Twins 10, A's 7: Twins Survive Feisty A's for Second Straight Ugly Win

[D.C Twins]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

Hit a 109 MPH rocket to 3B Saturday - he’s had some terrible AB’s in the past couple games but from the “team only meeting” to the All-star game he had some hits - few K’s - 3-4 times robbed on D of big hits, couple times in 2 days at the Wall v. Baltimore.

We don’t have a better definitive option. He only plays if the team thinks he can contribute - nothing to do with $$$.

The totality of his work would suggest that there are better options. 

I would rather have Julian as DH than Buck currently. 

It makes me sad to say it but it is true. 

[wabene]

12 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

And paprika is the spice of Hungary.

[MABB1959]

4 hours ago, Karbo said:

So many people (including myself) want to get rid of Kepler and Gallo. But comparing a few hitting stats;

Kepler .209 Avg  282 OBP .403 Slg

Gallo  .187 Avg ,307 OBP .473 Slg

Buxton .202 Avg .294OBP .423 Slg

Kepler and Gallo both play in the field, And Buxton bats 3rd at DH?

Buxton’s numbers are atrocious the last 30 games .146 with 39 strikeouts!  It seems like this subject is off-limits in post game interviews.  I don’t understand how his injuries affect making contact with the ball.  I can’t watch on TV but it doesn’t seem like he is fighting off pitches.  How often does he watch the last strike?  Missing the pitch is not good either.  Is something wrong with his eyes?  It seems unexplainable.  

[Karbo]

1 hour ago, JDubs said:

You're right, they should DFA Buxton and put Jake Cave out there.

LOL

[MABB1959]

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Hit a 109 MPH rocket to 3B Saturday - he’s had some terrible AB’s in the past couple games but from the “team only meeting” to the All-star game he had some hits - few K’s - 3-4 times robbed on D of big hits, couple times in 2 days at the Wall v. Baltimore.

We don’t have a better definitive option. He only plays if the team thinks he can contribute - nothing to do with $$$.

.146 with 39 strike outs in the last 30 games?

[Karbo]

4 minutes ago, MABB1959 said:

Buxton’s numbers are atrocious the last 30 games .146 with 39 strikeouts!  It seems like this subject is off-limits in post game interviews.  I don’t understand how his injuries affect making contact with the ball.  I can’t watch on TV but it doesn’t seem like he is fighting off pitches.  How often does he watch the last strike?  Missing the pitch is not good either.  Is something wrong with his eyes?  It seems unexplainable.  

IMHO he either needs to go on IL or at least move down to maybe 9th in the lineup?

[JD-TWINS]

6 minutes ago, MABB1959 said:

.146 with 39 strike outs in the last 30 games?

I get it - his most recent swoon. He has had to tip his hat to opposing outfielder 3 times in past handful of games. An HR - single - double mixed in over those games & he’s at his typical, ugly .205 with a high Slugging%. I wish there was a better short-term answer but with Lewis out & Polanco out, I don’t see any.

[wabene]

11 minutes ago, MABB1959 said:

Buxton’s numbers are atrocious the last 30 games .146 with 39 strikeouts!  It seems like this subject is off-limits in post game interviews.  I don’t understand how his injuries affect making contact with the ball.  I can’t watch on TV but it doesn’t seem like he is fighting off pitches.  How often does he watch the last strike?  Missing the pitch is not good either.  Is something wrong with his eyes?  It seems unexplainable.  

I will say he had a helluva at bat to walk in an important run yesterday. It included taking a close high ball for ball 3. That call can and has gone either way recently and underscores how sometimes things out of a player's hands can greatly impact the narrative. He has also had many rockets caught recently. But yes I would move him down the order for now. 

[JD-TWINS]

10 minutes ago, Karbo said:

IMHO he either needs to go on IL or at least move down to maybe 9th in the lineup?

Relative to fighting off pitches…….he got an RBI yesterday after a 10 pitch AB for a walk. No reason to give him an award, but it seems to be much better than taking 3 strikes in a row!

[stringer bell]

While I really don't want to add to the Buxton talk, I guess I can't resist. If the Twins are going to do anything in the remainder of the season or postseason, Buxton will be a large part of it (IMHO). He has had this kind of struggle at the plate, but either the full-time DHing or injury may have deepened the slump.

Certainly, I'm concerned by the strikeouts, but it seems to me that in about 90% of the at-bats where he makes contact, he is using about 20% of the field--from the third base line to the shortstop hole. He is the most pull-happy player that I can remember. When he's going good, he's driving the ball from the right-center gap to the left field corner. Right now everything is severely pulled, including a lot of hard-hit fouls. I would think he could try to adjust that.

[Fatbat]

Is it possible that Jax just becomes a one inning set up man like Senór Smoke back in the day?  At this point, don’t mess with his success!! 

[wabene]

7 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

While I really don't want to add to the Buxton talk, I guess I can't resist. If the Twins are going to do anything in the remainder of the season or postseason, Buxton will be a large part of it (IMHO). He has had this kind of struggle at the plate, but either the full-time DHing or injury may have deepened the slump.

Certainly, I'm concerned by the strikeouts, but it seems to me that in about 90% of the at-bats where he makes contact, he is using about 20% of the field--from the third base line to the shortstop hole. He is the most pull-happy player that I can remember. When he's going good, he's driving the ball from the right-center gap to the left field corner. Right now everything is severely pulled, including a lot of hard-hit fouls. I would think he could try to adjust that.

Yes I think they stated on the broadcast last night that he had the highest pull percentage in all of MLB. 

[MABB1959]

21 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Relative to fighting off pitches…….he got an RBI yesterday after a 10 pitch AB for a walk. No reason to give him an award, but it seems to be much better than taking 3 strikes in a row!

Thanks. 

[ashbury]

6 hours ago, Squirrel said:

I’ll take an ugly win over an ugly loss any day of the week

Sure, always, but that isn't the choice we'd prefer to be offered against a cellar dweller.

Quote

and twice on Sundays.

There's no doubleheader scheduled today in Oakland.  I'll take one nice easy laugher for the good guys, TYVM. 

[ashbury]

17 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

He is the most pull-happy player that I can remember.

How quickly they forget Joey Gallo.

I hope to forget Joey the minute after he is traded.

[NotAboutWinning]

Let me go out on a limb here and say these 2 games have done far more to help this team become a cohesive unit in the second half of the season than a couple of blowouts would have. A double steal, home runs, bunts, Buck's battle for a run walked in run, and the bullpen holds are just what this team needed. Let's have another messy, all-hands-on-deck win and roll on to Seattle!

[Fatbat]

1 minute ago, ashbury said:

Sure, but that isn't the choice we'd prefer to be offered against a cellar dweller.

There's no doubleheader scheduled today in Oakland.  I'll take a nice easy laugher for the good guys, TYVM. 

We have been horrible against LH pitchers like the one that is starting today so if we can rattle him and win “not so ugly”, we might be able to infer actual success that may stick with the team for the remainder of 2023. 

[ashbury]

1 minute ago, NotAboutWinning said:

Let me go out on a limb here and say these 2 games have done far more to help this team become a cohesive unit in the second half of the season than a couple of blowouts would have. A double steal, home runs, bunts, Buck's battle for a run walked in run, and the bullpen holds are just what this team needed. Let's have another messy, all-hands-on-deck win and roll on to Seattle!

Just as long as the lessons they learn are the right ones.  I don't want to find out that the tactics that work for them against lesser opponents magically stop working when they face the better teams, and especially if they make it into the post-season.

[ashbury]

1 minute ago, Fatbat said:

We have been horrible against LH pitchers like the one that is starting today so if we can rattle him and win “not so ugly”, we might be able to infer actual success that may stick with the team for the remainder of 2023. 

If you remember the phrase "necessary and sufficient condition" from anywhere in your education, I am treating success against Oakland as necessary, nothing more. 

[Fatbat]

2 minutes ago, ashbury said:

If you remember the phrase "necessary and sufficient condition" from anywhere in your education, I am treating success against Oakland as necessary, nothing more. 

Great point 👍🏻

[Squirrel]

38 minutes ago, ashbury said:

 

There's no doubleheader scheduled today in Oakland.  I'll take one nice easy laugher for the good guys, TYVM. 

You were ninja'd, you know :) 

[ashbury]

1 minute ago, Squirrel said:

You were ninja'd, you know :) 

I don't know.  I mean I didn't.  At least until now.  Thanks, I guess.  This site is kind of a chore sometimes.

[gman]

I would be satisfied having a 60% ugly win rate the rest of the schedule. Just 41 more ugly games to win.

[Karbo]

18 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Relative to fighting off pitches…….he got an RBI yesterday after a 10 pitch AB for a walk. No reason to give him an award, but it seems to be much better than taking 3 strikes in a row!

strikeout rate over 30%