Postgame power blog: Frustrated rookie edition
Posted on August 24th, 2008 – 12:53 AMBy Joe Christensen
ANAHEIM — Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn had the standings on his mind when he described his disappointment over Saturday night’s 7-5 loss to the Angels.
“We get in a good spot to take the [division] lead, and the last couple outings, I go out and give it back to [the White Sox]. I’m just tired of doing that. I’d like to go out in a big situation and get a win for us.”
Blackburn is 9-8 with a 3.78 ERA and leads all AL rookies with 157 1/3 innings pitched. He’s a big reason the Twins entered the night with a chance to stretch their lead over the White Sox to 1 1/2 games. They haven’t had a lead that big since May 12.
I couldn’t quite understand why Blackburn was so hard on himself, especially when the team made three misplays behind him during the pivotal third inning. (Two errors by 3B Brian Buscher, and the Vladimir Guerrero double, which should have been an error on CF Carlos Gomez.)
“I’m not mad that we made errors,” Blackburn said. “It’s just frustrating to go out there and struggle the way I did. The last couple outings, I couldn’t get the team a win. It’s starting to get pretty old.”
Again, it seemed a harsh assessment considering Blackburn pitched eight innings in his last start, holding Oakland to three runs on six hits.
But I took a closer look at his game log and realized something. The Twins have lost his past three starts. In the previous two, the Twins entered the day in first place and came out in second.
At least this time the Twins are still in first. Blackburn will have more chances to get another big win. What he really needs is some luck. Five times he’s left a game with the lead only to have the bullpen turn it into a no-decision.
‘PICK YOUR POISON’
Blackburn got Vladimir Guerrero to ground into two inning-ending double plays.
But in the third inning, the Twins had Blackburn walk Mark Teixeira intentionally to load the bases for Guerrero with one out. Blackburn threw a low slider, a pitch that wasn’t even close to a strike, he said, and Guerrero lifted it for the two-run double that bounced off Gomez’s glove.
“That’s pick your poison,” Gardy said of the intentional walk. “You wouldn’t want to do that too many times — walk anybody to get to Vlady. But with [Blackburn’s] sinker on the mound, you’re going to try to get a ground ball and see what happens. He got a fly ball. Should have been a sac fly, one run in.”
Gomez, who tried to make a backpedaling catch, said he didn’t lose the ball in the lights or anything.
“I missed it. That’s it,” Gomez said.
SHORT HOPS
(*) Nick Punto and Joe Mauer extended their respective hitting streaks to 11 games and 15 games.
(*) Boof Bonser’s only real blemish in 2 2/3 innings of relief was the home run by Teixeira in the sixth. “He gave us a chance,” Gardy said.
(*) Gomez reached base in all three plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch, before Gardy used Mike Lamb to pinch hit for him after Nick Punto singled with one out in the ninth. Lamb, who is 2-for-11 as a pinch-hitter, struck out.
This didn’t come up in the postgame, but the guess here is a Gomez/Francisco Rodriguez matchup wouldn’t have been pretty with that slider K-Rod throws. Lefties were batting .221 against him, compared to .182 for righties.
(*) OK, I’m spent. Day ball Sunday - 2:35 p.m. I’ll be back here in the morning with the lineups, as the Twins try to win the series.
39 Responses to "Postgame power blog: Frustrated rookie edition"
good road trip so far.
Boof’s been doing well of late. He appears to have his confidence back, as he really looked to have hitters confused and flailing. With all the uncertainty of the bullpen, I’m hoping Bonser can bring back a little hope in the middle innings down the stretch.
Thanks for the output! Much appreciated.
Some good insights, Joe. Thanks much. I like our chances with Slowey on the mound Sunday. Should be a good one.
I know Punto can be frustrating but why all the Punto bashing by twins fans? The guy is a gold glove caliber SS, 2B and 3B. If he’s hitting .280 and can steal a base…
Boof has had some solid outings recently. However, he is still too inconsistent. In his last 10 appearances, his ERA is still over 5. That is still too Bass-like.
Hopefully, he’ll figure it out…he’s got the stuff to really help the BP.
Joe- thanks for early morning updates!
Ugh. Whenever we’re in a close game, Gardy always pinch hits the worst player on the bench. I would have rather brought Al Newman out of retirement to pinch hit than bring in Lamb. The guy just stinks.
“Boof’s been doing well of late.”
Terrically great news re Boof and Guerrier so far in LA. This could be season-turning news, if this bullpen is solidifying now.
“The guy just stinks.”
Yeah it looks like Lamb is all but through. He is the backup defensive first baseman, and will play that role through September.
Loved ya, Lamb. But lately it’s been lousy.
:)>
Punto with a higher average than Young.
:)>
:(>
:)>
“Boof’s been doing well of late.”
Teixeira’s HR was about 325 feet.
I predicted the Twins would lose two games on this roadtrip on account of Buscher’s defense.
Ok it’s stupid to blame Buscher for last night’s loss.
Yet, my prediction is coming to pass.
[…] Originally published by Around the Majors […]
Come Sept. 1, Buscher will be a pinch hitter for Everett or Gomez. I saw him in Spring training live and his defense was poor, even for balls in the dirt when he played 1B, and Gardy will not tolerate sub-par defense. Harris or Punto will be at 3B.
Boof still brings heat to the mound at 94-96, and if he can avoid walks, he will be valuable the next 5 weeks.
I don’t think they establish that fastball enough with him, before using all of his pitches.
Today is a new day, a new game, yesterday is gone. Go get the LAA of A today, WIN TWINS!!!
So Blackburn apparently is putting pressure on himself. It looked like he did it again last night.
The big let down was after the Twins got 1 he went and gave up 2. Then couldn’t shut down LAA after the Twins handed him a one-run game.
Boof pitched well enough. Gave up a “homer” to Tex (so far the only two dingers given up by the Twins to LAA)
I predicted a split, and the Twins have played well enough to possibly get a series win here. Just gotta put last night behind them.
You could tell that Blackburn was taking it very personally and was very frustrated by not being able to get the outs he wanted when he went back to the dugout.
I’ve never seen him react that strongly before.
but the guess here is a Gomez/Francisco Rodriguez matchup wouldn’t have been pretty with that slider K-Rod throws
Men on base + Key AB + Tough slider = UGLY Gomez AB.
That 3rd inning reminded me of my kids’ little league teams, two botched groundballs and a missed flyball. The Twins should have been out of that inning with no runs allowed, which would have given them the win last night. Tough loss to swallow.
Buscher and Gomez screwed up in the field.
Buscher lacks soft hands. His throws are so erratic, and this is a real liability, especially with Morneau at 1B.
Gomez runs poor routes and is fundamentally unsound in the field. The Bambi dance precedes the erratic, off-target throw. and both are getting tiresome.
The Friday infield of Everett at SS and Punto at 3B, looks best to me. A little hitting is lost, but you have to catch and throw the ball.
You have to hope youngsters like Gomez and Delmon learn to play in the field. Gomez may be better playing a corner spot, with Span in CF. Gomez to LF and Young to RF could be the ticket.
Season turning news
I hope that doesn’t mean heading south after being 20 games over .500…
Buscher has got to make those throws!
But I’m sure no one is feeling worse than he. He has got to bounce back…..
twinkiefan says:
….”I know Punto can be frustrating but why all the Punto bashing by twins fans? The guy is a gold glove caliber SS, 2B and 3B. If he’s hitting .280 and can steal a base……”
You’re right twinkiefan, it’s very hard to understand. It’s clear that many who post here have the mentality of a 4th grade bully. They love to bash anyone who they perceive as weak or different. Punto had a bad year in 2007. My sense is that they got on him for that initially because they saw him as a weakness on the team and they eventually developed a kind of pack attitude with their bashing of him which intensified and turned into a sick hatred. Now they get a perverse pleasure from it and they can’t give it up. However, with the kind of season that Punto’s having, and how important he’s been to the team’s success so far this season, they are losing credibility and are really starting to look rather clueless with regard to their baseball acumen.
Last night I thought the Twins would win and they lost. Today I think the Twins will lose, therefore they will win…
punto bashing is big due to a miserable 07 and lack of base running ability and certain boner plays he makes.
punto bashers get bash just as harshly every time the guy has a good game.
i think it is fairly even.
its perverse on both sides
i am listening to Sid on CCO on my new iphone, love it!
Bashing Punto for his struggles in 2007 is idiotic at this point. It has no relevance any more. Get over it. As far as bad baserunning…that to is an erroneous assessment. Punto is a good baserunner. He sometimes makes a baserunning mistake do to over aggressiveness…but I’ll take an over aggressive player any day over the opposite. The only thing that could be a legitimate criticism is his penchant for diving into first base, but that is no legitimate reason for the hate, and besides there are others who make that same, silly mistake. Gomez did it last night, for example, and I’m sure no one here said a word.
Apologies for the mispellings, etc. I was in a hurry, I guess. Change to to too…and do to due….and make other corrections as you see fit. Sorry about that.
dknute,
Trying to go 2nd to 3rd on a ground ball back to the pitcher is not “over-aggressiveness”. Its that other thing.
Slowing down at 2B on a steal or hit-and-run, because you think its ball four or you think the batter was supposed to protect you is not “over-aggressiveness”. Its that other thing.
Don’t get me wrong.
I like Punto.
Good baserunner?
Maybe, but he is prone to brain farts.
Sorry folks but Slowey has a horrendous record vs. the Angels.
Last game vs. LAA 3.1 ip 4 hits 3 earned runs 1 hr 0 bb 2 Ks 8.10 era 1.20 whip .286 ba
Career vs. LAA 8.1 ip 14 hits 7 earned runs 2 hrs 0 bb 4 Ks 7.56 era 1.68 whip .350 ba
Twins lose and split this series and on to SEA.
TFISC,
You seem to think that the future is somehow related to the past.
I have found no such evidence in my travels.
It usually is - I am a talent management professional and past behavior is usually (90% +) very much a indicator of what you can expect. (Walk like a duck, quack like a duck, swim like duck . . . you get it)
But, you know what? This is why they play the great game. You really never know. (However, I do believe in trends)
Just know two games may have me eating my words, as Toronto just tied off on Matsuzaka and NY Mets same v. Wolf - both have great records against these respective teams.
TFISC,
IMO,
The reason that the future differs from the past is because teams (or players) that failed in the past, make all the adjustments.
Teams (or players) that succeeded in the past, make no adjustments. (if it aint broke…)
As a result, teams (or players) that failed in the past are more likely to improve on their past performance.
Or not.
I think past history will allow you to project what a player is going to do over the course of a season.
However, though, recent stats are huge when it comes to indicating current performance.
For instance, Scoscia walked Joe Mauer twice in order to get to Justin Morneau. Stats against the Angels indicated Justin struggles against Angel pitching and recent stats show his bat has cooled off.
Both times it was the correct call.
Ron Gardenhire walked Teixeira in order to pitch to Vladimir Guerrero, who, though overall an RBI machine, recently had been struggling at the plate.
Turned out to be the correct call, as it should have been a sacrifice fly.
Finally, good grief, I had to go and post about a bunch of players with difficult names to spell. Google comes through again.
Punto hating was alive and well in 2006, well before his off-year of 2007. During a stretch in 2006, when Punto was hitting over .300 and making sensational plays at 3B, many people here were whining and and wanting a “real” third baseman.
Swift runners on the Twins need to take risks, in order to score runs for the team. That means getting tossed out sometimes. The Twins can’t stand around waiting for the HR. They don’t have that kind of personnel.
Also, Punto may have an occasional “brain fart” on the bases, but so do others. The difference is that Punto, because of the inexplicable hatred is given no leeway whatsoever. The jackals & hyenas pounce on every little indescretion. Really, as a school counselor I work on the bullying problem nearly everyday, and attitude and behavior of the Punto bashers is so much like that of the grade school bully that it’s really very sad.
Glad to see Buscher not playing today.I hope its because of his performance(2 errors) that Gardy let him sit today. At one point I thought maybe the Twins could have pull off one more victory but that did not happen so I will settle for a split. So let’s move on to Seattle and sweep those guys out. Go Twins….
