2017 Twins Game Logs, Minnesota Twins, MLB

Game 94: New York Yankees at Minnesota Twins

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This started as a response to sean's comment in the CoC, but I realized I had a game log to write, so I moved it over here. The response/question I began morphed into this: It is now July 19th, and after 93 games, the Twins are 47-46, two games back of the Indians in the Central and (now) a game-and-a-half behind the Yankees for the 2nd Wild Card spot. The Yankees, at 48-44, are in 3rd place in the AL East and currently hold the 2nd Wild Card spot. They're buying.*

[placeholder for a poll question ... to be inserted once I learn how to create a poll] Should the Twins:
A) Buy (starting pitching, relief pitching, pitching pitching)
B) Sell (Santana, Dozier, Kintzler .... uhm, yeah)
C) Neither (Play it out and see where the chips fall)

I keep reading all of these click-bait analysis (analyses?) of teams who should be sellers at the trade-deadline, who on their roster is/should be available, teams who are/might/should be interested, and what those teams might have to offer in return. Lots and lots of pitching being discussed, but I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE MENTION of the Twins as a team that should be involved in either end of the equations.

There was a graphic shown during the game last night which broke the season thus far into nine, 10-game blocks. Though it was late, I recall that in each of those 10-game blocks, the Twins were basically playing .500 baseball: lots of 5-5, 4-6, 6-4 blocks. They've never won more than 4 games in a row, and never lost more than 4 games in a row. They've never been more than 3 games up in the Central, nor have they been more than 3 games back. Also of note, with 422 RS and 488 RA, a -66 Run Differential, their Pythagorean W-L is currently 40-53...

After last season, if you'd told me this club would be an 82-win team, irrespective of where they finish in the standings, I'd have been pretty content (maybe even 'happy'). I've now seen half a season of these guys, and watched what's happening in the rest of the American League and the Twins' play against each of the front-runners: 1-5 vs. Houston, 2-5 vs. Boston, 5-8 vs. Cleveland, and 2-3 vs. the leading WC clubs - a combined 10-21 against the current field of playoff teams...ugh.

So, I hold no illusions that the team, as currently constructed, is a team that could win in the post season. According to multiple sources, during the last offseason, the Twins shopped (or took phone calls for) their admittedly limited assortment of players with value to other squads. In the end, they did not move Dozier or Santana and basically signed a few roster-filler arms for the bullpen, a utility-infielder and a couple of catchers. It did not appear that they were making moves to contend in 2017. Now that they are contending, what should they do?

One thing I believe they should continue to do is feed innings to José Berríos. He has allowed an average of 5 runs over has past four starts, but at this point in his first "full" year with the big club, I expect some bumps and think they'll only help him get better long term. He's currently sitting at 8-3, 120 ERA+, 1.151 WHIP and 4.01 FIP. He's been worth 1.1 WAR in 12 starts and could conceivably reach 200 IP and 200 K's for the season (though very unlikely - averaging ~ 6 IP/GS and 5.83 K/GS with maybe a dozen or so starts left this year). No matter the final outcome (either today, or in 2017) I'm happy to note that he's been their second best starter this year.

*

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43 thoughts on “Game 94: New York Yankees at Minnesota Twins”

  2. but I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE MENTION of the Twins as a team that should be involved in either end of the equations
    Those articles are only looking at the contending teams

    1. [edit] Yup: Only player with a BA over .272 is Adrianza, and he doesn't qualify. Only player with an OPS over .776 is Sano ...

  16. Dick: The Twins are 24-12 in 1 or 2 run games.
    Bert: That's incredible!
    Me: How many 1 to 2 run leads were blown up into an 8-9 run loss?

    1. Very few. The Twins as a staff have 10 blown saves, which is fewer than average (the Yankees lead the majors with 18 and the Astros have 11). The Twins are 5th in MLB in save percentage. Kintzler and Rogers have been very good. It's the rest of the bullpen that has been up and down or worse. For instance, Belisle has a 5.35 ERA but has 14 holds and only 3 blown saves. Belisle has had 5 outings where he has allowed 3 runs or more, but only 1 of them did he get a blown save or loss.

    2. On the other hand, I would say quite a few 1 or 2 run deficits were turned into blowouts by the bullpen, which has helped the record in those types of games.

  17. Just looked at a clip of the Romine line-out in the 5th ... Dozier with some ups!

        1. I'm ok with the Yankees getting the Stallone-judge treatment.

          Plus it works because that one had a way higher budget than Dredd. (even without adjusting for inflation.)

    1. On the radio, they announced that it was the first series win over the Yankees in Target Field history. Yay?

  24. The jalapeño and I went to the game. He decided to cheer for the Yankees and was in tears after Sano's home run. Fortunately, things took a turn for the better when we retreated from our seats to the shade and came across a line of people waiting to get a photo with T.C. Bear. He'd brought along a ball and a Sharpie and was able to get an autograph as well as a photo. Ice cream further improved the game.

    We stayed for the full game, and the jalapeño was delighted to see Judge come to bat in the top of the 9th since we weren't expecting to see him at all. The crowd was on its feet at the end of the 9th inning and we left both happy we'd come to the game.

    Rain started to fall as we headed to catch a bus--it was perfect that it held off until after the game.

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