Bullpuzzle: Twins hitting in the late game
Over the course of the season, and heading into this weekend’s series against the Tigers, the Twins have had one of the best set of total lineup numbers against opposing relief pitching. Consider that our offensive numbers in the following A.L. categories all rank the boys higher in innings 7+, than in total innings: batting average, on base percentage, on base-plus slugging%, home runs, and total bases. In innings 7-9, the lineup hits better than in innings 1-3 in regard to batting, on base percentages and on-base-plus slugging.
In addition, the Twins have held a higher team average against relievers (.268) than against starters (.265). Furthermore, their home runs per at-bat percentages are nearly identical in the two categories, 1.91% against relief pitching and 1.94% against starters. What makes said numbers more important/impressive is to consider that relief pitchers are oftentimes brought in to specialize while starters may have to face an opposing hitters 3 or more times in the same ballgame.
Yet, in the recent swing that has found the Bread Basket slightly molding, having lost 9 of our last 14 heading into our Sunday set with Detroit, the boys’ late-game hitting numbers have largely descended. The trend can be traced back to our August 23rd loss to the Angels, the last time we had a Central Division lead all to ourselves. In that ballgame, the club faced 3.2 innings of relief, struck out 3 times and managed just two hits with no runs. Since/including that date, the Twins have faced 46.2 innings of relief, and have accrued the following stat line against non-starters:
44 Hits
16 Earned Runs
17 Walks
33 Strikeouts
0 Home Runs
It’s well worthy of note, however, that 6 of those runs and a whopping 16 of those hits came in our August 29th, 12-2 stomping of Oakland. And in regard to the long balls, we’ve slugged just 1 home run against opposing relievers since August 17th. As my grandmother would have said, “Juddie honey, that ain’t good.” It ain’t.
With the results of our return to the Bread Basket finding the boys still uneasy after Saturday’s flop against Detroit, more detailed performance will be readily required for innings early, mid, and undoubtedly late should the boys still hope to lay claim to the Central Division bounty.
Just 20 games to go. Nut-cutting time, indeed.
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