Numbers That Make You Queasy

Courtesy of Rotoworld.

Scott Baker dominated the Rockies on Wednesday, allowing two hits over seven scoreless innings and striking out 12 in a victory.

 There's that word again: Dominated.

The 12 strikeouts are a new career high for Baker. He's always featured a strong strikeout rate, but he's not one to rack up a whole bunch in an outing like this. Oddly, he had recently been suffering in that category, striking out a total of 12 batters over 23 1/3 innings in his previous four starts. Always a streaky pitcher, perhaps this was what he needed to get himself going.

And how many times do we hear about a starter racking up an unusually high -- sometimes season/career high -- number of strikeouts in a start against the Rockies?

PUT.  THE.  BALL.  IN.  PLAY.

Rock Solid Recrap: Scott Baker Was Dominant

Twins 2, Rockies 1

Those were among the final words on both the Twins and Rockies broadcasts tonight.

Scott Baker.

When I think of Scott Baker, I don't think about domination. I actually think...does it get anymore bland than Scott Baker?

Actually... it does. Randy Wells, Brian Bannister, Brandon Morrow, Felipe Paulino (twice), Brian Moehler, Dontrelle Willis, and on and on and on. All very bland, umimpressive piitchers that have made the Rockies offense look completely non-existent.

It's not a concern anymore. It's a problem. This offense has no life. It has no direction. They just keep swinging. They just keep missing. They have no clue how to get out of the funk they're in.

I know they prepare. I know they take batting practice. I know they read scouting reports. I just don't know how that, combined with the immense talent and potential up and down the lineup, doesn't translate into good offense. I don't how they can constantly look overmatched by average pitchers.

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Lineup Card: Rockies @ Twins

Been awhile since we've added a Rockie to the DL.  Not that I'm complaining... and not that it's really been that long.

Matt Daley was placed on the 15-day DL with shoulder inflammation.  You had to think something was up about a month ago when Daley was sent to AAA just with the thought of giving him rest.  Daley was pushed hard the first 4-5 weeks of the season, much the same way Matt Belisle has been since Opening Day.  Much the same way Huston Street was last season.  It catches up.

Juan Rincon, who provided some solid help at the end of last season, and is a former Minnesota Twin, will join the team tonight in Minnesota.

Rockies Lineup (3-1)

• CF Gonzalez
• 1B Helton
• SS Tulowitzki
• RF Hawpe
• 3B Mora
• DH Giambi
• LF Smith
• C   Iannetta
• 2B Barmes

Jhoulys Chacin on the mound tonight.  Has to be some pressure on him to get into the 6th-7th inning following another abbreviated Cook outing.  

Giambi falls to sixth.  I'd say he's fortunate he didn't fall completely out of the lineup.  Regardless, there's no way he'd hit in front of Smith in my lineup. 

Twins Lineup (37-27)

• CF Span
• 2B Tolbert
• C   Mauer
• 1B Morneau
• DH Kubel
• RF Cuddyer
• LF Young
• 3B Valencia
• SS Punto

Scott Baker on the mound for the Twinkees.  Many viewed him as their ace coming in to 2010.  That's not the case anymore.  The two aces will be battling tomorrow afternoon.  

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Rock Solid Recrap: Twins Baseball At Its Finest

Twins 9, Rockies 3

You couldn't have written a script that better captures the essence of Twins baseball than what we saw unfold tonight.  They are pesky.  They are professional.  They adjust mid-stride.  They don't beat themselves.  That's why they constantly contend.

Just look at what they did to Aaron Cook.  They know what Cook likes to do.  They knew the HP umpire wasn't calling the pitches Cook needs to be strikes, so they layed off everything around the knees and forced Cook to bring it up a little more.  The result was a lot of baseball that were struck pretty well on the ground that simply found holes.

A lot of those eight groundball hits could have just easily been right at infielders, and Cook could have had 6-7 innings of quality pitching under his belt.  But the Twins knew that was their only chance for offensive success against an Aaron Cook that was keeping the ball down pretty effectively.

Tip your cap to Minnesota.

Aaron Cook

Regardless of how or why it the Twins knocked him out in under four innings, the fact of the matter is that it's happening way too often to Cookie.  His command is still off.  The sinker is there, but it's not there consistently.

We're approaching a point where a decision has to be made on the bottom of the rotation.  The Rockies would like to hold off on that decision until Jorge De La Rosa returns but another outing like this may force their hand a bit.  

My prediction remains that Cook will hit the DL, rest for a couple weeks, take a couple rehab starts, and the Rockies will hope they're adding a quality rotation arm come August and September.

Losing Player: Franklin Morales 

All that said about Cook, the losing player for me is Franklin Morales.  He had a chance tonight to establish himself in a new, more relaxed role as a long man that gives his manager innings and keeps his team in the game.

He didn't take to the role at all.  He was still all over the place with his command.  He was missing up in the zone, which resulted in quick offense for the Twins.  At least with Cook everything was down and Minnesota had to scratch and claw a little bit.  When Morales came in, the ball started flying.

Not good.

That's my take tonight.  Not a whole lot else to cover.  The offense was spotty.  The HRs from Tulowitkzi and Helton were nice to see.  It was just one of those games where they were clearly outplayed, which is a lot less frustrating than watching them give away a game that should have won against a team they should beat.

Lineup Card: Rockies @ Twins

The Rockies and Twins have mirrored each other a lot of different ways over the past 4-5 years.  That continues now as both teams come in to this series banged up.  Both teams are missing their closer.  The good news for Colorado is that Huston Street should return soon.  

Troy Tulowitzki comes in to the series dealing with a groin.  The Twins are missing both of their starting infielders -- Orlando Hudson and JJ Hardy.  Both guys we're familiar with and won't miss a bit.


Rockies Lineup (3-0)

• CF Gonzalez
• 1B Helton
• SS Tulowitzki
• DH Giambi
• RF Spilborghs
• LF Smith
• C  Olivo
• 3B Stewart
• 2B Barmes

Aaron Cook on the mound.  

Jim Tracy is such a tease -- or just doesn't get it -- because Carlos Gonzalez back in the leadoff spot.  I guess that's a little less of a big deal in the AL because there's no pitcher in front of him.  But still... ugh.  I would have moved Spilly to #1, CarGo at #4, Smith #5, Olivo at #6 and Giambi #7.  Giambi hasn't really earned hitting in an RBI position.  

Twins Lineup (36-27)

• CF Span
• 2B Tolbert
• C   Mauer
• 1B Morneau
• RF Cuddyer
• DH Kubel
• LF Young
• SS Valencia
• 3B Punto

Carl Pavano on the mound.  

No question where Aaron Cook will earn his outs tonight.  That 3-6 is as good as there is in either league.  Lots of power, lots of intelligence and with lots of speed in front and behind them.  It'll be important to keep 1,2,7,8, and 9 off the bases.

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