Who gets Sent Down when Plouffe Returns? Official: It's Buxton

[DJSim22]

 

Seth, this is an honest question, not an accusation:

 

What is the expected outcome of this decision? Is Buxton really going to learn anything by teeing off on AAA pitching again?

 

The guy dominates anything that isn't MLB pitching. We all know in our "common" lives that one doesn't learn when one is (not just a little but massively) superior to everyone around him.

 

I'm not Seth, but my assumption is they will work with him on shortening up his swing.  I wonder if the week long leg kick will return. 

 

[Comrade Bork]

No one really questioned Buxtons work ethic through the minors. In fact everyone gushed about how hard be worked.

 

If every rube can see be needs to shorten up his swing then Molly and Bruno sure can. For such a coachable hardworking kid he sure SUCKS at changing his approach at the plate. Natural talent getting in his head??

 

He's sick a good defender and baserunner it's almost galling how bad he looks at the plate

[wickedslider]

I know many are against sending Buxton down as it would seem that he'd benefit from competing against MLB pitching. But if part of his problem is a lack of confidence, it would seem to make sense. I wonder if Polanco could do with some time in the outfield and become our super sub in place of Dansan/Escobar/Nunez? I'd like to keep Dozier and turn Polance into a 3rd, SS, 2nd baseman who can also play a couple of outfield spots.Try to get Plouffe just enough time at 3rd to shake the rust off, then get what you can in a wavier trade. Hopefully some 3rd baseman on a contender goes down to injury. I think there has been enough talk about Sano in the papers that he would understand that he needs to change his approach. He's been better at the plate the past few games. And I see more benefit to him gaining defensive experience playing 3rd in the ML than Buxton would get by facing MLB pitching the next month. We still have the logjam at 1st base/DH  with  Mauer, Vargas, and Park waiting in the wings. Maybe we could package Plouffe with Vargas or Park for decent starting pitching prospect?

[whydidnt]

I don't understand the Twins handling of this situation. They act like losing a couple more games down the stretch matters. Buxton has nothing to prove at AAA. What exactly are they going to do with Plouffe? They need to keep Sano at 3rd, it seems they will be short in the OF now and and one of Plouffe, Vargas, Sano or Maher will have to sit every day. Why wouldn't they just tell Buxton he is their CF for the rest of the year, just go relax and do your best? Seems like he needs a confidence boost at the ML level. He struggled at most every other level when first promoted and figured it out. The Twins need to let him do the same without fear of getting sent down.

[LaBombo]

 

I keep reading people talking about Sano haters.  Who are these posters who hate Sano?

Keep watching. You're going to need a lot of patience and a good telephoto lens.

 

[LaBombo]

 

 I'm just going to regurgitate:

 

Blech.

A .wav file recording of your regurge would have been more visceral, but we'll just have to make due with our imaginations.

[Rosterman]

Buxton is sitting on the bench anyways up here, which he can do just as well come September. The question is, if Plouffe plays than two of Polanco/Vargas/Sano more than likely sits. 

 

And the reality is, unless the Twins ARE COMMITTED TO PLOUFFE, Sano NEEDS to play third.

[Kwak]

This isn't a learning experience demotion--it's a punishment! As a punishment--it may work out--it depends if Buxton rejoins the Twins come September based on doing "something".

[Craig Arko]

This isn't a learning experience demotion--it's a punishment! As a punishment--it may work out--it depends if Buxton rejoins the Twins come September based on doing "something".

That's a curious conclusion.

[LaBombo]

Max Kepler's WAR after 253 PA's: 1.6

 

Combined WAR of Grossman, Rosario, and Santana: 1.2

 

Not that Buxton was poised to become part of the solution, but that's a pretty steep dropoff.

[Comrade Bork]

Blech.

 

It's my theme of the day.

I'm assuming that the "blech" is due to a nice hangover and not Sano's 2 homer day or Kepler's great catch

[Comrade Bork]

 

And the reality is, unless the Twins ARE COMMITTED TO PLOUFFE, Sano NEEDS to play third.

Stuck in limbo my man. Antony can't pull the trigger cause he doesn't want to tank the team but his best case for getting the job is by projecting a long term plan ex. Committing to Sano over average plouffe limboooo

 

 

 

Of course knowing the Pholads the three game outburst in Cleveland probably cemented Antony for the next 5 years (tongue firmly in cheek)

[TheBoofIsLoose]

In a lost season there is no point to this. Buxton has crushed AAA pitching already this year, another month won't serve much of a purpose. Facing AAA pitching won't magically fix his plate struggles. We already know Santana gives below average offense and defense; Buxton at his absolute worst is a high caliber defender. I can't say anything about Plouffe yet, if they start benching Polanco or Sano to give him worthless at-bats then there is a problem. 

[TheLeviathan]

I really hope they spend the next few weeks rebuilding his approach.  This better be more than a "you were just the guy that made sense" move.  

 

Get to work on fixing this kid.  Now.  Yesterday.

[TheLeviathan]

 

C: Suzuki

1B: Mauer

2B: Dozier

SS: Polanco

3B: Sano (vs righties), Plouffe (vs. lefties)

LF: Grossman

CF: Rosario

RF: Kepler

DH Vargas (vs righties), Sano (vs. Lefties)

 

Escobar: Utility IF.

 

You live in this fantasy world too huh?

[jimmer]

 

You live in this fantasy world too huh?

Seems like best case scenario.  Though Danny Santana will probably play 75% of the time.  I didn't account for that, I guess.

[kab21]

 

This should be an audition time for a waiver trade for Plouffe.  His last game could be a good sign for a possible trade.  Maybe its time for one of those mysterious injuries to pop up on a player who will go on the DL until the trade is made.  I hate to see them mess with Vargas - he has done well this round and deserves more time.  Buxton is logical, but really isn't going to gain from AAA again.  Sano is a mystery, but one we have to ride out.  Messing with his confidence is bad, but so is 36% strikeouts.  Grossman is not our future so he would lose out for me. 

Buxton has played about 100 AA/AAA games. His swing is a mess. How does he have nothing to gain in AAA?

[Lawyer&TwinsFan]

Yes, Buxton has struggled.  But even with his struggles, he gives you a better chance to win than Santana.  The offensive difference is less than you might think (how did you like Santana's "quality" at-bats today, for instance?), and the defensive difference is huge.  That's why Buxton has a positive WAR and Santana has a negative WAR.  Buxton needs to learn how to hit major league pitching -- you do that in the majors.

 

Also, I sure hope the people speculating that Plouffe will go in a waiver deal are right.  He's just gumming things up right now.

[drivlikejehu]

The Twins would be better with a 24-man roster than with Danny Santana on the team, so comparing him to Buxton isn't really the issue. It's just a matter of where he should be making adjustments. I think MLB.

[gunnarthor]

In a vacuum, I don't hate Buxton going to AAA.  He has sucked and hopefully the AAA coaches can help him b/c the ML ones can't. 

 

I am bothered by the coaching staff's approach to him.  He has a 1.000 OPS in AAA.  He's a big time prospect on the Mauer level.  Yet it seems like they have him bunt every other game, they pinch hit for him every third game, they sit him after a few more starts. 

[wavedog]

I am for this move if he is going down to AAA to work on tinkering with on his swing, learn how to bunt, etc...he will have 3-4 weeks to do that.    I do not get to watch the Twins so how was Buxton trending?  Did anyone see signs that he is turning the corner or was he getting worse?  Maybe he was sent down for a break.   Today, I was trying to come up with why Santana continues to play, he doesn't seem to do anything particularly well.  Kind of like a Nunez light.   I would love to see Polanco play regularly.  Maybe play Plouffe long enough to trade him.   Hope he comes up on a hot streak.

[kab21]

 

Yes, Buxton has struggled.  But even with his struggles, he gives you a better chance to win than Santana.  The offensive difference is less than you might think (how did you like Santana's "quality" at-bats today, for instance?), and the defensive difference is huge.  That's why Buxton has a positive WAR and Santana has a negative WAR.  Buxton needs to learn how to hit major league pitching -- you do that in the majors.

 

Also, I sure hope the people speculating that Plouffe will go in a waiver deal are right.  He's just gumming things up right now.

This should be about where is the best place for Buxton to develop. He needs significant work done on his swing and that is difficult to do at the MLB. And Grossman, Kepler and Rosario should get most of the AB's. Santana's role should be the 25th player that rarely plays but he isn't used that way unfortunately.

 

I think Plouffe should go in a waiver deal but I doubt the Twins move him. Frustrating roster management.

[mickeymental]

seems like buxton mostly needs help between the ears. I'm wishing it wasn't so, but probably the best place for a strong dose of confidence is aaa.

[mnfireman]

Set Plouffe free!! HA ha, JK! Send him through waivers and let whoever claims him have him. Otherwise DFA him, he will be too expensive next year (as a utility player) and Molitor will feel obligated to play him.

[nicksaviking]

I'm long over the braintrust's decisions with Buxton.

 

I'm more concerned that Plouffe won't be riding pine as he should. Sano, Pokanco, Vargas and Escobar shouldn't be losing playing time for him.

[ashbury]

Buxton has a 1.000 OPS in AAA, in 188 PA.

 

In his past 188 PA, Brian Dozier has an OPS in excess of that. Does anyone believe this is Dozier's established level of performance?

 

As I said elsewhere, 188 PA is still basically Hurricane Hazle territory (look him up, young'ins). If there were a zero inserted someplace after the 1 in that number of PA, I'd feel differently, but he's simply not had enough time in AAA to make me believe it's not a place where he still can learn, and he certainly hasn't "proven" anything at AAA.

[ashbury]

This isn't a learning experience demotion--it's a punishment!

Punishment is a time-tested learning experience.

[Halsey Hall]

 

Listened to Twins coverage all morning and all signs point to Sano being demoted. So all the Sano haters out there can start covering your man caves with plastic sheeting for the champagne celebration when it's officially announced.

Sano says "it ain't me babe, no no no, it ain't me babe. It ain't me you're lookin' for babe."

[jorgenswest]

Buxton has a 1.000 OPS in AAA, in 188 PA.

 

In his past 188 PA, Brian Dozier has an OPS in excess of that. Does anyone believe this is Dozier's established level of performance?

 

As I said elsewhere, 188 PA is still basically Hurricane Hazle territory (look him up, young'ins). If there were a zero inserted someplace after the 1 in that number of PA, I'd feel differently, but he's simply not had enough time in AAA to make me believe it's not a place where he still can learn, and he certainly hasn't "proven" anything at AAA.

Of course, Hazel was hit in the head by a pitch in the spring of '58 and again early in the season. He spent a week in the hospital trying to get his equilibrium. I think that injury would be understood differently today.

 

The Twins should have kept Buxton down in AAA for a longer stretch. They didn't. Once they made that decision, they should have stuck with him through these struggles at the major league level. The worst case is to bounce him back and forth. Playing time is not an issue. Santana and Grossman can be reserves. They don't have any other young player they need to get in the OF.

[Otto von Ballpark]

they sit him after a few more starts.

I haven't been tracking the lineups too closely -- how much of this has been due to injury? Seems like Buxton has been dinged up a few times.