CHICAGO — Four games into their season, the Twins are hitting a collective .143, have an MLB-worst on-base percentage (.206) .and OPS (.436) and reside near the bottom of the majors in most offensive categories.
They’ve scored just six runs in their first four games. Their run totals in those games? Three, one, two, zero.
There has been some bad luck, to be sure — they might have to sacrifice a live chicken to get Ty France a hit, manager Rocco Baldelli suggested — but overall, the at-bats haven’t been where they need to be.
“You’ve got to force the issue sometimes,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “You can’t just keep saying, ‘We’re having pretty good at-bats.’ You’ve got to just take a game over at some point, just get a bunch of baserunners and bring them around.”
The Twins were no-hit into the seventh inning on Monday by Martín Pérez and a rookie reliever, finishing with just two hits, one of which did not leave the infield. A couple of days earlier, they managed just three.
Collectively, Carlos Correa said, they need to stay in the zone more and stop chasing.
“When hitters are searching and chasing hits, things like this happen,” said Correa, who is still without a hit despite plenty of hard contact. “You hit the ball right at people, and the next at-bat you want to put the ball in play and make something happen as opposed to (waiting) for that pitch you can drive and hit hard. Right now we’re getting caught up in that.”
The shortstop suggested it was an “easy adjustment,” but one that the team needs to be conscious of — and make quickly after dropping to 0-4.
“I’m very optimistic about the way our roster is constructed, and I think we’re going to be in a good spot. But we’ve got to adjust quick. We cannot keep dragging with the way we’ve been playing.”
Dobnak’s ‘reward’
Randy Dobnak’s “reward” for a job well done on Sunday wasn’t much of a prize: After throwing 5 1/3 innings in the series finale in St. Louis, Dobnak lost his job.
It was to be expected — the Twins needed a fresh arm for the bullpen after Dobnak’s performance, and his contract ($3 million) is such that the Twins can designate him for assignment without much fear of losing him. But it doesn’t make it any easier. Dobnak gave up only one run in his extended relief appearance, saving the bullpen after Bailey Ober’s shortened start.
“I wouldn’t say it’s ever easy ‘cause he did a really nice job,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Whenever guys go out there and do a really nice job and step up … you feel obligated to let them know. … I think this will be a situation where we see Randy Dobnak helping us many times throughout the year.”
In his place, the Twins selected the contract of reliever Darren McCaughan, who threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings in Monday’s loss.
Baldelli alters pregame routine
In the hours before Monday’s game, the Twins’ hitters met for their meeting. And as they dispersed, Baldelli was leading the crowd back into the clubhouse.
The manager has altered his pregame routine this year, sitting in on pregame hitters’ meetings, something that he said he has thought about doing over the years. Around the league, when managers do sit in on these meetings, it’s mostly as an observer rather than very vocal participant. That’s the case with Baldelli, as well.
“I probably won’t be in every single hitters’ meeting throughout the year, but I’d say being in more than not, just being able to just occasionally jump in with a message or backing up a particular message or something I feel strongly about, I think, is a nice thing,” Baldelli said.
Briefly
— Simeon Woods Richardson will start Tuesday’s game, looking to help the Twins’ snap their four-game losing streak. He will be opposed by Rule 5 draft pick Shane Smith, who will be making his major league debut.
— Tuesday marks the Twins’ first night game of the season.
— Correa and Byron Buxton were pulled early in the game with the score out of hand. That led to some interesting late-game defensive configurations. Edouard Julien appeared at shortstop, and Mickey Gasper played left field. Willi Castro, as he has done a handful of times, pitched.
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