Locked On Twins POSTCAST: Twins Lean On Rookie Zebby Matthews vs. San Diego Padres

Intro Dro game one on the west coast to San Diego tonight final score 5 to3 we're breaking it all down next on the lock on twins [Music] postcast you are locked on twins postcast part of locked on Minnesota on the locked on podcast Network your team every day back in the lab back at it another Minnesota Twins postcast episode right here on the locked on Sports Minnesota Network it's your team every day you got myself Luke Inman at lukor spin that's the man he's back backtack nights putting in the overtime work Theo tosson he's on X give him a follow won't you at theater tf1 twins expert over at Zone coverage MN and Theo before we jump into all the action from tonight's game quick reminder tonight's episode brought To Us by prize piics easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports go to prize.com / lockon MLB use code and this was all lowercase locked on MLB for a first deposit match up to $100 all right game one vers San Diego Game 1 Recap game five out of seven in a row on the road as this team tries to chip away at Cleveland Cleveland had the night off tonight this twins team desperately ready for a night off here soon that can't come soon enough that's on Thursday night uh zebie Matthews making his second career start he was solid all things considering we'll do a deep dive on him here in a minute but solid five innings of work four hits only two earned runs in the Box Score walner Willie Castro both with a couple RB that had it tied up at two next inning though bottom three bases clearing double that scores three and that kind of busts things wide open twins never really got the bats going tonight until the ninth they scored one that made it 53 but that was your final 5 to3 they dropped to 70 and 55 on the year and they lose game one on the west coast to the Padre's Theo biggest takeaways kind of your a topics from this one then we'll do a little Deep dive on zeb's day a little bit more next yeah they the bats just froze up after a certain point I mean they were looking good real early again and then they froze up again just like yesterday and I think that's been the thing it's just like they're showing a lot of Promise early and then they just forget where they're at and that's where things can get away from them obviously a 5-2 5-3 loss is not a complete blowout but you can't have be hitless until the fourth inning and then just try to get something started with two outs in the b top of the ninth to really try to get things going once again and then by then it's too little too late because I think what I had going through my head with that um pinch in of Jose Miranda in the top of the ninth will wait a minute if you're taking Austin Martin out of the game and then you got to put Willie Castro in center field because or left field and move Margo out there because of how depleted the bench is are you going to keep Royce Le in the game at shortstop because you can't put Miranda there so it was just a whole thing going through my brain and then it didn't have to play out that way but yeah it was getting creative there in the later Innings but yeah I mean just the bats freezing up was the biggest disappointment yeah and we've seen these bats go on fire going a tear it's just Zebby Matthews been inconsistent all season long you just want to see that kind of four or five runs that's it just four or five runs more consistent night in night out instead of the high Highs but those low lows just a little bit too much it feels like this year uh we got to do a little deep dive here zebie Matthews second career start five innings four hits two earned runs in the box score two walks only onek 92 pitches how does stuff just look tonight and what do you think of you know just overall big picture start number two what's his kind of ceiling in this rotation after you know a little bit bigger sample size now yeah I think uh the command wasn't as sharp tonight but also the strike zone from the home plate umpire was a little more um offc Center for lack of a better term so I think that played a part in it but you know I think today was really when we saw a little more of those Jitters get away like get to him compared to um his first start in the major leagues and having a bit of a home field advantage but you know as we were talking about yesterday um we were depending on how things play out for him he might have gone six but you know he was guaranteed five no matter what and that's what showed up I think he was at 91 92 pitches by the point he finished things up in the bottom half of the fifth inning so it it kind of played out as we predicted um a little more uh hits and you know those two walks that came through came back to haunt him and that was really the big difference maker and then that weird play where jerks and profar in the top bottom half of the third where they had one out and they were trying to get him out it was just a bad read between Julian Santana and then zebi dropped the throw once he finally got it and it was just you know everything would just looked poor on that play that really was the Difference Maker in what cost him I think in this game uh what happened kind of random Rich Hill here but what happened with the Rich Hill thing by the way I know he went to Boston where you bummed they didn't get like a deal done because I know some people got a little bit excited about that and then just like part two I'm just thinking about this now is there literally anyone else out just on the free agent Market that could help move the needle at all just knowing you know they're in a tough spot here pitching wise no I think it's just a matter of you know with established veterans there just that you know established preconceived notion of their they had success in the majors they can do it again but richill is 44 I mean he still the oldest active player in major league baseball right now the only guy who's born before what I don't know what weird St him to go out but before so many things so they were there scouting him but they never had a deal going in and Boston is close to his home I believe which is either in Connecticut or also Massachusetts so it just made sense for him to go closest to home um but yeah I mean there's a lot more upside with having a young guy like zabie Matthews aroundus a 44 Old Lefty who's probably G average 84 85 miles per hour in his fast ball so it would have been nice but then you know with the financial constraints of this team there's only so much they can do I'd rather see zebi go out there as many times as he can before you know the season's over just yeah and I think nine out of 10 fans would agree with you as Pitching Prospects well I I I hate to even ask because I feel like now I'm just being kind of greedy cuz you know we got SWR this year he's been lights out zebi obviously David Festa this year but are there any other pitching prospects down the pipeline for 2025 we can just kind of keep our eyes peeled for any names we should jot down kind of keep in the back of our heads that are kind of legit and kind of on the rise stock pointing up yeah and the first one I'll point to is Andrew Morris who replaced zebie Matthews on the St Paul Saints roster um he's been you know pretty Rock Solid throughout the year he also started the season at high a and has gone through such a jump to get to triaa which is still um a complimentary in itself on just how this twins Player Development system has really played to its strength with pitching development and you know I'll be talking to them tomorrow at CHS field and hopefully have a feature story out on Zone coverage later this week kind of examining not only how his rise through the system is a complimentary to him but just complimentary to the Twins player development in this minor league system I mean he's the first guy that comes to mind and I think a lot of people will definitely become more familiar with him next season just because of where things at um I don't see any chance he's going to get rushed up to the majors in these last six weeks of the season that's just not going to be healthy for a guy like him I know his second start on yesterday for the Saints was not as sharp as that first one but you know the growing pains are going to be there and he's someone you definitely want to keep an eye on and the other one is Cory Lewis uh the guy who can throw an 88 mile per per hour ball that's unheard of stuff that's just fun that's just fun so he's been dealing with some injury issues but he's still in doublea Witchita and you know kind of fit fighting through those injuries still performing pretty well and keeping some velocity on that knuckle ball which again if you're throwing anything above 84 85 on the knuckle ball that is yeah that could be a dangerous asset for any team to have within Major League Baseball so we'll see what happens with him but we'll just keep it to those two names for now but there's plenty more guys to be aware of um coming up the pipeline yeah Cory Lewis ninth round pick it looks like too so finding some gems a little bit deeper in the draft classes as well I know we talked about the twins farm system I think you and I was just last night being number four on ESPN some of these names you've just mentioned are a big reason why they're ranked so high when is the last time you can even remember it being that high or even in like the top 10 because it feels like yeah doesn't it it feels like no it was when buckon Soo uh let's see who else was in that top prospect I want to say4 was when they were top five last uh buckon s had graduated yeah trying to think who else BOS was a part of that as well trying to think other names who am I foring Rosario was still a prospect at that point yeah uh so Kepler Blanco wow I mean we'll go down the list and that was the last time yeah where it really like at this upper echelon of farm systems throughout medor League Baseball which is a good place to be but uh one point I don't think I got to yesterday that I'll mention now you know David Festa he's not going anywhere for the rest of the season brooksley whenever he gets activated both of them will probably reach those thresholds to graduate them from Prospect status so festo is probably going to hit 50 Innings before the season's over uh it's 130 play appearances for any hitter that's going to be the same thing for Brook Lee so that might Shuffle things when we get into the offseason but at the same time we still got six weeks left and probably a few more to enjoy this moment so we'll cross that bridge when it gets there yeah we'll cross that bridge and it's a good point to you're probably right maybe they go from four to like N9 or even 12 something like that but you also at the same time you know you got David Festa in a young Brooks lead these two young guys sure they're not technically on the prospect list anymore but at the same point you know they're still part of this young core and nucleus that you're building around so that's good too uh Joel Ry probably toast for the year we'll see how it all shakes out but Simon Woods Richardson I feel like is kind of the no-brainer to start a game three in the playoffs who's got the best chance at beating him out I know a lot can happen from now until playoff time is it like a guy like Chris Paddock or is it one of the other young two guns uh Paddock is very iffy to come back and you know obviously a lot more likely than Ryan and even just getting one Rehab start with the Saints before the season's over um but I think it falls more likely on Fester right now a little more experience uh little more seasoned got has an extra year in professional baseball than Matthews does so I think it really kind of falls on him to get things working because when he's on top of it again we've talked about it many times has some of the best strikeout stuff within the twins organization and I think we're starting to see some of that develop more and more at this level so if he can really make things work and you know he gets into some of these jams like we saw tonight from zebie Matthews and just gets a strikeout game going that can uh really work out for him and you canot send him back after two starts let's not jump the gun one bad start does not equal one wholly bad career react like just think before you type and just don't react on what you see so early when it's a guy like Rich Hill doing that may thr cheese I will say maybe uh Rocko report Time game one vers the Padres The Rock report it says what I think we got to compliment Trevor Richards I mean he did not have the best command again some of it was getting away from him but he still had two scoreless innings really has put stuff behind him since his outing against the Cubs at Wrigley Field which really just was one we all want to forget five walks and not even a full Innings work just terrible but ever since then he's been doing really well yeah well said that's a good one for sure that I know is going to help people sleep a little bit easier tonight despite the loss all right plenty more deep down from this one plus we got our nerdy stat of the day that's all coming up right after this quick reminder tonight's episode Sponsor brought to you by eBay Motors passion Drive patience the formula for winning championships also what keeps your ride or die alive and eBay Motors they got everything you need to maintain your vehicle and level it up to the ultimate Peak Performance superchargers a roof racks exhaust kits LED headlights they literally they got it all and whether you're into speed power or style they got you covered 122 million parts for your number one ride or die you'll always find exactly what you're looking for and with eBay's guaranteed fit your part guaranteed to fit your ride every time or your money back with all the parts you need at the prices you want easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win keep your ride or die alive at ebaymotors.com eligible items only exclusions apply eBay's guaranteed fit only available to us customers I don't think I've ever asked you this nor I don't think we've ever discussed this topic on or off camera on Roco air off air I'm just curious what do you think of Rocko Bal Deli just as the twins coach as a as a coach just big picture even like where's he at in your rankings and then like if ESPN did a coaching power power rankings of all 30 head coaches how is Roco kind of perceived I guess on a national level too I've always kind of wondered this oh got you on mute got you on mute that's what I do when I go on my water breaks uh uh top 10 manager in the league for sure uh since he's broken into I mean broken into the league yeah I mean there's always been complaints and I think the reactionary uh anger whatever you feel when things are not going right to always blame the manager or head coach I that's just so natural in sports fans but us Minnesota sports fans we love to really put our Agony somewhere immediately when things don't go our way uh and he's definitely been the burnt of that but honestly you know what he's been able to do really turn the team around from what they were in 2021 when things regressed you know get things going again in 22 and then this last season to make everything work out to break the postseason losing streak and keep things afloat because I think if people weren't as injured as frequently as they have been there' be a lot more praises and to be complaining about a team that's 70 and 55 at this point in the season in only two and a half games of repeating uh back-to-back division titles they're not in a bad spot All Things Considered and they've been able to make things work out really well and of course in a 162 Game season you're going to have these faulty moments where things get away from you and you know one bull plan decision you know put in one of your top three relievers like he did in yesterday in the seventh inning even though he had a 4 nothing lead it was just palanco just things not not palanco alkala yeah alala I mentioned palanco earli in the show and I think of him later I got and when it's not him uh but alola just it was his day to implode like it that's what happens when the season's this long a game like that's going to happen it sucks but you know that's not Rocco's fault he's not the one throwing the pitches out there right6 games man yeah top great job oh yeah I love that I didn't know I I had a a assumption that he was definitely top Santana half of the league but I didn't know just kind of how he's perceived from a national level so I'd love to hear that the fact alone he called out that Carlos Santana could be an everyday impact player and he was right that alone it just moves him up a few spots in my book but what what do you think he knew that nobody else did because Carlos Santana man been a huge huge part of this lineup and this team defensively as well I think it's just been his reputation around the league uh for a long time I think you know once he left Cleveland that first year and 2018 to join the Phillies and you know that Clubhouse was pretty lost in with its young guys and not really honing into their leader I remember the story that came out if this like reminds you if it comes back to you so in 2018 when he was in the Phillies Clubhouse and they were just staggering not really going anywhere and he was pretty much their one veteran leader I think they were like playing fortnite in the clubhouse and he was just annoyed like crazy like everyone in 2018 and I was annoyed by it because I didn't want to be with trends at it's like it's like a Money Ball scene when Brad Pit comes in exactly he did one of those he did one of those love it so but there hasn't been anything like that for him and he's been a very well-respected guy and you know he kind of feels that role that you needed from the horge palano last season with some of uh you know the Latin players who are a bit younger they need one of those guys who's been around the league a couple times to be respectable and you know he kind of combines what hor palano and Donovan Solano I'd say he's more of the hitter of palano was and then defensively what salana provided at first base you know and that veteran leadership so I think he definitely filled those two roles that were absent after the offseason transaction transactions very well and he's definitely going to be a contender for the Gold Glove because I know the twins on Twitter and Instagram Pages were hyping up what stats he was as a defensive first baseman you know I think he's first and second in a lot of categories not just in the American League but Major League Baseball as a defensive first baseman so maybe we'll finally see the justice that Joe maer not never got in 2017 with his Gold Glove now going to Carlos Santan what do you think back to Roco what do you think Rocco Baldelli his biggest strength is and like kind of what he does and and and like sets him apart like I just think about every coach no matter the sport every coach has just something about them that makes them unique like you know Kevin oconnell Vikings former quarterback in the league he's an offensive guy he develops quarterbacks he's that offensive Guru what like what is Roco known for what makes him so good I think we just if you think back to his career when he was coming up 20 plus years ago he was a highly touted top prospect and then he is one of the perfect like stories of you know all the hype was there his first two seasons were great and then injuries derailed him like crazy so he's gonna know better than anyone what Byron buckon has been going through his entire career because Rocco literally experienced it himself and I think it's you know he's got a great way to like turn it off and turn it on um for that public presenting camera in front of the cameras every day and but when he needs to be the leader in front of his guys he can do it whether it is just being the non shalot guy we definitely see it on Val pre or post games a lot but I think him just knowing how to work around with people meet them at where they're at and just being that kind of leader has really just really and obviously coming from Tampa Bay with one of the best front offices in terms of analytics and bringing that there but I think it's just like who he is as a person and being able to turn things off turn things on and know you know what's appropriate for the public to see but also just you know as the leader in the clubhouse as the manager you got to have like a certain uh Collective you know understanding with the guys there who are going to be there for all 162 games or the most of them or just a few and just understanding you know the codery that comes with being a major league baseball team yeah it's so true too and especially in the NFL you see here more Over Under and more head coaches are being hired that are are kind of dobbed as these player coaches right they're getting away from the old school like inyour face hard noosed kind of you know like these head coaches now in the NFL I just feel like are I don't want to call it buddy buddy more but definitely there's there's a lot to what makes them unique as far as like they want to have a good relationship with their players Roco being a former player and being so young I just feel like has to has to do something has to move the needle to some degree as well and I gotta feel like a lot of these players really love playing for Rocco and he is a players kind of head coach as well um I saw earlier their their over under win total the twins obviously before the season was 85 and a half so before the season started twins if you wanted to bet on them total wins before the year 85 and a half they are well on the pace to to break that in fact I I think I think it was Aaron gleam and I should pull it up but there was a stat that got flung out if you take out the month of April which obviously I know that's not how it works but yeah there it was their uh do you have S3 loss they've had the best record um in baseball best record in basball 13 oh that might have changed after today but that was going into tonight's game uh yeah so you take away that really bad 21 games and then you again take things into perspective and yeah some things sometimes you're have H palong I did it again alaa implode and have that one bad outing or you know the offense doesn't show up but again they're 70 and 55 and if it weren't for Cleveland being where they're at I think things would be and the injuries not being Moun where they are things would be looking a lot better and I think people will be taking things in a little bit better but I definitely know there are some fans who are just going to always react to the agony of the moment and always have that be their first reaction as the sky is falling on and we just we don't always have to be that way sometimes you got to be a little bit more like Rocco uh well said there well said well said you got a nerdy stat for us nerdy stat of the daytime any crazy Stat or you know fun analytic whatever it may be twins related okay so obviously zie Matthews everything he's been known for the season is the few amount of walks he's given up so this is only the second time all year he has given up two walks in one game the last time coming I believe uh in daa on July 9th and last season he only had four games where he walked two or more batters and he never has had a game in actually no correct me since the beginning of 2023 he has not had a single game in professional baseball where he's walked two or more guys in a game that's insane right yeah yeah and feels crazy I forgot that Machado FL flew out in between those walks and I was looking back to see if he walked back toback better he has not done that he's not done that since the twins have drafted it and we don't want to jinx anything so knock on wood of course is well you wanted a nerdy stat and everyone would want to hear what the zebie walk stats are it was perfect I love it no I love it very stuff blame me for it up yeah we're we're already blaming you right now because it's going to happen it's a for I know I've spoken into an existence I will PR the writer drinks don't go anywhere we got to preview game two versus the padros that's all coming up right after this quick quick reminder tonight's Prize Picks episode also brought To Us by prize picks prize picks America's number one fantasy sports app with more than three million members to date and for me and my money it's just by far the easiest it's the most exciting way to get in on all the action while you watch your favorite sports and you watch your favorite players all you got to do you pick more pick Less on two or more player stats and you watch the winning droll in baseball season obviously in full swing here so whether it's strikeouts you know RBI home runs you name it they got it take your pick on more or less and add them to your price pick entry today plus they now offer Apple pay for quick and easy deposits into your account all season long download the prize picks app today use code locked on MLB for first deposit match up to $100 okay game two in San Diego Bailey over on the mound they've lost two in a row now here what what's the just the Game 2 Preview top two or three things you're looking for in that matchup specifically we should kind of jot down or keep in the back of our minds when we sit down and watch that game tomorrow Kim Bailey oper make it to 11 consecutive starts and be the first twins pitcher since yayan Santana to do such a thing in one of his saion years which obviously we want to see that happen and they're facing off against Old Friend Martin Perez who was a part of their 2019 bomas Squad rotation uh so expect a full right-handed lineup to start the night and then obviously a lot more platooning than we saw today love that yeah bayy oer wow that would be incredible he's that close to Pablo already 11 consecutive starts is that Johan Johan sorry Yan definitely not Pablo not this year well both Venezuela and boys so don't blame me for that fair enough all right well you you you palano alkala we all over the you rubed it off on me hey I asked CJ here's a fun one before we get out of here I asked CJ this the other night how many MLB stadiums have you been to because I I actually I went to a lot of baseball road trips as a kid uh Wrigley old County Stadium New County Stadium old kamsky Houston old Yankee Stadium sha Stadium Kaufman and Arlington I said this last week were my favorite two Arlington now Globe Life field in Texas but those were my two favorites as a kid Kaufman and Arlington CJ said he's only been to Target Field and the Metrodome so do you have him beat at least I've been a little no I have him beat so obviously Target Field in the metrome but the only other two I've been to are Miller Park in Milwaukee and then safo field in Seattle which I just went to in May that's right I remember yeah so yeah I mean i' say between the two I'd say saf go Field's probably more preferable for me uh I've enjoyed my time at both of those ballparks and I think you know budgetary sure plans for next season I'm hoping to either get down to Chicago or Kansas City to see games out there are playing there or not uh probably going to try for wriggley over uh what the white socks will have going on yeah no Kidd I hope they're better than next year this year cheap tickies they'd probably be cheap tickies I'll tell you that but um but but yeah of the two I've been to Miller right but but safe Co is on my list man safe Co just from you know watching on TV seeing pictures right seeing video content oh yeah safe Co legit yeah safe C looks like a lot of fun for sure I saw Sammy Sosa hit two out at Wrigley field I also saw the Foo Fighters play at Wrigley Field as well so uh Fighters over Sammy Sosa yeah well I mean they were both cool at the time but I'm gonna lean that way as well hey comment below if you're listening or watching comment below your favorite MLB stadium you've been too curious to know what you guys think uh League Update what else is going on just around the league we should be keeping tabs on like what's your favorite you know non twins storyline or or division race or player to watch whatever it may be yeah I mean the or and Yankees are keeping things close in the AL East for that Crown I mean the Orioles are only half game back right now of the Yankees um I think it's safe to say whoever loses if the twins can't beat Cleveland is going to be hosting them for a wild card game which is not pleasant to think about um so definitely keep an eye on that the Mariners are five games back of the Astros right now for the AL West and it looked like the Astros were down and out of it but they're still finding a way to keep fighting back and I think the Brewers being a big help this weekend sweeping Cleveland to make this a two game difference I mean this really could be a game and a half right now I'm blaming things more on yesterday than today uh but the Brewers pretty much have okay I shouldn't say pretty much have because I remember 2011 very well uh but they have an 11 game lead with only like 37 games left to go for themselves what what happened in 2011 do you remember the last day of that season that was one of the best final days of any sports I've ever seen so pretty much the Yankees had the AL East secured and then the TW no the Rays and the Red Sox were fighting for the American League wild guard and then in the National League uh the wild guard was still go was literally down to the Cardinals and Braves on the final day of the season so pretty much the Orioles who were in last place played upset beat walked off on the Red Sox it was the Evan Longoria walk-off home run and then the Cardinals won and the Braves lost and that secured things and obviously the Brewers won the division that year but then the Cardinals just snuck in and won the World Series so that will never be forgotten I just I just Googled it oh my gosh I just Googled it articles reliving the craziest final day of the 2011 regular season dude that is incredible man one of the best days of baseball I've ever watch wow all right we got a roll twins Dro game one Cleveland with the night off so division lead now two and a half games game two tomorrow Bailey over on the mound first pitch another late one 8:40 p.m. thanks for everybody for staying up late and huge shout out to all the everydays out there that always make us your first listen uh rest assured we'll be back each and every game right here breaking it all down got to go check out all of Theo's work on X give him a follow at Theodor tf1 uh plus all the work he's always ripping up over at Zone coverag mn.com anything new as of late we can go check out anything that you've been working on twins related yeah uh last week last than had out was comparing Bailey Ober and Nick Blackburn with the nine consecutive quality starts streak uh Bailey obers has looked a lot better than n blackburns um but I'll have feature on Andrew Morris later this week talking to him tomorrow and Cedar rapper's Colonels pitching coach Jonas Lovin uh just about you know his rise as well and just the compliments of like I was saying earlier in the show how they've been doing the system and there'll be plenty more to come love that can't wait to go check that out again that's going to be up at Zone coverag mn.com like this video subscribe to the channel uh so close to 8,000 subscribers that's always much much appreciated that'll do it for us Theo toson Luke Inman onx lukor spin we'll see you next time but until then signing out