Twins 6, Angels 2: Bullpen Bounces Back but Buxton Leaves Game

[Trov]

I have to say one of my favorite at-bats of the game was CC's single up the middle.  He was down in count and was willing to just put the ball in play to try and get a hit. He flipped his bat out at the ball and hit a slow roller up the middle.  We were, if not still are, leading the league in strike outs per game.  The team clearly has a general plan of always hitting the ball hard no matter the count.  This may be in part because the belief that hitting the ball soft will rarely result in hits.  However, never putting the ball in play and striking out has a 0% chance of getting a hit.  Even if it is like 10% chance of getting hit because too soft, that is still better than 0%. I am all for looking to hit ball hard before 2 strikes, and hate watching guys do check swings or taking defensive swings before 2 strikes, but after you get there, I like to see the get bat to ball approach and do whatever you can to make contact, even weak contact. 

[Hans Birkeland]

3 hours ago, umterp23 said:

Buxton CF Train retreating back into the station.  It never left the station to begin with. 

[Jocko87]

4 hours ago, umterp23 said:

Buxton CF Train retreating back into the station.  It never left the station to begin with. 

[shabbos1]

Has there ever been a player with more athleticism that is just not smooth (especially when running the bases) than Buxton?  Those belly flops at mach 3 into third base are just hard to watch ... it's no wonder his knees are barking at him.

[jimbo92107]

5 hours ago, stringer bell said:

He wasn't having a good time when the home plate ump missed strike 3 on the lead off hitter of the inning and two pitches later had a double. That was the worst missed strike I've seen this year.

I agree, but after his little emotional tiff, the pitching coach came out and appeared to say exactly the right thing. Whatever it was, it got Lopez to crack a little smile. After that, he got back to being a happy tiger, striking out two of the league's toughest hitters with a clever mix of pitches. His slider to K Ohtani was absolutely filthy, nearly hit the batter in the foot.

What a difference when your pitcher has the right attitude. 

[John Belinski]

Another good game by the Twins. We need more complete games by the Twins if they want to be in the playoff.

[rv78]

22 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Most of his injuries didn’t happen while playing in the field

That was sarcasm, Squirrel.

[Squirrel]

1 minute ago, rv78 said:

That was sarcasm, Squirrel.

Hard to tell, sometimes. Should have known better

[rv78]

20 hours ago, Schmoeman5 said:

I've said since March that Buxton will not play CF this year. And it's not about the possibility of him being injured while playing CF. It's the additional wear and tear on his body. Every time he's on the bases it's 100% effort when running. And his slides are brutal. It's the same reason they haven't had him attempting to steal bases. How many has he attempted? He is fragile and everyone knows it. You and I may not agree with the the way the Twins play him as solely DH, but they're trying to maximize his AB's and that will limit him solely to hitting. 

And he will still get hurt. Or should I say, did get hurt. 42 games into the season is all it took. Maybe they can ask the Commissioner if they can have a designated runner for him too. Most over-rated player next to Sano of this Twins generation. They should have traded him instead of signing him to a 7 year contract. Trading him for a player that can actually play or having him unable to play due to injury and dealing with it every year? Hmmm... not really a tough choice but this FO made the wrong one, again.