Matt Capps Blows 7th Save, Twins Lose 2-1, Pitchforks, Torches, Etc.

by RandBall's Stu on Jul 15, 2011 11:40 PM EDT in Game Recaps

Last Friday night, Nick Blackburn had nothing and notched a win. This Friday night, Blackburn pitched seven shutout innings and notched a no-decision. Matt Capps, in what one assumes was an end-of-Gardy's-rope-reaching performance, pissed another game away on a 2-run Eric Hosmer rocket with 2 outs in the 9th, giving the Royals a 2-1 lead that Joakim Soria would not give back.

To be fair, the Twins offense did the pitching staff no favors, with the only run off the not-good Luke Hochevar scoring on a passed ball. Still, with seven solid innings from Blackburn and a 1-2-3 8th from Joe Nathan, Ron Gardenhire turned the game over to Capps, who promptly turned it over to the opponent for the seventh time in 2011. The Twins made it interesting in the 9th. Jim Thome singled and Danny Valencia almost ended it with a long fly out. Delmon Young's single put runners on the corners with one out, but a tapper back to the mound nailed pinch runner Matt Tolbert at home, and Tsuyoshi Nishioka grounded out to end the game.

As Pat Reusse Tweeted after the game, Eric Hosmer has a .180 average against left handers. Matt Capps is a righty. The Twins best lefthanded reliever didn't enter the game. I don't think this will happen again. At least, it better not.

Studs: Blackburn. Deserved to win but didn't.

Ben Revere: three hits, including the very difficult stumbling, somersault triple that you'll likely see on your YouTubes and SportsNights with Casey McNeil and whatnot.

Duds: duh.

Also, most of the rest of the lineup for not being able to hit Luke Hochevar. I had at least three solid jokes built around his last name and his terrible pitching, and now that's all shot to hell.

Enjoy your weekend, everybody. It'll be okay, eventually.

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FMC

That is all.

Follow me, mmk?

by John_Locke on Jul 15, 2011 11:43 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

FMC!

My day started so well. Got my new laptop charger in the mail so I was no longer living in the dark ages… Then work went to hell tonight, and I got home in time to watch Capps implode. Don’t blame me, though. I was home in time for Nathan’s 8th as well.

by archie2227 on Jul 15, 2011 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

FMC

QFT

"Nobody wants to hear me rap." - Joe Mauer
"METEOR" - JIM THOME

by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Jul 16, 2011 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions

This isn't the recap I wanted to read

I was having such a good night till a half hour ago

by Sportsavenue on Jul 15, 2011 11:45 PM EDT reply actions

Somehow a reference to Sports Night made me feel better

But only a little.

by ColossusOfRhode on Jul 15, 2011 11:47 PM EDT reply actions

Casey McCall and Dan Rydell.

Loved SportsNight. Got both seasons on DVD. Sadly an early exit for the program.
Anywho,
Remember the game last year where Capps got NO ONE out and registered the save? (3rd base coach finger touch) It was on that day when I doubted his abilities. Please Gardy, no more chances.

by z-squad on Jul 16, 2011 12:05 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

More Twitter on Matt Capps

#ialto RT @ChrisLagasse: I wouldn’t trust Matt Capps to close my garage door. #Twins

Matt Capps must have Casey Anthony’s lawyer fighting to keep his job.

Ben Revere somersault = beautiful. Matt Capps as closer = not so beautiful. #Twins

I hope Matt Capps sleeps well tonight knowing that he caused me to swear in front of my children while watching the ninth ( a rare lapse).

Trade Matt Capps for a bag of balls @Twins

Matt Capps for the Minnesota Twins needs to be booted off the roster. What a complete joke…

No #mnshutdown for Matt Capps tonight. He can’t buy a save.

@TwinsPrez When is Bill Smith getting fired? The Matt Capps, Hardy, and Santana trades have all been absolute failures. Awful.

when my mom realizes that matt capps shouldnt be pitching, you know its pretty #obvious

Author sources are at Twitter. Just search for Matt Capps.

I'm a proud fan of the Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys!
"Life is precious and time is a key element. Let’s make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own." – Harmon Killebrew

by Jessy S on Jul 15, 2011 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

He managed to trend for the whole US

not a good thing for Capps.

by archie2227 on Jul 15, 2011 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

So...

Remember when Nathan was struggling as the closer at the beginning of the year?

Remember how HE publicly removed himself from the closer position?

If Capps had half the class of Nathan, as the PR guys keep saying (which very well could be true, just a lack of courage to do it?), he’ll remove himself after his seventh blown save. This is probably what Gardy’s been waiting for..it’s The Twins Way, or something.

Anyway, hope for a Twins win tomorrow. I’ll be there and hope to see them win without using Capps in the ninth.

Free Rick. I mean, Chuck James!
No, I didn't spell Maurer wrong. But I do get asked if I'm related to Joe a lot.

by Maurer Power on Jul 16, 2011 12:02 AM EDT reply actions

+1 thinking the same as you!

by mr mpls on Jul 16, 2011 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

This this this

Follow me, mmk?

by John_Locke on Jul 16, 2011 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

matt CRAPPS AGAIN!

was at the game tonight.boy is ben revere fun to watch run and tumble. i thought blackie should of started the 8th after a easy 7th. gardy was saying he needed his pitchers to go deep with all these games back to back. what happened to that ? we left to many runners on 3b. but sometimes a team has to win these ugly games. THANX again matt CRAPPS, he seems to throw a 92 mph ball with zero movement. 15 saves and 7 blown. were all tired of it .how about you mr.gardenhire. if you dont wanna hurt mattys feelings let him read all the blogs.then maybe he can do it for you. and QUIT!!!!. great game to be at till the 9th. go twins!

by mr mpls on Jul 16, 2011 12:02 AM EDT reply actions

Joe Nathan

Looked like the 2009 and earlier Joe Nathan tonight. I made that decision when he torched a high fastball for a swinging strike. The only guys in our BP who deserve to stay are Swarzak, Perkins, and Nathan.

Nathan is our closer now. There should be no debate. At his worst, he’s blown only 6 Save opportunities… for an entire season. Capps is already over that mark.

Dumatrait, Burnett, Capps, and Mijares should all be traded or optioned if possible. Bring up CHUCK JAMES, Slama (when he gets of the DL), Hoey (use tazers if necessary to make him hit the corners), and Waldrop. Can’t possibly be worse than what we’re rolling with now, might possibly be better.

by spanspanspan on Jul 16, 2011 12:03 AM EDT reply actions

+1

THIS

by NeveruN on Jul 16, 2011 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I would make a case for Dumatrait to stay as well.

I think he’s bing overall pretty good in comparison to our other options. I agree with your other points, though.

I'm still a Minnesotan at heart...

by urluckyday on Jul 16, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think Dumatrait should be on the ML team right now

He hasn’t been pitching well: 5.89 ERA / 6.40 FIP / 5.66 xFIP. 8 strikeouts and 8 walks in 18.1 innings is also very bad. Gives up a lot of fly balls, not many grounders. To top it all off he has a .186 BABIP compared to a .301 career BABIP, which suggests he is benefiting from luck and more balls in play will fall for hits in the future.

"Nobody wants to hear me rap." - Joe Mauer
"METEOR" - JIM THOME

by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Jul 16, 2011 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Ugh!!!!!

Thats all I have to say!!!!!

by LittleLad on Jul 16, 2011 12:03 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs

My first and only game I get to go to since I live in NC. And that is what I had to put up with.

That had damn well better be the last time he pitches in the 9th inning this year. I do not care if we are up 10-0 in the 9th, I do not want him near the game.

Let loose the hogs of war!
Dogs of war..
Whatever farm animal of war, Lana...

by darren004 on Jul 16, 2011 12:04 AM EDT reply actions

Joe Nathan since coming off the DL

7.1 IP, 3H, 0 BB, 1 ER, 7 K

That’s: ERA of 1.23, WHIP of 0.409, K/9 of 8.59

"If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason." -Jack Handy

by Flip27 on Jul 16, 2011 12:11 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

That's better than Mo.

by spanspanspan on Jul 16, 2011 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Compare to Capps over the same period:

7.2 IP, 15 H, 4 BB, 9 ER, 1 K

That’s ERA of 10.57, WHIP of 2.478, K/9 of 1.17

"If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason." -Jack Handy

by Flip27 on Jul 16, 2011 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

good god that's horrible

not many innings but still

"Nobody wants to hear me rap." - Joe Mauer
"METEOR" - JIM THOME

by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Jul 16, 2011 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow

Pretty brutal

by AM. on Jul 16, 2011 6:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Matt Capps is one of the most predictable pitchers in the game

He throws 2 to 3 fastballs over the plate so he can try to get an 0- 2 count. He is so afraid of pitching a ball that he pitches in the innermost part of the strike zone. If he does get ahead, hitters know the slider is coming and simply lay off.

by Coolio12 on Jul 16, 2011 12:15 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

He reminds me of...

Jesse Crain before Crain learned another pitch. Straight, lifeless, fastball.

If I recall, Crain learned to throw a cutter and then was suddenly the best right handed relief pitcher in the AL.

by spanspanspan on Jul 16, 2011 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Joe Nathan on the other hand...

His stuff misses bats. Dives down, dives out, jumps high, bats miss.

He was doing that again tonight.

by spanspanspan on Jul 16, 2011 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Capps' fastball isn't straight

He would have been way better off last night if it were. Started inner half and broke right back over the middle of the plate.

by archie2227 on Jul 16, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

method

for Queeq tonight. Bravo! 1. Bringing him in. 2. Leaving him in after D straight balls. 3. After two miraculous outs leaving him in to face the lefty with Perkins at the ready. No great feat, but, I called it. The days of blaming Capps ended two weeks ago. This was all on Queeg. A brilliant man to be sure.

by Monticore on Jul 16, 2011 12:18 AM EDT reply actions

ladies and gentlemen, I think we have

a winner

THIS MORNING I POURED MY CEREAL BUT IZ OUT OF MILKS!
MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! - natetheskate

by montanatwinsfan on Jul 16, 2011 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Blown 7....

And also needed to be bailed twice by Perk. That’s 9 games. Miserable.

Plus Hosmer now has 9 HR — all off of RHP, hitting .301. Zero off of LHP, .186.

by AM. on Jul 16, 2011 12:29 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Time for Capps to admit

that his shoulder is injured. His fastball used to be 93-94mph, now it’s 91. His control was side to side of the zone, now it’s nowhere, or right down the middle. Also, he now flinches when he throws a fastball.

Put Capps on the DL, then call up Anthony Slama. Send down Dumatrait and Mijares, call up James and Gutierrez. Use Nathan and Perkins as closer. Problem solved.

by jimbo55403 on Jul 16, 2011 12:30 AM EDT reply actions

Something else I noticed

The only balls they didn’t slam were his breaking pitches. Could it be that Matt Capps needs to learn what Jesse Crain did, that his bendy balls were far more effective than his heater? Could be.

by jimbo55403 on Jul 16, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions

But he might not be injured

All he has is a confidence problem, but the thing is that Matt Capps is not one to admit that he is not a winning pitcher right now. He simply needs to be pitching in low-lavage situations.

by Jessy S on Jul 16, 2011 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions

low-lavage situations

Whenever Capps pitches I feel like I need my insides cleaned with saline.

by DJL44 on Jul 16, 2011 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Ha!

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"God grab your neck but never choke" -Ozzie Guillen

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jul 16, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Parker Hageman noted that Capps is moving to the 1B side of the rubber against LHB again.

There’s definitely something physically wrong with him.

by funnytrain on Jul 16, 2011 5:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Wikipedia got reverted

The fun lasted for 98 minutes though

by DavidRF on Jul 16, 2011 12:57 AM EDT reply actions

Aw, too bad

I did take a screen cap for posterity.

by ColossusOfRhode on Jul 16, 2011 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions

From RoyalsReview

"Nobody wants to hear me rap." - Joe Mauer
"METEOR" - JIM THOME

by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Jul 16, 2011 1:02 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs

I could just watch that for hours.

by ColossusOfRhode on Jul 16, 2011 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions

How about that!

We’ve all seen a triple somersault. Now we’ve seen a somersault triple. Impressive!

by jjohn24680 on Jul 16, 2011 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Talk about athletic ability

Well except for falling in the first place

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 16, 2011 3:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Jeff "a gift for gifs" Sullivan from Lookout Landing posted the same gif on the Twitternet last night.

I don’t know if it’s the same one or not.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"God grab your neck but never choke" -Ozzie Guillen

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jul 16, 2011 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions

FMC!

That is all. Oh and also F everyone minus Revere, who had the most impressive triple ever. Luke Hochevar has to be one of the most hittable sp, he is horrible. Capps is determined to be our greatest enemy, I’m not sure why he hates us so much.

by MadHits on Jul 16, 2011 1:38 AM EDT reply actions

Well, to be fair

Mauer was given 2 intentional walks and earned a third. His only out would’ve been a HR on the road. Hardly his fault the Royals didn’t pitch to him.

Special duh goes to Cuddyer for ending a threat by swinging at a ball literally just above his shoelaces. What, did he think he was golfing?

by Shawn Gillogly on Jul 16, 2011 4:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Not a lot you can do with 1 AB

And definitely don’t deserve the blame if you’re on base 3 out of 4

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 16, 2011 4:51 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't want to find myself defending WIMC but...

The offense only got 2 runs out of Hochaver as both Jesse and Gardy pointed out. Still not a WIMC fan, but I’m going to cut him a little slack here and I hope Nathan feels ready to be our trusty closer again SOON!

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"God grab your neck but never choke" -Ozzie Guillen

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jul 16, 2011 8:46 AM EDT reply actions

Actually It was only one run

And I am defending WIMC too. I actually thought he would pull off the save last night.

As for Luke Hochaver, congrats on improving his game. Yes the Twins should have knocked him out of the game early, but his game has improved and that is a positive, not just for the Royals, but for all of baseball.

by Jessy S on Jul 16, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't really think that it matters whether the score is

1-0 or 20-19 if the closer can’t get it done (by the way isn’t that his job) then what’s the point.

"Somebody once asked me if I ever went up to the plate trying to hit a home run. I said, 'Sure, every time." --Mickey Mantle

by ilovethetwins on Jul 16, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Oops! Right, 1 run.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"God grab your neck but never choke" -Ozzie Guillen

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jul 16, 2011 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Last time this happened

Bill Smith panicked and went and got Matt Capps. He’s making it known the Twins are “contenders”. Any win-now trade of a good prospect for a different closer (Heath Bell) would be an incredibly awful idea. As my kids are so fond of saying – epic fail.

by DJL44 on Jul 16, 2011 9:15 AM EDT reply actions

But Heath Bell would be a improvement over Matt Capps.

Heath Bell: 2-3 with 2.61 ERA, 26 Saves on 32 hits, 13 runs, 11 earned runs, 1 HR, 13 walks, 1 intentional, and 28 Strikeouts.

Matt Capps: 2-5 with a 4.76 ERA, 15 Saves, on 40 hits 21 runs (all earned), 7 HR’s, 6 Walks, and 21 Strikeouts.

Clearly something has to be done and the only reason why Gardy is still saying that Matt Capps is still the closer is because the Twins don’t air their issues out in the public. Matt either has to give up his role or be forced out of it. Besides, the Twins can evaluate both Heath Bell and Joe Nathan after the season and sign one of them to a good deal.

by Jessy S on Jul 16, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

FMC

Oh, and the recap just wouldn’t be complete without one last tribute

THIS MORNING I POURED MY CEREAL BUT IZ OUT OF MILKS!
MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! - natetheskate

by montanatwinsfan on Jul 16, 2011 10:05 AM EDT reply actions