The Greatest Sports Story of All Time? While We’re Waiting
April 26, 2016Sashi Brown says Browns’ Big Board is set, team knows who they’ll be taking
April 26, 2016The last series the Cleveland Indians played against the Minnesota Twins, Jose Ramirez hit a late-game home run after Twins manager Paul Molitor intentionally walked the batter ahead of him. Ramirez punctuated the blast with a flip of his bat that landed too close to the Twins dugout in the eyes of their tightly wound crew. Molitor and pitcher Ricky Nolasco would compound their childishness with some ridiculous post-game comments though cooler heads prevailed as no Indians batter would be beaned the next game.1
The bat flip incident was just one case where the Twins were a nuisance for the Tribe in 2015. They were the opposing team the day Michael Brantley injured hurt his shoulder during a Danny Salazar start. If you recall, the pitcher suffered some poor luck on the final strike of an inning being erroneously called a ball. (This is called foreshadowing.)
The Twins were the last team Brantley would face in 2015,2 and they would be the first team he faced in 2016 as he pinch hit in a big spot on Monday. Unfortunately, Salazar would once again suffer some poor luck and the Indians (9-8) offense could not string together enough of their hits in a frustrating 4-3 loss to the Twins (6-14).3
Keys to the Game
Not closing the deal
The Indians had a comical amount of chances to score against the Twins on Monday night. In each of the third through eighth innings, the Tribe would be sent back to the dugout with a minimum of one runner in scoring position. The Indians, finishing a respectable 3-for-11 with RISP, did not tell the tale of frustration felt by leaving the nearly endless supply of players desperately clinging for that one hit to break the game wide open. Instead, the Twins pitchers and defense came up big time and time again.
For example, Marlon Byrd had a big day going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI (though he was thrown out attempting to stretch his RBI single into a double to end the second inning). However, in his highest leverage opportunity with Carlos Santana on third and Yan Gomes on second, he popped out. Juan Uribe went 2-for-4, but the one time he came up to bat with Byrd standing on second base, he struck out. With Santana going 2-for-4, a Gomes home run had a 50 percent chance of being a multiple run shot, but that no-doubter home run against Ryan Pressly in the eighth came with the bases empty. And, though Rajai Davis was 2-for-4, Terry Francona pinch hit Michael Brantley. Dr. Smooth’s first at bat of the 2016 season would come with two outs in the eighth and runners on first and third. He lined out to left field.
The Tribe ended up with 12 hits, three walks, and forced the Twins to throw 172 pitches. Mike Napoli (0-for-5, three strikeouts) and Jason Kipnis (1-for-5, two strikeouts) were the only starters who did not reach base safely multiple times. Somehow, the Indians only scored three runs on the night. Because baseball.
https://vine.co/v/iUE7iiFgElg
That darn cat…Fifth inning
Salazar was cruising. After a walk and double in the first, he had retired 12 out of the last 13 batters (only Kurt Suzuki managed to reach on a walk in that stretch) before things started unraveling in the fifth.
First, highlight-crazy Francisco Lindor bobbled his second ground ball of the inning. But, unlike his first bobble, could not complete the play allowing Danny Santana to reach safely. Then, after Salazar seemed to have picked Santana off first base (called safe and upheld upon review), Santana got greedy and was called for a balk. A nine-pitch at bat to Eduardo Nunez saw two foul balls land just out of the reach of right fielder Marlon Byrd and first baseman Mike Napoli before he eventually walked. A wild pitch allowed the runners to move up the pitch before Brian Dozier drilled a double down the third base line to tie the score at two.
https://vine.co/v/iUEWQmalub5
Eventually, Jeff Manship relieved Salazar, but he gave up another run (charged to Salazar) as Miguel Sano singled before ending the inning by inducing a Byung Ho Park ground ball to Lindor.
Whew. That was a bad half inning. Last week against the Seattle Mariners, one mistake was one too many for Salazar in a loss. On Monday against the Twins, a few bad luck happenings undid what was otherwise a fantastic outing. Salazar continues to pitch extremely well, but he must also find a way to close innings out when things don’t go his way. And, it’s not like the velocity is dipping the later in the game. Last week, his velocity rose from 96 miles per hour to 97 late in the contest. On Monday, he was sitting at 97 early, and the gun ticked up to 98 several times late.
And, the annoyance of another Salazar start falling apart was furthered in the top of the next frame when Yan Gomes missed the first base bag with his lead foot, which ended up being the deciding factor in him being called out upon review.4
Bullpen Battles
With Salazar and Tommy Milone throwing a ton of pitches early, both teams were forced into their bullpens before the end of the fifth inning. Compounding the Twins issues with their bullpen is that they used eight pitchers in a 16 inning game on Sunday against the Washington Nationals. If the game would up being a matter of attrition, the advantage was with the Tribe.
Manship, Ross Detwiler, Joba Chamberlain, Bryan Shaw (yes, that Bryan Shaw) combined for 3.1 IP with one hit, zero walks, zero runs, and two strikeouts (both by Shaw in a dominant performance; tip of the cap towards the ringed one). The Twins countered with Trevor May, Fernando Abad, Ryan Pressly, Kevin Jepsen who would give up a run, five hits, and a walk, but also five strikeouts in 4.1 IP.
But, despite having the Twins on the ropes if they went into additional frames, extra innings would not be needed as Oswaldo Arcia hit a home run deep into right field off Zach McAllister for a walk off win. Only the sixth win of the Twins season.
https://vine.co/v/iUEZddrmuiZ
Obligatory Francisco Lindor Highlights5
Even if you don’t love baseball, I don’t see how you cannot love this kid. He is absolutely special, amazing, and every other word to describe greatness. I would attempt hyperbole with Lindor, but it would come up short to what he does on the field. And, Lindor was putting the blame of the loss on himself after the game because he mishandled a groundball during the tumultuous fifth inning. The other three other-worldly plays? Oh, just par for the course with him. Here are my favorite things about each.
https://vine.co/v/iUEzwqLzPY2
My favorite part of this play is Juan Uribe. The ball is hit so much closer to him than Lindor, but Uribe understands that it is handled as he nonchalantly watches Lindor make a routine play. You know, if moving at full speed behind the third baseman from short and throwing perfectly across the diamond into Napoli’s outstretched glove is routine. For Lindor, it almost seems it is now.
https://vine.co/v/iUEaBJvnltt
My favorite part about this play is that the grounder was hit sharply to the second base side, but, if you look closely, Lindor was getting to it anyway. His range extends laterally to ridiculous proportions. Even with Salazar tipping the ball, Lindor slams on the brakes, adjusts the ball in his hands, and throws out the runner.
https://vine.co/v/iUEaHlQI2K3
My favorite part about this play is that if Salazar was still pitching, then you would have yelled at me for posting the same highlight twice. Uribe is just watching appreciatively as is Ross Detwiler on the mound. Must be nice to be able to pitch to hard contact knowing Lindor will swallow it up for you.
The Numbers
Mike Napoli and a case of the strikeouts
Since April 17, Napoli is 4-for-30 with two walks and 14 strikeouts.
Byrd is cooking
Since April 14, Byrd is 9-for-23 with six walks and six strikeouts. He has picked up the slack that Napoli is letting loose in the chain though continues to bat in the bottom third of the order.
Oh Rajai
So, it is about time to discuss Rajai Davis. He is batting .286/.333/.482 with a 123 OPS+, which is nice enough. But, he has been a spark on offense with his constant aggression on the basepaths. On Monday, the aggression put him into scoring position, then allowed him to score from second base. A good throw might have had him at the plate, but Davis forced that throw, which didn’t happen.
Yes, he has hurt the Tribe at times by being caught stealing on three of his nine attempts, but that means he also swiped six bases already. Davis puts pressure on the opposing pitcher to keep him in check, and on the fielders to rush their plays or else he will take an extra bag. Any good team needs such a player, but it is surprising that player is a 35 year old. Thus far, Davis is having what would be a career year for him if extrapolated, so expect some regression. Until then, enjoy.
- And, it is incredibly crazy that portion needs to be mentioned, but it does. [↩]
- He was hurt against the Twins September 22, but attempted to play a few more games before finally being shut down after a September 28 game against the same Twins team. [↩]
- And, I still cannot talk about the Carlos Carrasco injury. Having my favorite player shelved with an injury that tends to linger even when players return from it is demoralizing. [↩]
- Note: It was the correct call. [↩]
- Big tip of the hat to Scott Sargent for the Vines. [↩]
13 Comments
Is there a player in MLB more fun to watch than Francisco Lindor?
Nope
I want vengeance for that blown review from the replay umps. I must have watched that Danny Santana pickoff in slow motion 15 times on an HD screen the size of Antarctica (not mine of course), and he was out as clear as day. You can see the tag applied and you can see where Santana’s hand makes contact with the bag afterward. This 1 of 162 will not be forgotten! Let’s march on… wherever they reviewed that call.
I’m admittedly confused as to how it did not get overturned. If it’s the angle, they need better angles. if it’s not wanting to upstage the guy who made the call, that’s insanity.
Yeah, it was a close play, but seemed on review to be pretty clearly out. They got the next review correct, but both ended up favoring the Twins there.
This one is on me, I caved and watched last night…
I will quietly return to my app tonight.
Plus his hand came off the bag…
For the record
I watched live, so it’s on me as well (normally I don’t catch up on MLB.tv until the very end). I caught up to live action right in time for Lindor’s fantastic 5th inning play…and everything that happened afterwards.
They got the next review correct which then becomes an inherited problem in reviews…the ability to give a call back.
The NBA thrives on this with it’s officiating and now the MLB has lost that ability.
No sir, I don’t like it one bit.
CARLOS SANTANA.
……no, sadly Los has now taken a backseat for me to Frankie.
Too soon…
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