Twins Video
Weekly Snapshot: Mon, 8/29 through Sun, 9/4
***
Record Last Week: 3-3 (Overall: 68-64)
Run Differential Last Week: -4 (Overall: +28)
Standing: T-1st Place in AL Central
Last Week's Game Results:
Game 127 | MIN 4, BOS 2: Urshela Delivers, Bullpen Locks It Down
Game 128 | MIN 10, BOS 5: Gordon Leads the Way in Big Win
Game 129 | BOS 6, MIN 5: Ryan Falters, Late Rally Falls Short
Game 130 | CWS 4, MIN 3: Twins Cough Up Multiple Leads
Game 131 | CWS 13, MIN 0: Cease Nearly No-Hits Twins
Game 132 | MIN 5, CWS 1: Sweep Averted Behind Bundy
NEWS & NOTES
Last week, in looking ahead to the roster expansion on September 1st, I wrote that "it'll be interesting to see how those spots are used initially, because the club isn't exactly hard-pressed for roster room right now." The Twins lacked appealing internal options to promote, since basically everyone was already up or still rehabbing from injury.
Sure enough, both of the players who were called up to fill the additional two September roster spots are players who weren't in the organization 10 days ago: Billy Hamilton, the one-dimensional speedy veteran outfielder signed the previous week, and Austin Davis, a left-handed reliever claimed off waivers from Boston just a day earlier.
A few other roster moves before we fully dive into the week that was:
- Jorge Polanco landed on the injured list as his knee inflammation proved too much to fight through. Jermaine Palacios replaced him on the roster.
- Jovani Moran was called up in place of Devin Smeltzer, then went back down to make room for Tyler Mahle, who was activated to start on Saturday night. Mahle lasted two innings before exiting the game. He went back on IL with the same shoulder issue, and Moran was recalled to take his place.
- Bailey Ober started a rehab stint in Fort Myers, throwing three innings of one-run ball. Meanwhile, we learned that Kenta Maeda will not return this season, and will instead focus on getting to full strength for spring of 2023.
HIGHLIGHTS
The big highlight of the past week, distant as it may now seem, was Jhoan Duran breaking new ground with his spectacularly powerful arm. During his appearance against the Red Sox on Monday, Duran unleashed a triple-digit splinker (his hybrid of a splitter and sinker), and became the first pitcher in MLB history to throw an off-speed pitch 100+ MPH.
The historic radar reading came amidst another dominant outing for Duran, who struck out two in a perfect inning against Boston. He later delivered a 1-2-3 inning against Chicago on Friday night, and then retired five in a row on Sunday. Not only has Duran allowed zero runs in his past eight appearances, but he's faced the minimum in seven of them. He's unreal.
Another special moment came on Tuesday night, when Nick Gordon had the game of his life, driving in six runs on two hits including a game-breaking grand slam. In a cool showing of reverence, his teammates let Gordon take the field alone the following inning, allowing him to soak in the applause and tip his cap.
As much as the Twins offense has stalled out since the end of July, Gordon has been an exception. He's slashing .307/.344/.511 since August 1st, and during that span he leads the team in wOBA and fWAR, ranking second in WPA.
LOWLIGHTS
Rocco Baldelli is certainly not exempt from criticism when it comes to this team's failings, but one reason I find much of it hollow is this: The Twins are being dragged down by veteran players who just aren't getting it done.
Carlos Correa came up in a huge spot on Wednesday, with one out and the winning run on first. He hit into a game-ending double play. It was yet another in a long-running string of letdowns at crucial moments for the legendary clutch performer.
Sonny Gray, who has made it clear that he wants to go deeper into games, is pitching his way out of that proposition. Almost every single start, it seems like he's cruising up until the middle innings, when the wheels start to come off. That happened again on Friday in Chicago, where Gray was staked an early 2-0 lead and then hit the wall in a laborious 26-pitch fourth, which saw Minnesota's lead disappear and led to a burdensome night for the bullpen.
Friday marked the 10th time in 14 starts since Gray came off the injured list in mid-June that he has failed to even pitch into the sixth inning. People can argue that he should be allowed to pitch his way out of these self-made struggles, but for all the "robotic manager" takes thrown at Baldelli, falling back on that default is what would really be robotic.
Gray isn't just running into bad luck when these outings turn south. He's visibly struggling on the mound. He's losing his command, and batters are starting to ambush him. What is a manager for, if not to act in these moments and turn the tides of a game getting away? (Gray later revealed he was pitching through a "little tightness.")
Baldelli's decision mostly paid off, up until Caleb Thielbar left one hanging in the eighth and set the stage for another poor showing from Jorge López. Like Correa and Gray, López is a veteran player the front office invested in tremendously, and placed in a key role. He has the worst Win Probability Added of any pitcher on the team since his acquisition.
The following night, it was Minnesota's other marquee deadline pickup snuffing the life out of the Twins' season. Insisting he feels fine, Mahle took the mound and looked far from it. His velocity was still way down, his pitches were trash, and the White Sox absolutely clobbered him. It would be a surprise if Mahle pitched again this season.
Gray can't give the Twins any length. Mahle is down. Joe Ryan continues to show debilitating vulnerability to the long ball. There's just not enough at the top of this rotation to inspire any faith in the team's ability to rattle off wins, especially when supported by a barely functional lineup. At least they've got a break in the schedule coming up. Oh, wait.
TRENDING STORYLINE
Amazingly, the Twins are tied for first place. We'll see how long that holds up, with Cleveland heading to Kansas City for three games while the Twins travel to face their eternal tormentors in New York, but that's where we are at.
LOOKING AHEAD
Here we go. Into the gauntlet. Four games at Yankee Stadium followed by three at home against the top AL Central contender. This feels like a pivotal week, but knowing the Twins, they'll probably go like 3-4 and end up in the same place they started., more or less
MONDAY, 9/5: TWINS @ YANKEES – RHP Chris Archer v. RHP Jameson Taillon
TUESDAY, 9/6: TWINS @ YANKEES – RHP Joe Ryan v. RHP Gerrit Cole
WEDNESDAY, 9/7: TWINS @ YANKEES – RHP Sonny Gray v. RHP Domingo German
THURSDAY, 9/8: TWINS @ YANKEES – TBD v. TBD
FRIDAY, 9/9: GUARDIANS @ TWINS – TBD v. RHP Dylan Bundy
SATURDAY, 9/10: GUARDIANS @ TWINS – RHP Cal Quantrill v. RHP Chris Archer
SUNDAY, 9/11: GUARDIANS @ TWINS – RHP Triston McKenzie v. RHP Joe Ryan
MORE FROM TWINS DAILY
— Latest Twins coverage from our writers
— Recent Twins discussion in our forums
— Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email
— Become a Twins Daily Caretaker
- mikelink45, verninski and The Mad King
-
2
-
1
Recommended Comments
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.