 20 AL batting average leaders with RISP includes 0 Twins. The Yankees, for example, have 4 on that list and it shows. It certainly was a huge surprise to see this team's collective power achieve what it did and stretch this far, but any pitcher with very good control and breaking stuff is having their way. We don't have any proven .300 hitters on this team, so no surprises scuffling with historically good teams, but if we let the power mask poorish clutch hitting (outside of HR's and against quality pitchers not struggling), an ugly post-season we shall have.

The Good:

Astudillo!!! Welcome back La Tortuga!! Arraez continues to prove his worth by getting on base three more times.

Poppen can bring the heat.

The bullpen got a nice rest and they'll need it!!

The Bad:

Poppen couldn't control the heat (very well).

Sano appeared to have no meaningful at bats. Maybe he needs a night or two off. I dunno. What say you?

The Ugly:

Walks, walks and more walks. One thing I've learned over my years of following the Twins is that when you play the Yankees or the Red Sox, throw STRIKES; your pitcher has to prove he is going to throw strikes before they start swinging. Last night in 17, the Twins walked only three!! Five walks by Gibson in 4.1 innings, 10 in total; they're lucky to escape with only nine runs scoring. The game was not lost because of superior hitting by the Red Sox, but because there were constantly runners on base.

Gibson just didn't go after their hitters. This game reminded me of the one game playoff loss to the Yankees two years ago.

Why send Cron in the first inning? One out and your hottest hitter coming to the plate. I really don't get that. Apparently, he was out by a mile. Someone on TD once said, they always send Cron even when he doesn't have a prayer (could it be true?).

The Hope:

OK. Let's start playing better against KC, so we can end up with at least a .500 record for the week. We can beat KC three out of four. Let's start a winning streak starting manana.

I should have known a bad Gibby start was in the offing when he totally missed Kepler with the Gatorade bucket after last night's win.

Gotta know your runner.   I watched the highlights and wondered if Cron fell down on his way to third.   Then I thought he must have missed third and had to go back to tag it.   Then I played a game of cribbage and looked up in time to see him thrown out at home. 

I don't like Diaz's decisions at third base. He holds speedy runners and sends turtles. Personally, I think he has held way more than he should have and cost runs in close games. I don't like him making the decisions at third, at all.

There were some nice individual Twins moments tonight. Now we just need to balance the lineup with small-ball guys who manufacture hits with men on. Top 20 AL batting average leaders with RISP includes 0 Twins. The Yankees, for example, have 4 on that list and it shows. It certainly was a huge surprise to see this team's collective power achieve what it did and stretch this far, but any pitcher with very good control and breaking stuff is having their way. We don't have any proven .300 hitters on this team, so no surprises scuffling with historically good teams, but if we let the power mask poorish clutch hitting (outside of HR's and against quality pitchers not struggling), an ugly post-season we shall have.

I don’t know if I would call that an accurate assessment. The quality of pitching in the postseason makes prolonged rallies extremely rare. 3 or 4 or more hits in an inning just isn’t likely. Indeed, quick strike offenses that capitalize on a pitcher’s rare mistakes are the type of offenses that have postseason success.

The Twins of the 2000s had plenty of high average hitters. What they typically lacked was a big time power threat or at least more than one. How did those teams fare? My memory seems to tell me that the Twins got beat by the long ball in the playoffs. I actually think this team (if it can add a couple shut down relievers) is far better to succeed in the playoffs than others of this generation.

When your starting pticher takes 40 pitches, or whatever it was, to get thru the second inning, you are screwed.

Great seeing the energy from the double A's.  Thought Cave would be better after hitting so well at AAA.  Every game I see him I am more convinced Arraez is the second baseman of the future.

Add me to those who thought sending Cron home was a mistake.

If the Twins had not played 17 innings the night before/day of this game, they would not have felt the need to leave Gibson in so long when it was obvious by the second inning that he didn't have his stuff. The minute he got into trouble.   If this had been a do or die game in a playoff, Gibson would have been removed in the fifth when Martinez and Devers got on base and the ballgame would have turned out differently. A rested, experienced   bullpen would have taken over quickly.

Honestly, I'm turned it off, but I'm kind of relieved to see it held at 9 runs.  Not sure what to make of Poppen from all of that, but I kind of like that he got to battle through 4 innings.  Plenty of time for him to get over any adrenaline and whatnot.  Hopefully he'll be a little more accurate next time.

So is Astudillo the 4th outfielder right now?  I can't think of anyone else on the roster whose ever played the outfield.  Well, Cruz, I guess.  Good enough.

Can Arraez play a passable third base?  

Harper didn't let an inherited runner score, correct?

"If the Twins had not played 17 innings the night before/day of this game, they would not have felt the need to leave Gibson in so long when it was obvious by the second inning that he didn't have his stuff."

Per tarheeltwins fan.

That is one thing I will never understand about starting pitchers in Major League Baseball. They are the most coddled members of the pro sports community. They sit for 4+ days and have all the time in the world to prepare for the next game. Then they warm up and take the mound on the 5th day and suddenly discover that they "don't have their stuff"? Unless they are ill there is no excuse for not "having their stuff" If they don"t have their stuff why don't they have a plan B like the greats do to simply battle through a few innings? I once pitched a Little League game after spending the day on the beach in Florida and got shelled to the tune of 19-2. When the coach found out about my day on the beach he chewed me out in front of the team for a full minute. I know this is a pointless rant but I have absolutely no sympathy for starting pitchers in MLB not being ready to go unless they are disabled in some way.

Definitely want to see more from Poppen ... He was overthrowing and definitely didn't have the Smeltzer ability to stay cool in his debut, but 95-97 with late movement will play at this level, if harnessed.

Not a big fan of Arraez at SS .... Polanco got his day off, so I hope he can just play all the games at the 6 until Adrianza or Gonzalez return.

Sano needs a day off.  Give Arraez a turn at 3rd tonight @ KC and see how he looks there.

Baldelli definitely favored rest over results in this rubber match.  It's a long season, and you can't argue with the results so far, but now the double-digit lead is gone.  This team needs to go down to KC and come back with 3-4 wins, because it will be right back to a series with a contender when they return.

That is one thing I will never understand about starting pitchers in Major League Baseball. They are the most coddled members of the pro sports community. They sit for 4+ days and have all the time in the world to prepare for the next game. Then they warm up and take the mound on the 5th day and suddenly discover that they "don't have their stuff"? Unless they are ill there is no excuse for not "having their stuff" If they don"t have their stuff why don't they have a plan B like the greats do to simply battle through a few innings? I once pitched a Little League game after spending the day on the beach in Florida and got shelled to the tune of 19-2. When the coach found out about my day on the beach he chewed me out in front of the team for a full minute. I know this is a pointless rant but I have absolutely no sympathy for starting pitchers in MLB not being ready to go unless they are disabled in some way.

You can't seriously be equating your little league experience to a MLB pitcher's need to have all of their skills functioning at an extremely high level in order to be effective on any given night.  Even the greatest pitchers have bad nights. It doesn't mean they are in any way unprepared. 

Taking out my crystal ball - this is what a playoff series with Boston would look like, except the Twins wouldn't be playing all 3 of these games at home. Twins couldn't get to any Boston starter the entire series when it mattered (and they missed Sale!), couldn't get hits when the pressure was on, struck out a TON and played like deer in the headlights. Stop trying to hit homers every time because it puts more pressure on the guy behind you after you strike out.

Pitching wise, the poster above talking about walks was dead on. Make 'em swing the bat and tip your cap if they get a single, but do not walk these guys!

Right now I think the Twins would lose any best-of-five series 3-1 if they played the Astros, Yankees, or Red Sox in the ALDS. Luckily we've got some time to make adjustments.

Overall I enjoyed the series despite the offensive disappointment. I am glad to see the Twins cut their teeth against real competition. It's nice to have a fat 9-game lead while they take stock and get a feel for what moves they need to make.

The latest round of injuries (Buxton, Adrianza, Marwin) is troubling. But to have La Tortuga and Arraez available is a luxury. Nice work at 2b by Astudillo last night, wow. Cave is trying too hard and that long, uppercut swing isn't going to get him anywhere. He's looked like an AAA guy this series unfortunately.

Poppen is Mr. Double Play!

I love Astudillo and Arraez, but continue to be frustrated by Sano. I am in agreement with the post that says we need players who can small ball in compliment to those who are long ball, but I really like those who can do both. This is twice that Gibson has come up after we had a game the blew out the bullpen and both times he failed to give the innings that the team needed to rest pen. He is not a picture that I would like us to rely on and the postseason.I hope Pineda surprises or we find a third pitcher we would have faith in.

*La Tortuga is the soul of this team. And, it was good to see Cruz greet him at the top of the steps after his HR. Arreaz continues to impress

Our soul must be iffy to terrible pitching and lack of clutch hitting if thats the case. 

I love Astudillo and Arraez, but continue to be frustrated by Sano. I am in agreement with the post that says we need players who can small ball in compliment to those who are long ball, but I really like those who can do both. This is twice that Gibson has come up after we had a game the blew out the bullpen and both times he failed to give the innings that the team needed to rest pen. He is not a picture that I would like us to rely on and the postseason.I hope Pineda surprises or we find a third pitcher we would have faith in.

Agreed. Sano looks like the bad Sano of 2016. Pitch guessing and wrong every time lately. Last night was exhibit A of why we need a starter along with 2 high leverage BP arms to make a deep run this year. Gibson still has one of those starts too often. We don't want a start like that in the playoffs. Not sure what the Sano solution is? Arraez and Austidillo are both great contact, great energy guys - I do wish we had room for them both. In this line up - we could use another contact/energy guy at 3B if Miguel is going to K 9 out of every 11 AB's and boot grounders. I like Sano, but he is no better today than 3 years ago. Identifying pitches, plate discipline - yuck. Hard to watch. Everyone else from his "class" - Jorge, Jose, Rosy, Max, Bux, Garv - all vastly improved in the last 3 years. Sano, nope. Same. 

Yesterday was Wednesday, June 19 and it was the 73rd game of the year.  The Twins are now 45%  of the way through the season.  Out of 59 years, the current team ranks 27th on the all-time list of Twins' home runs in one season and are on a pace to hit 311 home runs this season.

Well, Gibson was bad. 10 walks by pitchers in all. What happened? And 10 walks by the staff. Jeez.

I can understand letting Poppen get the licks to save the pitching staff. But don't give up. Please. Cleveland is now 9 games out.

And you decide to start WIllians at SECOND BASE? Okay, he got three hits. Would rather have seen him at third. And Arraez at shortstop. And DON'T let your two BEST BATS rest on the bench. You needed to win this game (although Gibson thought otherwise) and no reason Polanco can't be at short. And put Garver at DH and let Cruz be a bat off the bench, if need be. 

Okay, gotta see what happens in Kansas City.

Jake Cave, you are good. Shine, shine, shine. You are getting another opportunity to play everyday!

This team will continue to hemorrhage game lunt the bullpen is addressed.

The lead is down to 9. It could get down to 5 real quick if this team keeps playing bad defense and pitching terribly out of the pen.

People are way too comfortable right now. The eye test the last handful of games has me concerned. This isn’t the same team it was a month ago by any stretch of the imagination.

Agreed. Sano looks like the bad Sano of 2016. Pitch guessing and wrong every time lately. Last night was exhibit A of why we need a starter along with 2 high leverage BP arms to make a deep run this year. Gibson still has one of those starts too often. We don't want a start like that in the playoffs. Not sure what the Sano solution is? Arraez and Austidillo are both great contact, great energy guys - I do wish we had room for them both. In this line up - we could use another contact/energy guy at 3B if Miguel is going to K 9 out of every 11 AB's and boot grounders. I like Sano, but he is no better today than 3 years ago. Identifying pitches, plate discipline - yuck. Hard to watch. Everyone else from his "class" - Jorge, Jose, Rosy, Max, Bux, Garv - all vastly improved in the last 3 years. Sano, nope. Same.

And this is the point those saying Sano’s strikeouts are no big deal keep ignoring. We’ve seen discipline improvement from Kepler, Polanco, Buxton and Rosario over the last three years. Inexplicably, Sano has gotten WORSE. THAT is NOT okay IMO.

I don’t know if I would call that an accurate assessment. The quality of pitching in the postseason makes prolonged rallies extremely rare. 3 or 4 or more hits in an inning just isn’t likely. Indeed, quick strike offenses that capitalize on a pitcher’s rare mistakes are the type of offenses that have postseason success.

The Twins of the 2000s had plenty of high average hitters. What they typically lacked was a big time power threat or at least more than one. How did those teams fare? My memory seems to tell me that the Twins got beat by the long ball in the playoffs. I actually think this team (if it can add a couple shut down relievers) is far better to succeed in the playoffs than others of this generation.

Agree on all counts. I would say that while this team has the one element you definitely want in a contender, they also rack up a lot of 1-2-3 innings when not mashing, lack a bit with pressure play (crucial game-changing hit ability, or "clutchiness") and manufacturing runs "piranha style". I admit I am nitpicking- just think in the post-season, there could be quite a few dead innings from this group. Time will tell.

 

 

Can Arraez play a passable third base?  

 

 

My thoughts exactly.

This team will continue to hemorrhage game lunt the bullpen is addressed.

The lead is down to 9. It could get down to 5 real quick if this team keeps playing bad defense and pitching terribly out of the pen.

People are way too comfortable right now. The eye test the last handful of games has me concerned. This isn’t the same team it was a month ago by any stretch of the imagination.

When did Sano take over 3B? I was the one who got jumped on by some TD contributors when I asked in a post when Sano was getting ready to return to the Twins, if anyone else was concerned about Sano's return messing up team chemistry.