Game Thread: Twins @ Miami, 11:10 CDT August 1st 2019

[Darius]

It’s incredible how much better this team is with Buxton in the lineup.

 

We’ve missed a number of guys for periods of time due to injury throughout the year. The only one that seems to derail the team is Buxton.

[wsnydes]

According to Provus, Dyson has arrived.

[HawksNest]

This has to be Pineda's last inning. Dude is getting CRUSHED today (luckily a lot of the hard hit balls have been at defenders)

 

Definitely not his sharpest outing.

 

 

[FlauerPauer]

The poor Marlins. The kids in the stands don't even look excited to be there.

[PDX Twin]

 

This has to be Pineda's last inning. Dude is getting CRUSHED today (luckily a lot of the hard hit balls have been at defenders)

 

Definitely not his sharpest outing.

 

Easy inning. Just three liners and a single...

[Circus Boy]

 

Not quite what I was referring to, but to each their own        

You nearly broke the TD Golden Rule for game threads, that we talk about anything but baseball.

[operation mindcrime]

This has to be Pineda's last inning. Dude is getting CRUSHED today (luckily a lot of the hard hit balls have been at defenders)

 

Definitely not his sharpest outing.

Only 66 pitches so far. He should be good for 2 more innings. Fingers crossed!!!

[HawksNest]

 

Only 66 pitches so far. He should be good for 2 more innings. Fingers crossed!!!

 

Hope not...playing with fire...

[FlauerPauer]

Even the field looks awful at the Marlins Park. 

[FlauerPauer]

 

Hope not...playing with fire...

 

Think you gotta at least give him until he gives up a runner in scoring position. Save the bullpen if you can.

[Circus Boy]

 

Okay ... gonna make my way through the LaLaPalooza throng and head to work ... cheers, all and go Twins!

Read that as a "LaLaPalooza thong." Must. Get. New. Glasses.

[PDX Twin]

 

Hope not...playing with fire...

 

But with a 3-run lead, they could run him out until he puts a runner on.

 

Of course, a pinch-hit situation could change that.

[FlauerPauer]

 

This is the first time in Buxton's short career that I've actually felt some confidence that he's not going to strike out on the curve ball away. 

 

You jinxed him! Unless that was just a ploy to get Pineda one more inning.

[FlauerPauer]

Wonder if the Twins try to sign Pineda to a two year contract extension.

 

Polanco sure has looked mediocre since the All Star game.

[PDX Twin]

 

Wonder if the Twins try to sign Pineda to a two year contract extension.

 

I'd say yes, but I'd prefer one, perhaps with an option.

[HawksNest]

Way to go, Mike!

[PDX Twin]

 

You jinxed him! Unless that was just a ploy to get Pineda one more inning.

 

Worked out OK, no?

[TouchEmAllGuy]

Big Mike battled today. Got the job done and put the team in position to win. #3 playoff starter anybody?

[Blake]

looking at Granderson's batting average makes me wonder why he's still in the league.

 

I thought he retired a while ago.

[nicksaviking]

Wonder if the Twins try to sign Pineda to a two year contract extension.

 

Polanco sure has looked mediocre since the All Star game.

Not liking all the line drives today but maybe depending on the price. I might prefer him to Odorizzi actually. I don’t always get a sudden urge to pull Pineda after five innings.

[PDX Twin]

Pineda looked better than Schoop at the plate.

[Darius]

This is the first time in Buxton's short career that I've actually felt some confidence that he's not going to strike out on the curve ball away. If this season isn't his "break out" then I feel like next year will be. If he can build on this success he'll be the MVP candidate we were expecting when he was drafted.

 

I'd really push to sign him to an extension this winter, even if the price is very high ... and take out concussion insurance.

I think extending should be top priority. But, I’m not sure he would do it.

 

1). Not saying this is the case, just a possibility. Do we know he even wants to be here? He wasn’t overly happy with the organization last year. He was very vocal about working with people outside of the organization. Nobody like playing games here when it’s 40 degrees and drizzle for the first month of the season. And so on.

 

2). He’s going to get paid in arbitration. When the Buxton camp can flop all of those advanced defensive metrics and gold gloves on top of a run of 20-20 seasons with 60 doubles every year....it’ll be a short hearing.

 

3). When he hits free agency he could cash in and be one of the highest paid in the game. Endorsement deals alone could be massive in a market like New York.

 

From a front office perspective, they may not want to do it either. Getting Buxton signed now could come at such a cost that it causes constraints. We need to come up with nearly an entire staring rotation next year.

[Blake]

Conley, you had ONE job to do!

[Puckett34]

 

Pineda looked better than Schoop at the plate.

Was about to say, Pineda couldve done that

[operation mindcrime]

Big Mike battled today. Got the job done and put the team in position to win. #3 playoff starter anybody?

I'd rather have Zach Greinke!

[Intramural Legend]

 

2). He’s going to get paid in arbitration. When the Buxton camp can flop all of those advanced defensive metrics and gold gloves on top of a run of 20-20 seasons with 60 doubles every year....it’ll be a short hearing.
 

 

I'm asking because I do not follow arb hearings that closely...

 

Are the arbitration numbers accurately evaluating defensive metrics all that well these days?  I know for relief pitchers, it is still skewed to the closer, as saves have a large impact on value.  Not sure if the process has kept up with the change in today's games?

 

With that said, Buxton's offensive metrics have certainly improved

[VATwinsFan]

So let's see if the Duffmeister can give us a reasonably clean inning.

[Squirrel]

 

Read that as a "LaLaPalooza thong." Must. Get. New. Glasses.

Plenty of those around, too ... the crowd gets younger and younger, and both young men and women have less and less clothing on.

[Squirrel]

This is Lolla:



And this times 1000:

[SwainZag]

 

Polanco has looked out of it since the AS break. Maybe a day off would help? Maybe switching Arreaz and him in the order or leading off Arrreaz, moving Kepler to the 2 hole and letting Polanco regain his stroke in the 6 hole would work? 

 

Since before that.

 

In 40 games since June 12th, when he hit his high water mark of .341 batting average.

 

.240/.296/.391 slash line with 6 HR, 17 RBI, 14 BB and 31 K in 197 PA.