So, another Saturday, another minor leaguer trying to break through, this is getting a little played out......wait, Jose Berrios??
All is saved.
Let's set our expectations at a reasonable level. I, for example, figure he'll go no more than 8 innings, and any more than 15 strikeouts is probably off the table. He'll probably give up a hit or two, as well. I've come to terms with that, and you'll all have to, as well.
I wish Berrios wasn't going to have to deal with C. B. Bucknor behind the plate.
Only fourteen strikeouts to go!
Bucknord.
So far, so good!
The Twins scored six runs in the first two innings Thursday night and have scored two in the eighteen innings since.
I'd like for Jose to have the option of pitching to the score, instead of having to.
Two good innings.
Our "aggressive" running game is not exactly helping us today.
To be fair, I'm not sure the replay got that call right. Could be homer bias, though.
I'm on radio, but Provus and Gladden thought he was out, for whatever that's worth.
Only thirteen strikeouts to go!
Was that a legitimately great catch by Grossman, or was that a great catch because it was Grossman?
The catch itself was legitimately great. The route was legitimately gross, man.
Radio suggested he thought Buxton would catch it, forgetting that Buxton started way over in right-center field.
Buxton actually could have caught it, but it would have been a fully laid out dive. He was actually right there though.
That 2-seamer (I think?) is really fun to watch dance back in.
Well, if hold them to one, that's okay.
Come on, Jose. Don't be afraid to throw strikes just because they hit a couple of balls hard.
Watching this, it almost makes me more annoyed they have waited so long to bring him up. It's very clear he had the tools and abilities to very make league hitters out. It's also clear he needs to learn to settle down if he doesn't and dominating the minors wasn't going to give him that experience.
That was always the point of "Jose Berrios has nothing to learn in Rochester". It's not that I think he'll be instantly dominant in the majors (although I'd obviously love it if he was). It was that he'd already learned all he could learn in AAA. Whatever he needs to learn to become a good major league pitcher, he's going to have to learn it in the major leagues.
That's the way! Only twelve strikeouts to go!
Let's start making him pay for these walks, guys.
Five walks in 3+?? They're going to have to capitalize.
That looked intentionally unintentional.
It saddens me that anyone is even thinking that Mauer should bunt.
But I guess it worked!
Don't you look silly.
The fact that Joe actually knows how to bunt makes me have less concern.
circus ball!
what happened there? No errors?
If there is no error charged there, then fielding percentage is meaningless.
It didn't come up as one initially on the app.
There's an error now.
Fielding percentage is still meaningless.
There should be an error. Grossman scored on the bad throw.
Right. I think the bunt was a hit, but the run was on the error.
Is Joe going to steal second now?
bwhahah (ok, it was not a straight steal but a wild pitch)
This is classic TWINS BASEBALL!!
Two runs without getting the ball out of the infield.
TWINS BASEBALL!!!!!
Sometimes when you play for one run, you get really lucky and get more
Sometimes I think Gladden is improving, and then I hear him evaluate Clevenger in the majors versus the minors by telling us his won-lost record.
I'm hoping that it's less that he should know better, and more that he was just lazy.
An entirely reasonable position.
That was just barely out of the infield.
Polanco!
Joe Mauer's 900th run scored (in his career not this game that would be a record)
I think there would be a few records set if it was one game.
Three runs without one hard-hit ball. I love that when my team does it, but I absolutely hate it when the other team does it.
Buxton hasn't had a hit since his three-hit game Tuesday night.
I remember a ball last night late in the game. Ripped the ball down the line and should have been a double but the defense was playing the line and it doubled off the runner at first.
I remember that, too. I don't mean it to sound like I'm down on him. It would be nice to see him get a hit again, though.
I would not pitch to Sano with first base open. I hope he can make them pay for it.
Otero either has deceptive pitches, or Sano is pressing a little, 'cause he had a walk there if he'd have wanted it
Five solid innings for Berrios. Yes, he's had some help from his defense, but there's nothing wrong with that. That's what defense is supposed to do.
75 pitches - hopefully he can get a couple more innings, knock on wood
KEPLER!!!!!
Bremer with a fun call there.
MAX!
I believe that makes it 14 straight games with a HR. Not sure last year if they even had 14 straight games without being shut out
I'm off to take the in-laws out for Mother's Day Eve. Bring it home, boys!
Spooked Kepler's, but had navigated away from here. Thought to myself "a walk, a strike out, he's gonna get a third true outcome here."
That squirrel looked winded
Danged thirdbaseman robbing Buxton of hits again.
7 innings, 2 hits... Thea's pretty good.
Just one walk too.
Should let Berrios finish the 8th.
Don't get greedy, dude. Consider what Gibson would have done
I'm fine with taking him out to avoid him facing the top of the order there. I was surprised they left him in for the eighth. I figured they would take him out after 7 figuring they wanted to keep his confidence up and not risk him getting into trouble in the 8th.
Plus he was at 93 pitches. He should be able to go longer but maybe not at 22 in his first MLB start this year.
He ended up at 104, with 71 strikes.
Jose's game score of 81 just barely makes ESPN's best 20 for the season, unless someone else put up a better one today
Never would have pegged (HA!) Roy Smalley as a Steely Dan fan.
@MikeBerardino UPDATE: Jose Berrios now has 75 days of big-league service time. Many more to come. #mntwins
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That was ball 4
Man, the Clevelanders offense is scuffling.
Counterpoint: Santana and Berrios.
WINNAH!
The Twins will leave Cleveland in first place.
One run and two hits in seven and two-thirds innings for Berrios. He has nothing to learn in MLB.
Oh, snap
We're still on track for 148-14!