Game Thread: Twins vs Royals@Target Field - 4/6, 10:10am PT (Noon:10 CT)

[MNTSchmitt]

 

He's a bust. The Twin's mismanagement of him in the minors destroyed his career. 

Wouldn't go that far yet.

[bighat]

Buxton's first series has been an absolute disaster, offensively.  You know it's awful when you're hoping they pinch-hit for your 3 hitter.  At this point he's not just an automatic out, he's an automatic strikeout.  I was that kid in high school, it's a mental issue (and in my case a talent issue, too).  The Twins have just got to find a way to hide his bat in this lineup somehow. 

[Guest]

Buxton is going to have a lot of painful OJT this year.

[Aggies7]

Buxton's first series has been an absolute disaster, offensively.  You know it's awful when you're hoping they pinch-hit for your 3 hitter.  At this point he's not just an automatic out, he's an automatic strikeout.  I was that kid in high school, it's a mental issue (and in my case a talent issue, too).  The Twins have just got to find a way to hide his bat in this lineup somehow.

 

Don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure you made contact at times.

[d-mac]

 

I hope not. But an inability to hit was recognized early by those down on him as a prospect (relative to others). It's why I wouldn't touch Kendall with a 100000000000000 foot pole in this draft. 

 

For the record I hated the Buxton pick at the time. I wanted Gausman. I thought I was going to be wrong about him circa, 2014. I just don't like "toolsy" high school outfielders. They are generally labeled as toolsy because their hit tools are underdeveloped relative to their athleticism. 

[Mill1634]

Rogers breaking balls = DIRTY

[Aggies7]

For the record I hated the Buxton pick at the time. I wanted Gausman. I I thought I was going to be wrong circa, 2014. I just don't like "toolsy" high school outfielders. They are generally labeled as toolsy because their hit tools are underdeveloped relative to their athleticism.

 

I've been called toolsy and I think it meant something totally different

[Mike Sixel]

 

For the record I hated the Buxton pick at the time. I wanted Gausman. I I thought I was going to be wrong circa, 2014. I just don't like "toolsy" high school outfielders. They are generally labeled as toolsy because their hit tools are underdeveloped relative to their athleticism. 

 

I also wanted Gausman.

[bighat]

 

If your "utility/speed" player can't even bunt...done.  Move Buxton to 8 or 9 and move Santana to waivers.  I'd make both those moves after the game

 

Santana got a nice hit earlier today.  Awful execution on his bunt attempt late, but he's not killing this team the way Buxton is at the plate so far. 

[Mike Sixel]

Not a fan of the IBB, to put a guy on 2nd......would have just pulled Rogers there for a righty. they do have 13 pitchers....

[Mike Sixel]

 

Santana got a nice hit earlier today.  Awful execution on his bunt attempt late, but he's not killing this team the way Buxton is at the plate so far. 

 

He also threw to the wrong base, something a 26 yo professional should never do.

[PopRiveter]

 

So... Keep Buxton batting third to show confidence, or drop him to 8th or 9th to take some of the pressure off?

I'm all for batting him lower and raising him once he earns it. 

I buy into the reasoning that batting order doesn't much influence your win probability, but I do believe it has the power to send messages to players. With Buxton, I'd like him to feel good about his contributions with the glove and not feel pressured to be a top producer with the bat... yet

I think he will become a traditional #3 hitter. Whether or not the lineup construction ever reverts to "traditional" is anybody's guess.

[hybridbear]

Come on Rogers!

[d-mac]

 

The head scratcher is putting him 3rd to begin with

 

But it's game three!11!! You knee-jerk overreactionist!!11 Basically what I got told on the other thread when I complained about him hitting third again today. 

[HitInAPinch]

 

Buxton is going to have a lot of painful OJT this year.

And he should get that OJT.  And at game #3, it's to early to be this hard on him.

[Aggies7]

BS time call!!!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Rogers having a great outing

 

Finish him.....

[Danchat]

 

Santana got a nice hit earlier today.  Awful execution on his bunt attempt late, but he's not killing this team the way Buxton is at the plate so far. 

We were also alluding to the fact that Santana's play in LF gave the Royals a run. Not just a batting thing.

[Aggies7]

Great play by polanco as sano tried to get in his way!

[mickeymental]

dansan and buxton in an exciting battle for the position of designated punto!

[hybridbear]

Good job by Polanco!

[PopRiveter]

isn't Polanco supposed to be sucktastic at short?

Didn't look bad on that one

[Mauerpower]

that was sweet polanco! 

 

[70charger]

Polanco's arm looked okay there, huh?

[d-mac]

 

I also wanted Gausman.

 

The gutsy pick there would have been Stroman. But the Astros ran circles around us that draft. 

[bighat]

Twins pen is bending but not breaking...would be nice to see a little more 7th inning magic! 

[rghrbek]

 

Not a fan of the IBB, to put a guy on 2nd......would have just pulled Rogers there for a righty. they do have 13 pitchers....

Totally agree, even though Rogers is death to lefty's, not used to seeing winning runs put in scoring position.  I am just glad he got out of the inning.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Great play by polanco as sano tried to get in his way!

Actually, Sano got out of the way.

[70charger]

Also, Taylor Rogers really looks like a nice weapon to have against lefties. I liked the strategy there; really only the first batter that inning was problematic.

[Mill1634]

 

Santana got a nice hit earlier today.  Awful execution on his bunt attempt late, but he's not killing this team the way Buxton is at the plate so far. 

But Buxton can field. Every blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. DSan can't field or hit consistently. At least Buxton is a consistent Gold Glove caliber CF.