GAME THREAD: Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins, 8/21/2022, 1:10 PM CDT

[Nine of twelve]

Hi everybody, and welcome to today's game thread.

I check the obituaries every day. My name was not listed so that means I have to keep my promise to write today's opening post. I do not include any kind of baseball analysis in my thread openers because there's plenty of that on this site already, done by people more skilled and more knowledgeable about such matters than I am. So I use a 5-topic format. Today I'm going to mention something from baseball history from 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years ago.

2012: Miguel Cabrera wins the triple crown.

2002: After the Twins survive the threat of contraction, Jacque Jones hits a home run in the first plate appearance of the season.

1992: Center fielder Andy Van Slyke of the Pirates records an unassisted double play, a rare feat for an outfielder.

1982: The first regular-season MLB game in the Metrodome registers an attendance of 52,279.

1972: 86 regular-season MLB games are cancelled as a result of the first players' strike in history.

 

No lineups have been posted at this time. That can be added later by anyone who wishes to do so.

Expected weather conditions at game time: Partly cloudy, 72º F, northwest winds at 2 MPH.

[PDX Twin]

Sounds like a lovely day for outdoor baseball.

I have for many years read the obits in my Minnesota hometown paper. Sadly, over the years it's gone from listing my classmates' parents to listing my classmates.

[MABB1959]

Sorry but Buxton needs to play everyday now including CF.  What’s the point of resting him if they don’t make post season.   He can’t be that soft and if he is what a waste of salary dollars.  I love him and glad he is a twin. But their comes a do or die time and they are definitely there now!!!!

[AlwaysinModeration]

11 minutes ago, MABB1959 said:

Sorry but Buxton needs to play everyday now including CF.  What’s the point of resting him if they don’t make post season.   He can’t be that soft and if he is what a waste of salary dollars.  I love him and glad he is a twin. But their comes a do or die time and they are definitely there now!!!!

Another way of looking at it:

He’s on track for 500 PA, 5WAR and 35+ home runs.

[MABB1959]

3 minutes ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

Another way of looking at it:

He’s on track for 500 PA, 5WAR and 35+ home runs.

He is at 337 Aaron Judge 447.  Plus he isn’t playing his position much and that is a big part of his value and good for the team all-around!

[mnfireman]

As easy as it is to be upset about Buxton's usage, it needs to be remembered that he is struggling with a knee injury that probably won't get any better until it can be addressed AFTER the season. Experts have told the team that a 10 day IL trip will not fix it and I am going to assume the PRP didn't work as well as hoped. I don't think the team knows Buxton's availability until he wakes up and lets them know how it feels, or at least until they see how it responds to that days therapy. It has moved well past the time to call for him to play everyday, and, IF the team falls out of contention, I wouldn't be surprised to see him shut down. 

[AlwaysinModeration]

11 minutes ago, MABB1959 said:

He is at 337 Aaron Judge 447.  Plus he isn’t playing his position much and that is a big part of his value and good for the team all-around!

I will concede that Judge has had a better year than Buxton. And that Buxton had had 338 at bats, and 379 plate appearances.  

Buxton has played in 91 of the Twins 118 games, a clip of 77%.  He’s hit 28 homers, and posted 3.9 WAR over 379 plate appearances.  If he keeps up those rates, he’ll play in 33 more games, and wind up with 515 plate appearances, 38HR, and 5.3WAR.  All of those numbers would be career highs.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I'm confused. How do we know Buxton isn't in center if the line ups aren't yet posted?

 

Next thing ya know someone will complain about us how long it will take us to win our next world series?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

T hem:

0. Kohei Arihara (R) P

1. Marcus Semien (R) 2B

2. Corey Seager (L) SS

3. Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B

4. Adolis Garcia (R) RF

5. Jonah Heim (S) C

6. Leody Taveras (S) CF

7. Kole Calhoun (L) LF

8. Brad Miller (L) DH

9. Ezequiel Duran (R) 3B

 

TC us:

0. Joe Ryan (R) P

1. Luis Arraez (L) DH

2. Carlos Correa (R) SS

3. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B

4. Jose Miranda (R) 1B

5. Max Kepler (L) RF

6. Nick Gordon (L) CF

7. Gio Urshela (R) 3B

8. Jake Cave (L) LF

9. Sandy Leon (S) C

 

ftfu

[AlwaysinModeration]

Lineup:

Arraez DH

Correa SS

Polanco 2B

Miranda 1B

Kepler RF

Gordon CF

Urshela 3B

Cave LF

Leon C

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Whatdya know... Byron isn't in center...

[AlwaysinModeration]

Arihara is giving up a Pagan-like 2.3 HR/9 in his 11 career starts.

[MABB1959]

Lineup was posted a few hours ago. https://www.mlb.com/twins/gameday/rangers-vs-twins/2022/08/21/661652#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=661652

[MABB1959]

There is no denying that the Twins are a better team with Buxton on the field.  Lots of stats but the only one that matters is W/L.   

[sampleSizeOfOne]

9 minutes ago, MABB1959 said:

Lineup was posted a few hours ago. https://www.mlb.com/twins/gameday/rangers-vs-twins/2022/08/21/661652#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=661652

But that is a whole nother link i have to click on. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Oh right.

 

Induction ceremony.

[Mortimerkenny21]

Watching now.

[Parfigliano]

7 minutes ago, Mortimerkenny21 said:

Watching now.

Nice view

[USAFChief]

Somebody get Gladden off the stage.

[Tlaker]

Has he introduced the family Guinea pig yet?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, mnfireman said:

As easy as it is to be upset about Buxton's usage, it needs to be remembered that he is struggling with a knee injury that probably won't get any better until it can be addressed AFTER the season. Experts have told the team that a 10 day IL trip will not fix it and I am going to assume the PRP didn't work as well as hoped. I don't think the team knows Buxton's availability until he wakes up and lets them know how it feels, or at least until they see how it responds to that days therapy. It has moved well past the time to call for him to play everyday, and, IF the team falls out of contention, I wouldn't be surprised to see him shut down. 

This!

additional, his current 379 plate appearances are the second most in a season in his career.

his current fWAR 3.7 is third most in a season in his career.

he’s having a more productive season compared to history despite the knee injury.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Game on!

[CRF]

We need Ryan to give us 6 or 7 shut out innings, because the way things are going we'll only get maybe 2 or 3 runs from our stellar lineup.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

There are many ways skin a ball game.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Now let's keep a lead and get it!

[mrtwinsfan]

Ryan at 95 mph, to start - nice

[sampleSizeOfOne]

17 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

This!

additional, his current 379 plate appearances are the second most in a season in his career.

his current fWAR 3.7 is third most in a season in his career.

he’s having a more productive season compared to history despite the knee injury.

Has Buxton really played in 7 straight games before today?

[USAFChief]

Hey, didn't you use to be Carlos Correa?

[weitz41]

1 hour ago, mnfireman said:

As easy as it is to be upset about Buxton's usage, it needs to be remembered that he is struggling with a knee injury that probably won't get any better until it can be addressed AFTER the season. Experts have told the team that a 10 day IL trip will not fix it and I am going to assume the PRP didn't work as well as hoped. I don't think the team knows Buxton's availability until he wakes up and lets them know how it feels, or at least until they see how it responds to that days therapy. It has moved well past the time to call for him to play everyday, and, IF the team falls out of contention, I wouldn't be surprised to see him shut down. 

This..Makes a lot of sense to me. I'm guessing it's a torn Meniscus or something that would require a few months on the shelf after surgery. Rip, tear or whatever. Running and direction change seems to be what they're avoiding. He's injured and still was an all star. There's something here that after the season is over, we may all go back and say oh wow no wonder why. Don't get me wrong. He needs to be in the lineup as much as possible but that may be what we're seeing..

[AlwaysinModeration]

10 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

Has Buxton really played in 7 straight games before today?

Nope.  8.