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  • MIN 11, MIL 4: Twins Slug 5 Home Runs

    Tom Froemming

    By Tom Froemming

    Brian Dozier hit the first grand slam of the season for the Twins and both Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario hit two homers in an impressive display of power at Target Field.

    Unfortunately, Adalberto Mejia was forced to leave this game early due to an injury, but Dillon Gee was outstanding out of the bullpen, earning his first career save for pitching the final four frames.

    Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

    Twins Video

    Win Expectancy (via Fangraphs)

    WinEx88.png

    The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a squeeze bunt. How adorable. After Kepler’s two-run homer, Milwaukee took back the lead in the top of the fourth, rallying for three runs. The Twins responded by scoring six runs in the bottom of that inning and never looked back.

    Rosario had a three-homer game this June, but tonight was the first two-homer game of his career. Kepler had really been struggling coming into tonight, posting a .162/.213/.344 (.469 OPS) line over his previous 80 plate appearances. Here’s hoping this gets him rolling. Speaking of guys on a roll, Dozier already has four homers in August, which is as many as he had in all of July.

    https://twitter.com/MLB/status/895124308405702656

    Mejia lasted just three innings, as he was forced out of the game due to what the Twins are calling left lateral upper arm pain. That’s somehow the most specifically vague description of an injury I’ve ever heard. Mejia gave up three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out three batters.

    Tyler Duffey, making his first appearance this month, gave up an unearned run over two innings. Gee came on to make his second appearance as a Twin and was terrific. He threw the final 4.0 innings to earn his first professional save on any level. He held the Brewers scoreless while giving up just three hits. He struck out five and didn’t walk anybody, giving him eight K's in 7.0 innings of work for the Twins.

    Dozier, Kepler and Rosario all had three hits each. Jorge Polanco was 2-for-3 with a triple and a walk. Byron Buxton stole a base, improving to 19-for-20 in stolen base attempts this season. That total of 19 doesn’t really seem like a ton, but the AL leader coming into tonight had just 27 steals. Joe Mauer also stole a base, his second of the season. Miguel Sano returned to the lineup and went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts.

    Postgame With Dozier

    https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/895130739045302273

    Twins W-L Record

    Overall: 55-56 (.495)

    Last 10: 5-5 (.500)

    Last 20: 9-11 (.450)

    Last 40: 18-22 (.450)

    Last 80: 38-42 (.475)

    Defensive Lineups

    Here’s a look at the starting lineups from the past seven games:

    Lineups88.png

    Bullpen Usage

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

    Pen88.png

    Looking Ahead

    Wednesday: Twins (Bartolo Colon) at Milwaukee (Brandon Woodruff), 7:10 pm CT

    Woodfuff, 24, will be making just his second career start. The right-hander pitched 6.1 scoreless innings against Tampa Bay while striking out six. He had a 5.45 ERA in 15 Triple-A starts this year, but that was in the PCL with his home park being Colorado Springs.

    Colon will be making his 518th career start. Last time out, he threw his first complete game since 2015. Ryan Braun is 5-for-12 with a pair of home runs and a 1.333 OPS off Colon. Hernan Perez is 5-for-6 with a couple of doubles off him.

    Thursday: Twins (Kyle Gibson) at Milwaukee (Zach Davies), 7:10 pm CT

    Friday: Twins (TBD) at Detroit (Anibal Sanchez), 6:10 pm CT

    Saturday: Twins (TBD) at Detroit (Jordan Zimmermann), 5:10 pm CT

    Sunday: Twins (TBD) at Detroit (Matthew Boyd), 12:10 pm CT

    Attachments:
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    Follow Tom Froemming on Twitter: TFTwins

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    Featured Comments

    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    Looks like our old friend Kennys Vargas is the callup to replace Mejia on the active roster.  That means Gee is the starter Sunday. He's the best choice based on performance and I think he deserves the start. He's only 31, not that old for a pitcher, and could be a rotation piece as a 5/6/7 starter next year.  Looks like Tim Melville may be the same. Now is the time to find out on both guys.

     

    I'm not quite sure why Vargas instead of Garver who is hitting much better, but it looks like Garver will not get a look until September. Probably about maintaining options. I think Vargas is gone after this year, at least to another organization.  It might be to Korea or Japan since he is out of options unless a bad team wants to give him an extended run. 

     

    options? On a 26 year old?

     

    ugh. this is frustrating, greatly frustrating*

     

    *I mean, as frustrating as a decision about a backup/bench player can be.

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    drjim

    drjim 7,100

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    Looks like our old friend Kennys Vargas is the callup to replace Mejia on the active roster.  That means Gee is the starter Sunday. He's the best choice based on performance and I think he deserves the start. He's only 31, not that old for a pitcher, and could be a rotation piece as a 5/6/7 starter next year.  Looks like Tim Melville may be the same. Now is the time to find out on both guys.

     

    I'm not quite sure why Vargas instead of Garver who is hitting much better, but it looks like Garver will not get a look until September. Probably about maintaining options. I think Vargas is gone after this year, at least to another organization.  It might be to Korea or Japan since he is out of options unless a bad team wants to give him an extended run. 

     

    Not sure options have anything to do with it.

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    drjim

    drjim 7,100

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    Curtiss and Reed

     

    I could maybe go for either of them (but they weren't mentioned). Perhaps Melville too. Any of those guys could potentially be fine middle guys in September.

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    jmlease1

    jmlease1 6,071

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    I'm surprised they're not giving Garver a shot, especially since he has more positional flexibility, but maybe they're figuring they just don't have room for him to catch right now. I am happy to see them adding another damn bat, though. this 13 pitchers on the roster bit is absurd.

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    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    I'm surprised they're not giving Garver a shot, especially since he has more positional flexibility, but maybe they're figuring they just don't have room for him to catch right now. I am happy to see them adding another damn bat, though. this 13 pitchers on the roster bit is absurd.

     

    he can play first. He can play the OF if they have to PH. He can just PH. He can catch if they want to, you know, pinch hit for a catcher at some point.....

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    yarnivek1972

    yarnivek1972 6,290

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Looks like our old friend Kennys Vargas is the callup to replace Mejia on the active roster.  That means Gee is the starter Sunday. He's the best choice based on performance and I think he deserves the start. He's only 31, not that old for a pitcher, and could be a rotation piece as a 5/6/7 starter next year.  Looks like Tim Melville may be the same. Now is the time to find out on both guys.

     

    I'm not quite sure why Vargas instead of Garver who is hitting much better, but it looks like Garver will not get a look until September. Probably about maintaining options. I think Vargas is gone after this year, at least to another organization.  It might be to Korea or Japan since he is out of options unless a bad team wants to give him an extended run. 

     

    Why would the Twins call up a starting pitcher on Wednesday for a game to be played on Sunday?

     

    Gee might be the starter Sunday. but it is just as likely to be Hector Santiago.  Last I heard (it's been awhile since I checked) he was about as ready as he is ever going to be.

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    drjim

    drjim 7,100

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    I'm surprised they're not giving Garver a shot, especially since he has more positional flexibility, but maybe they're figuring they just don't have room for him to catch right now. I am happy to see them adding another damn bat, though. this 13 pitchers on the roster bit is absurd.

     

    I imagine this is the reason. They don't see much of a reason to call up Garver ahead of Vargas if he isn't going to catch. And I'm doubtful they would put Garver out there behind the plate ahead of those two right now.

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    Dantes929

    Dantes929 4,529

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    "The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a squeeze bunt. How adorable."

    Love that line.  Reminds me of when my golf opponent hits a good drive but mine is farther and I tell him "Nice little drive".    Doesn't matter if I out drove him by 3 feet or 30 yards and the most important part is that it is after the fact.    The way we had been hitting the last month, the adorable squeeze bunt could well have been the difference in the game.    In retrospect only we get to mock it.

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    drjim

    drjim 7,100

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    me neither, but we are reasonably sure that Vargas isn't good/great at this point. And Vargas offers ZERO positional flexibility. 

     

    They don't especially need a body that can stand in lf, they have that with Grossman. They need a bat and very occasional 1b.

     

    I guess I don't really have a problem with Garver getting catching reps at AAA rather than playing on occasion in the bigs, and likely not catching.

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    Otto von Ballpark

    Otto von Ballpark 20,320

  • Community Leader

    • Posted

     

    I'm not quite sure why Vargas instead of Garver who is hitting much better, but it looks like Garver will not get a look until September. Probably about maintaining options.

    It has nothing to do with "options" (assuming you are referring to minor league optional assignments remaining).  Garver is already on the 40-man and thus "burned" an option when he was sent down out of spring training.

     

    Although since it is Vargas' last option year, maybe they are trying to "get their money's worth" out of him?   You would figure we already know what we have in Vargas, and it isn't particularly good or versatile...

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    SweetOne69

    SweetOne69 146

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Looks like our old friend Kennys Vargas is the callup to replace Mejia on the active roster.  That means Gee is the starter Sunday. He's the best choice based on performance and I think he deserves the start. He's only 31, not that old for a pitcher, and could be a rotation piece as a 5/6/7 starter next year.  Looks like Tim Melville may be the same. Now is the time to find out on both guys.

     

     

    Not Necessarily.

     

    Even without Mejia they have 12 pitchers on the staff.  They could've called up Vargas as an extra bench bat for the 2 NL games in Milwaukee and they make another move or 2 by Sunday when Mejia's replacement is needed.

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    Otto von Ballpark

    Otto von Ballpark 20,320

  • Community Leader

    • Posted

     

    That means Gee is the starter Sunday. He's the best choice based on performance and I think he deserves the start. He's only 31, not that old for a pitcher, and could be a rotation piece as a 5/6/7 starter next year. 

    FWIW, Gee is likely a free agent after the season.  Just needs 30 more days service time the rest of the year, which seems fairly likely at this point.

     

    He should still be signable for 2018, but if he shows anything down the stretch, he only gets more expensive, primarily in terms of a guaranteed roster spot and perhaps assurances about his role.  (Meaning, he might not want to sign here to be the 7/8 starter if he has a chance at 4/5 somewhere else.)

     

    Gee can also refuse an any optional assignments to the minor leagues, so he may not be stashable in AAA (although he has apparently consented to being optioned this season).

     

    Melville would have all 3 minor league option years remaining, although he will be eligible for minor league free agency this winter if not added to the 40-man roster.

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    Hosken Bombo Disco

    Hosken Bombo Disco 15,870

  • Community Leader

    • Posted

    I don't think anyone has the illusion that Vargas is the next Big Papi anymore, but I think Vargas would be an ideal bench player. To back up Mauer competently, and take some at bats occasionally. True, no position flexibility, but Fangraphs actually likes Vargas in the field, for what that's worth.

     

    Vargas is probably not on the team next year but he can still help this year more than the 8th relief guy.

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