MIN 8, KC 7: Losing Streak Snapped Again

Another less than stellar start by our pitcher.  Gotta expect all three will get back on track, hopefully soon.  And considering all the innings pitched, the bullpen hasn't been all that bad.  Only problem is Berrios better go 7 or 8 today cause Rogers will probably be unavailable.

It is clear to me that the MVP of this team is Buxton.  There is no question it is a different team when he isn't out in center field and raising havoc from the #9 spot in the order.  How different will this team be defensively (Kepler in right) and offensively with Buxton at #9 and Cave in Rochester?  Very different, at least in my opinion.

I'm pleased we came back yet again on the strength of the offense, but a historic season will go the way of the dodo bird if the starting pitching (and sometimes relief pitching) keeps breaking down. How many times can the offense rescue a bad start? Every team has its collective slumps, of course, and the Twins aren't immune, but with the lineup in place this year, I think there's always one or two or three able to get on base or whack one out, so it's pitching that will make or break a post-season run. Perez has three of the better mentors in the game: Wes Johnson, Johan Santana, and Oddorizzi, who's taught him how to exploit the cutter. He's got to do better on a consistent basis. Gibby needs more consistency, though probably his mistake this time was not getting enough sleep after the 17-inning win because he wanted to party with the boys of summer. Oddorizzi has the right to a sub-par start with the season he's had, though afterwards he seemed truculent that the Royals had the good sense to work the count and hit singles instead of swinging for the downs. They might have discovered a weakness in a pitcher who's never broken a radar gun. Time will tell. The bottom line, though, is that the Twins are way good enough to beat the sub-.500 teams more often than not, but aren't ready with pitching to take on the Yanks, Astros, Sox, and one or two other teams they'll need  to beat in the postseason to make it to the promised land, where, if there's no cheating, they'll be free at last, free at last, free at last.

Sano needs to get the Ks under control. He can still play and be a useful player, but 3-4Ks per game is not sustainable. He's got to start making better contact and working the zone again to get more walks. It's great that he''s still hitting some HRs and the power is still there, but he's become very one dimensional now, and thats not good enough. But I agree: not a lot of good options until Gonzalez or Adrianza return.

CJ Cron has been an outstanding addition this year. He had a slower start to the year, has had a few dry spells, but he's come out of them quickly enough and having a very good year at the plate. And the D is better than advertised. Really pleased with Cron, he's going to be a tough decision next year I think. And gotta tell ya: not missing Tyler Austin. Is anyone?

Players with 5 years service time can refuse any optional assignment, even if they technically have options remaining.

Of course, you are right! Thanks for the correction.

Of course, I'm also concerned about Perez, but he's still striking out batters right and left. He's gets in trouble when he walks guys. To be fair, the error by Polanco helped to blow up the first inning. He really only made one awful pitch in the sixth; the problem, as is always the case with him, was the freeloaders on 1st and 2nd. It's a conundrum.

It seems true of all the starters.    I know it can't be true but it seems like every time the other team has a crooked number you can look back and see at least one walk as a key to the damage.   I am not as infatuated as some with strikeouts.  I do hate the walks.   Doesn't seem like it should have this much impact but if Perez keeps it to 2-3 walks per 9 he is fine and just not very good when it is at 4 walks per 9.  I guess if extra walk scores every time it adds 1.00 to his ERA.

Stopppppppppp it with this .850 OPS stuff.

 

Over the past 28 days, Sano has a .709 OPS and a .198 batting average. He's not playing well and literally struck out in 80% of his plate appearances last night.

I totally agree Brock. 

I'd be curious to see Sano's stats since his injury in 2017. 

I'd be shocked if he was hitting .200 and was not striking out less than 40% of the time.

I really want Sano to be successful but the reality is he may never be the player he was prior to his injury.

OK.  Sano ended up hitting an important home run.  BUT I think he needs to be sent down for a while to work on things.  In the last 7 games he has played in he has had 25 at bats with only 3 hits.  Admittedly 2 of the 3 were home runs.  He only walked 4 times and had 17 strike outs!!!  You can throw in one error during that time too.  You have to begin to wonder even with his power "potential" if he is more liability than asset.

Miggie needs to get back to basics.  He pulls his head a lot. Maybe get him to hit the ball up the middle for a while might help with that.

Rogers should have started the 9th, Harper should've finished the 8th, or at least gotten 1 or 2 outs.

Wrong. When a reliever gives up a homer and then a hard hit ball he doesn't have it. It was the right move to pull him. You go with what works.

I dont think it's so much the actual walk, as what the additional walk(s) say about command.

If you're missing outside the strike zone, you're most likely missing inside the strike zone as well. And those pitches down the middle are the ones that can really cause damage.

Last night, for example, the leaded walk in the 5th hurt, but no more than a lead off single. It was the cookie to Cuthbert that really did the damage. If that pitch is on a corner, it's a lazy fly out.

Yes, I focus on the walks but its two sides of the same coin.    The difference between 4 walks per 9 and 2.5 walks per 9 doesn't seem like so much but it speaks volumes in terms of command, how batters will approach their at bats, how umpires call the game and everything else that goes with it.