Twins win fourth straight, 2-1 over Orioles
by Jon Marthaler on Aug 25, 2009 12:40 AM EDT
in Game Recaps
22 comments
Wasn't this the way it was supposed to be this year? Your light-hitting Twins scored runs on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly, but Scott Baker's seven strong innings (a run on four hits) and strong relief pitching slammed the door on Baltimore.
Minnesota shot itself in the foot early against Baltimore's Chris Tillman, bouncing into three double plays in the game's first five innings. In the sixth, though, Alexi Casilla tripled and went home on a wild pitch, and singles from Denard Span and Orlando Cabrera knocked the young Orioles starter out of the game. Jason Kubel eventually sacrificed Span home with a fly to left, giving Minnesota the lead it needed.
That old-school Twins defense made a comeback on Monday night, as well. Span ended the fifth by making a catch in the Twins bullpen while sitting on Jesse Crain's lap, and Casilla turned in an infield gem just moments before his triple. (Casilla, by the way, went 2-3 and is now hitting .202, proof that miracles do happen.)
Jose Mijares worked a perfect eighth, and Joe Nathan started out the ninth with a pair of strikeouts before being seized by the spirit of Eddie Guardado. Two full-count walks brought up highly-touted rookie catcher Matt Wieters, but he could only fan on a Nathan slider to end the game.
Once again, the Twins have won four straight, and are threatening to - be still, wildly beating heart - actually put together a five-game winning streak for the first time this year. Throughout the season, this has been the team's cue to crumple like a cheap bookcase; if they're serious about making a run, it'll have to be built on streaks like this one.
The three stars of the night:
3. Denard Span
Two singles and two walks in four trips to the plate. We love Span very much, and for good reason - his OBP is nearing .400, second on the team only to you-know-who.
2. Joe Nathan
Never a dull moment with this guy, is there? He made it exciting, but three strikeouts is nothing to sneeze at.
1. Scott Baker
Now THAT'S what we were supposed to see, this year.
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It's only the Orioles and the Royals
At least we’re finding ways to win, though, instead of finding a new way to lose every night.
The Twins still don’t have the starting pitching necessary to be taken too seriously, but if Duensing and Gabino can just give us a chance whenever they start and Blackburn and Pavano can be good more consistently than they have been, we still have a chance to win the division. I still think we’ll get swept in the first round of the playoffs if we make it, but I’m starting to feel a little better about the Twins than I have in a long time. Mainly because we’re starting to win and Alexei Casilla is playing much better and Punto is sitting on the bench.
by Sheldon on Aug 25, 2009 8:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
True, but we better win these games if we expect to have a chance
Prior to the weekend series, we had a losing record against the Royals.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Aug 25, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Weird Box Score Note
The Orioles only struck out one Twins batter last night. That batter was Joe Mauer.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
by BeefMaster on Aug 25, 2009 9:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
the radio
on teh radio last night, Dan Gladden was saying that Joe Mauer was saying that he is being more aggressive at the plate this year and it has done 2 things. 1. More HR’s. 2. More strikeouts.
by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Aug 25, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very true
2008: 13.5 BB%, 9.3 SO%
2009: 11.9 BB%, 12.7 SO%
A small price to pay for all the additional home runs.
Mauer’s also got a .383 BABIP, well above his career .348. Considering that he’s hitting fewer line drives (20.6%) than his career average (22.1%), we could very well see some regression.
by Adam Peterson on Aug 25, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BABIP
While it’s true that his overall LD% is down, it’s also the case that his HR/FB is waaaaaaay up (23%). It’s my understanding that HR aren’t counted toward BABIP (since they’re not in play), but those fly balls do count toward the total number of hits used in LD%. I removed his HR from his totals for both this year and last year, and his LD%BIP (Line Drive Percentage on Balls In Play) is almost right on his career mark: 22.1% in 2009 vs. 22.4% for his career.
Basically, while Mauer is probably due for a regression in his BABIP, it shouldn’t necessarily be below his career BABIP unless his HR/FB drops as well.
Amazing stat I noticed while looking this up on FanGraphs: Mauer has hit 14 infield flies. In his entire career.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
by BeefMaster on Aug 25, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Excellent points
I didn’t even consider the LD% including the HR. I wonder how many of his HR were considered to be line drives…
14 infield pop flies. Wow. The other day in Kansas City, he popped one in foul territory by third base, just barely out of play. Seemed quite out of place.
Another interesting stat: Mauer is actually third in the majors this year with a 1.0% IFFB%. The two hitters in front of him?
1. Ryan Howard 0.7%
2. Derek Jeter 0.9%
I would expect Jeter, but Howard is a real surprise to me…
by Adam Peterson on Aug 25, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No idea
I initially figured out the number of non-fly homers by multiplying his total flies by his HR/FB, and it came out to 25 – I’m guessing that FanGraphs’ HR/FB literally just divides homers by flies, with no regard to the possibility of line drive homeruns. Do you happen to know whether whatever batted-ball source they use ever categorizes homeruns as line drives?
Howard’s lack of infield flies also surprises me.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
by BeefMaster on Aug 25, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I use MLB Gameday data
which notes each batted ball as a fly ball, line drive, pop fly, bunt or ground ball. I imagine it’s somewhat arbitrary based on user entry, but I know I’ve seen a number of home runs considered line drives.
I don’t know what source fangraphs uses though…
by Adam Peterson on Aug 25, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm obviously getting ahead of myself...
But I found myself doing some legitimate late-August scoreboard watching last night. Who would have thunk that was a possibility a week ago?
by dctwin on Aug 25, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, though it's not like we were playing the Red Sox or Yankees...
the Royals and Orioles are two teams we should be able to beat.
Don’t get me wrong, I was also checking to see where we’d end up last night, but I feel a little hesitant to be too excited about this ‘streak’.
by fischean on Aug 25, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pplplpft! :P"
4 game winning streak! The August/September run is on! Deal with it! Look out Pale Hose here we come! Tigers, your next!
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Aug 25, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
haha, ok ok, I'll cave
4 games! and tonight will be 5!!! :P
How was being there, by the way?
by fischean on Aug 25, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very cool!
Leaving RISP sucks a lot more in person than on TV, Nathan’s 2 walks were stressing, but winning is always excellent! We had a blast!
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Aug 25, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ditto
Yah, I found myself glancing at the sox game and even flipping over to the tigers game off and on.
I’m trying not to get too excited but it is encouraging to see them playing better and we can only hope their favorable schedule pays off.
Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?
by halfchest on Aug 25, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Testing out the mobile
Holy balls class is boring
www.twinkietalk.com
www.olympicsportsblog.wordpress.com
by fetch9 on Aug 25, 2009 12:35 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
I’d pay good money to be sitting in class instead of at my desk reading deposition transcripts right now. I need a day game.
by dctwin on Aug 25, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have class next Wednesday, I’d gladly trade with you.
by fischean on Aug 25, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Deal
And holy cow my Spanish teacher is a dumb hick. No offense to southerners of course
www.twinkietalk.com
www.olympicsportsblog.wordpress.com
by fetch9 on Aug 25, 2009 1:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
A hick for a Spanish teacher?
Interesting…
by fischean on Aug 25, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
deposition transcripts
are much more fun to read if you act them out.
by guinness junky on Aug 25, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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