It's getting rather annoying to continue writing "Twins 0" for the series recaps.
The bad:
* Runs prevention. The Tigers averaged 6.3 runs/game.
* Run scoring. The Twins topped out at five runs. Five runs is good but not as a high-water mark. You don't win many games averaging 2.7 runs a game.
* The catchers. Suzuki had a hit and walk on Friday. That was it for both catchers.
The good:
* Duffey. After a short start that wasn't related to performance, Duffey did well enough in his start. Four runs is not good but the peripherals were all fine.
* May. His K/9 did drop over the weekend but it is at 13.8. The walk rate will keep him from being elite but no one can hit his pitches. *Checks his league leading 5 WP* Or know where they're going.
The very good:
* Mauer-Sano-Park. All three raised their OPS over the weekend. That stretch is turning into a solid middle of the order. Mauer leads the team, easily, with 1.1 rWAR. Park is next at 0.6.
For the first time this year, a sweep was not involved in the series. Once again, the good and bad from the series.
The bad:
- Sano in the outfield. Oof. There will be bad plays, I get that. But Sano needs all the practice he can get. It also would help he he'd mash more. For the season he has a .607 OPS. Thankfully, before the series it was at .535 but it has a long ways to go to.
- Run prevention. Four runs in one game, even if only six innings, is decent but six runs is not. I think it's likely the Brewers would have scored again in game one so letting the bad guys score five plus runs a game is not good.
- Murphy. I want the Murphy era to begin. His OPS is below Punto levels at .279. World Champion Butera at least managed that for a SLG.
The good:
- Scoring. The Twins scored seven runs in six innings and then five more in the next nine. Scoring six runs a game will result in a lot of wins.
- The bullpen before Jepsen. In the three innings from Santana to Jepsen on Tuesday, the bullpen had two hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. Each reliever allowed only a single batter to reach base. Tonkin and O'Rourke did make it interesting by having both of their batters reach in the same inning, but all three outs came on strikeouts.
- Strikeouts. The Twins batters struck out only five times in each game. They also walked six times on Tuesday (only once on Monday).
- Park. He raised his OPS from .657 entering Monday's game to .871. The OBP still needs work at only .313, but the SLG of .558 is great to see.
- Mauer. Mauer back to Mauering.
Different year, same start. Twins once again are swept in the opening series. It would be easy to say it worked out okay for them last year, but it didn't really. Yes they performed better than expected but they finished three wins behind the Astros. If they instead had swept the Tigers to start the season they would have at least had a playoff game.
I watched barely any of the games and had the radio on for only a plurality of the time so I'm going to fill in the bad and good from the boxscores.
Four negatives from the series:
- Run scoring. Obviously they did better than last year, improving their runs scored by 500%. It is nonetheless difficult to win when you top out at two runs.
- Strikeouts. The batters struck out 35 times but walked only six times. All six walks happened in the second game.
- Dozier not starting well. He finishes the series with a 0.083 OPS. He had one walk in 13 PAs.
- Not pinch hitting for Suzuki in game two. He's the only other player without a hit and he reached base only once.
Three positives from the series:
- Run prevention. Giving up only 3.67 runs a game bodes well for willing. AL teams averaged 4.4 runs a game in 2015.
- Mauer starting well. He had a home run to center and has a nice 1.021 OPS after three games.
- Escobar starting well. He had a double in each game and two in the opener. He has a 1.167 OPS after three games.
Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.
